Alexander The Great Nile Cruise
A 5-star Nile cruiser with panoramic windows, sun deck, lounge bar and full-board dining, guided shore excursions and weekly sailings between Luxor and Aswan.
At a glance
- Length
- 8 days · 7 nights
- Embarks
- Wed, Sat
- Board
- Full Board
- Class
- 5-star
The short answer
Alexander The Great Nile Cruise is a five-star Nile cruise vessel operating weekly between Luxor and Aswan, arranged by Discovery Tours Egypt.
- New
Snapshot
Good to know
- Accommodation
- 5-Star River Vessel
- Includes
- Full board meals · Accommodation in booked cabin category · English-speaking Egyptologist on shore excursions · Shared shore excursions as listed · Daily cabin service · Port and harbour taxes where applicable
- Best for
- History enthusiasts · First-time visitors to Egypt · Couples · Families with older children · Travelers seeking guided sightseeing on the Nile
- Guide languages
- English
- Licensed by Egyptian Tourism Authority
- Discovery Tours Egypt
- Full board and shore excursions clearly stated in the itinerary
- English-speaking Egyptologist guiding on listed excursions
- Port and harbour taxes included where applicable
02Overview
A first look
By first light the Nile takes on a washed-gold colour and the vessel's sun deck fills with morning wind and the distant call of fishermen, a quiet start before temples open. On board you move between a shaded sun deck, the lounge bar and the dining room, watching the river banks pass while the cabin steward prepares your luggage and the scent of fresh bread rises at breakfast.
The vessel sails weekly in both directions between Luxor and Aswan, and our shore-excursion programme is timed for photography and comfortable walking. We do not run large coach tours; our Egyptologists lead visits on-site, and we arrange embarkation formalities and full board from lunch on embarkation day.
Background
The facts
Alexander The Great Nile Cruise is a five-star river vessel that sails on the Nile between Luxor and Aswan. The cruise program is built around shared shore excursions to major Upper Egypt monuments, including Karnak Temple on the east bank of Luxor, Luxor Temple in the city center, the Valley of the Kings on the West Bank, Edfu’s Temple of Horus, Kom Ombo, and Philae near Aswan. Embarkation and disembarkation take place at Luxor and Aswan, and the vessel sails weekly in both directions.
Cabins are graded into Standard, Deluxe, and Suite categories, with Nile-view windows or balconies available in selected cabins. On board, the vessel includes a sun deck, lounge bar, and dining room. Full board applies from lunch on embarkation day through breakfast on disembarkation day, while drinks beyond still water are usually extra.
The shore-excursion schedule includes guided visits with English-speaking Egyptologists. Karnak Temple is a large temple complex associated with Thebes and expanded over many centuries; Luxor Temple stands closer to the Nile in central Luxor; the Valley of the Kings contains royal tombs from the New Kingdom; Edfu’s Temple of Horus is one of Egypt’s best-preserved Ptolemaic temples; Kom Ombo is a dual temple dedicated to Sobek and Horus; and Philae is a temple complex relocated to Agilkia Island after the construction of the High Dam.
This vessel is arranged by Discovery Tours Egypt, a licensed Egyptian tour operator, and the cruise is booked as part of a managed travel program with port taxes and shared excursions included where stated.
Named in this entry
Nile River·Luxor·Aswan·Karnak Temple·Luxor Temple·Valley of the Kings·Temple of Horus·Edfu·Kom Ombo Temple·Philae Temple·Agilkia Island·High Dam·Egyptologist·Thebes·New Kingdom
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- This cruise suits travelers who want a guided Nile journey with comfort-level accommodation, structured sightseeing, and minimal logistics. It is a strong fit for couples, solo travelers, and families with older children who are interested in ancient Egyptian history and temple visits.
What lingers
- 01Sun deck with shaded seating and panoramic Nile views for late-afternoon light
- 02Graded cabins: Standard, Deluxe and Suite classes with Nile-view windows or balconies where available
- 03On-board lounge bar and dining room serving full board meals, plus afternoon tea on most sailings
- 04Shore excursions led by qualified Egyptologists to Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple and the Valley of the Kings
- 05Visits to Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae, with time ashore for temple exploration and photography
- 06Embarkation and disembarkation at Luxor and Aswan, with weekly sailings in both directions
Worth knowing
How this compares
Unlike a land-based Luxor-Aswan transfer, this cruise combines accommodation, meals, and sightseeing on the same Nile journey. Compared with independent travel, it provides pre-arranged shore excursions with an Egyptologist, which reduces planning and site-entry coordination. Compared with a short day visit, the vessel allows time to visit several major temple sites in sequence while staying on the river. The graded cabin options and full-board format also make it closer to a floating hotel experience than a simple sightseeing boat.
