About this hotel
General information
The Oberoi Philae is a Nile cruiser run by Oberoi Hotels & Resorts, sailing the river between Aswan and Luxor. With only 22 cabins and suites on board, it carries few guests, and its days alternate between early visits to temples and tombs and long, slow hours on the water — by the upper-deck pool, in the spa or at a table with the river sliding past.
The interiors keep to a natural palette, with clean lines, natural fabrics and modern Egyptian art, and the cabin windows open straight onto the Nile. Resident English-speaking Egyptologists lead the shore visits, and guides in other languages can be arranged with notice. Small, comfortable coaches wait at every stop, and audio-visual presentations are offered before the visits for those who want more background. In the evening the lounge doubles as the ship's own cinema.
Location
The ship sails the Nile between Aswan and Luxor, 240 km apart by river. Four-night cruises run in both directions, as do six-night itineraries that add the temples of Dendera and Abydos, or the Temple of Hatshepsut and the Luxor Museum. Guests usually embark at noon and disembark at 8am on the last day, after breakfast. The ship moors at private docks with access for guests with limited mobility. Aswan Airport lies 25 km away (about 45 minutes by car) and Luxor Airport 15 km (about 30 minutes), both a short flight from Cairo.
Spa
The Oberoi Spa has private treatment rooms looking out over the Nile and is open from 9am to 9pm. The menu covers Thai, Balinese, Swedish and signature Oberoi massages as well as facials, and there is a beauty salon for both women and men. The spa is reserved for guests on board, and treatments are best booked 24 hours ahead.
Sports & leisure
Guided visits with an Egyptologist shape the cruise. Depending on the itinerary they take in the temple on Philae and the Aswan High Dam, the Nubian Museum, the twin temple of Kom Ombo and the temple at Edfu, the passage through the Esna lock, the Valley of the Kings with Tutankhamun's tomb, Deir el-Medina and the Colossi of Memnon on Luxor's West Bank, and the Luxor and Karnak temples. On board, an air-conditioned fitness centre with exercise machines also looks out on the river and is open from 7am to 7pm.
Restaurants & bars
The daily cruise schedule includes breakfast, lunch, five o'clock tea and dinner on board, with a cocktail reception on the first evening. Dining is reserved for guests on board.
- Main Restaurant — Western, Indian, Asian and Middle Eastern cooking, filled with daylight at lunch and more intimate in the evening; smart casual at dinner
- Poolside Restaurant — light meals, snacks and barbecue lunches beneath a large canopy beside the pool, with a cocktail bar
- The Bar and Library Lounge — drinks at intimate tables, a movie theatre and Cuban cigars on the sundeck
Swimming
The upper deck holds an 11-metre, temperature-controlled pool lined with loungers, where drinks and snacks are served and the Nile stretches away in both directions. The pool is open from 8am to 8pm.
Rooms
There are 22 cabins and suites in three categories, each with Nile views, a private bathroom and complimentary internet. Children under seven cannot be accommodated on board.
Each cabin has air conditioning, soundproof opening French windows, blackout blinds, a 10-inch pillow-top mattress, a pillow menu, a 40-inch LED television, Wi-Fi, a cordless telephone, a coffee and tea machine, a personal bar, an electronic safe, a hairdryer, scales, an overhead rain shower with a handheld spray and express laundry.
Luxury Suite with Terrace
A suite with a king-size bedroom and a living room, a bathroom with a freestanding tub, a shower and a private dressing room, and a private terrace with a lounger and a heated outdoor whirlpool. Sleeps two.
Luxury Suite
A suite with floor-to-ceiling windows that open onto the Nile, a king-size bedroom, a living room and a private dressing room; the bathroom has a full-length tub, a shower and twin basins. Sleeps two.
Luxury Cabin
A spacious cabin in natural tones with an opening window onto the Nile, a king-size bed or twin beds, an armchair and a seating area, and a bathroom with a shower. Sleeps two.
Photos are for illustrative purposes only. Actual room layout, furnishings, décor, views and amenities may differ from those shown and may vary between rooms of the same category. Hotel and room descriptions are based on information provided by the property and are believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but are not guaranteed. The hotel may renovate or change its rooms, facilities, restaurants and services at any time without notice. The final details of your stay are confirmed at the time of booking. See our Terms of Use.