Classes and fares
All the motor ships between Luxor and Aswan carry a 5-star rating and call at the same temples – the class decides cabin size, how many share the ship and the fare. A dahabiya is a different sort of boat altogether.
| Feature | Standard 5★ (Essential & Comfort) | Deluxe 5★ (Classic) | Ultra-Deluxe 5★ (Prestige) | Luxury 5★ | Ultra-Luxury 5★ (Signature Collection) | Dahabiya |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| From, per person · high season, October–April | £566 | £754 | £856 | £1,218 | £2,262 | £927 |
| Ships to choose from | 36 | 28 | 19 | 20 | 4 | 45 |
| Cabin size | 16–20 m² | 20–28 m² | 28–40 m² | 35–55 m² | Standard to Suite grades | 18–28 m² |
| Guests on board | 80–150 | 60–120 | 36–60 | 8–36 | Varies by ship | 6–12 |
| Pool | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Varies by ship | No |
| Best for | First-timers, value-led | Comfort + reliability | Design-conscious | Couples, VIPs | Honeymoons, milestone holidays | Intimacy, repeat visitors |
Prices are for one person sharing a standard double cabin on the shortest sailing each ship offers, and cover sightseeing, entrance fees and transfers – sailings over Christmas, New Year and Easter are peak dates, priced on their own.
Ships by class
There are 152 ships and dahabiyas to choose from between Luxor and Aswan. Here are two from each class, priced on the shortest winter sailing, and each class page shows the others.
Standard 5★ · Essential & Comfort
From £580 per person sharing · October–April
Typical timings put two full mornings on Luxor’s West and East Banks, a daytime sail calling at Edfu and Kom Ombo, and a full day in Aswan.
Dates and prices
Standard 5★ · Essential & Comfort
From £595 per person sharing · October–April
Al Nabilatan is a 5-star river vessel sailing weekly in both directions between Luxor and Aswan.
Dates and prices
Deluxe 5★ · Classic
From £754 per person sharing · October–April
Dates and prices
Deluxe 5★ · Classic
From £754 per person sharing · October–April
Nile Dolphin is a 5-star river cruise vessel sailing between Luxor and Aswan.
Dates and prices
Ultra-Deluxe 5★ · Prestige
From £928 per person sharing · October–April
Typical shore visits include Karnak Temple and Luxor West Bank, though exact sites depend on direction and scheduling.
Dates and prices
Ultra-Deluxe 5★ · Prestige
From £1,001 per person sharing · October–April
Dates and prices
Luxury 5★
From £1,392 per person sharing · October–April
The Esmeralda sails between Luxor and Aswan, operating a classic Nile itinerary that visits riverside temples and island sites.
Dates and prices
Luxury 5★
From £1,624 per person sharing · October–April
Its shore-excursion programme covers Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, the Temple of Horus at Edfu, Kom Ombo, Philae Temple and the Valley of the Kings.
Dates and prices
Ultra-Luxury 5★ · Signature Collection
From £2,262 per person sharing · October–April
Dates and prices
Ultra-Luxury 5★ · Signature Collection
From £2,262 per person sharing · October–April
The cruise sails between Luxor and Aswan, calling at Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae.
Dates and prices
Dahabiya
From £960 per person sharing · October–April
Amoura Dahabiya is a sail-powered dahabiya for a quieter journey on the Nile.
Dates and prices
Dahabiya
From £1,001 per person sharing · October–April
Bens Dahabiya is a sail-powered dahabiya cruise on the River Nile in Egypt.
Dates and pricesFind by date
Each boat boards on set days of the week. Pick your embarkation day to see which boats start then and the price for your party, with sightseeing and transfers included.
Routes and sailing lengths
Nearly every Nile cruise covers the 220 km from Luxor to Aswan, tying up at Edfu and Kom Ombo along the way. Three-night sailings tend to head north from Aswan, four-night ones south from Luxor, and seven nights means a round trip or a dahabiya calling at El Kab and Gebel el-Silsila too. It is no accident that the great temples stand beside the river – read why the Nile was so important to ancient Egypt.
Edfu and Kom Ombo on a brisk sailing, generally from Aswan to Luxor – handy if a Red Sea week follows.
An unhurried run, generally from Luxor to Aswan, finishing with Philae and the High Dam.
Out and back from Luxor or Aswan, or the longer dahabiya route with El Kab, Esna and Gebel el-Silsila.
