Queen of Sheeba Nile Cruise
A 5-star river cruiser with 72 suites, private bathrooms, generous windows, full-board dining and a lounge bar; weekly sailings link Luxor and Aswan.
At a glance
- Length
- 4 days · 3 nights
- Embarks
- Mon, Fri
- Board
- Full Board
- Class
- 5-star
The short answer
This deluxe 5-star Nile cruise is a weekly Nile sailing between Luxor and Aswan, arranged by Discovery Tours Egypt and operated by a third-party cruise line.
·In summary
Queen of Sheeba has 72 suite cabins with private bathrooms and large windows on the main or upper deck. Its shore-excursion programme includes six named sites, from Karnak Temple and the Valley of the Kings to Philae and Kom Ombo.
- Luxury
- Cultural
- Archaeology & history
- Couples·
- Seniors·
- Groups
Snapshot
Good to know
- Accommodation
- Deluxe 5-Star Nile Cruiser
- Destinations
- Luxor · Aswan · Edfu · Kom Ombo · Nile River
- Includes
- Full board from lunch on embarkation through breakfast on disembarkation · 72 suite cabins with private bathrooms and large windows · Included shore excursions · Applicable arrival transfer from Luxor or Aswan · Multilingual staff support · Lounge bar and multi-cuisine restaurant
- Best for
- First-time Egypt visitors · History enthusiasts · Couples · Families with older children · Travellers seeking an organised Luxor–Aswan programme
- Guide languages
- English
- Discovery Tours Egypt is a licensed Egyptian tour operator.
- The company is Class-A licensed by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism.
- Discovery Tours Egypt is a member of the Egyptian Travel Agents Association (ETAA #718).
- The operator arranges transfers, cruise bookings and Egyptologist-guided sightseeing.
- On-the-ground support and transport coordination are arranged for the booked programme.
What lingers
- 0172 suite-cabins with private bathrooms and large windows
- 02Cabins located on the main or upper deck
- 03Full-board 3 or 4-night Nile cruise packages with shore excursions included
- 04Shore excursions to Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Philae and the Valley of the Kings
- 05Recently refurbished lounge bar with Egyptian and Moorish interior style
- 06Multi-cuisine restaurant and multilingual staff
02Overview
A first look
By late afternoon, the Nile turns copper beyond the large cabin windows as palms, fields and village rooftops slide past. Queen of Sheeba Nile Cruise gives the river its own rhythm: quiet time on the sun deck, conversation in the lounge bar and meals in the restaurant, with shore excursions bringing you beneath the columns of Karnak Temple and into the painted tombs of the Valley of the Kings.
Sailing between Luxor and Aswan, the vessel’s programme also reaches the Temple of Horus at Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae. The atmosphere is sociable without feeling hurried, although ancient sites involve heat, steps and uneven stone. We select and arrange the cruise as a licensed Egyptian tour operator, with our Egyptologists providing context at each visit.
Background
The facts
This deluxe 5-star Nile cruise package links Luxor and Aswan, with embarkation and disembarkation available at either city. The vessel sails weekly in both directions on the Nile, and the programme combines sailing days with shore excursions to major archaeological sites. Discovery Tours Egypt selects, books and arranges the cruise; the vessel itself is owned and operated by a third-party cruise line.
The excursion programme includes Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple in Luxor, the Temple of Horus at Edfu, the Ptolemaic temple complex at Kom Ombo, Philae Temple near Aswan and the Valley of the Kings on Luxor’s west bank. Karnak developed over several centuries, with major construction from the New Kingdom onwards, while Luxor Temple was substantially built during the reigns of Amenhotep III and Ramesses II. The Valley of the Kings contains royal tombs dating mainly from Egypt’s New Kingdom, approximately 1550–1070 BC.
