Nile cruise shipLuxury flagshipsLuxor → Aswan

The Oberoi Zahra, Luxury Nile Cruiser

Oberoi comfort on the southern Nile reach

The Oberoi Zahra, Luxury Nile Cruiser is a Nile cruise ship operated by The Oberoi Group (Oberoi Hotels & Resorts), built 2007. It has 27 cabins and 2 suites for up to 54 guests and sails itineraries of 3, 4 or 7 nights on the Nile between Luxor and Aswan.

Good to know

The Oberoi Zahra is a five-deck luxury Nile cruiser for up to 54 guests, run by India's Oberoi Hotels & Resorts and sailing three, four and seven-night itineraries between Luxor and Aswan via Esna, Edfu and Kom Ombo, departing Tuesdays and Saturdays. It has 25 Luxury Cabins of 26.4 m² and a small number of suites with private heated whirlpools, an 11-metre heated pool and a full Oberoi Spa. Agency fares start from about USD 2,815 per person for three nights in summer; winter costs more.

Class Luxury flagshipsCabins 27 · up to 54 guestsRoute Luxor → Aswan

The Oberoi Zahra, Luxury Nile Cruiser, a Nile cruise ship

Operator: The Oberoi Group (Oberoi Hotels & Resorts)
Accommodation: 27 cabins · 2 suites
Guests: Up to 54
Decks: 5
Dimensions: 72 × 14.4 m
Built: 2007
Route: Luxor, Esna, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Aswan; seven-night sailings extend to Quina (Qena/Dendera). The route map shows Luxor, Aswan, Esna, Edfu, Komombo, Quina.
Trip length: 3 · 4 · 7 nights
Departures: Tuesday and Saturday (all itineraries)
Season: Year-round, with sailings published for 2026 and 2027; limited/no sailings shown for June. Dry-docking 1 June - 5 July 2027.
Wi-Fi: Complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi, covering up to four devices per cabin, subject to network availability

About The Oberoi Zahra, Luxury Nile Cruiser

Oberoi launched the Zahra in 2007 as a hotel company's idea of a Nile cruiser rather than a cruise line's, and it still reads that way. There are only 27 cabins and suites across five decks, so the ship carries a maximum of 54 guests where the standard Luxor to Aswan cruiser carries well over 100. That ratio drives everything else: shorter queues at the gangway, an Egyptologist who leads excursions in small groups, and a restaurant that serves a daily-changing à la carte menu instead of a buffet.

The design is quiet and modern. Cabins are panelled in pale wood with full-width windows onto the river and marble bathrooms with glass-walled rain showers. The upper deck carries an 11-metre temperature-controlled pool, one of the largest on the river, and the Oberoi Spa sits below with private therapy rooms. Evenings centre on the Club Lounge, which hosts high tea, two cocktail receptions with live music, and a Nubian performance on every sailing.

Oberoi says its Nile cruisers were ranked first among river cruisers in the Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards 2025 and 2026. The Zahra is the newer and larger of the two Oberoi boats; its sister, the Oberoi Philae, is older, smaller and has bigger standard cabins.

Highlights

Oberoi Spa with private therapy rooms
24-hour fitness centre and 11 m pool
Luxury Cabins of 26.4 m² with river views
Suites with private heated whirlpool terrace
Club Lounge with live Nubian performances

At sail

Day by day

The Oberoi Zahra, Luxury Nile Cruiser sails 2 published programmes. Its own route: Luxor, Esna, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Aswan; seven-night sailings extend to Quina (Qena/Dendera) Departures tuesday and saturday (all itineraries). 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 widely (different seasons, cabin bases or promotions), so the full published range is shown and we confirm the exact fare on your quote. 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)	$2,225–$4,446	$1,215–$2,815
Single cabin (sole use)	$3,340–$6,992	$1,840–$3,730

5 days / 4 nights · Luxor–Aswan corridor

Cabin	High season · Sep–Apr	Low season · May–Aug
Double cabin (per person)	$2,975–$5,595	$1,625–$3,420
Single cabin (sole use)	$4,460–$8,990	$2,440–$4,640

8 days / 7 nights · Luxor–Aswan corridor

Cabin	High season · Sep–Apr	Low season · May–Aug
Double cabin (per person)	$9,042	$5,235
Single cabin (sole use)	$14,982	$7,370

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

Published by the operator. Confirm what your own booking covers before you travel.

