5-Day Luxor to Aswan Nile Cruise
Visit the Valley of the Kings, Karnak, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae Temple during a guided Nile cruise.
The short answer
5-Day Luxor to Aswan Nile Cruise is a 5-day, 4-night trip to Luxor and Aswan: 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 $1,175 per person, two sharing (Essential, October–April).
02Overview
A first look
Four nights on the Nile means you unpack once and the scenery changes around you. You board in Luxor on day one, walk through Karnak and Luxor Temple, and the next morning cross to the West Bank for the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut's temple.
From there the ship heads south to Edfu and Kom Ombo, and finishes in Aswan with Philae, the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk. Your Egyptologist leads every visit, and we handle the transfers, the cabin and site entry through trusted local partners. Ships range from simple to five-star, so you can match the cruise to your budget.
What lingers
- 01Valley of the Kings on Luxor's West Bank, with entry to three tombs
- 02Karnak Temples and Luxor Temple on your first day
- 03Edfu and Kom Ombo temples, visited on the way to Aswan
- 04Philae Temple by boat, plus the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk
- 05Four nights on board your Nile cruise ship with full board
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 $1,175well-priced Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 4 nightsNephtis · Magic I | $1,175May–Sep: from $1,019 | |
| Comfortfrom $1,3575★ Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 4 nightsRoyal Princess Amira · Tower Prestige | $1,357May–Sep: from $1,123 | |
| Classicfrom $1,5395★ Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 4 nightsGrand Sun · Stephanie | $1,539May–Sep: from $1,123 | |
| Prestigefrom $1,8775★ deluxe Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 4 nightsSonesta Moon Goddess · Nile Serenity | $1,877May–Sep: from $1,487 | |
| Luxuryfrom $2,9955★ luxury Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 4 nightsSonesta St. George I · Esmeralda | $2,995May–Sep: from $1,747 | |
| Signature Collectionfrom $4,139Iconic heritage vessels | Nile Cruise · 4 nightsHistoria | $4,139May–Sep: from $2,787 |
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 · Luxor · Valley of the Kings (Luxor West Bank) · Karnak Temple · Edfu · Kom Ombo · Philae Temple (Agilkia Island)
- 1
Your driver meets you at Luxor Airport and takes you to the Nile, where you board your Nile cruise ship. Your Egyptologist then guides you through Karnak Temples, including the Sacred Lake, and Luxor Temple on the East Bank. Lunch (if you arrive in time) and dinner are served on board, and you spend the first night moored in Luxor.
- 2
After breakfast you cross to the West Bank with your Egyptologist. You see the Colossi of Memnon, enter three tombs in the Valley of the Kings, and walk up to Queen Hatshepsut's terraced mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahari. Back on board for lunch, the ship casts off and heads upriver toward Edfu. Dinner and the night are on board.
- 3
You visit the Temple of Edfu, one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt and a sanctuary of the falcon god Horus, then the double temple of Kom Ombo beside the river, shared by two gods. The ship sails on toward Aswan between visits, passing villages and farmland from the deck. All meals are on board, and you spend the night on the ship.
- 4
In Aswan your Egyptologist takes you to the Temple of Philae on its island, reached by a short boat ride, then to the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk in the granite quarries. The rest of the day is free for the deck or an optional felucca sail (optional, at extra cost). Dinner and your last night are on board.
- 5
After a final breakfast on board you say goodbye to the crew, collect your bags and step ashore. A driver takes you from the ship to Aswan Airport in time for your onward flight. Your Nile cruise, and the sightseeing program, ends here. Breakfast is the only meal on this day.