The route
Luxor and Aswan
- EdfuThe Temple of Horus
- Kom OmboThe Temple of Sobek
Choose your direction
- Luxor → Aswan4 nightsupstream, against the current
- Aswan → Luxor3 nightsdownstream, with the current
- Round-trip7 nightsreturn to Luxor or Aswan
At sea
Detailed itinerary
Based on embarkation from Luxor and disembarkation in Aswan.
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- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Cabin pricing
Pricing & seasonal rates
Per person in USD, based on cabin sharing. Single supplements apply. Holiday surcharges apply at Christmas, New Year & Easter.
4 Days / 3 Nights · Aswan to Luxor
| Cabin | May-August | September-April |
|---|---|---|
| Triple | $776 | $1,201 |
| Double | $851 | $1,276 |
| Single | $1,299 | $1,949 |
5 Days / 4 Nights · Luxor to Aswan
| Cabin | May-August | September-April |
|---|---|---|
| Triple | $950 | $1,500 |
| Double | $1,036 | $1,586 |
| Single | $1,610 | $2,460 |
Children 0–5.99 years free · 6–11.99 years pay 50% · 12+ pay full adult price. Children must share a cabin with parents (max 2 per cabin).
Indicative rates only – pricing and cabins fluctuate. Please enquire for live rates on your specific dates.
On property
What's here
- restaurant
- gym
- bar
- wifi
- spa
- concierge
- business-center
- parking
- rooftop-terrace
Bundled in
- Pool
- Wi-Fi
- Sun Deck
- Restaurant
- Spa
- Swimming pool (sun deck bar)
- Mini bar in cabins
- TV in cabins
- Soundproofed decks
- Lounge bar
- Library
- Boutique / jeweler shop
- Spa center and massage room
- Internet corner
- Laundry and dry cleaning
- Doctor available 24 hours
- Gift shop
- Ultra violet water treatment
- Meeting space
- Major credit cards accepted
The fine print
What's included – and what isn't
Included
- Full board from lunch on embarkation day through breakfast on disembarkation day
- Shared shore excursions as listed in the vessel programme, with English-speaking Egyptologist guiding on-site
- Accommodation in the booked cabin category with daily cabin service
- Port and harbour taxes where applicable
Not included
- Drinks beyond still water with meals unless stated otherwise
- International and domestic flights, visas and travel insurance
- Pyramid interior entry
- Premium tombs (for example Tutankhamun or Seti I) and other optional paid site extras
- Gratuities for ship crew, Egyptologists and local guides unless explicitly included
- Single supplement where applicable
Tailor it
Make it yours
The cruise can often be arranged in different cabin categories, from Standard to Suite, with Nile-view windows or balconies where available. Travellers may also request private arrangements, upgraded cabins, extended pre- or post-cruise stays in Luxor or Aswan, or additional sightseeing depending on availability.
All requests handled by your dedicated specialist before booking.
Accessibility
Who can join this
This cruise involves boarding a river vessel with gangway steps and narrow doorways; passengers should be able to manage 4 to 10 steps when embarking and disembarking. Shore excursions include uneven temple causeways, stone steps at Karnak Temple and the Valley of the Kings, and soft sand at Philae; some tombs require stooping and low-light walking. Wheelchairs are not practical for many temple approaches or interior tomb visits. The vessel has on-board corridors and cabins of varying widths, but accessible cabins are limited; please contact us before booking so we can confirm cabin layout and arrange assistance where feasible. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator and we will meet you on arrival to coordinate transfers and porterage, but do not promise full accessibility at all archaeological sites.
Before you go
What to pack & wear
What to bring
- Valid passport and a printed booking voucher
- Sun protection: high SPF sunscreen, wide-brim hat and sunglasses
- Comfortable walking shoes with grip for uneven stone and steps
- Lightweight daypack for camera, water and a light layer
- Refillable water bottle (there are water stations on board)
- Small torch or phone torch for dim tomb interiors
- Any required medication in original packaging
What to wear
- Lightweight, loose-fitting clothing in natural fibres
- Covered shoulders and knees for temples and mosques
- A light jacket or shawl for cooler early mornings and evenings
- Non-slip closed shoes for temple stone surfaces
- A hat for sun protection while on the sun deck
Children & families
Minimum age for this cruise is 4 years, due to embarkation steps and shore-excursion logistics. Child fares are available for ages 4 to 11 at reduced rates when sharing a cabin with two adults; infants under 2 travel at a nominal infant rate but must occupy a parent s lap or bring a travel cot if the vessel can accommodate one. Strollers are not practical on board or at many temple sites; a lightweight carrier is more useful for shore visits. High chairs on board are limited and must be requested at booking.
