9-Day Cairo & Lake Nasser Cruise with Abu Simbel
Three days in Cairo, four nights on Lake Nasser with temples few visitors see, and Abu Simbel at the end. Flights, hotels, your cabin and an Egyptologist are included.
The short answer
9-Day Cairo & Lake Nasser Cruise with Abu Simbel is a 9-day, 8-night trip to Cairo, Aswan and Abu Simbel: 4 nights in Cairo and 4 on a Lake Nasser cruise. Starts on Fridays. It includes domestic flights, an Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transfers. Prices start at $2,624 per person, two sharing (Classic, October–April).
02Overview
A first look
Most Egypt itineraries follow the Nile. This one takes you onto Lake Nasser, the huge lake behind the Aswan High Dam, where a ship carries you south past temples that were moved to the shore when the water rose. The lake cruise runs for four nights, with stops at Kalabsha, Wadi el-Seboua, Dakka, Maharraqa, Amada, Derr and Pennut, a photo stop at Kasr Ibrim, and Abu Simbel at the end.
You begin with three days in Cairo: a Nile dinner cruise, the Giza Pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum, then the Egyptian Museum, Coptic Cairo, Islamic Cairo and the Khan El Khalili bazaar. You fly to Aswan to join the ship. After Abu Simbel you go by road to Aswan and fly back to Cairo for a last night. We book the flights, the transfers, the hotels and your cabin. This tour is offered at the Classic and Prestige standards only.
What lingers
- 01Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum in one guided day
- 02A Nile dinner cruise with an evening show on your first night in Cairo
- 03Four nights on a Lake Nasser ship, full board, with a Nubian show on board
- 04Lakeside temples at Kalabsha, Wadi el-Seboua, Dakka, Maharraqa, Amada, Derr and Pennut
- 05A photo stop at Kasr Ibrim and a visit to the Abu Simbel temples
- 06A final night in Cairo after the flight from Aswan, so you are not rushing home
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classicfrom $2,6245★ hotels · 5★ Nile cruises | Lake Nasser Cruise · 4 nightsNubian Sea Lake Nasser Cruise | $2,624May–Sep: from $2,286 | |
| Prestigefrom $3,1955★ deluxe hotels · 5★ deluxe Nile cruises | Lake Nasser Cruise · 4 nightsMovenpick Prince Abbas Lake Cruise | $3,195May–Sep: from $2,769 |
Hotels on bed & breakfast · 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.
- New
Day by day
Detailed itinerary
9 Days / 8 Nights · Cairo · Giza Plateau · Grand Egyptian Museum · Islamic Cairo · Aswan · Lake Nasser
- 1
Your driver meets you in the arrivals hall at Cairo Airport and takes you to your hotel. Rest after your flight. In the evening you are collected for a Nile dinner cruise: about two hours on the river with a buffet dinner and a live show, then a private ride back to your hotel.
- 2
A full day of about 8 hours with an English-speaking Egyptologist guide. Entrance fees and the air-conditioned vehicle are included. Start on the Giza Plateau with the pyramids and the Great Sphinx, then stop for lunch with a view. In the afternoon you visit the Grand Egyptian Museum, home of the Tutankhamun collection. You are driven back to your hotel for a second night in Cairo.
- 3
A second full day, about 8 hours, with your Egyptologist guide. Entrance fees and transport are included. You visit the Egyptian Museum at Tahrir Square, then Coptic Cairo, the old Christian quarter. After a local lunch you explore Islamic Cairo, the medieval part of the city, and finish in the Khan El Khalili bazaar. Your driver takes you back to the hotel.
- 4
A driver takes you from your hotel to Cairo Airport for the flight to Aswan. The flight time is set by the airline schedule. In Aswan you are met and taken to your ship for check-in. You settle into your cabin, and meals on board are full board from here until you leave the ship.
