The Oberoi Zahra has sailed the Nile under the Oberoi name since 2007. Our verdict in one line: it is the easiest way to do the classic Luxor–Aswan route in real luxury with nothing left to pay at the temple gates, as long as you accept a picture window rather than a balcony and a price you only see after you enquire. No platform sells the Oberoi Zahra Nile cruise; below is what the ship is, how to book it, and the closest thing you can book online today.
- Operator
- The Oberoi Group
- Type
- Luxury Nile cruiser
- Class
- Luxury (Oberoi)
- Built / refurbished
- Sailing under Oberoi since 2007
- Cabins
- 28 cabins and suites: Luxury Cabins 26.4 m² with picture windows, a two-bedroom suite, suites with terrace and private whirlpool
- Pool
- Yes: 11 m temperature-controlled pool
- Route
- Luxor ⇄ Aswan: 3, 4 and 7 nights; the 7-night trips add Dendera and an optional Abu Simbel day
- Embarks
- Mostly Luxor on Tuesday, Aswan on Saturday; check the sailing dates
- How it is sold
- Direct from Oberoi (rates include entrance fees and guide), UK and US luxury agencies, Tauck tours
- Sister ships
- The Oberoi Philae
- Status
- Sailing; no departures in June
Source: oberoihotels.com ↗ · 19 October 2026
Our scores
- Cabins
- 4/526.4 m² with picture windows, no balcony; suites have terraces and whirlpools
- Itinerary
- 5/53, 4 or 7 nights; the 7-night adds Dendera and optional Abu Simbel
- Inclusions
- 5/5entrance fees, guide, transfers and meals in the rate
- Value
- 3/5high and unpublished; you pay for space and service
- Transparency
- 3/5no public price; widget and itinerary pages disagree
- Booking ease
- 4/5dated search on Oberoi's site, or a luxury agent
Pros
- Entry fees and guide included, unlike direct bookings on Sonesta or JAZ ships
- 28 cabins and suites, against 50–80 on a standard 5-star ship
- Private docking, with access for guests with reduced mobility
- 11-metre temperature-controlled pool and an Oberoi Spa
- 7-night programme with Dendera and an optional Abu Simbel day
Cons
- Standard cabins have picture windows, not balconies
- No public price; you must search dates or ask an agent
- No sailings in June
- Cabins are smaller than on its sister, the Oberoi Philae
The ship: Oberoi Zahra cabins, suites and pool
The Zahra carries 28 cabins and suites in three types. Most guests sleep in a Luxury Cabin of 26.4 m², with king or twin beds and a large picture window. There is a Luxury Suite with Two Bedrooms (92 m², sleeps four), the obvious choice for a family, and Luxury Suites of 50 m² inside plus a private terrace with its own whirlpool, 115 m² in total.
Read that carefully if you are comparing ships. Many 5-star Nile ships sell "balcony" cabins, often French or Juliet balconies; the Zahra's standard cabins have none. The view is good because the window is big and the ship moors at private landings rather than tying up beside other ships, so you are less likely to face the next ship's cabin. If outdoor space of your own matters, it is a suite or another ship.
On the upper deck there is an 11-metre temperature-controlled pool and the Oberoi Spa. Excursions run in small luxury coaches with English-speaking Egyptologists; other languages can be arranged on request.
Oberoi Zahra Nile cruise itinerary: 3, 4 or 7 nights
The Zahra runs the classic loop between Luxor and Aswan. Departures are mostly from Luxor on Tuesdays and from Aswan on Saturdays, with occasional Tuesday starts from Aswan that fit the 7-night pattern. There are no sailings in June. The booking widget on Oberoi's overview page offers "2 nights/3 days or 3 nights/4 days"; ignore it and plan from the itinerary pages, which list 3, 4 and 7 nights.
