Aswan to Luxor Nile Cruise: Abu Simbel, Valley of Kings & Temples

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/51

Duration3d

GroupPrivate

LanguagesEN

PickupAt your hotel

Ancient temples, sunrise over the Nile, stories from locals—three days I won’t forget

You’ll wake before sunrise for Abu Simbel’s giant statues, float down the Nile past green fields and villages, explore Edfu by carriage, then wander through tombs in the Valley of the Kings. With local guides sharing stories (and jokes), each stop feels alive—and you might find yourself lingering over temple carvings or laughing at your own attempts at Arabic.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Abu Simbel and Kom Ombo Temples

Pickup from hotel or train station
Drive to Abu Simbel Temple
Tour Abu Simbel Temple
Transfer to Nile cruise
Lunch aboard the cruise
Sail to Kom Ombo
Tour Kom Ombo Temple
Return to cruise for overnight

Day 2 — Edfu Temple Excursion

Arrive at Edfu early morning
Meet guide in ship lobby
Ride horse carriage to Edfu Temple
Tour Edfu Temple
Return to cruise
Enjoy meals aboard cruise

Day 3 — Luxor West and East Bank Tour

Breakfast on cruise
Check out and prepare bags
Pickup from cruise by driver
Visit Valley of the Kings
Tour Temple of Hatshepsut
See Colossi of Memnon
Cross to East Bank
Tour Karnak Temple
Visit Luxor Temple
Shop at papyrus, alabaster, and perfume shops
Transfer to hotel

The Experience

I’ll admit, I thought the Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor would just be about temples and old stones (and maybe too many facts). But it’s not like that. The first morning, our driver picked us up when it was still dark—Abu Simbel is hours away, so you kind of stumble into the van half-asleep. I remember the air was cool and dry, and our guide Amr handed out these sweet sesame bars for breakfast. He joked that even pharaohs needed snacks for long journeys. When we finally stood in front of those massive statues at Abu Simbel, I actually felt tiny. The carvings are deeper than photos show—my fingers traced some lines and the stone was surprisingly warm already by 8am.

Back on the cruise ship after lunch (the buffet had this eggplant dish I still think about), we drifted down the Nile toward Kom Ombo. There’s something weirdly peaceful about watching green fields slide past while you sip tea on deck. At Kom Ombo Temple, Amr pointed out crocodile mummies—he laughed when I jumped back a little (“Don’t worry, they’re very dead!”). That night, I sat on my little balcony listening to distant music from shore villages. You don’t really sleep early; there’s always something happening outside your window.

The next day started with a horse-drawn carriage ride to Edfu Temple. Our driver whistled some tune I didn’t recognize and tried teaching us a few words in Arabic (I think I butchered every one). Inside Edfu Temple, the light comes in sideways and makes all the dust sparkle—it’s almost quiet except for birds nesting high up in the columns. Afterward we just flopped back onto the boat couches until Luxor.

Last day was a blur: Valley of the Kings (the colors inside those tombs are unreal), Hatshepsut’s temple rising right out of stone cliffs, then Karnak and Luxor Temples with their forests of columns. Amr told stories about ancient graffiti—one pharaoh apparently doodled over another’s name out of spite. We ended wandering through papyrus shops and an alabaster workshop where a guy let me try carving (badly). It all feels like too much to fit into three days but somehow it works—you’re tired but kind of glowing inside by the end.

What’s included

Your journey includes hotel pickup in Aswan or transfer from train station, two nights’ accommodation on a 5-star full-board Nile cruise (all buffet meals except drinks), guided tours at every major site including Abu Simbel, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Karnak Temple, Hatshepsut Temple and more—with all ground transfers handled by local drivers before drop-off at your chosen spot in Luxor.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Egypt tours Gateway