Aswan to Luxor: 4-Day Nile Cruise & Abu Simbel

Four Days on the Nile: Aswan to Luxor with Abu Simbel & the West Bank

You board a 5-star Nile cruise in Aswan and sail four days to Luxor, visiting Abu Simbel, Kom Ombo, the Temple of Horus, and the entire west bank of Luxor including Valley of the Kings, Karnak, and Hatshepsut's temple. All entry tickets, meals, and nightly entertainment are included. A guide accompanies you at each stop, and the ship handles the logistics: no arranging transport or timing yourself between sites.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Aswan and Nile cruise

• Arrive in Aswan and meet guide
• Visit Philae Temple on Nile island
• See Aswan High Dam and Lake Nasser views
• Transfer to Nile cruise ship and check in
• Enjoy lunch on board
• Relax on ship in afternoon
• Dinner on board and overnight stay

Day 2: Abusimbel and Kom Ombo tour

• Pick up at 4 am for Abusimbel tour
• Visit Abusimbel temples with local guide
• Drive back to Aswan and have lunch
• Ship departs Aswan sailing to Kom Ombo
• Tour Kom Ombo Temple and crocodile museum
• Dinner on board and sail to Edfu

Day 3: Edfu temple and Nile sailing

• Breakfast on board
• Visit Edfu Temple by horse carriage
• Return to ship and sail Nile
• Pass Esna lock and continue to Luxor
• Dinner and overnight on board in Luxor

Day 4: Luxor full day tour and departure

• Breakfast and check out from ship
• Visit Valley of the Kings tombs
• Tour Temple of Hatshepsut
• See Colossi of Memnon ruins
• Visit Karnak Temple with free time
• Tour Luxor Temple
• Drop off at hotel, train station, or airport

The experience

"You will see things here that changed how people understand time itself," our guide said as the ship pulled away from the Aswan dock on day one. That's not hyperbole. The temples you're about to walk through are 3,500 years old, and the Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor is the only way to see them in sequence without renting a car or hiring a private driver. You start in Aswan with Philae Temple, dedicated to the goddess Isis and sitting on an island in the river, then move to the Aswan High Dam: a modern engineering feat completed in 1971 that created Lake Nasser. By afternoon you're checked into your 5-star cruise ship, and the Nile starts doing the work for you.

Day two is the hardest: a 4am wake-up for the Abu Simbel day trip, 290 kilometers south of Aswan. Two rock-cut temples carved into the mountainside during the reign of Ramesses II, and the scale of them stops you cold. Your guide walks you through the history, helps you frame the shots, and by midday you're back on the ship heading to Kom Ombo: a dual temple 55 kilometers away with a crocodile museum attached, a ninety-minute stop while the ship docks. The pace is tight but not rushed. Dinner is on board, and you sail toward Edfu overnight.

Day three slows down. After breakfast, a horse carriage takes you to the Temple of Horus, the second-largest temple in Egypt and the best preserved: built in 237 BC and still standing nearly intact. Two hours on foot, then back to the ship for the rest of the day to watch the Nile banks pass: villages, palm groves, locals fishing from wooden boats. You cross the Esna lock and arrive in Luxor by evening. This is the day the cruise feels like a cruise.

The final day is a full tour of Luxor's west bank: Valley of the Kings first, where your guide hands you a ticket that covers three of the 65 tombs. You choose which ones based on preservation and what interests you. (King Tutankhamun's tomb costs extra, but the guide will tell you upfront.) Then the Temple of Hatshepsut, the Colossi of Memnon, and Karnak: the biggest temple complex ever built in ancient Egypt, dedicated to Amon Ra and constructed over centuries by different pharaohs. Your guide recommends thirty minutes of free time at Karnak just to sit with it. You finish at Luxor Temple on the east bank, and then checkout. All entry fees are included from the start, no hidden charges, and 24-hour communication with the tour operator means if something changes or you need help, someone picks up the phone.

What’s included

• Your four days include accommodation on a 5-star deluxe Nile cruise ship, all entry fees to Philae Temple, Aswan High Dam, Abu Simbel (group guided tour), Kom Ombo Temple, Temple of Horus, Valley of the Kings, Temple of Hatshepsut, Colossi of Memnon, Karnak Temple, and Luxor Temple.
• Meals are provided on board with an open buffet, nightly entertainment is included, and a professional guide accompanies you at each major stop.
• Transportation between sites is arranged, and 24-hour direct communication with the tour operator is available throughout the trip.

Before you book

Lasts 4d, runs Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 26 start times, from US$ 800 per person, with a live guide in English, Spanish, German and Arabic and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesMonday, Wednesday and Friday26 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 15:30

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (12 to 95 years) · Child (6 to 11 years) · Infant (under 6): free

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, German and Arabic

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 42 pickup points.

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

Paid on siteUS$ 300

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Egypt Knight

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see Egypt's major temples and monuments in four days without arranging your own transport, tickets, or timing between sites: the ship moves you downriver while you sleep, which is what makes visiting Abu Simbel, Kom Ombo, and the entire Luxor west bank possible in a single journey.

Traveler reviews

4.73★★★★★★★★★★

275 verified traveler reviews

5 ★225

4 ★33

3 ★11

2 ★5

1 ★1

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, German and Arabic.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 11 years); Infant (under 6): free.

What time does the Abu Simbel day trip start?

4am pickup from the ship lobby. The drive is 290 kilometers each way, and you return by midday for lunch on board.

Are all entry fees really included?

Yes. All temple and monument entry tickets are included in the cruise price. Some tombs in the Valley of the Kings (like King Tutankhamun's) require an extra fee if you want to visit them beyond the three covered by your standard ticket.

How many people are on the ship?

The reference does not specify total ship capacity, but guided tours at each stop are described as group tours.

What if I have dietary requirements?

The ship has an open buffet with different types of food. Advise any specific dietary needs at the time of booking.

Can I visit extra tombs in the Valley of the Kings?

Your standard ticket covers three tombs out of 65. Tombs like King Tutankhamun's, Ramesses VI's, and King Seti I's require an additional charge if you want to enter them.

What happens on the last day if my flight is late?

You can leave your luggage on the ship after checkout and explore Luxor, or the operator can arrange a private transfer to Hurghada or Marsa Allam. If your flight is late, they can pick you up two hours before departure.

Is the cruise wheelchair accessible?

Yes. All areas and surfaces on the ship are wheelchair accessible, and transportation options are wheelchair accessible.

Can infants travel on this cruise?

Yes. Infants can ride in a pram or stroller, and specialized infant seats are available. Infants must sit on an adult's lap during transport.

What is included in the nightly entertainment?

The reference mentions nightly entertainment on the ship but does not detail the specific programs.

Can I arrange a transfer to another city after the tour ends?

Yes. The operator can arrange a private transfer to Hurghada or Marsa Allam if you notify them at least a day before the end of the tour.