Farah Nile Cruise

The short answer

Farah Nile Cruise is a 5-star Nile cruise vessel operating weekly between Luxor and Aswan, arranged by Discovery Tours Egypt.

• Luxury

Snapshot

Good to know

Accommodation

5-Star Cabin Accommodation

Includes

Full-board meals · Standard, Deluxe, or Suite cabin · Scheduled shore excursions · Sun deck access · Lounge bar and dining room · English-speaking cruise staff · Port and harbour taxes where charged

Best for

History enthusiasts · Couples · Families with older children · First-time visitors to Egypt · Travelers seeking an organized Nile itinerary

Guide languages

English

Background

The facts

Suited to

Is this for you?

What lingers

• 01 Four-day cruise between Luxor and Aswan, calling at Kom Ombo, Edfu and Luxor temples.
• 02 Guided visits by our Egyptologists; standard site entrance fees included unless noted otherwise.
• 03 We schedule extended time at Edfu Temple after the day boats leave, avoiding rush visits.
• 04 Sails overnight between Edfu and Luxor; en-suite cabins, daily housekeeping and three meals included on board.
• 05 We don't run large shared-bus excursions; all visits on MS Farah are private or small-group by design.

Worth knowing

How this compares

Unlike independent hotel stays in Luxor or Aswan, this cruise combines accommodation, meals, and a fixed temple programme in one itinerary. Compared with land-only tours, it reduces repeated packing and long road transfers while still covering key Upper Egypt monuments. The vessel is also different from a private day tour because the sightseeing is built around the cruise schedule and onboard full-board stay.

The fine print

What's included – and what isn't

Tailor it

Make it yours

Discovery Tours Egypt can arrange private transfers, upgrade cabin categories, and add pre- or post-cruise stays in Luxor or Aswan. Depending on availability, travelers may also request premium tomb entry, extra sightseeing, or a longer Egypt itinerary that combines the Nile cruise with Cairo or the Red Sea. The cruise can be booked as a private arrangement or as part of a wider multi-day Egypt program.

All requests handled by your dedicated specialist before booking.

Accessibility

Who can join this

The Farah Nile Cruise involves multiple short boardings and disembarkations onto quays and small piers; expect uneven stone surfaces, short gangways and a step or two between the pier and the vessel’s lower-deck corridor. Onboard circulation uses stairs between decks; not every vessel in this class has a lift to all public areas. Shore excursions require walking on cobbles, uneven ancient stone, soft sand and stepped temple entrances. Wheelchair users with limited mobility should contact us in advance so we can assess cabin doorway widths and arrange assistance where possible; full independent wheelchair access cannot be guaranteed. Registered mobility aids or large powered scooters may not fit cabin doorways and are usually not permitted on board for safety reasons. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator and can advise on practical alternatives, but please send measurements and mobility requirements before booking so we can confirm suitability.

Before you go

What to pack & wear

– Responsible travel

How we travel here

The vessel uses conventional fuel-powered propulsion typical of Nile river cruisers; shore transfers and small-boat landings are made with the ship’s tender launches. We contract directly with the cruise line and local suppliers for crew, provisioning and excursion guides to support local employment in Luxor and Aswan. Onboard waste handling follows the vessel’s procedures: food waste is separated, plastics are minimised in provisioning, and greywater is managed according to harbour rules. Guests can reduce impact by bringing reusable water bottles and declining single-use plastics; we brief passengers at embarkation on permitted disposal of batteries and medical waste. We hand-pick this cruise to balance visitor comfort with lower-frequency calls at local piers, which reduces repeated tender movements compared with ad hoc shore landings.

• Licensed local Egyptologists

  ETAA-credentialed, on payroll

• Fair wages on the ground

  Drivers + guides paid above market

• Site preservation

  We follow MoTA visitor caps and no-touch protocols

• Carbon-aware itineraries

  Domestic flights only when train/road is impractical

· In summary

Asked & answered

Frequent questions

1. 01 How long is the Farah Nile Cruise sailing between Luxor and Aswan?

   The vessel typically sails weekly between Luxor and Aswan on a scheduled programme. Individual departures follow the ship’s weekly timetable; specific embarkation and disembarkation days for your booking are shown on your e‑ticket. The vessel alternates sailing days with shore excursions to Karnak, Luxor Temple, Valley of the Kings, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae.
2. 02 When and where does embarkation and disembarkation take place?

   Embarkation and disembarkation are at Luxor and Aswan ports. Exact times vary by sailing; the ship normally allows embarkation in the early afternoon and disembarkation the following mid-morning. We send confirmed times on your e‑ticket. Transfers to these ports are not included unless you book them with us.
3. 03 What is included in the Farah Nile Cruise price?

   Full-board meals from lunch on embarkation day through breakfast on disembarkation day, your chosen cabin grade, scheduled shore excursions, use of public areas, English-speaking cruise staff, and port taxes where charged. The vessel provides the shore-excursion programme to named sites; check your booking confirmation for which excursions are included on your specific sailing.
4. 04 What is not included or charged extra on the cruise?

   International or domestic flights, transfers to/from embarkation and disembarkation ports (unless booked separately), drinks beyond water with meals where applicable, gratuities for cruise staff and local guides, and entrance fees to premium tombs such as Tutankhamun or Seti I. If you want premium-tomb access we can request and add those tickets for you before travel.
5. 05 Are the cabin grades and single supplements explained in advance?

   Cabins are graded Standard, Deluxe and Suite, each with panoramic windows or Nile-view balconies depending on grade. Pricing is per person sharing and single supplements typically apply. Contact us for exact cabin square metres, deck location, and single-supplement terms for your dates so we can reserve the best available cabin for your party.
6. 06 What accessibility and fitness level is required for the shore excursions?

   Shore excursions include uneven ancient stone, low thresholds, steps and occasional sand; some temple entrances require steps. The vessel itself has multiple decks and some cabins accessed by stairs. Tell us about mobility needs before booking; we will advise which visits are suitable and whether alternative arrangements or extra assistance can be organised.
7. 07 Can children sail on the Farah Nile Cruise and are family cabins available?

   Children are welcome but cabin availability, bedding configurations and minimum ages vary by sailing and vessel policy. Some cabins accept cots or extra beds. Provide ages and party composition when enquiring so we can confirm family cabin options, safety arrangements, and any applicable child rates or restrictions for shore excursions.
8. 08 What should I bring and wear for shore excursions from the Farah Nile Cruise?

   Bring a sun hat, high‑factor sunscreen, a reusable water bottle, comfortable walking shoes, and a light layer for early mornings or evenings. Temples and mosques require modest dress: shoulders and knees covered. Also pack any prescription medication, a small daypack, and a camera with spare batteries or memory cards for long days ashore.
9. 09 Can I take photographs or fly a drone during visits ashore?

   Personal photography is generally allowed at temples and monuments, but flash is forbidden in many tombs and some sites prohibit tripods. Drone use almost always requires special permits and is effectively not permitted on scheduled shore excursions. If you plan professional photography or drone use, tell us in advance so we can seek permission where possible.
10. 10 When is the best time of year to sail on the Farah Nile Cruise?

    October to April offers milder temperatures and more comfortable conditions for sightseeing along the Nile. Summers (May–September) are very hot, especially on outdoor decks and at open-air temples; if you travel then, expect early-morning excursions, a slower pace ashore and extra sun protection.

If plans change

Cancellation

More than 30 days

Full refund less a £50 admin fee

15–30 days

50% refund

Within 14 days

No refund – date changes considered case by case