MS Nile Treasure Nile Cruise 2026 — Honest Review, Itinerary & Prices

MS Nile Treasure Nile Cruise 2026 — Honest Review, Itinerary & Prices

$ 479
Per Person
  • Schedule: -Every Saturday from Luxor (4 nights / 5 days) - Every Wednesday from Aswan (3 nights / 4 days)
MS Nile Treasure budget 5-star Nile cruise 2026 — sailing between Luxor and Aswan on the Nile River Egypt
MS Nile Treasure standard twin cabin — 35m² with panoramic Nile-view windows, bathtub, LCD TV and air conditioning
MS Nile Treasure La Ziza Restaurant — full board dining with Egyptian and international buffet cuisine

Overview

MS Nile Treasure at a Glance:  Budget 5-Star · From $499 per person (3 nights ex Aswan) · $569 per person (4 nights ex Luxor) · Full board included · Private Egyptologist guide · Outdoor pool · Free Wi-Fi · Enquire now → response within 24 hours

Bottom line: The MS Nile Treasure is the right choice for travellers who want the complete Luxor–Aswan Nile cruise experience — every major temple, a private licensed Egyptologist guide, full board, and a comfortable cabin with panoramic Nile views — at the best price available in its category. It is not a luxury ship. It is a well-maintained, elegantly decorated budget 5-star vessel that does exactly what a great Nile cruise should do: deliver Egypt's temples properly, without unnecessary expense.

Quick Facts — MS Nile Treasure

Cruise Category Budget 5-Star Nile Cruise
Route Luxor → Aswan  |  Aswan → Luxor
Duration Options 4 nights / 5 days (from Luxor)  |  3 nights / 4 days (from Aswan)
Departure Days Every Saturday from Luxor  ·  Every Wednesday from Aswan
Price from $499 per person (3 nights)  |  $569 per person (4 nights)
Single Supplement Approx. 38% of per-person rate — contact us for exact single pricing
Board Basis Full board — breakfast, lunch & dinner daily at La Ziza Restaurant
Cabins / Passengers Approx. 60 cabins · max approx. 120 passengers
Pool Outdoor swimming pool & sun deck
Family Friendly Yes — full board buffet, pool, children pricing available
Best For Budget travellers · First-time visitors · Families · Solo travellers

Is the MS Nile Treasure Worth It?

Yes — if your priority is Egypt's temples and honest value. The Nile Treasure delivers everything that genuinely matters: a private licensed Egyptologist guide, full board, comfortable cabin with panoramic Nile-view windows, outdoor pool, lounge bar, and free Wi-Fi. You will visit the Valley of the Kings, Karnak Temple, Edfu, Kom Ombo, and Philae on the same itinerary as passengers on ships costing three times more. The difference is not in the temples or the guide — it is in the cabin size and on-board atmosphere.

Who Should Book the MS Nile Treasure?

  • Budget-conscious travellers who want the full temple itinerary without overpaying for unused facilities
  • First-time Egypt visitors combining this cruise with Cairo and keeping total trip cost under $1,200
  • Families — the full-board buffet, pool, and children pricing make this one of the most practical family cruise choices
  • Solo travellers wanting a private Egyptologist guide experience at a price that works alone
  • Couples seeking honest value without paying for luxury they don't need

Honest advice — when to choose a different ship:

The MS Nile Treasure does not have a spa, gymnasium, or beauty salon. Cabins are comfortable but not spacious. If you want larger cabins or a quieter atmosphere, consider our Classic Nile Cruises from $680 per person. For genuine luxury, see our Luxury Nile Cruises from $1,200 per person. For the private sailing experience, our Dahabiya sailings start from $900 per person. Ask Ahmed and he will tell you honestly which ship fits your trip.

Cabins — MS Nile Treasure

Cabin Type Size Beds Features
Standard Twin 15 m² Twin beds Panoramic Nile-view windows · Bathtub · Mini bar · LCD TV · Safe · Free Wi-Fi · AC
Standard Double 35 m² King-size bed Panoramic Nile-view windows · Bathtub · Mini bar · LCD TV · Safe · Free Wi-Fi · AC

What You Will See — Sites Included

All Best Nile Cruises programmes include private guided visits with a licensed Egyptologist — not shared group tours.