Day 1
Luxor
Embark; Luxor Temple and Karnak with your EgyptologistDay 2
Valley of the Kings
West Bank: Valley of the Kings, Deir el-Medina, Colossi of Memnon, HatshepsutSail south; night at Esna
Day 3
Edfu
Temple of Horus at Edfu, then Kom OmboDay 4
Aswan
High Dam, Philae, the Botanical Garden, Nubian showDay 5
Aswan
Disembark at 08:00
Day 1
Aswan
Embark at 12:00; High Dam and PhilaeSail to Kom Ombo
Day 2
Kom Ombo
Kom Ombo, then EdfuNight at Esna
Day 3
Luxor
West Bank (Valley of the Kings, Medinet Habu, Colossi), Luxor Temple and KarnakSails for Luxor at 02:00
Day 4
Luxor
Disembark at 08:00
The 3-night is a full programme packed into a short trip: day three covers both banks of Luxor in one go. If you can spare the extra night, the 4-night from Luxor is the more relaxed way to see the same temples.
The 7-night one-way trip (either direction) is where the Zahra stands out. It adds Dendera, reached by sailing north to Qena or, in the low-water version, by road about 90 minutes each way; an optional Abu Simbel day; the Luxor Museum; Deir el-Medina and more of the West Bank tombs; the Botanical Garden; and sunset drinks on a private island in Aswan. Few Luxor–Aswan programmes include Dendera at all.
- 0 kmLuxorStart or end of every standard cruise. Ships moor along the East Bank and at private docks south of town; Karnak, Luxor Temple and the West Bank are visited from here.
- 50 kmEsnaAbout 50 km upriver. Ships pass the Esna lock (two ships per lockage), often at night; many ships stop here overnight without visiting the temple.
- EdfuBetween Esna and Kom Ombo. The Temple of Horus is visited by horse carriage or coach from the quay, usually in the morning.
- Kom OmboRiverside temple, open for entry until 20:00: upstream ships stop at dusk, downstream ships come early in the morning.
- 200 kmAswanAbout 200 km by river from Luxor. Philae, the High Dam and a felucca or motorboat round Kitchener's Island; last night of a dahabiya trip at the Aswan bridge dock.
Distances along the river, rounded; ships also stop at the Esna lock and sometimes moor at Kom Ombo for the night.
Oberoi Zahra Nile cruise price and what's included
Oberoi doesn't publish a rate: you choose dates on its website and see the price for those dates. The nearest public figure is a UK agency's 13-day "Luxury Egypt with Oberoi Zahra" trip, combining Cairo with the cruise and Aswan, from £8,495 per person excluding flights (Steppes Travel). Tauck's 10-day "Jewels of the Nile", on the Zahra or the Philae, starts from £8,990 with flights inside Egypt.
What the Oberoi rate covers, per its offers page: all meals, return transfers, monument entrance fees and the tour guide. That matters more than it looks. The eight sites of a standard cruise cost EGP 4,060 per foreign adult at today's official prices, and a direct booking on Sonesta, JAZ or Steigenberger ships covers none of them. Abu Simbel on the 7-night is sold as an option; ask whether it is priced in. Drinks and tips are not mentioned in the inclusions, so ask about both.
No GetYourGuide, Headout or Tiqets listing sells the Oberoi Zahra. If you want a small, upmarket boat you can book online with instant dates, the closest match is a luxury dahabiya from Aswan to Luxor: 3 nights, from $1,100, rated 4.8 from 58 reviews. It is a sailing boat with a handful of cabins, not an Oberoi ship, and the listing does not name the boat. For a 5-star ship on the 4-night route, the 5-day cruise from Luxor with Abu Simbel is from $840, "5-star ship or similar".
GetYourGuide3 nightsFrom Aswan
Aswan to Luxor: 4-Day Luxury Dahabiya Nile Cruise Adventure
4.8 (58)
from $1,100Check dates
GetYourGuide4 nightsFrom Luxor
Luxor: 5 Days Nile Cruise with Guided Tours & Abu Simbel
4.4 (69)
from $840Check dates
GetYourGuide5 nightsFrom Cairo
Cairo: All-Inclusive 6-Day Egypt Highlights & Nile Cruise
4.8 (56)
from $1,700Check dates
GetYourGuide3 nightsFrom Aswan
From Aswan: 4-Day Nile Cruise to Luxor with Abu Simbel and Balloon Flight
4.5 (555)
from $580Check dates
Prices checked on 19 October 2026
Oberoi Zahra vs Oberoi Philae
The two Oberoi ships are often confused, and the right one depends on how long you have.