Included

All meals
Return transfers
Monument entrance fees
Tour guide charges
English-speaking Egyptologist guiding on board, multi-lingual Egyptologists on prior notice
Small luxury coaches at each stop for sightseeing

Not included

On board

Cabins and suites

The Zahra has two core categories on the fact sheet: 25 Luxury Cabins and 2 Luxury Suites. Oberoi's own website also lists a Two-Bedroom Suite and a 115 m² master suite, which the fact sheet does not include, so we confirm the suite configuration when we quote.

Luxury Cabin

26.4 m² (284 sq ft) · 25 · King or twin

The standard cabin, and larger than most on the river. Full-width windows onto the Nile, a seating area and a marble bathroom with a glass-panelled rain shower. Ask for a higher deck if you want less engine noise and a better view at the quayside.

Luxury Suite with terrace

50 m² (538 sq ft) · 2 · King

Twice the floor space of a cabin plus a private terrace with sun loungers and a heated outdoor whirlpool. With only two on board they sell out first in the winter months.

Luxury Suite with Two Bedrooms

92 m² · Sleeps 4

Listed on Oberoi's website for families or two couples travelling together; not shown on the printed fact sheet.

Master Luxury Suite

115 m² (1,237 sq ft) · King

Living room, private dining area, standalone bathtub and a terrace with its own heated whirlpool. The largest accommodation on any Oberoi boat.

The days

Life on board

There are four places to eat and drink. The Restaurant serves international cooking from an à la carte menu that changes daily, from 7.00 am to 10.00 pm. The Club Lounge covers high tea, cocktails and the evening entertainment. The Library and Cigar Lounge is open around the clock and serves drinks until midnight, and there is light poolside dining on the upper deck.

Wellbeing is the Zahra's strongest suit. Alongside the 11-metre heated pool there is the Oberoi Spa with therapists trained in Eastern and Western techniques, a 24-hour air-conditioned gym with personal screens, and a unisex beauty salon. A small cinema, a boutique and a lift between decks complete the public areas. Wi-Fi is complimentary.

Fit

Who it's for

Pick the Zahra if you want a hotel-grade experience on the Nile with a proper spa, a restaurant that doesn't run a buffet, and never more than 54 fellow guests. It suits couples, honeymooners and anyone celebrating. Look elsewhere if you want a lively bar scene, entertainment every night or a lower budget: the Zahra sits at the top of the Nile price range. If cabin size matters more than having the newer ship, compare it with the Oberoi Philae, whose standard cabins are 36 m². For a similar size of ship at a lower price, look at Historia.

Compare with The Oberoi Philae, Luxury Nile Cruiser, Historia the Boutique Hotel Nile Cruise, Sanctuary Sun Boat IV.

/nile-cruises/vs/oberoi-zahra-vs-oberoi-philae

Practical

How to book The Oberoi Zahra, Luxury Nile Cruiser

Oberoi publishes three-night sailings from both Luxor and Aswan, four-night sailings from Luxor, and seven-night sailings from both ends, all departing on Tuesdays or Saturdays. Seven-night sailings run on selected dates only. Winter (November to April) is peak season and the two terrace suites go first, so we suggest enquiring three to six months ahead for those dates. The ship is out of service for dry-docking from 1 June to 5 July 2027.

Send us your dates and cabin preference on WhatsApp and we will confirm availability with Oberoi and quote the full package, including airport transfers and entrance fees, before you pay anything.

