HomeDWA Nile Cruise
Not every great Nile cruise needs to reinvent the wheel. The DWA gets the fundamentals right — a well-appointed 5-star ship, a small group of just 12 guests, an expert Egyptologist guide for every excursion, and a route through the most spectacular stretch of the ancient world — and delivers them with the kind of consistency that keeps travelers recommending it to friends.
Sailing between Aswan and Luxor, the DWA covers the same legendary temples and monuments that have drawn travelers to Upper Egypt for centuries. What sets it apart is how it delivers that experience — with comfortable, well-designed cabins, attentive service, full board meals, and a relaxed pace that gives you time to absorb what you're seeing rather than rushing through it. This is a cruise that gets out of the way and lets ancient Egypt be the star.
What to Expect
- Group size: Maximum 12 guests — small enough for a genuinely personal experience
- Guide: Expert English-speaking Egyptologist on every excursion
- Meals: Full board throughout — all breakfasts, lunches, and dinners included
- Inclusions: All temple entrance fees and ground transfers covered
- Evening entertainment: Cocktail reception, Galabeya party, Egyptian cultural show
- Departures: Every Friday from Aswan / Every Monday from Luxor
On Board Facilities
- Cabins: Comfortable, well-appointed 5-star cabins with individually controlled air conditioning, private bathroom, satellite TV, and Nile views.
- Dining & Social Spaces: Main restaurant serving full board meals throughout the cruise, sundeck for afternoon tea and open-air relaxation, lounge and bar for evening entertainment.
- Services: Wi-Fi on board, room service, laundry service, daily housekeeping, meet and assist service throughout.
Frequently Asked Questions
What temples do you visit on the DWA Nile cruise?
Both itineraries cover the key sites between Aswan and Luxor. On the 4-day Aswan to Luxor route you visit Philae Temple, the Unfinished Obelisk, Kom Ombo Temple, Esna Temple, Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings, and the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut. All entrance fees are included.
How is the DWA different from other Nile cruises on the Memphis Tours website?
The DWA is a focused, well-priced 5-star small-group cruise that delivers the essential Nile cruise experience without extras you may not need. If you're looking for a larger all-suite ship with a higher crew ratio and multiple lounges, the MS Salacia is worth comparing. If you want a reliable, comfortable, small-group cruise at a strong price point, the DWA delivers exactly that.
Which direction is better — Aswan to Luxor or Luxor to Aswan?
Both routes visit the same temples. The 4-day Aswan to Luxor direction begins in the quieter, more atmospheric south and builds toward the dramatic West Bank finale in Luxor. The 5-day Luxor to Aswan direction starts with Luxor's East and West Bank sites on Day 1 and 2, then takes you deeper south toward Aswan — ideal if you prefer ending your cruise in a slower, more relaxed city.
What is included in the price?
All meals from the first lunch through the final breakfast, all temple and site entrance fees, an English-speaking Egyptologist guide for every excursion, and all transfers by air-conditioned vehicle. Tips and personal expenses are not included.
What is the best time of year to sail?
October through April is the most comfortable season for sightseeing, with cooler daytime temperatures. May through September is hotter but less crowded and priced lower. The DWA sails year-round.
How do I secure my spot?
A deposit of just 25% confirms your cabin and all included services. The remaining balance can be paid up to two days before arrival or in cash on arrival.
Can I book the DWA as a standalone cruise?
Yes — you can fly directly into Aswan or Luxor depending on your chosen direction. Memphis Tours also offers combined packages that include Cairo and the Pyramids of Giza if you want a fuller Egypt itinerary.
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- Meet-and-assist by a Memphis Tours representative on arrival, at embarkation and on departure.
- All transfers connected to the cruise program in a modern air-conditioned vehicle, including your arrival and departure transfers to and from the airport or railway station.
- Full-board accommodation aboard the DWA.
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner exactly as shown in the day-by-day itinerary, with afternoon tea added on sailing days.
- Every scheduled sightseeing visit described in your selected 4-day or 5-day itinerary.
- Depending on the itinerary you choose, this covers Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, the Colossi of Memnon, Edfu Temple, Kom Ombo Temple, Philae Temple and the Unfinished Obelisk.
- Entrance fees to the standard sites named in the itinerary, including standard Valley of the Kings admission, which covers three regular tombs.
- A licensed English-speaking Egyptologist throughout, guiding a shared group of approximately 15 to 20 Memphis Tours guests.
- The horse-drawn carriage to and from the Temple of Horus at Edfu, fare included, and the motorboat crossing to Philae Temple.
