Nile cruises · 5 days
5-Day Nile Cruises
Five days on the river, four nights aboard – the classic Luxor-to-Aswan sailing that takes in Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae at a pace that lets you see each one properly.
- Route
- Luxor ↔ Aswan
- Nights aboard
- 4 (5 days)
- Departures
- Mon & Fri, both ends
- Temples
- Karnak · Edfu · Kom Ombo · Philae
- Vessels
- 5-star ships & dahabiyas
- From
- $480 pp, all-in
The short answer
A 5-day Nile cruise is a four-night sailing between Luxor and Aswan, the standard itinerary on the river. It covers Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae, with a private Egyptologist guide, all admissions and full board included.
The 5-day Nile cruise is the most-booked length on the river and the one most travelers mean by "Nile cruise." It sails the 140-mile Luxor–Aswan corridor over four nights, departing most Mondays and Fridays from both ends. The extra night over a 4-day sailing buys a full, unhurried day on the Luxor West Bank. Every cruise in this collection includes a credentialed Egyptologist guide, every temple admission, full board aboard and dock transfers, so the headline price is close to the price you pay.
The itinerary
What 5-Day covers
Five days gives you every headline temple on the Luxor–Aswan stretch without the acceleration of the shorter sailing. Here is how a Luxor-departure itinerary runs. Aswan-departure ships sail the same stops in reverse – we book whichever direction fits your onward flight.
- Day 1
Luxor, East Bank
Board at midday. Karnak and Luxor Temple in the afternoon, when the columns throw their longest shadows and the coach groups have thinned out.
- Day 2
Luxor, West Bank
The Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's terraced temple and the Colossi of Memnon, then back aboard to sail south through the Esna lock by evening.
- Day 3
Edfu & Kom Ombo
The Temple of Horus at Edfu by horse-carriage – the best-preserved temple in Egypt – then the riverside double temple of Kom Ombo, lit at dusk.
- Day 4
Aswan
Philae Temple by motorboat, the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk, with a felucca around Elephantine Island as the light goes.
- Day 5
Disembark Aswan
Breakfast aboard, then the airport, the optional dawn flight to Abu Simbel, or the onward leg of your trip.
Run the other way, the same five days become an Aswan-to-Luxor sailing finishing at Karnak. Both are four nights; only the start and end cities change.
Which vessel
Dahabiya or cruise ship?
A 5-day sailing runs on two very different kinds of vessel. The temple itinerary is identical – the choice is about scale, pace and price.
5-star cruise ship
40–200 guests- Fixed Monday / Friday departures from both ends
- Pool deck, multiple restaurants, evening entertainment
- Lower per-night price, easy to slot into a wider trip
- Moors at the main docks; shared excursion timings
- Best for first-timers who want the classic experience
Dahabiya sailing yacht
6–12 guests- Private or small-group, your own guide on every excursion
- Moors on quiet sandbanks the big ships pass by
- Slower, wind-led pace; meals timed to you
- Higher per-night price; books up months ahead
- Best for repeat visitors and anyone who wants the river quiet
For a first Egypt trip, the 5-star ship is the right call – it delivers the classic itinerary at a fair price. Step up to a dahabiya when the river itself, not the temples, is the reason you came.
From the collection
5-Day Nile Cruises we run
The 5-day departures we book on the Luxor–Aswan run, each with a private Egyptologist guide, all admissions and full board included. Prices are per person sharing, in US dollars.
Esplanade Nile Cruise
The Esplanade sails between Luxor and Aswan, calling at Karnak, Luxor, the Valley of the Kings, Edfu, Kom Ombo, and Philae. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator and we arrange meet-and-assist, private modern transfers, and guided excursions with an English-speaking Egyptologist. Excursions run with groups capped at eight guests per Egyptologist, keeping commentary focused and the pace flexible. Onboard meals are full board, and evenings include Egyptian folkloric performances and relaxed time on deck. The itinerary also offers an optional Abu Simbel excursion from Aswan on disembarkation day. Unlike standard mass-market sailings, our shore visits are private, timed to avoid the busiest periods where possible.
Grand Mandarin Nile Cruise
Queen Isis Nile Cruise
Queen Isis is a 5-star dahabiya cruise on the Nile, arranged for travellers who prefer a quieter sailing experience than a large river cruiser. The itinerary links Aswan and Luxor over three nights, with departures from Aswan to Luxor on Mondays and from Luxor to Aswan on Thursdays. Full board covers lunch on embarkation through breakfast on disembarkation. A jacuzzi is available on board, while included transfers connect the cruise with the agreed arrival and departure points. This intimate style of Nile travel has a slower pace and a lower passenger capacity than larger cruise ships. Drinks beyond water with meals and gratuities are not included.