| Oberoi Zahra | Oberoi Philae | |
|---|---|---|
| Cabins | 28 cabins and suites | 22 cabins and suites, 44 guests |
| Standard cabin | 26.4 m², picture window | 36 m², windows open |
| Trip lengths | 3, 4 or 7 nights | 4 or 6 nights |
| Extra sights | 7-night: Dendera, optional Abu Simbel | 4-night: Tutankhamun and Ramses VI tombs; 6-night: Dendera and Abydos |
| Weekday | mostly Luxor Tuesday, Aswan Saturday | varies; check the dates |
| Also sold by | Tauck | Lindblad Expeditions–National Geographic, Tauck |
In short: the Philae has much bigger cabins and the richer 4-night programme; the Zahra has the 3-night option and the 7-night trip with Abu Simbel. Read our Oberoi Philae review for the details.
What travellers say about the Oberoi Zahra
Oberoi lists the ship's awards on its page, including first place in Travel + Leisure's World's Best "Best River Cruisers" two years running. Awards measure reputation, not your cabin, so check these points before you pay:
- Cabin type. A Luxury Cabin has a picture window; only suites have terraces.
- Trip length. Book from the itinerary pages, not the widget's 2- or 3-night template.
- What the rate covers on your dates, including Abu Simbel on the 7-night and drinks.
- Language. English-speaking guides are standard; ask early for another language.
How to book the Oberoi Zahra
Booking the Zahra without surprises
- Pick the length first: 3 or 4 nights for the classic temples, 7 nights for Dendera and Abu Simbel.
- Check the sailing dates on Oberoi's site; there are no June departures.
- Search those dates for a price, or ask a luxury agent to quote cruise plus Cairo.
- Confirm in writing that entrance fees, guide and transfers are included, and ask about drinks and tips.
- Book flights to arrive in Luxor or Aswan the day before embarkation.
Direct bookings go through Oberoi's Zahra pages, which list sailing dates and itineraries. UK agencies such as Steppes Travel package it with Cairo hotels, and Tauck uses it on its "Jewels of the Nile" and "Petra to the Pyramids" tours (see our Tauck review).
Alternatives to the Oberoi Zahra
- Oberoi Philae: bigger cabins, Tutankhamun's tomb on the 4-night, and Abydos on the 6-night.
- A&K Sanctuary: the only luxury fleet with a published rate table, entry fees included.
- Sonesta Star Goddess: 33 suites, each with a terrace, sailing Saturday from Luxor.
- Historia: an SLH boutique ship with a public agency price, from $1,339 for 3 nights.
- SS Sudan: a 1921 paddle steamer with Dendera and Abydos.
- A dahabiya: see dahabiya cruises; Oberoi has also announced two seven-suite dahabiyas, Melouk and Malekat (Egyptian Streets).
For the wider field, see luxury Nile cruises and the best luxury ships.
Oberoi Zahra Nile cruise: FAQ
How much is the Oberoi Zahra Nile cruise?
Oberoi doesn't publish a rate; you see it after choosing dates on its website. As a guide, a UK agency's 13-day Cairo-and-cruise trip on the Zahra starts from £8,495 per person excluding flights, and Tauck's 10-day tour from £8,990.
What is included on the Oberoi Zahra?
Oberoi's rate includes all meals, return transfers, monument entrance fees and the tour guide. Ask about drinks, tips and the optional Abu Simbel day on the 7-night trip.
Does the Oberoi Zahra have balconies?
Standard Luxury Cabins have picture windows, not balconies. Only the suites have private terraces, each with a whirlpool.
What is the Oberoi Zahra itinerary?
Three nights Aswan to Luxor, four nights Luxor to Aswan, or seven nights one way with Dendera and an optional Abu Simbel day. Departures are mostly Tuesday from Luxor and Saturday from Aswan, with none in June.
Oberoi Zahra or Oberoi Philae?
The Philae has larger cabins (36 m² against 26.4 m²), Tutankhamun's tomb on the 4-night and Abydos on the 6-night. The Zahra offers 3-night and 7-night trips the Philae doesn't.
Can I book the Oberoi Zahra on GetYourGuide?
No platform sells it. Book through Oberoi or a luxury agent; the closest online alternative is a small luxury dahabiya from Aswan to Luxor.
