How to Choose the Best Nile Cruise in Egypt: A Step-by-Step Guide

To choose the best Nile cruise in Egypt, decide five things in this order: the route and length (4 nights from Luxor to Aswan or 3 nights from Aswan to Luxor, or a longer trip), the type of boat (a cruise ship with 40 to 80 cabins or a small dahabiya), the comfort level, the season, and what is included, above all a qualified Egyptologist guide and the temple entrance fees. Get those right and almost any well-run boat will give you a good trip.

We book Nile cruises throughout the season, and most disappointments we hear about come from a wrong choice at one of these steps, not from the ship itself. This guide walks you through each decision. You can also compare our top Nile cruise ships as you read.

Almost all Nile cruises sail the 200 km or so between Luxor and Aswan, with stops at Esna, Edfu and Kom Ombo. The main options:

The downstream and upstream versions visit the same main sites; the longer one simply gives you more time in Luxor. Read Luxor to Aswan vs Aswan to Luxor and how many days you need for a Nile cruise to decide. If you are curious about the lake, see Lake Nasser cruise vs Nile cruise. If you want more time on the river, the 8-day Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan and back spends seven nights on one ship and includes Abu Simbel.

Plan the cruise inside your whole trip

Most of our guests fly Cairo to Luxor or Aswan, cruise, and fly back. Add a night in Aswan if you want Abu Simbel without rushing, and a night in Luxor if you want the West Bank at your own pace or a balloon ride.

A ship suits families, first-time visitors and anyone who likes a pool and some company. A dahabiya suits couples and small groups who want calm, more time on the river and stops at small sites the big ships skip. The Farouz El Nil dahabiya, for example, has six cabins and sails a 5-night program from Luxor to Aswan. Our dahabiya vs Nile cruise article goes deeper, and the different types of Nile river cruises covers feluccas and the rest.

Ships on the Nile vary enormously, and official ratings are not a reliable guide. We sort them into three practical levels:

• Standard: clean, simple cabins, buffet meals, a small pool, shared group tours. Good value if you spend your days at the temples. See our budget Nile cruises.
• Premium: larger, renovated cabins, better food, a good sun deck, often smaller tour groups. The best balance for most travellers. See our deluxe Nile cruises.
• Luxury: few, large cabins or suites, often with balconies, a la carte dining, spa, and private or very small guided groups. See our luxury Nile cruises.

What to check at any level

• When the ship was last renovated: it matters more than its age.
• Cabin size and window: panoramic windows or French balconies make a real difference on the river.
• Deck and pool: how much shade, and whether the pool is heated in winter.
• Food: buffet or a la carte, and whether drinks are included.
• Guide group size: one guide for 10 people is a different trip from one for 40.

• October to April: the best weather for temples, and the busiest and most expensive time, especially around Christmas, New Year and Easter. Nights on deck are cool from December to February.
• May and September: hot days, fewer people, lower prices.
• June to August: very hot (often over 40°C in Aswan); visits are scheduled at dawn and late afternoon. Good deals for heat-tolerant travellers.

See the best month for a Nile river cruise for month-by-month detail.

Two cruises with the same ship can have very different prices because they include different things. Ask about each item:

• Full board (breakfast, lunch, dinner); drinks are usually extra.
• Guided visits with a licensed Egyptologist, and the size of the group.
• Entrance fees to the temples and the Valley of the Kings (and which tombs).
• Transfers between the airport or station and the ship.
• Optional extras: Abu Simbel, the balloon ride, sound and light shows, Nefertari's tomb.
• Domestic flights or the sleeper train from Cairo, if part of a package.

Our article what is included in a Nile cruise package lists the usual inclusions, and how much a Nile cruise costs explains the price ranges.