Star of Luxor Nile Cruise
Nour El Din Dahabiya Nile Cruise
Nour El Din Dahabiya is a 45-metre sailing vessel on the Nile, designed for up to 20 guests with an 11-person crew. Its 8-metre beam and three-deck layout create a more intimate setting than larger Nile cruisers, with two cabin decks and a slower rhythm between shore visits. As a dahabiya, it uses sail power for much of the journey and can offer access to quieter stretches of the river and smaller archaeological sites. Full board runs from lunch on embarkation day through breakfast on disembarkation day. Drinks beyond water served with meals are generally extra. We arrange the cruise as part of your Egypt programme; the vessel is owned and operated by its cruise supplier.
Three Pyramids Dahabiya
Embark in Luxor and disembark in Aswan, visiting Karnak, Luxor Temple, the Temple of Horus at Edfu, Kom Ombo, and Philae. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator. Our Egyptologists lead every shore visit and explain the archaeology and inscriptions on site. The Three Pyramids Dahabiya sails slowly along the Nile, passing Esna Lock, palm groves, and riverside villages. We keep groups small, typically eight to twelve guests, for a quiet cruising environment and personal attention. Unlike larger motor cruises, this itinerary allows longer visits at Edfu and Kom Ombo rather than brief shore calls. Expect walking on uneven ancient stone and occasional early starts at key temples. Evenings are relaxed on the sun deck as the river light changes.
Queen Cleopatra Dahabiya Nile Cruise
Queen Cleopatra Dahabiya is an intimate standard dahabiya for private sailing on the Nile. With four double cabins, it suits couples, families or small groups who prefer a quieter boat than a large Nile cruiser. The dahabiya is available for full charter at US$1,000 per night, with a minimum of two cabins required to guarantee sailing. Full Board covers lunch on the embarkation day through breakfast on the disembarkation day. Drinks beyond water served with meals are generally charged separately. Unlike larger Nile cruise ships, a dahabiya offers a smaller setting and sailing under lateen sail, although sailing times depend on wind conditions. Discovery Tours Egypt, a licensed Egyptian tour operator, arranges the booking and supporting services on the ground.
Iris Luxury Dahabiya Nile Cruise
Sail the Nile for seven days aboard the Iris Luxury Dahabiya with Discovery Tours Egypt, a licensed Egyptian tour operator. We operate the Iris as a private charter, avoiding large river-ship schedules and crowded day-stop itineraries. The dahabiya cruises at a traditional, slow pace, which gives longer shore time at Kom Ombo and Edfu and relaxed mornings in Luxor and Aswan. Our Egyptologists can join guided visits ashore; we arrange transfers, permits, and local guides. Trade-offs: cabins are more compact than contemporary river ships and onboard amenities are fewer, but the pace and privacy are materially different from standard Nile cruises.
Princess Cleopatra Dahabiya Nile Cruise
Sail seven days between Luxor and Aswan aboard the Princess Cleopatra Dahabiya, a traditional Nile sailing vessel with limited cabins. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator and provide private transfers, mooring permits, and an Egyptologist for the cruise. We avoid large coach tours; shore visits are led by our Egyptologist and reserved for the dahabiya’s passengers. Unlike mass overnight Nile ships, a dahabiya sails slower and schedules longer stops at Kom Ombo and Edfu. Expect compact cabins and simpler onboard facilities; Wi‑Fi is intermittent and some temple visits start early to avoid crowds. Standard site entrance fees are included unless otherwise stated; pyramid interiors and premium tombs cost extra.
An honest read
Is 5-Day right for you?
What works
- Covers every headline temple between Luxor and Aswan
- A full, unhurried day on the Luxor West Bank
- The best balance of coverage and pace for a first trip
- Frequent departures, so it slots into any wider itinerary
What to weigh
- Misses the smaller temples – El Kab, Esna, Gebel el-Silsila – that a week adds
- Peak-season ships can feel busy at the main docks
- Abu Simbel is a separate dawn flight, not part of the sailing
Other ways to sail
More Nile cruise lengths
Five days is the classic. Shorter if your days are tight, longer if the river is the point of the trip.
