Luxury Nile Cruises
Luxury: Nile Goddess Nile Cruise
5-day luxury Nile cruise, aboard a five-star boat.
per person
$650
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Luxury Nile Cruises
14 boats
3 – 7 nights
4.9 average
From $650 per person
October – AprilBest months to travel
3 – 7 nightsMost booked length
PrivateEvery departure
Free cancellationUp to 30 days before
Luxury Nile cruises are the 5★ boats — suites with balconies, fine dining, a resident Egyptologist on board and the quietest sun deck on the river. Every luxury Nile cruise below is full board, four or seven nights.
What luxury changes on the Nile
The temples are the same. What changes is the boat, and how many people you share it with. Suites with private balconies on every cabin. À la carte dining. Around 80 guests instead of 120. A resident Egyptologist who lectures each evening rather than a shore-only guide.
The boats worth the money
Oberoi Zahra, Sanctuary Sun Boat IV, Movenpick Sun Ray, Alfa Nile. Each is genuinely 5★; each has private butlers on the top suites and a sun deck with fewer loungers than there are guests.
Seven-night versus four-night
Four nights covers Luxor to Aswan. Seven nights adds two full days moored in Aswan (Philae, the High Dam, an optional Abu Simbel excursion) and returns downstream. The seven-night sailings are markedly less rushed.
What is included
All shore excursions with a resident Egyptologist, entry fees to every temple, full board, all soft drinks and bottled water, and airport transfers at both ends. Alcoholic drinks, optional Abu Simbel, hot-air ballooning and tips are extra.
Luxury Nile Cruises
Luxury: Le Fayan Nile Cruise
The top tier of Nile cruising, on this 5-day luxury Nile cruise.
per person
$650
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Luxury Nile Cruises
Luxury: Movenpick MS Darakum Nile Cruise
5-day luxury Nile cruise, aboard a five-star boat.
per person
$720
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Luxury Nile Cruises
Luxury: Sonesta Star Goddess Cruise
The top tier of Nile cruising, on this 5-day luxury Nile cruise.
per person
$790
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Luxury Nile Cruises
Luxury: Sonesta St. George Nile Cruise
5-day luxury Nile cruise, aboard a five-star boat.
per person
$790
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Luxury Nile Cruises
Luxury: Mövenpick MS Royal Lotus Cruise
The top tier of Nile cruising, on this 5-day luxury Nile cruise.
per person
$800
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Luxury Nile Cruises
Luxury: Soleil Nile cruise
5-day luxury Nile cruise, aboard a five-star boat.
per person
$800
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Luxury Nile Cruises
Luxury: Mövenpick MS Royal Lily Cruise
The top tier of Nile cruising, on this 5-day luxury Nile cruise.
per person
$800
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Luxury Nile Cruises
Luxury: Movenpick MS Hamees Nile Cruise
5-day luxury Nile cruise, aboard a five-star boat.
per person
$815
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Luxury Nile Cruises
Luxury: Mövenpick MS Sun Ray Cruise
The top tier of Nile cruising, on this 5-day luxury Nile cruise.
per person
$900
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Luxury Nile Cruises
Luxury: Sonesta Sun Goddess Nile Cruise
5-day luxury Nile cruise, aboard a five-star boat.
per person
$950
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Luxury Nile Cruises
Luxury: Historia Nile Cruise
The top tier of Nile cruising, on this 5-day luxury Nile cruise.
per person
$1,000
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Luxury Nile Cruises
Luxury: Oberoi Philae Nile Cruise
5-day luxury Nile cruise, aboard a five-star boat.
per person
$1,500
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Luxury Nile Cruises
Luxury: Oberoi Zahra Nile Cruise
The top tier of Nile cruising, on this 5-day luxury Nile cruise.
per person
$1,500
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Compare
How the itineraries stack up
The honest version — this is what your budget actually changes.
| Level | Duration | Hotels | What's different | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value4★ | 8 – 10 days | 4★ properties | The essentials, done properly. Clean rooms, licensed guides, no shortcuts. | $650 |
| Mid-range4★ superior | 10 – 12 days | 4★ superior + deluxe cruise | Bigger rooms, better food, and named-brand cruise boats. | $1,075 |
| Luxury5★ | 12 – 14 days | 5★ Cairo & Luxor · luxury cruise | Suites, fine dining, resident Egyptologist on the cruise. | $1,500 |
All prices are per person and fall with group size. Send us the number and we'll quote it exactly.
Why book with us
What sits inside the price
Egypt is cheap to book badly. These four are the difference, and they are written into every confirmation we send.
Licensed Egyptologists only
A Ministry licence and a degree in Egyptology. No drivers doubling as guides.
IncludedOne price, quoted upfront
Entry tickets, transfers, guiding and taxes are in the number you approve.
No extrasHotels we have slept in
Inspected in person, named on your voucher. If a room isn't what we promised, we move you.
InspectedOne number, 24/7
The same WhatsApp thread from enquiry to airport, staffed by the person who planned your trip.
24 / 7Traveller reviews
What guests say
Collected from TripAdvisor and Google. We publish the critical ones too.
