Ramadan 2027
A Nile cruise during Ramadan 2027
Ramadan changes the mood ashore, not the cruise. In 2027 it is expected from about 8 February to 8 March. Boats sail as normal, meals on board are served as usual, and most tourist ships keep serving alcohol. The temples in Luxor and Aswan kept their normal hours in the last Ramadan we checked. Expect quieter afternoons in town and lively, lantern-lit evenings.
2027
The dates
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| About 8 Feb 2027 | Ramadan begins (depends on the moon sighting) |
| 22 Feb 2027 | Abu Simbel sun festival: the sun lights the inner sanctuary at dawn |
| About 8 Mar 2027 | Ramadan ends |
| About 9–11 Mar 2027 | Eid al-Fitr, a three-day public holiday; sites and towns busy with Egyptian visitors |
The exact start and end can shift by a day. See when to go for the full calendar.
What doesn't change
On board
Cruise ships and dahabiyas keep their normal timetable. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served at the usual times for guests, and dining hours are not restricted for tourists. Most tourist ships keep serving alcohol, sometimes only in a designated bar; on a dahabiya, check whether your boat sells alcohol at all (several do not, and are happy for you to bring your own).
Many of the crew will be fasting from dawn to sunset. Service carries on as usual, but a little patience late in the afternoon is appreciated.
What does change
Ashore
In Ramadan 2024, the archaeological sites in Luxor, Aswan and Qena kept normal opening hours, while some museums elsewhere in Egypt closed early. 2027 hours had not been announced when we last checked. Shops and cafés in town open later and close for the sunset meal, and afternoons are quieter. After sunset the streets fill up, with lanterns, food stalls and families out late.
On a cruise, the temple visits are early-morning affairs anyway, so Ramadan rarely touches the sightseeing. If you plan days in Luxor or Aswan before or after the cruise, allow for shops opening later.
Etiquette
Travelling respectfully
- You do not need to fast. On board, eat and drink as normal.
- Ashore in daylight, avoid eating, drinking or smoking openly in the street; a discreet sip of water in the heat is fine.
- Dress modestly in town and at mosques, as you would at any time of year.
- If you are invited to share an iftar, say yes. It is one of the warmest experiences of the trip.
- Tips are appreciated as at any time of year; if you tip the crew at the end, Eid is a generous moment to do it.
Choosing
Is Ramadan a good time for a Nile cruise?
Yes, for most travellers. February and early March are some of the best weeks on the river, with Luxor highs of about 25 °C in February and 30 °C in March, and Ramadan barely touches life on board.
It is still high season, so prices are at the normal winter rate: about US$120 to US$1,500 per person per night on a cruise ship and US$140 to US$1,500 on a dahabiya. To time a trip with the Abu Simbel sun festival on 22 February, arrange the Abu Simbel trip from Aswan early, because the festival draws big crowds. For a boat, start with the best dahabiyas by what you want, or ships such as Historia, the Oberoi Zahra and Sonesta St George.
Asked often
Ramadan on the Nile, answered
- Can you do a Nile cruise during Ramadan?
- Yes. Every boat sails as normal through Ramadan, which in 2027 is expected from about 8 February to 8 March. Meals on board are served at the usual times for guests, and most tourist ships keep serving alcohol, sometimes only in a designated bar.
- Are the temples open during Ramadan?
- Yes. In Ramadan 2024 the sites in Luxor, Aswan and Qena kept their normal opening hours, while some museums elsewhere closed early. Hours for 2027 had not been announced when we last checked, so confirm closer to the time.
- When is Ramadan 2027?
- It is expected to run from about 8 February to 8 March 2027, followed by Eid al-Fitr on about 9 to 11 March. The exact dates depend on the sighting of the moon and can shift by a day.
- Do I have to fast on a Nile cruise in Ramadan?
- No. Visitors are not expected to fast, and meals on board run as normal. Ashore, during daylight, it is polite not to eat, drink or smoke openly in the street.
- Is a Nile cruise cheaper in Ramadan?
- Not usually. Ramadan 2027 falls in February and early March, which is high season on the river, so boats charge their normal winter rate. Across the year, cruise ships run about US$120 to US$1,500 per person per night and dahabiyas about US$140 to US$1,500.
