What to Pack for a Nile Cruise: Clothes, Essentials and What to Leave at Home

For a Nile cruise, pack light, breathable clothes that cover your shoulders and knees for the temple visits, comfortable closed walking shoes, swimwear for the sun deck pool, one or two smart-casual outfits for dinner, strong sun protection and, from November to February, a warm layer for early starts and evenings on deck. Cabins are compact, so a medium suitcase is plenty for three to seven nights, and laundry is usually available on board. To know what the fare already covers, read what a Nile cruise package includes.

We put travellers on cruises between Luxor and Aswan throughout the year. This list covers what is different about packing for a cruise compared with the rest of an Egypt trip; for the general list, see our guide on what to pack for a trip to Egypt.

During the day: excursions

Every day of a cruise includes one or two temple visits: Karnak and Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Philae and others. You walk on stone and sand, often in strong sun. Light, loose clothes in cotton or linen, covering shoulders and knees, are cooler and respectful. The UK government advises visitors to dress modestly, especially in rural areas, mosques and markets, and the towns along the Nile are more traditional than Cairo or the Red Sea resorts.

On board

Between visits you relax on the sun deck. Swimwear is normal by the pool; bring a cover-up or shirt for walking through the boat and the restaurant.

At dinner

Most Nile cruise ships have a smart-casual dress code in the restaurant: trousers or a skirt, a shirt or blouse. There is no need for formal wear, a suit or an evening dress, although some guests dress up on the last night. Shorts and swimwear are not appropriate at dinner. Dining is one of the things that improves on our luxury Nile cruises, along with larger cabins.

The Egyptian (galabeya) night

Many ships hold an Egyptian evening with music and a buffet, where guests are invited to wear a galabeya, the long traditional robe. You do not need to pack one: you can buy one in the bazaars of Luxor or Aswan, often for a modest price after bargaining, or on board.

November to February

Sunny, warm days, but cool mornings and evenings, and the wind on the open deck makes it feel colder. Pack a fleece or light down jacket, a scarf and long trousers. If your cruise includes an early-morning trip to Abu Simbel, or you take a sunrise hot air balloon in Luxor, you will want a warm hat and gloves for the first hour.

March to April and October

The most comfortable months, warm by day and mild at night. Summer clothes plus one warm layer.

May to September

Very hot in Luxor and Aswan, with average daytime highs above 40°C in Aswan in June to August. Pack your lightest long clothes, a hat, cooling towel and plenty of sun protection. Excursions start very early, at 6:00 or 7:00, so that you are back on the boat before the worst heat. Our article on the best month for a Nile cruise compares the seasons.

• Closed walking shoes or trainers for the temples and the Valley of the Kings, where the ground is uneven and dusty.
• Sandals or flip-flops for the boat, the pool deck and the evenings.

Heels are impractical: you cross from boat to boat at the moorings, often over several other ships, on gangways.

• Toiletries: ships provide soap and shampoo; bring anything specific you need, in travel sizes.
• Sun protection: SPF 50 sunscreen, lip balm with SPF and after-sun. The reflected light on the river and the deck burns quickly.
• Stomach: anti-diarrhoea tablets and rehydration salts. Drink bottled water, which is easy to get on board.
• Mosquitoes: insect repellent for evenings, especially in summer and in Aswan.
• Seasickness: rarely a problem; the Nile is calm.
• Personal medicines: enough for the whole trip, in original packs; pharmacies on the route are limited during sailing days.
• Do not swim in the Nile: the CDC advises travellers in Egypt to avoid swimming in fresh water because of schistosomiasis. Use the ship's pool.

• Plug adapter: Egyptian sockets are type C and F at 220 V. Cabins often have only one or two sockets, so a small multi-USB charger helps.
• Power bank for long excursion days.
• Camera or phone: sunsets from the deck and the riverbanks are among the best photos of the trip. Drones are not allowed without military permission and are confiscated at the airport, according to the UK government's advice.
• Wi-Fi: often weak or slow while sailing. A local SIM card or eSIM is more reliable near towns.

• Passport and visa: the ship keeps passports at reception during the cruise on many boats, for the passenger registration. Keep a photo of the main page on your phone.
• Card and cash: drinks and extras on board are usually paid at the end, by card or cash. Carry small Egyptian pounds for tips at the sites, the horse carriages at Edfu and small purchases.
• Tips for the crew: most ships collect tips for the whole crew at the end of the cruise, in an envelope or box at reception, separate from your guide's tip. Ask your operator for the usual amount when you book.
• Insurance: carry the policy details and emergency number.

A typical Luxor to Aswan cruise has a different visit almost every day, and each one asks for slightly different things in your day bag:

• Long days: many excursions start between 6:00 and 7:00, so pack the day bag the night before.
• Crowds: the main temples are busy in high season. Keep valuables in a zipped bag and stay close to your guide.
• Terrain: sand, uneven stone, steps into tombs and gangways between moored boats. A free hand helps, so a backpack is better than a shoulder bag.
• Hydration: most ships give or sell bottled water to take on excursions; take one every time, even in winter.

• A pair of binoculars for birdlife and the riverbanks.
• A book or e-reader for the sailing afternoons.
• A scarf: it covers your shoulders in a temple and protects you from wind on the deck.
• A small day backpack and a refillable bottle for excursions.
• A light torch for tombs and dim corridors.

Families do well on a cruise: the boat is a safe base, the pool keeps children happy between visits, and the sailing afternoons are a chance to rest. Semramis II, for example, has a pool on its sun deck. Pack extra sun protection and a sun hat for each child, a light long-sleeved swim top for the pool deck, snacks they like for the early excursions, a small torch for the tombs (children love spotting details in the dark), and a book or tablet for the quiet hours. Pack a few spare clothes too: dust, ice cream and pool days add up quickly.

• Formal wear: smart-casual is enough.
• A large hard suitcase: cabins are small and storage is under the bed.
• Too many shoes: two pairs, three at most.
• Expensive jewellery.
• A drone.
• A hairdryer: most cabins have one.

A dahabiya, the traditional sailing boat with only a few cabins, is more relaxed: there is usually no dress code at dinner, and stops are at small villages and islands as well as the big temples. Pack the same day clothes, fewer evening clothes and more sun protection, since you spend more time on the open deck. On a small dahabiya such as Yakouta, with six cabins, the deck is shared by only a few guests. Our comparison of a dahabiya and a Nile cruise explains the difference, and what to expect on a Nile cruise describes a typical day on board.

When you book a cruise with us, we send a short packing note for your dates and ship. The note works for a 3-night or a 4-night program, the two options on ships such as the Jaz Crown Prince. Our 5 days, 4 nights Nile cruise from Luxor and 4 days, 3 nights Nile cruise from Aswan are the classic routes, and our Nile cruise itineraries show the longer options.

Is there a dress code on a Nile cruise?

Most ships ask for smart-casual clothes at dinner: trousers or a skirt and a shirt or blouse. Formal wear is not needed.

Do I need to pack a galabeya?

No. If your ship holds an Egyptian evening, you can buy a galabeya in Luxor, Aswan or on board.

Is it cold on a Nile cruise?

From November to February, mornings and evenings on deck are cool; bring a fleece or light jacket. From May to September it is very hot.

Can I swim in the Nile from the boat?

No. Health authorities advise against swimming in fresh water in Egypt because of bilharzia. Use the ship's pool.