4.9
345+ reviews on TripAdvisor & Google
“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.”
Before you go
Travel tips for Egypt
The things guests ask us on the phone, answered properly. Written by the team who meet you at the airport.
When to travel
October to April for the archaeology. May to September for the Red Sea, at roughly two-thirds of the price.
November – FebruaryPeak season. Luxor sits at 23–25°C, ideal for tombs and temples. Busiest and priciest — book about three months ahead.
March – April, October – NovemberOur own favourite. 29–35°C, noticeably thinner crowds, and prices below the December peak.
May – September41°C in Upper Egypt by lunchtime. Excellent for Hurghada and Sharm, hard work in the Valley of the Kings unless you finish by eleven.
Nights get cold8°C in Luxor in January is normal, and cruise sun decks are chilly after dinner. Bring a jacket — nobody expects to need one.
What we'd book. Late October or early November for a first trip — warm enough for the coast, cool enough for the tombs, six weeks clear of the Christmas crowds.
Visas & entry
Most nationalities can get a visa on arrival or apply online before travelling. Your passport must be valid for at least six months from your arrival date.
Visa on arrivalUS$25 in cash at Cairo, Hurghada, Sharm and Luxor airports. Single-entry, 30 days.
e-Visa (recommended)Apply at visa2egypt.gov.eg 7 days before travel. US$25, single-entry.
Passport validitySix months from arrival, plus one blank page for the entry stamp.
Sinai-only exemptionFree 15-day permit for Sharm airport if you're not leaving South Sinai. Ask on arrival.
Money & tipping
The currency is the Egyptian pound (EGP). US dollars and euros are widely accepted at hotels and cruise boats; local shops and cafés want EGP.
ATMsWidely available in Cairo, Luxor and the resort towns. Withdraw EGP for local spending; the exchange rate is fine.
Guide tippingUS$10–15 per person per day is the norm. Driver US$5. Restaurant staff 10% if not on the bill.
Cruise crewUS$70–100 per person for a 4-night cruise, pooled and split by the boat manager on the last night.
Card acceptanceHotels and 4★+ restaurants take Visa and Mastercard. Small shops and cafés want cash.
What to wear
Layered light clothing during the day, something warmer for the desert at night, and a scarf if you're visiting mosques or churches.
At the sitesClosed shoes with grip (the tombs are steep), a hat, sunglasses and sun cream.
At the mosquesShoulders and knees covered. Shoes off at the door — a light scarf handles it.
On the cruiseSmart casual at dinner, swimwear on the sun deck, light layers for the top deck at sunset.
In summerCotton or linen. Loose fit. Colours don't matter — locals wear everything from black to bright.
Health & safety
Egypt is generally safe for tourists, especially in the main destinations. Standard travel-health precautions apply.
WaterBottled only, and included on every day tour. Ice at hotel and cruise restaurants is fine.
Travel insuranceComprehensive cover is a condition of booking. Must include diving and ballooning if you're adding those.
MedicalCairo and Sharm have international hospitals (As-Salam, Sharm International). Pharmacies open late, most staff speak some English.
EmergencyOur WhatsApp is answered day and night. If it's a medical situation we call an ambulance for you and meet you at hospital.
Customs & etiquette
Egyptians are famously hospitable, and small courtesies go a long way. The below is the minimum.
PhotographyAsk before photographing people. Never photograph military or police installations.
RamadanSites stay open with shorter hours. Many restaurants close during the day; hotels serve normally.
AlcoholAvailable in hotels, cruise boats, and licensed restaurants. Not sold in supermarkets during Ramadan.
HagglingExpected at Khan El Khalili and the papyrus/perfume shops. Start at 40% of the asked price. Not expected at supermarkets, restaurants or hotels.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
A luxury Nile cruise is a 5-star boat with suites that have private balconies on every cabin, fine à la carte dining, and the quietest sun deck on the river. Many luxury boats also carry a resident Egyptologist who lectures each evening. Every cruise is full board with all excursions and entry fees included.
Luxury Nile cruises run as four-night or seven-night sailings. The four-night option covers the core Luxor-to-Aswan temples, while seven nights allows a slower, more relaxed pace with more time at each site. Because your tour is private, we fit the cruise around your wider Egypt itinerary.
No. The temples are identical across all cruise classes because they follow the river. What luxury changes is the boat itself, the balcony suites, the dining and the fact that you share it with around 80 rather than 120 guests. The sightseeing at Karnak, Edfu and Kom Ombo is the same experience.
On the luxury 5-star boats we use, suites come with private balconies on every cabin, so you can watch the Nile slide past from your own room. Cabin categories vary between vessels, so tell us your preference and we will name the exact boat and suite on your voucher before you commit.
Yes. Luxury cruises typically have a resident Egyptologist on board who gives evening lectures in addition to guiding the shore excursions. This means you get context before you visit each temple as well as a licensed guide walking you through the sites the following day.
Something different in mind?
Tell us what you most want to see. A consultant in Cairo replies with a draft itinerary and a real price within one working day.