Jennifer S.
Google
Our experience was largely positive, Nour al Nil offers a unique, intimate way to experience the Nile, but it’s not a luxury cruise. It offers slow travel, authentic food, and camaraderie over true five-star amenities. We had very high hopes, fueled by glowing articles, YouTube videos, and 5-star reviews. Sharing our experiences so travelers know what to expect.
My husband and I traveled November 2023, staying on the El Nil boat.
Highlights:
Gliding down the Nile while sitting on the top deck is magical. The boat moved at a leisurely pace, allowing us to soak in everyday life along the riverbanks-fishermen, farmers, cows, and small villages.
The boat’s top deck was spacious -everyone could spread out. People read books, played card games, or relaxed while watching life on the Nile.
The crew was warm and helpful. They helped guests board and disembark, carrying luggage, and serving food and drinks. They arranged a surprise birthday celebration on the top deck, with a cake, singing, and dancing.
The traditional Egyptian cuisine was fresh & flavorful. The kitchen accommodated my gluten-free needs. The large communal table offered an opportunity to get to know the fellow travelers. Beer & wine could be purchased: bring your own imported alcohol from the airport duty-free shops, and the crew will chill it.
Swimming in the Nile was an adventurous highlight, strong currents pulled us swiftly downstream. The itinerary had a relaxed pace, balancing visits to temples with time to relax on the top deck.
Things to Consider: While the boats are nice and comfortable, they are not luxurious. The bathrooms are very small and basic, with minimal storage space. Bring your own soap, etc.
Our original accommodation, “luxury” room, felt extremely tight & claustrophobic. The bed and a large air-conditioning unit took up almost all the space.
We were able to upgrade to a panoramic suite. This was a huge improvement, with full-length windows and lots more space. The air-conditioning system built into the wall rather than sitting on the floor.- highly recommend booking one of these suites.
All seven boats traveled together. So All onshore activities are with a large group of people. The boats are often pulled by a tugboat- engine noise is noticeable. At night, the boats dock close together, and the generators from neighboring boats can be heard. We requested that the boats be spaced out more when docked, and the crew accommodated our request.
Many temple visits were crowded. There were few exclusive or bespoke experiences. There was trash along some of the riverbanks where we stopped. Since Nour al Nil knows the docking locations in advance, they should arrange cleanup ahead of time.
The final night’s stop was a significant letdown. The boat docked near a busy roadway and a field littered with trash. Thankfully, we had read about this in other reviews and paid extra for transportation to leave after docking.
We found Nour al Nil’s travel services for additional bookings to be quite expensive. We ended up booking the rest of the trip other companies. They told us the hotel we wanted in Aswan was fully booked, but when we called the hotel directly, rooms were available. The booking process for our cabin was also complicated. We initially wanted to reserve a panoramic suite, but were told they were not yet available for booking. We were advised to book a luxury room first and call back later to upgrade. When we did call back, both suites were already booked, which was disappointing.
It is important to go in with measured expectations regarding accommodations & group sizes.