Nile Cruise Luxor to Aswan: Valley of the Kings & Abu Simbel

Three days sailing the Nile with stops at five major temples and two ancient necropolises

A 3-day Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan with a private English-speaking guide, staying aboard a 5-star ship with full board. The itinerary covers the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut Temple on day one, then sails south to Edfu Temple and Kom Ombo Temple, ending at Abu Simbel on day three. Hotel pickup in Luxor and drop-off in Aswan are included. Entrance fees are separate.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Explore Luxor's West and East Banks

• Pickup from hotel or train station
• Visit Valley of the Kings tombs
• Explore Temple of Hatshepsut
• See Colossi of Memnon statues
• Tour Karnak Temple on East Bank

Day 2: Visit Edfu and Kom Ombo Temples

• Dock at Edfu Temple early morning
• Ride horse carriage to Edfu Temple
• Explore Temple of Horus at Edfu
• Return to cruise for lunch
• Afternoon visit to Kom Ombo Temple

Day 3: Abu Simbel visit and departure

• Tour Abu Simbel temples
• Transfer to hotel in Aswan

The experience

The cruise departs Luxor with a full day of exploration on the West Bank. Your guide meets you at your hotel or the train station for an air-conditioned drive to the Valley of the Kings, where you'll enter three royal tombs filled with murals and hieroglyphs. From there you move to the Temple of Hatshepsut, the mortuary temple of one of Egypt's most powerful female pharaohs, then pause at the Colossi of Memnon: two colossal statues standing alone in the desert. The afternoon takes you across the Nile to Karnak Temple on the East Bank, a sprawling complex of pylons, courts and hieroglyph-covered walls.

On day two, the ship docks at Edfu between 7 and 8 in the morning. Your guide meets you in the cruise lobby and escorts you to Edfu Temple in a traditional horse-drawn carriage. The temple is dedicated to Horus, the falcon-headed god, and its grand architecture and carved reliefs are among the best preserved in Egypt. You return to the ship for lunch, then set out in the afternoon to Kom Ombo Temple, which sits on the riverbank and has an unusual dual design: two sanctuaries dedicated to the Nile gods Sobek and Horus side by side.

Day three brings you to Abu Simbel, the UNESCO World Heritage site where two massive temples are carved directly into the mountainside. The larger temple was built for Pharaoh Ramses II and the smaller one for his queen Nefertari. After the visit, your driver transfers you to your hotel in Aswan (transfers to the West Bank are available for an extra fee). Throughout the cruise you stay in a 5-star cabin with a swimming pool, and all meals are provided on board except alcoholic drinks.

What’s included

• Accommodation in a 5-star cruise cabin with full board (all meals except drinks).
• private English-speaking guide for all temple visits and excursions.
• hotel pickup in Luxor and drop-off in Aswan.
• access to the ship's swimming pool.

Options for this experience

3 options

Standard shipGuide in English · 06:00, 06:30 and 07:00Includes pickup

Deluxe shipGuide in English · 06:00, 06:30 and 07:00Pickup is included

Luxury shipGuide in English · 06:00, 06:30 and 07:00Pickup is included

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

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday, Friday and SundayDepartures at 06:00, 06:30 and 07:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (11 and older) · Child (5 to 10 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Paid on siteUS$ 85

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Egypt tours Gateway

Is this one for you?Choose this cruise if you want to see Egypt's major Nile temples without arranging separate transport between sites: the ship moves you south while you sleep, and the guide handles each stop. The 3-day length fits the main temples from Luxor to Abu Simbel in one journey. A 2-day version would skip Abu Simbel, and a 5-day option would add more time at each site or include Aswan's markets and monuments.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 10 years); Infant (under 5): free.

What's included in the 3-day Nile cruise from Luxor?

The cruise includes accommodation in a 5-star cabin with full board (breakfast, lunch and dinner); an English-speaking private guide for all excursions; hotel pickup in Luxor and drop-off in Aswan; and access to the ship's swimming pool. Entrance fees to the temples and sites are not included and must be purchased separately.

How does the itinerary work across the three days?

Day one covers the West Bank (Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, Colossi of Memnon) and Karnak Temple on the East Bank, all before boarding the ship. Day two sails to Edfu Temple in the morning (arriving between 7 and 8 AM) and Kom Ombo Temple in the afternoon. Day three continues to Abu Simbel, then transfers you to your hotel in Aswan.

What are the temple sites I'll visit on this cruise?

You'll explore five major temples: Karnak Temple (one of Egypt's largest temple complexes), Edfu Temple (dedicated to Horus and remarkably well preserved), Kom Ombo Temple (with its distinctive dual design for two gods), Abu Simbel (two temples carved into a mountainside for Ramses II and Nefertari), and Hatshepsut Temple (the mortuary temple of a female pharaoh). You also visit the Valley of the Kings and the Colossi of Memnon.

Which ship options are available for this cruise?

You can choose between a Luxury ship, a Deluxe ship, or a Standard ship at checkout. All three options include the same itinerary, guide, meals and cabin amenities. The difference is in the ship's overall quality and onboard facilities.

Is transportation from my hotel included?

Yes, hotel pickup in Luxor and drop-off in Aswan are included. The pickup is from your hotel or the train station in Luxor on day one. If you need a transfer to the West Bank of Aswan instead of the East Bank, that is available for an additional cost.