There are few rivers in the world as exciting to visit as the Nile — at least if you’re into ancient civilizations.
The portion of the Nile that flows through Egypt is lined with the monumental remnants of what some consider the greatest ancient civilization of all time, ancient Egypt, which was at its height more than 3,000 years ago.
During a river cruise on the Nile and related stay in Cairo, Egypt’s capital, you’ll have the chance to visit the Great Pyramid of Giza, which fits its billing as a wonder of the world; the nearby Sphinx; the enormous temples of Karnak (if you’ve seen the James Bond vs. Jaws chase scene in the 1977 film “The Spy Who Loved Me,” you know this site) and the Valley of the Kings — all among the most iconic sites of the ancient world.
If you’re lucky, you might even get to descend into the famed tomb of the pharaoh Tutankhamun (or King Tut, as he’s often called), where the British archeologist Howard Carter famously saw “wonderful things.”
Those wonderful things, meanwhile, are now on display at the new Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo, which you likely will also tour.
Through it all, you’ll be regaled with tales of the stunning span of history that was the age of the pharaohs by an expert guide — an Egyptologist, as they’re called.
In short, a trip to the Nile is a chance to relearn everything your second grade teacher taught you about ancient Egypt, which drove a great leap forward in everything from architecture and engineering to astronomy and medicine.
Except that, unlike in second grade, you won’t be learning about it in a classroom back home. You’ll be right there.
As someone who has had the privilege of cruising on the Nile quite a few times over a long career as a travel writer, I can tell you that it truly is a trip of a lifetime.
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Here, a guide to everything you need to know about Nile River cruises and cruisetours.
Which companies offer Nile River cruises?
Most of the major river cruise companies that cater to North Americans offer sailings on the Nile with at least one or two vessels. These include the four biggest river cruise companies focused on North American travelers:
- AmaWaterways
- Avalon Waterways
- Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
- Viking
Among these brands, Viking is by far the biggest player on the Nile, with eight vessels on the river as of this fall and four more scheduled to debut over the next two years.
Avalon Waterways, AmaWaterways and Uniworld each have two vessels on the Nile.
In addition to trips on these vessels, you’ll find a large number of Nile River cruises marketed by well-known tour operators such as Abercrombie & Kent (a longtime leader in Africa tours of all kinds), Globus, Trafalgar and Tauck, as well as major hotel brands such as luxury purveyor Oberoi Hotels & Resorts, Movenpick Hotels & Resorts and Sonesta International Hotels. Sonesta alone has seven vessels on the Nile, including the just-launched, nine-cabin Sonesta Dahabeya Amirat II.
Related: Why this new AmaWaterways vessel is a top choice for Nile cruises
In some cases, these tour operators and hotel companies are marketing their own vessels. In other cases, they are selling trips on ships operated by another company. Upscale tour operator Tauck, for instance, sells Egypt trips that include a sailing aboard one of Oberoi’s two vessels (Oberoi Philae and Oberoi Zahra). Its customers share the Oberoi vessels with other non-Tauck passengers but are led by a dedicated Tauck guide and have their own exclusive Tauck shore excursions.
Several of these brands have been growing significantly in Egypt in recent years with new vessels.
Among notable new Nile River ship developments in the coming year, for instance, Oberoi is about to launch two more vessels. Both are very small (but very high-end) dahabiyas — a type of traditional two-masted Egyptian sailboat that is often used for small-group trips on the Nile. As is typical for dahabiyas that have been configured for Nile touring (of which there are dozens), each will have fewer than 10 cabins.
Abercrombie & Kent also is about to add a new ship on the Nile — its fifth. The as-yet-unnamed vessel will be one of the most elegant on the river, with 32 upscale cabins with floor-to-ceiling windows and marble bathrooms, a swimming pool and two restaurants.
Note that some of the river lines and tour operators mentioned above offer specific departures geared toward families with young kids. Uniworld, for instance, offers what it calls Generations Collection sailings around school holidays that are staffed with family hosts. These hosts organize kid-centric activities such as a football match with local children, sand dune boarding and a swim in the Nile.
What are Nile River ships like?
In general, Nile River ships aren’t as big as the river ships you’ll find in Europe, which is the world’s biggest river cruise destination. Many hold just 60 to 90 passengers — half as many as the typical river ship on the Rhine or Danube.