Area Sites visited
Luxor — East Bank Karnak Temple — the largest ancient religious complex ever built · Luxor Temple
Luxor — West Bank Valley of the Kings (3 tombs) · Temple of Queen Hatshepsut · Colossi of Memnon
Nile Stops Edfu Temple — best-preserved temple in Egypt · Kom Ombo Temple & Crocodile Museum
Aswan Philae Temple by motorboat · Aswan High Dam · Unfinished Obelisk · Kitchener's Island Botanical Garden

MS Nile Treasure Prices 2026

Rates in USD per person. Payment also accepted in EUR and GBP. Prices may vary during Christmas, New Year and Easter. Once confirmed, your rate is fixed.

Programme Double cabin (pp) Single cabin (pp) Departure
3 Nights — Ex Aswan $499 $699 Every Wednesday
4 Nights — Ex Luxor $569 $799 Every Saturday

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the MS Nile Treasure a luxury cruise?

No — and we say this clearly, not apologetically. The MS Nile Treasure is a budget 5-star cruise: clean, comfortable, properly maintained. It does not have a spa, gymnasium, or beauty salon. What it has is everything that actually matters: a private Egyptologist guide, full board, outdoor pool, free Wi-Fi, and panoramic cabin windows. If you want a step up, our Classic Nile Cruise range starts from $680 per person.

Are the shore excursions private or group tours?

Every shore excursion booked through Best Nile Cruises is 100% private. Your own licensed Egyptologist guide and your own private air-conditioned vehicle — not a shared coach. This is a key difference from booking through the ship's own group excursion programme.

Should I choose 3 nights from Aswan or 4 nights from Luxor?

If your trip includes Abu Simbel, the 4-night ex Luxor is better — you end in Aswan and add the Abu Simbel flight next morning. If you are flying into Aswan and have limited time, the 3-night ex Aswan is efficient. Ask Ahmed and he will recommend the right direction for your flights.

What is the best time to sail?

The Nile Treasure operates year-round. Peak season is October to April (20–30°C) — the most comfortable for temple visits and the fastest-booking period. Summer sailings are available at lower prices but temperatures reach 40°C+. Read the full month-by-month guide.

Can I combine this with Cairo?

Yes — and this is the most popular way to book. Add 2–3 nights in Cairo (Pyramids, Grand Egyptian Museum) before the cruise for a complete 8-day Egypt holiday. See our Cairo & Nile Cruise packages or contact Ahmed to build the right combination.

Book the MS Nile Treasure — Response Within 24 Hours

Tell us your dates, group size and preferred direction. He confirms availability and your fixed rate immediately.

Enquire About the MS Nile Treasure →

MS Nile Treasure · Operated by Planet Tours Egypt · Booked through Best Nile Cruises · Compare cruise types · How many nights do I need? · Last updated June 2026

Itinerary

4 Days - Aswan / Luxor Every Friday

Day 01: Aswan — Embarkation and Temples

Arrive at Aswan airport or train station. Your private guide meets you and transfers you to the cruise ship for embarkation. After settling in and having lunch on board, begin exploring Aswan. Visit Philae Temple — the island temple of the goddess Isis, reached by a short motorboat ride. One of the most beautifully situated monuments in Egypt, Philae was relocated stone-by-stone during the UNESCO Nubia Rescue Campaign of the 1970s. Visit the Aswan High Dam — one of the world's largest embankment dams, built in the 1970s and transforming Egypt's agriculture and electricity supply. Visit the Unfinished Obelisk — still lying in the granite quarry, showing exactly how ancient Egyptians carved 1,000-tonne monoliths from solid rock. Optional: Abu Simbel day trip can be arranged for this afternoon (+$180 pp — must be pre-booked). Welcome dinner on board. The ship sails north overnight toward Kom Ombo. Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Day 02: Kom Ombo and Temple of Edfu

