The 10 best Nile river cruises to book in 2025

While the same tombs and temples are there to admire after thousands of years, and remote river scenery is much the same as it has been for millennia, Egypt’s Nile cruise experience has changed.

It’s not about which sights to visit – most classic seven-night cruises take in exactly the same tombs and temples and even offer identical optional excursions.

It’s all about the boat, or ship as some operators are now calling them, your budget and what’s included.

At one end of the price scale, there are private dahabiyas with a handful of cabins and personal service. At the other, from this winter TUI and easyJet are offering Nile cruises without the usual full programme of sightseeing in the price – you pick and pay for just the bits you want to see separately. TUI at least does give you two excursions and easyJet offers an all-in package, too.

Everyone gets the same unforgettable river views and a cosy lounger in the sun to stretch out on though. There’s nowhere else quite like it.

Here are some of the best ways to cruise the Nile this year.

Read our complete guide to Nile cruises here.

1. Discover Egypt

Best for couples and Cairo

Discover Egypt’s ten-night Classic Egypt holiday is the perfect combo: three days in Cairo, where, at extra cost, sightseeing can now encompass the Grand Egyptian Museum. Then a classic seven-night Nile cruise with all the top sights bar one (Abu Simbel) included in the price – not all Nile cruises do this nowadays.

Alexander the Great is a classy, yacht-style boat with 30 cabins, plus sun deck with pool, whirlpool bath and loungers, fitness facilities and restaurant serving dinner a la carte. Discover Egypt groups are a maximum of ten people per Egyptologist guide, so these cruises never feel crowded.

How to do it: Discover Egypt offers the Classic Egypt holiday, with three nights B&B at the Conrad Cairo plus seven-night Nile cruise, from £2,645pp; flights from Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester.

2. TUI

Best for doing your own thing

If you’ve done a Nile cruise before or you’re not that into archaeology, opt for a ‘pick and mix’ trip. TUI Al Horeya all-inclusive cruise debuts on Nov 7 2024, utilising new TUI direct flights from the UK to Luxor, and has sold well. Next winter, another vessel will launch.

TUI Bahareya has 68 cabins for 136 passengers and will operate seven-night cruises from Luxor to Aswan return. The price includes just two excursions, Edfu and Kom Ombo; other sightseeing costs extra. The price does cover tips though, and board is all-inclusive, including selected alcoholic drinks.

How to do it: TUI offers a seven-night, all-inclusive Nile cruise aboard TUI Bahareya from £1,499pp (based on the Jan 6 2026 departure), including flights from Gatwick or Manchester, two excursions and transfers.

3. easyJet

Best for cruise and stays

EasyJet Holidays is launching Nile river cruise packages in November. It’s the first time the company has offered holidays there, though it did operate flights to Luxor for three years until July 2013. Gatwick to Luxor flights start up again from November 11, with fares from £89.99 (one-way, including taxes).

Seven-night classic Nile cruises aboard six boats are on offer. Guests book a basic package with full board, flights, transfers, then choose and pay for which tours they want to add in. Alternatively, there is an Experience Package on 128-cabin Iberotel Crown Express that includes sightseeing. You can now also book Luxor hotel stays for a bit of relaxation pre- or post-cruise.

How to do it: Iberotel Crown Empress – 7-night Nile Cruise inc. Experience Package costs from £1,051pp.

4. Viking

Best for grown ups

Viking will have six luxury Nile cruise vessels sailing by the end of 2024, plus four more arriving over the next two years, each with 26-41 cabins. Facilities are similar throughout.

USPs include a la carte lunch and dinner in the restaurant, Aquavit Terrace indoor/outdoor area, and suites with two full-size rooms and a veranda off the living room.

The 11-night Pharaohs and Pyramids tour has four nights in Cairo with sightseeing, then all the classic excursions on the Nile cruise. More unusually, the spectacular Queen Nefertari’s tomb in the Valley of the Queens is included, too.

How to do it: Viking offers this holiday all year round except July, from £5,495pp in 2027, including all flights, onboard meals including wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner, excursions, Wi-Fi, evening entertainment and enrichment talks. No under 18s.

5. Cox & Kings

Best for ultimate luxury

The Oberoi Zahra, Luxury Nile Cruiser is one of the chicest boats on the Nile. With just 25 cabins and two suites, USPs include an onboard spa, pool and fitness centre, all-day dining, club lounge, library and even a cigar lounge. Cox & Kings’ trip on The Oberoi Zahra, Luxury Nile Cruiser takes in Cairo sightseeing – book a Pyramids view room at the Marriott Mena House and those extraordinary stone triangles seem to be in your back garden.

