Top-Rated Egypt Nile River Cruises

An Egypt Nile river cruise includes your cabin on board, meals as listed in the itinerary, guided visits to the temples and tombs along the river and the transfers between the ship and the sites. A licensed Egyptologist guide leads the sightseeing, the itinerary states whether guiding is private or shared with other guests, and a private guide can be arranged on request; the entrance fees listed in the itinerary are included. Drinks, tips and optional extras such as Abu Simbel or a balloon ride over Luxor are usually priced separately.

Most Nile cruise ships take 5 days and 4 nights from Luxor to Aswan, or 4 days and 3 nights in the other direction, covering roughly 225 km of river and four to six major sites. Dahabiyas sail more slowly, and their trips run from 4 up to 8 days. Itineraries of around 7 days can add Abu Simbel, and the cruise is usually combined with a few days in Cairo.

Both directions visit the same main temples, so choose the one that fits the rest of your trip. Starting in Luxor usually gives you an extra night on board and lets you see Karnak, Luxor Temple and the Valley of the Kings first; starting in Aswan gives a shorter 3-night sailing that suits tighter schedules. We match the direction to your flights and the days you spend in Cairo.

Nile cruises on this page start from $500 per person, and dahabiyas from $1,000 per person. The price depends on the category of ship, the cabin, the number of nights and the season: mid-October to April is the busiest period, while May to September has lower prices but much hotter weather. Your quote lists exactly what is included; international flights are not.

There are four main types of Nile cruise: standard ships, the best value; deluxe ships, with more space and better dining; luxury ships, with the largest cabins and the most polished service; and dahabiyas, traditional sailing boats for about 8 to 20 guests. All of them sail the same stretch of river between Luxor and Aswan and visit the same key temples, so the choice is about comfort, pace and budget rather than sightseeing.

A dahabiya is a traditional wooden sailing boat carrying about 8 to 20 passengers, with a quiet, personal atmosphere and moorings at smaller riverside spots that large ships do not use. A Nile cruise ship usually carries 60 to 150 passengers and has a restaurant, a sun deck and a swimming pool. Dahabiyas suit travellers who want peace and a slower pace; cruise ships suit those who want more facilities and a lower price.

A Luxor to Aswan Nile cruise usually covers Karnak and Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings and the Temple of Hatshepsut on the West Bank, the Temple of Horus at Edfu, Kom Ombo Temple and Philae Temple near Aswan. Abu Simbel is not on the cruise route; it is a separate trip from Aswan by road or a short flight and can be added to your package.

Mid-October to April is the best time for a Nile cruise, with daytime temperatures usually between 18°C and 26°C. It is also peak season, so book 2 to 3 months ahead; Christmas and New Year fill first. June to August is the cheapest period, but temperatures in Luxor and Aswan regularly pass 40°C, so visits start early in the morning.

Yes, and most travellers do. A typical plan spends 2 to 3 days in Cairo for the Pyramids of Giza, the Grand Egyptian Museum and Islamic Cairo before or after the cruise, with a domestic flight to Luxor or Aswan where the itinerary says so. We put both parts into one itinerary with private transfers and guides, and every package can be adjusted in length, hotels and pace.

Yes, Nile cruises work well for families, especially with children aged 6 and over. You unpack only once, the guided temple visits are paced to hold young travellers' interest, and there is time to rest on deck between sites. Children under 2 travel free, and children from 2 to 11 pay a reduced rate when they share a room with two adults, although some ships have their own child policies.