Where was Death on the Nile filmed? From real Egypt in 1978 to a Surrey studio in 2022, explore the Death on the Nile filming locations for each version.
There are Agatha Christie stories people love… and then there’s Death on the Nile. Few Agatha Christie stories scream cinema like it.
Glamorous honeymooners. A luxury river steamer. Ancient temples. Jealousy. Murder. And Hercule Poirot trapped on a boat with people he absolutely does not trust.
It’s one of Christie’s most popular novels because the setting is practically a character – the Nile itself. That’s exactly why this novel has been adapted so many times.
But here’s the twist most fans don’t know: depending on the version you watch, the actors were either sweating in real Egyptian heat… or sipping tea in an English studio pretending to be in Egypt.
- In Death on the Nile 1978, Peter Ustinov, Maggie Smith, Bette Davis, and Mia Farrow were genuinely standing in front of the real Abu Simbel and staying at the Old Cataract Hotel in Aswan.
- In Death on the Nile 2004, David Suchet boarded an actual historic Nile steamship – the kind Agatha Christie herself sailed on – making it the closest version to her lived inspiration.
- In Death on the Nile 2022, Kenneth Branagh, Gal Gadot, and Annette Bening filmed “Egypt” largely on a meticulously built set at Longcross Studios in Surrey, with a lake in the Cotswolds standing in for the Nile.
Same murder. Same suspects. Same Poirot. But three different Niles.
And that’s what makes the Death on the Nile filming locations so fascinating: each adaptation didn’t just retell the mystery – it recreated Egypt in its own way, from blazing desert heat to perfectly controlled studio lighting.
Table of Contents
🛥️ All Death on the Nile Filming Locations
Let’s take a leisurely, clue-filled trip down the Nile, exploring the real temples, historic hotels, working steamships, and clever studio sets that brought Agatha Christie’s most glamorous mystery to life on screen.
🏺 Death on the Nile Filming Locations (1978)
This is the gloriously star-studded version that didn’t pretend to be in Egypt – it actually went there, earning the film eternal bragging rights.
Starring Peter Ustinov as Poirot with an outrageous ensemble that includes Maggie Smith, Bette Davis, Mia Farrow, Angela Lansbury, and David Niven, the 1978 film treated Christie’s setting as non-negotiable.
If the story takes place among the temples of Upper Egypt, then the cast would be standing among the temples of Upper Egypt. No backdrops. No studio sand. Just the real thing.
The production hauled this legendary lineup to Aswan, Luxor, Karnak, Giza, and Abu Simbel, filming at some of the most iconic archaeological sites on Earth.
That decision gives the movie a scale and authenticity no set could replicate. The light bouncing off the stone is genuine. The vastness behind the actors is genuine.
Even the squinting is genuine. The heat is real. The scale is real. And the temples are very, very real – occasionally with curious tourists just out of frame.
Where was Death on the Nile filmed in 1978?
- Old Cataract Hotel, Aswan: Terrace and exterior gathering scenes before boarding the steamer; the cast stayed here during production.
- Abu Simbel Temples: The dramatic sightseeing excursion among Ramses II’s colossal statues, filmed at dawn to avoid extreme heat.
- Karnak Temple Complex, Luxor: Walking exploration scenes that give the film historical grandeur and unmistakable scale.
- Luxor Temple: Additional temple visit shots during the group’s on-shore excursions.
- Giza Plateau (Pyramids & Sphinx): Establishing shots that root the story unmistakably in Egypt.
Fun trivia: Tourists occasionally wandered into the background. The 1970s were a more relaxed time for location control.
🛶 Death on the Nile Filming Locations (2004)
This adaptation took a different approach from the big-screen versions. Instead of building Egypt or staging it for spectacle, it simply went there and let reality do the work.
Death On The Nile 2004 stars David Suchet alongside a young Emily Blunt, JJ Feild, James Fox, and Frances de la Tour, and it’s cherished by fans because it feels closest to Christie’s tone rather than cinematic grandeur.
Everything looks textured, sun-warmed, and convincingly lived-in. When Poirot walks the deck, he’s stepping across the timber of a genuine historic vessel. When characters stare out across the water, they’re watching the real Nile drift by.
That vessel is the PS Sudan, a late-19th-century paddle steamer that still operates today. Boats just like these inspired Christie when she travelled through Egypt with her archaeologist husband, Max Mallowan.
This TV version doesn’t just recreate the setting of Death on the Nile – it quietly recreates the experience Christie herself had while forming the story.
With filming at real locations including Luxor, Karnak, and the Valley of the Kings, there’s almost no glossy “TV drama” polish. You see dust, harsh light, breeze, and the sense that everyone is slightly overheated – exactly as they would be on a Nile cruise.
It’s less glamorous than the films, but far more authentic, which is precisely why Poirot devotees rate this adaptation so highly.
Where was Death on the Nile filmed in 2004?
- PS Sudan, Nile River: The actual historic steamship used as the S.S. Karnak for most deck and travel scenes.
- Winter Palace Hotel, Luxor: Exterior and garden scenes representing luxury Nile accommodation before boarding.