- Bottled water while sightseeing ashore.
- All service charges and applicable taxes.
- Egypt entry visa.
- International and domestic flights, sleeper trains, and any transport not specifically listed above as included.
- Hotel accommodation before or after the cruise.
- Special-entry tombs and monuments that are ticketed separately, including Tutankhamun's tomb.
- Optional excursions and add-ons outside your confirmed itinerary, such as Abu Simbel, the Luxor hot-air balloon at US$ 129, and the sound and light shows at Karnak and Philae.
- All beverages, at meals or at any other time — soft drinks, bottled water taken on board and alcoholic drinks alike.
- Minibar, laundry, telephone calls, internet charges, spa treatments and other personal onboard expenses.
- Travel insurance. We strongly recommend cover for both medical care and trip cancellation.
- Personal spending, shopping and souvenirs.
- Tipping and gratuities for the crew, your guide and drivers. As a guide, US$ 8 to US$ 12 per person per day for the crew and US$ 10 to US$ 15 per day for your guide is customary and appreciated, though never obligatory.
- Anything not specifically listed as included above.
Aswan is where your Nile journey begins — and it sets the tone perfectly. Smaller and quieter than Cairo or Luxor, this southern city sits where the Egyptian desert meets the river in a landscape of golden sand, granite boulders, and slow-moving feluccas. A Memphis Tours representative meets you at Aswan airport or train station and transfers you directly to the DWA for embarkation before lunch. After checking into your cabin, your Egyptologist takes you to two of Aswan's standout sites before dinner on board.
- Meet and assist at Aswan airport or railway station
- Private transfer to the DWA for embarkation before lunch
- Check-in and settle into your cabin
- Lunch on board
- Guided visit to Philae Temple
- Guided visit to the Unfinished Obelisk
- Dinner on board
Philae Temple occupies a small island in the Nile — you reach it by a short motorboat crossing, which makes arriving feel like a proper discovery. Dedicated to the goddess Isis, it was one of the last temples in Egypt where the ancient religion was still practiced. When the Aswan High Dam threatened to submerge it permanently, UNESCO coordinated its complete dismantling and reassembly on higher ground — one of the most remarkable feats of archaeological preservation ever undertaken. The Unfinished Obelisk nearby tells a different kind of story: abandoned mid-carving after a crack appeared in the granite, it still lies in the quarry exactly where the workers left it, offering a uniquely raw look at the engineering behind ancient Egypt's most iconic monuments.
Walking and effort:
Moderate. Philae involves a short motorboat transfer with a step up from the dock, followed by uneven stone paths and a few shallow stairs. The Unfinished Obelisk is a short walk on a sloping granite surface with no shade — flat, closed-toe shoes and a hat are recommended.
Embarkation:
Boarding is before lunch. If you arrive earlier than your cabin is ready, reception will store your luggage and you are welcome to use the lounge and sundeck in the meantime.
Overnight: Aboard the DWA in Aswan
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
The morning after breakfast belongs to the river. You set sail north toward Kom Ombo with no agenda until the afternoon — time to find a spot on the sundeck, watch the landscape change from granite desert to palm-lined banks, and let the Nile work its particular kind of calm on you.
- Breakfast on board
- Morning sailing toward Kom Ombo
- Lunch on board
- Afternoon tea
- Guided visit to Kom Ombo Temple
- Sail to Esna
- Dinner on board
Kom Ombo Temple stands directly on the riverbank — one of the few ancient Egyptian temples built in a position where you can see the Nile from inside its sanctuaries. What makes it architecturally unique is its dual dedication: the entire structure is perfectly symmetrical, with duplicate halls, gateways, and sanctuaries built side by side for two separate gods — Sobek the crocodile god on one side and Horus the Elder on the other. Ancient crocodile mummies discovered near the site are displayed in a small museum on the grounds. After the visit you sail on to Esna as the evening settles in.
Walking and effort:
Light. Kom Ombo is directly riverside, so the temple is a short, mostly level walk from the mooring with only a gentle ramp and a few steps — the easiest sightseeing day of the program.
Overnight: Aboard the DWA in Esna
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Please note: scheduled timings may be adjusted due to operational or environmental factors.
Today moves quickly and covers a lot of ground — an early morning temple visit in Esna, a sail through the famous Esna Lock, and two of Luxor's greatest East Bank monuments in the afternoon. The evening brings a belly dance show on board, a lively end to your most action-packed day.
