No internal flight
One-way cruises need a domestic flight or a sleeper train at one end. A round trip does not. On a tight schedule that is one fewer thing that can go wrong, and one fewer set of bags to move.
Seven nights · out and back ·
Luxor Round-Trip Nile Cruises
Fly into Luxor, leave from Luxor, and skip the internal flight entirely.
220 kilometers, five moorings, one direction.
- 01
Luxor
Board in time for lunch, included on arrival day. Karnak, Luxor Temple and the West Bank across the first two days.
- 02
Esna
The lock, southbound on the way down and again on the way back.
- 03
Edfu
The Temple of Horus — most round trips call here in both directions, at different times of day.
- 04
Kom Ombo
Sobek and Horus on the bank, usually at dusk heading south.
- 05
Aswan
The turn: two nights here for Philae, the High Dam and the islands, with Abu Simbel as an optional day trip before sailing north.
- 06
Luxor
Back where you started. Disembark after breakfast, airport or sleeper train from the same dock you left.
A round trip sails Luxor to Aswan and back again over seven nights. You get the full temple run in both directions, and you never move airports, which removes the single most fragile part of an Egypt itinerary.
It is the longer, slower option and the one experienced Nile travelers tend to pick on a second visit. Seeing Edfu southbound and again northbound is not repetition; the light and the crowd are different each time.
Why a round trip
Two nights in Aswan, not one
Round trips hold at Aswan for the turn, which is where the one-way sailings feel rushed. Philae, the High Dam, a felucca and Abu Simbel all fit without a 4am start.
The temples twice
Edfu and Kom Ombo are called at in both directions on most round trips. Early light southbound, late light northbound. Guests who have cruised before tend to rate this higher than first-timers expect.
Seven nights is the real week
Three or four nights on the river is a segment inside a bigger trip. Seven nights is the trip. If the Nile is the point rather than a stage of it, this is the shape.
What you stop at
Sailing this route
98 ships sail this route, across our tiers, typically 7 nights.
Comfort5-Star Standard
28 ships
Comfort
Princess Sarah Nile Cruise
This deluxe 5-star Nile cruiser combines cabin accommodation with a sun deck, pool, lounge, bar, restaurant and Wi-Fi. Your cruise is arranged between Luxor and Aswan, with sailing days alternating with shore excursions at Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, the Temple of Horus at Edfu, Kom Ombo, Philae and the Valley of the Kings. Full board runs from lunch on embarkation day through breakfast on disembarkation day. Drinks (including water) are generally extra. Cabin grades include Standard, Deluxe and Suite, with pricing based on two people sharing and a single supplement normally applying.
Comfort
Radamis II Nile Cruise
It calls at Kom Ombo, Edfu, Luxor West Bank, and Luxor East Bank, depending on the chosen itinerary. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator and we arrange meet-and-assist, private transfers, and guided excursions led by an English-speaking Egyptologist in small groups, maximum eight guests. Onboard facilities include panoramic-window cabins with individual air conditioning, mini bar, LCD TV, full-size bathtubs, a swimming pool, sun loungers, and a barbecue deck. Optional excursions, for example Abu Simbel by private transfer or domestic flight, can be added for an extra fee.
Comfort
Royal Amira Nile Cruise
We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator; our Egyptologists lead the site visits and explain temple architecture and tomb contexts. We do not run mass coach tours – our approach avoids the compressed, minute-long shore calls typical of some river operators and gives fuller time at Karnak and Luxor West Bank. Trade-offs: early starts for temples and limited shade on the open deck at midday; we advise sun protection and sensible footwear.
Comfort
Royal Beau Rivage Nile Cruise
We do not run group-bus shore excursions; our Egyptologists lead private visits, and where scheduled we visit temples such as Kom Ombo and Edfu. Expect compact cabins compared with land hotels, early starts, and walking on uneven ancient stone.
