Cruises to Edfu, Nile River Cruises to Edfu, Edfu Cruise Deals

Cruises to Edfu, Egypt

Edfu is a farming and market town on the west bank of the Nile in southern Egypt, between Esna and Aswan, and it is famous for one monument: the Temple of Horus. Built over almost two centuries by the Ptolemaic kings, from 237 to 57 BC, it is the largest temple to the falcon god in Egypt and so complete that it is widely described as the best-preserved ancient temple in the country.

Do cruise ships dock in Edfu? Edfu is not a seaport, and no ocean ship calls here. It is a stop for Nile river cruise boats, which tie up at a riverside wharf on the west bank. How do you get from the boat to the temple? Horse-drawn carriages have carried cruise passengers between the river and the temple since the 20th century, and drivers still wait near the boats, so the ride is the easy way in.

Cruises to Edfu are Nile river cruises on the stretch between Luxor and Aswan, the classic route through Upper Egypt. Lines that call here include Viking River, AmaWaterways, Avalon and CroisiEurope, and the same lines also stop at Kom Ombo and Esna, so one Nile cruise takes in several of the great Ptolemaic temples. Greek visitors knew the town as Apollinopolis Magna, the city of Apollo, the god they matched with Horus.

The temple is the whole reason for the call, so give it your time: walk from the great gateway through the open courtyard and the columned halls to the sanctuary at the back, where a granite shrine older than the temple itself still stands.

American Discount Vacations is proud to offer the best deals possible on all cruises. Backed by our "Low Price Guarantee," and powered by our team of expert travel agents, we're sure to exceed your expectations when booking your next cruise!

Destinations for Cruises to Edfu, Egypt

The following cruise destinations can be visited on a cruise that includes Edfu, Egypt. Select a destination to view the upcoming cruises that are available:

Africa Cruises to Edfu, Egypt

Asia Cruises to Edfu, Egypt

Middle East Cruises to Edfu, Egypt

Nile River Cruises to Edfu, Egypt

Destination Calendar

Make a selection below to view the cruises available during that month in that destination.

View Pricing by Room Type:

Pricing listed above is per person, based on double occupancy in the least expensive accommodations available, is subject to change, and may not reflect the most recent pricing (as pricing gets updated throughout the day). Prices include Required Cruise Fees & Expenses, as well as Government Taxes & Fees. Prices may not reflect discounts and special promotions that you may qualify for. Go to the Category selection step of the online booking process to view the live pricing and latest offers.

Cruise Lines with Cruises to Edfu, Egypt

The following cruise lines offer cruises sailing to Edfu, Egypt. Select a cruise line to view the upcoming cruises that visit Edfu, Egypt:

Filters:

AmaWaterways
Avalon Waterways
Lindblad Expeditions
Tauck Cruises
Uniworld River Cruises
Viking River Cruises

River Cruise Line
Ships: 35 (28 - 196 Guests)
Intimate Environment, Inclusive Value
Excursions Included in Cruise Fare

AmaWaterways to Edfu, Egypt Onboard Credit!

River Cruise Line
Ships: 18 (36 - 166 Guests)
Shore Excursions Included
Complimentary Wi-Fi

Avalon Waterways to Edfu, Egypt Special Prices!

Quick Facts

River Cruise Line
Ships: 18 (36 - 166 Guests)
Shore Excursions Included
Complimentary Wi-Fi
Beer & Wine Included w/ Lunch & Dinner
View in Every Room

An award-winning river cruise line, Avalon Waterways offers luxury river cruises throughout the rivers of Europe, Southeast Asia, Egypt, and South America, including the Galapagos Islands. Their ships are among the youngest and most innovative in the river cruising industry. They feature spacious accommodations, fantastic cuisine, and captivating itineraries. As a part of the Globus family of brands, many of Avalon's cruises can be combined with a Globus land package, creating a truly unique vacation package. Thanks to Avalon Waterways' relationship with Globus, they can offer inspired enrichment on their cruises through guided sightseeing tours, daily port lectures, and VIP access to key destinations.

Specialty Cruise Line
Ships: 22 (16 - 154 Guests)
All-Inclusive
National Geographic Partnership

Lindblad Expeditions to Edfu, Egypt Exclusive Onboard Credit!

