Salacia Nile Cruise
A 5-star Nile cruiser with Standard, Deluxe, and Suite cabins, a shaded lounge bar, sun deck, and full-board dining.
At a glance
- Length
- 4 days · 3 nights
- Embarks
- Wed, Sat
- Board
- Full Board
- Class
- 5-star
The short answer
This deluxe 5-star Nile cruise vessel operates weekly between Luxor and Aswan, arranged by Discovery Tours Egypt and operated by a third-party cruise line.
·In summary
This deluxe 5-star Nile cruise includes cabin accommodation, full board from lunch on embarkation through breakfast on disembarkation, use of the sun deck, lounge bar and dining room, and scheduled shore excursions. The program may visit Karnak Temple, Luxor’s West Bank and Valley of the Kings, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae, with the assigned vessel and exact sequence confirmed at booking.
- Luxury
- Cultural
- Archaeology & history
- Photography
- Couples·
- Seniors·
- Groups
Snapshot
Good to know
- Accommodation
- Deluxe 5-Star Nile Cruiser
- Destinations
- Luxor · Aswan · The Nile · Karnak Temple · Luxor West Bank · Valley of the Kings · Edfu Temple of Horus · Kom Ombo · Philae
- Includes
- Assigned Nile cruiser cabin · Full board from lunch on embarkation through breakfast on disembarkation · Standard, Deluxe and Suite cabin options · Sun deck, lounge bar and dining room access · Scheduled shore excursions · English-speaking cruise host or onboard staff · Onboard service charges and local taxes
- Best for
- First-time Egypt visitors · History enthusiasts · Couples · Families with children · Travelers seeking a structured Nile experience
- Guide languages
- English · French · German · Italian · Others · English
- Discovery Tours Egypt is a licensed Egyptian tour operator.
- The company is Class-A licensed by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism.
- Discovery Tours Egypt is a member of the Egyptian Travel Agents Association, ETAA #718.
- English-speaking cruise host or onboard staff are included according to the vessel program.
- Local support, transport coordination and excursion arrangements are provided by the Egyptian tour operator.
- Cruise and shore-excursion details are confirmed against the assigned vessel’s program before booking.
What lingers
- 01Board at the Luxor Nile pier; reception and luggage handled before the noon sail toward the West Bank.
- 02Guided walk in the Valley of the Kings with entrance to selected tombs and time for photography and commentary.
- 03Karnak visit at first light: guided passage through the Hypostyle Hall and close study of major inscriptions.
- 04Edfu stop with an overnight mooring to allow a full two-hour guided exploration of the Horus Temple.
- 05Kom Ombo visit between sailings; twin temples and crocodile finds lie immediately above the quay with stair access.
- 06Shaded sun deck seating with awnings; Egyptian coffee and tea service in the afternoon as the riverbank landscape passes.
- 07Disembark in Aswan for Philae Temple by motorboat and a timed visit to the Aswan High Dam.
02Overview
A first look
By early morning, the Nile is quiet beyond Salacia’s deck, with the engine’s low hum, warm air, and riverbank palms setting the pace. From your cabin or the shaded lounge bar, you watch village life pass between sailing days and shore excursions at Karnak Temple, the Valley of the Kings, Edfu Temple of Horus, Kom Ombo, and Philae.
The vessel’s Standard, Deluxe, and Suite cabins give you a private base between visits, while the dining room and sun deck keep the experience relaxed rather than rushed. Salacia sails weekly in both directions between Luxor and Aswan. We arrange your cabin, embarkation details, shore-excursion program, and onboard arrangements through a licensed Egyptian tour operator, with our Egyptologists guiding the ancient sites ashore.
Background
The facts
Salacia Nile Cruise is a deluxe 5-star Nile cruise program linking Luxor and Aswan through scheduled sailing days and shore excursions. Embarkation and disembarkation are arranged at Luxor or Aswan, with weekly sailings available in both directions. The assigned Nile cruiser is selected and booked by Discovery Tours Egypt and operated by a third-party cruise supplier.
Cabin categories include Standard, Deluxe and Suite classes. Shared facilities include a sun deck with Nile views, a shaded lounge bar and a dining room. Full board is provided from lunch on the embarkation day through breakfast on the disembarkation day; beverages beyond bottled water with meals are generally additional unless specified.
The excursion program may include Karnak Temple and the Luxor West Bank, including the Valley of the Kings, followed by calls at Edfu Temple of Horus, Kom Ombo and Philae. Karnak is on Luxor’s east bank, while the Valley of the Kings is on the west bank; Edfu lies approximately 110 kilometres south of Luxor, Kom Ombo about 170 kilometres north of Aswan, and Philae is located on Agilkia Island near Aswan.
The exact sequence and timing of visits depend on the sailing program confirmed for the assigned vessel. Premium entrances, such as pyramid interiors and premium tombs, are excluded unless specifically requested; no pyramid sites are part of the standard listed program.