Then the classic Nile cruise from Luxor includes the regular sights, plus Dendera Temple and the Tombs of the Nobles, home to the unmissable Tomb of the Vines.

How to do it: Cox & Kings offers this 11-night, tailor-made trip from £6,695pp, including all flights, private transfers, entrance fees and local guides, accommodation and most meals.

6. Jules Verne

Best for avid cruisers

If a seven-night cruise isn’t enough for you, try the Long Cruise between Aswan and Cairo, featuring extra sights such as Amarna, home of the ‘heretic’ pharaoh, Akhenaten and wife Nefertiti, and the Tombs of Beni Hassan.

On the 12-night, 600-Mile Nile trip aboard 44-cabin MS Darakum, highlights in Upper Egypt include viewing Luxor Temple by Night with a cocktail at the Sofitel Winter Palace, a fascinating tour of the home of Howard Carter, who famously unearthed the tomb of Tutankhamun in 1922, and afternoon tea at the Sofitel Legend Old Cataract, Aswan.

How to do it: Jules Verne offers The 600-Mile Nile from £4,595pp, including flights. Check the website for departures with no single supplements.

7. Discover Egypt

Best for doing something different

Lake Nasser, the largest man-made lake in the world, was created by Aswan High Dam in the 1960s. Nile water flooded a huge area behind it, and an international effort saw some temples moved to higher land to save them. Among them were the phenomenal twin temples of Abu Simbel, built for the greatest pharaoh of them all, Ramses II and his beloved wife, Nefertari. See them and other monuments on a Lake Nasser cruise, a great addition to the classic seven-night cruise or a sunshine holiday in Aswan.

How to do it: Discover Egypt offers this six-night trip from £2,345pp, comprising four-night full board cruise aboard the Steigenberger Omar El Khayam, two further nights b&b and flights from Heathrow or Manchester flights via Cairo.

8. Corinthian Travel

Best for history buffs

Serious Ancient Egypt fans need expert help to understand the civilisation’s complicated history. Corinthian Travel’s Private Egyptologist Tour: Carnarvon’s Egypt fits the bill, with four nights in Cairo, two nights in Luxor and a four-night Luxor to Aswan cruise aboard the luxurious, 30-suite Sonesta Sun Goddess.

Itinerary highlights now include a full day at the recently opened Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), and in Upper Egypt, entrance to limited access tombs in Valley of the Kings and a trip to Abu Simbel by air instead of the usual very long coach ride. The price also covers visas, some meals and a private Egyptologist guide.

How to do it: Corinthian Travel offers the 10-night trip from £4,995, including domestic flights but not international ones.

9. Abercrombie & Kent

Best for foodies and families

A dahabiya or dahabia, a traditional style of sailboat with an engine, is the trendy way to cruise the Nile, especially if you charter the whole thing. Apart from privacy, a small boat can moor in private spots for lunch, and sightseeing and meals can be altered to suit.

The luxurious Sanctuary Zein Nile Chateau has four cabins and two suites for just 12 guests. You can take kids of any age – many boats have age minimums.

There’s an Arabian-styled sun deck with a dipping pool, lounge area and library. Highlights include an Egyptian gala dinner and cookery demonstration.

How to do it: Abercrombie & Kent offers a five-night, tailor-made Private Nile tour, with exclusive use of the Zein Nile Chateau and a night at the iconic Sofitel Winter Palace in Luxor, from £44,100 (£3,675pp), including flights, private transfers and guided excursions.

10. Explore

Best for adventurers of all ages

For an entirely different view of the Nile, take the family on a sailing boat called a felucca. You’re closer to the water to watch life on the riverbank, and for one night you sleep under the stars on the top deck.

Other highlights are a homestay with an Egyptian family, an overnight train ride from Cairo to Aswan, and an optional camel trek. It has to be done. Groups are typically 16 people (3-4 families), the minimum age is seven, and it’s not suitable for those with mobility issues.

How to do it: Explore offers the nine-night Family Egyptian Sphinx, Pyramids and Nile River trip from £1,345pp, including breakfast, some meals, accommodation, transport and excursions led by a local tour leader. International flights are not included.

Prices include flights, full board and excursions according to itinerary unless stated. Tips not included unless stated. Check exactly what is included in your Nile cruise before booking