Morning: visit Kom Ombo Temple — the unique double temple built simultaneously for two gods: the crocodile god Sobek (fertility and military power) and the falcon god Haroeris. The adjacent Crocodile Museum displays over 300 mummified crocodiles recovered from the area. The temple walls contain rare medical instruments carved in relief — evidence of ancient Egyptian surgery. The ship continues north. Afternoon: visit the Temple of Edfu — dedicated to the falcon god Horus, this is the best-preserved ancient temple in Egypt. Its towering entrance pylons, inner halls and sanctuary have survived almost intact for over 2,000 years. Hieroglyphic texts on the walls describe the eternal battle between Horus and Seth. Nubian show and Galabeya party on board in the evening — guests are invited to dress in traditional Egyptian galabeya robes. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 03: Luxor West Bank

Optional: hot air balloon over the West Bank at sunrise — one of Egypt's most breathtaking experiences, floating above the Valley of the Kings as the sun rises over the Nile (+$120 pp, must be pre-booked). Visit the Valley of the Kings — the ancient royal necropolis where pharaohs of the New Kingdom were buried for over 500 years. Choose 3 tombs from 65 available, including those of Ramesses II, Seti I and Merenptah. The Tomb of Tutankhamun requires a separate ticket (+$25 pp). Visit the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari — carved into the cliff face in three colonnaded terraces, dedicated to Egypt's most powerful female pharaoh. Visit the Colossi of Memnon — two 18-metre quartzite statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III that have guarded the entrance to his mortuary temple for 3,400 years. Afternoon: Karnak Temple — the largest ancient religious complex ever built, covering 100 hectares. Walk through the Great Hypostyle Hall with its 134 massive columns, the Sacred Lake and the Avenue of Sphinxes. Farewell dinner on board. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 04: Luxor Temple and Disembarkation

Morning: visit Luxor Temple — built on the east bank of the Nile by Amenhotep III and completed by Ramesses II. The temple is particularly beautiful when illuminated at night. Its entrance features a remaining obelisk (the twin stands in the Place de la Concorde in Paris), colossal statues of Ramesses II and a Roman chapel built inside the ancient walls. Breakfast on board. Disembark after the Luxor Temple visit. Your guide transfers you to Luxor airport or train station. Optional extension: fly to Cairo for the Pyramids and Grand Egyptian Museum, or add 3 nights at the Red Sea. Meals: Breakfast

5 Days - Luxor / Aswan Every Monday

Day 01: Luxor — Embarkation and East Bank Temples

Arrive at Luxor airport or train station. Private transfer to the cruise ship for embarkation. Settle into your cabin and have lunch on board.

Afternoon: visit Karnak Temple — the largest ancient religious complex ever built, covering 100 hectares. Highlights include the Great Hypostyle Hall (134 massive columns, some 21 metres tall), the Sacred Lake, the Avenue of Ram-headed Sphinxes and the sanctuary of Amun Ra built over 2,000 years by successive pharaohs from the Middle Kingdom to the Ptolemaic period.

Evening: visit Luxor Temple — built by Amenhotep III and Ramesses II on the east bank. Spectacular when illuminated after dark. The entrance obelisk, colossal statues and inner colonnade are among the finest surviving examples of New Kingdom architecture.

Welcome dinner on board. The ship sails south overnight.

Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Day 02: Luxor West Bank — Valley of the Kings

Optional: hot air balloon at sunrise over the Valley of the Kings (+$120 pp — must be pre-booked the evening before).

Visit the Valley of the Kings — the royal necropolis of the New Kingdom pharaohs. Choose 3 tombs from 65 available. The walls are covered in detailed paintings from the Book of the Dead guiding the pharaoh through the underworld. Tomb of Tutankhamun requires a separate ticket (+$25 pp).

Visit the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari — three colonnaded terraces carved into the cliff face, one of the most elegant temples in Egypt.

Visit the Colossi of Memnon — two 18-metre quartzite statues that once marked the entrance to the largest mortuary temple ever built in Egypt.

Afternoon: sail south through the Esna Lock. Nubian show on board in the evening.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 03: Edfu and Kom Ombo Temples

Morning: visit the Temple of Edfu — dedicated to the falcon god Horus, this is the best-preserved ancient temple in Egypt. Its towering pylons, colonnaded halls and intact sanctuary have survived over 2,000 years. The walls are covered in hieroglyphic texts describing the Myth of Horus and the eternal battle between good and evil.

