Nile Cruise Aswan to Luxor: Private Egyptologist Tour

The Nile holds four thousand years of temples in a single stretch of river, and you see them from the water instead of a tour bus.

A 4-day private Nile River cruise from Aswan to Luxor aboard a 5-star deluxe ship, with an Egyptologist guide, all temple entries, transfers and three nights' full board included. You arrive in Aswan between 8–10am, visit Philae Temple and the High Dam the same day, then sail downriver stopping at Kom Ombo, Edfu and Karnak temples before disembarking in Luxor. The Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut Temple are optional early-morning add-ons on the final day. A private guide is available in English, Spanish or German, and the ship handles all meals, transport between sites and entry tickets.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and Aswan Sightseeing

• Visit Philae Temple by motor boat
• See Aswan High Dam
• Explore Unfinished Obelisk

Day 2: Sail to Kom Ombo and Optional Abu Simbel

• Sail to Kom Ombo
• Visit Kom Ombo Temple
• Optional tour to Abu Simbel Temples

Day 3: Edfu Temple and Luxor Temples

• Visit Edfu Temple
• Sail to Luxor
• Visit Karnak Temple
• Visit Luxor Temple

Day 4: Luxor Disembarkation and Valley of the Kings

• Disembark in Luxor
• Optional early morning tour
• Visit Valley of the Kings
• Visit Hatshepsut Temple
• See Colossi of Memnon

The experience

You arrive in Aswan in the morning and board the 5-star cruise the same day. Your first stop is Philae Temple, dedicated to the goddess Isis and built on an island. You take a motorboat across to reach it. The High Dam, built in 1961, and the Unfinished Obelisk (which would have been the world's largest if completed) round out the arrival day before you settle into your cabin for the first night.

The next two days are spent sailing south toward Luxor, with guided visits to the temples that line the Nile. Kom Ombo Temple sits on high ground overlooking the river and has two entrances, each dedicated to a different deity: the falcon-headed Horus and the crocodile-headed Sobek. Edfu holds the Temple of Horus, one of Egypt's best-preserved cult temples. Karnak Temple is the largest in the world. Your guide will point out the avenue of sphinxes, the hypostyle hall with 134 columns, and the ancient lake. Luxor Temple, built by pharaohs including Ramses and Hatshepsut, closes out the sailing portion of the tour. All entrance fees are included, and meals are served aboard the ship throughout.

On the final morning in Luxor, you disembark and visit the Valley of the Kings. Your guide will recommend the three best tombs to see, where the pharaohs' wall paintings remain vivid. Hatshepsut Temple, built by the queen who ruled Egypt alone for twenty years, and the Colossi of Memnon (remains of Amenhotep III's mortuary temple) complete the tour by midday. If you want to add the Abu Simbel Temples (the masterpieces of Ramses II and Queen Nefertari), that's an optional early-morning excursion with extra cost. A private Egyptologist guide accompanies you throughout, and all transfers between sites are by air-conditioned vehicle. Bottled water is provided daily, and a 24-hour emergency hotline is available for the duration of your stay.

What’s included

• Three nights aboard a 5-star deluxe Nile cruise with full board.
• private Egyptologist guide in English, Spanish or German.
• all entrance fees to Philae Temple, Aswan High Dam, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Karnak and Luxor temples.
• transfers by air-conditioned vehicle between all sites.
• bottled water daily.
• service charges and taxes.
• 24-hour emergency hotline.

Options for this experience

6 options

Group tour with a double roomGuide in English, Spanish or German · No fixed timeAir-conditioned cabin for two people, with a king-size or twin bed on request and a private bathroom with shower. Pickup is included.

Group tour with a triple roomGuide in English, Spanish or German · No fixed timeAir-conditioned triple cabin for three people, with twin or triple beds on request, a private bathroom and a private tour guide. Pickup is included.

Double room with private guideGuide in English, Spanish or German · No fixed timeAir-conditioned double cabin for two people, with a king-size bed or twin beds on request, a private bathroom and a private tour guide. Pickup is included.

See 3 more options

Triple room with private guideGuide in English, Spanish or German · No fixed timeTriple cabin for three people, with a king-size, twin or triple beds on request, a private bathroom and a private tour guide. Pickup is included.

Group tour with a single roomGuide in English, Spanish or German · No fixed timeAir-conditioned single cabin for one person, with a king-size bed, a private bathroom and a shared tour guide on board. Pickup is included.

Single room with private guideGuide in English, Spanish or German · No fixed timeAir-conditioned single cabin for one person, with a king-size bed, a private bathroom and a private tour guide on board. Pickup is included.

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

Before you book

Lasts 4d, runs Monday, Wednesday and Friday with no fixed time, from US$ 600 per person, with a live guide in English, Spanish and German, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesMonday, Wednesday and Friday

AgesAdult (12 to 90 years) · Child (5 to 11 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and German

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 10 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by Egypt Unlimited Tours

Is this one for you?Book the private guide option if you want the temples explained in depth and the pace set around your interests. The group tour option suits travelers who prefer to share costs and don't mind a fixed schedule with other guests. Choose the room type based on how much space you want: single cabins are compact, double and triple rooms offer more comfort for couples or families traveling together.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and German.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 11 years); Infant (under 5): free.

What's included in the 4-day Nile cruise price?

The cruise includes three nights aboard the 5-star deluxe ship with full board (all meals), a private Egyptologist guide, all entrance fees to the temples and sites visited, transfers by air-conditioned vehicle, bottled water daily, and service charges and taxes. Abu Simbel Temples and the Valley of the Kings are optional add-ons with separate cost.

When does the tour start and what happens on arrival day?

You arrive in Aswan between 8–10am on Monday, Wednesday or Friday, board the cruise immediately, and visit three sites the same day: Philae Temple (reached by motorboat), the Aswan High Dam, and the Unfinished Obelisk. You sleep aboard the ship that night.

Which temples do I visit during the Nile sailing?

You visit Kom Ombo Temple (dedicated to Horus and Sobek), the Temple of Horus at Edfu (one of Egypt's best-preserved temples), Karnak Temple (the world's largest, with 134 columns in its hypostyle hall), and Luxor Temple. All are included in the tour price and visited with your guide.

Can I visit the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut Temple?

Yes, both are optional add-ons available on the final morning in Luxor with an additional cost. Your guide will recommend the three best tombs in the Valley of the Kings to visit. The tour finishes by noon whether or not you add these sites.

What accommodation options are available?

You choose between a single, double or triple room aboard the 5-star cruise, and you can book with a private guide or join a group tour. All room types include full board and the same itinerary. The difference is your cabin type and whether your guide is exclusive to your party or shared with other guests.