The vessel provides 72 suite cabins with private bathrooms and large windows, located on the main or upper deck. On-board facilities include a lounge bar, a multi-cuisine restaurant and multilingual staff speaking English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Russian and Arabic. Full board runs from lunch on the embarkation day through breakfast on the disembarkation day; drinks (including water) are generally extra.
Named in this entry
Nile River·Luxor·Aswan·Karnak Temple·Luxor Temple·Temple of Horus at Edfu·Kom Ombo·Philae Temple·Valley of the Kings·New Kingdom of Egypt·Amenhotep III·Ramesses II
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- This cruise suits first-time visitors to Egypt, couples, families and history enthusiasts who want organised access to the principal temples and tombs between Luxor and Aswan. Travellers should be comfortable with heat, steps, uneven surfaces and walking during shore excursions, although most sightseeing is arranged with transfers and a qualified guide.
Maybe not, if
- Choose a different holiday if you need step-free access throughout, or want a quiet break with little walking and few scheduled visits. The vessel's shore excursions involve heat, steps and uneven archaeological surfaces.
Honest assessment
The honest pluses and minuses, as our own team sees them after running this trip.
Highlights
- Multilingual staff support is available in seven languages.
Things to Consider
- Ancient sites involve uneven stone, steps and moderate walking.
- Midday heat can make exposed temple visits tiring.
- Drinks (including water) are generally extra.
- December to February brings the busiest sightseeing crowds.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Unlike a land-only Egypt itinerary, this cruise combines accommodation, river travel, meals and a planned programme of shore excursions between Luxor and Aswan. Unlike an independently booked boat, Discovery Tours Egypt arranges the cruise, arrival transfer and sightseeing, while the third-party cruise line operates the vessel. Drinks (including water), gratuities, personal expenses and premium attraction entries are generally excluded.
The route
Luxor and Aswan
- EdfuThe Temple of Horus
- Kom OmboThe Temple of Sobek
Choose your direction
- Luxor → Aswan4 nightsupstream, against the current
- Aswan → Luxor3 nightsdownstream, with the current
- Round-trip7 nightsreturn to Luxor or Aswan
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.
On board
Detailed itinerary
Based on embarkation from Luxor and disembarkation in Aswan.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
On property
What's here
- Lounge bar
- Restaurant
- Large cabin windows
- Private W/C in every cabin
Bundled in
- All meals
- Group Egyptologist
- Shared transfer
The fine print
What's included – and what is left out
Included
- Full-board dining, starting with lunch on embarkation and ending with breakfast on disembarkation
- Shore excursions as part of the cruise package
- A cabin with its own bathroom
- Arrival transfer from Luxor or Aswan airport, railway station or hotel, when applicable
- Staff support in English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Russian and Arabic
Not included
- Drinks, including water, are not included, even with meals
- Gratuities
- Personal spending and optional purchases
- Single supplement, if applicable
- Admission to premium attractions or interiors not listed in the booking
Field notes
From our Egyptologists
- 01
Check your booking category before travel: Standard, Deluxe and Suite are separate cabin classifications.
- 02
Ask whether your quoted price is per person sharing and confirm any single supplement before booking.
- 03
Budget separately for drinks (including water), gratuities and personal purchases.
- 04
Confirm which premium site entries or interiors are excluded in your specific booking.
Tailor it
Make it yours
Discovery Tours Egypt can arrange embarkation from Luxor or Aswan and coordinate the applicable arrival transfer from an airport, train station or hotel. Travellers may request private or shared shore excursions, additional hotel nights before or after sailing, and tailored pre- or post-cruise touring, subject to availability. Cabin pricing is normally per person sharing, with a single supplement typically applying.
Your own specialist deals with each request before you book.
Where it fits
Queen of Sheeba can sit between time in Cairo and visits to Luxor and Aswan, or form the Nile portion of a longer Egypt holiday. Its shore-excursion programme covers major sites along the river, while the weekly sailings run in both directions between Luxor and Aswan.
