Discovery Tours Egypt
Nile CruiseLuxor → Aswan

Grand Mandarin Nile Cruise

The short answer

Grand Mandarin is a 5-star Nile cruise ship. Embark in Aswan on a Friday for 3 nights to Luxor or a 7-night round trip, or in Luxor on a Monday for 4 nights to Aswan or a 7-night round trip. Rates are on request: send us your dates for a live price.

02Overview

A first look

Morning light moves across the Nile-view balconies as Grand Mandarin Nile Cruise leaves the riverbank, with the lounge bar opening onto a slower view of palms, villages, and passing feluccas. Between sailings, the sun deck gives you space to read, swim, or watch the river change color while meals are served in the dining room. The shore-excursion program brings you ashore at Karnak, Luxor Temple, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Philae, and the Valley of the Kings, with time to notice details that a fast day trip often misses.

We select the sailing, arrange your cabin and shore excursions, and have our Egyptologists ready to put each site into context.

Routes

Where this ship sails

Each route this ship sails. The direction changes the order of the temples, the number of nights and which city you fly out of.

Cabin pricing

Rates on request

We don't have current published rates for this ship. Send us your dates and we'll come back with a live price for the cabin you want.

On board

Detailed itinerary

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Add before or after your cruise

The ship sails between Luxor and Aswan. The Pyramids, and most flights home, are in Cairo. These short add-ons join the two.

How extensions work

Compare

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The route

Luxor and Aswan

  1. LuxorKarnak & the Valley of the KingsEmbark
  2. EdfuThe Temple of Horus
  3. Kom OmboThe Temple of Sobek
  4. AswanPhilae Temple & the High DamDisembark

Choose your direction

  • →Luxor → Aswan4 nightsupstream, against the current
  • →Aswan → Luxor3 nightsdownstream, with the current
  • ↻Round-trip7 nightsreturn to Luxor or Aswan

Snapshot

Good to know

Destinations
Luxor · Edfu · Kom Ombo · Aswan

Before you go

What to pack & wear

What to bring

  • Valid passport and any required visas
  • Comfortable, closed walking shoes with good grip
  • Sun protection: high‑SPF sunscreen, wide-brim hat, sunglasses
  • Reusable water bottle for refill onboard
  • Lightweight daypack for excursions
  • A small torch for uneven temple steps at dawn or dusk

What to wear

  • Lightweight, loose-fitting clothing for hot days
  • Layers for cooler mornings and evenings on deck
  • Shoulders and knees covered for temples and mosques
  • Sturdy closed shoes for archaeological sites
  • A light scarf for sun or modesty as needed

Children & families

Children aged 0 to 5.99 years travel free; children 6 to 11.99 years pay 50% of the adult price; children aged 12 and over pay the full adult price. Children must share a cabin with their parents, with a maximum of one child per cabin; two or more children require a separate cabin. Strollers are practical onboard for transferring between cabin and lounge, but archaeological sites often require folding strollers and a caregiver to carry children up steps at temple landings.

Accessibility

Who can join this

The cruise involves uneven stone at temple landings, ladders, and gangways when embarking and disembarking; expect steps and short inclines at Agilkia Island and Luxor Temple. Walking on archaeological sites includes cobbles, exposed rock, and carved stone with irregular surfaces. Wheelchair users require a folding wheelchair and a travel companion to assist during shore excursions, as permanent ramps are not available at most temple entrances. Onboard public areas are single-level or connected by short staircases; cabins with step-free access are limited. Please contact us with mobility details before booking so we can confirm practical arrangements and suitable cabin placement.

– Responsible travel

How we travel here

The cruise uses modern diesel river cruisers with low-wake hulls and inboard engines; transfers to and from the vessel are by air-conditioned coach or private car, depending on routing. We contract with locally based crew, Egyptologists, and excursion providers paid per tour, which supports local livelihoods in Luxor, Edfu, Kom Ombo, and Aswan. Waste management follows the vessel line's onboard separation and offload procedures at port facilities; single-use plastics are discouraged but may still be used for safety or hygiene reasons. Where possible we prioritise suppliers who hire local guides and source produce from nearby markets, and we encourage guests to leave tips directly with site guides and boat crew to benefit individuals rather than pooled accounts.

  • Licensed Egyptologist guides

    State-licensed, and people we have worked with for years

  • Fair wages on the ground

    Drivers + guides paid above market

  • Site preservation

    We follow the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities' site rules: marked paths, no touching reliefs

  • Local teams, real help

    Our own offices in Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Hurghada, Marsa Alam and Sharm El Sheikh

If plans change

Cancellation and refunds

If you cancel, your refund depends on how early you tell us and on the type of trip. Read our current cancellation and refund policy

Editorial review

Reviewed by Khaled Mansour

Last updated Product ID: CRU-NIL-835568

At a glance

Length
3, 4 or 7 nights
Embarks
Mon in Luxor · Fri in Aswan
Board
Full Board
Class
5-star
Enquire

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