Nile Cruises & Sailing in Egypt

The Nile is Egypt's spine, and travelling it by boat removes the tiring drives between temples while adding something restful that a coach never will.

From feluccas to five-star cruisers

At the gentle end, a felucca is a traditional wooden sailboat, perfect for a quiet sunset hour on the river from a low price. A Cairo dinner cruise adds a buffet and a belly dancer and tanoura show. The classic journey is a three or four night Nile cruise between Aswan and Luxor, a floating hotel that stops at Kom Ombo, Edfu, Philae, Karnak and the Valley of the Kings.

Choosing well

On multi-day cruises, quality varies enormously between boats, so choose by recent reviews rather than the lowest price, since every cruise sees the same temples. Look at real cabin photos, check what is included, and be wary of a price far below the rest. A dahabiya, a small traditional sailing boat with only a few cabins, is the quiet, intimate alternative for those with the budget and time.