4-Day Nile Cruise Aswan to Luxor: Private Egyptologist Guide

Follow the Nile downstream with a guide who knows every temple's story

A 4-day Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor aboard a luxury ship with a private Egyptologist guide, all meals and transfers included. You visit the High Dam and Philae Temple in Aswan, sail past Kom Ombo and Edfu temples, cross to Luxor's west bank to walk the Valley of the Kings and Temple of Hatshepsut, then finish at Karnak Temple. The ship is your accommodation for three nights. A private guide travels with you the entire way.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and Aswan sightseeing

• Visit Aswan High Dam
• Tour Philae Temple by motor boat
• Enjoy Felucca sailing at sunset
• Lunch on board the cruise
• Dinner on board the cruise

Day 2: Kom Ombo and Edfu temples

• Visit Kom Ombo Temple
• Tour Temple of Horus at Edfu
• Lunch on board the cruise
• Dinner on board the cruise

Day 3: Luxor tombs and temples

• Explore Valley of the Kings tombs
• Visit Temple of Hatshepsut
• See Colossi of Memnon
• Tour Luxor Temple at night
• Meals on board the cruise

Day 4: Karnak Temple and departure

• Visit Karnak Temple
• Breakfast on board the cruise
• Transfer to Luxor airport or hotel

The experience

The cruise leaves Aswan and moves downstream toward Luxor, stopping at temples that line the river. On day one you see the Aswan High Dam, built in 1961, then take a motorboat to Philae Temple on an island dedicated to the goddess Isis. At sunset you sail on a felucca, a traditional wooden sailboat, across the Nile. The ship is your base for the night, with all meals on board.

Day two brings Kom Ombo Temple, which stands on high ground overlooking the river and has a rare double entrance: one side dedicated to the falcon-headed god Horus, the other to Sobek, the crocodile god. You then visit the Temple of Horus at Edfu, considered the best-preserved temple in Egypt, where your guide explains the myth of Horus avenging his father Osiris. Lunch is included before you sail back toward Luxor.

On day three, you cross to Luxor's west bank to enter the Valley of the Kings, where pharaohs were buried. Your guide will recommend the three tombs with the best-preserved wall colors to visit. You then see the Temple of Hatshepsut, built by the queen who ruled Egypt alone for twenty years, and the Colossi of Memnon, the remains of an ancient mortuary temple. That evening you return to Luxor Temple, built by pharaohs including Ramses and Hatshepsut and dedicated to the sun god Amun Re. On the final morning you visit Karnak Temple, the largest temple in the world, where you walk the avenue of sphinxes built by Ramses II and see the hypostyle room with 134 columns and the largest lake of ancient Egypt. After the tour, transfers take you to Luxor airport or your hotel.

What’s included

• Three nights aboard a 5-star luxury Nile cruise with all meals and a party.
• private Egyptologist guide for the entire 4 days.
• all entrance fees to nine temples and sites.
• transfers by air-conditioned vehicle throughout.
• bottled water daily.
• 24-hour emergency hotline.
• service charge and taxes.

Options for this experience

2 options

Double or twin roomUp to 15 per booking · Guide in 5 languages · No fixed timeAir-conditioned cabin for two with a king-size or twin bed on request, a private bathroom with shower, and pickup is included with the private guide

Single private room for one personUp to 1 per booking · Guide in 5 languages · No fixed timeAir-conditioned single cabin for one person with a king-size bed, a private bathroom, and a private tour guide; pickup is included

You pick the guide language when booking.

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 Friday

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (1 to 2 years): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 5 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 72 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Mo Luxury Tours

Is this one for you?Book the double or twin room if you're traveling as a couple or with a companion. The single private room works for solo travelers who prefer their own cabin. Either way, the private guide means you move at your own pace through each temple rather than following a group schedule.

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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 (3 to 11 years); Infant (1 to 2 years): free.

What does the private guide do on this cruise?

Your private Egyptologist guide travels with you throughout the 4 days, explaining the history and mythology of each temple and tomb you enter. The guide is included in the price and speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French or one additional language depending on your choice at checkout.

What is Philae Temple and why do you take a boat to it?

Philae Temple is dedicated to Isis, the goddess of magic and love in Egyptian mythology. It sits on an island in the Nile, so you travel by motorboat to reach it during your first day in Aswan.

How many tombs do you enter in the Valley of the Kings?

Your guide will recommend the three tombs with the best-preserved wall colors for you to visit, so you see the most impressive examples of pharaonic burial art without spending the entire day underground.

What meals and drinks are provided during the cruise?

All meals are included on board the 5-star luxury ship for the three nights you stay there. Bottled water is provided daily (two small bottles per person each day), and a party is held during the cruise.

What happens on the last day?

On day four you disembark and visit Karnak Temple, the world's largest temple complex, where you see the avenue of sphinxes, the hypostyle hall with 134 columns, and the ancient swimming pool. After the tour, a transfer takes you to Luxor airport or your hotel in Luxor.