Luxor to Aswan: 5-Day Nile Cruise & Valley of Kings

Five Days Sailing the Nile: Temples, Tombs & the Route Ancient Egyptians Knew

You fly into Luxor, board a 5-star Nile cruise, and spend four days visiting Valley of the Kings, Karnak, Hatshepsut, Edfu, Kom Ombo, and Philae temples with a private Egyptologist guide. Accommodation, meals, and all transport between sites are included. On day five you fly back from Aswan.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Arrival and East Bank Luxor Tour

• Meet at Luxor Airport
• Transfer to lodge and check-in
• Review itinerary with representatives
• Board Nile Cruise and have lunch
• Visit Luxor Temple on East Bank
• Explore Karnak Temples
• Return to cruise for dinner and rest

Day 2 — West Bank Luxor and Sailing

• Breakfast on cruise
• Visit Valley of the Kings
• Tour Queen Hatshepsut Temple
• See Colossi of Memnon
• Lunch aboard cruise
• Sail to Esna and then Edfu
• Overnight relaxation on cruise

Day 3 — Edfu and Kom Ombo Temples

• Breakfast on cruise
• Visit Horus Temple in Edfu
• Sail to Kom Ombo
• Visit Sobek Temple in Kom Ombo
• Lunch aboard cruise
• Sail to Aswan
• Dinner and overnight on cruise

Day 4 — Aswan and Philae Temple

• Breakfast on cruise
• Visit Agilika Island
• Lunch
• Tour Philae Temple
• Return to Nile cruise for rest

Day 5 — Departure from Aswan

• Breakfast at lodge
• Relax before departure
• Transfer to Aswan Airport
• Fly back home

The Experience

What does it actually feel like to stand in front of a temple that's been standing for three thousand years? That's the question that pulls you onto this Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan. You arrive at Luxor International Airport and a representative meets you there—no hunting for a taxi, no negotiation—then transfers you to the 5-star Lofian Nile Cruise. After check-in and a quick briefing on the itinerary, you're on the water by lunchtime. That first afternoon takes you to Luxor Temple on the East Bank, then to Karnak, where the scale of the columns hits you before the guide even starts talking. The temples here were built as tributes to Amon, his wife Mut, and their son Khonsu. By evening you're back on the cruise for dinner, and the Nile is still there, moving past your cabin.

Day two starts with breakfast aboard, then a full morning on the West Bank—Valley of the Kings first, where the royal tombs are carved into the rock face. You'll see the Hatshepsut Temple at Deir El Bahari, which is carved directly into the cliff itself, and the Colossi of Memnon, the last remnants of King Amenhotep III's mortuary temple. Lunch is back on the cruise, and then you sail south toward Edfu. Day three brings the Horus Temple at Edfu, considered the best-preserved temple in Egypt, followed by Kom Ombo and its temple to Sobek, the crocodile god. Your private Egyptologist guide—degree-qualified in Egyptology—walks you through the mythology and the architecture at each stop, so you're not just looking at stones; you're reading a story written in stone. The cruise continues to Aswan overnight.

On day four, you visit Agilika Island and the Temple of Philae, built during the Greco-Roman period and dedicated to Isis. Lunch is included, and you have time to absorb the quieter pace of Aswan before returning to the cruise. Day five is a wind-down: breakfast, some free time to rest, then transfer to Aswan Airport for your flight home. The whole journey is five nights aboard the cruise on a full-board basis—all meals included, all entrance fees covered, all transportation in private air-conditioned vehicles. No surprises at the end, no hidden costs.

What’s included

Your five days include airport pickup at Luxor, five nights aboard the 5-star Lofian Nile Cruise with all meals, a private Egyptologist guide for the entire journey, entrance fees to Luxor Temple, Karnak, Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, Edfu's Horus Temple, Kom Ombo Temple, and Philae Temple, transportation in private air-conditioned vehicles between all sites, and a transfer to Aswan Airport on the final day.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by LuxorPrivateTour

Is this one for you?Book this if you want the major temples between Luxor and Aswan in one continuous journey without arranging flights between cities, booking separate hotels, or timing your own site visits—the cruise schedule and included guide handle all of that.

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Top questions

What's included in the Nile cruise price?

Five nights aboard the 5-star Lofian Nile Cruise on a full-board basis (all meals), private Egyptologist guide, all entrance fees to temples and sites, and transportation in air-conditioned vehicles between the airport, cruise, and attractions.

How long is the Luxor to Aswan cruise?

Five days and four nights. You arrive in Luxor on day one, sail south visiting temples on days two through four, and fly out from Aswan on day five.

Do I need to arrange my own flights to Luxor?

Yes, you book your own flights. A representative meets you at Luxor International Airport and transfers you to the cruise, regardless of your arrival time.

Which temples are included in the itinerary?

Luxor Temple, Karnak Temples, Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, Colossi of Memnon, Horus Temple (Edfu), Kom Ombo Temple, and Philae Temple.

Is the cruise accessible for people with mobility concerns?

Yes. The cruise and all areas are wheelchair accessible, transportation is wheelchair accessible, and the tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels.

What do children pay?

Children aged 3–11 pay 50% of the adult service price. Infants can sit on an adult's lap, and specialized infant seats are available.

Is the guide included?

Yes. A private Egyptologist guide with a degree in Egyptology is with you throughout the tour.

What meals are provided?

All meals are included aboard the cruise on a full-board basis. Lunch is also provided during excursions on days two through four.