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Nile Cruise5-Star LuxuryLUXOR → LUXOR

Sanctuary Sun Boat III Luxury Nile Cruise

A luxury Nile cruiser with panoramic windows, full-board dining, a sun deck, lounge bar, and guided shore excursions.

At a glance

Length
8 days · 7 nights
Embarks
Mon, Fri
Board
Full Board
  • New

02Overview

A first look

Sanctuary Sun Boat III is the most intimate ship in the Sanctuary Retreats fleet — just 18 keys in a 1920s-inspired style — sailing LuxorAswan with private Egyptologist guiding and some of the finest dining on the river. Cabin rates and departures for this vessel are confirmed on request — let us know your dates and we will check availability and pricing directly with the operator.

The route

Luxor and Aswan

  1. LuxorKarnak & the Valley of the KingsEmbark
  2. EdfuThe Temple of Horus
  3. Kom OmboThe Temple of Sobek
  4. AswanPhilae Temple & the High DamDisembark

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.

At sea

Detailed itinerary

Based on round-trip embarkation from LUXOR. On 7-night round-trips each site is visited once.

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Accessibility

Who can join this

This cruise involves boarding via steps at the embarkation pontoon and moving between cabin decks by fixed staircases; many Nile cruisers do not have elevators. Expect uneven stone at landing stages, narrow gangways and occasional soft sand at shore-excursion sites such as the Valley of the Kings and Philae temple island. Wheelchair users should note that true step-free access aboard is limited; only a small number of vessels can accept a folding wheelchair with advance notice and a suitable helper. If you need mobility assistance, please contact us before booking so we can confirm vessel accessibility, reserve any available accessible cabin, arrange additional help at ports, and advise which shore excursions are practical. All on-board public areas have handrails and seating; shore visits typically require short walks and some stair climbs.

Before you go

What to pack & wear

What to bring

  • Valid passport and printed or digital booking voucher
  • Travel insurance details and emergency contact information
  • Comfortable walking shoes with good grip
  • Sun protection: SPF 30+ sunscreen, wide-brim hat, sunglasses
  • Lightweight daypack for shore excursions and water bottle
  • Plug adapter (Egypt uses types C and F, 220V)

What to wear

  • Lightweight, loose-fitting daytime clothing for heat
  • A light sweater or jacket for cooler evenings on deck
  • Covered shoulders and knees for temples and mosques
  • Non-slip closed shoes for uneven archaeological sites
  • Smart-casual outfit for dinner in the dining room

Children & families

Children 0–5.99 years travel free; children 6–11.99 years pay 50% of the adult fare; children 12 years and older pay the full adult price. Children must share a cabin with their parents, maximum one child per cabin; two or more children require a separate cabin. Cots or extra beds are limited and must be requested at booking. Strollers are practical on board but can be cumbersome at some landing stages where there are steps; please tell us if you will travel with a stroller so we can advise on embarkation and shore access.

Location

On the map

Luxor and Aswan — where it sails in EgyptMediterranean SeaRed SeaWestern DesertEastern DesertLake NasserLuxorEdfuKom OmboAswanCairoAbu SimbelN
Cairo lies north; your cruise is the gold stretch in the south. The Nile flows north, so sailing upstream means heading south.

Responsible travel

How we travel here

We work with carefully selected cruise lines and local suppliers to reduce environmental impact on the Nile corridor. Transfers arranged by us use air-conditioned coaches that meet Euro 4 or better emissions standards where available; for short transfers inside Luxor and Aswan we prioritize minibuses that allocate fewer empty-kilometer runs. On board, most Nile cruisers follow a centralized waste-separation program and use water-conserving fixtures; we request that suppliers reuse linens only when guests agree. Meals served on board use locally sourced produce and Nile-caught fish when seasonally available, supporting regional farmers and fishers. We pay local Egyptologists, crew and on-shore guides directly through contracted partnerships to ensure fair wages and predictable work, and we encourage guests to buy crafts from community workshops in Luxor and Aswan to channel tourist income locally. If you have a specific sustainability concern, tell us and we will flag it with the cruise line before booking.

  • Licensed local Egyptologists

    ETAA-credentialed, on payroll

  • Fair wages on the ground

    Drivers + guides paid above market

  • Site preservation

    We follow MoTA visitor caps and no-touch protocols

  • Carbon-aware itineraries

    Domestic flights only when train/road is impractical

If plans change

Cancellation

More than 30 days
Full refund less a £50 admin fee
15–30 days
50% refund
Within 14 days
No refund – date changes considered case by case

Product ID: CRU-NIL-734098

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