- 5
Your first temple on the lake is Kalabsha, moved to its present site when the High Dam created Lake Nasser. Your English-speaking Egyptologist guides you, and the entrance fee is included. The ship then continues its cruise toward Wadi el-Seboua, where you spend the night.
- 6
A day of temple stops with your Egyptologist guide, with entrance fees included. You visit Wadi el-Seboua, Dakka and Maharraqa, then Amada, Derr and Pennut. These are quieter sites than the big Nile temples, and the lake setting is part of the visit. In the evening there is a Nubian show on board.
- 7
The ship stops for a photo view of Kasr Ibrim, then reaches Abu Simbel. There is a panorama stop, and your Egyptologist guide takes you into the Abu Simbel temples, with the entrance fee included. This is the end of the lake cruise, and your last night on the ship.
- 8
After breakfast you check out of the ship. A private vehicle takes you from Abu Simbel to Aswan by road, then to Aswan Airport for the flight to Cairo. In Cairo a driver meets you and takes you to your hotel for the night. This is a long travel day, and the flight time is set by the airline schedule.
- 9
After breakfast a driver takes you from your hotel to Cairo Airport for your flight home. Allow about 90 minutes before you need to be at the terminal, as the transfer takes time. The night in Cairo is our safety window: if your flight from Aswan is delayed, you still reach Cairo with a full day before your international flight.
Bundled in
- Domestic flights
The fine print
What's included – and what isn't
Included
- Five nights in Cairo hotels with breakfast, and four nights on a Lake Nasser ship on full board
- Domestic flights Cairo to Aswan and Aswan to Cairo
- All airport, hotel, ship and road transfers by air-conditioned vehicle, including Abu Simbel to Aswan
- Nile dinner cruise with an evening show in Cairo
- Entrance fees to every site in the itinerary, including the Abu Simbel temples
- Lunch on days 2 and 3
- English-speaking Egyptologist guide on all sightseeing days
- Meet-and-assist at the airport
Not included
- International flights to and from Egypt
- Egypt entry visa
- Gratuities for guides, drivers and ship staff
- Drinks on board and meals other than those stated
- Travel insurance and personal expenses
Field notes
From our Egyptologists
- 01
Reach Abu Simbel early on the final cruise morning; the facade glows warmly and the site is quieter before late arrivals.
- 02
Take binoculars for the Kasr Ibrim photo stop; the ruined fortress is seen from the water, not on foot.
- 03
Sit on deck at dusk on the lake; with little light pollution, the stars over the Nubian desert stand out.
- 04
Pack a hat and light layers; the lake breeze is cool on deck but landings at the temples are hot.
Tailor it
Make it yours
Choose your hotel and ship standard when you book. Ask us about extra nights in Cairo or adding a Nile stay in Luxor.
All requests handled by your dedicated specialist before booking.
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- Travelers who want Cairo's big sights and then something different: a ship on Lake Nasser, quiet temples and Abu Simbel. Suited to couples, friends and repeat visitors comfortable with two flights and several hours of walking on sightseeing days.
Maybe not, if
- Travelers who need step-free access to every site, or who dislike long travel days. Days 2, 3 and 8 are long.
Honest assessment
Real trade-offs from our experience managing this tour.
Highlights
- Lakeside temples that most Egypt itineraries skip, plus Abu Simbel
- Both domestic flights and all transfers handled for you
- A final night in Cairo before you fly home
Things to Consider
- Day 8 is a long travel day with a road transfer and a flight
- Uneven stone, steps and little shade at the temples
- Luxor is not part of this tour
Where it fits
A good second trip to Egypt, or a first trip for anyone who wants Abu Simbel and quieter temples. Luxor is not included.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Most Egypt tours cruise the Nile between Luxor and Aswan. This tour cruises Lake Nasser instead, visiting temples moved to the shore and finishing at Abu Simbel, with every flight and transfer booked for you.