That said, Nile River ships often feel more spacious on the inside. This is because they generally are wider than river ships in Europe, allowing for wider interior spaces.
Nile river ships can be wider than Europe river ships because the only lock in the part of the river where they operate is about 50% wider than the locks on Europe’s rivers.
They also can rise higher than Europe-based river ships as there are no low-hanging bridges in their path, as there are on European rivers.
While wider and often taller than river ships in Europe, river ships on the Nile typically are significantly shorter, too, resulting in an overall smaller size.
Even smaller by a significant amount are the dahabiyas mentioned above, which typically have just four to 10 cabins.
When it comes to comfort levels and style, the range of what’s available on the Nile is as diverse as it is on other major river destinations around the world. There are very high-end (and pricey) vessels sailing on the river, such as the ships operated by Oberoi and Viking. There also are many less fancy (and less expensive) options, including small traditional Egyptian sailboats called feluccas that offer no-frills trips (you might be sleeping on deck in a sleeping bag) at a very low cost.
Among my personal favorites are the newer vessels operated by Viking. With the exception of two older vessels (Viking Ra and MS Antares), all of Viking’s ships on the Nile are part of a new and particularly stylish series that just debuted in 2022.
With 41 cabins apiece — just 43% of the number found on most Viking ships in Europe — Viking’s Nile ships are unusually intimate for the brand, with the same clean-lined Scandinavian-influenced design found on Viking vessels everywhere.
Related: Look inside one of Viking’s stylish new Nile River ships
In many cases, Nile River ships operate with far more crew members per passengers than is typical for river ships in Europe, resulting in a high level of service. AmaWaterways’ new AmaLilia, which just debuted in 2024, for instance, has a crew of 65 serving at most 81 passengers — the maximum occupancy for the vessel if every one of its 41 cabins is full. That’s a crew-to-passenger ratio more than twice as high as what is typical on the brand’s European river ships.
What will I see on a Nile River cruise?
The first thing to know is that there are two major must-see areas along the Nile that you’ll want to visit during a trip to Egypt — only one of which you will typically visit by ship.
The first must-see area is Cairo and its environs, which are toward the northern end of the Nile. This is home to the aforementioned pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx, which are just outside the city, as well as the Saqqara pyramids, Grand Egyptian Museum, Alabaster Mosque and Citadel of Saladin.
While Cairo is built along the Nile, it’s typically visited not by river ship but via a stay at a local hotel, usually just before flying to a more southerly part of the Nile for a river cruise.
Related: 10 amazing river cruise destinations beyond Europe
The second must-see area of the Nile is the roughly 130-mile stretch of the river between Luxor and Aswan, which is hundreds of miles to the south of Cairo. This is the part of the Nile you typically do by ship (although you can do it as part of a land trip, too).
This stretch of the Nile is where many of the most iconic sites related to ancient Egypt are located, including the Valley of the Kings (home to the tombs of Tutankhamun, Ramses II, Seti I and many other big-name pharaohs), the temples of Luxor and Karnak, the Great Temple of Kom Ombo, Hathor Temple, and the famously well-preserved Temple of Horus.
While these are two distinct areas of the Nile, separated by hundreds of miles, you shouldn’t worry about booking two separate trips, or segments of trips, to see them. If, like most North Americans, you’re looking at booking a Nile River cruise with one of the major river lines such as Viking or a major tour operator such as Abercrombie & Kent, you’ll more than likely be booking a journey that already combines visits to both of the above areas into a single trip.
Typically, these companies sell what are known as cruisetours in Egypt — trips that combine a multiday cruise with hotel stays and land touring to allow for a wider exploration of the country’s main sites.
AmaWaterways, for instance, starts its Nile River trips with a three-night hotel stay at The St. Regis Cairo for guided touring of all the Cairo area’s major sites. After that, the line flies its customers south to Luxor to board one of its two vessels for a seven-night sailing to Aswan and back to see all of that area’s major sites. The trips, which are 11 nights long in all, end with a flight from Luxor back to Cairo for a final night in the city before passengers return home.
How long are Nile River cruises?