The boat in detail

Cabin categories: Luxury Cabin - 26.4 sqm / 284 sqft, 25 cabins, king or twin beds, River Nile views, marble bathroom with glass-panelled rain shower
Luxury Suite (terrace + private heated whirlpool) - 50 sqm / 538 sqft, 2 suites, king bed, terrace with sun loungers and private heated outdoor whirlpool
Luxury Suite with Two Bedrooms - 92 sqm, sleeps 4
Luxury Suite (Master) - 115 sqm / 1237 sqft, king bed, sleeps 2, living room, private dining area, terrace with sun lounger and private heated outdoor whirlpool, standalone bathtub and rain shower
Dining: The Restaurant - freshly prepared international cuisine, daily changing a la carte menu; 7.00 am to 10.00 pm
The Club Lounge - high tea, alcoholic and soft beverages; venue for two cocktail receptions with live music and a Nubian performance each cruise; 10.00 am to 11.00 pm
The Library and Cigar Lounge - open 24 hours; alcoholic and soft beverages served until midnight; 10.00 am to 12.00 am
Poolside dining
Facilities: Temperature-controlled outdoor swimming pool, 11 metres / 36 feet (upper deck)
Spa with four private therapy rooms
24-hour air-conditioned fitness centre with personal audiovisual screens
Library and Cigar Lounge (open 24 hours)
Club Lounge with live music and Nubian performances
Cinema / in-house movie theatre
Beauty salon
Boutique / gift shop
Elevator between decks
24-hour reception, laundry, medical service on call
Egyptologist guide for shore excursions
Spa · pool · gym: The Oberoi Spa with therapists trained in Eastern and Western massage techniques (four private therapy rooms with private shower/steam room); temperature-controlled outdoor swimming pool 11 m / 36 ft on the upper deck; 24-hour air-conditioned fitness centre; unisex beauty salon.
Itineraries: 3 nights, Aswan to Luxor, embark Saturday
4 nights, Luxor to Aswan, embark Tuesday
7 nights, Aswan to Luxor and Luxor to Aswan (adds Qena/Dendera), embark Tuesday

Keep planning

Plan your Nile cruise

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

Tripadvisor 4.3/5 from 10 reviews, checked 2026-09-21 · read them

“Standing in the Valley of the Kings without being shoulder to shoulder with crowds is the ideal experience” — spicytina, Sep 2026
“We thought the food was exceptional and had lots of variety.” — vacationgirl1, Jun 2026

What guests say

Independent traveller reviews of The Oberoi Zahra, Luxury Nile Cruiser, quoted with attribution — we don’t collect these ourselves.

5 out of 5via Tripadvisor (14)

★★★★★
“Excellent in every respect. Immaculately clean. Attentive and friendly service.”
— RAP6, London, United Kingdom · via Tripadvisor

Good to know

The Oberoi Zahra, Luxury Nile Cruiser questions, answered

How much does the Oberoi Zahra Nile cruise cost?

Published agency fares for 2026/27 start from about USD 2,815 per person for three nights in a double Luxury Cabin in summer, rising to about USD 3,970 in high winter. Four nights in winter is about USD 4,960 per person, and a terrace suite is about USD 6,760 per person for four nights. Fares include full board, excursions with an Egyptologist and entrance fees. We quote every sailing live.

Is the Oberoi Zahra worth it?

It is if space and service matter more to you than price. With a maximum of 54 guests, à la carte dining, an 11-metre heated pool and a full spa, it offers more per guest than almost any other ship on the Nile, and Oberoi says its cruisers were ranked first among river cruisers by Travel + Leisure readers in 2025 and 2026. If you mainly want to see the temples, a standard five-star ship covers the same sites for much less.

Oberoi Zahra or Oberoi Philae: which is better?

The Zahra (2007, 54 guests) is the newer ship with more suite options and a cinema. The Philae (built 1995, refurbished 2016, 44 guests) is smaller and has larger standard cabins, 36 m² against 26.4 m². Both have the same 11-metre pool, Oberoi Spa and Tuesday and Saturday departures. Choose the Philae for cabin space and the Zahra for the newer ship and its larger suites.

Which cabin is best on the Oberoi Zahra?

For most couples the Luxury Cabin is enough: at 26.4 m² it is already larger than standard cabins on most Nile ships. If budget allows, the two 50 m² Luxury Suites add a private terrace with a heated whirlpool, which you will use every afternoon while sailing.

When does the Oberoi Zahra sail?

On Tuesdays and Saturdays. Oberoi runs three nights from Luxor or Aswan, four nights from Luxor, and seven nights from either end on selected dates. There are no sailings in June, and the ship is in dry dock from 1 June to 5 July 2027.