Compare
Similar tours to compare
On the ground
Your route
Snapshot
Good to know
- Travel style
- Guided Multi-Day Tour with a Lake Nasser Cruise
- Accommodation
- Cairo hotels and a Lake Nasser ship, Classic or Prestige standard chosen at booking
- Destinations
- Cairo · Giza Plateau · Grand Egyptian Museum · Islamic Cairo · Aswan · Lake Nasser · Kalabsha Temple · Wadi el-Seboua · Amada · Abu Simbel
- Includes
- 5 nights in Cairo hotels with breakfast · 4 nights on a Lake Nasser ship, full board · Flights Cairo to Aswan and Aswan to Cairo · Entrance fees to every listed site · English-speaking Egyptologist on sightseeing days · All transfers by air-conditioned vehicle
- Best for
- Travelers who want Abu Simbel and the lake temples · Repeat visitors looking beyond the Nile route · Travelers who like a slow week on a ship
The morning of
Meeting point & timing
- Where
- Cairo International Airport (CAI), Arrivals HallMap
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 flights
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 and temples
- A hat and sunglasses
- A light jacket for evenings on the lake 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. Hotel and cabin prices depend on the child's age and the room or 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 a lot of walking on archaeological sites, with uneven stone, sand and steps. Several temples have little shade, and the lakeside landings and the gangway to the ship involve steps. Day 8 is a long travel day, with a road transfer from Abu Simbel to Aswan and a flight. The 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 tell you honestly which parts are suitable.
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
The itinerary uses two domestic flights, a lake ship and private road transfers, and vehicle types vary, so we do not claim a carbon saving. Sightseeing is guided by local Egyptologists and arranged through local suppliers in Cairo, Aswan and on the lake, so most of the money you spend stays in the places you visit. We ask guests to bring a refillable water bottle and to keep their hands off painted walls in the temples.
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
01Is this a Nile cruise?
No. The ship cruises Lake Nasser, the large lake behind the Aswan High Dam, not on the river. You visit temples on the lake shore and finish at Abu Simbel. You do not see the Luxor temples on this tour.02Are the domestic flights included?
Yes. The flights from Cairo to Aswan on day 4 and from Aswan to Cairo on day 8 are booked for you and included in the price. International flights are not.03Will I make my international flight?
Domestic and international tickets are separate bookings, so a delayed domestic flight can cost you the connection. That is why this tour ends with a night in Cairo before you fly home. If you change your plan and fly out the same day you reach Cairo, choose a late-evening or night international flight, and take travel insurance that covers missed connections.04Which ship and hotels will we have?
You choose a standard when you book and we name the ship and hotels for your dates. The itinerary and sightseeing stay the same.05What are the meals?
Day 1 is dinner on the Nile dinner cruise. Days 2 and 3 are breakfast and lunch. Days 4 to 7 on the ship are full board: breakfast, lunch and dinner. Days 8 and 9 are breakfast only.06How do we get from Abu Simbel to Aswan?
The ship ends its cruise at Abu Simbel. On day 8 a private vehicle takes you by road to Aswan, then on to the airport for the flight to Cairo. It is a long day, so we suggest you wear comfortable clothes.07Is the sightseeing guided?
Yes. An English-speaking Egyptologist guides the sightseeing days in Cairo and the temple stops on the lake. Entrance fees and transport for those days are included.08What is not included?
International flights, the Egypt visa, tips for guides, drivers and ship staff, drinks other than those stated, and travel insurance.09When is the best time to go?
October to April is cooler and the most comfortable for walking around temples. Summers are very hot, so sightseeing starts early.
Last updated Product ID: TOU-CAI-444663
At a glance
- Length
- 9 days · 8 nights
- Starts
- Fridays only
- Route
- Cairo → Aswan → Abu Simbel → Cairo
- Nights
- 4 Cairo · 4 Lake Nasser cruise
- Includes
- Domestic flights, Egyptologist guide, entrance fees, transfers