Comfort
Royal Elite Nile Cruise
We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator and do not run large coach-group tours; our excursions use private cars or launches and English-speaking Egyptologists. Trade-offs: upper sun deck has limited shade at midday, and shore visits involve walking on uneven ancient stone and occasional early starts. We handle port paperwork, all pick-ups, and can arrange optional Abu Simbel transfers on request.
Comfort
Royal Esadora Nile Cruise
Sail between Aswan and Luxor aboard Royal Esadora, visiting Kom Ombo, Edfu, Luxor West Bank, and Luxor East Bank. Accommodation is on a full board basis, with guided excursions led by an English-speaking Egyptologist, limited to a maximum of eight guests per guided party. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator and we arrange private, air-conditioned transfers, meet-and-assist services, and entrance tickets listed in the itinerary. Onboard facilities include a sun deck with pool, a lounge and bar, a small fitness area, and a massage room. Unlike many short itineraries that treat Edfu and Kom Ombo as brief stops, this schedule allows proper time ashore at both temples. Optional excursions such as Abu Simbel can be arranged for an additional fee, and onboard WiFi and beverages are charged separately.
Classic5-Star Deluxe
28 ships
Classic
Mirage Nile Cruise
Mirage Nile Cruise sails between Luxor and Aswan, calling at Karnak, Valley of the Kings, Edfu, Kom Ombo, and Philae. Onboard life is low-key, with daytime shore excursions and relaxed evenings on deck. We include a felucca ride in Aswan and guided visits to the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk. Our English-speaking Egyptologists lead groups of up to eight guests, which keeps commentary interactive and questions practical. Unlike larger day-boat schedules, the itinerary allows substantive time at Edfu and Kom Ombo for on-shore exploration. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator, and our local team arranges meet-and-assist, transfers, and shore logistics so you step straight into each day’s program.
Classic
Monica Nile Cruise
Monica Nile Cruise sails between Luxor and Aswan, calling at Karnak Temple, the Valley of the Kings, Edfu, Kom Ombo, and Philae. Guided shore visits are led by English-speaking Egyptologists, and meals are served on a full board basis. We limit shore groups to a maximum of eight participants, not large coach groups, so excursions ashore move faster and allow more time at each site. Unlike short daytime shore trips, the overnight sailing schedule gives calmer visits to Edfu and Kom Ombo. Optional extras such as a felucca ride or a hot-air balloon can be arranged. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator, and our team coordinates meet-and-assist, transfers, and sightseeing on the ground.
Classic
Nile Capital Nile Cruise
Classic
Nile Dolphin Nile Cruise
Nile Dolphin is a deluxe 5-star river cruise vessel sailing between Luxor and Aswan. Its onboard facilities include a swimming pool, sun deck, restaurant, bar, lounge and Wi-Fi, giving you space to relax between shore excursions. The program combines sailing days with visits to Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, the Temple of Horus at Edfu, Kom Ombo, Philae and the Valley of the Kings. Full board runs from lunch on embarkation day through breakfast on disembarkation day. Drinks (including water) are normally charged separately.
Classic
Nile Style Nile Cruise
Nile Style Nile Cruise is a five-star Nile river vessel with a mix of cabin classes, public lounges and a sun deck for panoramic Nile views. Cabins are offered in Standard, Deluxe and Suite grades, pricing is per person sharing and a single supplement typically applies. Full board covers lunch on embarkation day through breakfast on disembarkation day.
Classic
Nile Treasure Nile Cruise
Nile Treasure Nile Cruise is a deluxe 5-star river cruise arranged by Discovery Tours Egypt, with air-conditioned cabins, a restaurant, lounge bar, pool and sun deck. The program includes visits to Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, the Temple of Horus at Edfu, Kom Ombo, Philae and the Valley of the Kings. Full board covers lunch on embarkation through breakfast on disembarkation. Wi-Fi, room service and laundry are available, while drinks (including water) are typically charged separately. Unlike a fixed sightseeing tour, the cruise gives you time to view the Nile from the deck between guided visits.