By route: Luxor to AswanAswan to LuxorRound trip from LuxorRound trip from AswanEsna to Aswan on a dahabiya
The other Nile cruise
Most Nile cruises keep to the 220 km of river between Luxor and Aswan. A Lake Nasser cruise instead crosses roughly 290 km of the lake formed by the Aswan High Dam, stopping at the Nubian temples UNESCO moved block by block in the 1960s – Kalabsha, Wadi El Seboua, Amada, Qasr Ibrim and, at dawn, Abu Simbel. We can book you on Steigenberger Omar El Khayam, Nubian Sea and Mövenpick Prince Abbas.
The five Nubian stops, in sailing order
Kalabsha
The Temple of Mandulis, moved from below the High Dam and now set on an island close to Aswan.
Wadi El Seboua
An avenue of sphinxes leading to a Ramesses II rock-cut sanctuary.
Amada
Nubia's oldest standing temple (Thutmose III, c. 1450 BCE).
Qasr Ibrim
Seen from the water, this is the one Nubian site left where it stood, still on its original clifftop.
Abu Simbel
You arrive by boat rather than on an early flight, and see the great temple catch the first light across the lake.
Lake Nasser ships priced for winter (3 of 3)
Is a Nile cruise the right choice?
On a first visit, a Nile cruise is usually the easiest way to see Egypt. There are two real alternatives – a dahabiya (smaller and slower) or a tour by land (more flexible, with several stops) – and both deserve a look.
Vessel choice
A dahabiya takes 6–12 guests aboard a traditional sailing boat: quiet under sail, moored by the bank at El Kab and Silsila, with dinner beneath the stars. A 5-star motor ship takes 60–200 guests on fixed days each week, with a pool and a lounge on board.
Format choice
Pick a Nile cruise if…
Pick a land-based tour if…
The ship stays between Luxor and Aswan. The Pyramids, and most flights back to the UK, are in Cairo. These short extensions link the two.
Flight to Cairo and a night's hotel
Cairo for two nights and a day in Alexandria
3-Day Egypt Short Break Holiday: Cairo & Luxor
3-Day Cairo & Alexandria Holiday
3-Day Luxor Trip from Marsa Alam
3-Day Cairo Trip from Sharm El Sheikh3-Day Luxor & Cairo Trip from Hurghada
2-Day Luxor to Cairo Post-Cruise Holiday Stay
3-Day Luxor to Cairo Post-Cruise Holiday with AlexandriaCruise + land packages
Three well-trodden ways to build a holiday around the river, each bringing something a cruise alone cannot.
Two nights in Cairo for the Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum, before or after a 4-night Nile cruise.
Four nights on the river, then 3–4 nights by the Red Sea at Hurghada or Marsa Alam. Temples first, coral reefs after – Egypt in one holiday.
A 3- or 4-night cruise with Abu Simbel built in – by an early flight from Aswan, or by water on a Lake Nasser cruise.
What's included
Each fare shown here covers everything listed below.
Cabin
En-suite and air-conditioned, for each night on board
Full board
Breakfast, lunch and dinner served on the ship
Entry to the sites
Each temple and tomb on your sailing's programme
Egyptologist guide
A licensed Egyptologist with you at each site
Transfers
Between the ship and your airport or hotel in Luxor and Aswan
Not included: flights, tips, drinks away from mealtimes, and Abu Simbel unless it appears in your itinerary.
When to sail
October to April is the season to aim for, with daytime temperatures of around 20–30 °C – though the ships sail all year, and summer brings lower fares.
October–April: the main season
Dry days of 20–30 °C. November and February are the kindest months away from the holiday peaks.
May–September: better value
It reaches 35–40 °C, so visits begin before 9 am – and fares drop.
Christmas, New Year and Easter
These are peak dates with their own prices; try to confirm around six months beforehand.
Ramadan
The dates shift annually. Cruises run as usual, though a few sites alter their hours.
Traveller reviews · 4.6★ across Tripadvisor & Google
★★★★★
Hesham was so amazing (and patient!) with our group, I would recommend this tour to anyone! I think the timing of the activities in the days allowed for a great mix of learning/exploring and some relaxation on the cruise sprinkled in. …
– Catherine O. · Tripadvisor review ·
★★★★★
I worked with Hassany and let me tell you my friends enjoyed every minute of their trip. They did a private itinerary with a Nil cruise as well. Everything was PERFECT! Highly recommend !