Sail south to Kom Ombo. Afternoon: visit Kom Ombo Temple — the unique double temple dedicated simultaneously to Sobek (crocodile god of fertility) and Haroeris (the elder Horus). The symmetrical design means every hall, column and sanctuary is doubled. The adjacent Crocodile Museum displays over 300 mummified crocodiles with golden death masks.

Galabeya party on board in the evening.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 04: Aswan — Philae Temple and High Dam

Arrive Aswan. Morning: visit Philae Temple — the island temple of the goddess Isis, reached by a short motorboat ride across the Nile. Relocated stone-by-stone to its current island during the 1970s UNESCO rescue campaign. Its columns, painted ceilings and Nilometer are among the finest in Egypt.

Visit the Aswan High Dam — completed in 1971, this 3.8-kilometre dam created Lake Nasser (the world's largest man-made lake) and transformed Egypt's agricultural and electrical capacity.

Visit the Unfinished Obelisk — still attached to the bedrock in the ancient quarry, showing clearly how ancient Egyptians shaped and separated enormous granite monoliths using wooden wedges and water.

Optional: sunset felucca ride on the Nile around Elephantine Island and Kitchener's Island (+$25 pp).

Farewell dinner on board.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Aswan — Disembarkation

Breakfast on board. Disembark after breakfast and private transfer to Aswan airport or train station.

Optional: Abu Simbel day trip from Aswan on this morning (+$180 pp — departs 4:00am, returns by 1:00pm — must be pre-booked).

Optional extension: continue with a Lake Nasser cruise to Abu Simbel, or add Cairo and the Pyramids to your trip.

Meals: Breakfast

Cruise

Cabins — MS Nile Treasure

Cabin Type Size Bed Config Features
Standard KingSize 35 m² King-size bed Panoramic Nile-view windows · Private bathroom with bathtub & hairdryer · LCD TV · Mini bar · Safe · Free Wi-Fi · AC (individual control) · Telephone
Standard Twin Bed 15 m² Twin beds Panoramic Nile-view windows · Private bathroom with bathtub & hairdryer · LCD TV · Mini bar · Safe · Free Wi-Fi · AC (individual control) · Telephone

Booking tip: The Standard KingSize cabin (35m²) is the larger and more spacious option — recommended for couples and honeymooners. The Standard Twin Bed cabin (15m²) is the cosy value option, well-suited for solo travellers or friends travelling together. Both cabin types have identical amenities and Nile views. Ask Ahmed which cabin type suits your group best.

Included in Cruise

  • Accommodation on the MS Nile Treasure in a private cabin with panoramic Nile-view windows
  • Full board: buffet breakfast, lunch & dinner daily at La Ziza Restaurant
  • Private licensed Egyptologist guide in English for all shore excursions
  • Private air-conditioned vehicle for all transfers between ship and sites
  • All entrance fees: Valley of the Kings (3 tombs) · Hatshepsut Temple · Colossi of Memnon · Karnak Temple · Luxor Temple · Edfu Temple · Kom Ombo Temple · Philae Temple · Aswan High Dam · Unfinished Obelisk · Botanical Garden
  • Meet & greet by Best Nile Cruises representative at Luxor or Aswan with name sign
  • Bottled water during all shore excursions
  • All service charges and local taxes

Excluded in Cruise

  • International flights to/from Egypt
  • Egypt entry visa ($25 USD — available on arrival at Cairo Airport or at visa2egypt.gov.eg)
  • Optional premium tomb entries: Tutankhamun's Tomb ($20) · Nefertari's Tomb ($120)
  • Abu Simbel day trip by flight from Aswan (available as add-on — highly recommended)
  • Hot air balloon over Luxor (available as add-on — book at time of enquiry)
  • Cairo hotel nights and domestic flights (see our Cairo & Nile Cruise packages)
  • Bar drinks · Laundry · Telephone · Personal expenses
  • Gratuities for guide, driver and ship crew (optional but appreciated)

