Egypt Discovery
From per person£670
Nile Cruise 5-Star Ultra Deluxe Aswan → Luxor

Tulip Nile Cruise

At a glance

Length
4 days · 3 nights
Embarks
Mon, Fri
Board
Full Board
Class
5-star

The short answer

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

Snapshot

Good to know

Guide languages
English · French · German · Italian · Others
  • Discovery Tours Egypt – operating since 1988 from Cairo and five regional offices
  • Licensed by the Egyptian Tourism Authority (ETAA)
  • Professional, Egyptologist-qualified guides for temple and tomb visits
  • 24/7 local operational support and on-the-ground teams

02 Overview

A first look

MS Tulip runs a four-day itinerary focused on Luxor’s principal archaeological sites. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator and provide Egyptologist-guided visits and private transfers.

Background

The facts

MS Tulip is a five-star Nile river vessel based on the Luxor and Aswan sailing corridor. It is arranged for guests by Discovery Tours Egypt and features Standard, Deluxe, and Suite cabins, with many units offering panoramic windows or Nile-view balconies. The onboard layout typically includes a sun deck with shaded seating and loungers, an indoor saloon, a lounge bar, and a dining room for full board meals.

The cruise vessel sails weekly in both directions between Luxor and Aswan. Its shore-excursion programme normally includes major Upper Egypt sites associated with the Nile cruise route: Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple in Luxor, Edfu’s Temple of Horus, Kom Ombo Temple, Philae Temple near Aswan, and the Valley of the Kings on the West Bank of Luxor. These visits are arranged as part of the vessel programme rather than as separate day tours.

Luxor is the embarkation and disembarkation point on some sailings, while Aswan serves the same role on others. Full board generally covers lunch on the embarkation day through breakfast on the disembarkation day, while drinks beyond water with meals are usually extra. The vessel is selected for travellers who want to combine time on the Nile with guided temple visits and a more relaxed shipboard pace.

Named in this entry

MS Tulip · Luxor · Karnak Temple · Valley of the Kings · Edfu Temple · Kom Ombo · Aswan · Nile River · Discovery Tours Egypt · ETAA · Nile cruise · sun deck

Suited to

Is this for you?

Yes, if

  • This is suitable for adults and older children who want a structured Nile cruise with guided sightseeing and comfortable onboard accommodation. It appeals to travellers interested in ancient Egyptian temples, river scenery, and a slower pace than bus-based touring.

Maybe not, if

  • Guests requiring full wheelchair accessibility due to narrow gangways and site steps
  • Travelers wanting a very active or high-adventure itinerary

What lingers

  • 01 Four-day MS Tulip cruise based in Luxor; three nights aboard with guided shore excursions led by our Egyptologists.
  • 02 Visits typically include Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple with morning visits to avoid the midday heat.
  • 03 Short cruise concentrates time on Luxor West Bank tombs, unlike longer cruises that prioritise continuous sailing south.
  • 04 Optional early start to Valley of the Kings; premium tombs (Tutankhamun, Seti I) are excluded.
  • 05 Meals aboard include breakfast and dinner; shore transport by private car and local licensed guides arranged.
  • 06 Cabins on MS Tulip are air-conditioned with verandahs; exact layout varies by departure.

Worth knowing

How this compares

Versus longer seven-night cruises, this 4-day itinerary focuses tightly on the Luxor–Aswan temple cluster without extra days at sea. It suits travelers short on time who still want guided visits to key archaeological sites.

The route

Luxor and Aswan

  1. LuxorKarnak & the Valley of the KingsEmbark
  2. EdfuThe Temple of Horus
  3. Kom OmboThe Temple of Sobek
  4. AswanPhilae Temple & the High DamDisembark

Choose your direction

  • →Luxor → Aswan4 nightsupstream, against the current
  • →Aswan → Luxor3 nightsdownstream, with the current
  • ↻Round-trip7 nightsreturn to Luxor or Aswan

At sea

Detailed itinerary

Based on embarkation from Aswan and disembarkation in Luxor.

  1. 1

  2. 2

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  4. 4

  5. 5

The fine print

What's included – and what isn't

Included

  • Accommodation aboard MS Tulip in the chosen cabin class
  • Full board meals, from lunch on embarkation day to breakfast on disembarkation day
  • Onboard facilities such as lounge bar, saloon and sun deck
  • Shore excursions as scheduled by the vessel's programme

Not included

  • International flights, airport taxes and visas
  • Drinks beyond water with meals and any onboard bar bills
  • Gratuities and tipping for ship crew and guides unless requested
  • Premium archaeological site extras, such as optional tomb entrances (Tutankhamun, Seti I) where applicable
  • Travel insurance and personal expenses

Field notes

From our Egyptologists

  1. 01

    Book an early-morning Valley of the Kings visit to avoid crowds and afternoon heat.