Prestige5-Star Ultra Deluxe
19 ships
Prestige
Steigenberger Legacy Nile Cruise
You board at Luxor's Nile pier on the East Bank and step aboard MS Steigenberger Legacy. Cabins average 16 m² – Nile-cruise scale, not an ocean‑liner – with twin or double bedding and a large picture window for river views. You sail south through the Esna lock; the vessel waits to transit when schedules permit and the landscape tightens to sandstone banks. Scheduled guided visits with an Egyptologist include Karnak and Luxor Temple near embarkation, then Edfu and Kom Ombo as you work toward Aswan. Plan for roughly 90–120 minutes at Edfu for the best reading of the reliefs; Kom Ombo is a briefer stop for the twin‑god reliefs and the small crocodile museum. In Aswan the ship moors at the Nile Corniche near the town center; Philae Island is the usual half‑day visit by motorboat. Meals are full board on the ship: breakfast, lunch and dinner presented in the main dining room, with simple regional dishes and international options. The sun deck serves as the day’s viewing platform for the West Bank ridge at dawn and for late‑afternoon light. Expect compact public spaces – lounge, shaded sun deck, and observation area – and personalised service from on‑board staff. Note limited lift access and modest cabin storage. Your Egyptologist guides the monument visits, explains sculptural details and hieroglyphs, and our local office in Luxor supports practical arrangements or last‑minute changes.
Prestige
Steigenberger Minerva Nile Cruise
Steigenberger Minerva Nile Cruise is a five-star Nile cruise vessel based in Luxor, offering full board accommodation and regular sailings between Luxor and Aswan. The vessel has a sun deck with a pool and shaded seating, a lounge bar, a dining room serving full board meals, and cabins in Standard, Deluxe and Suite classes with Nile views. The shore-excursion program calls at Karnak, Luxor Temple, Edfu (Temple of Horus), Kom Ombo, Philae and the Valley of the Kings, with embarkation and disembarkation at Luxor or Aswan. We hand-pick this vessel for travelers who want spacious public areas and a program of guided shore visits rather than bus-style day tours.
Prestige
Steigenberger Regency Nile Cruise
The Steigenberger Regency Nile Cruise is a five-star Nile cruiser offering full board dining and on-board leisure spaces. Cabins are graded Standard, Deluxe and Suite, many with panoramic windows or Nile-view balconies; the vessel has a pool, lounge bar, restaurant and a rooftop terrace. Discovery Tours Egypt, a licensed Egyptian tour operator, books and arranges the cruise and embarkation formalities for our clients.
Prestige
Steigenberger Royale Nile Cruise
The Steigenberger Royale is a five-star Nile cruise vessel offering full board accommodation and an onboard program of shore excursions between Luxor and Aswan. Discovery Tours Egypt, a licensed Egyptian tour operator, arranges bookings for this vessel. The ship features a sun deck, a lounge bar, a dining room serving international and Egyptian dishes, and cabins graded Standard, Deluxe and Suite with Nile-view windows or balconies where available.
Prestige
Acamar Nile Cruise
Acamar Nile Cruise is a five-star river vessel arranged for you to sail the Nile, with cabins graded Standard, Deluxe and Suite, a sun deck, pool, lounge bar and dining room. Full board runs from lunch on embarkation day through breakfast on disembarkation day, and the vessel includes a scheduled shore-excursion program to the major sites between Luxor and Aswan. Discovery Tours Egypt, a licensed Egyptian tour operator, has hand-picked this cruiser for travelers who prefer a ship-based, shore-excursion rhythm rather than a coach-led circuit.