Location
On the map
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
The vessel uses diesel-powered river engines typical of Nile cruisers; on-board power is supplied by the ship's generators while moored and underway. Shore excursions are carried out in air-conditioned coaches that meet local emissions standards; we engage local coach companies and Egyptologists so payments support nearby businesses. Crew, catering and cleaning staff are employed locally and supplied through the vessel's Egyptian crew roster. Where possible, we encourage guests to use refillable water bottles and the vessel provides water stations to reduce single-use plastics. We do not claim formal environmental certification for the vessel; instead, we prioritise supplier relationships that offer transparent waste management and local employment benefits.
Licensed local Egyptologists
ETAA-credentialed, on payroll
Fair wages on the ground
Drivers + guides paid above market
Site preservation
We follow MoTA visitor caps and no-touch protocols
Carbon-aware itineraries
Domestic flights only when train/road is impractical
·In summary
Alexander The Great Nile Cruise includes full board from lunch on embarkation day through breakfast on disembarkation day. Shared shore excursions with an English-speaking Egyptologist visit Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings, Edfu, Kom Ombo, and Philae. Cabins are available in Standard, Deluxe, and Suite categories.
Asked & answered
Frequent questions
01What is the typical duration of the Alexander The Great Nile Cruise?
The Alexander The Great Nile Cruise typically offers sailings of 3 to 4 nights. The vessel sails weekly in both directions, either from Luxor to Aswan or Aswan to Luxor, providing flexibility for your travel plans.02What is included in the full board arrangement on the Alexander The Great Nile Cruise?
Full board on the Alexander The Great Nile Cruise includes all meals, from lunch on your embarkation day through breakfast on your disembarkation day. Still water is provided with meals, but other drinks are typically an additional charge.03What shore excursions are part of the Alexander The Great Nile Cruise programme?
The cruise programme includes shared shore excursions to key sites such as Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings, Edfu (Temple of Horus), Kom Ombo, and Philae. These excursions are guided by an English-speaking Egyptologist.04What should I wear on the Alexander The Great Nile Cruise and during shore excursions?
For comfort on board, casual clothing is suitable. During shore excursions, light, breathable fabrics are recommended. When visiting temples and religious sites, modest dress is appropriate, covering shoulders and knees.05Is the Alexander The Great Nile Cruise suitable for families with children?
The Alexander The Great Nile Cruise can be suitable for families. Children often enjoy the experience of sailing on the Nile and visiting ancient sites. We recommend considering the activity level of the shore excursions for younger children.06What is the accessibility like on the Alexander The Great Nile Cruise and at the sites visited?
Access on board the vessel generally involves stairs between decks. Shore excursions may include walking on uneven ancient stone, sand, and some stairs at temple sites. Travellers with mobility concerns should contact us to discuss specific arrangements.07Are gratuities included in the Alexander The Great Nile Cruise package?
No, gratuities for the ship's crew, Egyptologists, and local guides are not included in the cruise package. It is customary to tip for good service, and we can provide guidance on appropriate amounts.08What kind of cabins are available on the Alexander The Great Nile Cruise?
The Alexander The Great Nile Cruise offers graded cabins, typically including standard, deluxe, and suite categories. All cabins are designed for comfort, often featuring panoramic windows or balconies with Nile views.09What is the best time of year to take the Alexander The Great Nile Cruise?
The most popular time for a Nile Cruise is from October to April, when the weather is cooler and more comfortable for sightseeing. Summer months, from May to September, are hotter but offer fewer crowds.10What happens on embarkation and disembarkation days for the Alexander The Great Nile Cruise?
On embarkation day, you will board the vessel, typically in Luxor or Aswan, and enjoy lunch as your first included meal. Disembarkation occurs after breakfast on your final day, either in Luxor or Aswan, depending on your sailing direction.
If plans change
Cancellation
- More than 30 days
- Full refund less a £50 admin fee
- 15–30 days
- 50% refund
- Within 14 days
- No refund – date changes considered case by case
Last updated 1 July 2026Product ID: CRU-NIL-758050
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