- Guided visit to Esna Temple
- Breakfast on board
- Lunch on board while sailing toward Luxor through the Esna Lock
- Afternoon tea
- Guided visit to Karnak Temple (East Bank)
- Guided visit to Luxor Temple (East Bank)
- Dinner on board
- Egyptian cultural evening on board
Esna Temple is easy to overlook on a Nile cruise itinerary — but it shouldn't be. Dedicated to Khnum, the ram-headed god believed to have shaped humanity on a potter's wheel, it was buried under the city for centuries and only partially excavated, so the street level of modern Esna sits several meters above the ancient temple floor. Walking down into it feels like descending into another time entirely. The Esna Lock, navigated mid-morning, brings cruise ships through one at a time and is a surprisingly compelling thing to watch from the deck. Karnak Temple, the afternoon's main event, is the largest religious complex ever built on earth — 200 acres of sanctuaries and columns raised by 30 different pharaohs across 1,300 years. Luxor Temple, visited close to evening, is best seen as the light fades and the floodlights take over, turning its stone façade a deep amber against the darkening sky.
Walking and effort:
The most demanding day of the program. Esna Temple requires descending and re-climbing a full flight of stairs to reach the excavated temple floor. Karnak covers a large site on uneven ground and involves the longest continuous walking of the cruise. Luxor Temple adds a further moderate walk with some steps and low light toward the end of the visit. Comfortable walking shoes and plenty of water are essential.
Overnight: Aboard the DWA in Luxor
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Entertainment: Egyptian cultural evening.
Please note: scheduled timings may be adjusted due to operational or environmental factors.
Your final morning takes you to the West Bank — the ancient burial ground of Egypt's pharaohs, where the cliffs hide more than 60 royal tombs and the landscape itself feels charged with history. After the visits, your Memphis Tours representative transfers you to Luxor airport or the train station.
- Breakfast on board
- Check-out after breakfast
- Guided visit to the Valley of the Kings
- Guided visit to the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut
- Guided visit to the Colossi of Memnon
- Transfer to Luxor airport or railway station
Inside the Valley of the Kings, painted tomb walls remain as vivid as the day they were sealed — the dry desert air has preserved colors and details that would have faded anywhere else on earth. Your standard admission includes entry to three open tombs, selected by the government authorities and rotated periodically to protect the sites — each with its own scenes of the afterlife, offerings to the gods, and hieroglyphic texts intended to guide the pharaoh's soul safely through death. Tutankhamun's tomb — discovered in 1922 with its treasures virtually untouched — is also located in the valley, and can be visited on a separate ticket purchased on site; the tombs of Seti I and Ramses V/VI are likewise separately ticketed and are not part of the standard admission. The Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, a short distance away, is one of the most architecturally striking buildings in Egypt: three colonnaded terraces rising in clean horizontal lines directly against the sheer limestone cliffs behind it. Hatshepsut was one of ancient Egypt's most successful rulers, reigning as pharaoh for over two decades — a fact her successors tried hard to erase from history, and failed. The two Colossi of Memnon, all that remains of a vanished mortuary temple, close the morning with a brief photo stop beside the road.
Walking and effort:
Moderate to demanding. The Valley of the Kings involves walking between tomb entrances in open desert heat and descending sloping ramps and stairs inside each tomb, which are warm and enclosed. Hatshepsut has a long, gently rising approach with optional stairs between terraces. The Colossi of Memnon is a level, five-minute stop.
Disembarkation:
Check-out takes place after breakfast, so please have your luggage ready and settle any onboard extras at reception the evening before. Cabins are vacated before the West Bank tour; your luggage is stored securely and travels with you to the airport or station afterward.
Meals:
Breakfast
Your DWA Nile Cruise ends in Luxor — but Egypt doesn't have to. Ask us about combining it with Cairo and the Pyramids of Giza, or extending to the Red Sea. We'll build the itinerary around your schedule.
Your Nile cruise begins in Luxor — the open-air museum of the ancient world. No city on earth packs this much history into a single place: on the East Bank alone, two of the greatest temple complexes ever built stand within a few kilometers of each other. A Memphis Tours representative meets you at Luxor airport or train station and transfers you to the DWA for embarkation before lunch. After settling in, your Egyptologist takes you straight to both. That evening, the boat manager hosts a welcome cocktail reception in the lounge — a chance to meet your fellow travelers and hear what the next five days have in store.
