Farah Nile Cruise

The short answer

Farah Nile Cruise is a five-star Nile cruise vessel arranged by Discovery Tours Egypt.

·In summary

• Luxury

Snapshot

Good to know

Accommodation

5-Star Cruise Vessel

Destinations

Luxor · Edfu · Kom Ombo · Aswan

Includes

Full-board meals · Accommodation in chosen cabin grade · Scheduled shore excursions · Use of sun deck, lounge bar and dining room · English-speaking cruise staff · Port and harbour taxes where charged by the vessel

Best for

History enthusiasts · First-time visitors to Egypt · Couples · Families with older children · Travellers seeking a structured Nile itinerary

Guide languages

English

What lingers

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

Background

The facts

Suited to

Is this for you?

Worth knowing

How this compares

Unlike a land-based tour, this cruise combines accommodation, meals and sightseeing on the Nile, with stops at Luxor, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Aswan. Compared with independent hotel stays, it provides a fixed excursion programme and onboard services, while premium tomb entrances and gratuities remain separate unless requested. The route also differs from a private day tour because travel between sites happens as part of the sailing programme rather than by road transfer alone.

Both directions

Where this ship sails

This vessel works more than one stretch of the river. The direction changes the order of the temples, the number of nights and which city you fly out of.

• Aswan to Luxor3 nights on this shipRead the route guide
• Luxor to Aswan4 nights on this shipRead the route guide
• Luxor round trip7 nights on this shipRead the route guide
• Aswan round trip7 nights on this shipRead the route guide

The fine print

What's included – and what isn't

1. 01

   If a Nile-view balcony matters to you, confirm the selected cabin grade and exact cabin allocation before booking.

2. 02

   Take photographs from the sun deck around sunrise or sunset, when the low light can define the riverbank and temple outlines.

3. 03

   Pack shoes with a firm grip for shore visits, where ancient stone surfaces can be uneven.

4. 04

   Set aside a separate budget for drinks beyond water, gratuities and admission to premium tombs.

Tailor it

Make it yours

Cabins can usually be selected by grade, with Standard, Deluxe and Suite options depending on availability. Travellers can often add private transfers, extra site entries such as premium tombs, or extend the trip before or after the cruise in Luxor or Aswan.

All requests handled by your dedicated specialist before booking.

Accessibility

Who can join this

Boarding involves short gangways between the quay and the vessel, and quays may have uneven stone surfaces. On board, stairs connect the decks; lift access to every public area is not guaranteed. Shore excursions can include uneven ancient stone, cobbles, soft sand and steps at temple entrances, including at Karnak Temple and the Valley of the Kings. A wheelchair may not fit through some cabin doorways, and mobility scooters are generally not permitted on board. Independent wheelchair access cannot be guaranteed. Contact us before booking with your mobility requirements so we can check cabin access and discuss what assistance the cruise line can arrange.

– 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 Egyptologist guides

  State-licensed, and people we have worked with for years

• Fair wages on the ground

  Drivers + guides paid above market

• Site preservation

  We follow the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities' site rules: marked paths, no touching reliefs

• Local teams, real help

  Our own offices in Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Hurghada, Marsa Alam and Sharm El Sheikh

Before you go

What to pack & wear

If plans change

Cancellation

More than 30 days

75% back, or 100% kept as credit towards a future holiday

15–30 days

50% back, or 75% kept as credit

7–14 days

25% back, or 50% kept as credit

2–6 days

Nothing back; 25% kept as credit

Under 48 hours, or if you don't turn up

No refund and no credit

Notice is counted from the day you arrive in Egypt. A few vessels have their own terms; where that's so, we'll let you know before any payment is taken.Read our full cancellation and refund policy

While you're here

Worth pairing

• Karnak TempleRight here
• Luxor TempleRight here
• The Valley of the KingsRight here
• Temple of Horus at EdfuRight here
• The Temple at Kom OmboRight here
• Philae TempleRight here

Why book this with us

Three reasons, stated plainly

1. 01

   Plan visits around Farah’s listed shore excursions

Asked & answered

Frequent questions

1. 01How 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. 02When 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. 03What 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. 04What 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. 05Are 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. 06What 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. 07Can 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. 08What should I pack and wear for shore trips 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. 09Can 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. 10When is the best time of year to sail on the Farah Nile Cruise?

    From October to April, temperatures are milder and sightseeing along the Nile is more comfortable. Summer, from May to September, is extremely hot, particularly on outdoor decks and at open-air temples. If travelling during this period, expect early-morning excursions, a gentler pace ashore and the need for extra sun protection.