Nile cruise shipLuxury flagshipsLuxor → Aswan
MS Chateau Lafayette
Refurbished five-star sailing the Luxor–Aswan reach
MS Chateau Lafayette is a Nile cruise ship. It has 55 cabins and 6 suites and sails itineraries of 3, 4 or 7 nights on the Nile between Luxor and Aswan.
Good to know
Refurbished five-star sailing the Luxor–Aswan reach. A refurbished five-star cruiser with 55 cabins and six suites, suited to travellers wanting a classic Luxor–Aswan temple itinerary in comfort.
- Operator
- Independent
- Accommodation
- 55 cabins · 6 suites
- Decks
- 5
- Dimensions
- 75 × 14.8 m
- Built
- — · refit 2024
- Route
- Luxor, Esna, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Aswan, Philae (Abu Simbel optional)
- Trip length
- 3 · 4 · 7 nights
- Departures
- Every Monday ex-Luxor (4 nights); every Friday ex-Aswan (3 nights); 7-night sailings on both
- Season
- Year-round
- Wi-Fi
- Free Wi-Fi throughout; it can be intermittent and is strongest when docked.
About MS Chateau Lafayette
Renovated in 2024, the Chateau Lafayette runs the well-worn Luxor–Aswan corridor across five decks, with 55 cabins and six deluxe suites. Standard cabins measure 25 square metres, deluxe cabins 30, and the suites 35, most fitted with French Juliet balconies that open onto the passing river. A single main restaurant serves buffet meals, with a daily tea of snacks and cakes between excursions.
Itineraries run three nights from Aswan, four nights from Luxor, or a seven-night round trip, calling at Esna, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae, with Abu Simbel offered as an add-on. Departures leave Luxor on Mondays and Aswan on Fridays, so days ashore at the temples fall into a steady rhythm.
The sun deck holds a pool and pool bar, and indoors there is an air-conditioned bar, a lounge with a dance floor, a massage room, fitness equipment and a beauty salon. A boutique, laundry, and 24-hour reception and doctor round out the onboard service.
Highlights
- Sun-deck pool and pool bar
- French-balcony cabins from 25 m²
- Deluxe suites of 35 m²
- Massage room, fitness area and salon
- 24-hour reception and onboard doctor
At sail
Day by day
MS Chateau Lafayette sails 2 published programmes. Its own route: Luxor, Esna, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Aswan, Philae (Abu Simbel optional) Departures every monday ex-luxor (4 nights); every friday ex-aswan (3 nights); 7-night sailings on both. 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 boat's published 2026/27 programme (single published source). 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) | $1,010 | $835 |
| Single cabin (sole use) | $1,500 | $1,210 |
| Triple cabin (per person) | $945 | $765 |
5 days / 4 nights · Luxor–Aswan corridor
| Cabin | High season · Sep–Apr | Low season · May–Aug |
|---|---|---|
| Double cabin (per person) | $1,200 | $950 |
| Single cabin (sole use) | $1,800 | $1,400 |
| Triple cabin (per person) | $1,110 | $875 |
- 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 MS Chateau Lafayette in the cabin booked
- Meals aboard per the boat's published programme
- Sun deck, pool, spa, gym 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
- Cabin categories
- Standard cabin 25 sqm (33)
- Deluxe cabin 30 sqm (16)
- Deluxe suite 35 sqm (6)
- Dining
- Main restaurant - buffet
- Daily tea service with snacks and cakes
- Facilities
- Sun deck with pool and pool bar
- Air-conditioned bar
- Lounge with dance floor
- Massage room
- Fitness equipment
- Beauty salon
- Boutique/gift shop
- Laundry
- 24-hour reception
- 24-hour doctor
- Spa · pool · gym
- Swimming pool on sun deck, massage room, fitness equipment, beauty salon
- Itineraries
- 3 nights Aswan to Luxor
- 4 nights Luxor to Aswan
- 7 nights Luxor-Aswan round trip
Keep planning
Plan your Nile cruise
What guests say
Independent traveller reviews of MS Chateau Lafayette, quoted with attribution — we don’t collect these ourselves.
4.2 out of 5via Tripadvisor (76)
- ★★★★★
“We took this enjoyable Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor, Egypt. The boat had the stunning classical look of golden staircases and red carpets worthy only of dignitaries.”
— Sam-Walters, USA · via Tripadvisor
Good to know
MS Chateau Lafayette questions, answered
How much does MS Chateau Lafayette cost?
Advertised rates start from US$735 per person for 3 nights; prices vary by season and cabin.
How many cabins does MS Chateau Lafayette have?
55 cabins and 6 suites.
What route does MS Chateau Lafayette sail?
Luxor, Esna, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Aswan, Philae (Abu Simbel optional), departing Every Monday ex-Luxor (4 nights); every Friday ex-Aswan (3 nights); 7-night sailings on both.
What's included on MS Chateau Lafayette?
Full board, excursions, entrance fees, guide, transfers
More boats to compare
Historia the Boutique Hotel Nile Cruise
A boutique hotel afloat, in 1920s spirit
Alexander the Great
An all-suite sailing on the Luxor–Aswan reach
Amwaj
2014-built five-star ship, Aswan to Luxor
