Kontiki Nile Cruise
A five-star Nile cruiser with Nile-view cabins, shaded sun-deck seating, lounge bar, indoor dining, and full-board sailing.
At a glance
- Length
- 4 days · 3 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.
- Luxury
- Cultural
- Archaeology & history
- Couples·
- Seniors·
- Groups·
- Solo traveller
Snapshot
Good to know
- Destinations
- Luxor · Edfu · Kom Ombo · Aswan
- Guide languages
- English · French · German · Italian · Others
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
02Overview
A first look
At first light, the Nile carries a soft current past the deck while Luxor’s riverbanks shift from city streets to fields. From a Nile-view cabin or the shaded sun deck, you can watch fishermen cast their nets, pause in the lounge bar, and let the landscape set the pace between shore excursions.
Our Egyptologists bring Karnak, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Philae, and the Valley of the Kings into focus without turning the sailing days into a rushed checklist. Kontiki Nile Cruise sails weekly in both directions between Luxor and Aswan. We select and arrange the vessel, shore program, meals, and port coordination, so your time aboard feels settled from embarkation through disembarkation.
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.
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
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
Accessibility
Who can join this
The Kontiki Nile Cruise involves uneven surfaces, gangways with steps, and stone pathways at archaeological sites that require steady footing. Embarkation and disembarkation use a gangway with 6 to 12 steps depending on river level; wheelchair ramps onboard are not standard. Shore excursions include cobbled temple courtyards, stairs at tomb entrances, and soft sand at some riverbanks. Guests with limited mobility should contact us before booking so we can assess feasibility and request mobility assistance at airports and ports. We arrange meet-and-assist at the airport, but note that complete step-free access ashore cannot be guaranteed at sites such as the Valley of the Kings or Philae Temple.
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
The cruise uses standard diesel river tenders and an air-conditioned motorized vessel with fuel consumption typical for Nile cruisers; small excursion launches are petrol or diesel powered. We contract locally owned crewed vessels and employ local Egyptologists for shore excursions, and shore-side suppliers are paid directly by the cruise line. Onboard waste is segregated where port reception facilities permit, and single-use plastics are being reduced by replacing bottled water on meal tables with filtered water dispensers in some cabins. As a licensed Egyptian tour operator, we prioritise suppliers who hire local staff and source food from markets in Luxor and Aswan, which provides direct benefit to regional producers.
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 printed cruise voucher
- Comfortable walking shoes with good grip
- Sunscreen SPF30 or higher and a brimmed hat
- Lightweight daypack and reusable water bottle
- A small flashlight or headlamp for tomb visits
- Prescription medications and basic first-aid items
- Photocopy of passport and emergency contact list
What to wear
- Lightweight, breathable clothing for daytime
- Long sleeves and trousers or skirts for sun and modesty at temples
- A light jacket for cooler evenings on the Nile
- Comfortable closed shoes for archaeological sites
- A scarf or shawl for mosque or temple entrances
Children & families
Children 0 to 5.99 years travel free when sharing a cabin with two adults. Children 6 to 11.99 years pay 50% of the adult fare when sharing a cabin with two adults. Children 12 years and older pay the full adult price. One child only may share a cabin with parents; two or more children require a separate cabin. Strollers can be practical onboard but may be difficult on shore excursions with stairs or uneven surfaces; high chairs may be available on request but are supplied by the vessel and not guaranteed.
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 | Peak dates18 Dec – 6 Jan, 21 Mar – 4 Apr, 9 Apr – 23 Apr |
|---|---|---|
| 3 nights · Aswan → Luxorembarks Wednesdays | October – April: from $882single cabin $1,233triple cabin $874 | Peak dates: from $1,272single cabin $1,974triple cabin $1,264 |
| 4 nights · Luxor → Aswanembarks Saturdays | October – April: from $1,048single cabin $1,516triple cabin $1,037 | Peak dates: from $1,568single cabin $2,504triple cabin $1,557 |
| 7 nights · Luxor → Luxorembarks Saturdays | October – April: from $1,542single cabin $2,361triple cabin $1,524 | Peak dates: from $2,452single cabin $4,090triple cabin $2,434 |
| 7 nights · Aswan → Aswanembarks Wednesdays | October – April: from $1,563single cabin $2,382triple cabin $1,545 | Peak dates: from $2,473single cabin $4,111triple cabin $2,455 |
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
Asked & answered
Frequent questions
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.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.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.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.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.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.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.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.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.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.
Product ID: CRU-NIL-624028
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