  2. 02

    Bring small Egyptian pounds for market purchases and tips to local guides and crew.

  3. 03

    Select a Nile-facing cabin to watch temples and villages pass by at leisure.

  4. 04

    Use the sun deck for sunset views; carry sunblock and a wide-brimmed hat.

Accessibility

Who can join this

The ship has standard gangway access and cabins with ensuite facilities, but gangways and temple sites involve steps. Travelers with limited mobility should contact us before booking to discuss cabin placement and excursion suitability.

Before you go

What to pack & wear

What to bring

  • Sunhat, sunscreen and polarized sunglasses
  • Comfortable walking shoes for temple visits
  • Light layers for cool early mornings and evenings
  • Camera with extra batteries and memory cards
  • Small daypack for shore excursions

What to wear

  • Modest, breathable clothing for temple sites (knees and shoulders covered)
  • Comfortable closed-toe shoes for uneven surfaces
  • Smart-casual outfit for evening dining aboard

Children & families

Children are welcome but must share a cabin with adults; child fares and age restrictions vary. Please enquire for specific child rates and cabin-sharing rules.

Location

On the map

Luxor and Aswan — where it sails in EgyptMediterranean SeaRed SeaWestern DesertEastern DesertLake NasserLuxorEdfuKom OmboAswanCairoAbu SimbelN
Cairo lies north; your cruise is the gold stretch in the south. The Nile flows north, so sailing upstream means heading south.

While you're here

Worth pairing

– Responsible travel

How we travel here

Discovery Tours Egypt works with local suppliers to source produce and reduce food miles. Guides receive training in cultural respect and minimal-impact visitor conduct at archaeological sites.

  • 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

The MS Tulip Nile Cruise is a 4-day, 3-night Luxor-to-Aswan sailing offering ultra-deluxe Nile accommodation, all meals, and guided shore excursions to Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, Edfu and Kom Ombo. Arranged by Discovery Tours Egypt (since 1988; Cairo plus five regional offices; ETAA-licensed).

Asked & answered

Frequent questions

  1. 01 What is the MS Tulip 4-day cruise?
    The MS Tulip is a four-day Nile cruise operating from Luxor in Upper Egypt. It combines scheduled shore excursions with overnight accommodation aboard the vessel. As a licensed Egyptian tour operator we arrange local transfers and Egyptologists for selected excursions. Compared with single‑day excursions from Luxor, a four‑day cruise spreads visits over several mornings to reduce time in the midday heat.
  2. 02 Which archaeological sites does the 4-day MS Tulip cruise visit?
    Itineraries commonly include Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple and the Luxor West Bank (Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut). Some departures add Edfu, Kom Ombo or Aswan sites, but Abu Simbel is further south and is not on most four‑day Luxor departures. Standard site entrance fees are usually included; premium tombs (Tutankhamun, Seti I) and special-access tickets may be extra.
  3. 03 How many nights will I spend on board the MS Tulip?
    The published duration is four days; nights aboard vary by itinerary and boarding times. Some four‑day sailings include two or three nights on board, while others combine daytime cruising with overnight stays ashore. We confirm the exact number of nights on reservation and on your final travel voucher.
  4. 04 What is included and excluded on the MS Tulip 4-day cruise?
    Inclusions differ by departure; scheduled excursions and standard site entrance fees are usually included, while gratuities and premium tombs are typically excluded. Meals aboard and cabin accommodation are commonly included, and as a licensed Egyptian tour operator we handle local transfers when listed. Pyramid interiors (Khufu/Khafre) and premium tomb tickets are extra unless the itinerary states otherwise.
  5. 05 Is the MS Tulip suitable for travellers with limited mobility?
    Many Nile vessels have multiple staircases, narrow gangways and uneven quays, which limit accessibility. Cabins and public areas may not have lifts and boarding can require steps; this makes independent movement difficult for some guests. Contact us before booking – we can advise cabin choice, provide photos of gangways and arrange assisted transfers where possible.
  6. 06 Will there be Wi‑Fi and mobile signal on the MS Tulip?
    Wi‑Fi and mobile signal on Nile cruises are variable and often intermittent between port calls. Onboard Wi‑Fi is commonly slower than hotel broadband and streaming may not work; some operators charge for higher‑speed access. We recommend downloading maps and documents in advance, buying a local SIM on arrival, and asking us for the ship's connectivity policy before you 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

Last updated 17 May 2026 Product ID: CRU-LUX-343799

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