Prestige
Alexander The Great Nile Cruise
Sail the Nile from Luxor to Aswan aboard the Alexander The Great, a Prestige-class vessel running the classic Luxor–Aswan river route. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator, and we arrange embarkation in Luxor, guided visits with our Egyptologists, and disembarkation in Aswan. Scheduled stops typically include major temples along the Nile banks, allowing time ashore for sites such as Karnak, the Luxor West Bank, Edfu, Kom Ombo, and Philae. We do not run coach-style, large-group shore calls; our Egyptologists prioritise early visits to reduce peak crowds when possible. Unlike short, overnight cruises that rush temple calls, this route gives more time at riverside sites and villages, and more opportunities to watch daily Nile life from deck.
Luxury5-Star Luxury
21 ships
Luxury
Soleil Nile Cruise
From Luxor to Aswan, the Soleil Nile Cruise Classic follows the Nile, visiting Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, Edfu, Kom Ombo, and Philae. Guided visits with our Egyptologists are scheduled at each named site, and standard entrance fees for included sites are covered. Meals are served onboard, and evenings on deck let you watch riverside villages and palm-lined farmland pass by. We do not run large coach-group tours; our Egyptologists lead the visits we arrange, and we adapt pacing to the boat timetable. Unlike many short shore excursions, this itinerary allows extended on-site time at Edfu and Kom Ombo rather than a brief photo stop. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator, and we handle the on-the-ground arrangements for your embarkation, guided sightseeing, and transfers.
Luxury
Sonesta St. George I Nile Cruise
This 5-star Nile river cruise links Luxor and Aswan with sailing days and shore excursions at Egypt’s major riverside sites. The program includes visits to Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, the Temple of Horus at Edfu, Kom Ombo, Philae and the Valley of the Kings. Full board runs from lunch on embarkation day through breakfast on disembarkation day. Drinks (including water) are generally extra. Discovery Tours Egypt selects and arranges the cruise with the vessel’s owning cruise line, so cabin allocation and sailing details are confirmed at booking.
Luxury
Sonesta Star Goddess Nile Cruise
Sonesta Star Goddess Nile Cruise is a five-star Nile river vessel with spacious suites, each offering a private Nile-view balcony. The vessel features a sun deck, a lounge bar, a dining room, and an onboard shore-excursion program calling at Karnak, Luxor Temple, Edfu (Temple of Horus), Kom Ombo, Philae and the Valley of the Kings. We arrange this cruise for you, including full board meals from embarkation lunch through disembarkation breakfast; drinks (including water) and gratuities are typically extra. Unlike mass coach tours, the ship’s program alternates sailing and guided shore visits for calmer sightseeing pacing.
Luxury
Sonesta Sun Goddess Nile Cruise
Sonesta Sun Goddess Nile Cruise is a five-star river vessel with suites, a sun deck pool and multiple public lounges. We hand-pick this cruiser for travelers who prefer spacious cabins and a full-board dining rhythm: lunch on embarkation day through breakfast on disembarkation day. Shore excursions visit Karnak, Luxor Temple, Valley of the Kings, Edfu (Temple of Horus), Kom Ombo and Philae, with days alternating between sailing and visits.
Luxury
Tosca Nile Cruise
MS Tosca sails the Nile between Aswan and Luxor, calling at Philae, Kom Ombo, Edfu, the Valley of the Kings, and Karnak. Tosca was designed by the Red Carnation Hotel Collection, which shapes the ship’s dining and public spaces. We arrange private, Egyptologist-led excursions, capped at eight guests per guide, so site visits are small and focused. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator and provide meet-and-assist at embarkation, modern air-conditioned transfers, and personal assistance throughout your cruise.
