Sanctuary Sun Boat III Luxury Nile Cruise
A luxury Nile cruiser with panoramic windows, full-board dining, a sun deck, lounge bar, and guided shore excursions.
The short answer
Sanctuary Sun Boat III Luxury is a 5-Star Luxury 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
By late afternoon, the Nile turns copper beside the sun deck, with felucca sails, palm-lined banks, and the low sound of water against the hull. On Sanctuary Sun Boat III Luxury Nile Cruise, the days move between quiet sailing, open-air meals, and shore excursions where Karnak, Edfu, and Philae give each river bend a different setting.
Inside, panoramic windows, Nile-view balconies, a lounge bar, dining room, and pool create an easy rhythm between exploration and rest. Our Egyptologists provide context ashore while we coordinate the details before you sail.
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
- 1
Board at Luxor and enjoy lunch on board before visiting Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple on the East Bank.
- 2
Explore the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon, then begin sailing south towards Edfu.
- 3
Visit the Temple of Horus at Edfu and the double temple at Kom Ombo, then sail on to Aswan.
- 4
Visit the High Dam, Philae Temple and the Unfinished Obelisk. An optional flight or drive to Abu Simbel can be arranged.
- 5
A relaxed day at Aswan: sail by felucca around Elephantine Island and Kitchener’s Island, or visit a Nubian village, before the vessel turns north.
- 6
- 7
Arrive back at Luxor with time for any West Bank sites not yet seen, or relax on the sun deck as you moor for the final night.
- 8
After breakfast, disembark at Luxor for your onward transfer.
- 1
Board your Nile cruiser at Luxor and settle into your cabin over lunch. In the afternoon visit Karnak Temple, the largest religious complex of ancient Egypt, and Luxor Temple on the East Bank.
- 2
Cross to the West Bank for the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari and the Colossi of Memnon. The vessel then begins sailing south towards Edfu.
- 3
Visit the Temple of Horus at Edfu, the best-preserved temple in Egypt, then sail on to Kom Ombo and its double temple dedicated to Sobek and Haroeris. Continue sailing to Aswan, where the ship moors for the night.
- 4
The ship lies moored at Aswan. Guests visiting Abu Simbel leave before dawn, by road or by air, for the two rock temples Ramesses II cut into the cliff, returning aboard around midday. The afternoon is at leisure on board.
- 5
After breakfast, disembark at Aswan. The morning then covers Aswan itself: the High Dam, the Temple of Isis at Philae reached by motor launch, and the granite Unfinished Obelisk, before your onward transfer.
- 1
Board your Nile cruiser at Aswan and enjoy lunch on board. Visit the High Dam, the Temple of Isis at Philae and the Unfinished Obelisk.
- 2
Sail north to Kom Ombo for its double temple of Sobek and Haroeris, then continue to Edfu to visit the Temple of Horus. Sail on towards Luxor.
- 3
Reach Luxor and cross to the West Bank for the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon.
- 4
After breakfast visit Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple on the East Bank, then disembark for your onward transfer.
- 1
Board at Aswan and enjoy lunch on board, then visit the High Dam, Philae Temple and the Unfinished Obelisk.
- 2
A relaxed day at Aswan by felucca around Elephantine and Kitchener’s Islands, or a Nubian village visit. An optional Abu Simbel excursion can be arranged.
- 3
Sail north to Kom Ombo for the double temple of Sobek and Haroeris, then Edfu for the Temple of Horus.
- 4
At Luxor, cross to the West Bank for the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon.
- 5
Visit Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple on the East Bank, then the vessel begins its return sailing south.
- 6
- 7
Arrive back at Aswan with time to relax on board or take an optional excursion before your final night.
- 8
After breakfast, disembark at Aswan for your onward transfer.
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.
After you dock
Aswan to Cairo flight and one hotel night
Two nights in Cairo with a day in Alexandria
3-Day Egypt Short Break: Cairo & Luxor
3-Day Cairo & Alexandria Tour
3-Day Luxor Tour from Marsa Alam
3-Day Cairo Tour from Sharm El Sheikh- 3-Day Luxor & Cairo Tour from Hurghada
2-Day Luxor to Cairo Post-Cruise Stay
3-Day Luxor to Cairo Post-Cruise Tour with Alexandria
Compare
Similar ships to compare
Ships of the same class with the closest prices. Prices are per person, sharing a double cabin, October to April.
- Cleopatra Nile Cruise
5-Star Luxury Nile cruise
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From $1,648 per person
- Jaz Elite Regent Nile Cruise
5-Star Luxury Nile cruise
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- Jaz Elite Viceroy Nile Cruise
5-Star Luxury Nile cruise
Embarks Wed from Aswan / Sat from Luxor
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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
Snapshot
Good to know
- Destinations
- Luxor · Edfu · Kom Ombo · Aswan
Before you go
What to pack & wear
What to bring
- Valid passport and printed or digital booking voucher
- Travel insurance details and emergency contact information
- Comfortable walking shoes with good grip
- Sun protection: SPF 30+ sunscreen, wide-brim hat, sunglasses
- Lightweight daypack for shore excursions and water bottle
- Plug adapter (Egypt uses types C and F, 220V)
What to wear
- Lightweight, loose-fitting daytime clothing for heat
- A light sweater or jacket for cooler evenings on deck
- Covered shoulders and knees for temples and mosques
- Non-slip closed shoes for uneven archaeological sites
- Smart-casual outfit for dinner in the dining room
Children & families
Children 0–5.99 years travel free; children 6–11.99 years pay 50% of the adult fare; children 12 years and older pay the full adult price. Children must share a cabin with their parents, maximum one child per cabin; two or more children require a separate cabin. Cots or extra beds are limited and must be requested at booking. Strollers are practical on board but can be cumbersome at some landing stages where there are steps; please tell us if you will travel with a stroller so we can advise on embarkation and shore access.
Accessibility
Who can join this
This cruise involves boarding via steps at the embarkation pontoon and moving between cabin decks by fixed staircases; many Nile cruisers do not have elevators. Expect uneven stone at landing stages, narrow gangways and occasional soft sand at shore-excursion sites such as the Valley of the Kings and Philae temple island. Wheelchair users should note that true step-free access aboard is limited; only a small number of vessels can accept a folding wheelchair with advance notice and a suitable helper. If you need mobility assistance, please contact us before booking so we can confirm vessel accessibility, reserve any available accessible cabin, arrange additional help at ports, and advise which shore excursions are practical. All on-board public areas have handrails and seating; shore visits typically require short walks and some stair climbs.
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
We work with carefully selected cruise lines and local suppliers to reduce environmental impact on the Nile corridor. Transfers arranged by us use air-conditioned coaches that meet Euro 4 or better emissions standards where available; for short transfers inside Luxor and Aswan we prioritize minibuses that allocate fewer empty-kilometer runs. On board, most Nile cruisers follow a centralized waste-separation program and use water-conserving fixtures; we request that suppliers reuse linens only when guests agree. Meals served on board use locally sourced produce and Nile-caught fish when seasonally available, supporting regional farmers and fishers. We pay local Egyptologists, crew and on-shore guides directly through contracted partnerships to ensure fair wages and predictable work, and we encourage guests to buy crafts from community workshops in Luxor and Aswan to channel tourist income locally. If you have a specific sustainability concern, tell us and we will flag it with the cruise line before booking.
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
Last updated Product ID: CRU-NIL-734098
At a glance
- Length
- 3, 4 or 7 nights
- Embarks
- Mon in Luxor · Fri in Aswan
- Board
- Full Board
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