4-Day Nile Cruise Aswan to Luxor: Abu Simbel & Five Temples

Abu Simbel's colossal statues are relocated monuments: moved stone by stone in the 1960s to save them from Lake Nasser.

A 4-day private Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor combines five-star accommodation with guided temple visits across southern Egypt's most important sites. You'll explore Philae and the Aswan High Dam on day one, fly to Abu Simbel and visit Kom Ombo on day two, tour Edfu Temple on day three, and spend day four on Luxor's West and East Banks: Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's Temple, Karnak, and Luxor Temple. A professional English-speaking Egyptologist leads all visits. Three nights, meals, transfers, and the Abu Simbel excursion are included aboard the ship.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Aswan Arrival and Sightseeing

• Visit Aswan High Dam
• Explore Philae Temple
• Board 5-star Nile Cruise

Day 2: Abu Simbel and Kom Ombo Temples

• Excursion to Abu Simbel Temples
• Visit Kom Ombo Temple

Day 3: Edfu Temple and Sailing to Luxor

• Tour Temple of Horus at Edfu
• Sail to Luxor

Day 4: Luxor West and East Bank Highlights

• Visit Valley of the Kings
• Explore Temple of Hatshepsut
• See Colossi of Memnon
• Tour Karnak Temple
• Visit Luxor Temple

The experience

Philae Temple sits on Agilkia Island near Aswan, its colonnades and hieroglyphic reliefs rebuilt in the 1960s after the Aswan High Dam flooded the original site. You'll visit on day one after embarkation, then tour the High Dam itself: a 111-meter structure completed in 1970 that created Lake Nasser, one of the world's largest artificial lakes. The ship becomes your base for three nights, with air-conditioned cabins and full-board meals included throughout.

Day two takes you by air-conditioned vehicle to Abu Simbel, where Ramses II's two massive rock temples dominate the landscape. The larger temple displays four colossal statues of the pharaoh. The smaller honors his queen Nefertari. Both were relocated in the 1960s to escape the rising waters: an engineering feat as dramatic as the temples themselves. After Abu Simbel, you return to the ship and sail to Kom Ombo, a dual-dedication temple honoring Sobek the crocodile god and Horus the falcon god, with a crocodile museum and a sacred well used to measure Nile flood levels.

Day three brings Edfu's Temple of Horus, one of the best-preserved ancient Egyptian temples, built between 237 and 57 BC with reliefs depicting the mythological battle between Horus and Set. The ship continues sailing toward Luxor. On day four, guided visits cover the Valley of the Kings (over 60 tombs including Tutankhamun's), the Colossi of Memnon (two 18-meter statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III), Hatshepsut's mortuary temple with its distinctive terraced design, and Karnak Temple: the largest temple complex in the ancient world with 134 giant columns in its Hypostyle Hall. You'll finish at Luxor Temple on the east bank before disembarking. Bottled water is provided during all guided tours. Your Egyptologist guide speaks English throughout.

What’s included

• Three nights aboard a 5-star Nile cruise with full-board meals.
• professional English-speaking Egyptologist guide for all temple visits.
• air-conditioned vehicle transfer to Abu Simbel and motorboat transfer to Philae Temple.
• Aswan pickup and Luxor drop-off.
• bottled water during tours.

Options for this experience

2 options

Nile Cruise, May to AugustGuide in English · Available from 8 Jan 2027Pickup, transfer and balloon pickup are included

Holiday aboard a deluxe Nile cruiseGuide in English · Available from 21 Dec · 08:00, 09:00, 10:00 and 11:00Includes pickup and transfer; pickup is included

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesMonday, Wednesday and FridayDepartures at 08:00, 09:00, 10:00 and 11:00Last departure this season: 31 Oct

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (13 to 70 years) · Child (5 to 12 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Paid on siteUS$ 80

Prices and times updated 13 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by My Egy Trip

Is this one for you?The fixed four-day itinerary packs five major temples and Abu Simbel into a single journey without rushing, so you see southern Egypt's most important sites while spending your nights aboard the ship rather than in hotels. Book this length if you want the full scope of the Nile's monuments in one trip. Shorter cruises skip Abu Simbel or Luxor's West Bank sites entirely.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 12 years); Infant (under 5): free.

What is Abu Simbel and why were the temples moved?

Abu Simbel is an archaeological site in southern Egypt featuring two massive rock temples built by Pharaoh Ramses II in the 13th century BC. The larger temple displays four colossal statues of the pharaoh, while the smaller honors his queen Nefertari. Both temples were relocated in the 1960s to save them from the rising waters of Lake Nasser created by the Aswan High Dam.

How many temples will I visit on this cruise?

You'll visit five major temples across the four days: Philae Temple near Aswan on day one; Abu Simbel and Kom Ombo on day two; Edfu's Temple of Horus on day three; and on day four in Luxor, you'll see the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's Temple, Karnak Temple, and Luxor Temple.

Is the Aswan High Dam included in the itinerary?

Yes, the Aswan High Dam is part of day one. You'll tour this monumental structure completed in 1970, which stands 111 meters high and created Lake Nasser, one of the world's largest artificial lakes. It plays a crucial role in Egypt's agriculture and energy production.

What does the 5-star Nile cruise accommodation include?

Your three nights aboard a 5-star Nile cruise ship include air-conditioned cabins and full-board meals throughout the journey. Bottled water is provided during all guided tours. The ship serves as your base as you sail from Aswan to Luxor, with guided temple visits arranged each day.

Will I need to arrange my own transportation to and from the ship?

No, Aswan pickup and Luxor drop-off are both included. An air-conditioned vehicle also transports you to Abu Simbel on day two. A professional English-speaking Egyptologist guide accompanies all visits.