Skip to content
From per person$698
Nile Cruise5-Star DeluxeLuxor → Aswan

Kontiki Nile Cruise

Five-star cabins, most with Nile-view windows or balconies; sun deck, lounge bar and indoor dining, full-board meals and planned shore excursions between Luxor and Aswan.

At a glance

Length
8 days · 7 nights
Embarks
Wed, Sat
Board
Full Board
Class
5-star

The short answer

Kontiki Nile Cruise is a 5-star Nile cruise vessel arranged by Discovery Tours Egypt.

Snapshot

Good to know

Destinations
Luxor · Edfu · Kom Ombo · Aswan
Guide languages
English · French · German · Italian · Others

02Overview

A first look

By dawn the Nile's surface goes quiet and the Kontiki's pale hull sits low in the water, sunlight catching the palm-lined riverbanks as you step into a cabin with a Nile-view window or balcony. On shaded sun-deck mornings the air smells faintly of hibiscus and baking bread from nearby villages, while the lounge bar offers a quiet seat between shore excursions.

We carefully select the Kontiki for its balanced schedule, relaxed on-board atmosphere and graded cabins, and we arrange your full-board embarkation, cabin grade and shore-excursion bookings. Our Egyptologists meet groups ashore to explain each site and answer detailed questions before you return to the vessel.

Background

The facts

Kontiki Nile Cruise is a five-star Nile river vessel used for scheduled sailing between Luxor and Aswan. The cruise is arranged by Discovery Tours Egypt, while the vessel itself is owned and operated by a third-party cruise line. It is typically sold on a per-person sharing basis, with a single supplement for sole occupancy.

Cabins are graded Standard, Deluxe, and Suite, and many cabins feature Nile-view windows or balconies. On board, the vessel includes a sun deck with shaded seating, a lounge bar, and an indoor dining room. Full board usually runs from lunch on embarkation day through breakfast on disembarkation day, with meals served while sailing on the Nile.

The vessel’s shore-excursion program commonly includes Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, Edfu Temple of Horus, Kom Ombo Temple, Philae Temple, and the Valley of the Kings. These are major Upper Egypt monuments connected by river cruising between the Luxor and Aswan embarkation points. The cruise typically sails weekly in both directions, so shore days alternate with sailing days rather than following a fixed point-to-point transfer pattern.

Karnak is a large temple complex on the east bank of Luxor, developed from the Middle Kingdom onward and expanded under New Kingdom pharaohs such as Seti I and Ramesses II. The Valley of the Kings is on the west bank of Luxor and contains royal tombs from the Eighteenth, Nineteenth, and Twentieth Dynasties. Philae is reached near Aswan and is associated with the cult of Isis; the temple complex was relocated during the UNESCO Nubian Monuments campaign to protect it from flooding.

Suited to

Is this for you?

Yes, if

  • This cruise suits travelers who want a structured Nile itinerary with comfortable cabins, set meals, and time on board between sightseeing stops. It is a good fit for adults, couples, and history-focused visitors who are comfortable with repeated embarkation and disembarkation at river ports and monument sites.

What lingers

  • 01Five-star cabins graded Standard, Deluxe and Suite, most with Nile-view windows or balconies
  • 02Sun deck with shaded seating, lounge bar and indoor dining room
  • 03Full-board dining from embarkation lunch through disembarkation breakfast
  • 04Planned shore excursions to Karnak, Luxor Temple, Edfu (Temple of Horus), Kom Ombo, Philae and the Valley of the Kings
  • 05Weekly sailings in both directions between Luxor and Aswan, giving shore days alternating with sailing days

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

At sea

Detailed itinerary

Based on embarkation from Luxor and disembarkation in Aswan.

  1. 1

  2. 2

  3. 3

  4. 4

  5. 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.

8 Days / 7 Nights · Luxor to Luxor

CabinLowHighPeak
Single Cabin$2,309$3,140$3,971
Triple Cabin$874$1,019$1,165
Double Cabin$1,040$1,259$1,477

5 Days / 4 Nights · Luxor to Aswan

CabinLowHighPeak
Single Cabin$1,482$1,957$2,432
Triple Cabin$662$745$828
Double Cabin$757$882$1,007

4 Days / 3 Nights · Aswan to Luxor

CabinLowHighPeak
Single Cabin$1,206$1,562$1,918
Triple Cabin$591$653$716
Double Cabin$662$756$849

8 Days / 7 Nights · Aswan to Aswan

CabinLowHighPeak
Single Cabin$2,321$3,153$3,984
Triple Cabin$886$1,032$1,178
Double Cabin$1,053$1,271$1,490

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.

Bundled in

  • Full board

The fine print

What's included – and what isn't

Included

  • Accommodation aboard the Kontiki Nile Cruise
  • Full board meals: lunch on embarkation day through breakfast on disembarkation day (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
  • Scheduled shore excursions as per the vessel's excursion program, to Karnak, Luxor Temple, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Philae and the Valley of the Kings
  • Use of on-board facilities: sun deck, lounge bar and dining room

Not included

  • Drinks beyond bottled water with meals, unless stated otherwise
  • Gratuities to crew and guides
  • Personal expenses and optional shore activities not listed in the vessel program
  • Entrance fees that are optional or premium, for example premium tombs or pyramid interiors where applicable

Before you go

What to pack & wear

Children & families

Children 0–5.99 years travel free; 6–11.99 years pay 50%; 12+ pay the full adult price. Children must share a cabin with their parents (maximum one child per cabin). Two or more children require their own cabin.

