3-Day Nile Cruise Aswan to Luxor: Private temple tours

Eight temples on the Nile, each one explored alone with your guide

A 3-day private Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor with exclusive guided tours of eight major temples: Abu Simbel, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut, Colossi of Memnon, Karnak and Luxor Temple. You stay aboard a 5-star luxury ship with full-board meals, and every temple visit is private: no group tours, no shared guides. All entrance fees are included, and your personal guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French or German.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Abu Simbel and Kom Ombo Temples

• Pickup from hotel or airport
• Private tour of Abu Simbel Temple
• Lunch aboard luxury cruise
• Private tour of Kom Ombo Temple

Day 2: Edfu Temple Visit

• Arrive at Edfu
• Private horse carriage to Edfu Temple
• Explore Edfu Temple
• Return to luxury cruise

Day 3: Luxor West and East Bank Tour

• Breakfast and cruise checkout
• Travel to Valley of the Kings
• Visit three royal tombs
• Tour Temple of Hatshepsut
• Visit Colossi of Memnon
• Tour Karnak Temple
• Visit Luxor Temple
• Shopping at local craft shops
• Transfer to hotel

The experience

How do you see eight temples in three days without fighting crowds? This cruise solves it by keeping every excursion private. You board in Aswan, and from the first morning (when your driver picks you up for Abu Simbel before dawn) each stop belongs to you and your guide alone. Abu Simbel's colossal statues and Kom Ombo's dual temples dedicated to Sobek and Horus come on day one. Day two takes you to Edfu by traditional horse-drawn carriage, a detail that slows the pace and lets the landscape settle around you. The ship moves while you sleep, so you wake at each new mooring.

Day three is the longest: you leave the ship after breakfast and spend the morning on the West Bank exploring three royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings, then move to Hatshepsut's mortuary temple set against the cliffs at Deir el-Bahari. The Colossi of Memnon, two statues nearly 18 meters high, stand next, followed by Karnak Temple on the East Bank with its Hypostyle Hall and sacred lake. You finish at Luxor Temple, built by Amenhotep III and completed by Ramses II, then have time at local shops before your final transfer. All entrance fees are covered, and the guide is yours alone.

You sleep and eat on a 5-star ship with full-board gourmet meals (drinks are separate). Pickup and drop-off are private, including airport transfers if you need them. If you're in Cairo before or after the cruise, the operator includes a private guided tour of the Pyramids as a bonus. You arrange the timing with your hotel pickup.

What’s included

• Private guided tour of Abu Simbel Temple.
• private visit to Kom Ombo Temple.
• private excursion to Edfu Temple by horse-drawn carriage.
• private exploration of three tombs in the Valley of the Kings.
• private tour of Hatshepsut's mortuary temple.
• private visit to the Colossi of Memnon.
• private guided tour of Karnak Temple with access to the Hypostyle Hall and sacred lake.
• private tour of Luxor Temple.
• accommodation on a 5-star luxury cruise for three nights with full-board gourmet meals.
• all temple entrance fees.
• personal guide in your choice of five languages.
• private pickup and drop-off including airport transfers.
• complimentary private Pyramids tour in Cairo (pyramid tickets separate).

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to SaturdayDeparts at 04:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (11 and older) · Child (5 to 10 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 100

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Egypt tours Gateway

Is this one for you?Book this cruise if you want to see eight major temples without sharing your guide or waiting in group queues. The private format means every stop is paced to your interest, and the fixed three-day schedule fits the route between Aswan and Luxor without rushing or padding the itinerary.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 10 years); Infant (under 5): free.

What's the difference between Abu Simbel and the other temples on this cruise?

Abu Simbel is the farthest south and the reason for the early morning start on day one. Its colossal statues carved into the mountainside are among Egypt's most recognizable monuments, and the private visit means you explore them without the tour groups that arrive later in the day.

Do I visit the Valley of the Kings and Karnak Temple on the same day?

Yes, both happen on day three after you check out of the ship. The Valley of the Kings is on the West Bank, where you explore three royal tombs with vivid murals and hieroglyphs. Karnak Temple is on the East Bank, so you cross the Nile between them. Your guide and driver handle the logistics.

How does the horse-drawn carriage work at Edfu?

On day two, when the ship arrives at Edfu between 7 and 8 in the morning, your guide meets you in the ship's lobby and you travel by traditional carriage to the Temple of Horus. It's a slower, more atmospheric way to reach the site than a vehicle, and the entrance fee is included.

Are meals included on the cruise?

Full-board gourmet meals are included aboard the 5-star ship. Soft drinks, alcohol and other beverages are not part of the package and can be purchased separately. The operator notes that meals are served buffet-style.

What happens if I'm in Cairo before or after the cruise?

The operator includes a complimentary private guided tour of the Pyramids in Cairo if you're there before or after your cruise. Pickup is from your Cairo hotel with an English-speaking guide, but pyramid entrance tickets are not included in this bonus tour.