Luxor to Aswan Nile cruises

Days one and two: Luxor before you sail

The Luxor to Aswan cruise front-loads the major sightseeing. You board in Luxor at midday, have lunch on board and spend the afternoon on the East Bank at Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple. The boat stays moored in Luxor that night, so the first evening is calm: dinner on board, the town lights across the water, and an early night.

Day two starts early, and for good reason. Breakfast is at about 6:30 AM and you cross to the West Bank at 7:30 AM for the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Hatshepsut, and the Colossi of Memnon before the heat of the day. You are back on board for lunch as the boat casts off and heads south toward Esna. In the afternoon the boat passes through the Esna lock, and you spend the night moored near Edfu.

This is why many people choose this direction. On the shorter Aswan to Luxor cruise, all of Luxor is squeezed into the last full day. Here, Luxor is spread over two days and comes first, when you have the most energy.

Day three: Edfu, Kom Ombo, and the river in between

Day three is a relaxed day on the river. After breakfast you visit the Temple of Horus at Edfu, one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt. Lunch is served on board while you sail to Kom Ombo, and this stretch is a good time to sit on the sun deck and watch the palm groves, fields, and villages along the banks slide past.

In the late afternoon you visit the double temple of Sobek and Haroeris at Kom Ombo, which stands right on the riverbank and is shared by two gods. After dinner the boat sails on to Aswan, where it moors for the next two nights.

Times on this day depend on the boat and on the lock queue of the day before, so the typical program gives an order of visits rather than a fixed timetable. Your planner confirms the program of your boat with your quote.

Day four: Aswan, Philae, and the High Dam

Aswan is the southernmost stop of the cruise and a quieter town than Luxor. In the morning you visit the Temple of Philae, dedicated to the goddess Isis, and the Aswan High Dam. You are back on board for lunch, and the afternoon is yours: the program offers an optional felucca sail around the Nile islands or a visit to a Nubian village.

Because the boat stays in Aswan that night, many travelers use the evening for a walk along the corniche or simply stay on deck. On day five you have breakfast, check out, and transfer to your hotel, the airport, or your next tour.

If Abu Simbel is on your list, Aswan is the natural place to add it. It is not part of the cruise program, so ask your planner to add a night in Aswan and the trip to Abu Simbel to your quote.

Cruise ship or dahabiya on this route

This is the one route where you can choose between the two kinds of boat. The cruise ships listed here sail the 4-night program described above, and every one of them also sails the 3-night Aswan to Luxor and the 7-night Luxor round trip. The dahabiyas we list, such as Nawara Dahabiya and Storia Nile Dahabiya, sail the 4-night Luxor to Aswan program only.

A cruise ship is a floating hotel with a restaurant, lounge, sun deck and, on every ship we list, a swimming pool. A dahabiya is a small traditional sailing boat with a handful of cabins, a shaded sun deck and a far quieter atmosphere. Neither is better in every way; the choice depends on how you like to travel. Our cruise ship or dahabiya page compares them in detail.

Within the cruise ships, the boats are grouped by class on this page, from luxury to deluxe and standard, so you can compare like with like.

Fitting the Luxor to Aswan cruise into your trip

Because the cruise starts in Luxor and ends in Aswan, it fits trips that reach Upper Egypt through Luxor and leave from Aswan. A common plan is a few nights in Cairo for the pyramids, a flight or train to Luxor, the 4-night cruise, and then Abu Simbel or a flight back to Cairo from Aswan. Our Nile cruise plus Cairo page explains how the two parts fit together.

If you would rather end your trip in Luxor, look at the Aswan to Luxor cruise instead. It is one night shorter and sails the same temples in the other order.

How to ask for a quote

Most boats on this page do not show a public price, because the price depends on the boat, the cabin, the season, and your dates. Choose one or more boats you like, or simply tell us your dates and the style of trip you want, and request a quote. A planner replies within 24 hours with the boats that sail on your dates, the cabins that are free, and what is included, and can add hotels, transfers, and day trips before or after the cruise.