Cairo to Luxor & Aswan: 5-Day Nile Cruise & Flights

Five days on the Nile: from Luxor's temples to Aswan's ancient island

You fly from Cairo to Luxor, board a 5-star Nile cruise, and spend four days visiting the Valley of the Kings, Luxor and Karnak temples, Edfu and Kom Ombo, and Philae Temple in Aswan. All meals are included on the ship, a professional guide leads each day's excursions, and you skip the entry lines at major sites. The return flight to Cairo is included, as is hotel pickup and drop-off.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Flight to Luxor and temple visits

• Pickup from Cairo hotel
• Transfer to Cairo airport
• Flight from Cairo to Luxor
• Meet guide and transfer to cruise
• Visit Luxor Temple
• Tour Karnak Temples
• Board cruise before lunch
• Lunch on board
• Afternoon tea on board
• Dinner and belly dance show

Day 2: West Bank and Valley of the Kings

• Breakfast on board
• Tour Valley of the Kings
• Visit Temple of Queen Hatsheput
• Stop at Colossi of Memnon
• Lunch on board
• Sail to Esna
• Afternoon tea on board
• Disco party on board
• Overnight in Edfu

Day 3: Edfu and Kom Ombo temples

• Breakfast on board
• Visit Temple of Horus in Edfu
• Return to cruise
• Sail to Kom Ombo
• Lunch on board
• Visit Kom Ombo Temple
• Overnight on board

Day 4: Aswan sightseeing and temples

• Sail to Aswan
• Visit Aswan High Dam
• Tour Philae Temple on Agilkia Island
• Return to cruise
• Lunch on board
• Afternoon tea on board
• Dinner on board
• Overnight on board

Day 5: Return flight to Cairo

• Breakfast on board
• Disembark from cruise
• Transfer to Aswan airport
• Flight from Aswan to Cairo
• Transfer to Cairo hotel

The experience

"When do we board?" The question comes up before you've even left Cairo. That's because the itinerary moves fast: hotel pickup in the morning, flight to Luxor by midday, and you're walking into Karnak Temple before dinner. The 5-day Nile cruise from Cairo handles the logistics so you don't have to: flights are included, your guide meets you at the airport, and the ship becomes your base for four nights while you move through Upper Egypt's most important sites. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner happen on board, so you're eating while the river slides past the windows.

Day two starts early. At 8 a.m. your guide is waiting to take you across to the West Bank: the Valley of the Kings first, where you walk into royal tombs carved into limestone cliffs, then the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut at El Deir El Bahari, which rises in three terraces from the desert floor. The Colossi of Memnon, two massive sitting statues facing the Nile, come next. You're back on the ship by lunch. The cruise sails south to Edfu while you rest, and the next morning brings the Temple of Horus, then Kom Ombo, where a single temple was shared between two gods. Each stop has a professional guide who knows the dynasties and the stories, not just the names of the places.

Aswan is the final stop. The High Dam, built in 1964, creates Lake Nasser behind it, and from the top you can see the water stretching south toward Sudan. But the real draw is Philae Temple, on an island that spends most of the year underwater. The Temple of Isis and its monuments were built over centuries, from the 26th dynasty into the Roman period, and the island itself, Agilkia, is where they moved the whole complex to save it from flooding. You take a boat out, walk through the pylons and colonnades, and the scale of what the ancients built sinks in. After that, it's back to the ship for your last dinner, then the flight home to Cairo the next morning.

Skip-the-line access means you don't spend half the day in queues at Karnak or the Valley of the Kings. The ship handles accommodation, meals, and the rhythm of the days. You show up, the guide leads, and the boat carries you forward. Hotel pickup and drop-off in Cairo bookend the whole thing, so you're not figuring out transport on either end.

What’s included

Your package includes hotel pickup and drop-off in Cairo by air-conditioned minibus, round-trip flights from Cairo to Luxor and from Aswan back to Cairo, four nights' accommodation on a 5-star Nile cruise ship, all meals on board (breakfast, lunch, dinner, afternoon tea, and snacks), entry to the Valley of the Kings, Luxor Temple, Karnak Temple, Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, Colossi of Memnon, Temple of Horus in Edfu, Temple of Kom Ombo, and Philae Temple in Aswan, skip-the-line access at major sites, a professional art historian guide for all excursions, and all taxes and charges.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday, Thursday and Saturday5 departure times: the first at 04:30, the last at 06:30Last departure this season: 9 Jan 2027

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Arabic

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 8 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 72 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 13 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Mody Egypt Tours

Is this one for you?This works well if you want to see Upper Egypt's main temples and tombs in one trip without arranging flights, accommodation, meals, or entry tickets separately. The cruise handles all of it, and the fixed itinerary means you move through five major sites in four days without gaps or confusion.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Arabic.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3).

What meals are included on the cruise?

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served on board every day. Afternoon tea and snacks are also provided.

Do I need a visa for Egypt?

Visa requirements depend on your nationality. Check with the Egyptian embassy or consulate in your country before booking.

What is skip-the-line access?

It means you bypass the entry queues at major sites like the Valley of the Kings and Karnak Temple, saving hours during peak times.

Is the guide included?

Yes. A professional art historian guide leads all excursions and is with you at each site.

Can I bring an infant on this tour?

Yes. Infants can sit on an adult's lap, and specialized infant seats are available if needed.

What is the accommodation like?

You stay on a 5-star Nile cruise ship for four nights. Cabins are on board, and the ship moves between Luxor, Edfu, Kom Ombo, and Aswan.

Is this suitable for people with limited mobility?

The tour is listed as suitable for all physical fitness levels, but temple sites involve walking on uneven ground and climbing stairs. Contact the operator to discuss specific accessibility needs.