Private Nile Cruise Aswan to Luxor: 4 Days with Temples

Red granite obelisks, temple carvings and the Nile's west bank unfold from your ship's deck.

A private 4-day guided Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor aboard a 5-star ship, with an English-speaking Egyptologist, all meals, and visits to Philae Temple, the High Dam, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Valley of the Kings, Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, Colossi of Memnon, Karnak and Luxor Temple. The ship's fixed schedule and determined landing points mean you step ashore every few hours to walk temple grounds and tombs without organizing transport or entry yourself. Pickup from Aswan and all fees are included; you choose between single, double or triple cabin accommodation.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Aswan City Tour and Nile Cruise

• Arrive in Aswan and meet guide
• Transfer to Nile cruise ship and check in
• Have lunch on board
• Visit The High Dam
• Sail to Temple of Philae by motor boat
• Visit The Unfinished Obelisk
• Return to ship and leisure time

Day 2 — Kom Ombo and Edfu Temples

• Breakfast on board
• Visit Temple of Kom Ombo with Egyptologist
• Lunch on sun deck of ship
• Chariot ride to Temple of Horus in Edfu
• Return to ship and relax
• Dinner on board
• Attend Egyptian Folkloric Show

Day 3 — Luxor West Bank Tour

• Breakfast on board
• Visit Valley of the Kings
• Visit Temple of Queen Hatshepsut
• Visit Colossi of Memnon
• Return to ship for lunch
• Afternoon at leisure
• Dinner and overnight on cruise

Day 4 — Luxor East Bank Tour and Check Out

• Breakfast and check out
• Visit Karnak Temples Complex
• Visit Luxor Temple
• Transfer by private van to location in Luxor

The Experience

The cruise departs Aswan with lunch already served on board. Your first afternoon takes you to the High Dam, built in 1960 to control the Nile's flood, then by motorboat to Philae Temple, dedicated to the goddess Isis during the Graeco-Roman period. You'll also visit the Unfinished Obelisk, carved from red granite and left incomplete in ancient times. The evening is free to walk Aswan's market or rest on deck.

Day two brings an Egyptologist guide who leads you through Kom Ombo Temple, where two gods—Sobek and Haroeris—were worshipped side by side. After lunch on the sun deck watching the Nile's landscape pass, you ride by chariot to Edfu's Temple of Horus, one of Egypt's best-preserved temples. An Egyptian folkloric show runs on board that evening. Day three focuses on Luxor's west bank: the Valley of the Kings, where pharaohs were buried; Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, carved directly into the mountain; and the Colossi of Memnon, statues of King Amenhotep III. You return to the ship for lunch and have the afternoon free.

On the final morning, after breakfast, you check out and tour Luxor's east bank—the Karnak Temples Complex, the largest temple construction in the world, and Luxor Temple, completed by Ramses II. A private air-conditioned van then transfers you to your location in Luxor, where the tour ends. Throughout the cruise you have one bottle of water per day, all meals on board, and an English-speaking representative meets you on arrival in Aswan.

What’s included

• Private Egyptologist guide in English.
• all meals on the cruise ship.
• three nights' accommodation in your chosen cabin (single, double or triple) on a 5-star Nile cruise.
• entry to Philae Temple, High Dam, Unfinished Obelisk, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Valley of the Kings, Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, Colossi of Memnon, Karnak Temples and Luxor Temple.
• chariot ride to Edfu Temple.
• private air-conditioned van pickup in Aswan and transfer to your location in Luxor.
• one bottle of water per day.
• Egyptian folkloric show on board.
• meet-and-assist by English-speaking representatives.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Luxor and Aswan Travel

Is this one for you?Choose this cruise if you want a private guide leading you through ten major temples and tombs on a fixed four-day itinerary between Aswan and Luxor, rather than joining a larger group tour.

Traveler reviews

4.97★★★★★★★★★★

397 verified traveler reviews

5 ★386

4 ★9

3 ★2

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What temples will I actually visit on this Nile cruise?

The cruise includes Philae Temple near Aswan, Kom Ombo and Edfu temples along the river, and on the Luxor banks the Valley of the Kings, Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, Colossi of Memnon, Karnak Temples Complex and Luxor Temple—ten major sites in four days.

Do I need to arrange my own transport between the ship and each temple?

No. The ship's fixed schedule includes transfers to every temple; you step ashore when the ship stops, and guides or drivers escort you to each site. Private air-conditioned vans handle transfers in Aswan and Luxor.

What's included in the cabin price, and can I pick single, double or triple?

Three nights' accommodation on a 5-star Nile cruise ship, all meals on board, the Egyptologist guide, entry fees to every temple and site, and airport or hotel pickup in Aswan are included. You choose single, double or triple cabin when you book; tipping to the guide, driver and crew staff is optional.

Is there a guide with me the whole time, or just at certain temples?

An English-speaking Egyptologist guide joins you for the major temple visits and explains the history and architecture as you walk through each site. The guide is included throughout the tour.

What happens on the last day, and when does the tour end?

You check out after breakfast on day four and tour Luxor's east bank—Karnak Temples and Luxor Temple—before a private van transfers you to your hotel or location in Luxor by late morning, where the tour ends.

Can children travel on this cruise, and what's the minimum age?

Children are welcome from age 6 and must be accompanied by an adult. Infants under 6 can travel if they sit on an adult's lap. Vegetarian meals are available if you request them when booking.