Nile cruise shipDeluxe fleet shipsLuxor → Aswan

Al Kahila

72-cabin Sabena Nile cruiser

Al Kahila is a Nile cruise ship operated by Sabena Nile Cruises. It has 72 cabins and 4 suites and sails itineraries of 3, 4 or 7 nights on the Nile between Luxor and Aswan.

Good to know

72-cabin Sabena Nile cruiser. A 72-cabin Nile cruise ship from Sabena Nile Cruises, with four suites, sailing Aswan-Luxor on 3, 4 and 7-night itineraries.

Class Deluxe fleet shipsCabins 72Board full boardRoute Luxor → Aswan

Operator: Sabena Nile Cruises
Accommodation: 72 cabins · 4 suites
Decks: 5
Dimensions: 72 × 14.4 m
Route: Aswan, Philae Temple, High Dam, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Esna, Luxor (Karnak, Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut)
Trip length: 3 · 4 · 7 nights
Departures: 3-night Wednesdays from Aswan; 4-night Saturdays from Luxor
Season: Year-round (implied by weekly fixed departures; not stated explicitly by operator)
Wi-Fi: Internet corner on board

About Al Kahila

Al Kahila is a five-deck Nile cruiser operated by Sabena Nile Cruises, with 72 cabins in total: 68 standard rooms of 22 square metres and four 35-square-metre suites. Fixed weekly departures make her a straightforward year-round option.

Sailings run between Aswan and Luxor, taking in Philae Temple, the High Dam, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Esna and, at Luxor, Karnak, the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut Temple. Choose a 3-night, 4-night or 7-night round trip, with Wednesday and Saturday departures.

Dining is full board in a lower-deck restaurant offering buffet and a-la-carte meals, with a lounge bar and sun deck bar. Public areas include a reception lounge with panoramic views, a main lounge with library, a boutique and a sun deck with loungers. A swimming pool with bar sits on the sun deck, alongside a spa with massage room, Turkish bath, sauna, steam room and fitness machines.

Highlights

72 cabins including four 35 sqm suites
Sun-deck swimming pool with bar
Spa with Turkish bath, sauna and steam room
Full-board buffet and a-la-carte dining
Aswan-Luxor via Kom Ombo and Edfu

At sail

Day by day

Al Kahila sails 2 published programmes. Its own route: Aswan, Philae Temple, High Dam, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Esna, Luxor (Karnak, Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut) Departures 3-night wednesdays from aswan; 4-night saturdays from luxor. The order of the temples is fixed by the river, so what changes between programmes is the direction and how much is fitted into each day.

Luxor to Aswan, 4 nightsusually departs Monday

Day 1
Luxor, embark and the east bank
Board before lunch. The two east-bank temples in the afternoon, when the light is best at Karnak.
Visits Karnak · Luxor Temple
Day 2
The west bank, then sail through the Esna lock
An early start for the tombs, then the boat sails south and passes the Esna lock, often in the evening. Moor at Edfu.
Visits Valley of the Kings · Hatshepsut · Colossi of Memnon
Optional hot-air balloon at dawn
Day 3
Edfu and Kom Ombo
Edfu at first light, usually reached by horse-drawn carriage from the mooring. Sail to Kom Ombo, whose double temple sits directly above the water.
Visits Edfu · Kom Ombo
Day 4
Aswan
The Aswan cluster, usually in one morning, with a felucca sail among the islands in the afternoon.
Visits High Dam · Philae · Unfinished Obelisk · felucca
Day 5
Disembark
Breakfast on board and disembarkation, typically by 08:00. Abu Simbel is a pre-dawn add-on, not part of the sailing.
Optional Abu Simbel by road or air

Aswan to Luxor, 3 nightsusually departs Friday

Day 1
Aswan, embark
Board before lunch, then the Aswan cluster in the afternoon.
Visits High Dam · Philae · Unfinished Obelisk
Optional felucca among the islands
Day 2
Kom Ombo and Edfu
Sail north. Kom Ombo sits at the mooring; Edfu is a short carriage ride inland.
Visits Kom Ombo · Edfu
Optional Abu Simbel, pre-dawn by road or air
Day 3
Through Esna to Luxor, east bank
The Esna lock can hold the fleet for a while; the east-bank temples follow on arrival.
Visits Esna lock · Karnak · Luxor Temple
Day 4
West bank and disembark
Check out after breakfast, then the west bank before departure.
Visits Valley of the Kings · Hatshepsut · Colossi of Memnon
Optional hot-air balloon at dawn

Day structure aggregated from the published itineraries for this class of boat and direction. Operators shift a call by half a day and the Esna lock queue moves everything; confirm the running order for your departure.

Cabin pricing

Rates by season

Indicative per-person USD rates from the agencies we track, whose published fares for this boat differ by more than 5%, so the published range is shown rather than a single figure. Your exact fare depends on dates and cabin — we quote every sailing live, with no booking fee to ask.

4 days / 3 nights · Luxor–Aswan corridor

Cabin	High season · Sep–Apr	Low season · May–Aug
Double cabin (per person)	$778–$925	$750
Single cabin (sole use)	$1,326–$1,415	$1,285
Triple cabin (per person)	$764–$915	$740

5 days / 4 nights · Luxor–Aswan corridor

Cabin	High season · Sep–Apr	Low season · May–Aug
Double cabin (per person)	$802–$1,115	$793–$900
Single cabin (sole use)	$1,466–$1,590	$1,348–$1,425
Triple cabin (per person)	$845–$1,000	$777–$880

Cabins are allocated by the operator at confirmation; tell us your preferred deck and we will ask.
Longer itineraries are priced as the sailings combined, confirmed on your quote.

The fine print

What's included and what isn't

Many ship fares bundle guided shore excursions with an Egyptologist; it varies by package, and your quote states exactly what applies.

Included

Accommodation aboard Al Kahila in the cabin booked
Full board across all sailing days
Sun deck, pool, spa, gym and lounge throughout

Not included

Drinks beyond water, tea and coffee served with meals
Gratuities for the crew
Temple entrance fees and Egyptologist guiding, unless your package states them
Transfers and extensions such as Abu Simbel, unless quoted

The boat in detail

Cabin categories: Standard/double cabin 22 m² (68 units)
Suite 35 m² (4 units)
Dining: Restaurant on the lower deck (buffet and a la carte)
Lounge bar
Sun deck bar
Full board basis
Facilities: Reception lounge with panoramic view
Main lounge with library
Boutique and jewellery shop
Internet corner
Laundry and dry cleaning
24-hour reception
Sun deck with loungers
Engines 3 x 490 HP
Spa · pool · gym: Swimming pool on sun deck with bar; spa centre with massage room, Turkish bath, sauna and steam room; fitness machines
Itineraries: 3 nights Aswan to Luxor
4 nights Luxor to Aswan
7 nights round trip from Aswan or Luxor

Keep planning

Plan your Nile cruise

Nile River Cruise: the complete guide Budget Nile cruises Nile cruise vs land tour The cheapest time to cruise the Nile

Good to know

Al Kahila questions, answered

How much does Al Kahila cost?

Advertised rates start from US$240 per person for 3 nights; prices vary by season and cabin.

How many cabins does Al Kahila have?

72 cabins and 4 suites.

What route does Al Kahila sail?

Aswan, Philae Temple, High Dam, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Esna, Luxor (Karnak, Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut), departing 3-night Wednesdays from Aswan; 4-night Saturdays from Luxor.

What's included on Al Kahila?

Accommodation, transfers, full board, guided sightseeing with Egyptologist, entrance fees. Excludes optional tours, beverages, gratuities, insurance, visa.