Aswan to Luxor: 4-Day Nile Cruise with Valley of the Kings

Summary

Philae’s carvings, Kom Ombo’s crocodiles and Karnak’s columns

You’ll travel between Aswan & Luxor by Nile cruise with all entry fees included, exploring ancient sites like Philae Temple and Kom Ombo with a local guide who brings history alive. Walk among Karnak’s columns and descend into tombs at the Valley of the Kings — moments that linger long after you leave Egypt.

What’s the experience like?

Someone waves a sign with my name at Aswan airport — I’m half asleep but it feels oddly personal, like being picked up by an old friend. Our guide, Mahmoud, grins and asks if we’re ready for “real Egyptian coffee” (I wasn’t, but I said yes anyway). The first stop is Philae Temple. We cross to Agilika Island by boat; the water smells faintly metallic and there’s this quiet hum from the engine that makes conversation drift in and out. The temple itself is covered in centuries of stories — Mahmoud points out where Isis’s name was chiseled away by later rulers. I run my fingers over the stone; it’s warm from the sun and rougher than I expected. Lunch on the boat tastes like cumin and fresh tomato, and then there’s that slow afternoon ride on a felucca, where everything feels slower still.

The next morning starts early — I mean really early — if you want to see Abu Simbel (we did). Three hours each way by car sounds brutal but watching sunrise over empty desert is sort of hypnotic. The twin temples are enormous, almost too much for my brain to process. Back on board, we float toward Kom Ombo. There’s something odd about seeing mummified crocodiles behind glass while real ones blink lazily on the riverbank outside. Edfu comes after; it blurs a little in memory except for a moment when a local kid tries to sell me postcards in five languages (I bought two just because he made me laugh).

Luxor arrives with more noise and color than I expected — horns honking, someone selling dates from a cart near the dock. Walking through Karnak Temple is surreal: those columns are so tall they make you feel small in a good way. Mahmoud tells us how pharaohs would carve their names here hoping for immortality; I wonder what will last longer, these stones or our photos. At Luxor Temple later that evening, golden light slides across statues of Ramses II and suddenly it hits me how many feet have passed this way before mine.

The last morning is quieter. We cross to the west bank for the Valley of the Kings — dry air, pale cliffs rising up like ancient sentinels. Inside one tomb (not Tutankhamun’s — extra ticket), colors still glow after thousands of years; it smells faintly musty but not unpleasant. There’s this hush underground that makes you whisper without thinking about it. On the drive back to Luxor airport I keep replaying those moments: sandstone under my palm at Philae, laughter over strong coffee, that weird sense of time folding in on itself along the Nile.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Arrive Aswan and explore Philae

• Arrive Aswan Airport and meet guide
• Visit Temple of Philae on Agilika Island
• Visit granite quarries and Unfinished Obelisk
• Board Nile cruise boat and enjoy lunch
• Felucca ride around Aswan Islands at sunset

Day 2 — Optional Abu Simbel and Kom Ombo visit

• Optional early drive to Abu Simbel temples
• Cruise to Kom Ombo
• Visit Kom Ombo Temple and crocodile mummies
• Cruise to Edfu

Day 3 — Visit Temple of Horus and Luxor temples

• Visit Temple of Horus at Edfu
• Cruise to Luxor
• Visit Karnak Temple and Great Hypostyle Hall
• Visit Temple of Luxor and its statues

Day 4 — Explore West Bank and Valley of the Kings

• Visit Colossi of Memnon
• Visit Temple of Hatshepsut
• Visit Valley of the Kings and Tutankhamun tomb
• Transfer to Luxor airport

Top questions

How long does the Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor take?

The cruise lasts 4 days and 3 nights between Aswan and Luxor.

Are entrance fees included in this tour?

Yes, all entrance fees for sites listed in the itinerary are included.

Is pickup provided at Aswan airport?

Yes, pickup at Aswan Airport is included at arrival.

What temples will I visit during this tour?

You’ll visit Philae Temple, Kom Ombo Temple, Edfu Temple (Temple of Horus), Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple and Valley of the Kings.

Is Abu Simbel included in this itinerary?

An optional day trip to Abu Simbel is available for an extra fee.

What meals are included on board?

Your cruise includes full board: breakfast, lunch and dinner each day.

What kind of accommodation is provided?

You’ll stay three nights aboard a 5-star standard Nile cruise ship.

Is this tour suitable for all fitness levels?

Yes, it’s suitable for all physical fitness levels according to tour info.

What’s included

Your journey includes airport pickup in Aswan, entrance fees for every site listed on your itinerary, three nights’ accommodation aboard a 5-star standard Nile cruise ship with all meals provided daily (breakfast, lunch and dinner), guided excursions led by an English-speaking local expert throughout your trip as well as comfortable air-conditioned transport for every transfer until your drop-off at Luxor airport.