There is a wide range of options when it comes to the length of Nile River cruises and cruisetours that combine a Nile River cruise with a hotel stay in Cairo.
For travelers who want to see the main historical sites in southern Egypt in the quickest possible way, some companies offer Nile River sailings of just three or four nights. These trips typically are one-way between Aswan and Luxor and include a whirlwind series of stops at the best-known sites such as the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Hatshepsut and the Temple of Philae.
Longer seven-night sailings will hit many of the same sites as the shorter sailings but at a more relaxed pace. Instead of touring nonstop every day, which can be exhausting, you’ll usually have several days where you visit just one or two major sites in the morning and then have your afternoon free to relax on board.
Related: The ultimate guide to river cruising
As noted above, many of the best-known cruise and tour brands — the ones that most North Americans book — sell their Egypt cruise trips as longer cruisetours that include a multiday stay at a hotel in Cairo in addition to a multiday cruise in southern Egypt. This allows for touring all the iconic sites in the Cairo area, including the pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx, in addition to the sites along the river cruise route between Luxor and Aswan.
These longer cruisetours often are nine to 11 nights in length, combining three or four nights in Cairo with five to seven nights on a ship.
Some brands also offer optional add-on stays in nearby Jordan or at a Red Sea resort that will let you create an even longer cruisetour through the region that can stretch as long as two weeks.
Add-on stays in Jordan are particularly popular as they include time for a visit to the ancient city of Petra, another iconic site of the ancient world that is on the bucket list of many travelers.
Note that some tour companies in the past have offered extended Nile River itineraries that have included a sailing all the way from Cairo to the historic sites far to the south in the Luxor-to-Aswan area — a voyage that can take two weeks one-way. But these sorts of trips now are relatively rare. The hotel company Movenpick is one brand that still has a vessel (the 104-passenger MS Darakum) offering these sailings at times. The voyages are one-way and typically last 12 to 14 nights.
What is the best month for a Nile River cruise?
As is often the case with river ships around the world, these ships on the Nile typically don’t operate year-round. The main season for river cruising in Egypt is from September through June, with ships pausing operations during July and August due to the extreme heat.
In general, summers in Egypt are very hot, which means that even when cruising resumes in early September, you might find it uncomfortably warm to be touring. The same goes for sailings in May and June. I’ve sailed on the Nile in both these periods and can attest to it being stiflingly hot at times. That said, I still enjoyed these trips. During these months, your guides often will get you out to sites very early in the morning, when the temperature still is relatively pleasant. Or you’ll tour a site late in the day after the sun has begun to wane.
Related: Booking your first river cruise? Here’s what you need to know
The good news is that the high temperatures of the Egyptian summer usually come with relatively low humidity, a “dry heat” that is more bearable than high temperatures in more humid locales. (Think summers in Las Vegas.)
Still, for those seeking lower temperatures, the best time to cruise the Nile River is from October to April. Temperatures might range from 70 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit, without the 100-plus-degree days that can mark the period from May to September. Just be warned that this also is the time when the crowds at sites in Egypt are at their peak.
What should I pack for a Nile River cruise?
In general, people dress conservatively in Egypt, and to be respectful, you should, too. That means bringing clothing that is less revealing than you might wear in the U.S. For women in particular, shorts, tank tops and midriff-revealing clothing aren’t common among the locals, and at some sites, such as mosques and churches, they are not allowed.
If your touring plans on any given day will include a visit to a mosque or church, you’ll want to be wearing clothing that covers your legs and upper arms (if you’re a woman, you might also bring a light scarf that you can put over your head).
Wearing long pants instead of shorts also can be a better choice in Egypt during warmer months from a comfort point of view, too, as it will keep the burning sun off your legs. Just be sure that you pack loose-fitting pants (and shirts), if you have them, to maximize your comfort. Tight-fitting clothing in the heat of Egypt could make you miserable.
You’ll notice that the traditional dress of both men and women in the Nile Valley, the galabeya, is both skin-covering and loose-fitting.
If you can, stick to lighter colors, which won’t absorb as much heat as darker colors, and opt for light, breathable fabrics. Cotten and linen are good choices.
You’ll also want to bring a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and bug spray. And don’t forget comfortable walking shoes. You’ll be doing a lot of walking.
