Is Nile Cruise worth it? Travel tips about sailing the Nile

Is Nile Cruise worth it?

A trip to Egypt that includes a Nile River Cruise is the trip of a lifetime. Sailing between the cities of Luxor and Aswan on a cruise is one of the most incredible things in Egypt. The energy of the “river of life,” as the locals say, is influential throughout the country, even in Cairo.

It’s impossible to answer this question with “yes” or “no,” because it depends significantly on your travel style. If you are looking for comfort and traveling as a family, I think this is the perfect way to get to know Upper Egypt. If you want to save as much as possible, I suggest looking for other ways to explore the area.

But all we can say is that the Nile cruise in Egypt is worth experiencing at least once in a lifetime. It will take you to another world on the banks of the Nile, full of attractions and picturesque nature.

If you are looking for Egypt Nile Cruise Packages and want to book your Nile cruise trip, this article will answer your key questions: Is the Nile cruise worth it? What is the price? What is the itinerary? Is it suitable for family vacations?

What is the Egypt Nile River Cruise? And why do you take it?

A Nile River cruise is one of the popular ways to see the sights overlooking the Nile in Upper Egypt.

Sailing on an Egypt Nile River Cruise is one of the most incredible and dense things.

Going on a Nile cruise allows you to discover historical sites while sailing through the longest river in the world.

How much does a cruise cost in Egypt?

Several cruises greatly influence the value of the packages you will find on Nile River cruises.

There are:

• 4 days/3 nights packages that start from $ 400
• 5 days/4 nights packages that start from $ 550
• 8-night packages on a luxury ship for $ 2000.

To have a calculation base for your trip, I will list some examples of the cruises I found while researching before my trip.

MS Mayfair Nile River Cruise

Cruise with the best cost x benefit I found! It is ideal for those who have a tight schedule and want to explore southern Egypt in a short time.

Although not luxurious, it has comfortable cabins and a varied menu. Start From U $ 480 per person.

Steignberger Minerva Nile River Cruise

This cruise departs from Aswan on Mondays and Luxor on Thursdays, meaning you will likely find the best sights along the way less tumultuous than usual. Start From $ 550 per person.

Luxor & Aswan Nile Cruises:

Oberoi Zahra – A Luxury Nile River Cruise

A Luxury Nile cruise with more days dedicated to the Luxor – Aswan route makes the itinerary much more peaceful and pleasant. With 6 or 8 days on board the Oberoi Zahra, it is possible to get to know the southern region of Egypt fully. Start From $ 1850 per person.

Luxury Nile Cruises:

When are the Nile cruise prices the lowest?

To ensure you’re prepared to face the weather in Egypt, I think it’s important to know the best time to do a Nile cruise.

The climate in Egypt has two seasons:

• Mild winter, from October to April
• Hot and dry summer, starting in May and ending in September.

The heat is intense in the summer and middle of the year – from June to August.

Summer is considered the low season in Egypt when daily rates are cheaper – it is an excellent time to cruise on the Nile River.

This warmer period can be interesting for those who want to spend less.

What do Nile River cruises include?

During your cruise trip, don’t worry about anything other than exploring the sights, resting, going to the pool, and eating well. It is an excellent choice for a family vacation or to enjoy with two.

Food

All cruises offer full board accommodation. You can have your meals onboard – breakfast, lunch, and dinner; All meals are served buffet-style, and drinks are prepared separately. If you don’t like to venture into Egyptian cuisine, you can rest easy with the varied international cuisine options. If you want to eat traditional dishes during your trip, you will try several of them on the cruise.

Transport

One of the advantages of sailing the Nile is that you do not have to worry about going to tourist attractions because it is all included in your package.

Tours

Egypt is well prepared to receive tourists from all over the world. So, it’s possible to arrange your cruise with a guide who speaks your language. Most significant tours are included, such as visiting the temples of Karnak, Luxor, Edfu, Kom Ombo, and Philae. Also, it is possible to add Abu Simbel or a hot air balloon ride to your package!

What is the Egypt Nile River Cruise itinerary?

There are two widespread routes to sailing the Nile river on a cruise:

• Aswan x Luxor route, which takes 4 days (3 nights).
• Luxor x Aswan route, which takes 5 days (4 nights).

Sailing the Nile between Luxor and Aswan is the most common route for anyone looking to cruise along the Nile River to navigate between two historic cities in southern Egypt: Luxor and Aswan.

Nile cruise itinerary from Luxor to Aswan

Luxor was the capital of Ancient Egypt with the name of Thebes – so far, where most archaeological treasures have been found across the country.

For those who choose to leave Luxor, get ready to discover the largest temple complex in the world, the Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple, right away.

On the second day, continue to explore Luxor: the Temple of Hatshepsut and the Valley of the Kings. Following, the cruise sails to the Edfu Temple.

After overnighting in Edfu, you will proceed to Kom Ombo and Aswan.

In Aswan, visit the Upper Aswan Dam, Unfinished Obelisk, and the Temple of Philae. Also, you can take a felucca tour of the Nile.

