Four classes of boat sailing the same stretch of river between Luxor and Aswan — the one that holds most of Egypt's great temples. Full board, private guiding and every entry fee included.
A Nile cruise is the one part of an Egypt trip where the transport is the holiday. Edfu and Kom Ombo sit on the riverbank between Luxor and Aswan, so sailing reaches them without four hours of road each way — and you unpack once.
The difference between the four classes below is the boat, not the itinerary. Every cruise we sell calls at the same temples, with the same private Egyptologist and the same entry fees included. What changes is the cabin, the food and how many people you share the sun deck with.
Downstream from Aswan to Luxor takes three nights; upstream from Luxor to Aswan takes four, because the boat is pushing against the current. If your dates are flexible, the four-night route gives you an extra evening on the river for roughly a third more.
Full board from the moment you step aboard, all shore excursions with a licensed Egyptologist, every entrance fee on the itinerary, and transfers to and from the airport at both ends. Drinks, optional excursions such as Abu Simbel or the Luxor balloon, and tipping are extra.
Year round. October to April is high season — cooler, busier and about 15% more. May to September is hot on deck but the boats are air-conditioned throughout and the price drops accordingly.
The route, north to south
Same temples, same guiding, different boat. Pick the one that fits your budget and how much you care about the cabin.
7 boatsEight to twelve guests, no engine noise, and moorings at islands the large boats cannot reach. Five or seven nights. The most memorable way to sail the Nile, and the one we recommend if the budget stretches.
17 boatsComfortable 4★ boats, three or four nights, everything included. The sensible choice if the cabin is somewhere you sleep rather than somewhere you sit for hours.
31 boatsLarger cabins, a proper pool deck and noticeably better food. The middle ground most guests choose once they have compared the two either side of it.
14 boatsFive-star suites with balconies, fine dining and a resident Egyptologist on board. Four or seven nights, and the quietest sun deck of the four.
The honest version. Every class visits the same temples with the same guiding — this is what your money actually changes.
| Class | Nights | Guests on board | What the extra buys | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard4★ | 3 or 4 | ~120 | Nothing beyond a clean, comfortable cabin and full board | $690 |
| Deluxe4★ superior | 3 or 4 | ~100 | A bigger cabin, a real pool deck and noticeably better food | $980 |
| Luxury5★ | 4 or 7 | ~80 | Suites with balconies, fine dining, a resident Egyptologist | $1,450 |
| DahabiyaSailing boat | 5 or 7 | 8 – 12 | Silence, islands the big boats cannot moor at, and your own crew | $1,780 |
Individual boats with their own pages, dates and cabin plans.
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Egypt is cheap to book badly. These four are the difference, and they are written into every confirmation we send.
Not a site guide who charges per temple. The same qualified guide from your first morning to your last.
IncludedEvery site named in the itinerary is bought in advance. No cash at gates and no queueing twice.
IncludedInspected by our own team and named on your confirmation. If a room is not what we promised, we move you.
InspectedThe same WhatsApp thread from enquiry to airport, staffed by the person who planned your trip.
24 / 7Collected from TripAdvisor and Google. We publish the critical ones too.
“Our guide Hoda knew every corner of the Valley of the Kings and got us in before the coaches arrived. Fourteen days and not one wasted morning.”
“Our flight to Aswan was cancelled the night before. The team rebooked us, moved the hotel and messaged at 1am to confirm. We didn't lose a single site.”
“The boat is comfortable rather than glamorous — be clear on that. But the guiding was the best of the three trips I have taken to Egypt.”
All four sail the same stretch of river and visit the same temples; what changes is the boat and how many people share it. Standard four-star boats are the accessible option, deluxe boats offer bigger cabins and à la carte dining, luxury five-star boats add balcony suites and a resident Egyptologist, and a Dahabiya is a private sailing boat for just 8 to 12 guests. Every cruise we book is full board with all excursions, entry tickets and a licensed Egyptologist included.
The classic Nile cruise runs between Luxor and Aswan, stopping at Esna, Edfu and Kom Ombo, because that is the stretch the temples line. Standard and luxury boats typically sail three or four nights upstream or seven-night round trips, while Dahabiyas run five or seven nights. We match the length to your wider itinerary and dates rather than a fixed departure.
Yes. Every Nile cruise we book is full board, and all shore excursions along the route — Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae — come with a licensed Egyptologist and their entry tickets included. Air-conditioned transport between the boat and each site is part of the package. What is not included is spelled out in the written itinerary before you commit.
October to April brings the most comfortable temperatures for the open-deck sailing and midday temple visits, and is the busiest season on the river. May to September is genuinely hotter in Upper Egypt but much quieter, and accommodation discounts are often passed straight through. Because our cruises are privately guided, we can also start temple visits early to beat both heat and crowds.
Tell us your dates, budget and whether you value a quiet boat over a busy sun deck, and we recommend the class honestly — deluxe is the sweet spot many guests land on once they compare. Book by enquiry form or WhatsApp and we reply quickly with a written itinerary. Prices are per person in USD, fall as your group grows, and free cancellation applies more than 30 days before departure.
Tell us your dates, your budget per night and whether the cabin matters to you. A consultant in Cairo replies with two or three specific boats and real prices — usually within a few hours.
