Magic I Nile Cruise
A 5-star Nile cruiser with a shaded sun deck, lounge bar, full-board dining, and cabins with Nile views or balconies.
At a glance
- Length
- 4 days · 3 nights
- Embarks
- Mon, Fri
- Board
- Full Board
- Class
- 5-star
The short answer
Magic I Nile Cruise is a 5-star Nile cruise vessel arranged by Discovery Tours Egypt.
02Overview
A first look
Background
The facts
Magic I Nile Cruise is a 5-star Nile river vessel used for sailing between Luxor and Aswan on the Nile, with embarkation and disembarkation in those two cities. It is arranged by Discovery Tours Egypt, a licensed Egyptian tour operator, while the cruise line provides the vessel and onboard services.
The ship’s accommodation includes cabin categories from Standard to Suite, with Nile-facing windows or balconies where specified. Public areas typically include a sun deck for outdoor viewing, a lounge bar for evening use, and a dining room where full-board meals are served from embarkation lunch through disembarkation breakfast.
The onboard shore-excursion program usually includes the major sites linked to Upper Egypt’s cruise corridor: Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple on the Luxor side, Edfu Temple (Temple of Horus), Kom Ombo Temple, Philae Temple on Agilkia Island near Aswan, and the Valley of the Kings on the West Bank of Luxor. These monuments span Pharaonic, Ptolemaic, and Roman periods, with the route connecting river crossings and temple sites over several sailing days.
The vessel sails weekly in both directions between Luxor and Aswan, with alternate sailing days and shore visits depending on the cruise direction and schedule. Standard entrance fees for included sightseeing are generally covered unless a specific premium site or extra is stated separately; pyramid interiors, premium tombs, and gratuities are normally excluded unless requested.
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- This cruise suits travelers who want a structured Nile journey with guided temple visits, comfortable cabins, and a straightforward full-board setup. It is especially relevant for first-time visitors, couples, and history-focused travelers who prefer a private or semi-independent travel style with logistics arranged in advance.
What lingers
- 01Three-night, four-day cruise between Aswan and Luxor, calling at Kom Ombo and Edfu with scheduled shore visits.
- 02Guided visits to Philae in Aswan and Luxor East Bank sites are led by one of our Egyptologists.
- 03Operated by us, a licensed Egyptian tour operator; all scheduled shore visits are escorted by our Egyptologist team.
- 04Standard site entrance fees are included; pyramid interiors and premium tombs (Tutankhamun, Seti I) are excluded and charged separately.
- 05Unlike large coach timetables, we run single-group shore visits to Kom Ombo and Edfu to reduce queues.
- 06Early starts for Luxor West Bank visits; expect walking on uneven ancient stone and limited shade at midday.
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 Aswan and disembarkation in Luxor.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
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 | $1,818 | $2,128 | $2,437 |
| Double Cabin | $945 | $1,036 | $1,127 |
| Triple Cabin | $824 | $884 | $945 |
5 Days / 4 Nights · Luxor to Aswan
| Cabin | Low | High | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single Cabin | $1,208 | $1,385 | $1,562 |
| Double Cabin | $709 | $761 | $813 |
| Triple Cabin | $640 | $674 | $709 |
4 Days / 3 Nights · Aswan to Luxor
| Cabin | Low | High | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single Cabin | $1,004 | $1,137 | $1,269 |
| Double Cabin | $630 | $669 | $708 |
| Triple Cabin | $578 | $604 | $630 |
8 Days / 7 Nights · Aswan to Aswan
| Cabin | Low | High | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single Cabin | $1,832 | $2,141 | $2,451 |
| Double Cabin | $958 | $1,049 | $1,140 |
| Triple Cabin | $837 | $898 | $958 |
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.
On property
What's here
- parking
- gym
- non-smoking
- air-conditioning
- restaurant
- room-service
- wifi
- pool
- bar
- garden
- rooftop-terrace
The fine print
What's included – and what isn't
Included
- Full Board: breakfast, lunch and dinner served aboard (from embarkation lunch to disembarkation breakfast)
- Accommodation aboard the vessel in the booked cabin class
- Use of public areas: sun deck, lounge bar and dining room
- Daily cabin housekeeping
Not included
- Drinks beyond still water with meals (beverages typically charged separately)
- Gratuities for crew and local guides unless explicitly requested
- Premium cabin upgrades or suite supplements
- Entrance fees for sites and tombs not explicitly stated as included
- International flights, visas and travel insurance
Accessibility
Who can join this
The vessel and shore excursions require moderate mobility. Expect uneven stone surfaces, temple steps, and cobbled paths at Karnak, Luxor Temple, Kom Ombo, Edfu and the Valley of the Kings. Onboard public areas are reached by steps between decks; many Nile cruisers do not have elevators to all decks. Cabins on the main deck are easiest to reach, while upper-deck cabins often require climbing stairs. Embarkation and disembarkation involve short gangways; our local team provides physical assistance on request but cannot guarantee full wheelchair ramp access at all quays. If you use a wheelchair or have limited mobility, tell us when you book so we can recommend suitable cabin locations, confirm shore-excursion accessibility, and arrange extra help at ports where possible. Service animals are not routinely accommodated onboard unless pre-arranged and approved in writing.
