Nile cruise shipStandard & independentLuxor → Aswan
Esmeralda
A comfortable five-star Nile cruiser
Esmeralda is a Nile cruise ship. It sails itineraries of 3 nights on the Nile between Luxor and Aswan.
Good to know
A comfortable five-star Nile cruiser. A five-star ship on the classic Luxor to Aswan route, covering Karnak, the Valley of the Kings and the river temples with a relaxed pool deck between them.
- Decks
- 5
- Route
- Luxor, Esna, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Aswan
- Trip length
- 3 nights
- Departures
- Friday, Monday
- Wi-Fi
- Yes
About Esmeralda
A five-star ship on the classic Luxor to Aswan route, covering Karnak, the Valley of the Kings and the river temples with a relaxed pool deck between them.
Highlights
- Five-star comfort
- Luxor to Aswan
- The classic temple programme
- Pool and sun deck
At sail
Day by day
Esmeralda sails one published programme. Its own route: Luxor, Esna, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Aswan Departures friday, monday. 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.
Day 1
Luxor, embark and the east bank
Board before lunch. Karnak and Luxor Temple the same afternoon, which is the one thing the three-night sailing does not cut.
Visits Karnak · Luxor Temple
Day 2
West bank, then sail south
The tombs at first light, back on board for lunch, and the ship sails south through the Esna lock the same day. On the four-night programme this is two days; here it is one, and it is a long one.
Visits Valley of the Kings · Hatshepsut · Colossi of Memnon · Esna lock
Optional hot-air balloon at dawn
Day 3
Edfu and Kom Ombo
Edfu from the mooring at dawn, usually by horse-drawn carriage, then Kom Ombo in the afternoon with its double temple standing above the water.
Visits Edfu · Kom Ombo
Day 4
Aswan and disembark
The Aswan cluster on the final morning before disembarkation. Abu Simbel means a pre-dawn start and is normally sold as a separate day.
Visits High Dam · Philae · Unfinished Obelisk
Optional Abu Simbel
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) | $1,188 | $841 |
| Single cabin (sole use) | $1,790–$2,019 | $1,430 |
| Triple cabin (per person) | $1,164 | $824 |
5 days / 4 nights · Luxor–Aswan corridor
| Cabin | High season · Sep–Apr | Low season · May–Aug |
|---|---|---|
| Double cabin (per person) | $1,460 | $1,039 |
| Single cabin (sole use) | $2,360–$2,482 | $1,600–$1,767 |
| Triple cabin (per person) | $1,430 | $1,018 |
- 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 Esmeralda in the cabin booked
- Meals aboard per the boat's published programme
- Sun deck, pool and lounge throughout
- Wi-Fi on board
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
- Spa · pool · gym
- Swimming pool on the sun deck, with loungers and parasols.
- Itineraries
- 3 nights, Luxor to Aswan
Keep planning
Plan your Nile cruise
What guests say
Independent traveller reviews of Esmeralda, quoted with attribution — we don’t collect these ourselves.
4.5 out of 5via Tripadvisor (269)
Good to know
Esmeralda questions, answered
How much does Esmeralda cost?
Advertised rates start from US$1,185 per person for 3 nights; prices vary by season and cabin.
What route does Esmeralda sail?
Luxor, Esna, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Aswan.
What's included on Esmeralda?
Full-board accommodation including sightseeing, transfers, guide and entrance fees; 10% surcharge 22 Dec - 04 Jan and Easter
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