Chateau Lafayette Nile Cruise
Overview
Cruise Luxor to Aswan aboard the refurbished 5-star Chateau Lafayette. 4 & 5-day programs, French-balcony cabins, private guide. Itinerary & prices from $745.
The Chateau Lafayette Nile Cruise is a fully refurbished five-star ship sailing Luxor to Aswan, blending French-balcony elegance with Egypt's grandest temples from $745.
Renovated from stem to stern, the Chateau Lafayette offers 56 cabins across three categories — 33 double cabins, 17 suites, and six superior suites — many featuring a French Juliet balcony that opens onto the passing riverbank. Choose between a brisk 4-day / 3-night sailing that departs every Friday from Aswan, or a more leisurely 5-day / 4-night voyage leaving every Monday from Luxor. Either way you unpack once and let the Nile carry you between the monuments of Upper Egypt.
Life aboard is relaxed and refined. A buffet main restaurant, air-conditioned bar, and lounge with a dance floor anchor the evenings, while the broad sun deck, swimming pool, and pool bar fill the daylight hours. Guests can book an air-conditioned massage room, browse the boutique and gift shop, or stay in touch via WiFi, with a 24-hour doctor on call. Every cabin includes air-conditioning, fridge, phone, safe, satellite TV, and an en-suite bathroom with bath, overbath shower, and hair dryer.
Shore excursions are genuinely private, led by an English-speaking Egyptologist in small groups of 1–8 travelers. Your route unfurls the classics: the colossal Karnak and Luxor Temples, the royal tombs of the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's cliff-side temple, the Ptolemaic Temple of Horus at Edfu, the dual sanctuaries of Kom Ombo, island-set Philae, and the High Dam at Aswan.
Optional Abu Simbel, sunrise hot-air ballooning, felucca sailing, and a Nubian village visit round out the experience.
Booking the Chateau Lafayette with Travel Joy Egypt brings clear pricing, private guiding, all entrance fees included, and complimentary airport, station, and hotel transfers in Luxor or Aswan. It is an outstanding choice for travelers who want polished comfort and expert storytelling on the river. Browse our full range of Nile cruises to find your perfect sailing.
Duration
4 or 5 Days
Availability
Fridays (Aswan, 4-day) & Mondays (Luxor, 5-day)
Tour Type
Luxury Nile Cruise
Tailor-Make Your Dream Egypt Holiday
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Itinerary
Karnak TempleDay 1 (5-Day) — Luxor: Karnak & Luxor Temples (East Bank)
Embark the Chateau Lafayette before lunch in Luxor. In the afternoon your guide leads you through the sprawling Karnak Temple complex, including the Avenue of Ram-Headed Sphinxes and the great hypostyle hall of 134 columns. Continue to Luxor Temple with its Ramses II colossi and the Abu Haggag Mosque. Enjoy tea on the sun deck, then dinner and your first overnight moored in Luxor.
Valley of the KingsDay 2 (5-Day) — Luxor West Bank: Valley of the Kings & Hatshepsut, Sail to Esna
Cross to the West Bank to explore the Valley of the Kings, entering three painted royal tombs (Tutankhamun and Seti I optional). Visit the terraced Temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari and the Colossi of Memnon. After lunch on board, the ship sails toward Esna and passes through the Esna lock. A sunrise hot-air-balloon flight is available as an option. Dinner and overnight on the river.
Day 3 (5-Day) — Edfu & Kom Ombo Temples
A horse-drawn carriage takes you to the Temple of Horus at Edfu, the most completely preserved Ptolemaic temple, rich with reliefs of the Horus-Seth battle. Lunch is served as you sail to Kom Ombo, where the symmetrical double temple honors Sobek the crocodile god and Horus the sky god, complete with carved medical instruments and a crocodile-mummy museum. Continue toward Aswan with dinner and an overnight on board.
Philae TempleDay 4 (5-Day) — Aswan: High Dam, Philae & Nubian Charm
Tour the High Dam and its views over Lake Nasser, ride a motorboat to the island Temple of Philae dedicated to Isis, and inspect the Unfinished Obelisk in its ancient granite quarry. Lunch is served on board. Spend the afternoon at leisure or add an optional felucca sail and a visit to a colorful Nubian village to meet local families. Dinner and overnight moored in Aswan.
Abu Simbel TemplesDay 5 (5-Day) — Aswan: Farewell & Optional Abu Simbel
After breakfast you disembark in Aswan. Travelers can add an early-morning excursion to Abu Simbel (by road or short flight) to marvel at the colossal rock-cut temples of Ramses II and Queen Nefertari overlooking Lake Nasser, relocated by UNESCO. Otherwise your cruise ends with a transfer to Aswan airport, station, or your hotel.
Unfinished ObeliskDay 1 (4-Day) — Aswan: High Dam, Philae & Unfinished Obelisk
Board the Chateau Lafayette before lunch in Aswan. Your afternoon takes in the High Dam with its panorama over Lake Nasser, a motorboat ride to the Temple of Philae on Agilkia Island sacred to Isis, and the Unfinished Obelisk, where ancient tool marks reveal how Egypt's stone-cutters worked. Return to the ship for dinner and an overnight in Aswan.
