Kontiki Nile Cruise
Five-star Nile cruiser: most cabins have Nile-view windows or balconies, sun deck, lounge bar, indoor dining, full-board meals and planned shore excursions.
At a glance
- Length
- 8 days · 7 nights
- Embarks
- Wed, Sat
- Board
- Full Board
- Class
- 5-star
The short answer
Kontiki Nile Cruise is a 5-star Nile cruise vessel arranged by Discovery Tours Egypt.
Snapshot
Good to know
- Destinations
- Luxor · Edfu · Kom Ombo · Aswan
- Guide languages
- English · French · German · Italian · Others
02Overview
A first look
By dawn the Nile is a still ribbon and the Kontiki's pale hull reflects palm trees and laundry flapping on the riverbank, a quiet place to sit with a coffee and the panorama from your cabin's Nile-view window or balcony. Mornings on the shaded sun deck carry the scent of baking bread from nearby villages and the soft clink of cutlery in the dining room between excursions.
We carefully select the Kontiki for its balanced schedule and graded cabins, and the vessel sails weekly in both directions between Luxor and Aswan. Our Egyptologists meet groups ashore to contextualise each visit and answer detailed questions before you return to the ship.
Background
The facts
Kontiki Nile Cruise is a five-star Nile river vessel used for scheduled sailing between Luxor and Aswan. The cruise is arranged by Discovery Tours Egypt, while the vessel itself is owned and operated by a third-party cruise line. It is typically sold on a per-person sharing basis, with a single supplement for sole occupancy.
Cabins are graded Standard, Deluxe, and Suite, and many cabins feature Nile-view windows or balconies. On board, the vessel includes a sun deck with shaded seating, a lounge bar, and an indoor dining room. Full board usually runs from lunch on embarkation day through breakfast on disembarkation day, with meals served while sailing on the Nile.
The vessel’s shore-excursion program commonly includes Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, Edfu Temple of Horus, Kom Ombo Temple, Philae Temple, and the Valley of the Kings. These are major Upper Egypt monuments connected by river cruising between the Luxor and Aswan embarkation points. The cruise typically sails weekly in both directions, so shore days alternate with sailing days rather than following a fixed point-to-point transfer pattern.
Karnak is a large temple complex on the east bank of Luxor, developed from the Middle Kingdom onward and expanded under New Kingdom pharaohs such as Seti I and Ramesses II. The Valley of the Kings is on the west bank of Luxor and contains royal tombs from the Eighteenth, Nineteenth, and Twentieth Dynasties. Philae is reached near Aswan and is associated with the cult of Isis; the temple complex was relocated during the UNESCO Nubian Monuments campaign to protect it from flooding.
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- This cruise suits travelers who want a structured Nile itinerary with comfortable cabins, set meals, and time on board between sightseeing stops. It is a good fit for adults, couples, and history-focused visitors who are comfortable with repeated embarkation and disembarkation at river ports and monument sites.
What lingers
- 01Five-star cabins graded Standard, Deluxe and Suite, most with Nile-view windows or balconies
- 02Sun deck with shaded seating, lounge bar and indoor dining room
- 03Full-board dining from embarkation lunch through disembarkation breakfast
- 04Planned shore excursions to Karnak, Luxor Temple, Edfu (Temple of Horus), Kom Ombo, Philae and the Valley of the Kings
- 05Weekly sailings in both directions between Luxor and Aswan, giving shore days alternating with sailing days
The route
Luxor and Aswan
- EdfuThe Temple of Horus
- Kom OmboThe Temple of Sobek
Choose your direction
- Luxor → Aswan4 nightsupstream, against the current
- Aswan → Luxor3 nightsdownstream, with the current
- Round-trip7 nightsreturn to Luxor or Aswan
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.
At sea
Detailed itinerary
Based on embarkation from Luxor and disembarkation in Aswan.
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- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Cabin pricing
Pricing & seasonal rates
Per person in USD, based on cabin sharing. Single supplements apply. Holiday surcharges apply at Christmas, New Year & Easter.
8 Days / 7 Nights · Luxor to Luxor
| Cabin | Low | High | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single Cabin | $2,401 | $3,265 | $4,130 |
| Triple Cabin | $908 | $1,060 | $1,212 |
| Double Cabin | $1,081 | $1,309 | $1,536 |
5 Days / 4 Nights · Luxor to Aswan
| Cabin | Low | High | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single Cabin | $1,541 | $2,035 | $2,529 |
| Triple Cabin | $688 | $775 | $861 |
| Double Cabin | $787 | $917 | $1,047 |
4 Days / 3 Nights · Aswan to Luxor
| Cabin | Low | High | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single Cabin | $1,254 | $1,624 | $1,995 |
| Triple Cabin | $614 | $679 | $744 |
| Double Cabin | $688 | $786 | $883 |
8 Days / 7 Nights · Aswan to Aswan
| Cabin | Low | High | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single Cabin | $2,414 | $3,279 | $4,143 |
| Triple Cabin | $922 | $1,074 | $1,225 |
| Double Cabin | $1,095 | $1,322 | $1,550 |
Children 0–5.99 years free · 6–11.99 years pay 50% · 12+ pay full adult price. Children must share a cabin with parents (max 2 per cabin).
Indicative rates only – pricing and cabins fluctuate. Please enquire for live rates on your specific dates.