• Luxor: Karnak and Luxor temples on the East Bank; the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's temple and the Colossi of Memnon on the West Bank.
• Esna: the lock, and on some itineraries the Temple of Khnum with its recently cleaned, colourful ceiling.
• Edfu: the Temple of Horus, the best-preserved temple in Egypt, reached by horse carriage from the dock.
• Kom Ombo: a double temple for the crocodile god Sobek and the falcon god Haroeris, with a small crocodile museum.
• Aswan: Philae temple, the High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk, a felucca ride and a Nubian village; Abu Simbel as an optional day trip.

Read what to expect on a Nile cruise for a day-by-day picture of life on board.

Facilities

Every Nile cruise ship has a restaurant, a lounge and bar, a reception and a sun deck with loungers; almost all have a small pool, heated on the better ships in winter. Many add a gift shop, a small gym, a spa or massage room and wifi, which is usually slow on the river. Cabins have private bathrooms, air conditioning and a window; higher categories offer panoramic windows, French balconies or suites with a sitting area. Dahabiyas trade the pool and gym for a large shaded deck, a few cabins and a crew that knows every guest by name.

Food

On standard and premium ships, all meals are usually buffets with Egyptian and international dishes, plus a themed Egyptian dinner and a "galabeya party" one evening. Luxury ships and dahabiyas tend to serve set menus or a la carte meals cooked for a small number of guests. On the Movenpick Royal Lotus, for example, full board includes afternoon tea. Water, soft drinks, beer and wine are normally paid on board; some luxury cruises include them. Tell the operator in advance about vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free or allergy needs: the kitchens handle them well when they know before boarding.

A typical day

Visits start early, often at 6:00 or 7:00, to beat the heat and the crowds; you are back on board for lunch while the ship sails. Afternoons are for the sun deck, with a short visit at Kom Ombo or Edfu at sunset on some days. Evenings bring dinner, a talk or entertainment on ships, and quiet conversation under the stars on dahabiyas.

1. Which exact ship, and when was it last renovated?
2. Which cabin category and deck, and does it have a window or balcony?
3. Is the guide private, or how big is the group?
4. Which entrance fees are included?
5. Are there compulsory gala dinners on Christmas Eve or New Year's Eve, and are they in the price?
6. What is the cancellation policy?
7. How are transfers and flights arranged?

Our step-by-step guide on how to book a Nile cruise covers the booking itself.

Tips are customary in Egypt and form an important part of crew income. Most ships suggest a crew tip collected at the end, in an envelope at the reception, shared among the whole crew. Many travellers budget a few US dollars or euros per person per night for the crew, and tip the Egyptologist guide separately. Ask your operator for the current suggestion for your ship and keep small notes ready; if the service was poor, you are not obliged to tip.

• Choosing on price alone and ending up in a cabin over the engine or on a ship moored five deep.
• Booking the shortest cruise and missing the West Bank or Philae.
• Assuming all entrance fees are included.
• Booking too late for a dahabiya in high season; they have very few cabins.
• Packing only summer clothes for a winter cruise.
• Not checking the sailing day. Most ships leave Luxor or Aswan on fixed days of the week, so your flights and hotel nights need to fit around the cruise, not the other way round.
• Ignoring the time on board. A short itinerary that sails mostly at night leaves little time to enjoy the sun deck and the river views.

Start with our Nile cruise itineraries, or go straight to the 4-night cruise from Luxor or the 3-night cruise from Aswan. If a small boat appeals, see our dahabiya Nile cruises.

How many nights should a Nile cruise be?

Four nights from Luxor to Aswan is ideal for most travellers. Three nights from Aswan to Luxor covers the same main sites at a faster pace.

Is a dahabiya better than a Nile cruise ship?

It is quieter and more intimate, with fewer passengers and private moorings. A ship offers a pool, more facilities and usually a lower price.

When is the best time for a Nile cruise?

October to April for the weather. May and September are hotter but cheaper and quieter.

Are temple entrance fees included on a Nile cruise?

Often, but not always. Check which sites and tombs are included before you book.