4-Day Dahabiya Nile Cruise Aswan to Luxor: Private Boat

Four days sailing between pharaonic temples, from Philae to the Valley of the Kings

A 4-day private Dahabiya cruise from Aswan to Luxor along the Nile River, with 3 nights aboard a traditional Egyptian sailing boat, an expert Egyptologist guide, and stops at Philae Temple, Abu Simbel Temple, Kom Ombo Temple, Edfu Temple, and the Valley of the Kings. Meals and soft drinks are served on deck as you sail past Nubian islands and ancient quarrying sites, ending in Luxor with visits to Hatshepsut Temple, the Colossi of Memnon, Luxor Temple, and Karnak Temple.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Philae Temple and Aswan High Dam

• Pick up from hotel in Aswan
• Check in to Dahabiya boat
• Visit Philae Temple
• Explore Aswan High Dam
• Lunch aboard cruise
• Dinner aboard cruise
• Evening stroll and market visit

Day 2: Abu Simbel and Kom Ombo Temple

• Optional early visit to Abu Simbel Temple
• Return to Aswan and board Dahabiya
• Sail towards Kom Ombo
• Visit Kom Ombo Temple
• Relax on sun deck with tea
• Lunch and dinner on sun deck
• Overnight on Dahabiya

Day 3: Gebel el-Silsila and Edfu Temple

• Breakfast on sun deck while sailing
• View Nubian islands and villages
• Visit Gebel el-Silsila quarry area
• Sail to Edfu Temple
• Visit Edfu Temple
• Anchor at Fawaza Island for beach barbecue
• Pass through Esna Lock
• Overnight on Dahabiya

Day 4: Luxor Ancient Sites Tour

• Breakfast before disembarking
• Visit Valley of the Kings
• Visit Temple of Hatshepsut
• See Colossi of Memnon
• Visit Luxor Temple
• Visit Karnak Temple Complex

The experience

Philae Temple opens the journey on day one after hotel pickup in Aswan and boarding the Dahabiya. You'll explore this island sanctuary dedicated to Isis, then visit the Aswan High Dam before lunch and dinner aboard the boat. The evening gives you time to walk through Aswan's local markets before an overnight stay on the Nile.

Day two offers an optional early departure to Abu Simbel Temple (one of Upper Egypt's most iconic landmarks) departing around 5:00 AM and returning by 1:00 PM to rejoin the Dahabiya as it sails toward Kom Ombo. The boat passes Nubian islands where you'll see villages and working fields along both banks. At Kom Ombo, you'll visit the temple dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek, then unwind on the sun deck with Egyptian tea as the Dahabiya continues downriver. Meals are served on deck while the guide shares insights into Egypt's hidden culture.

Day three moves through Gebel el-Silsila, an ancient quarrying area where rock temples sit carved directly into the hillside. The Dahabiya docks at the foot of this majestic mountain, often as the only boat in the area. You'll continue to Edfu Temple, dedicated to Horus, then anchor at Fawaza Island for a beach barbecue at sunset. As you pass through the Esna Lock, the unique scent of the Nile breeze marks the transition toward Luxor.

The final day begins with breakfast before disembarking in Luxor. You'll explore the Valley of the Kings (the burial site of pharaohs including Tutankhamun and Ramses VI), then visit Hatshepsut Temple, built by Egypt's only female pharaoh around 1490 BCE. The Colossi of Memnon, remnants of Amenhotep III's mortuary temple, come next, followed by Luxor Temple on the east bank of the Nile and the vast Karnak Temple Complex nearby.

What’s included

• 3 nights accommodation aboard the Dahabiya with full board and soft drinks.
• qualified Egyptologist guide in your chosen language.
• private air-conditioned transfer with professional driver.
• meet and assist by a representative at your Aswan arrival point (airport, hotel, or railway station).

Before you book

Days and timesWednesday and Friday7 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 12:00

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (6 to 10 years) · Infant (under 6)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French and Japanese

Audio guideEnglish, Spanish, French and Japanese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 26 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats available

Operated by Roxana Travel

Is this one for you?Choose this private Dahabiya cruise if you prefer a small-group boat experience with an Egyptologist guide interpreting temples as you sail, rather than joining larger group tours or arranging independent site visits.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French and Japanese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 10 years); Infant (under 6).

What is the Dahabiya boat like, and how many nights do you sleep aboard?

The Dahabiya is a traditional Egyptian sailing boat where you stay for 3 nights with full board (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) plus soft drinks included. Meals are served on the sun deck, and you sleep aboard each night as the boat sails or is anchored along the Nile.

Is the Abu Simbel Temple visit included, or is it optional?

Abu Simbel Temple is optional on day two. If you choose to visit, you'll depart around 5:00 AM and return by 1:00 PM to rejoin the Dahabiya as it sails toward Kom Ombo. If you skip it, you'll board the boat in Aswan that morning instead.

How does the boat move between stops, and what do you see along the way?

The Dahabiya sails down the Nile, passing Nubian islands, villages, and working fields on both banks. You'll see the captain in traditional Galabya dress, small fishing boats, and green fields. The boat stops at each temple site for exploration, and you spend time on the sun deck watching the river landscape.

What happens on the final day in Luxor?

After breakfast and disembarking, you'll visit the Valley of the Kings with its royal tombs, then Hatshepsut Temple, the Colossi of Memnon, Luxor Temple, and Karnak Temple Complex. No accommodation is provided after this day.