Named in this entry
Luxor·Aswan·The Nile·Karnak Temple·Luxor Temple·Valley of the Kings·Edfu Temple of Horus·Kom Ombo Temple·Philae Temple·Agilkia Island·Nile Valley
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- This cruise suits first-time Egypt visitors, history enthusiasts and couples or families seeking a structured Nile experience with accommodation, meals and guided shore excursions arranged together. Travelers should be comfortable boarding a river vessel, walking across uneven archaeological ground and managing stairs or ramps at monuments and ports.
Maybe not, if
- Travelers requiring full wheelchair accessibility without prior arrangements
- Guests who need a fast-paced, nightlife-focused experience
- Those unwilling to walk on uneven temple stone and steps
Worth knowing
How this compares
Unlike a fixed land-based sightseeing tour, this Nile cruise combines sailing days with visits to major monuments along the river, reducing the need to change hotels between Luxor and Aswan. Unlike an independently booked cruise, Discovery Tours Egypt arranges the assigned cruiser, shore-excursion program and related travel services, while the cruise line operates the vessel.
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
Based on embarkation from Luxor and disembarkation in Aswan.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
Bundled in
- Full board
- All entry tickets
The fine print
What's included – and what isn't
Included
- Accommodation aboard the assigned Nile cruiser
- Full board catering from lunch on the embarkation day through breakfast on the disembarkation day
- Use of public areas, including the sun deck, lounge bar, and dining room
- Scheduled shore excursions listed in the vessel program
- English-speaking cruise host or onboard staff
- Onboard service charges and local taxes
Not included
- International flights to and from Egypt
- Egypt entry visa and travel insurance
- Beverages beyond bottled water with meals, unless stated otherwise
- Premium site entrances, including pyramid interiors and premium tombs, unless explicitly requested
- Crew and guide gratuities
- Personal purchases and optional extras, such as hot-air balloon flights and spa treatments
Field notes
From our Egyptologists
- 01
Book an early-morning visit to Karnak for cooler temperatures and softer photography light.
- 02
Choose a mid-ship lower-deck cabin for quieter nights and easier shore disembarkation.
- 03
Carry small Egyptian pounds for local sellers, tips, and small museum purchases.
- 04
Take sunscreen and a wide-brim hat; sun is strong, even on the river.
Tailor it
Make it yours
Discovery Tours Egypt can arrange the cruise in a private or coordinated travel plan, subject to the vessel’s confirmed sailing program. Travelers may request premium monument entrances, optional activities such as a Luxor hot-air balloon flight, private guiding, hotel nights before or after sailing, or special cabin arrangements; single occupancy normally requires a supplement.
All requests handled by your dedicated specialist before booking.
Accessibility
Who can join this
Accessibility varies by the assigned Nile cruiser and the ancient sites visited. Embarkation may involve a gangway, uneven riverfront surfaces, and steps between the quay and vessel. On board, cabins, dining areas, the lounge bar, and sun deck may be connected by stairs, and elevator access is not guaranteed. Shore excursions include uneven stone, sand, cobblestones, steps, and sloping paths at Karnak Temple, Luxor West Bank, the Valley of the Kings, Edfu, Kom Ombo, and Philae. Wheelchair users and guests with limited mobility should request an assessment before booking. A collapsible wheelchair may be possible, subject to the assigned vessel and port access.
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
The cruise uses a river vessel selected and booked through our licensed Egyptian tour operator network, with shore transport arranged by local suppliers. Vehicle type and supplier vary by sailing program, so we confirm operational details with the booking documents rather than making a blanket environmental claim. Purchasing meals, guiding, transport, and shore services from Egyptian businesses keeps spending within the local tourism economy. Guests can reduce waste by carrying a refillable bottle where permitted, declining unnecessary single-use items, and following site rules at Karnak Temple, the Valley of the Kings, Edfu, Kom Ombo, and Philae.
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 required travel documents
- Printed or digital booking confirmation
- Comfortable walking shoes with firm soles
- Sunscreen SPF50+ and lip balm
- Refillable water bottle
- Hat, sunglasses, and personal medication
- Small day bag for shore excursions
What to wear
- Lightweight, loose-fitting clothing for daytime heat
- Comfortable shoes for uneven ancient surfaces
- Light jacket or sweater for evening sailing
- Covered shoulders and knees for temples and religious sites
- Swimsuit and cover-up for permitted onboard facilities
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, with a maximum of one child per cabin. Two or more children require their own cabin. Strollers can be impractical on gangways, stairs, quays, and uneven archaeological sites. Confirm crib and high-chair availability before booking, as these depend on the assigned vessel.
