5-Day Nile Cruise Luxor to Aswan: Private Deluxe Tour

Five days sailing between ancient temples, tombs and the river that built Egypt

A 5-day private Nile River cruise between Luxor and Aswan aboard a deluxe ship, with guided visits to Valley of the Kings, Karnak Temple, Hatshepsut Temple, Temple of Horus, Philae Temple and other major sites of ancient Upper Egypt. The ship is your accommodation for four nights on full board, an Egyptologist guide leads the temple visits, and all transfers from Luxor airport or hotel are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Embark cruise and visit Luxor temples

• Arrive in Luxor and meet tour staff
• Transfer to Nile Cruise and embark
• Lunch on board
• Visit Karnak Temple complex
• Visit Luxor Temple
• Enjoy belly dance show

Day 2: West Bank Luxor and optional balloon

• Breakfast on board
• Optional hot air balloon ride
• Visit Valley of the Kings
• Visit Temple of Queen Hatshepsut
• Stop at Colossi of Memnon
• Sail to Edfu via Esna

Day 3: Visit Edfu and Kom Ombo temples

• Visit Edfu Temple of Horus
• Sail to Kom Ombo
• Visit Kom Ombo Temple of Sobek
• Sail to Aswan
• Galabia party after dinner

Day 4: Aswan sightseeing and felucca ride

• Breakfast on board
• Visit Philae Temple
• Visit Aswan High Dam
• Visit Unfinished Obelisk
• Lunch on board
• Felucca ride around Kitchener Island

Day 5: Disembark and optional Abu Simbel tour

• Breakfast on board and check-out
• Optional tour to Abu Simbel Temples
• Transfer to Aswan hotel, airport or train station

The experience

The cruise departs Luxor with a transfer from your hotel, airport or train station, then sails south toward Aswan over five days. Day one brings you to Karnak Temple (the vast precinct of Amun-Ra with its Hypostyle Hall), and Luxor Temple on the east bank, followed by a belly dance show after dinner. The next morning you cross to the west bank to walk through Valley of the Kings, where pharaohs were buried for nearly 500 years, then visit Hatshepsut Temple and the Colossi of Memnon before the ship sails to Edfu.

Day three takes you to the Temple of Horus at Edfu, dedicated to the falcon god, then continues to Kom Ombo and its temple of the crocodile god Sobek, with a Galabia party after dinner. By day four you've reached Aswan, where you visit Philae Temple, the Aswan High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk, then take a felucca sailboat around Kitchener Island. The final morning brings breakfast on board and a transfer to your hotel, airport or train station. An optional tour to Abu Simbel Temples is available for an additional cost.

Your guide is a qualified Egyptologist who speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese, German or one additional language. The ship provides four nights in a cabin with full board (breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner) plus bottled water during site visits. All temple entries, internal transfers and the felucca ride are included. The vehicle throughout is a private, air-conditioned car. A 24-hour emergency hotline is available during your stay.

What’s included

• Four nights aboard a 5-star deluxe Nile cruise on full board with breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner.
• entry to Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, Temple of Horus, Kom Ombo Temple, Philae Temple, Aswan High Dam and Unfinished Obelisk.
• a felucca sailboat ride around Kitchener Island.
• a qualified Egyptologist guide in your chosen language.
• meet and assist at Luxor airport, train station or hotel.
• all transfers in a private air-conditioned vehicle.
• bottled water during site visits.
• baggage transfer.
• service charges and taxes.
• and a 24-hour emergency hotline.

Options for this experience

6 options

Triple Room, Group TourUp to 6 per booking · Guide in 5 languages · No fixed timeTriple cabin for 3 persons with a king-size bed or twin beds on request, a private bathroom and a shared tour guide. Pickup is included.

Double Room, Group TourUp to 15 per booking · Guide in 5 languages · No fixed timeDouble cabin for 2 persons with a king-size bed or twin beds on request, a private bathroom and a shared tour guide. Pickup is included.

Private guide for a double roomUp to 15 per booking · Guide in 5 languages · No fixed timeDouble cabin for 2 persons 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

Private guide for a triple roomUp to 9 per booking · Guide in 5 languages · No fixed timeTriple cabin for 3 persons with a king-size bed or twin beds on request, a private bathroom and a private tour guide. Pickup is included.

Single Room, Group TourUp to 1 per booking · Guide in 5 languages · No fixed timeSingle cabin for 1 person with a king-size bed and private bathroom, with a shared tour guide on board. Pickup is included.

Single Room, Private GuideUp to 1 per booking · Guide in 5 languages · No fixed timeSingle cabin for 1 person with a king-size bed and private bathroom, plus a private tour guide on board. Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

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

Before you book

Days and timesMonday, Thursday and Saturday

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

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, German, Portuguese and Arabic

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 9 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Egypt Unlimited Tours

Is this one for you?Choose the private guide option if you want the temples and sites explained in depth without sharing your guide with other travelers. Choose the group tour if you prefer to meet other visitors and reduce the per-person cost. Either way, the five-day duration lets you move through Upper Egypt's major sites without rushing. The ship carries you between stops while you sleep, so no time is lost to travel during the day.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, German, Portuguese and Arabic.

Can children come?

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

What's included in the 5-day Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan?

The cruise includes four nights aboard the 5-star deluxe ship on full board, all meals and afternoon tea, entry to Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, Temple of Horus, Kom Ombo Temple, Philae Temple, Aswan High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk, a felucca ride around Kitchener Island, an Egyptologist guide, all transfers from Luxor airport or hotel, and bottled water during visits. Gratuities and personal beverages are not included.

Can I book this cruise as a private tour or do I join a group?

You can choose either a private guide or a group tour when you book. The private guide option keeps the experience to your party alone, while the group tour option shares the guide and visits with other travelers. Both operate on the same five-day itinerary and ship.

What happens on the first day when I arrive in Luxor?

On day one, the tour staff meet you at Luxor airport, your hotel or the train station and transfer you to the ship before lunch. After boarding and lunch on the Nile, you visit Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple on the east bank, then return for a belly dance show after dinner.

Is the hot air balloon over the Valley of the Kings included?

The hot air balloon at sunrise on day two is optional and costs an additional USD 120 per person. It departs before the main day's activities (Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple and the Colossi of Memnon), and is arranged separately at checkout.

Can I visit Abu Simbel Temples during this cruise?

Abu Simbel Temples are not part of the standard itinerary but are offered as an optional tour on day five for an additional USD 120 per person. This is arranged at checkout before disembarkation in Aswan.