Lady Mary Nile Cruise

The short answer

Lady Mary Nile Cruise is an eight-day Nile cruise covering Luxor, Aswan and scheduled temple excursions, arranged through Discovery Tours Egypt.

·In summary

• Luxury

Snapshot

Good to know

Accommodation

Five-star cruise boat

Destinations

Luxor · Edfu · Kom Ombo · Aswan

Includes

Full board meals · Scheduled shore excursions · Sun deck and lounge bar use · Crew and onboard service charges · Meet-and-assist at Luxor International Airport Arrivals Hall when flights arrive at LXR

Best for

History enthusiasts · First-time visitors to Egypt · Couples · Families with older children · Travellers seeking a guided Nile cruise

Guide languages

English

What lingers

• 01Four-day cruise aboard MS Lady Mary between Luxor and Aswan, overnight moorings at Edfu and Aswan.
• 02Our Egyptologists lead guided visits to Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut and Colossi of Memnon.
• 03We moor overnight at Edfu – most cruise schedules rush the temple; we allow two hours after boats depart.
• 04Sunset felucca ride around Aswan's Elephantine Island available; 45-minute sail, private boat and local crew.
• 05All standard site entrance fees included; Nile cruise gratuities and pyramid interiors excluded unless requested.
• 06Arranged by Discovery Tours Egypt, a licensed Egyptian tour operator; local crew, on-board hospitality and English-speaking guides.

Background

The facts

Suited to

Is this for you?

Worth knowing

How this compares

Unlike a land-based Egypt itinerary, this cruise combines accommodation, meals, and temple visits in one sailing programme between Luxor and Aswan. Compared with private touring, the cruise follows a fixed shore-excursion schedule, although private guiding and upgraded site entrances can be added separately. It is also different from a simple transfer between the two cities because the vessel provides full-board onboard stays and common public areas for leisure between excursions.

Both directions

Where this ship sails

This vessel works more than one stretch of the river. The direction changes the order of the temples, the number of nights and which city you fly out of.

• Aswan to Luxor3 nights on this shipRead the route guide
• Luxor to Aswan4 nights on this shipRead the route guide
• Luxor round trip7 nights on this shipRead the route guide
• Aswan round trip7 nights on this shipRead the route guide

Bundled in

• 🍽Full board

The fine print

What's included – and what is left out

1. 01

   Ask which cabin category has a Nile-view balcony; views vary by cabin type, and not every cabin is described as having one.

2. 02

   Keep Tutankhamun’s tomb admission separate in your budget; it is a premium entrance and is not included unless stated.

3. 03

   Compare the dates’ excursion timings before booking, especially if you want to add private Egyptologist guiding.

4. 04

   Allow for drinks (including water) as an extra, including bar orders, unless your booking states otherwise.

Tailor it

Make it yours

Discovery Tours Egypt can usually tailor the booking with private transfers, private Egyptologist guiding, or additional site entrances such as premium tombs. Cabin category, sailing direction, and add-on nights in Luxor or Aswan can also be arranged, subject to availability and cruise-line confirmation.

Your own specialist deals with each request before you book.

Accessibility

Who can join this

This cruise requires regular stepping on and off the vessel via a gangway with steps and short staircases; cabins and some public areas have step thresholds. Decks are teak and can be uneven, and surfaces may become wet and slippery after river spray. Shore excursions include walking on cobbles, uneven ancient stone, sandy riverbanks and temple steps; the Valley of the Kings and Karnak have variable stair gradients. Wheelchair users can travel but should note the vessel is not lift-equipped and many cabins are not wheelchair-adapted. Guests who need a wheelchair, hoist transfer, or significant mobility assistance must notify us at booking so we can advise on cabin placement, embarkation feasibility and whether an external provider or personal assistant is required. Foldable strollers are practical for gangway access and fit in most Standard and Deluxe corridors but may be tight in some Suite layouts. Crew can assist with luggage on and off the gangway but cannot provide medical care; bring any specialised mobility equipment you need and tell us in advance so we can plan transfers and meet-and-assist.

– Responsible travel

How we travel here

The vessel uses standard diesel river engines common to Nile cruisers; shore transfers during excursions use local air-conditioned minibuses or coaches. We arrange this cruise through a carefully selected cruise line and work with its locally employed crew in Luxor and Aswan. Shore excursions use licensed, local Egyptologists and small-site teams so visitor spending supports those specialists and nearby cafés and craft stalls we book where appropriate. We do not claim carbon neutrality; instead we focus on local procurement of food and services to shorten supply chains and on educating guests about sensible water and energy use while aboard.