Bundled in
- Full board
The fine print
What's included – and what isn't
Included
- Accommodation on board the Kontiki Nile Cruise
- Full board meals, from lunch on embarkation day through breakfast on disembarkation day (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
- Scheduled shore excursions as per the vessel's excursion programme to Karnak, Luxor Temple, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Philae and the Valley of the Kings
- Use of on-board facilities, including the sun deck, lounge bar and dining room
Not included
- Drinks beyond bottled water served with meals, unless stated otherwise
- Gratuities for crew and guides
- Personal expenses and optional shore activities not included in the vessel programme
- Optional or premium entrance fees, for example premium tombs or pyramid interiors where applicable
Accessibility
Who can join this
The Kontiki Nile Cruise and its shore excursions involve a mix of flat, level surfaces aboard and uneven, ancient stone at archaeological sites. Embarkation and disembarkation use a gangway and may require stepping up or down; cabins typically have a single-step threshold and narrow doorways that can restrict wheelchair access. On shore excursions passengers should expect cobblestones, temple steps, and sandy approaches, some without handrails. We can arrange assistance for travellers with reduced mobility if advised at booking, including help with luggage and transfers from the jetty, but independent wheelchair users may find some visits impractical. Please tell us about mobility aids and mobility levels before travel so we can best advise and coordinate with the cruise line and local teams. Discovery Tours Egypt is a licensed Egyptian tour operator and we will pass your requirements to the vessel and site teams, but final access on-site is determined by the ship and site authorities.
Before you go
What to pack & wear
What to bring
- Valid passport and a printed copy of your booking
- Small daypack for excursions, with water and sun protection
- Sunscreen SPF30 or higher and a wide-brimmed hat
- Comfortable walking shoes with good grip for uneven stone
- Lightweight layers for cool mornings and air-conditioned interiors
- Medication and a basic first-aid kit, with prescriptions labelled
- Power adapter (Egypt uses type C and F, 220–240V)
What to wear
- Lightweight, loose-fitting clothing in natural fibres
- Covered shoulders and knees for temples and mosques
- A light jumper or fleece for evening on the Nile
- Flat, closed-toe walking shoes or trainers
- A scarf or sarong for additional modesty or sun protection
Children & families
Children 0–5.99 years travel free; children 6–11.99 years pay 50% of the adult fare; children 12 years and older pay the full adult price. Children must share a cabin with their parents, with a maximum of one child per cabin; two or more children require a separate cabin. Strollers are practical on board for moving between cabin and public areas, but they may be difficult to use during shore excursions where there are steps, narrow pathways, or sandy terrain. High chairs and baby equipment are provided subject to availability, please request them at booking.
Location
On the map
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
The Kontiki Nile Cruise sails the river on diesel-powered engines common to Nile cruisers; on-board transport between cabin and public areas is primarily by stairs and corridors. We work with the cruise line to limit single-use plastics by encouraging use of refillable water bottles and by requesting bottled water only when necessary. Shore excursions use local licensed boats and small coaches provided by the cruise line and local partners; these suppliers employ local crew and Egyptologists, generating income in Luxor and Aswan. When available, we prioritise vessels and suppliers that source produce from nearby markets and employ local staff. We also encourage guests to respect fragile archaeological sites by following site signage and guide instructions, and to leave no litter. If you have specific sustainability requirements, tell us at booking so we can share supplier practices and suggest low-impact options while you are on board.
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
Asked & answered
Frequent questions
01What is the typical length of a Kontiki Nile Cruise sailing?
The Kontiki Nile Cruise typically offers sailings of three, four, or seven nights, travelling between Luxor and Aswan. We arrange these cruises as part of longer Egypt holidays, allowing you to experience the Nile at a comfortable pace.02What meals are included with the full board arrangement on the Kontiki Nile Cruise?
Full board on the Kontiki Nile Cruise covers lunch on your embarkation day through breakfast on your disembarkation day. This includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily, served in the vessel's main dining room.03Which shore excursions are part of the Kontiki Nile Cruise programme?
The Kontiki Nile Cruise includes scheduled shore excursions to significant sites such as Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, the Temple of Horus at Edfu, Kom Ombo Temple, Philae Temple, and the Valley of the Kings. These visits are coordinated by the vessel's crew.04What is the policy for children travelling on the Kontiki Nile Cruise?
Children aged 0–5.99 years travel free, while those 6–11.99 years pay 50% of the adult price. Children aged 12 and above pay the full adult fare. One child maximum can share a cabin with parents; two or more children require their own cabin.05What should I wear for shore excursions from the Kontiki Nile Cruise?
For shore excursions, we recommend comfortable walking shoes, a hat, sunglasses, and light, breathable clothing. When visiting temples and mosques, modest dress is advised, covering shoulders and knees out of respect.06Are drinks included with meals on the Kontiki Nile Cruise?
Drinks beyond bottled water served with meals are typically not included in the full board arrangement. You can purchase additional beverages, including soft drinks, juices, and alcoholic drinks, from the lounge bar or dining room.07What cabin options are available on the Kontiki Nile Cruise?
The Kontiki Nile Cruise offers various cabin grades, including Standard, Deluxe, and Suite categories. All cabins feature panoramic windows or balconies with Nile views, providing comfortable accommodation during your sailing.08What is the single supplement policy for solo travellers on the Kontiki Nile Cruise?
Pricing for the Kontiki Nile Cruise is generally per person sharing a cabin. Solo travellers will typically incur a single supplement charge for sole occupancy of a cabin. Please enquire for specific rates.09What facilities are available on board the Kontiki Nile Cruise?
On board the Kontiki Nile Cruise, guests can enjoy a sun deck with a swimming pool, a comfortable lounge bar, and a main dining room. These facilities offer spaces for relaxation and socialising between shore excursions.10What is the best time of year to experience a Kontiki Nile Cruise?
The best time to experience a Kontiki Nile Cruise is typically from October to April, when the weather is cooler and more pleasant for sightseeing. Summer months, from May to September, can be very hot, especially in Upper Egypt.
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
Product ID: CRU-NIL-624028
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