The reef
Giftun Island & the house reefs
Boat trips to Giftun for turtles and coral, or simply walk in off the resort jetty. Snorkelling is the main event, no certificate needed.
Red Sea snorkeling + 5-star beach resorts.
Hurghada is a destination on Egypt's Nile cruise and tour routes, home to Giftun Island & the house reefs and PADI courses & wrecks. The best time to visit is Year-round (warmest sea March–November).
What is on the cruise or in the package, and what is worth adding.
The reef
Boat trips to Giftun for turtles and coral, or simply walk in off the resort jetty. Snorkelling is the main event, no certificate needed.
Open Water in three days from most resorts; the Thistlegorm and Abu Nuhas wrecks for those already certified.
Resort town
Lagoons, a marina, restaurants and no hassle — the polished, car-free alternative 25 minutes north of Hurghada.
Quiet bays
Big five-star resorts on their own beaches, 20 minutes south of the airport. Best value all-inclusive in the area.
Far south
Three hours further south: fewer people, dugongs and dolphins, and the best reefs in Egypt. Its own airport.
Desert
Sunset in the Eastern Desert, a Bedouin village and stars — the one excursion worth leaving the beach for.
Sunny year-round. Mild winters (18–25°C), hot summers (28–36°C). Sea temp 22–28°C all year — snorkeling without a wetsuit is comfortable.
Hotels, flights, transfers and the cruise, planned as one trip and quoted in writing.
Couples Favorite
There's no shopping cart because a Nile cruise shouldn't be bought like a pair of shoes. A specialist handles it end to end.
Dates, route, style, budget — or just "help". Use the finder above, the form below or WhatsApp.
A specialist replies with ships that fit, live availability, exact inclusions and a written price.
Swap ships, add Cairo or Abu Simbel, ask anything. We hold your cabin free while you decide.
Deposit by card link or bank transfer, balance before sailing. Vouchers and a WhatsApp line for the trip.
Temperature drives both comfort and price — and a few small things (tipping, tickets, what to pack) make the difference between a good cruise and a great one.
Hover or tap a month for temperatures and crowd levels.
Linen or cotton that covers shoulders and knees — you'll be walking in full sun at Karnak and Edfu. A scarf doubles as sun cover and mosque-visit modesty.
Tomb floors in the Valley of the Kings are ramps and steps. Sandals for the deck, closed shoes for the sites.
Deck evenings and air-conditioned lounges are cooler than you expect. November–February nights drop to 8–12 °C.
The pool is the afternoon plan. Sunscreen on board costs three times the price at home.
Tomb interiors are dim and phones die fast in the heat. Plug type C/F (European two-pin), 220 V.
For the Galabeya night and the captain's dinner — or buy a galabeya at the Esna market for $10 like everyone else.
Roughly $3–5 for the crew (pooled envelope at the end of the cruise), $5 for your Egyptologist and $2 for drivers. We put this in writing so nothing feels awkward.
ATMs in Luxor and Aswan work fine; on board only cash is accepted for tips. $1 and $5 notes are gold for bathroom attendants and carriage drivers.
Drinks (packages from $35/day), laundry, spa, and optional excursions like Abu Simbel or the balloon. The bar takes cards on most deluxe and luxury ships.
Tutankhamun's tomb (~$20), Seti I (~$60) and Nefertari (~$60) are extra at the sites. Nefertari is the best-preserved tomb in Egypt — say yes.
EU, UK, US, Canada, Australia and many more: $30 sticker at the airport bank counter, or an e-visa online in advance. Passport valid 6+ months.
Both have daily flights from Cairo (1 h) and some direct European charters. We match your arrival day to a departure day so you don't lose a night.
First excursion is the same afternoon; last day ends around 08:00–09:00. Book flights after 12:00 on disembarkation day.
Not included and strongly advised. Egypt's private hospitals in Luxor and Aswan are good; the ship's doctor is on call 24 h.
You're at a temple in the morning, on deck for lunch as the banks slide past, and docked by evening. Ships often moor side by side — you may walk through another ship to reach the shore.
Grouped by language. Private guide upgrades are available on every ship for about $40–60 per day.
Optional, fun and slightly cheesy. The sun deck under the stars is the alternative.
Vegetarian, gluten-free and halal handled easily; tell us about allergies when you book and the kitchen is briefed in writing.
No age limit on motor ships. Connecting or triple cabins on request — we only quote ships that have them free on your dates. Children 2–11 usually pay 50%.
Single supplements run 50–75% of the double rate, but several ships halve or waive it in low season.
Under-80-guest ships and private sail boats are the quiet ones. Tell us — cabins get a welcome upgrade where we can.
Lifts on most deluxe and luxury ships; temples involve uneven ground and steps. Tell us and we'll pick a ship with a lift and lower-deck cabins.
A private car from Luxor to Hurghada takes four hours (from $90 per car). From Aswan it is longer — we route Aswan → Luxor → Hurghada or fly via Cairo. All our beach packages include the transfer.
Hurghada and Sahl Hasheesh for value and choice; El Gouna for a stylish town with restaurants; Marsa Alam for the best reefs and nature, at the cost of a longer transfer.
Yes — direct flights to most European cities. It is the point of ending at the sea: no return to Cairo.
Yes. Air 22–26 °C, water 22–24 °C — cooler than summer but perfectly swimmable, and the reefs are clearer. Bring a shorty wetsuit for snorkelling in January.
No account, no payment, no obligation. Tell us the basics and a named specialist does the rest.
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