4-Day Nile Cruise
Three nights aboard – the compact version when the days are tight.
8-Day Nile Cruise
A week under sail on a dahabiya, with the temples the classic skips.
Dahabiya Cruises
The small wooden sailing yachts that moor where big ships can't.
Lake Nasser Cruises
The other river – Nubian temples and Abu Simbel by boat.
Before you book
Booking a 5-Day cruise, practically
What to know before you book a 5-day sailing.
When to sail
October to April is the comfortable window – warm days, cool evenings on deck. Summer sailings run cheaper but Aswan afternoons hit the high 90s°F. Christmas, New Year and US spring break sell out months ahead.
What's included
Full board aboard, a private Egyptologist guide, every temple and site admission, port fees and dock transfers. Drinks outside meals, gratuities and the optional Abu Simbel flight are separate.
Single travelers
Headline prices are per person sharing a cabin. Solo travelers pay a supplement of 50–75%; on some dahabiyas we can pair you to avoid it. Ask the Cairo desk.
Adding Abu Simbel
Slot the dawn flight from Aswan into Day 4 or 5, or pair the sailing with a separate 3- to 4-night Lake Nasser cruise that reaches Abu Simbel by boat. We handle the changeover at Aswan.
Common questions
5-Day Nile Cruises, answered
01How long is a standard Nile cruise?+
The standard Nile cruise is 5 days and 4 nights, sailing between Luxor and Aswan. Most ships on the river run this itinerary, departing Monday and Friday from both ends. It is the balance point between coverage and pace – you see Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae without giving a full week to the water.
02How much does a 5-day Nile cruise cost?+
A 5-day 5-star Nile cruise starts around $480 per person, all-inclusive of full board, a private Egyptologist guide, every admission and dock transfers. Deluxe ships run $1,100–$1,600 per person; suite-class ships and private dahabiyas sit higher. Prices drop 25–30% in the summer low season and peak over Christmas, New Year and US spring break.
03Which direction is better, Luxor to Aswan or Aswan to Luxor?+
Both cover the same temples; the choice is about your flights. Aswan-to-Luxor sails downstream and finishes at Karnak, a strong finale with easy onward connections from Luxor. Luxor-to-Aswan is the more common departure and ends near the Abu Simbel flight. We book whichever direction fits your onward travel.
04Does a 5-day cruise include the Valley of the Kings?+
Yes. On a Luxor-departure sailing the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's temple and the Colossi of Memnon fall on Day 2, before the ship sails south. On an Aswan-departure sailing the West Bank is covered on the morning you disembark in Luxor. Either way it is part of the guided itinerary, not an add-on.
05Is 5 days better than 4 on the Nile?+
For a first Egypt trip, yes. The extra night buys a full, unhurried day on the Luxor West Bank, which the 4-day sailing has to compress around the dock schedule. If your days are tight and Cairo is already booked, a 4-day cruise still reaches the main temples. If the river is the centerpiece, take the fifth day.
06What is included on a 5-day Nile cruise?+
Every 5-day cruise includes a private Egyptologist guide, all temple and site admissions, full board aboard, port fees and dock transfers. Drinks outside meals, gratuities and the optional dawn flight to Abu Simbel are separate. The from-price you see is per person sharing a cabin.
07When do 5-day Nile cruises depart?+
Most 5-star ships depart Luxor on Mondays and Aswan on Fridays, with the reverse sailings filling the other half of the week. Dahabiyas keep their own weekly schedule. We match your dates to a departure rather than the other way round, so tell us when you want to travel.
08Can I add Abu Simbel to a 5-day cruise?+
Yes, two ways. The quick option is the dawn flight from Aswan, slotted into Day 4 or 5. The slower, more memorable option is a separate 3- to 4-night Lake Nasser cruise that reaches Abu Simbel by boat; we book it back-to-back at Aswan so the changeover is handled for you.
09Is a 5-day Nile cruise safe?+
Yes. Luxor, Aswan and the Nile cruise corridor are rated Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) by the US State Department. Tourist police are visible at every temple, ships are secured at the docks, and we provide 24/7 in-country support from offices across Egypt.
Reservations
Book the classic five days
Tell us your dates and party size and we'll hold space on the right ship – 5-star or dahabiya, your direction, your cabin. Cairo · Luxor · Aswan · Hurghada · Marsa Alam · Sharm El Sheikh, on the ground since 1988.