Accessibility
Who can join this
Shore excursions involve walking across uneven stone, sand and cobbles at Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Philae and the Valley of the Kings. Expect steps, ramps, limited shade and some areas that are not wheelchair accessible. Gangways between the riverbank and vessel can be steep, particularly when the Nile level changes. Decks and cabin corridors may also have steps. Cabins include private bathrooms, but accessible cabin specifications are not confirmed. Guests using a wheelchair or mobility aid should contact us before booking so we can check the assigned vessel, gangway, cabin layout and excursion arrangements.
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
River travel combines accommodation and transport in one journey, reducing the need for separate daily road journeys between Luxor and Aswan. The cruise is arranged with a local Egyptian cruise supplier, while our team coordinates the booking and arrival arrangements. Shore excursions use local Egyptologists and site services in Luxor, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Aswan, supporting local employment. Fuel systems, wastewater treatment, recycling and energy performance vary by the vessel assigned at booking, so we do not make claims about them. Please use water carefully, avoid single-use plastics where practical and follow crew instructions for waste disposal on the Nile.
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
What to bring
- Valid passport and travel insurance details
- Easy-to-wear walking shoes with grippy soles
- Sunscreen SPF50+, lip balm, sun hat and sunglasses
- A refillable water bottle
- A compact day bag
- Any regular medication
- Light layer for air-conditioned interiors and cooler evenings
What to wear
- Lightweight garments with a relaxed fit
- Airy layers for fluctuating temperatures
- Secure, comfortable shoes for uneven ancient surfaces
- Clothing covering shoulders and knees at temples and religious sites
- Swimwear and a cover-up for communal areas aboard
- A light jacket for evenings and air-conditioned spaces
Children & families
Children aged 0–5.99 years travel at no charge; those aged 6–11.99 years pay 50%; guests aged 12 and over pay the full adult rate. Children must share a cabin with their parents, with no more than one child per cabin. Two or more children need a cabin of their own. Strollers may be difficult to manage on gangways, decks and uneven archaeological surfaces, making a compact model a more practical choice. Check that a high chair is available before booking.
Prices by sailing
Prices are per person in GBP, from 2 people sharing a double cabin. Each price covers the full sailing, the guided sightseeing programme along the route, and your arrival and departure transfers between the vessel and the local airport or railway station.
| Sailing | October – Aprilcurrent season | May – September | Peak dates18 Dec – 6 Jan, 21 Mar – 4 Apr, 9 Apr – 23 Apr |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 nights · Aswan → Luxorembarks Fridays | October – April: from £551single cabin £703triple cabin £551 | May – September: from £479single cabin £566triple cabin £479 | Peak dates: from £695single cabin £969triple cabin £695 |
| 4 nights · Luxor → Aswanembarks Mondays | October – April: from £640single cabin £842triple cabin £640 | May – September: from £544single cabin £659triple cabin £544 | Peak dates: from £832single cabin £1,197triple cabin £832 |
| 7 nights · Luxor → Luxorembarks Mondays | October – April: from £905single cabin £1,258triple cabin £905 | May – September: from £736single cabin £938triple cabin £736 | Peak dates: from £1,241single cabin £1,880triple cabin £1,241 |
| 7 nights · Aswan → Aswanembarks Fridays | October – April: from £920single cabin £1,273triple cabin £920 | May – September: from £752single cabin £954triple cabin £752 | Peak dates: from £1,256single cabin £1,895triple cabin £1,256 |
Peak dates: 18 Dec – 6 Jan, 21 Mar – 4 Apr, 9 Apr – 23 Apr. Choose your sailing and date in the booking panel for the exact price.
Cabin allocation
- Nile vessels do not have interconnecting cabins.
- Book early and we will ask the vessel to place your party together — usually adjacent, or directly opposite.
- Cabin numbers are confirmed by the vessel at check-in.
These fares are a guide, as prices and cabins move through the year. Do ask us and we will confirm the fare for the days you have in mind.