– Levana E. · Tripadvisor review ·
★★★★★
I worked with Discovery Tours to host a group trip to Egypt and it was seamless from beginning to end. Hassany was a great coordinator and was always quick to respond to my needs and really helped me tailor this trip to the group’s interests. …
– Lena S. · Tripadvisor review ·
Frequently asked
Between October and April, three nights on a 5-star ship cost roughly £667–£1,102 per person sharing, including full board, guided visits and transfers; fares fall over the summer. Per person, sharing a double cabin between October and April, Essential and Comfort ships start from £566, Classic (Deluxe 5-star) from £754, Prestige (Ultra-Deluxe 5-star) from £856, Luxury from £1,218, and our ultra-luxury Signature Collection – Historia, Jaz Elite Senator, The Oberoi Zahra – from £2,262. A traditional dahabiya, a class of vessel in its own right, starts from £927. Each ship's page sets out what is included on every date.
Three nights takes in the principal temples between Aswan and Luxor – Kom Ombo, Edfu and Karnak – and leaves room for Cairo or a beach week. Four nights visits them at a gentler pace, with Philae and the High Dam as well. With seven nights you're on a round trip or a dahabiya, calling at smaller sites the shorter sailings miss. Abu Simbel by water is a separate Lake Nasser cruise of three, four or seven nights.
From October to April, when the river sees dry days of 20–30 °C. November and February are especially pleasant and fall outside the Christmas and Easter peaks. Summer, May to September, brings 35–40 °C, early-morning visits and lower fares.
Let your flights decide, as the temples are the same either way. Three-night sailings generally go from Aswan to Luxor, four-night ones from Luxor to Aswan. Leaving from Luxor means Karnak comes first and you finish near Abu Simbel; leaving from Aswan saves Karnak and the Valley of the Kings for the end. Both directions compared.
For couples, returning visitors and anyone who puts atmosphere before facilities, a dahabiya is hard to beat: a wooden sailing boat for 6–12 guests, no pool, a sundeck and moorings the larger ships can't use. On a first visit, if you'd like a pool and more room aboard, a 5-star motor ship carrying 60–200 guests is the better fit. Browse our dahabiyas.
The fares we quote cover your cabin, full board, entry to the sites on the sailing's programme, a licensed Egyptologist and transfers in Luxor and Aswan. Flights, tips, drinks away from mealtimes and Abu Simbel are extra unless your itinerary shows them.
Cruises sail every week of the year, with tourist police at the embarkation quays and the major temples. Read the FCDO's current travel advice for Egypt before booking – and should anything change on your route, we'll let you know and rearrange things. FCDO travel advice for Egypt.
It's best not to: the river runs faster than it appears, and fresh water in Egypt can carry bilharzia (schistosomiasis). Most 5-star ships have a sundeck pool for a dip; a dahabiya has none.
Very few sailings start in Cairo – nearly every Nile cruise runs between Luxor and Aswan. Most people fly down from Cairo (roughly an hour) or travel on the overnight sleeper train, and we can arrange either with the cruise. Cairo and Nile cruise holidays.
Tips aren't part of the fare. Roughly £4–6 a night for housekeeping, £4–8 per dinner for your waiter and £8–12 a day for your Egyptologist is usual, and you'll be given our printed tipping guide on board. Our guide to tipping in Egypt.
Yes, particularly on a motor ship. Most 5-star ships offer a sundeck pool and space to roam, and the visits fall in the morning or late afternoon, which works well with children. A dahabiya, smaller and without a pool, is better for teenagers and adults.
On most ships, yes – a double cabin to yourself is typically 50–75% more than one person's sharing fare. Send us your dates and we'll find the ships with the smallest supplement. Travelling solo in Egypt.
Between about 25% and 50%, depending on the season and on whether train or flight tickets are booked alongside the cruise.
You can cancel, and the refund depends on how near to sailing you are. The terms are on our cancellation and refund policy page. Cancellation and refund policy
That depends on the ship and where it moors. Let us know your requirements before booking. We would point you towards vessels that moor at fixed, organised berths, where boarding is more predictable.
Speak to our Nile team
Within 24 hours, one of our specialists in Luxor or Aswan will send a cruise quote made for you – dahabiya or motor cruiser, modest or luxurious. There are 152 ships and dahabiyas to choose from.
Cairo · Luxor · Aswan · Hurghada · Marsa Alam · Sharm El Sheikh
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