5-Day Hurghada to Luxor & Aswan Nile Cruise Tour
A private drive from Hurghada to Luxor, four nights on a Nile cruise ship to Aswan, a Karnak sound and light show, a Nubian village visit and a private drive back. The main temples are all on the program.
The short answer
5-Day Hurghada to Luxor & Aswan Nile Cruise Tour is a 5-day, 4-night trip to Luxor, Aswan and Hurghada: 4 nights on a Nile cruise. Starts on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays or Sundays. It includes an Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transfers. Prices start at $1,336 per person, two sharing (Essential, October–April).
02Overview
A first look
If you are staying on the Red Sea, the Nile is within reach. This five-day tour takes you from Hurghada to Luxor by private car, about five hours, and puts you on a Nile cruise ship for four nights. The ship runs from Luxor to Aswan, and every stop is a famous one: Karnak and Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae.
Two extras set this program apart. On the first evening you return to Karnak for its sound and light show. On the last full day, after the Aswan sights, you visit a Nubian village. On day 5 you leave the ship and drive back to Hurghada, about seven hours. Both long drives are private and booked for you. You choose the standard of ship when you book, from budget to luxury, and the sightseeing stays the same.
What lingers
- 01A private transfer from Hurghada to Luxor, about five hours
- 02Karnak with its Sacred Lake and Luxor Temple, then the Karnak sound and light show that evening
- 03The Valley of the Kings (three tombs), Hatshepsut's temple and the Colossi of Memnon
- 04Edfu and Kom Ombo temples on the way to Aswan
- 05Philae Temple, the High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk and a Nubian village visit in Aswan
- 06Four nights on a Nile cruise ship, full board, and a private transfer back to Hurghada
Choose your comfort level
Prices are per person in USD, from 2 people sharing a double room, including accommodation at the properties listed or similar.
| Comfort level | Where you stay or similar | Per personfrom, Oct–Apr | Choose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essentialfrom $1,336well-priced Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 4 nightsNephtis · Magic I | $1,336May–Sep: from $1,180 | |
| Comfortfrom $1,5185★ Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 4 nightsRoyal Princess Amira · Tower Prestige | $1,518May–Sep: from $1,284 | |
| Classicfrom $1,7005★ Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 4 nightsGrand Sun · Stephanie | $1,700May–Sep: from $1,284 | |
| Prestigefrom $2,0385★ deluxe Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 4 nightsSonesta Moon Goddess · Nile Serenity | $2,038May–Sep: from $1,648 | |
| Luxuryfrom $3,1565★ luxury Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 4 nightsSonesta St. George I · Esmeralda | $3,156May–Sep: from $1,908 | |
| Signature Collectionfrom $4,300Iconic heritage vessels | Nile Cruise · 4 nightsHistoria | $4,300May–Sep: from $2,948 |
Nile cruise on full board. You'll stay in these properties, or a similar choice of the same quality. Choose your date in the booking panel for the exact price.
Day by day
Detailed itinerary
5 Days / 4 Nights · Hurghada · Luxor · Edfu · Kom Ombo · Aswan · Qena
- 1
Your private driver collects you in Hurghada for the five-hour drive to Luxor. After that you board your Nile cruise ship, and the sightseeing is fitted around the time you arrive. First comes Karnak, the biggest temple complex in Egypt, with its Sacred Lake, and then Luxor Temple beside the river. Your English-speaking Egyptologist guide, the entrance fees and the transport are included.
After dark you go back to Karnak for the sound and light show, which lasts about two hours and is included. Lunch and dinner are served, and you sleep on board. It is a full day with a late finish.
- 2
Today is spent on Luxor's West Bank, guided by your Egyptologist. You see the Colossi of Memnon, two huge seated statues of Amenhotep III, then enter the Valley of the Kings, where your ticket covers three tombs. The last stop is the terraced mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari. Guide, entrance fees and transport are included. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served on the ship.
- 3
As the ship moves south, you go ashore twice with your Egyptologist guide. Edfu is the Temple of Horus, among the best-preserved in Egypt. Kom Ombo stands right on the riverbank and is a double temple, shared by Sobek the crocodile god and Horus the falcon god. Entrance fees and transport are included. In between you can sit on deck, and all three meals are served on board.
