A planner’s comparison
There is no single best Nile cruise. There is a best one for you, and it depends on who you travel with, how many nights you have, and how much privacy matters. Here is how we help guests choose, in the order the decisions usually come.
Most cruises sail the stretch between Luxor and Aswan, past Edfu and Kom Ombo, on journeys of three to seven nights. For the sites along the way, read our cruising guide.
1 · Travelling as a couple
What type of boat suits a couple best?
For most couples, the choice is between a 5-star cruise ship and a smaller sailing boat. Both can be romantic; they suit different people.
Comfort and choice
- More cabins and more space on board
- Pool, restaurant and lounge, like a floating hotel
- Visits several sites a day on a set schedule
- Easy to combine with flights and hotels
Quiet and unhurried
- A traditional sailing boat with only a handful of cabins
- Slower pace, with more time on deck
- Can stop at smaller sites the big ships pass
- Fewer facilities, more character
2 · How long
Four nights or seven?
Length is mostly about how much of your trip you want to spend on the water.
One way, Luxor and Aswan
- Covers the classic temples between the two cities
- Leaves time for Cairo, and for Abu Simbel from Aswan
- The option on most of our itineraries
A round trip on the river
- Usually Luxor to Aswan and back
- More time on board and at each site
- Best if the cruise is the heart of the holiday
3 · Direction
Luxor to Aswan, or Aswan to Luxor?
Both directions see the same main temples. The difference is time.
Upstream, usually four nights
- Sailing south against the current takes longer
- Ends in Aswan, the natural base for Abu Simbel
- Our 6-day cruise the Nile in style itinerary sails this way. From $2,893
Downstream, usually three nights
- Quicker, following the current north
- Ends in Luxor for the west bank and Karnak
- Used on Essential Egypt and Red Sea & Ancient Egypt
4 · Style
Dahabiya or 5-star ship?
If you have narrowed it down to these two, these are the trade-offs we talk through with guests.
You want facilities and flexibility
- You like a pool, a choice of restaurants and a larger cabin
- You are short on time and want the main temples efficiently
- You are combining the cruise with a busy land itinerary
You want quiet and a slower river
- You prefer a small boat with few other guests
- You are happy with fewer facilities in exchange for calm
- You have time for a slower pace on the water
5 · Privacy
What “best” means if you want privacy
For many of our guests, the best cruise is simply the most private one. Three things make the biggest difference:
The cabin
A larger cabin or suite with a big window or balcony gives you your own view of the river, away from the shared decks.
The size of the boat
Fewer cabins means fewer people at every meal and every mooring. That is the main argument for a dahabiya.
Who guides you ashore
Ask whether site visits are with your own guide or with the boat’s group guide. It changes the day more than the cabin does.
Cruises on our itineraries
We book 5-star cruise ships on our multi-day tours, and can plan the cruise around the rest of your trip.
Plan with Carol and Atef
Tell us the month. We will outline the days.
Tell us your month, how many nights you are thinking about, and who is travelling. We will suggest the cruise and the days around it.
