Lake Nasser is the quiet end of Egypt. Above the High Dam there are no towns, no riverside villages and only a handful of ships, and the temples that were moved to the shore in the 1960s to save them from the rising water are visited by a few dozen people a day rather than thousands. Arriving at Abu Simbel by boat, with the four colossi of Ramesses II lit up above the water, is one of the great moments of Egyptian travel.
This itinerary pairs the three-night southbound lake cruise with the essentials of Cairo and two nights on land in Aswan. We put the Nubian Museum before you sail, because it explains the lost land of Nubia and the international campaign that rescued its temples, which makes every shore visit on the lake more meaningful.
It suits second-time visitors who have already done the Luxor to Aswan cruise, and first-timers who want something quieter. If you also want Luxor, add a Nile cruise in front of it; our Lake Nasser cruise guide shows how the two fit together.
Journey highlights
- Three nights on one of the few ships licensed to sail Lake Nasser, with full board
- Kalabsha Temple, Beit el-Wali and the Kiosk of Kertassi
- Wadi el-Sebua's avenue of sphinxes, with the temples of Dakka and Maharraqa
- Amada's painted reliefs, the rock temple of Derr and the Tomb of Pennut
- A slow sail past Qasr Ibrim, the only Nubian site still in its original place
- Abu Simbel floodlit from the water at night and in early light the next morning
- Philae, the High Dam and the Nubian Museum in Aswan
- The Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum
Day-by-day itinerary
- Day1
Arrive in Cairo
You are met inside the terminal at Cairo International Airport, helped with your visa and luggage, and driven to your Giza hotel, about 45–60 minutes away. Rest after the long journey.
- Day2
Pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum
Reach the Giza Plateau at opening time for the Great Pyramid, the panoramic viewpoint and the Sphinx. In the afternoon, explore the Grand Egyptian Museum, with the Tutankhamun galleries and the Solar Boat of Khufu, and look out for the Nubian pieces that set the scene for the lake.
- Day3
Fly to Aswan: Philae and a felucca
Fly to Aswan, about 1 hour 20 minutes. Take a motorboat to Philae, itself one of the temples rescued by the UNESCO campaign and rebuilt on Agilkia Island. In the late afternoon, sail by felucca around Elephantine Island and the granite boulders of the First Cataract.
- Day4
Nubian Museum and the Unfinished Obelisk
Spend the morning at the Nubian Museum, which tells the story of Nubia from prehistory to the flooding of its villages, with a model of the rescue of Abu Simbel. Visit the Unfinished Obelisk in its quarry, then have a free afternoon, perhaps with tea on the terrace of the Old Cataract.
- Day5
Board your ship: Kalabsha
Drive past the High Dam to the embarkation jetty and board your ship around midday. In the afternoon a short boat ride takes you to Kalabsha, the Roman-era temple of the Nubian god Mandulis, moved here in some 13,000 blocks, along with Ramesses II's rock-cut temple of Beit el-Wali and the elegant Kiosk of Kertassi. The ship then sails south into the lake.
- Day6
Wadi el-Sebua, Dakka and Maharraqa
Spend the morning on deck as the ship sails between sandstone hills, watching for herons, kites and sometimes a crocodile on the shore. In the afternoon go ashore at Wadi el-Sebua, the Valley of the Lions, where an avenue of sphinxes leads to Ramesses II's temple, then visit the nearby temples of Dakka and Maharraqa.
- Day7
Amada, Qasr Ibrim and arrival at Abu Simbel
In the morning visit Amada, the oldest temple on the lake, built by Thutmose III and Amenhotep II and still bright with original paint, together with the rock temple of Derr and the painted Tomb of Pennut. After lunch the ship slows to sail past Qasr Ibrim, the clifftop fortress-town now marooned as an island, where landing is not permitted. Arrive at Abu Simbel in the evening to see the temples floodlit, or the sound and light show when it runs.
- Day8
Abu Simbel at dawn, back to Aswan and Cairo
Visit the Great Temple of Ramesses II and the Temple of Nefertari in the early morning, before the day visitors arrive from Aswan. Disembark and return to Aswan by road, about 280 km and 3–3.5 hours, or by the 45-minute flight where schedules allow, then take the evening flight to Cairo. It is a long day, rewarded by having seen Abu Simbel at its quietest.
- Day9
Depart Cairo
A private transfer takes you to Cairo International Airport for your flight home via the Gulf or Asia, or on to Luxor or the Red Sea.
Where you’ll stay
| Location | Accommodation |
|---|---|
| Cairo (Giza), 2 nights | Marriott Mena House or similar |
| Aswan, 2 nights | Sofitel Legend Old Cataract or similar |
| Lake Nasser cruise, 3 nights | Kasr Ibrim or similar Lake Nasser ship |
| Cairo, 1 night | Le Méridien Cairo Airport or similar |
What’s included
- 5 nights' hotel accommodation with daily breakfast
- 3-night Lake Nasser cruise from Aswan to Abu Simbel with full board
- Domestic flights Cairo–Aswan and Aswan–Cairo
- Private English-speaking Egyptologist guide on every touring day, including the lake cruise
- Private air-conditioned vehicle and driver for all transfers and touring, including Abu Simbel to Aswan
- Standard entry fees to every site in the itinerary
- Felucca sail and Philae motorboat
- Airport meet-and-assist service and 24/7 local support
Not included
- International flights from Australia or New Zealand (we can quote and book these)
- Egypt visa fee
- Travel insurance (compulsory)
- Abu Simbel to Aswan flight upgrade and the Abu Simbel sound and light show, where not included by the ship
- Drinks on board and meals not listed
- Tips for guides, drivers, crew and hotel staff
Destinations on this journey
Cairo & Giza · Aswan · Lake Nasser and Nubia · Abu Simbel
Lake Nasser Cruise and Abu Simbel in 9 Days: Cairo, Aswan and the Temples of Nubia: FAQs
How is a Lake Nasser cruise different from a Nile cruise?
It is quieter and more remote: only a handful of ships sail the lake, there are no towns or villages on the shore, and the temples see far fewer visitors. The ships are mid-sized and comfortable rather than lavish. Compare them in Lake Nasser cruise vs Nile cruise.
Can we sail north from Abu Simbel instead?
Yes. Northbound cruises usually take four nights and start by seeing Abu Simbel, which means getting there first by road or air. We use the three-night southbound sailing so you finish with Abu Simbel. Our Lake Nasser cruise guide sets out both routes.
Can we time this for the Abu Simbel Sun Festival?
Yes, if you book early. Around 22 February and 22 October the rising sun lights the statues in the sanctuary, and a cruise moored below the temple puts you in the right place before dawn. Expect thousands of people; see our Sun Festival guide.
Can we land at Qasr Ibrim?
No. Visitors are not permitted to land, so ships sail slowly past for 20–30 minutes while your guide explains its 3,000-year history. Bring binoculars. Read more on our Qasr Ibrim page.
Is there phone signal and Wi-Fi on the lake?
Expect little or no mobile coverage for most of the cruise and limited Wi-Fi on board, so download books, maps and anything you need in Aswan. Most guests find the disconnection is part of the appeal.
Can we add Luxor?
Easily. Fly to Luxor first and take a four-night Nile cruise to Aswan before the lake, turning this into a two-week trip; the Classic Egypt and Nile Cruise shows the Luxor section.
