Luxor to Aswan: 5-Day Nile Cruise & Valley of Kings

What You Actually See Inside the Tombs of Tutankhamun and Ramses

You arrive at Luxor airport and board a 5-star Nile cruise that same day, spending four nights traveling south to Aswan. You walk through Karnak Temple and the Temple of Luxor on day one, enter tombs in the Valley of the Kings on day two, visit the Temple of Horus and Kom Ombo on day three, and explore Philae Temple and sail a felucca at sunset on day four. All entry fees, meals, transport and an expert guide are included. Abu Simbel is optional and costs extra.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrive and explore Luxor East Bank

• Arrive at Luxor Airport
• Meet tour guide at exit
• Visit Karnak Temple
• Walk through Great Hypostyle Hall
• Visit Luxor Temple
• Board Nile cruise boat
• Enjoy lunch and dinner onboard

Day 2: Explore West Bank and cruise to Edfu

• Visit Colossi of Memnon
• Visit Temple of Hatshepsut
• Explore Valley of the Kings
• Optional visit to Tutankhamun tomb
• Cruise to Edfu
• Breakfast, lunch, and dinner onboard

Day 3: Visit Edfu and Kom Ombo temples

• Visit Temple of Horus in Edfu
• Cruise to Kom Ombo
• Visit Kom Ombo Temple
• Cruise to Aswan
• Breakfast, lunch, and dinner onboard

Day 4: Explore Aswan and Philae Temple

• Ride motorized boat to Philae Temple
• Visit Philae Temple
• Visit Unfinished Obelisk
• Felucca ride around Aswan Islands
• Enjoy scenic sundowner
• Breakfast, lunch, and dinner onboard

Day 5: Disembark in Aswan and optional Abu Simbel

• Optional visit to Abu Simbel temples
• Transfer to Aswan Airport
• Breakfast included

The Experience

Your guide is holding a sign with your name at the airport exit, and from that moment the Nile journey begins. You'll spend the next five days moving through time itself: four nights sleeping on a 5-star cruise ship, four days walking through temples and tombs that have stood for three thousand years. The boat leaves Luxor on Saturday, Monday or Thursday, and the rhythm of the trip is set by the river: mornings exploring the West Bank or East Bank on foot, afternoons cruising south toward Aswan, evenings back on deck watching the desert turn gold.

Day one, you're at Karnak Temple before lunch, walking through the Great Hypostyle Hall where columns rise 80 feet high, so tall and so densely packed that the space feels less like a building and more like a stone forest. Then the Temple of Luxor, where three colossal statues of Ramses II guard the front pylons, and you stand in their shadow the way pilgrims have for millennia. Lunch and dinner happen on the boat. Day two takes you across the river to the Valley of the Kings, where pharaohs were buried in hidden tombs carved deep into the rock. You'll enter the tomb of Tutankhamun (the boy king found in 1922 by Howard Carter), though entry to his chamber costs extra at the site. The Temple of Hatshepsut, Egypt's first female pharaoh, sits on a terraced cliff nearby, and the Colossi of Memnon stand alone in the fields, their faces worn smooth by wind and time. After that, the boat cruises to Edfu.

Day three brings the Temple of Horus, built in 230 BC and still painted in colors that survived two millennia. The temple sits on the river's edge, and your guide will explain how the falcon-headed god was worshipped here. Then you drift to Kom Ombo, where a Greco-Roman temple dedicated to two gods (the sun god and the crocodile god) still holds mummified crocodiles in its chambers. Crocodiles still sun themselves on the riverbanks outside, unchanged since ancient times. Day four is Aswan: a motorized boat takes you to Philae Temple on an island, a sacred complex that was physically dismantled and reassembled when the Aswan High Dam was built. You'll see the Unfinished Obelisk in the granite quarries, one-third taller than any other ancient Egyptian obelisk, left incomplete when a crack appeared in the stone. In the late afternoon, you ride a felucca, a traditional wooden sailboat, around the Aswan islands at sunset with a drink in hand.

Day five, you disembark in Aswan. If you choose the optional Abu Simbel excursion (3.5 hours each way by road), you'll see the twin temples of Ramses II and Queen Nefertari, their façades dominated by four 70-foot statues of the pharaoh. The entire site was moved here to save it from the Aswan High Dam's floodwaters: an engineering feat as remarkable as the temples themselves. Then a transfer takes you to Aswan airport. All meals are included throughout: breakfast, lunch and dinner on the boat, plus airport pickup on arrival and departure.

What’s included

• Your five days include accommodation on a 5-star Nile cruise ship with full board (all meals), entrance fees to Karnak Temple, Temple of Luxor, Valley of the Kings, Temple of Hatshepsut, Colossi of Memnon, Temple of Horus, Kom Ombo Temple, Philae Temple, and the Unfinished Obelisk.
• Airport pickup on arrival and departure transfer are included, along with all excursions and transport between sites.
• A local expert guide accompanies you throughout.
• Meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) are served daily on the boat.
• The felucca ride in Aswan and a scenic sundowner drink are included.
• Tutankhamun's tomb entry and the optional Abu Simbel excursion cost extra.

Days and timesNo departures until 4 Jan 2027

Ages12 to 74 years · 6 to 10 years · Under 3 — Free

Meeting point and pickupPickup optional · ends elsewhere20 pickup points to choose from.Meeting point, per the operator: “Sofitel Winter Palace Luxor Hotel”

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

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by Journey To Egypt

Is this one for you?Right for travelers who want the major temples and tombs of ancient Egypt in one journey without arranging transport, hotels or entry tickets separately. The four-night cruise pace means you're moving each afternoon, so expect a full day of activity followed by evening relaxation on the boat: that rhythm is what fits five major sites into five days.

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Top questions

Can children come?

6 to 10 years; under 3, free.

What's included in the 5-day Nile cruise?

Accommodation on a 5-star cruise ship on a full-board basis, all entrance fees to temples and tombs listed in the itinerary, airport pickup and departure transfers, all excursions with a local expert guide, and all meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner).

Can I visit Tutankhamun's tomb?

Yes, but entry to Tutankhamun's tomb in the Valley of the Kings costs extra and is purchased on the spot. All other tombs and temples are included.

When does the cruise depart?

The cruise departs every Saturday, Monday or Thursday from Luxor. You arrive at Luxor airport and board the same day.

Is Abu Simbel included?

Abu Simbel is optional. It's a 3.5-hour drive each way from Aswan on the final morning. You pay extra if you choose to go.

How much walking is involved?

Each day includes 2–4 hours of walking through temples and archaeological sites. The terrain is mostly flat, though some tombs require descending stairs. The tour is suitable for all fitness levels.

What happens on the boat between stops?

You cruise during the afternoon and evening, moving south along the Nile. Meals are served on board, and you have time to rest and enjoy the river views.

Do I need a visa for Egypt?

Most travelers need a visa to enter Egypt. Check with your embassy before booking. The tour operator does not arrange visas.

Is the guide an Egyptologist?

Yes, all guides are local experts. The itinerary mentions an "expert tour guide" who deciphers temple inscriptions and explains the history of each site.

What's the felucca ride like?

A felucca is a traditional wooden sailboat. On day four in Aswan, you'll ride one around the islands at sunset with a refreshing drink. It's a scenic, relaxed experience.

Can I do this tour if I have mobility issues?

The tour is suitable for all fitness levels, but it does involve daily walking through temples and some tomb descents. If you have specific mobility concerns, contact the operator before booking.