Location

On the map

Luxor and Aswan — where it sails in EgyptMediterranean SeaRed SeaWestern DesertEastern DesertLake NasserLuxorEdfuKom OmboAswanCairoAbu SimbelN
Cairo lies north; your cruise is the gold stretch in the south. The Nile flows north, so sailing upstream means heading south.

Asked & answered

Frequent questions

  1. 01What is the typical duration of a Kontiki Nile Cruise sailing?
    The Kontiki Nile Cruise typically offers sailings of 3, 4, or 7 nights, traveling between Luxor and Aswan. We arrange these cruises as part of longer Egypt itineraries, allowing you to experience the Nile at a comfortable pace.
  2. 02What is included in the full board meals on the Kontiki Nile Cruise?
    Full board on the Kontiki Nile Cruise includes lunch on your embarkation day through breakfast on your disembarkation day. This covers breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily, served in the vessel's main dining room.
  3. 03What shore excursions are part of the Kontiki Nile Cruise program?
    The Kontiki Nile Cruise includes scheduled shore excursions to major sites such as Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, the Temple of Horus at Edfu, Kom Ombo Temple, Philae Temple, and the Valley of the Kings. These visits are coordinated by the vessel's crew.
  4. 04What is the policy for children traveling on the Kontiki Nile Cruise?
    Children aged 0–5.99 years travel free, while those 6–11.99 years pay 50% of the adult price. Children aged 12 and above pay the full adult fare. One child maximum can share a cabin with parents; two or more children require their own cabin.
  5. 05What should I wear for shore excursions from the Kontiki Nile Cruise?
    For shore excursions, we recommend comfortable walking shoes, a hat, sunglasses, and light, breathable clothing. When visiting temples and mosques, modest dress is advised, covering shoulders and knees out of respect.
  6. 06Are drinks included with meals on the Kontiki Nile Cruise?
    Drinks beyond bottled water served with meals are typically not included in the full board arrangement. You can purchase additional beverages, including soft drinks, juices, and alcoholic drinks, from the lounge bar or dining room.
  7. 07What are the cabin options available on the Kontiki Nile Cruise?
    The Kontiki Nile Cruise offers various cabin grades, including Standard, Deluxe, and Suite categories. All cabins feature panoramic windows or balconies with Nile views, providing comfortable accommodation during your sailing.
  8. 08What is the single supplement policy for solo travelers on the Kontiki Nile Cruise?
    Pricing for the Kontiki Nile Cruise is generally per person sharing a cabin. Solo travelers will typically incur a single supplement charge for sole occupancy of a cabin. Please enquire for specific rates.
  9. 09What facilities are available on board the Kontiki Nile Cruise?
    On board the Kontiki Nile Cruise, guests can enjoy a sun deck with a swimming pool, a comfortable lounge bar, and a main dining room. These facilities offer spaces for relaxation and socialising between shore excursions.
  10. 10What is the best time of year to experience a Kontiki Nile Cruise?
    The best time to experience a Kontiki Nile Cruise is typically from October to April, when the weather is cooler and more pleasant for sightseeing. Summer months, from May to September, can be very hot, especially in Upper Egypt.

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 18 May 2026Product ID: CRU-NIL-624028

You Might Also Like

Blue Shadow Nile CruiseNile

7 Nights

Blue Shadow Nile Cruise

Blue Shadow is a 3/4/ or 7-night Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan, visiting Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, Edfu, Kom Ombo, and Philae. We run small-group departures, maximum eight guests, with English-speaking Egyptologists guiding all listed tours. Full-board meals are served onboard, and we provide meet-and-assist on arrival, air-conditioned transfers, entrance fees to the listed sites, and a complimentary bottle of water per person per day. The Aswan disembarkation includes an optional Abu Simbel excursion. Compared with shorter Nile sailings, the 7-night itinerary spaces temple visits over more days to avoid back-to-back early mornings. Arranged by Discovery Tours Egypt, a licensed Egyptian tour operator, we arrange all on-the-ground details and local guides for each excursion.

Concerto Nile CruiseNile

7 Nights

Concerto Nile Cruise

Sail the Nile between Luxor and Aswan aboard the Concerto, visiting Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, Edfu, Kom Ombo, and Philae. The vessel runs in both directions, allowing embarkation in Luxor or Aswan. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator, and our Egyptologists lead the guided visits, with on-site groups limited to eight guests for commentary and questions. Onboard facilities include a swimming pool, spa, panoramic lounge, and a sun deck used for lunches; evenings often feature a folkloric show. Unlike some motor-cruise schedules, this itinerary allocates longer visits at Edfu and Kom Ombo, and leaves afternoons for leisure or optional extras. We handle local arrangements on the ground, so you meet your guide at embarkation and proceed directly to the scheduled visits.

Concerto Plus Nile CruiseNile

7 Nights

Concerto Plus Nile Cruise