The complete guide to Nile river cruises
On the classic seven-night Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan and back, the itinerary is largely the same whichever boat you choose, and is designed to take in all the major ancient sights in just a few stops.
Guided visits to the extraordinary tombs and temples are usually included in the price, alongside a small selection of optional excursions. And nowadays, new formulas from some tour operators allow passengers to pay for just the visits they choose – a better option for those who have enjoyed the experience before, or haven’t the energy for too many temples.
A busy Nile cruise is not advisable for young children – indeed, many boats have a minimum age – or for those with difficulties walking for long periods up steps and over uneven surfaces.
It’s the Nile cruise boat or ship that makes the difference, and there’s more choice going forward as operators including Viking, TUI and easyJet launch new programmes.
Options – and prices – range from substantial vessels with 100-plus cabins, to yacht-style boutique, or exclusive dahabiyas (traditional wooden vessels) with only a handful of cabins.
The standard of service, food, décor, comfort and hygiene are typically high, with Wi-Fi, gym, shop and spa facilities.
Whichever you choose, though, sitting out on deck as a massive stone temple carved with mysterious gods and hieroglyphs comes into view is simply unforgettable.
For the 10 best Nile river cruises to book, see our guide.
Before you book
When to go
Nile cruises are available all year round but because of extreme heat, June, July and August are best avoided.
What types of Nile river cruises are there?
The classic seven-night Nile cruise is the most popular and numerous, sailing between Luxor and Aswan and back again, and stopping off at Edfu and Kom Ombo, and sometimes Esna, too. Reverse and shorter itineraries are available. There are two other kinds of Nile cruise – Lake Nasser and the Long Cruise from Aswan to Cairo – but these are far fewer in number.
What do you see?
Generally, the itinerary includes the Valley of the Kings, Queen Hatshepsut’s Mortuary Temple, the Colossi of Memnon statues, Karnak temple complex, Luxor Temple; Edfu Temple; Kom Ombo Temple; Aswan High Dam, Granite Quarries and Unfinished Obelisk; and the Philae Temple. Sometimes, the Esna Temple, Dendera Temple, the Valley of the Queens and the Tombs of the Nobles are visited, too.
Abu Simbel, the twin temples of Ramesses II and his wife Nefertari, is offered as an optional excursion, and should be seen.
Luxor is the main departure point for classic Nile cruises, though more now start in Aswan as flights into the southern city have increased.
As Luxor is an hour’s flight from Cairo, the Pyramids of Giza cannot be seen from your Nile cruise vessel. If you want to visit them and other Cairo highlights, including the new Grand Egyptian Museum, which opened in October, book at least three extra days either end of your cruise. Note that currently, the treasures of Tutankhamun are still in the Egyptian Museum, in the centre of the capital.
The best operators
There’s no shortage of tour operators offering Nile cruises to Britons. Eleven years after the coup d’état/revolution that ousted President Mohamed Morsi, tourism is thriving again, with more choices of cruise companies and boats.
Choose a specialist such as Discover Egypt for a selection of ships and itineraries that can include extensions within Egypt or neighbouring Jordan. TUI and easyJet offer budget-conscious options. Jules Verne offers the Long Cruise. Corinthian has a private Egyptologist tour with special access. Viking has an expanding fleet of quality boats and A&K and Cox & Kings offer extra-luxurious cruises.
The Oberoi hotel group has two luxury ships in operation – the Oberoi Zahra, Luxury Nile Cruiser, and the Oberoi Philae, Luxury Nile Cruiser, and will launch two new luxury Nile dahabiyas, the Oberoi Melouk and the Oberoi Malekat, in the second half of 2025.
If the adventurer in you wants to sleep under the stars in a felucca (a traditional wooden vessel with sails), go to Explore.
Which boat or ship to choose
It could all come down to budget. Bigger vessels – traditionally called Nile cruise boats but some are being called ships now – are cheaper generally and great for sociable travellers, but check exactly what’s included. Smaller ones are more expensive but may include lovely extras such as cookery lessons or fancy lounges.
Make a checklist of what’s important to you – drinks included, daily water included, free Wi-Fi, for example – and shop around.
You might care where a boat is moored. In central Luxor, boats often moor alongside each other, so access to yours may be through other vessels’ lobbies and across gangplanks.
What facilities are on board?
Most boats and ships have a reception, lounge bar, restaurant, shop, sun deck with bar, pool, whirlpools, loungers, tables and chairs and shaded spots.
Pools won’t be big but are fine for a cooling plunge. Take a scarf as the top deck can get chilly at night in winter. Some boats may have a small gym or massage room.
Cabins are small with just a shower but you don’t need anything fancy as you spend so little time there. Upper-deck cabins away from any potential noise and with better views can be more expensive. Check exactly what they mean by “balcony”, as it may be just decorative, and not something you can step out on to.