Bundled in
- Pool
- Sun Deck
- Wi-Fi (in public areas)
- Restaurant (gourmet restaurant)
- Gymnasium
- Lounge Bar
- 24-hour reception
- Doctor on call
- Laundry service
- LCD TV
- Mini-bar
- Safe box in each cabin
- Airport transfer
- Full board
- Group Egyptologist
- All entry tickets
The fine print
What's included – and what isn't
Included
- Accommodation throughout: hotel nights in Luxor and cruise cabin nights on the Nile
- Transfers between airport, hotels and cruise embarkation and disembarkation points
- Meals as stated in the full itinerary (hotel meals and full board on cruise where specified)
- Entrance fees to scheduled archaeological sites and museums as listed in the itinerary
- Services of a qualified Egyptologist guide during sightseeing
Not included
- International flights to and from Egypt
- Egypt entry visa fees and personal travel insurance
- Gratuities for crew, drivers and guides (recommended but not included)
- Entrance to premium tombs and pyramid interiors (for example Tutankhamun or Khufu) unless specifically booked
- Drinks and personal expenses
- Any optional excursions not listed in the itinerary
Tailor it
Make it yours
The itinerary can be adjusted to suit private travel preferences, including faster pacing, extra time in Luxor or Aswan, or additional sightseeing where logistics allow. Depending on the booking, meal arrangements can be upgraded or extended, and optional visits may be added if they are not already included in the program.
All requests handled by your dedicated specialist before booking.
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- This itinerary suits travelers who want a structured Upper Egypt program with a mix of hotel stays and river cruising. It is a strong fit for history-focused adults, couples, and families with school-age children who are comfortable with several site visits and moderate walking.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Unlike a single-day coach itinerary, this package spaces the major temples and tombs across several days, which reduces the rush between sites and allows more time at each stop. Compared with a cruise-only program, it also includes hotel nights in Luxor before and/or around the cruise segment, which can make arrival logistics simpler. It is best understood as a combined land-and-river itinerary rather than a pure cruise product.
Compare
Similar tours to compare
On the ground
Your route
Snapshot
Good to know
- Travel style
- Private Guided Cruise Package
- Accommodation
- Hotel Nights in Luxor + Nile Cruise Cabin
- Destinations
- Luxor · Valley of the Kings (Luxor West Bank) · Karnak Temple · Edfu · Kom Ombo · Philae Temple (Agilkia Island) · Aswan · Nile
- Includes
- Hotel accommodation in Luxor · Three nights aboard a Nile cruise cabin · Transfers between airports, hotels, and embarkation/disembarkation points · Meals as stated in the itinerary · Entrance fees to listed sites and museums · Qualified Egyptologist guide
- Best for
- History enthusiasts · First-time visitors to Egypt · Couples · Families with school-age children
- Guide languages
- Arabic · English · French · German · Italian · Spanish
The morning of
Meeting point & timing
- Where
- Luxor International Airport — ArrivalsMap
Before you go
What to pack & wear
What to bring
- Valid passport and a printed booking confirmation
- Comfortable walking shoes with good grip
- Sunscreen SPF30 or higher and a sun hat
- Reusable water bottle (refillable on the cruise and at hotels)
- Small daypack for camera, water and personal items
- Lightweight rain jacket (winter months) and personal medications
- Copies of any mobility or dietary requirements
What to wear
- Lightweight, loose-fitting clothing for daytime heat
- Covered shoulders and knees for temples and mosques
- A light fleece or long-sleeve layer for cool early mornings and evenings
- Sturdy closed shoes for uneven stone and tomb interiors
- Sunglasses and a brimmed hat
Children & families
Minimum age is 5 years for this itinerary due to stairs, tomb descents and walking on uneven surfaces. Child fares apply for ages 5 to 11 when sharing a room with two adults; children aged 12 and over are charged the adult rate. Strollers are practical at hotels and flat promenades but not inside most tombs or on the Nile cruise gangways; a lightweight carrier is often more useful. We can request a cot or extra bed at hotels where available; please state child ages at booking so we can confirm availability and pricing.
