4-Day Nile Cruise Aswan to Luxor: Abu Simbel included

Rock-cut temples of Abu Simbel at dawn, then four days sailing the Nile between ancient sites.

A 4-day shared Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor with Abu Simbel tour, three nights' full-board accommodation, and guided visits to Kom Ombo Temple, Edfu Temple, the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple and Karnak Temple. An English-speaking Egyptologist leads the tour. Transfers at the start and end are included. Day one covers Aswan's High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk and Philae Temple before check-in. Day two begins at 4:30 am for the Abu Simbel excursion, then continues to Kom Ombo. Days three and four move through Edfu and Luxor's West and East Banks.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Aswan sightseeing and cruise check-in

• Visit Aswan High Dam
• Explore Unfinished Obelisk
• Boat ride to Philae Temple
• Check-in to Nile cruise and lunch

Day 2: Abu Simbel tour and Kom Ombo visit

• Early morning transfer to Abu Simbel
• Tour Abu Simbel temples
• Return to cruise for lunch
• Sail to Kom Ombo
• Visit Kom Ombo Temple
• Dinner on board and sail to Edfu

Day 3: Edfu Temple and Nile sailing

• Breakfast on board
• Horse carriage ride in Edfu
• Visit Temple of Horus
• Return to cruise and lunch
• Afternoon tea and sail

Day 4: Luxor West and East Bank tour

• Breakfast and check out
• Visit Valley of the Kings
• Tour Temple of Hatshepsut
• Photo stop at Memnon statues
• Visit Karnak Temple
• Transfer to Luxor hotel or airport

The experience

The Abu Simbel temples (rock-cut monuments built for Ramesses II and Queen Nefertari) anchor this cruise as its centerpiece. You leave the boat around 4:30 am in a small shared group, arriving by 8 am to walk through the colossal facade carved directly into the mountainside. The guide explains how the temples were relocated to higher ground to escape the rising waters of Lake Nasser, a feat of modern engineering matched only by the ancient craftsmanship on display. You're back aboard by noon for lunch and the sail south.

The boat itself is your base: a 5-star Nile cruise where you sleep in a cabin, eat all meals on board, and wake to the river passing outside your window. Between Aswan and Luxor, the itinerary unfolds in sequence: Philae Temple on day one (reached by motorboat across the Nile to the island of Agilkia), then Kom Ombo's dual temple to Sobek and Horus, then Edfu, where you ride a horse-drawn carriage through town to reach the Temple of Horus, one of Egypt's best-preserved monuments. Each site has a licensed Egyptologist guide who narrates the history and the hieroglyphics. The boat handles the logistics of moving you between them.

Luxor occupies the final day. After breakfast and checkout, you cross to the West Bank to visit the Valley of the Kings (where pharaohs carved tombs into the mountains), and the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut at El Deir El Bahari. A photo stop at the Colossi of Memnon follows before you return to the East Bank for Karnak Temple, built over two millennia ago across 63 acres of columns and obelisks. A transfer to your hotel, airport or railway station ends the tour by mid-afternoon.

What’s included

• Transfers to and from the cruise at the start and end of the trip.
• three nights' accommodation in a cabin on a 5-star Nile cruise.
• all meals on board on a full-board basis.
• Abu Simbel tour in a small shared group.
• guided visits to Philae Temple, Kom Ombo Temple, Edfu Temple, the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple and Karnak Temple.
• English-speaking Egyptologist guide.
• meet and assist by English-speaking representatives.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day except Saturday5 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 11:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (11 and older) · Child (5 to 10 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$ 100

Prices and times updated 12 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Egypt tours Gateway

Is this one for you?Book this shared cruise to visit all major temples from Aswan to Luxor with your guide leading each stop as the boat carries you overnight between sites, or choose a private cruise if you want the same itinerary without sharing cabins and meals.

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Top questions

Can children come?

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

What time does the Abu Simbel excursion start, and how long is the drive from the cruise?

The guide picks you up around 4:30 am from the boat for the Abu Simbel tour. You arrive at the temples by 8 am and return to the cruise by noon for lunch, allowing time to rest before the afternoon sail to Kom Ombo.

Are meals included while I'm on the cruise?

Yes, full-board meals are included throughout the four days: breakfast, lunch, dinner and afternoon tea are served on board. Beverages are not included in the price.

What is the Unfinished Obelisk, and why is it incomplete?

The Unfinished Obelisk sits in Aswan's ancient granite quarries and was abandoned mid-carving due to a crack in the stone. It offers a rare look at how ancient Egyptian builders shaped these massive monuments and the techniques they used to extract them from the bedrock.

Do I need to book the hot air balloon ride in Luxor, or is it part of the tour?

The hot air balloon ride is optional and not included in the base price. You can add it at checkout if you want an aerial view of Luxor's sites.

What language does the guide speak?

Your Egyptologist guide speaks English throughout the tour and leads all guided visits to the temples and archaeological sites.