Is the Karnak a real boat 2022?
Yes, the film's fictional Karnak steamboat was built full size in a U.K. studio parking lot, with everything from the spacious, two-story lounge at the bow to the cabins in the rear decked out in opulent Art Deco design.
The Karnak is believed to be based on the S. S. Sudan (sometimes known as the P. S. Sudan.) Agatha Christie took a trip on this boat with her husband in 1933 and was inspired to write the novel. The boat still runs Nile cruises today and has a suite named after Christie.
History | |
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Egypt | |
Type | passenger river steamer |
Tonnage | 600 tons |
Length | 228 ft (69 m) or 236 ft (72 m) |
Turns out, though, that not only is she a giant prop – yes people, the SS Karnak in the latest Death on the Nile film is one giant luxurious prop constructed in a studio in England – but it's also inspired by a real-life steamship that none other than Agatha Christie travelled on, you can still travel on it today!
Yes, the film's fictional Karnak steamboat was built full size in a U.K. studio parking lot, with everything from the spacious, two-story lounge at the bow to the cabins in the rear decked out in opulent Art Deco design.
Where is Death on the Nile filmed? The producers of the film went to extraordinary lengths to recreate the kingdom in Longcross Studios in Surrey, with a few background scenes shot in Morocco and Egypt.
Swimming is safe (and encouraged). The section of water between Aswan and Luxor is clean and taking a dip is a real highlight.
Abu Simbel, site of two temples built by the Egyptian king Ramses II (reigned 1279–13 bce), now located in Aswān muḥāfaẓah (governorate), southern Egypt. In ancient times the area was at the southern frontier of pharaonic Egypt, facing Nubia.
The film's shoot was intended to take place in Egypt, but that proved too difficult. The team then considered Morocco, which often stands in for other desert countries, but by the time cameras started to roll in 2019, it was decided to make England work instead.
Can you cruise the Nile River?
The most typical Nile cruiser route is between Luxor and Aswan, with cruises starting from either end. This route is usually three or four nights, though you will be spending two of those nights at port onboard in your start and end point. Note that more time than you think will be spent at dock.
The Old Cataract Hotel and the Abu Simbel temples were both recreated from within the studio and the ship where the investigation took place, the SS Karnak, was also created within the studio.

Filming. Principal photography began on September 30, 2019, at Longcross Studios in Surrey, England. The film was supposed to be filmed in Morocco instead of Egypt, but filming took place only in England. A boat was recreated, as well as the Temple of Abu Simbel.
One still stands, as the second-tallest ancient obelisk still standing on Earth; the other has broken in two and toppled. Another of her projects at the site, Karnak's Red Chapel or Chapelle Rouge, was intended as a barque shrine and originally may have stood between her two obelisks.
Karnak, also called Al-Karnak, village located in Al-Uqṣur muḥāfaẓah (governorate), Upper Egypt, which has given its name to the northern half of the ruins of Thebes on the east bank of the Nile River, including the ruins of the Great Temple of Amon.
The Temple of Amun is an archaeological site at Jebel Barkal in Northern State, Sudan. It is situated about 400 kilometres (250 mi) north of Khartoum near Karima. The temple stands near a large bend of the Nile River, in the region that was called Nubia in ancient times.
The Temple of Karnak is located in present-day Luxor, which was known as Waset to the Ancient Egyptians and Thebes to the Ancient Greeks. More than 40,000 people called the city home, and it served as Egypt's capital during the Middle and New Kingdoms.