Wi-Fi, free or chargeable, is now readily available on Nile cruise boats, but a bit temperamental.
Life on board
What does a typical day look like?
Sightseeing can start early – 5am for the Valley of the Kings – to avoid the hottest part of the day. A breakfast box may be supplied if it’s too early for the buffet. Lunch is also buffet-style, then it’s time to relax on the sun deck or lounge in the afternoon.
Many boats serve afternoon tea, coffee and cake, but only when sailing. Dinner is served at around 7pm.
Evening entertainment often includes a belly dancer, Nubian musicians and dancers and a kind of whirling dervish. The traditional Galabeya Party, led by the guides if included, features fun games such as turning your partner into a mummy with toilet paper. You can usually buy or rent your galabeya from the shop – choose a cotton one to use as a nightgown afterwards.
What’s the food like?
Restaurants commonly have shared tables. Food on board is good and plentiful. International menus feature chicken, pasta, vegetables, salads and there’s often an Egyptian night with Middle Eastern favourites such as falafel, hummus and tagine. Special diets can usually be catered for.
If you’ve bought a drinks package, it may include only local wine and beer and be available at restricted times.
Egyptologist guides
After the boat, the most important component of a Nile cruise is the guide, who will look after his or her group from day one.
The size of the group varies considerably but around 30 is not unusual. Guides are well-educated, licensed and speak assorted languages, including good English. Most are knowledgeable, passionate about their country and heritage, and look after their guests very well.
A guide will conduct a welcome meeting, during which you can book optional excursions and a departure meeting. They’ll also talk about tipping.
How much to tip
Unless included in the price, which is rare, tipping is traditional and expected, but discretionary. Usually, the guide will ask for a per-person sum to cover off-boat tips to temple caretakers, felucca captains and more, plus a larger tip to be shared among the boat crew. Tip the guide separately – he or she may not mention this.
Specialist operator Discover Egypt advises guests on the Alexander the Great to tip a total of £62 per person, plus £5 per person per tour for the guide and driver on optional tours. Many Egyptians rely on tourism for a living, and it’s a small price to pay for what many agree is the best river cruise in the world.
Top ports and sights
This cruise has few stops; some – Esna, Edfu, Kom Ombo – are specifically for sightseeing.
In Luxor, the boat may be moored in the busy centre or in another dock a few minutes away. The city can be explored on foot, by caleche (a horse-drawn carriage), or by taxi.
Do visit the Sofitel Winter Palace, from where Howard Carter announced the discovery of Tutankhamun’s largely intact tomb in 1922. It has lovely gardens.
Esna Temple can be reached on foot from the boat, as can Kom Ombo – it has a nice café and market stalls beside it. Edfu Temple is a coach ride away from the Nile.
Aswan, like Luxor, can be explored on foot. Both have long corniches running by the river. Do have cocktails at the Sofitel Legend Old Cataract, where Agatha Christie was inspired to write Death on the Nile.
A classic seven-night Nile cruise itinerary
The timings of excursions on the classic seven-night cruise itinerary can change due to delayed flights and congestion at Esna lock, but it’s the same whichever tour operator or boat is chosen. Boats are usually shared with other nationalities, though there are Britons-only options too.
Day 1
Fly to Luxor, board your Nile cruise boat.
Day 2
Visit selected tombs in the Valley of the Kings (there’s an extra charge to visit Tutankhamun’s tomb, and be aware that some sites charge to use cameras/videos and don’t allow flash), Hatshepsut’s Mortuary Temple and the Colossi of Memnon statues. Set sail upstream to Esna and pass through the lock; overnight in Esna.
Day 3
Early morning visit to the Temple of Horus at Edfu. Continue upstream (south) to Kom Ombo for a late afternoon visit to the Ptolemaic temple dedicated to the gods Haroeris and Sobek. Continue south to Aswan, where the boat will moor for two nights.
Day 4
Visit the High Dam, the Old Granite Quarries with its Unfinished Obelisk, then take a motor boat to the Temple of Philae on an island. After lunch, board a felucca, a traditional Egyptian sailing boat, for a trip down the Nile and around picturesque Kitchener’s Island.
Day 5
Optional excursion by coach or air to Abu Simbel, featuring four colossal statues of Ramesses II.
Day 6
The main cruising day as the boat sails to Esna, where it overnights. Some boats sail straight back to Luxor, but this itinerary allows for more daytime cruising.
Day 7
Sail to Luxor, arriving at lunchtime. In the afternoon, visit Karnak temple complex, then Luxor Temple, now reconnected to Karnak by its Avenue of Sphinxes.
Day 8
Transfer to the airport for the return flight to the UK.
Visits to alabaster, perfume and papyrus shops may also be included.
Evening entertainment on board may include a Galabeya Party night, Nubian musicians, singers and dancers and a belly dancer.