Before you go
What to pack & wear
What to bring
- Valid passport and any required visas
- Lightweight daypack for shore excursions
- Comfortable walking shoes with grip
- Sun protection: hat, sunglasses, sunscreen SPF30+
- Reusable water bottle
- Personal medication and a small first-aid kit
- Plug adapter (Egypt uses Type C and F sockets)
What to wear
- Lightweight, loose-fitting clothing for hot days
- Long sleeves or a shawl for sun and temple modesty
- Covered shoulders and knees for mosques and some temples
- A light jacket for evenings on the Nile
- Sturdy closed-toe shoes for archaeological sites
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 fare. Children must share a cabin with their parents, with a maximum of one child per cabin; two or more children require their own cabin. Strollers are practical on the vessel but can be difficult to use at some archaeological sites because of uneven ground and steps. Cruise public areas and dining rooms are family-friendly, but high chairs and child-specific equipment vary by cruise supplier and must be requested in advance.
Location
On the map
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
The vessel is a diesel-powered Nile cruiser, and daily sailing and hotel services rely on conventional marine and coach transport for shore excursions. Shore transfers and excursions typically use air-conditioned coaches with local driver-guides contracted per sailing. We work with locally based Egyptian crew, Egyptologists, and shore suppliers to keep economic benefit in the communities visited; excursions are booked with small, registered local companies where possible. Onboard waste is separated for disposal at port facilities and linens are reused on request to reduce water and detergent use. Guests who bring reusable water bottles help reduce single-use plastic; bottled drinking water is provided for safety but we encourage minimizing plastic by refilling from supplied jugs. If you have specific sustainability requirements, tell us at booking so we can pass them to the cruise supplier and local partners.
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 does a 4-day MS Magic I Nile cruise include?
A standard four-day Nile cruise includes accommodation aboard the vessel, full-board meals and guided shore excursions. Site entrance fees are usually included in the cruise price; pyramid interiors, premium tombs and gratuities are excluded unless your booking states otherwise. We confirm exact inclusions on your booking voucher and can add private transfers or extra excursions on request.02Which Nile sites will we visit on this 4-day itinerary?
Typical four-day itineraries call at Karnak Temple, Luxor East and West Banks, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae. Abu Simbel is usually a separate early-morning excursion from Aswan and is not included on most sailings. Unlike rushed coach day trips, the four-day cruise allows two mornings in Luxor for relaxed visits; expect walking on uneven ancient stone and early starts for cooler temperatures.03Can I visit the inside of the Great Pyramid from the cruise?
Visiting the Khufu pyramid interior is not part of a Nile cruise itinerary and requires a separate trip to Giza or Cairo. Interior tickets are sold separately at the site and have limited daily allocations; they are physically demanding with low, steep passages and are not recommended for limited mobility. If you wish, we can plan a pre- or post-cruise stay in Cairo and book tickets in advance.04How do I get to MS Magic I from Luxor or Aswan airport?
We arrange private transfers from Luxor or Aswan airport to MS Magic I; inclusion depends on your booking. Embarkation and disembarkation times are fixed by the ship–your pickup time will match the cruise's schedule. If you arrive by air, allow extra time for domestic transfers and security; we can provide meet-and-greet and luggage handling.05Is tipping included on the MS Magic I cruise?
Gratuities for the ship crew and your Egyptologist are not included unless your confirmation says otherwise. Tipping is customary in Egypt; we can prepay a suggested tip pack for convenience or advise on cash amounts in local currency. Small notes help crew and guides; larger group tips are often pooled by staff.06Will there be Wi‑Fi, phone signal and power in my cabin?
Most Nile cruise ships offer Wi‑Fi in public areas but connectivity and speed are intermittent between Luxor and Aswan. Mobile phone coverage exists but roaming charges vary; streaming is usually unreliable. Cabins have 220V sockets–bring a universal adaptor–and occasional outages can occur; ask us for the MS Magic I cabin power specification before travel.
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-041229
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