4-day Nile cruise Aswan to Luxor: Valley of the Kings

Four days aboard a Nile ship, moving between eight ancient temples and monuments as the river carries you.

A 4-day Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor aboard a 5-star motor ship with private English-speaking Egyptologist guide, full board accommodation and all entrance fees included. The itinerary covers Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, the Colossi of Memnon, Philae Temple, the Aswan High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk, plus Kom Ombo Temple. Hotel pickup is included. Children from age 3 are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each9 stops

1. Karnak TempleEntry included3h
2. Luxor TempleEntry included2h
3. Valley of the KingsEntry included3h
4. Temple of HatshepsutEntry included2h
5. Colossi of Memnon1h
6. Philae TempleEntry included3h
7. Aswan High DamEntry included1h
8. Unfinished ObeliskEntry included1h
9. Kom Ombo TempleEntry included2h

Day 1: Explore Aswan and Kom Ombo

• Visit Philae Temples by water taxi
• See the High Dam
• Explore the Unfinished Obelisk
• Visit Kom Ombo Temple

Day 2: Discover Luxor East Bank

• Tour Karnak Temple complex
• Visit Luxor Temple

Day 3: Visit Luxor West Bank monuments

• Explore the Valley of the Kings
• Visit Hatshepsut Temple
• See the Colossi of Memnon

The experience

The cruise departs Aswan and moves north along the Nile, stopping at monuments on both banks over four days. You stay aboard the same 5-star ship throughout, which means no packing and unpacking between nights. The cabin becomes your base while the landscape and the temples change. Meals are served on board, and a private Egyptologist guide travels with you, explaining what you're standing in front of at each stop instead of reading from a printed sheet. All entrance fees are covered, so there's no separate ticket line at each site.

The west bank of Luxor holds the Valley of the Kings, where pharaohs were buried in rock tombs carved deep into the desert floor, and the Temple of Hatshepsut, built by the queen who ruled as pharaoh around 1473 BCE. The Colossi of Memnon (two limestone statues 60 feet tall and weighing 720 tons each) stand on the same bank as the first thing visitors see when crossing the river. On the east bank, Karnak Temple is a sprawling complex built over two thousand years, with halls, chapels, a sacred lake and massive stone pylons marking the entrances. Luxor Temple sits three kilometers south of Karnak, connected in ancient times by a processional way lined with sphinxes.

Between Luxor and Aswan, the ship stops at Kom Ombo Temple, which is unique for being dedicated to two gods at once (the crocodile-headed Sobek and the falcon-headed Horus) with the architecture mirrored to reflect both. In Aswan itself, you visit Philae Temple, which sits on an island and requires a water taxi to reach. It was moved to its current location after the High Dam was built to prevent it from being submerged. The Unfinished Obelisk remains in an ancient quarry, carved on three sides but still attached to bedrock on the fourth: a 140-foot block of red granite abandoned when a flaw was discovered, offering a rare glimpse into how ancient stonemasons worked.

What’s included

• Three nights' accommodation on a 5-star Nile cruise ship with full board.
• private English-speaking Egyptologist guide throughout the itinerary.
• entrance fees to Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, Colossi of Memnon, Philae Temple, Aswan High Dam, Unfinished Obelisk and Kom Ombo Temple.
• all transfers including hotel pickup.

Before you book

Lasts 4d, runs every day with no fixed time, from US$ 1,125 per person, with live guides in 5 languages, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Youth (6 to 11 years) · Child (3 to 5 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 5 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancy

Operated by Khaled Abbass Tour Guide

Is this one for you?Book this cruise if you're staying in Aswan or Luxor without a rental car. The ship handles all transport between sites, and the guide explains what you're seeing instead of you navigating on your own. The four-day length gives you time at each temple without rushing, and staying aboard means you unpack once.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

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

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (6 to 11 years); Child (3 to 5 years). Children under 3 can't be included in the booking.

What is the Unfinished Obelisk and why does it matter?

The Unfinished Obelisk is a 140-foot block of red granite in an Aswan quarry, carved on three sides but never completed after a flaw in the stone was found. It shows how difficult it was for ancient Egyptians to shape and move the massive stone blocks used in their monuments, and it has remained in place for thousands of years as a testament to that challenge.

How long does the cruise take and what does it include?

The 4-day cruise includes three nights aboard a 5-star ship with all meals, accommodation, entrance fees to every site, and a private English-speaking Egyptologist guide throughout. Hotel pickup is also included, so you don't need to arrange transport to the ship.

What are the Colossi of Memnon?

The Colossi of Memnon are two limestone statues on the west bank of Luxor, each standing 60 feet tall and weighing approximately 720 tons. They are the first monuments visitors see when crossing the Nile to the west bank, and they date to ancient times as guardians of a temple that no longer stands.

Which temples are on the east bank of Luxor?

Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple are both on the east bank. Karnak is a massive complex built over two millennia with halls, chapels and a sacred lake. Luxor Temple sits three kilometers to the south and was once connected to Karnak by a processional way lined with sphinxes.

What is Philae Temple and how do you reach it?

Philae Temple is a complex on Aglika Island just south of the Aswan High Dam. You reach it by water taxi, and the temple was carefully moved to its current location after the High Dam was built to prevent it from being permanently submerged.