Esmeralda Nile Cruise
A 5-star Nile cruiser with panoramic-window cabins, a sun deck, lounge bar, and full-board dining.
At a glance
- Length
- 4 days · 3 nights
- Embarks
- Mon, Fri
- Class
- 5-star
- New
02Overview
A first look
At Luxor's riverbank, the Nile moves quietly past moored dahabiya boats while the city wakes beyond the promenade. From the sun deck of Esmeralda Nile Cruise, you can watch cultivated fields give way to desert, then step ashore with our Egyptologists for Karnak, Luxor Temple, the Temple of Horus at Edfu, Kom Ombo, Philae, and the Valley of the Kings.
The vessel sails weekly in both directions between Luxor and Aswan, with sailing days alternating with shore excursions. We arrange your cabin, embarkation details, full-board service, and transfers around the cruise, while our Egyptologists keep each visit clear, well paced, and grounded in the place itself.
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.
At sea
Detailed itinerary
Based on embarkation from Luxor and disembarkation in LUXOR.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Pricing & seasons
Prices are per person in USD, from 2 people sharing a double room, including accommodation. Contact our specialists for solo-traveller supplements, group rates and a confirmed quote for your dates.
| Season | Comfort |
|---|---|
| October–April (high season) | from $1,485 |
| May–September (low season) | from $1,185 |
Indicative rates only – pricing and cabins fluctuate. Please enquire for live rates on your specific dates.
The fine print
What's included – and what isn't
Included
- 3 or 4 nights' deluxe accommodation on board
- Full board meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
- Meet and assist upon arrival and departure
- All transfers by private air-conditioned vehicle
- All guided Nile cruise excursions as per itinerary
- Entrance fees to all sights between Luxor and Aswan
- English-speaking Egyptologist guide (max 8 guests per group)
- One bottle of water per person per day
- All service charges and taxes
Not included
- Any extra meals or beverages
- Personal expenses (laundry, etc.)
- Tipping for guide, driver, staff
- Optional tours (e.g., Abu Simbel)
Accessibility
Who can join this
This Nile cruise involves moving between gangways, river-level docks and cabin decks that are accessed by stairs. Expect narrow gangways at some small landing stages, cobblestone and uneven paving on shore excursions, and steps at temple entrances such as Karnak and Kom Ombo. Wheelchair users can be accommodated with advance notice, but full independent wheelchair access is not guaranteed because many landing stages and archaeological sites lack ramps. Guests with reduced mobility should tell us their mobility needs at booking so we can arrange suitable transfer assistance and select the most accessible embarkation port possible. Service animals are accepted with prior notice, and crew can assist with luggage during embarkation and disembarkation.
Before you go
What to pack & wear
What to bring
- Valid passport and printed cruise voucher
- Soft-sided luggage for easier storage
- Comfortable walking shoes with grip
- Sunscreen SPF30 or higher
- Wide-brim hat and sunglasses
- Lightweight layers for cooler evenings
- Small day pack for shore excursions
What to wear
- Lightweight, breathable clothing for daytime
- Long sleeves and trousers for sun and temple modesty
- A light jumper or jacket for air-conditioned interiors and evenings
- Modest dress covering shoulders and knees for mosques and some temples
- Comfortable closed-toe shoes for uneven temple surfaces
Children & families
Children aged 0 to 5.99 years travel free when sharing a cabin with two paying adults. Children aged 6 to 11.99 years pay 50% of the adult fare when sharing a cabin with two adults. Children aged 12 years and above pay the full adult price. Children must share a cabin with their parents, one child per cabin maximum; two or more children require a separate cabin. Strollers are practical on the vessel but may be impractical on some temple approaches and at narrower landing stages.
Location
On the map
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
The cruise uses diesel-powered river vessels; we arrange modern, air-conditioned coaches for transfers where required. We contract with locally based suppliers for crew, Egyptologists, and catering, which keeps payments within the communities where the vessel operates. Shore excursions are led by licensed Egyptologists from Luxor and Aswan rather than fly-in guides, which reduces extra domestic flights. Onboard, the vessel follows local waste separation practices where infrastructure exists, and single-use plastics are minimised through glass or refillable dispensers where suppliers provide them. We also encourage tipping directly to individual guides and crew, supporting household incomes, and we monitor suppliers for responsible water use and respectful behaviour at archaeological sites.
Licensed local Egyptologists
ETAA-credentialed, on payroll
Fair wages on the ground
Drivers + guides paid above market
Site preservation
We follow MoTA visitor caps and no-touch protocols
Carbon-aware itineraries
Domestic flights only when train/road is impractical
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
Product ID: CRU-NIL-293886
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