- Valley of the Kings: Desert excursion scenes among ancient tomb landscapes.
- Karnak Temple: Sightseeing walk-through scenes during the trip.
- Eltham Palace, London: Doubles for English interiors and early story settings.
Fun trivia: Steamers like the PS Sudan directly inspired Christie during her travels in Egypt.
🎬 Death on the Nile Filming Locations (2022)
Starring Kenneth Branagh as Poirot alongside Gal Gadot, Armie Hammer, Emma Mackey, Letitia Wright, Annette Bening, and Russell Brand, the film looks drenched in desert light, with the Nile shimmering invitingly in the background of almost every scene.
It gives the impression of blazing heat, vast landscapes, and ancient monuments just out of frame. But none of the principal cast filmed in Egypt. Filmed in 2019 and delayed for years by COVID and release reshuffles, this adaptation of Death On The Nile was finally released in 2022.
In reality, most of “Egypt” was meticulously constructed inside Longcross Studios in Surrey. Huge sets recreated the S.S. Karnak, the Old Cataract Hotel interiors, and temple environments inspired by Abu Simbel.
For river sequences, a lake at Cotswold Water Park stood in for the Nile, while second-unit teams captured real Egyptian vistas to layer into the background. The result is a version of Death on the Nile where the scale feels epic, but the geography is pure filmcraft.
No desert heat. No blowing sand. No curious tourists. That golden sunlight is lighting design, and that gentle Nile breeze is likely coming from a very modern fan just off camera.
Where was Death on the Nile filmed in 2022?
- Longcross Studios, Surrey: Giant sets for the S.S. Karnak, hotel interiors, and temple replicas.
- Cotswold Water Park, England: Lake scenes doubling as Nile river travel shots.
- Second-Unit Footage in Egypt (Luxor, Aswan, Giza): Aerial and landscape plates blended into studio scenes for realism.
Fun trivia: The cast never filmed in Egyptian heat. That golden desert glow is lighting wizardry.
🍿 Where to Watch Death on the Nile
This depends on which Nile you want to cruise. Each adaptation tends to live on different platforms, rotate through streamers, and pop up for rent in the usual places – so here’s what to look for.
- Death on the Nile 1978: Prime Video, Apple TV, and YouTube/Google TV. Classic film channels, Agatha Christie DVD & Blu-ray collections.
- Death on the Nile 2004: BritBox, ITV-focused platforms, Prime Video, and Apple TV. Included in most Agatha Christie’s Poirot DVD box sets.
- Death on the Nile 2022: Disney+, Hulu, Prime Video, Apple TV, YouTube/Google TV, Blu-ray/4K.
From the blazing stones of Abu Simbel to the polished decks of the PS Sudan to a perfectly lit soundstage in Surrey, Agatha Christie’s Death on the Nile has travelled further behind the scenes than most of its characters do on screen.
The murder stays the same. The journey down the Nile changes every time.
🧭 Death on the Nile (1978) Filming Locations Travel Itinerary
Follow in the footsteps of Peter Ustinov, Maggie Smith, Bette Davis, and Mia Farrow with a Nile journey that mirrors the real Egyptian locations used in the 1978 film. This route blends iconic temples, historic hotels, and classic river cruising – just like the movie.
🏨 Day 1: Aswan – Check in at the Old Cataract Hotel
Stay: Sofitel Legend Old Cataract, Aswan
- The cast’s real-life base during filming
- Terrace views seen before the group boards the steamer
- Sunset over the Nile exactly as in the film
Do: Sunset drinks on the terrace and a riverside stroll along the corniche.
🗿 Day 2: Abu Simbel – The Dawn Temple Excursion
Visit: Abu Simbel (early morning)
- Filming location for the dramatic sightseeing sequence
- Colossal statues of Ramses II towering behind the cast
- Best visited at dawn – just like the crew did to avoid the heat
Tip: Fly from Aswan for the same-day return, as most productions and tours do.
🛶 Day 3: Nile Cruise – Aswan to Luxor
Experience: Multi-day Nile cruise
- Recreate the steamer journey central to the story
- Watch temples and riverbanks drift by from the deck
- The heart of the Death on the Nile atmosphere
Tip: Choose a traditional-style riverboat for vintage vibes.
🏛️ Day 4: Kom Ombo & Edfu Temples
Stops: Kom Ombo and Edfu temples
- Typical cruise stops resemble the on-shore excursions in the film
- Riverside temple settings that match the movie’s exploration feel
🏺 Day 5: Luxor – Karnak & Luxor Temple
Visit: Karnak Temple Complex and Luxor Temple
- Filming locations for the group’s temple walks
- Massive columns and courtyards seen in the 1978 film
Tip: Visit Karnak early in the morning and Luxor Temple at dusk for cinematic light.
🐫 Day 6: Optional – Cairo & Giza Plateau
Visit: Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx
- Used for establishing shots that ground the film in Egypt
- The ultimate cinematic finale to your itinerary
This itinerary mirrors the actual Death on the Nile filming locations (1978) – from the Old Cataract Hotel to Abu Simbel, Karnak, Luxor, and Giza – letting you experience Egypt exactly as the cast and crew did while making the classic film.
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