Grand Mandarin Nile Cruise
A 5-star Nile cruiser with panoramic windows, a sun deck, lounge bar, full-board dining, and weekly sailings between Luxor and Aswan.
At a glance
- Length
- 5 days · 4 nights
- Embarks
- Mon, Fri
- Board
- Full Board
- Class
- 5-star
Snapshot
Good to know
- Destinations
- Luxor · Edfu · Kom Ombo · Aswan
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.
The vessel sails weekly in both directions between Luxor and Aswan. We select the sailing, arrange your cabin and shore excursions, and have our Egyptologists ready to put each site into context.
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
Both directions
Where this ship sails
This vessel works more than one stretch of the river. The direction changes the order of the temples, the number of nights and which city you fly out of.
On board
Detailed itinerary
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
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
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.
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.
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.
If plans change
Cancellation and refunds
What you get back if you cancel depends on how far ahead of your trip you tell us and the type of trip you book. Read our current cancellation and refund policy
Location
On the map
Product ID: CRU-NIL-835568
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