How a Nile cruise works
A classic Nile cruise sails between Luxor and Aswan and stops at the temples of Esna, Edfu and Kom Ombo. You sleep on board, meals are served on the ship, and guided visits are organized for each stop. The number of nights depends on the direction: a typical program takes 4 nights from Luxor to Aswan and 3 nights from Aswan to Luxor. A program that is advertised as five days is 4 nights.
Prices below are examples for 2026. They change with ship class, cabin, season and what is included, so check the price for your dates before you book.
Our picks: Nile cruises
Our take: the first two run three nights and include Abu Simbel, the second adds a balloon flight, and the third starts in Aswan. Entry fees are extra on all three.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
4-day Nile cruise with guided tours and Abu Simbel
- 3 nights on a five-star ship
- Meals on board
- Egyptologist and transfers
Three nights from Luxor to Aswan with meals and an Egyptologist; entry fees and drinks are extra.
Check availability →
4-day Nile cruise with Abu Simbel and a balloon flight
- 3 nights on a five-star ship
- Abu Simbel trip with guide
- Balloon flight
Three nights on a five-star ship, the Abu Simbel trip and a balloon flight over Luxor; entry fees are extra.
Check availability →
4-day Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor with a guide
- 3 nights on a five-star ship
- Full board
- Private Egyptologist
Three nights on a five-star ship with full board and a private Egyptologist; entry fees are extra.
Check availability →Nile cruises and Egypt tours
Nile cruises between Luxor and Aswan, plus temple tours and day trips, with live prices and availability.
Nile cruise prices in 2026: examples
Per person in a double cabin. Check the validity period and cabin before you book.
| Example | Nights | Dates | Per person |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid-range ship | 3 | May to September 2026 | $770 |
| Mid-range ship | 4 | May to September 2026 | $1,008 |
| Mid-range ship | 3 | October 2026 to 30 April 2027 | $1,232 |
| Mid-range ship | 4 | October 2026 to 30 April 2027 | $1,624 |
| Luxury ship, luxury cabin | 4 | 4 November to 21 December 2026 | $4,960 |
| Luxury ship, luxury cabin | 4 | 22 December 2026 to 4 January 2027 | $6,230 |
| Dahabiya, double cabin | 4 | Rate per night | EUR 330 per night, EUR 1,320 for 4 nights |
The mid-range ship prices are per person in a double cabin, and the luxury ship prices are for a luxury cabin on a ship with small-group excursions. The dahabiya total is the nightly rate times 4 nights. For most first-time visitors, a 4 night hotel ship from Luxor to Aswan is the best fit: it covers the main temples and the Aswan sights without a long program. A luxury ship suits you if the cabin and service matter more than the price, and a dahabiya suits you if you want a very small boat.
What the price usually covers
Sellers differ, so compare line by line.
Full board and excursions
A package for a mid-range ship includes full board, group excursions, an English-speaking guide, the entrance fees of the main sights and transfers. Drinks, tips and personal expenses are not included. Full board is not the same as all inclusive.
Another package type
Another package includes full board, standard entrance fees, an English-speaking Egyptologist, a carriage in Edfu and a motorboat to Philae. Flights, hotels before and after, drinks on board and separate tombs are not included. Standard Valley of the Kings entry in such a package means 3 regular tombs.
The stops on the route →Luxury ship
A luxury ship package includes full board, excursions in small groups and airport transfers. Drinks, personal expenses, tips and optional excursions are extra.
Abu Simbel
Abu Simbel is an optional extra in many packages. Check whether it is included in your contract and who pays for the ticket.
Lake Nasser cruise →Booking terms, children and tips
Terms belong to the seller of each package and do not carry over to other cruises.
Payment
For a mid-range ship package, a deposit of 50 percent is due at confirmation and the remaining 50 percent one month before arrival. Both parts are not refundable. Read the terms of your own booking before you pay.
Children
In that package, children under 2 years travel free, children aged 2 to 5.99 pay 25 percent, children aged 6 to 11.99 pay 50 percent, and from 12 years the full price applies. Some ships set their own limits: the luxury ship above does not take children under 7, and children there need their own cabin at the normal price.
Tips
Tips are customary and voluntary. They are paid apart from service charges and taxes, and there is no single fixed amount per cabin and day.
Cabin and view
A Nile view is not the same as a balcony or a window that opens. One long-route ship has cabins at water level with closed portholes and higher suites with panoramic windows. Ask for the cabin category, not only the view.
Where to stay →Safety and swimming
The British government advice mentions accidents on Nile cruises caused by overcrowding and weak safety standards. Ask about safety equipment and the briefing before departure. The German Foreign Office advises against bathing in fresh water because of schistosomiasis, even if a boat advertises a swimming stop.
Other ways to see the river
Smaller boats, shorter rides and the temples on the way.
Luxor to Aswan by boat
Nights per direction, the Esna lock and the stops.
A Nile cruise day by day
An example program from Luxor to Aswan.
Dahabiya trips
Small sailing boats from Esna to Aswan.
Best time for a Nile cruise
Heat, season and a dated price comparison.
Before you board, spend time in Luxor or, for the tombs of the west bank, see the Valley of the Kings.
Nile cruise: frequently asked questions
How much does a Nile cruise cost?
There is no single price. A mid-range ship costs $1,232 for 3 nights and $1,624 for 4 nights per person in a double cabin from October 2026 to 30 April 2027, and a luxury ship costs $4,960 for 4 nights from 4 November to 21 December 2026. Check the validity and what is included before you book.
How many nights do I need?
For Luxor to Aswan, 4 nights is typical. Aswan to Luxor takes 3 nights, and a round trip 7 nights. See Luxor to Aswan.
Are tips and drinks included?
Usually not. The packages above exclude drinks and tips, and tips are customary but voluntary. Full board covers meals, not every drink.
Are temple tickets included?
That depends on the package. Some list the standard entrances, while others exclude Abu Simbel or extra tombs. Ask for the list of included sights before you book.
Is a Nile cruise safe at the moment?
Official advice changes, so check your own government before booking. The German Foreign Office has issued a partial travel warning since 29 September 2026, which names North Sinai, the border area with Israel except Taba and the remote Sahara, and it mentions a general risk of attacks. The British advice lists Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel and the Valley of the Kings among its exceptions for the western desert.
Is this an official cruise website?
No. This is an independent travel guide, not the official website of the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities or of any cruise line, and it is not connected to any tour operator or hotel.