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

Luxor to Aswan by river, with ancient temples and tombs along the way

A 5-day private Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan with an English-speaking Egyptologist guide, four nights aboard a 5-star cruise ship, and guided visits to Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings, Temple of Hatshepsut, Temple of Horus at Edfu, Kom Ombo's dual temples, Aswan High Dam, and Philae Temple. Pickup from your Luxor accommodation or airport is included. Hot air balloon over the West Bank and a guided trip to Abu Simbel are optional add-ons. Meals, all transfers by air-conditioned vehicle, and entrance fees to sightseeing sites are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Pickup and Luxor East Bank Tour

• Pickup from Luxor accommodation or station
• Check in and freshen up on cruise
• Visit Karnak Temple
• Visit Luxor Temple and Obelisk of Ramses II
• Transfer back to Nile Cruise

Day 2: Balloon and Luxor West Bank Tour

• Optional hot air balloon ride
• Visit Valley of the Kings
• Visit Temple of Queen Hatshepsut
• See Colossi of Memnon
• Transfer back to cruise and start sailing

Day 3: Edfu and Kom Ombo Temples Visit

• Sail to Edfu
• Visit Temple of Horus
• Cross Esna Lock and sail to Kom Ombo
• Visit Kom Ombo Temple
• Continue sailing towards Aswan

Day 4: Abu Simbel and Aswan Tour

• Explore Abu Simbel (optional)
• Return to Aswan
• Visit Aswan High Dam
• Visit Philae Temple by motorboat
• Transfer back to Nile Cruise

Day 5: Checkout and Drop Off

• Breakfast and check out
• Drop off at Aswan hotel or airport

The experience

The cruise departs Luxor with pickup from your hotel, airport, or train station. Your first afternoon takes you to the East Bank, where you'll walk through Karnak Temple (the largest religious complex in ancient Egypt), then move to Luxor Temple and the Obelisk of Ramses II before returning to the ship for dinner. You spend four nights in a private cabin aboard the 5-star cruise vessel, with breakfast, lunch, and dinner served daily.

Day two crosses to the West Bank early, where the optional hot air balloon flight departs at sunrise if you've booked it. Whether you fly or not, you'll visit the Valley of the Kings to explore royal tombs, then the Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari, and the Colossi of Memnon before the ship begins sailing south. Days three and four are spent sailing and exploring: you stop at Edfu to see the Temple of Horus, one of the best-preserved temples on the Nile, then continue to Kom Ombo to visit its dual temples dedicated to Sobek and Horus. The ship crosses the Esna Lock and arrives in Aswan by evening.

In Aswan, you visit the High Dam, then take a motorboat to Philae Temple on its island, dedicated to Isis. If you've added Abu Simbel, a morning excursion takes you to the colossal rock temples before you return to the cruise. Your guide (fluent in English and available in Spanish, Italian, French and two other languages) accompanies all sightseeing. On the final morning, you check out after breakfast and are transferred to your Aswan hotel, airport, or onward destination.

What’s included

• Four nights' accommodation in a private cabin aboard a 5-star Nile cruise ship.
• all breakfast, lunch, and dinner onboard.
• guided tours of Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, Valley of the Kings, Temple of Hatshepsut, Temple of Horus at Edfu, Kom Ombo Temple, Aswan High Dam, and Philae Temple with an English-speaking Egyptologist guide.
• motorboat transfer to Philae Temple.
• cart ride at Edfu temple.
• pickup and drop-off from your Luxor accommodation, airport, or train station.
• all transfers by air-conditioned vehicle.
• entrance fees to all sightseeing sites.
• meet-and-assist service on arrival and departure.

Options for this experience

3 options

Tour without Abu Simbel and without balloonGuide in English · 10 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 14:00Pickup is included

Tour with Abu Simbel, but without balloonGuide in English or Arabic · 10 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 14:00Extra Abu Simbel tour: add Abu Simbel to the 5-day cruise tour; pickup is included

Tour with Abu Simbel and balloonGuide in English or Arabic · 10 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 14:00Abu Simbel and hot air balloon; pickup is included

You pick the guide language when booking.

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

Before you book

Days and timesMonday and Saturday10 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 14:00

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (11 to 98 years) · Child (4 to 10 years) · Under 4: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Arabic

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.You can choose from 22 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by Egypt Best Holidays

Is this one for you?Book this 5-day private cruise if you want a guided itinerary that covers Luxor's East and West Banks, Edfu, Kom Ombo, and Aswan with your own Egyptologist rather than joining a group tour.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Arabic.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 10 years). Under 4: they can't be included in the booking.

What's included in the different booking options?

The base tour covers the Nile cruise, all guided sightseeing at Karnak, Luxor Temple, Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Aswan High Dam, and Philae Temple; four nights' accommodation; all meals; and transfers. The hot air balloon over Luxor and the Abu Simbel excursion are optional add-ons you can select at checkout, or book the tour without either.

Does the price include entrance fees to the temples and sites?

Entrance fees to all the sightseeing attractions are included in your booking, so you won't need to pay separately at each temple or site.

Can I do the hot air balloon if the weather is bad?

The hot air balloon flight can be cancelled by Egypt's Ministry of Aviation due to poor weather conditions. If that happens, the balloon cost is refunded. The rest of the tour proceeds as scheduled.

What happens on the days the ship is sailing between stops?

You sail during the day between Luxor and Edfu, and again from Edfu toward Aswan, with guided stops at the Temple of Horus in Edfu and Kom Ombo Temple on the way. The ship crosses the Esna Lock, and you have time to relax onboard, enjoy meals, and take in the Nile Valley views from the deck.

Is pickup from Luxor airport included?

Yes, pickup is included from Luxor airport, your hotel, or the train station. You'll be transferred to the cruise ship to check in on day one.