- Meet and assist at Luxor airport or railway station
- Private transfer to the DWA for embarkation before lunch
- Lunch on board
- Check-in and settle into your cabin
- Afternoon tea on the sundeck
- Guided visit to Karnak Temple (East Bank)
- Guided visit to Luxor Temple (East Bank)
- Dinner on board
- Cocktail reception and boat manager presentation in the lounge
Karnak is not just a temple — it is an entire sacred city, built and expanded by 30 different pharaohs across 1,300 years, covering more than 200 acres. Its hypostyle hall alone contains 134 massive columns, each carved with hieroglyphics and painted scenes. It remains the largest religious structure ever built anywhere on earth. Luxor Temple, a short distance south along the Corniche, has a different character — more unified in design, built primarily by Ramesses II, and extraordinarily well preserved. In the evening its stone glows amber under floodlights, and the fully excavated avenue of sphinxes leading to the entrance gives you a vivid sense of how the ancient processional route once looked.
Walking and effort:
Demanding for a first day. Karnak covers a very large site on uneven ground and involves the longest continuous walking of the cruise, mostly in open sun. Luxor Temple adds a further moderate walk with some steps and lower light toward the end of the visit. Comfortable walking shoes, a hat and plenty of water are essential.
Embarkation:
Boarding is before lunch. If you arrive earlier than your cabin is ready, reception will store your luggage and you are welcome to use the lounge and sundeck in the meantime.
Overnight: Aboard the DWA in Luxor
Meals: Lunch, Afternoon Tea on Sundeck, Dinner
Entertainment: Cocktail reception and boat manager presentation
This morning crosses to the West Bank — the city of the dead that mirrors the city of the living on the opposite bank. After two of the most significant sites on the entire cruise, you board again and sail south toward Esna, with the afternoon spent on the river as the landscape opens up around you.
- Breakfast on board
- Guided visit to the Valley of the Kings (West Bank)
- Guided visit to the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut (West Bank)
- Guided visit to the Colossi of Memnon (West Bank)
- Sail to Esna
- Lunch on board
- Afternoon tea on the sundeck
- Dinner on board
The Valley of the Kings was chosen by Egypt's New Kingdom pharaohs as their secret burial ground — hidden in the desert cliffs of the West Bank, far from the tomb robbers who had plundered earlier pyramid burials. More than 60 royal tombs have been discovered here, cut deep into the rock and decorated with elaborate painted scenes, and no two are alike in layout, scale, or imagery. Your standard admission includes entry to three open tombs, selected by the government authorities and rotated periodically to protect the sites. Tutankhamun's tomb is also located in the valley and can be visited on a separate ticket purchased on site; the tombs of Seti I and Ramses V/VI are likewise separately ticketed and are not part of the standard admission. The Temple of Queen Hatshepsut stands at the base of the cliffs a short distance away — three sweeping colonnaded terraces that blend so naturally into the rock face they look almost grown rather than built. Hatshepsut ruled Egypt as pharaoh for over 20 years, commissioning more monuments than almost any ruler before her. The two Colossi of Memnon, all that remains of a vanished mortuary temple, close the morning with a brief stop beside the road.
Walking and effort:
Moderate to demanding. The Valley of the Kings involves walking between tomb entrances in open desert heat and descending sloping ramps and stairs inside each tomb, which are warm and enclosed. Hatshepsut has a long, gently rising approach with optional stairs between terraces. The Colossi of Memnon is a level, five-minute stop. The afternoon is entirely at rest on board.
Overnight: Aboard the DWA in Esna
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Afternoon Tea on Sundeck, Dinner
Please note: scheduled timings may be adjusted due to operational or environmental factors.
Two temples in one day — both exceptional, both completely different from each other. You start early in Edfu, then spend the afternoon sailing to Kom Ombo for a riverside visit as the light turns golden, before continuing south toward Aswan. The evening closes with a Galabeya party in the lounge — one of the most fun and memorable nights of the cruise, where guests dress in traditional Egyptian robes and celebrate on board.
- Breakfast on board
- Guided visit to Edfu Temple
- Lunch on board
- Afternoon tea on the sundeck while sailing toward Kom Ombo
- Guided visit to Kom Ombo Temple
- Sail to Aswan
- Dinner on board
- Traditional dress evening in the lounge after dinner
The Temple of Horus at Edfu stands inland from the river, and you reach it from the mooring by traditional horse-drawn carriage — a short ride through the town that has become one of the signature experiences of the route, with the carriage fare included in your cruise. It is the best-preserved ancient temple in Egypt, and the scale of it is genuinely arresting: two massive entrance pylons rise above you, their surfaces covered in carved reliefs that still show traces of original paint. Because it was buried under sand and silt for centuries, it escaped much of the damage that affected other Nile temples, leaving its reliefs, columns, and inner sanctuaries almost intact. Kom Ombo, visited the same afternoon, works on a completely different principle — a dual temple split perfectly down the middle for two gods, Sobek and Horus, each with their own entrance, halls, and inner sanctuary. It also sits directly on the riverbank, so the walk from the mooring is a short one, and the river remains visible from inside the temple precinct.
