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Nile Cruise5-Star LuxuryLUXOR → LUXOR

Sonesta St. George I Nile Cruise

A 5-star Nile cruiser with panoramic windows, full-board dining, a sun deck, lounge bar, and guided shore excursions.

At a glance

Length
8 days · 7 nights
Embarks
Mon, Fri
  • New

02Overview

A first look

By late afternoon, the Nile catches the sun beside the Sonesta St. George I Nile Cruise, while the riverbank slips past the sun deck and the lounge bar settles into a quieter rhythm. Inside, your cabin gives you a private place to watch the landscape through a panoramic window or Nile-view balcony, then return to the dining room for full-board meals.

The vessel sails weekly in both directions between Luxor and Aswan, with sailing days alternating with shore excursions at Karnak, Luxor Temple, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Philae, and the Valley of the Kings. We arrange embarkation, disembarkation, and our Egyptologists' guidance so the days ashore feel organized without rushing the hours on the river.

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

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 round-trip embarkation from LUXOR. On 7-night round-trips each site is visited once.

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Accessibility

Who can join this

This Nile cruise involves steps, gangways, and uneven surfaces typical of river vessels and ancient sites. Embarkation and disembarkation require negotiating a short gangway and one or two steps between the dock and the vessel; some ports have floating pontoons that move with the river. Onshore, major sites such as Karnak, Luxor Temple, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Philae and the Valley of the Kings have cobbles, stone ramps, and stairs. Wheelchair users should note that full independent wheelchair access cannot be guaranteed on shore excursions because many temple approaches and tombs have steps and narrow passages. The vessel provides cabin-level access on the main passenger decks, and crew can assist with luggage and boarding where space and port facilities allow. If you require a ramp, a dedicated wheelchair seat, or close assistance, tell us before booking so we can confirm accessibility options and coordinate assistance with local partners.

Before you go

What to pack & wear

What to bring

  • Valid passport and any required visas
  • Comfortable walking shoes with good grip
  • Sun protection: wide-brim hat, sunglasses, SPF30+ sunscreen
  • Lightweight daypack for shore excursions
  • Reusable water bottle (empty for airport security)
  • Small flashlight or headlamp for uneven tomb passages
  • Copies of travel and emergency contact details

What to wear

  • Lightweight, breathable layers for hot days and cooler evenings
  • Covered shoulders and knees for visits to mosques and some temples
  • Sturdy closed shoes for uneven stone and tomb steps
  • A light scarf or wrap for sun protection and modesty in religious sites

Children & families

Children 0–5.99 years travel free; children 6–11.99 years pay 50% of the adult fare; children 12 years and over pay the full adult fare. Children must share a cabin with their parents, maximum one child per cabin; if you travel with two or more children, you must book a separate cabin for them. Strollers are practical on the vessel decks and in ports, but many temple entrances and tombs are not stroller-friendly due to steps and narrow passages. Please tell us the ages of children at booking so we can confirm bedding and cabin configuration.

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.

Responsible travel

How we travel here

The cruise uses diesel-powered river cruise vessels and motor tenders for shore transfer when the port layout requires them. Onboard energy consumption follows the vessel operator's routines, including LED lighting in public areas and timed air conditioning in cabins where installed by the cruise operator. We contract with locally owned suppliers for sightseeing, Egyptologists, and excursions, which keeps spending within the communities along the Nile. Local guides and crew are paid by the cruise operator; tipping follows local customary rates and is not consolidated into the fare. We encourage guests to bring refillable water bottles because the vessel supplies bottled drinking water per cruise operator practice. When possible we recommend early-morning or late-afternoon excursions to reduce midday heat impact on fragile temple surfaces and to spread visitor pressure across time slots.

  • 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-372615