• Licensed Egyptologist guides

  State-licensed, and people we have worked with for years

• Fair wages on the ground

  Drivers + guides paid above market

• Site preservation

  We follow the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities' site rules: marked paths, no touching reliefs

• Local teams, real help

  Our own offices in Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Hurghada, Marsa Alam and Sharm El Sheikh

Before you go

What to pack & wear

If plans change

Cancellation and refunds

What you receive back if you cancel depends on how far ahead of your holiday you let us know and the kind of holiday you book. See our current cancellation and refund terms

While you're here

Worth pairing

• Karnak TempleRight here
• Luxor TempleRight here
• Edfu’s Temple of HorusRight here
• The Temple of Kom OmboRight here
• Philae TempleRight here
• The Valley of the KingsRight here

Why book this with us

Three reasons, stated plainly

1. 01

   Choose Standard, Deluxe or Suite cabin grades

Asked & answered

Frequent questions

1. 01How long is the Lady Mary Nile Cruise and what does the schedule include?

   The vessel follows a weekly shore‑excursion programme between Luxor and Aswan. Days alternate between sailing and scheduled calls at Karnak, Luxor Temple, Edfu (Temple of Horus), Kom Ombo, Philae and the Valley of the Kings. Embarkation and disembarkation take place at Luxor and Aswan; the exact sequence depends on the sailing direction that week.
2. 02What is included in the price of the cruise?

   Full board is included from lunch on embarkation day through breakfast on disembarkation day. Use of the sun deck, lounge bar and dining room, scheduled shore excursions as per the vessel’s programme, crew and onboard service charges, and meet‑and‑assist at Luxor International Airport arrivals (when flights arrive at LXR) are also included.
3. 03Which items are not included and commonly booked separately?

   Drinks (including water), premium site entrance fees (for example Tutankhamun tomb), private Egyptologist guiding, private transfers, international and domestic flights, visas, travel insurance, personal expenses and gratuities to guides and crew are excluded. As a licensed Egyptian tour operator, we recommend booking premium tomb entrances and private guiding in advance.
4. 04Can I book a private Egyptologist or upgraded site entrances through you?

   Yes — we arrange private Egyptologist guiding and premium tomb entrances separately. Availability for Tutankhamun and other premium tombs is limited and often sold out in peak winter months, so book early. We advise not bundling every premium entrance, because many travellers prefer to choose which tombs to upgrade on arrival.
5. 05What cabin types are available and is there a single supplement?

   Cabins are graded Standard, Deluxe and Suite, each offering either a panoramic window or a Nile‑view balcony depending on deck and category. Pricing is per person sharing; a single supplement normally applies for sole occupancy. Exact cabin sizes, deck location and views depend on the vessel’s deck plan and allocation.
6. 06How accessible is the vessel for passengers with reduced mobility?

   Expect ship gangways, steps between some decks, narrow doorways and cabins that may require steps from the gangway level. Shore sites include uneven stone, stairs and sandy banks. If you need wheelchair assistance, an accessible cabin or embarkation help, say so at booking so we can confirm suitability with the cruise line.
7. 07What should I bring and wear aboard and on shore excursions?

   Bring strong sun protection (wide‑brim hat, SPF 30+ sunscreen), closed shoes for uneven ancient stone, light layers for hot days and cooler evenings, modest clothing covering shoulders and knees for temples and mosques, a refillable water bottle, medications and a small daypack. Power adaptors for European two‑pin plugs are useful.
8. 08Are photography and drone use allowed during shore excursions?

   Still photography is generally permitted at most sites; flash, tripods and photography inside some tombs or museums may be restricted. Drones are prohibited at archaeological sites without special Egyptian-authority permission. Ask the Egyptologist or site staff before using professional gear; restrictions vary by site and can change with short notice.
9. 09What is the best time of year to sail on the Lady Mary?

   The cooler months, October through April, are the most comfortable for daytime temple visits and deck time. Daytime highs in Luxor and Aswan commonly exceed 35°C in June–August, and peak winter season means busier sites and earlier booking for premium tombs and private guiding.
10. 10Will we visit the Valley of the Kings and can we enter Tutankhamun’s tomb?

    The vessel’s shore‑excursion programme includes the Valley of the Kings as a scheduled call. Entry to Tutankhamun’s tomb and other premium tombs is excluded from the cruise price and requires separate booking; these entrances are limited and may be sold out, especially in winter, so reserve in advance if you want guaranteed access.