Accessibility
Who can join this
This itinerary involves walking on uneven ancient stone, loose sand at temple approaches, cobbled surfaces at Luxor West Bank, and steps at many sites. Temple entrances and tombs often require descending steep, narrow stairs; the Valley of the Kings has several tombs with uneven floors and low passages. The cruise segment has gangways and steps to board and disembark, plus cabin door thresholds. Transfers use standard minibuses with a step up to enter. Wheelchair users should note that most tombs and Philae Temple island approaches are not wheelchair accessible without substantial assistance. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator and can arrange a meet-and-assist service at Luxor International Airport and vehicle modifications where feasible; please contact us at booking with mobility details at least 14 days before travel so we can advise what is possible and which sites to adapt.
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
Transfers between sites use air-conditioned minibuses with seating for up to 16 passengers rather than large coaches, reducing per-person fuel use on this small-group itinerary. Local Egyptologists and boat crews are contracted directly by us for each sailing season, and we pay standard daily rates and use local suppliers in Luxor and Aswan to support the communities who rely on Nile tourism. We encourage guests to bring reusable water bottles, and cruise moorings avoid fragile riverbank sites by using established overnight anchorages. Site visits follow local site-management rules, including designated walkways at Karnak and the Valley of the Kings, to limit wear on archaeological surfaces.
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
01How long is the 5 Days Nile Cruise from Luxor to Aswan?
It runs five days and four nights. You board the ship on day one in Luxor and sleep on board every night until you disembark in Aswan on day five. There are no hotel nights.02How do airport transfers work on this Nile cruise?
A driver meets you at Luxor Airport and takes you to the ship on day one. On day five you are taken from the ship in Aswan to Aswan Airport. Share your flight details when you book so we can time both transfers. International flights are not included.03What is included in the 5-day Luxor to Aswan Nile cruise?
Four nights in a cabin on your Nile cruise ship, full board on board, both airport transfers, entrance fees to the listed sites (three tombs in the Valley of the Kings) and an Egyptologist guide are included. Ships from simple to five-star are available.04What is not included in the 5 Days Nile Cruise from Luxor to Aswan?
International and domestic flights, visa fees, travel insurance, gratuities, drinks and personal expenses are not included. Premium tombs such as Tutankhamun's and the interiors of the pyramids are also extra, as are optional excursions.05How physically demanding is the Luxor to Aswan Nile cruise?
Sightseeing involves walking over uneven ancient stone, some steps and heat, and the ship has stairs between decks. Pace is moderate. If you have limited mobility, tell us before booking so we can check what is workable.06Is the 5-day Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan suitable for children?
Yes, families travel on it often. Children usually enjoy life on board, but long temple days in the heat can tire younger ones. Cabin and entrance arrangements depend on their ages, so tell us how old they are when you request a booking.07What should I wear and bring on a Nile cruise?
Pack comfortable walking shoes, light clothing, a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and a refillable water bottle. Cover shoulders and knees at temples. Evenings on deck can be cool in winter, so bring a light layer.08Can I take photos at the sites on this Nile cruise?
Photography is allowed at most outdoor sites. Some tombs and museums ban flash or sell a separate camera ticket, and some interiors forbid photos altogether. Your Egyptologist will tell you the rules at each stop.09When is the best time to take a Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan?
October through April is the most comfortable season for sightseeing. Summer in Upper Egypt is very hot, especially at midday, although the ships are air-conditioned.10Which sites do I visit between Luxor and Aswan?
Day 1: Karnak Temples and Luxor Temple. Day 2: Colossi of Memnon, the Valley of the Kings (three tombs) and Hatshepsut's temple. Day 3: Edfu and Kom Ombo. Day 4: Philae, the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk.
Last updated Product ID: TOU-NIL-463129
At a glance
- Length
- 5 days · 4 nights
- Starts
- Mon, Thu, Fri, Sat or Sun
- Route
- Luxor → Edfu → Kom Ombo → Aswan
- Includes
- Egyptologist guide, entrance fees, transfers
- Class
- 5-star