- 4
Day 4 belongs to Aswan, and your Egyptologist guide goes with you. The sightseeing includes Philae Temple, the temple of Isis now standing on a new island, the Aswan High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk, which still lies in its granite quarry. Your guide, the entrance fees and the transport are included.
You also take a Nubian village tour, with pickup and drop-off in Aswan, a boat and an air-conditioned vehicle as needed, a guide and bottled water. All meals are served, and you spend a last night on the ship.
- 5
Breakfast on board is your last meal on the ship. Then you say goodbye to the crew and your private driver takes you from Aswan to Hurghada, a journey of about seven hours. No sightseeing is planned for today. Because the drive is long, keep your evening free and plan any onward travel for later that night or the next day.
The fine print
What's included – and what isn't
Included
- Four nights on a Nile cruise ship on full board
- Private transfer from Hurghada to Luxor on day 1
- Private transfer from Aswan to Hurghada on day 5
- English-speaking Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transport at every site in the itinerary, including three tombs in the Valley of the Kings
- Admission to the Karnak Temple sound and light show on the evening of day 1
- Nubian village visit in Aswan on day 4, with boat and air-conditioned vehicle as needed, a guide and bottled water
- Meals as stated: lunch and dinner on day 1, all meals on days 2 to 4, breakfast on day 5
- Taxes and service charges
Not included
- International flights to and from Egypt
- Egypt entry visa
- Hotel nights in Hurghada before or after the tour
- Tips for guides, drivers and ship staff
- Drinks on board and meals other than those stated
- Premium tombs such as Tutankhamun and Seti I
- Travel insurance and personal expenses
Field notes
From our Egyptologists
- 01
Karnak is quieter early morning, before coach arrivals from Luxor hotels.
- 02
At Philae, the first boat departures usually give the best light on the water.
- 03
The Valley of the Kings tomb interiors involve stairs and narrow passages.
- 04
Bring small cash for toilets and drinks at rest stops between Hurghada and Luxor.
- 05
Summer departures need a hat, sunscreen, and refillable water bottle for open sites.
Tailor it
Make it yours
Choose your ship standard when you book. Ask us about adding Abu Simbel or extra nights in Luxor or Aswan.
All requests handled by your dedicated specialist before booking.
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- Visitors based in Hurghada who want the Nile and its temples without leaving the Red Sea for good. Suited to couples, friends and solo travelers who are comfortable with two long drives and a busy first day that ends with an evening show.
Maybe not, if
- Travelers who need step-free access to every site, or who dislike long drives. Days 1 and 5 are long.
Honest assessment
Real trade-offs from our experience managing this tour.
Highlights
- Karnak by day and night, the Valley of the Kings, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae in five days
- No flights: private road transfers from and back to Hurghada
- Four nights on one ship, so no repacking
Things to Consider
- Two long road days, about five and seven hours
- Uneven stone, steps and little shade at the major sites
- Abu Simbel is not included
Where it fits
A good way to add the Nile to a Red Sea stay. Abu Simbel is not included, so ask if it is on your list.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Most Nile cruises start from the Luxor or Aswan airports. This one starts and ends in Hurghada by road, so it suits Red Sea guests who prefer not to fly. The ship standard is your choice; the sightseeing does not change.
Compare
Similar tours to compare
On the ground
Your route
Snapshot
Good to know
- Travel style
- Guided Multi-Day Tour with Nile Cruise
- Accommodation
- Nile cruise ship, standard chosen at booking
- Destinations
- Hurghada · Luxor · Edfu · Kom Ombo · Aswan · Qena
- Includes
- 4 nights on a Nile cruise ship, full board · Private transfer Hurghada to Luxor · Karnak sound and light show · Nubian village visit in Aswan · Private transfer Aswan to Hurghada · Entrance to the sites in the itinerary · Taxes and service charges
- Best for
- Guests staying in Hurghada · First-time visitors to the Nile · Travelers who want temples without changing hotels
The morning of
Meeting point & timing
- Where
- Hurghada hotel pickupMap
Before you go
What to pack & wear
What to bring
- Passport and any required travel documents
- Comfortable walking shoes with good grip
- Sunscreen, SPF 30 or higher
- Sun hat and sunglasses
- Refillable water bottle
- Any personal medication
- Small day bag
- Light layer for the ship and for the evening show
What to wear
- Lightweight, breathable clothing for sun and heat
- Closed shoes for temples and uneven ground
- Clothing that covers shoulders and knees at mosques, temples and the village visit
- A hat and sunglasses
- A light jacket for evenings on the river and at the Karnak show in winter
Children & families
Children are welcome. Every child takes a seat in the vehicle, so transport, guiding and meals are charged at the adult rate at any age. Entrance tickets are free for children under 6 and full price from 6. Cabin prices depend on the child's age and the cabin used, so we give you the exact figure when you tell us the age at booking.