Abu Simbel TemplesDay 2 (4-Day) — Abu Simbel (optional) & Kom Ombo Temple
An optional pre-dawn excursion visits Abu Simbel and the temples of Ramses II and Nefertari. Back aboard, the ship sails north. In the afternoon you explore the Temple of Kom Ombo, dedicated jointly to Sobek and Horus, study its rare carvings of surgical instruments, and visit the Crocodile Mummification Museum. Dinner and overnight while sailing toward Edfu.
Luxor TempleDay 3 (4-Day) — Edfu Temple & Luxor East Bank
Travel by horse carriage to the splendid Temple of Horus at Edfu, then sail on to Luxor. In the afternoon and evening your guide reveals the vast Karnak Temple complex and its 134-column hypostyle hall, followed by Luxor Temple lit up after dark. Dinner and overnight moored in Luxor.
Day 4 (4-Day) — Luxor West Bank & Disembarkation
After breakfast and check-out, cross to the West Bank for the Valley of the Kings with three royal tombs (Tutankhamun optional), the limestone Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, and the towering Colossi of Memnon, statues of Amenhotep III. Your Chateau Lafayette cruise concludes with a transfer to Luxor airport, train station, or your hotel.
Highlights
Ship & Onboard Experience
- Fully renovated 5-star ship with 56 cabins, many with French Juliet balconies
- Sun-deck swimming pool, pool bar, lounge with dance floor, and massage room
- Full-board buffet dining, satellite-TV cabins, and a 24-hour onboard doctor
Temples & Sites Along the Nile
- Karnak and Luxor Temples, illuminated in the evening
- Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, and the Colossi of Memnon
- Edfu's Temple of Horus, the twin shrines of Kom Ombo, and Philae at Aswan
Service & Optional Add-Ons
- Private Egyptologist guide in small groups of 1–8 travelers
- Optional Abu Simbel excursion and sunrise hot-air-balloon flight
- Complimentary Luxor or Aswan airport, station, and East Bank hotel transfers
Gallery
Included
- Three or four nights' full-board accommodation aboard the Chateau Lafayette
- Meet-and-assist at arrival and departure
- Personal assistance throughout your stay and all excursions
- All transfers in modern, private air-conditioned deluxe vehicles
- All listed Nile cruise excursions, conducted privately
- Entrance fees to every included site between Luxor and Aswan
- Private English-speaking Egyptologist guide (groups of 1–8 maximum)
- One complimentary bottle of water per person per day
- All service charges and government taxes
- Complimentary pickup and drop-off in Luxor or Aswan (airport, train station, and East Bank hotels)
Excluded
- Any extra meals and beverages beyond the full-board program
- Personal expenses such as laundry
- Gratuities for your guide, driver, and cruise crew
- Any optional tours (Abu Simbel, hot-air balloon, felucca, Nubian village)
- Egypt entry visa and international airfare
Pricing & Packages
Choose your preferred accommodation level and season. Prices are quoted in US Dollars per person.
4 Days / 3 Nights (Aswan → Luxor) Accommodations
Pricing Information
Rates are quoted in US Dollars (USD) per person. Holiday surcharges apply during peak seasons, including Christmas, New Year, and Easter.
Children's Policy
- Under 6 YearsComplimentary
- Ages 6 to 11 Years50% of the Adult Rate
- 12+ YearsFull Adult Rate
What to Pack
- Lightweight, breathable clothing (cotton or linen are best due to the heat)
- Comfortable walking shoes for exploring temples and sites
- Sun hat, sunglasses, and high-SPF sunscreen
- Reusable water bottle to stay hydrated
- Swimsuit for Hurghada and the cruise pool
- Light jacket or shawl for cooler evenings, especially on the Nile
- Modest clothing for visiting religious sites (shoulders and knees covered)
- Small backpack for day trips
- Camera and extra memory cards
- Any personal medications
- Power bank for electronics
- Insect repellent for evenings, particularly near the Nile
- A good book for downtime on the cruise
Onboard Facilities
- Main restaurant with buffet dining
- Air-conditioned bar
- Lounge with dance floor
- Large sun deck with swimming pool and pool bar
- Air-conditioned massage room
- Fitness equipment
- Boutique, beauty salon, and gift shop
- Evening entertainment program
- WiFi and internet (when docked, chargeable)
- Laundry service
- Cabin air-conditioning and fridge
- International direct-dial telephone
- In-room safe
- Satellite TV (when docked)
- En-suite bathroom with bath, overbath shower, and hair dryer
- French Juliet balcony (select cabins)
- Doctor available 24 hours
Why Choose Us
Expert Local Guides
Professional, English-speaking Egyptologists.
Licensed Experts
Fully bonded and licensed Egyptian tour operator.
No Hidden Fees
Transparent pricing and clear inclusions.
24/7 Support
Always available via WhatsApp throughout your trip.
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Plan Your Journey
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Egyptologist Insights: Making the Most of Your Journey
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