The Oberoi Philae Nile Cruise

The short answer

The Oberoi Philae Nile Cruise is a five-star Nile cruise vessel arranged by Discovery Tours Egypt.

• Luxury

Background

The facts

Suited to

Is this for you?

What lingers

• 01Four-day voyage between Luxor and Aswan, visiting Karnak Temple, Luxor West Bank, Edfu and Kom Ombo.
• 02Guided shore excursions led by our Egyptologist, including Valley of the Kings visits and Karnak Temple commentary.
• 03All meals on board, cabin service and scheduled transfers between Nile ports and your Cairo or Aswan hotel included.
• 04Late-morning departures ashore maximise cool hours; we avoid midday heat for temple walks where shade is limited.
• 05We do not cram four-site land itineraries into one afternoon; we schedule proper time at each temple.

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 Luxor4 nights on this shipRead the route guide
• Luxor to Aswan4 nights on this shipRead the route guide

The fine print

What's included – and what isn't

Accessibility

Who can join this

The vessel has steps between decks, narrow gangways and uneven stone at many shore-excursion sites, so guests should expect moderate physical demands. Onboard, cabins are reached by staircases on some boats; elevators are not guaranteed. Shore excursions include uneven temple floors, cobbles, and steps into tombs; wheelchair access at Karnak, Luxor Temple and Kom Ombo is limited and dependent on local pier conditions. We can arrange assistance on arrival at Luxor International Airport and meet-and-assist to the embarkation gangway, but we cannot promise full wheelchair transferability onboard. If you use a wheelchair, need an electric mobility aid, or have limited stamina, tell us before booking so we can assess vessel assignment and shore-excursion suitability. We can supply a step-assist at embarkation when possible and brief your Egyptologist about reduced-walking alternatives, but some temple visits require short walks on uneven ground and steps.

Before you go

What to pack & wear

– Responsible travel

How we travel here

We arrange carefully selected five-star Nile cruisers that generally run twin-diesel engines typical for river vessels, and we ask suppliers to use low-sulfur fuel where available. Transfers on the ground to embarkation points are with modern air-conditioned coaches; smaller boats used for shore landings are locally owned and licensed. We contract locally based Egyptologists and crew, which channels income into Luxor and Aswan communities. Onboard catering sources fresh produce from regional markets in Luxor and Aswan when possible, reducing refrigerated transport. We request that cruise partners operate a linen-reuse program and segregate recyclable waste on board; compliance varies by vessel, so we record each supplier's practices and favor those with formal waste-management procedures. If sustainability requirements are important to you, we can share current supplier practices for the specific sailing at booking.

• 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

1. 01What does the 4-day MS The Oberoi Phiale cruise include?

   The 4-day MS The Oberoi Phiale cruise includes accommodation, meals on board, shore excursions and standard site entrance fees. As a licensed Egyptian tour operator we arrange qualified Egyptologists for excursions and local guides where required. Transfers, pre-cruise briefing and most museum/temple entrances are included in the standard package; premium extras such as premium tombs (Tutankhamun/Seti I), pyramid interiors and crew gratuities are excluded unless expressly requested.
2. 02Are entrance fees and gratuities included?

   Standard archaeological site entrance fees are included; pyramid interiors, premium tombs and crew gratuities are not included. We do not bundle pyramid interiors or premium tombs into the standard cruise price; clients generally add those tickets if they wish to enter specific tombs. We can pre-pay optional extras on request and we supply suggested tipping guidelines with your final itinerary.
3. 03Which temples and sites does the 4-day itinerary visit?

   Typical 4-day Phiale itineraries visit Luxor and Aswan: Karnak, Luxor Temple, Luxor West Bank, Edfu/Kom Ombo and Philae. The exact order depends on navigation and local conditions; we adapt the programme to reduce driving and to visit cooler sites in the morning. Our Egyptologist briefs you before each visit and licensed local guides handle on-site commentary.
4. 04What should I pack for a four-day Nile cruise?

   Bring sun protection, comfortable walking shoes, modest clothing for temples and a light layer for evenings on deck. Temperatures often exceed 30–35°C between May and September, so a wide-brimmed hat, SPF30+ sunscreen and a refillable water bottle are essential. For temple and mosque visits ensure shoulders and knees are covered; lightweight cotton and a small daypack make moving between sites easier.
5. 05Is MS The Oberoi Phiale suitable for passengers with limited mobility?

   The ship has gangway steps and some temple sites involve cobbles and uneven stone; full wheelchair access is not guaranteed. We can arrange many adjustments: closer parking, alternative temple routes and a main-deck cabin where available, but access varies by ship and site. Please tell us about mobility needs at enquiry so we can confirm specifics with the ship and local partners before booking.
6. 06When do excursions typically start on a 4-day Nile cruise?

   Excursions commonly start early, often before 07:00 for West Bank tomb visits and to avoid midday heat. Expect at least one early start and some walking on uneven ground; we schedule cooler visits for Karnak and Philae where possible. If you prefer later starts we can often re-order visits but this may affect which monuments are open that day and could increase short transfers.

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