Cruises to Esna, Nile River Cruises to Esna, Esna Cruise Deals

Cruises to Esna, Egypt

Esna is a market town on the west bank of the Nile, about 34 miles (55 km) south of Luxor, and it is known on a Nile cruise for two things: its lock and its temple. The Temple of Khnum sits about 30 feet (9 m) below the level of the modern streets, and the ceiling of its great columned hall has recently been cleaned of centuries of soot to reveal bright reds and golds, a full set of zodiac signs and about 200 hidden inscriptions.

Do cruise ships dock in Esna? Esna is not a seaport, and no ocean ship calls here. It is a stop for Nile river cruise boats. The barrage across the river, built by the British in 1906, has a lock that boats sailing between Luxor and Aswan must pass through, and they can wait there for some hours for their turn. How far is the temple from the river? About 660 feet (200 m), and the way in passes through a covered market lane.

The Greeks called the town Latopolis, after the Nile perch that was held sacred here, and since 2009 it has belonged to Luxor Governorate. Its old covered market and an 18th-century Ottoman trading house still stand around the temple. Cruises to Esna are Nile river cruises on lines including Viking River, Uniworld, CroisiEurope and Lindblad Expeditions.

Once inside the hall, look up before anything else: the restored ceiling is the highlight of the stop, and the market lane is best saved for the walk back to the boat.

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Destinations for Cruises to Esna, Egypt

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

Africa Cruises to Esna, Egypt

Middle East Cruises to Esna, Egypt

Nile River Cruises to Esna, Egypt

Destination Calendar

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Cruise Lines with Cruises to Esna, Egypt

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

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CroisiEurope
Hurtigruten Norwegian Coastal Express
Lindblad Expeditions
Uniworld River Cruises
Viking River Cruises

River Cruise Line
Ships: 49 (16 - 197 Guests)
All-Inclusive Pricing
Authentic French Cuisine

CroisiEurope to Esna, Egypt Cash Back!

Specialty Cruise Line
Ships: 8 (590 - 970 Guests)
Unique Norwegian Coastal Voyages
Theme Cruises

Hurtigruten Norwegian Coastal Express to Esna, Egypt Onboard Credit or Cash Back!

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

Lindblad Expeditions to Esna, 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: 24 (30 - 159 Guests)
All-Inclusive Product
Every Stateroom Has River View

Uniworld River Cruises to Esna, 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 Esna, 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 Esna, Egypt

Esna packs a sunken Roman-era temple, a covered market and an Ottoman trading house into a few streets by the Nile. Here is what to see on a Nile cruise stop:

♦ The Temple of Khnum

The temple honors Khnum, the ram-headed god said to shape human bodies from clay on a potter's wheel, together with the goddess Neith and other deities. What visitors see today is its great columned hall, about 121 feet (37 m) long and 49 feet (15 m) high, added in the Roman period under the emperor Claudius. Its 18 columns have plant-shaped tops, and no two are alike.

♦ The restored ceiling

For centuries the hall was blackened by soot and grime. A joint project of Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and Germany's University of Tubingen has cleaned the ceiling, uncovering bright reds and golds, a full set of zodiac signs, constellations, planets and about 200 inscriptions that had been hidden from view.

♦ Roman emperors in Egyptian dress

The walls show a long line of Roman emperors, from Claudius and Vespasian to Hadrian and Decius, carved in the traditional manner of the pharaohs. Decoration went on here into the 3rd century AD, and the name of one emperor, Philip the Arab, was chiseled out and replaced with that of Decius, the rival who defeated him.

♦ The Qisariya market

Just south of the temple, the covered southern section of the Al-Qisariya market runs for about 430 feet (130 m) and holds more than 120 small shops, most of them tailors and textile sellers. It is the easy way to see everyday Esna, and the walk to the temple passes vendors in a covered lane.

♦ Wekalet Al-Geddawy

This 18th-century Ottoman caravanserai overlooking the temple was a trading house where goods, crops and animals were bought and sold. It is one of only three such caravanserais in southern Egypt and the only one that keeps its original design.

♦ Passing through the Esna lock

Locking through the barrage is part of the day on a Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan. Head to the top deck as your boat moves through, since boats can queue here for some hours and the passage itself is a slice of working river life.

Average Monthly Weather for Esna, Egypt

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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.