Luxury
Tulip Nile Cruise
You board mid-afternoon at the Luxor Nile Corniche pier, a ten-minute walk from Luxor Temple, and settle into MS Tulip’s river-view cabin. I meet you on deck and walk the promenade to point out the Nile’s changing light as we cast off and slip south. Day two begins early on the West Bank: the Valley of the Kings (expect uneven steps and dim tomb chambers), Hatshepsut’s terraced temple at Deir el-Bahari, and the Colossi of Memnon. We pass through the Esna lock in the late afternoon; engines hum and the ship rises with the water – a practical moment, not a show. Edfu’s temple requires a short transfer from the pier by carriage or shuttle; plan about 90 minutes on-site. Kom Ombo’s double temple sits right on the riverbank; we moor there for a one-hour visit. In Aswan we tie up on the city corniche opposite the market; I take you to Philae by motorboat, the High Dam viewpoint, and the Unfinished Obelisk in the granite yard. Cabins are Nile-cruise scale – compact, river-facing rooms with en-suite bathrooms and climate control – not ocean-liner suites. Meals are full board in the dining room; breakfasts are early and packed when an excursion leaves before dawn. Expect clear, practical guiding: I read the reliefs with you, show construction details at Karnak, and flag the best light for photos at each temple.
Signature CollectionSignature Collection
2 ships
Signature Collection
The Oberoi Zahra Nile Cruise
We provide private transfers and an Egyptologist to accompany shore visits. Trade-offs: expect early starts for some crossings and occasional quay congestion at Luxor or Aswan. Tell us your travel dates and cabin preference and we will confirm availability and the detailed ashore program.
Signature Collection
Historia Nile Cruise
We provide onboard English commentary about the river’s historical and cultural significance (including context for nearby sites such as Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple), a complimentary welcome drink, and a freshly prepared buffet lunch with vegetarian options. The cruise offers panoramic river views and sunset photo opportunities from comfortable, air-conditioned lounge and deck areas. Departure times and embarkation points vary by city and season, so we confirm details at booking.
16 more vessels sail this route without a published tier. See every Nile cruise
Add before or after your cruise
The ship sails between Luxor and Aswan. The Pyramids, and most flights home, are in Cairo. These short add-ons join the two.
After you dock
Aswan to Cairo flight and one hotel night
Two nights in Cairo with a day in Alexandria
3-Day Egypt Short Break: Cairo & Luxor
3-Day Cairo & Alexandria Tour
3-Day Luxor Tour from Marsa Alam
3-Day Cairo Tour from Sharm El Sheikh- 3-Day Luxor & Cairo Tour from Hurghada
2-Day Luxor to Cairo Post-Cruise Stay
3-Day Luxor to Cairo Post-Cruise Tour with Alexandria
Or sail it in seven nights instead of three.
A dahabiya covers the same stretch under sail with six to twelve guests aboard, mooring at El Kab and Gebel Silsila where the larger ships carry on past. It costs more per night and takes twice as long, which is the entire point.
Dahabiya cruises
When a one-way is the better trade
If your Egypt trip has Cairo, the Red Sea or Jordan attached, seven nights on the river is probably too much of the budget in one place. A three- or four-night one-way covers the same headline temples and leaves room for the rest. Take the round trip when the Nile is the holiday, not a chapter of it.
Questions we get about the direction
01How long is a Luxor round-trip Nile cruise?
Seven nights, sailing Luxor to Aswan and back to Luxor. That is the standard round-trip length across the fleet; three- and four-night sailings are the one-way segments of the same route.
02Do you visit the same temples twice?
Edfu and Kom Ombo are usually called at in both directions, at different times of day. Karnak, Luxor Temple and the West Bank are done at the Luxor end; Philae, the High Dam and the islands during the two-night hold at Aswan. It is the same river, not the same day.
03Is a round trip better than a one-way?
It is better if you want the Nile itself to be the trip and would rather not move airports. It is worse if Egypt also has to include Cairo and the Red Sea, because seven nights is most of a two-week holiday. The temples are identical either way.
04Can I add Abu Simbel?
Yes, during the Aswan turn. Round trips hold there long enough that Abu Simbel fits by short flight or road convoy without cutting anything else. Our Aswan office arranges it as part of the booking.
Tell us your dates and we'll pick the direction.
Our Aswan and Luxor offices handle both ends of this route. Egypt travel specialists since 1988, with offices in Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Hurghada, Marsa Alam and Sharm El Sheikh.