Walking and effort:
Moderate. Edfu involves a seated carriage ride each way with a step up and down, then level walking through a large but flat temple courtyard. Kom Ombo is a short, mostly level walk from the mooring with a gentle ramp and a few steps — the easier of the two visits.
Overnight: Aboard the DWA in Aswan
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Afternoon Tea on Sundeck, Dinner
Entertainment: Traditional dress evening in the lounge
Please note: scheduled timings may be adjusted due to operational or environmental factors.
Aswan is the gentlest city on the Nile — its pace slower, its light softer, its waterfront lined with feluccas and backed by the dunes of the Sahara. After three days of temple visits, this day feels different. Aswan invites you to slow down and take it all in. The two sites visited today are among the most evocative on the entire journey, and the evening closes with a Nubian cultural show in the lounge — a deeply fitting finale in a city that has been the gateway to Nubia for thousands of years.
- Breakfast on board
- Guided visit to Philae Temple
- Guided visit to the Unfinished Obelisk
- Lunch on board
- Afternoon tea on the sundeck
- Dinner on board
- Nubian show in the lounge after dinner
Philae Temple is reached by motorboat across a stretch of the Nile — a short crossing that makes the arrival feel unlike any other temple visit on the route. Dedicated to Isis, goddess of magic and motherhood, it was one of the last places in Egypt where the ancient religion was still actively practiced before being closed by Roman decree in the 6th century AD. When the Aswan High Dam threatened to submerge it permanently, UNESCO coordinated its complete dismantling and reassembly on higher ground. The Unfinished Obelisk, a short drive away in the ancient granite quarries, would have been the heaviest single stone object ever moved by human hands — abandoned mid-carving after a crack appeared, it lies exactly where the workers left it, offering an extraordinary and unplanned window into the mechanics of ancient Egyptian construction.
Walking and effort:
Moderate. Philae involves a short motorboat transfer with a step up from the dock, followed by uneven stone paths and a few shallow stairs. The Unfinished Obelisk is a short walk on a sloping granite surface with no shade — flat, closed-toe shoes and a hat are recommended.
Overnight: Aboard the DWA in Aswan
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Afternoon Tea on Sundeck, Dinner
Entertainment: Nubian show in the lounge
A final breakfast on the Nile, then check-out and transfer to Aswan airport or the railway station. Your DWA cruise ends here — but the memories of what you've seen along this stretch of river tend to stay considerably longer. We hope this journey through ancient Egypt has been everything you imagined, and we can't wait to welcome you back.
- Breakfast on board
- Disembarkation after breakfast
- Transfer to Aswan airport or railway station
Disembarkation:
Check-out takes place after breakfast, so please have your luggage ready and settle any onboard extras at reception the evening before. Once cabins are vacated, your luggage is stored securely at reception until your transfer, and you are welcome to wait in the lounge.
Meals: Breakfast
Your cruise ends in Aswan — but Egypt doesn't have to. Ask us about combining this cruise with Cairo and the Pyramids, or adding Abu Simbel before you fly home. We'll put it together around your schedule.
→ Talk to Our Egypt Travel Experts
DWA Nile Cruise — Fact Strip
- Launched: 2025
- Accommodation: 41 rooms in total
- 36 Deluxe Cabins
- 4 Junior Suites
- 1 DWA Suite
Onboard Facilities
- Restaurant
- Lounges
- Sun-deck pool
- Sekhmet Spa and wellness facilities
- In Every Cabin and Suite
- Air conditioning
- Private bathroom
- Satellite TV
- Nile views
Accommodation Categories
- Deluxe Cabin — 36 available
- Junior Suite — 4 available
- DWA Suite — 1 available
Still missing before this can be published
- Deck count, vessel length, build year, guest capacity, refurbishment year — not in the source data
- Cabin sizes, bedding configuration, window vs balcony type, deck location, upgrade paths — needed for the three comparison cards
- Category-specific photography (the 14 existing images aren't mapped to categories)
- Deck plan, and a 360° cabin view if Technology can support it
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