Nile cruise itinerary from Aswan to Luxor

Aswan is a small city built on the Nile River’s banks, full of beautiful and picturesque nature that will amaze you.

If you choose to start your tour in Aswan, you will visit the Aswan Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk, and the Philae Temple on the first day.

On the second day’s morning, there will be a visit to the Sobek Temple in Kom Ombo and, next, to the Edfu Temple.

On the third day, you will visit the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, Luxor, and Karnak temples.

On the morning of the fourth day, it is time to say goodbye to the cruise.

How long would it take to sail down the Nile?

One of the essential pieces of information in deciding how many days to cruise on the Nile.

The number of days will impact how much you pay and visit tourist attractions. The most common are 4-night cruises and 3-night cruises.

We offer 4-night cruises from Luxor and 3-night cruises from Aswan.

Nile River Cruise: 3 nights

The 3-night cruise usually departs from Aswan.

Visits to the Philae Temple, Aswan Dam, and a visit to the Nubian village are included.

If you want to visit the unfinished obelisk and Aswan Museum, you can spend a day in the city before starting your cruise.

You can visit Abu Simbel Temple (usually paid separately), one of Egypt’s most beautiful temples.

The 3-night cruise is the most cost-effective as it visits almost the same places as the 4-night and 7-night cruises.

The trip is more crowded because there are at least two visits per day and you don’t spend much time in each tourist attraction.

Nile River Cruise: 4 nights

The four nights Nile River cruise is the most popular as it is always the best option for visitors.

The city is the leading tourist destination when it comes to ancient Egypt.

The 4-night cruise visits almost the same places as the 3-night cruise.

The difference is that there is more time to explore the sights.

Nile River Cruise: 7 nights

The week-long, 7-night cruise is the quietest and slowest-paced.

The itinerary doesn’t change much from the other two cruises mentioned above, so you have more time to relax on the boat.

In addition, there is a free day in Luxor, ideal for discovering attractions that are not on the itinerary of the guided tour.

It is the best option for seniors who want to visit historical attractions and relax.

Another exciting aspect is that this cruise departs and returns from Luxor.

Unlike other cruises that embark in Luxor and disembark in Aswan or vice versa.

This cruise is not very popular, mainly due to the higher value, so fewer companies offer it.

Nile River Cruises: Which cruise to choose?

The great thing about taking a cruise is having everything at your disposal during the cruise.

All cruises are all-inclusive, meaning that meals – breakfast, lunch, and dinner – and drinks are included in the price.

Types of cruises:

All Egypt cruises are rated five stars; there are:

• Standard cruise
• Luxury cruises
• Superior luxury
• Dahabiya Boats

Standard 5-star cruises are the most functional, but having the luxury, five stars are a little more comfortable. They have a gym, spa, suites with balconies, environments with a more “premium” decoration, and more diversified food.

Best Dahabiya Nile Cruise:

When to take the Nile River cruise?

Knowing the best time to do a Nile cruise is the key to the magic of a beautiful vacation on the banks of the Nile.

You can do the cruise all year round. However, we recommend avoiding choosing the summer months (June to August) as the cheapest period.

Many archaeological sites have little shade, which prompts you to walk under the scorching sun.

Therefore, October to April is the best time for the Nile river cruise when the temperatures are less intense and more pleasant for tourism in southern Egypt.

Please read our guide about: Best Time to Travel to Egypt.

What to wear and bring for a Nile cruise?

Of course, you should bring comfortable clothing that breathes well, dries quickly, is lightweight, and does not absorb the sun’s heat.

Linen shirts and pants are the best options for such temperatures as some sportswear.

As a woman, you should wear simple skirts or cotton dresses, which are a great way to stay covered and cool.

It is better not to wear high-heeled evening or narrow shoes since it would not be better to go out on tour to visit temples and enjoy your time.

It is preferred to choose light colors because of the desert character that dominates the weather conditions there.

Also, don’t forget to bring your sunglasses as they are a must when going out on your tour.

You can easily buy your sunglasses outside of many other websites at a meager price.

Finally, it is a good idea to bring a sun hat to protect you from the scorching sun while walking around and visiting temples.

Read our guide about: What to bring for a trip to Egypt?

Egypt Nile River Cruise Tips

It is best to book your tour with a local operator who has experience organizing trips all over the country.

So, Egypt Time Travel has many partnerships with the best cruise operator you can book at the best prices.

Include your Nile cruise trip with one of our Egypt Vacation Packages and get up to 10% off.

It is good to know that there are Nile cruises beyond the High Dam between Aswan and Abu Simbel, called Lake Nasser cruises.

Lake Nasser Cruises:

So, did you manage to define the best cruise option for your trip? I highly recommend setting aside 4 or 5 days of your vacation to Egypt for this. After you return from your trip, tell us in the comments how your experience on a Nile cruise was! I’m sure you will love it too.

Top Egypt Tours with Nile Cruise Trips:

So if you are planning a trip to Egypt? This is a list of the best Egypt tours with Nile Cruise. Book now at the best prices and get a discount when booking!