About this hotel
General information
The Oberoi Zahra is a small Nile cruiser run by Oberoi Hotels & Resorts, sailing the river between Luxor and Aswan. With only 28 cabins and suites on board, it carries a modest number of guests and keeps an unhurried rhythm: between temple stops there is time for the upper-deck pool, the spa and long meals with the river sliding past.
The interiors are restrained — a muted palette, clean lines, natural fabrics and large windows, with the Nile in view from every cabin. Resident English-speaking Egyptologists lead the shore visits, and guides in other languages can be arranged in advance. Small, comfortable coaches wait at each stop, and audio-visual presentations set the scene before each visit. The ship moors at private docks, with embarkation and disembarkation arranged for guests with limited mobility as well.
Location
The ship sails the Nile between Luxor and Aswan, some 240 km apart by river. The Aswan–Luxor cruise lasts three nights, Luxor–Aswan four, and seven-night itineraries run in both directions. Guests embark at noon and disembark at 8am on the last day, after breakfast. In Luxor the ship berths at Mirotel Dock, in Aswan at Sheraton Dock on the Nile Corniche. Airport transfers are included: Luxor Airport lies about 15 km away and Aswan Airport about 25 km.
Spa
The Oberoi Spa looks out over the Nile and offers therapies that blend Eastern and Western massage techniques, along with facials, body scrubs and body wraps that include an oil-free head and face massage. Its Oberoi Experiences run from 90 to 150 minutes and can be tailored to the guest. Treatments are best booked at least 24 hours ahead.
Sports & leisure
Guided visits with an Egyptologist are the heart of the cruise. Depending on the itinerary they cover Philae and the Aswan High Dam, the temples of Kom Ombo and Edfu, the Valley of the Kings and the Colossi of Memnon on Luxor's West Bank, and the Luxor and Karnak temples. The seven-night itineraries add Aswan's botanical island, the temple at Dendera, Deir el-Medina, the Temple of Hatshepsut and the Luxor Museum, plus an optional trip to Abu Simbel, and one evening brings sunset cocktails on a private island. On board there is an air-conditioned fitness centre whose machines each have a personal audio-visual screen, and the Club Lounge keeps backgammon, chess, Scrabble and cards.
Restaurants & bars
The cruise programme includes breakfast, lunch and dinner on board every day, and the kitchen caters for dietary requirements with advance notice.
- The Restaurant — international cooking from a daily-changing à la carte menu, with large windows onto the Nile
- Poolside Dining — light meals and drinks beside the pool under a large canopy, with a cocktail bar
- The Club Lounge — high tea, cocktail receptions with live music and board games
- The Library Lounge — a quiet room for reading and conversation, with drinks served until midnight
Swimming
The upper deck holds an 11-metre, temperature-controlled pool lined with loungers, where drinks and snacks are brought to the sunbeds and the Nile unfolds in both directions. The pool is open from 8am to 8pm.
Rooms
There are 28 cabins and suites in three categories, all with Nile views, private bathrooms and high-speed internet. Children under seven cannot be accommodated on board.
Each cabin has high-speed internet, a hairdryer, an electronic safe, an iron and ironing board, slippers, shaving and dental kits, fresh fruit, a minibar, a morning newspaper and turndown service.
Luxury Cabin
A cabin with a large picture window onto the Nile, a king-size bed or twin beds and a seating area; the glass-walled rain shower in the bathroom also looks out on the river. Sleeps two.
Luxury Suite with Two Bedrooms
A sunlit suite with two bedrooms, a separate living room and dining area, floor-to-ceiling windows and a terrace with a lounger. Sleeps four, suiting a family or a small group of friends.
Luxury Suite
A suite with a king-size bedroom, a living room and private dining area, a bathroom with a freestanding tub and rain shower, and a terrace with a lounger and its own heated whirlpool. 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.