Add Cairo before or after your cruise
The ship stays between Luxor and Aswan. The Pyramids, and most flights back to the UK, are in Cairo. These short extensions link the two.
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
Location
On the map
While you're here
Worth pairing
- Karnak TempleRight here
- Luxor TempleRight here
- Edfu’s Temple of HorusRight here
- The Temple at Kom OmboRight here
- Philae TempleRight here
- The Valley of the KingsRight here
Asked & answered
Frequent questions
01How long is the Queen of Sheeba Nile Cruise?
The Queen of Sheeba Nile Cruise is an eight-day programme between Luxor and Aswan. The vessel sails weekly in both directions, with sailing days and shore excursions forming part of its programme. The exact sequence depends on the direction of travel and sailing dates, so check the arrangements confirmed for your booking.02How do I get to the Queen of Sheeba Nile Cruise?
Where available, we can arrange an arrival transfer from Luxor or Aswan airport, railway station or hotel. Tell us where you’ll arrive and which city you’ll embark in, and we’ll confirm the transfer details for your booking. The transfer is to the vessel for embarkation, not a shore excursion.03What is included in the Queen of Sheeba Nile Cruise?
The package includes a cabin with a private bathroom, full board and the listed shore excursions. Meals run from lunch on embarkation day through breakfast on disembarkation day. Multilingual staff support is available in English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Russian and Arabic; check your booking for the confirmed arrangements.04What is not included on the Queen of Sheeba Nile Cruise?
Drinks (including water), gratuities and personal purchases are not included unless arranged as part of your booking. A single supplement may apply, and entry to premium attractions or interiors may not be included. We’ll confirm the inclusions before you travel, particularly if you wish to visit a paid tomb interior.05How much walking is involved on the Queen of Sheeba Nile Cruise excursions?
Shore excursions involve walking around large ancient sites, where routes can include uneven stone, steps and exposed ground. The exact physical demands vary by site and visit. If you have limited mobility or need regular rests, tell us before booking so we can check what can be arranged; access may be restricted at some locations.06Are children allowed on the Queen of Sheeba Nile Cruise?
Children can travel on the Queen of Sheeba Nile Cruise under the stated age and cabin rules. Children aged 0 to 5.99 years travel free, those aged 6 to 11.99 pay 50%, and children aged 12 or older pay the full adult price. A maximum of one child may share a cabin with parents; two or more children need their own cabin.07What clothing and items should I pack for the Queen of Sheeba Nile Cruise?
Bring sun protection, water, comfortable walking shoes and light clothing for warm days on the Nile. Temple visits require modest dress, so cover shoulders and knees; a light layer is useful in cooler months and air-conditioned spaces. Choose footwear suitable for uneven ancient stone, and carry any personal medication you may need.08Can I take photographs on the Queen of Sheeba Nile Cruise excursions?
Photography rules vary between the vessel and individual archaeological sites. Ask staff or your Egyptologist before photographing inside tombs or restricted areas, and follow signs at each site. Some tomb interiors require a separate ticket or may prohibit photography; check the rules and any extra charges locally rather than assuming a camera is permitted.09When is the best time to take the Queen of Sheeba Nile Cruise?
October to April is generally more comfortable for visiting Luxor, Aswan and the Nile sites. Summer brings higher temperatures, particularly during outdoor visits, so plan for heat and follow your Egyptologist's advice. The vessel sails weekly year-round, but winter sun months are usually the easier choice for extended sightseeing.10Which sites does the Queen of Sheeba Nile Cruise visit?
The excursion programme includes Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, the Temple of Horus at Edfu, Kom Ombo, Philae and the Valley of the Kings. The order varies with the sailing direction between Luxor and Aswan. Unlike a single-site river outing, this cruise programme combines major temples with the royal tombs on Luxor's West Bank.
Last updated 8 March 2025Product ID: CRU-NIL-318263
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