Prices by sailing
Prices are per person in USD, from 2 people sharing a double cabin. Each price covers the full sailing, the guided sightseeing programme along the route, and your arrival and departure transfers between the vessel and the local airport or railway station.
| Sailing | October – Aprilcurrent season | May – September | Peak dates18 Dec – 6 Jan, 21 Mar – 4 Apr, 9 Apr – 23 Apr |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 nights · Aswan → Luxorembarks Wednesdays | October – April: from $1,545single cabin $2,189triple cabin $1,545 | May – September: from $1,116single cabin $1,545triple cabin $1,116 | Peak dates: from $1,760single cabin $2,013triple cabin $1,760 |
| 4 nights · Luxor → Aswanembarks Saturdays | October – April: from $1,932single cabin $2,790triple cabin $1,932 | May – September: from $1,360single cabin $1,932triple cabin $1,360 | Peak dates: from $2,218single cabin $2,556triple cabin $2,218 |
| 7 nights · Luxor → Luxorembarks Saturdays | October – April: from $3,089single cabin $4,591triple cabin $3,089 | May – September: from $2,088single cabin $3,089triple cabin $2,088 | Peak dates: from $3,590single cabin $4,181triple cabin $3,590 |
| 7 nights · Aswan → Aswanembarks Wednesdays | October – April: from $3,110single cabin $4,612triple cabin $3,110 | May – September: from $2,109single cabin $3,110triple cabin $2,109 | Peak dates: from $3,611single cabin $4,202triple cabin $3,611 |
Peak dates: 18 Dec – 6 Jan, 21 Mar – 4 Apr, 9 Apr – 23 Apr. Choose your sailing and date in the booking panel for the exact price.
Cabin allocation
- Nile vessels do not have interconnecting cabins.
- Book early and we will ask the vessel to place your party together — usually adjacent, or directly opposite.
- Cabin numbers are confirmed by the vessel at check-in.
Indicative rates only – pricing and cabins fluctuate. Please enquire for live rates on your specific dates.
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
- More than 30 days
- 75% refund, or 100% as credit for future travel
- 15–30 days
- 50% refund, or 75% as credit
- 7–14 days
- 25% refund, or 50% as credit
- 2–6 days
- No refund; 25% as credit
- Under 48 hours or no-show
- No refund or credit
Notice is counted from your arrival in Egypt. Some vessels have their own terms; if yours does, we tell you before any payment is made.Read our full cancellation and refund policy
Location
On the map
While you're here
Worth pairing
- Karnak Temple complex (Luxor)
- Valley of the Kings (West Bank, Luxor)
- Luxor Temple (city center)
- Temple of Hatshepsut / Deir el-Bahari (near Luxor)
Asked & answered
Frequent questions
01What is the typical duration of a Salacia Nile Cruise?
The Salacia Nile Cruise typically operates as an 8-day itinerary, sailing weekly between Luxor and Aswan. This duration allows for a comprehensive exploration of the major ancient sites along the Nile, combining sailing days with scheduled shore excursions.02What is included in the Salacia Nile Cruise fare?
Your cruise fare includes accommodation aboard the Salacia, full board catering from lunch on embarkation day through breakfast on disembarkation day, scheduled shore excursions, an English-speaking cruise host, and all onboard service charges and local taxes.03What is not included in the Salacia Nile Cruise fare?
Exclusions typically include international flights, Egypt entry visas, travel insurance, beverages beyond bottled water with meals, premium site entrances like pyramid interiors, crew and guide gratuities, and personal purchases or optional extras such as spa treatments.04What kind of cabins are available on the Salacia Nile Cruise?
The Salacia Nile Cruise offers cabins in Standard, Deluxe, and Suite classes. All cabins feature panoramic windows, and some higher-tier options may include a Nile-view balcony. Specific cabin sizes and amenities vary by class.05What shore excursions are part of the Salacia Nile Cruise program?
The scheduled shore excursion program includes visits to iconic sites such as Karnak Temple, Luxor West Bank, the Valley of the Kings, Edfu Temple of Horus, Kom Ombo, and Philae. The exact sequence is confirmed with your specific sailing itinerary.06What is the policy for children on the Salacia Nile Cruise?
Children aged 0–5.99 years travel free, while those 6–11.99 years pay 50% of the adult price. Children 12 years and older pay the full adult fare. One child maximum can share a cabin with parents; two or more children require a separate cabin.07What should I wear and bring for a Nile cruise?
For shore excursions, comfortable walking shoes, a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen are essential. Modest clothing is recommended for temple visits. Onboard, resort casual is suitable, with slightly dressier attire for evening meals. Bring any personal medications.08Is the Salacia Nile Cruise accessible for guests with mobility concerns?
Nile cruise vessels, including the Salacia, typically have stairs between decks and may not be fully accessible for guests with significant mobility limitations. Shore excursions often involve walking on uneven ancient stone or sandy paths. Please discuss specific needs with us.09What is the dining experience like on the Salacia Nile Cruise?
The Salacia Nile Cruise offers full board catering, starting with lunch on embarkation day and concluding with breakfast on disembarkation day. Meals are served in the main dining room, featuring a mix of local and international cuisine. Bottled water is included with meals.10Can I arrange special requests or optional activities during the cruise?
Yes, optional extras such as hot-air balloon flights in Luxor or spa treatments onboard can often be arranged. Please note that these are not included in the standard cruise fare and incur additional costs. Inquire with your cruise host for details.
Product ID: CRU-LUX-194865
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