5-Day Nile Cruise Luxor to Aswan: Temple Tour with Guide

Luxor to Aswan by cruise ship: five temples, an Egyptologist, and four nights on the Nile

This 5-day Nile River cruise departs Luxor and sails south to Aswan, stopping at eight major temples along the way. You stay aboard a five-star cruise ship with full board accommodations, guided excursions led by an Egyptologist, and all transfers included. The itinerary covers Karnak and Luxor temples on the first day, then the West Bank sites of Hatshepsut and the Valley of the Kings, followed by Edfu's Temple of Horus, Kom Ombo Temple, Philae Temple near Aswan, and an optional early-morning trip to Abu Simbel. Bottled water is provided during outings, and a folkloric show runs most evenings aboard ship.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrive and Luxor East Bank Tour

• Pick up from hotel or airport
• Transfer to Nile cruise and check-in
• Lunch on board
• Visit Karnak temples
• Visit Luxor temple
• Dinner on board
• Folkloric show onboard
• Overnight on Nile cruise in Luxor

Day 2: Luxor West Bank and Cruise to Edfu

• Breakfast on board
• Visit Colossi of Memnon
• Visit Temple of Hatshepsut
• Visit Valley of the Kings
• Return to cruise
• Cruise navigation to Edfu via Esna Lock
• Lunch on board
• Afternoon tea on sundeck
• Dinner on board
• Overnight on Nile cruise in Edfu

Day 3: Edfu and Kom Ombo Temples

• Visit Edfu Temple
• Relax on sundeck during sailing
• Lunch on board
• Afternoon tea on sundeck
• Visit Kom Ombo Temple
• Dinner on board
• Galabyia party onboard
• Overnight on Nile cruise in Aswan

Day 4: Aswan Day Tour

• Breakfast on board
• Visit Philae Temple by motorboat
• Drive back to Nile cruise
• Lunch on board
• Dinner on board
• Folkloric show onboard
• Optional Nubian Village tour
• Overnight on Nile cruise in Aswan

Day 5: Check Out and Optional Abu Simbel Tour

• Breakfast on board
• Check out from cruise
• Optional early morning Abu Simbel tour
• Drive back to Aswan
• Transfer to airport, railway station, or hotel

The experience

Luxor is where the cruise begins. A representative meets you at your hotel, airport or railway station and transfers you to the ship before lunch. After boarding, you visit Karnak (a sprawling complex of sanctuaries, kiosks, pylons and obelisks built over centuries for the Theban gods), then Luxor Temple, largely constructed by Pharaoh Amenhotep III and completed by Ramses II. Dinner and a folkloric show happen on board.

Day two takes you across the Nile to the West Bank. You start at the Colossi of Memnon, two 60-foot quartzite statues of Amenhotep III standing at the entrance to his mortuary temple, then move to Hatshepsut's temple, which rises in terraces from the desert floor and merges with the limestone cliffs behind it. The Valley of the Kings comes next (the burial ground of pharaohs including Ramesses III and VI) before the ship sails south toward Edfu, passing through the Esna Lock. You can relax on the sundeck watching the Nile landscape while afternoon tea is served.

Days three and four are temple days. Edfu holds the Temple of Horus, the most preserved temple in Egypt, built between 237 and 57 BC during the Ptolemaic period. The ship then sails to Kom Ombo, where a temple dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek and the falcon god Horus stands directly on the riverbank: a striking stop between Edfu and Aswan. A Galabyia Party (traditional dress celebration) takes place on board that evening. On the final full day in Aswan, you take a small motorboat to Philae Temple on Aglika Island, a Greco-Roman sanctuary to the goddess Isis that was relocated to save it from the High Dam's waters. An optional tour to the Nubian Village is also available.

The final morning offers an optional early departure (around 4:30 AM) for Abu Simbel, the rock-cut temples of Ramesses II and his queen Nefertari, considered masterpieces of ancient Egypt. After breakfast and checkout, you're transferred to Aswan airport, railway station or your hotel. An Egyptologist guides all excursions outside the ship, and all transfers by air-conditioned vehicle are included. Vegetarian meals can be arranged at booking.

What’s included

• Four nights' accommodation on a five-star Nile cruise ship on a full-board basis.
• all meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) plus afternoon tea on the sundeck.
• all transfers by air-conditioned vehicle from your arrival point to the ship and from the ship to your departure point.
• guided excursions to Karnak, Luxor, Hatshepsut, Valley of the Kings, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae temples.
• an Egyptologist guide during all excursions.
• bottled water during outings away from the ship.
• folkloric shows and a Galabyia Party on board.
• meet and greet service at arrival and departure.

Options for this experience

3 options

A five-day Nile cruise travelling from Luxor to AswanGuide in English, Spanish or Portuguese · 7 departure times: the first at 00:00, the last at 11:00Pickup is included

Christmas and New Year sailingGuide in English, Spanish or Portuguese · Available from 21 Dec · 7 departure times: the first at 00:00, the last at 11:00Christmas and New Year sailing, pickup is included

Easter Nile CruiseGuide in English, Spanish or Portuguese · Available from 20 Mar 2027Easter Nile Cruise, includes pickup

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, Thursday and Saturday6 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 11:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (12 to 95 years) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3)

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 15 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Adoro viajar a Egipto

Is this one for you?Choose this if you want temples explained by an Egyptologist while sleeping aboard the ship between Luxor and Aswan. You experience the Nile as your base, not just your transport.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What temples do I actually visit on this 5-day cruise?

The itinerary covers eight major temples: Karnak and Luxor on the first day in Luxor; Hatshepsut and the Valley of the Kings on the West Bank; Edfu's Temple of Horus; Kom Ombo Temple; Philae Temple near Aswan; and Abu Simbel (optional on the final morning). An Egyptologist leads you through each one.

Is the ship included, or do I book accommodation separately?

The five-star cruise ship is your accommodation for all four nights. Full board means breakfast, lunch and dinner are served on board, plus afternoon tea on the sundeck. You sleep on the ship each night as it sails between stops.

What happens on the day I arrive in Luxor?

A representative picks you up from your hotel, airport or railway station and transfers you to the ship. Check-in is at noon, but if you arrive early (7 to 10 AM is preferred), the tour can start right away so you don't wait in the lobby. You'll visit Karnak and Luxor temples after lunch, then have dinner and a folkloric show on board.

Do I need to arrange my own transport between sites?

No. All transfers by air-conditioned vehicle are included, whether moving between the ship and temples or getting to your final destination. The ship itself is your transport between Luxor and Aswan, sailing overnight so you wake at each new stop.

Is Abu Simbel included, or is it extra?

Abu Simbel is optional and requires an early 4:30 AM departure on the final morning. It's a separate excursion you can add at checkout. If you skip it, you have breakfast on board and check out at a regular time.

What's the difference between the three purchase options?

All three options follow the same 5-day itinerary and ship. The standard option runs year-round. The Christmas and New Year option (December 20 to January 7) and the Easter option carry an additional fee payable on arrival due to peak-season demand, but the tour itself is identical.