Prices

3 Night Nile Cruise From Aswan to Luxor
 Low Season (May–Sep)High Season (Oct–Apr)Peak Season (Dec–Jan)
Per Person In Triple $ 479 $ 699 $ 969
Per Person In Double $ 499 $ 729 $ 999
Per Person In single $ 660 $ 999 $ 1499
4 Night Nile Cruise From Luxor to Aswan
 Low Season (May–Sep)High Season (Oct–Apr)Peak Season (Dec–Jan)
Per Person In Triple $ 549 $ 869 $ 1149
Per Person In Double $ 569 $ 899 $ 1169
Per Person In single $ 799 $ 1199 $ 1699

Notes

About the MS Nile Treasure Star Rating

The MS Nile Treasure is classified and marketed as a 5-star ship by its operator Planet Tours Egypt and is listed as 5-star on Booking.com. Egypt's official government star classification system can differ from operator classifications, and some independent review platforms rate it differently. At Best Nile Cruises, we classify the Nile Treasure as a comfortable budget-category 5-star vessel — meaning it meets the 5-star standard in service, full board, and sightseeing programme, while offering smaller cabins and fewer on-board facilities than a mid-range or luxury 5-star ship. If you have any questions about how this compares to other ships in our fleet, Best Nile Cruises will give you an honest answer.

Cruise Prices — MS Nile Treasure

Our rates are in US dollars per person per trip. Prices shown are for double cabin occupancy. Triple cabin sharing is available from $479 per person (3 nights) and $549 per person (4 nights). Payment is also accepted in Euro (EUR) or British Pounds (GBP) at the prevailing exchange rate on the date of payment. Prices may vary during Christmas, New Year, and Easter Nile cruise sailings — contact us for festive season rates. Once you confirm your MS Nile Treasure booking, your rate is fixed and will not change regardless of any subsequent price movements.

Check-In & Check-Out — MS Nile Treasure

Check-in time: 12:00 PM (noon) on embarkation day  ·  Check-out time: 08:00 AM on disembarkation day. Early check-in and late check-out are subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed. If you arrive in Luxor or Aswan before noon on embarkation day, your luggage can be stored on board while you explore the city.

Children Policy — MS Nile Treasure

  • Children under 6 years old sharing parents' cabin: free of charge
  • Children aged 6 to 11.99 years: charged at 50% of the per-person double cabin rate (maximum one child sharing parent's cabin)
  • Two adults + two children under 12: accommodated in two cabins, charged as one double rate + one single cabin rate
  • Children 12 years and over: charged at the full adult rate

Payment Policy — MS Nile Treasure

  • A deposit of 25% of the total amount is required to secure your booking and confirm availability
  • During Christmas and New Year sailings, a deposit of 50% is required
  • The remaining balance can be paid up to one week before your arrival date, or in cash upon arrival in Egypt
  • Once confirmed, your rate is fixed and will not change
  • Accepted currencies: USD, EUR, GBP

Additional Entry Tickets — MS Nile Treasure

The MS Nile Treasure programme includes standard entrance fees to all sites in the itinerary. It does not include entrance fees to special archaeological sites such as:

  • Interior of Tutankhamun's Tomb at the Valley of the Kings — separate ticket approx. $20 USD
  • Nefertari's Tomb at the Valley of the Queens — separate ticket approx. $120 USD (limited to 150 visitors per day)
  • Any other premium or special-access tombs designated by the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities

Your Egyptologist guide will advise on the day which premium sites are worth visiting based on your interests and time available.

Overbooking Policy

In the rare event that the MS Nile Treasure faces an overbooking situation, confirmed cabins will be transferred to an alternative vessel of the same or higher category at no additional cost to you. Best Nile Cruises will notify you immediately and manage the full transfer on your behalf, ensuring your programme, guide and itinerary remain unchanged.

Information accuracy: All details on this page — cabin specifications, facilities, prices, itinerary, and policies — have been verified against the official MS Nile Treasure operator (Planet Tours Egypt) and independent review platforms including Booking.com, TripAdvisor and LiveAboard.com. Last verified: June 2026. Prices and availability are subject to change. Once your booking is confirmed with Best Nile Cruises, your rate is fixed. Contact us if you notice any inaccuracy and we will correct it within 48 hours.