Accessibility
Who can join this
This tour involves walking around large archaeological sites, on uneven stone and sand, with steps and some narrow tomb passages. The Valley of the Kings and Karnak have long outdoor stretches with little shade, and the sound and light show is held outdoors in the evening. Boarding the ship, the boat to Philae and the boat used for the Nubian village visit involve steps and a gangway. The two road transfers are long, about five hours on day 1 and seven on day 5. Vehicles are private and air-conditioned, but we cannot promise wheelchair access at every site. Tell us your needs when you book and we will say honestly which parts suit you.
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
The tour uses a Nile cruise ship and two long private road transfers, and vehicle types vary, so we make no claim about carbon savings. Sightseeing is arranged through local suppliers in Luxor and Aswan, and the Nubian village visit is a way for some of what you spend to reach people who live there. We ask guests to bring a refillable water bottle and not to touch the painted walls in tombs.
Licensed Egyptologist guides
State-licensed, and people we have worked with for years
Fair wages on the ground
Drivers + guides paid above market
Site preservation
We follow the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities' site rules: marked paths, no touching reliefs
Local teams, real help
Our own offices in Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Hurghada, Marsa Alam and Sharm El Sheikh
If plans change
Cancellation and refunds
If you cancel, your refund depends on how early you tell us and on the type of trip. Read our current cancellation and refund policy
Asked & answered
Frequent questions
01Where does the tour start and finish?
In Hurghada. A private driver takes you from Hurghada to Luxor on day 1 and brings you back from Aswan to Hurghada on day 5.02How long are the drives?
About five hours from Hurghada to Luxor on day 1 and about seven hours from Aswan to Hurghada on day 5. Both are private transfers.03Which ship will we have?
You choose a standard when you book, from budget to luxury, and we name the ship for your dates. The route and the sightseeing are the same at every standard.04Where does the ship go?
It runs from Luxor to Aswan over four nights. You visit Karnak and Luxor Temple, the West Bank, Edfu and Kom Ombo, then Philae, the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk in Aswan.05Is the Karnak sound and light show included?
Yes. On the evening of day 1 you go to the Karnak Temple sound and light show. Admission is included and the show lasts about two hours. It is outdoors, so bring a light layer in winter.06What is the Nubian village visit?
On day 4, after the Aswan sights, you visit a Nubian village. Pickup and drop-off in Aswan, a boat and air-conditioned vehicle as needed, a guide and bottled water are included.07Are meals included?
Yes, on the ship you have full board: lunch and dinner on day 1, then breakfast, lunch and dinner on days 2 to 4. Breakfast on day 5 is included too.08Is a hotel in Hurghada included?
No. The tour begins and ends with a transfer, and the only nights included are the four on the ship. Your Hurghada hotel is booked separately.09Is Abu Simbel included?
No. This itinerary does not include Abu Simbel. Ask us if you would like it added, or look at our longer Nile cruise options.10Will I make my international flight home?
The drive back from Aswan to Hurghada takes about seven hours and is a separate booking from your international flight, so a late start or a delay on the road could cost you the connection. We suggest a late-evening or night flight, or better, one more night in Hurghada before you fly. Take travel insurance that covers missed connections.
Last updated Product ID: TOU-HRG-295924
At a glance
- Length
- 5 days · 4 nights
- Starts
- Mon, Thu, Fri, Sat or Sun
- Route
- Hurghada → Luxor → Edfu → Kom Ombo → Aswan → Hurghada
- Includes
- Egyptologist guide, entrance fees, transfers