4-Day Dahabiya Nile Cruise Aswan to Luxor: Sail & Sightsee

Sleep aboard a colonial-style sailboat while the Nile unfolds around you

A 4-day Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor aboard a dahabiya (a large sailing vessel with private cabins, ensuite bathrooms and a personal chef) combines three nights afloat with guided sightseeing at Valley of the Kings, Temple of Hatshepsut, Colossi of Memnon, Kom Ombo Temple, Temple of Horus, Philae Temple and Aswan High Dam. Hotel or port pickup is included. A qualified Egyptologist guide leads the tours in English or Arabic.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Aswan sightseeing and embarkation

• Pick up from Aswan hotel or port
• Guided tour of Aswan including Philae Temple and High Dam
• Board dahabiya sailing boat
• Enjoy lunch on board
• Overnight aboard dahabiya in Kom Ombo

Day 2: Kom Ombo temple visit and sailing

• Guided tour of Kom Ombo Temple
• Sail toward Edfu
• Dinner and overnight aboard dahabiya in Edfu

Day 3: Edfu temple visit and sailing

• Guided tour of Temple of Horus in Edfu
• Overnight aboard dahabiya

Day 4: Luxor monuments and departure

• Check out of dahabiya
• Guided tour of Luxor monuments including Karnak Temples
• Visit Valley of the Kings tombs
• Visit Temple of Queen Hatshepsut
• Visit Colossi of Memnon
• Drop off at Luxor hotel or port

The experience

You arrive in Aswan and get picked up from your hotel or port, then spend the afternoon touring Aswan Market before boarding your dahabiya for lunch. The boat becomes your home for the next three nights as it sails south toward Luxor at a pace that lets you watch the river landscape without rushing. Each cabin has air-conditioning, a private ensuite bathroom and electrical outlets. The sundeck is where most travelers spend their free hours, watching feluccas pass and the riverbank shift.

The guided portion starts the next morning at Philae Temple, built in honor of the goddess Isis, followed by the Aswan High Dam: an engineering barrier built in the 1960s to control the Nile's annual floods. From there the dahabiya sails to Kom Ombo, where you walk through the Temple of Sobek, dedicated to the crocodile god, then continue to Edfu and the Temple of Horus, one of the best-preserved pharaonic temples on the river. Meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) are prepared daily by your personal chef in the boat's kitchen. Vegetarian options are available if you request them at booking.

On the final morning you disembark at Luxor for a full guided tour of the West Bank monuments. You visit the Valley of the Kings, where you enter four royal tombs including those of Ramses III, Ramses IV and Merneptah. The Tomb of Tutankhamun requires a separate entrance fee (300 EGP). You then see the Temple of Hatshepsut, the only woman pharaoh to rule Egypt, and the Colossi of Memnon: two colossal statues from the era of King Amenhotep III. After the tour concludes, you're dropped at any Luxor hotel or port. An optional early-morning trip to Abu Simbel, the two massive rock temples carved by Ramses II, is available on the first day at additional cost.

What’s included

• Hotel or port pickup in Aswan.
• 3 nights accommodation in a private cabin with ensuite bathroom.
• all meals daily (breakfast, lunch, dinner) prepared by your personal chef.
• guided tours at Philae Temple, Aswan High Dam, Kom Ombo Temple, Temple of Horus, Valley of the Kings, Temple of Hatshepsut and Colossi of Memnon.
• qualified Egyptologist guide in English or Arabic.
• all taxes, fees and handling charges.

Information

Lasts 4d, runs every day at 07:30 and 20:00, from US$ 2,500 per person, with a live guide in English and Arabic and as a private tour.

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:30 and 20:00Another time? ›

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and ArabicOther languages ›

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 6 pickup points.

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Under 4: can't be booked

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Luxor Travels

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English or Arabic, so choose based on which language you follow comfortably. The Egyptologist commentary is the same either way, and both work equally well for families and groups traveling together.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Arabic.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years). Children under 4 can't be included in the booking.

What's included in the 4-day dahabiya cruise from Aswan to Luxor?

The cruise includes 3 nights accommodation in a private cabin with ensuite bathroom; all meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) prepared by your personal chef; hotel or port pickup in Aswan; guided tours at Philae Temple, Aswan High Dam, Kom Ombo Temple, Temple of Horus and the full Luxor West Bank itinerary; and a qualified Egyptologist guide in English or Arabic. Gratuities are not included.

Can I visit the Tomb of Tutankhamun in the Valley of the Kings?

Yes, the Tomb of Tutankhamun is on the itinerary, but entry costs 300 EGP and is optional. You pay it separately at the site. The tomb holds the royal mummy of King Tutankhamun, the young pharaoh who ascended the throne at age 10 and died at 19.

Is the Abu Simbel trip included, or is it extra?

Abu Simbel is optional and costs extra. It's an early-morning excursion on the first day to the archaeological site south of Aswan, where two massive temples carved into the rock by King Ramses II in 1250 BC sit inside a mountain: the Great Temple and the Little Temple, with six statues at the entrance.

What are the cabins like on the dahabiya?

Each cabin is privately furnished in colonial style with air-conditioning, electrical outlets and an ensuite bathroom that includes a toilet, wash basin and shower. The boat also has a large sundeck for lounging and watching the Nile scenery, and a fully equipped kitchen where your personal chef prepares meals daily.

What happens on the final day in Luxor?

After checking out of the dahabiya, you're transported to Luxor for a guided tour of the West Bank monuments: the Valley of the Kings (where you visit four royal tombs), the Temple of Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon. The tour concludes with drop-off at any Luxor hotel or port of your choice.