Quick Facts

Specialty Cruise Line
Ships: 22 (16 - 154 Guests)
All-Inclusive
National Geographic Partnership
Unique Expedition Voyages
Scientists & Naturalists Onboard

For nearly 50 years, Lindblad Expeditions has been taking their guests on expedition style trips around the world. Through their alliance with National Geographic, they're able to provide a unique variety of special features on their cruises. For instance, all Lindblad expeditions are joined by National Geographic experts, and their guests may be able to use state-of-the-art equipment including bow cameras, ROVs, kayaks, undersea cameras, hydrophones, video-microscopes, crittercams. Some of the destinations offered by Lindblad Expeditions are the exotic Galapagos Islands, Egypt, Alaska, South America, Antarctica, the Mexican Riviera, and Europe.

River Cruise Line
Ships: 36 (40 - 2,106 Guests)
All inclusive pricing
Family owned cruise line

Tauck Cruises to Edfu, Egypt Exclusive Gift Cards!

River Cruise Line
Ships: 24 (30 - 159 Guests)
All-Inclusive Product
Every Stateroom Has River View

Uniworld River Cruises to Edfu, Egypt Exclusive Gift Cards!

River Cruise Line
Ships: 97 (52 - 386 Guests)
One Free Shore Excursion per Port
Wine/ Beer/Soft Drinks with Lunch/Dinner

Viking River Cruises to Edfu, Egypt Huge Onboard Credits!

Quick Facts

River Cruise Line
Ships: 97 (52 - 386 Guests)
One Free Shore Excursion per Port
Wine/ Beer/Soft Drinks with Lunch/Dinner
Award-Winning Service
Complimentary Wi-Fi
Port Taxes & Fees Included

Viking River Cruises operates the world’s largest fleet of deluxe vessels built specifically for river travel. Viking sails in the rivers of Europe, Asia, Africa, and the US, including the Rhine, Main, Moselle, Danube, Elbe, Seine, Douro, Nile, Mekong, and Mississippi. Their pricing includes Wi-Fi, meals, lectures, activities, shore excursions, hotel accommodations on cruisetours, and more. Complimentary specialty coffee and teas are available 24 hours, and free bottled water is replenished daily. While on a Viking River cruise, you can expect world-class service, cultural enrichment, and accommodations with hotel-style beds and spacious showers.

Things to do in Edfu, Egypt

Edfu is a one-temple town, and the Temple of Horus rewards a slow visit. Here is what to see on a Nile cruise stop in Edfu:

♦ The Temple of Horus

Dedicated to the falcon god Horus, the temple was begun in 237 BC under Ptolemy III and completed in 57 BC under Ptolemy XII. Its towering gateway, open courtyard, columned halls and roof are still largely intact, which gives a rare sense of how a working Egyptian temple looked. It is the main event of the stop and deserves most of your time ashore.

♦ The sanctuary and the story of Horus and Seth

At the heart of the temple, the sanctuary holds a granite shrine from an earlier building, made under the pharaoh Nectanebo II and ringed by nine chapels. The walls carry the scenes of a sacred drama telling the conflict between Horus and his rival Seth, and long building texts describing the temple as the island where creation began.

♦ A temple saved by the sand

Over the centuries the temple was buried as deep as 39 feet (12 m) under desert sand and river silt, and houses were built on top of it. When French scholars identified it in 1798, only the tops of the gateway towers showed. The Egyptologist Auguste Mariette began clearing it in 1860, and that long burial is a big part of why so much survives.

♦ A carriage ride through town

Horse-drawn carriages have met cruise passengers at the riverside for generations, and drivers still wait near the boats. The ride passes through everyday Edfu, a working market town that sees far fewer visitors than Luxor or Aswan, and it is the easiest way to reach the temple.

♦ The festival link with Dendera

Each year the goddess Hathor was carried south by river from her temple at Dendera to visit Horus at Edfu, a sacred marriage celebrated with a great festival and pilgrimage. Many Nile cruises also stop for the Temple of Hathor at Dendera, so travelers can see both ends of that ancient journey.

Average Monthly Weather for Edfu, Egypt

Temperature

Average monthly high and low temperatures. Values are in Fahrenheit (switch to Celsius):

Precipitation

Total per month. Values are in inches (switch to millimeters):

Days of precipitation per month:

The information above is provided for informational purposes only. Monthly statistics are based on the most recent instance of that month. Weather is subject to change and cannot be guaranteed. The data is provided by a third-party and we accept no liability regarding its accuracy.