Pro tip: Bring a large wad of crisp $1 bills — at least 100 if not more — to use for everything from tips to shopping in local markets. The dollar is king in Egypt. Merchants love getting them. But they sometimes struggle to make change. And they don’t like worn bills.
Is a Nile River cruise safe?
The U.S. State Department currently has a Level 2 travel advisory in place for Egypt, also known as an “Exercise Increased Caution” advisory, due to what it says is a risk of terrorism in the country.
That said, there hasn’t been a major terrorist incident in the main tourist areas along the Nile in many years, and the places that the State Department specifically says to avoid due to terrorism risk — the Northern and Middle Sinai Peninsula and the Western Desert — are not places that most tourists go.
This has led some safety adviser services to proclaim Egypt as a relatively safe destination for tourists. According to Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection, one of the biggest travel insurance companies, for instance, Egypt ranks as the 32nd-safest country for tourists.
One reason there hasn’t been a major terrorist incident at a tourist site in Egypt in many years is that the government of Egypt takes the security of tourists very seriously — a nod to tourism’s important place in the country’s economy.
To ensure that you remain safe on Nile River cruises, you’ll find you’ll be accompanied on any group outing to a tourist site by a trained and armed security specialist provided by the government. This armed escort — dressed U.S. Secret Service-style in a suit and tie, with a government-issued Heckler submachine gun hidden under the suit jacket — will sit at the front of your tour bus as you travel from your ship to tourist sites and has the sole job of making sure you arrive at the site safely.
You’ll also find a heavy security presence on the roads leading to major tourist sites and at the sites themselves, with sometimes heavily armed “tourist police” posted at all entrances and exits.
This level of security can be jarring to travelers who aren’t used to it. But it has helped the country avoid a repeat of a major terrorism attack at a temple in the Luxor area in 1997 that left dozens of tourists dead and caused tourism to the country to plummet.
How much do Nile River cruises cost?
Nile river cruises offered by the best-known river cruise brands can be expensive. It’s not unusual to see Nile River trips from such leading river cruise operators as Viking and AmaWaterways starting at around $500 to $600 per person, per day. And that’s if you stay in a standard cabin while on the sailing portion of your trip.
Nile trips from these brands that include a room in a top suite on a ship can cost more than $1,000 per person, per day. Add in flights from North America to reach the starting point for such trips, and you can easily end up spending $15,000 or more per couple for the typical 11-night trip that includes four nights at a high-end hotel in Cairo and seven nights on a ship sailing the Nile.
That said, such fares are typically highly all-inclusive, with not just your room for the trip included in the price but most of your meals, beer and wine with lunch and dinner when cruising, and extensive guided tours to all the main sites during every day of your trip. The latter is a significant value, given the high cost and logistical headaches of booking tours separately, as you would if you visited Egypt on your own.
The fares also often include transfers between airports and your hotels and ship, and the flights in Egypt that will get you from Cairo to Luxor for your cruise and back.
In addition, the vessels operated by the best-known river cruise brands typically are the newest and most upscale vessels on the Nile. Most of the Nile vessels marketed by Viking, AmaWaterways and Uniworld in particular have debuted in just the last four years.
You also can find less pricey Egypt trips that include a Nile River cruise from some of the big tour operators such as Globus and Trafalgar. These tour operators often use less high-end hotels and river vessels in their programs than the best-known river lines. Eight-night Egypt trips with a Nile sailing offered by Globus, for instance, start at around $300 per person, per day.
All of the starting prices listed above are for trips during offseason months such as May, June and September. You’ll find that trips during the high-season months from October to April will start at higher prices — in some cases as much as $100 to $150 higher on a per-person-per-day basis.
Bottom line
There may be no more epic place to visit by river cruise ship than the Nile in Egypt. Flowing past such world-famous historical sites as the temples of Luxor and Karnak, and the Valley of the Kings, it is a river that delivers river cruisers to the very heart of one of the world’s most important historical areas.
It’s also a destination that perhaps is best seen via a cruise vessel. Sure, you can visit the historical sites along the Nile by way of an overland trip. But a river cruise makes touring such sites easy. During the river portion of your trip, you will basically just show up, unpack once and be expertly moved from location to location to make the very most of your time.
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