If the Nile cruise is the part of Egypt you have always pictured, this trip gives it the centre of the week. Half your nights are on board a five-star ship, where you unpack once and the temples come to you: Karnak and Luxor, the Valley of the Kings, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae, with the Esna lock and long hours of river life in between.
We choose the four-night southbound sailing rather than the three-night northbound one because it spends longer at each stop and gives you a whole afternoon of cruising between Edfu and Kom Ombo. A private Egyptologist joins you at each site, separately from the ship's own groups, so you keep your own pace.
Cairo gets two nights, enough for the Pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum, and the last night is in an Aswan hotel, because cruise stops in Aswan are short and the town deserves an unhurried evening. For a longer version with Saqqara and Abu Simbel, see our 12-day Classic Egypt and Nile Cruise.
Journey highlights
- Four nights on a five-star ship from Luxor to Aswan, with full board
- Private Egyptologist at every temple, away from the ship's large groups
- Karnak, Luxor Temple and three tombs in the Valley of the Kings
- Sailing through the Esna lock and a cruising afternoon on the sundeck
- Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae temples
- The Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo
- A felucca sail and a night on land in Aswan
Day-by-day itinerary
- Day1
Arrive in Cairo
Our representative meets you inside the terminal at Cairo International Airport and drives you to your Giza hotel, about 45–60 minutes away. Rest, and if you arrive in daylight, look for the pyramids above the rooftops.
- Day2
Pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum
Start at opening time on the Giza Plateau with the Great Pyramid, the panoramic viewpoint and the Sphinx. In the afternoon, spend three or four hours in the Grand Egyptian Museum with the complete Tutankhamun collection and Khufu's Solar Boat. Evening at leisure.
- Day3
Fly to Luxor and board your ship
Take the morning flight to Luxor, about an hour, and board your ship in time for lunch. In the afternoon your guide leads you through Karnak, from the ram-headed sphinxes to the 134 columns of the Great Hypostyle Hall, then on to Luxor Temple as the lights come on. Dinner on board.
- Day4
Valley of the Kings and the Esna lock
Cross to the West Bank early for three royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon. Back on board for lunch as the ship casts off and sails south, passing through the Esna lock in the late afternoon or evening, when traders row alongside to sell cloth.
- Day5
Edfu and Kom Ombo
Go ashore by horse-drawn carriage to the Temple of Horus at Edfu, roofed and almost complete. Spend the middle of the day cruising, the best few hours of the trip for watching fields, palm groves and villages slide past. Late in the afternoon, visit Kom Ombo's double temple on the riverbank and its small crocodile museum.
- Day6
Aswan: High Dam, Obelisk and Philae
Visit the Aswan High Dam for the view over Lake Nasser, the Unfinished Obelisk in its quarry, and Philae, the Temple of Isis, reached by motorboat. In the late afternoon sail by felucca between the granite islands of the First Cataract. Final night on board.
- Day7
A day on land in Aswan
Disembark and move to your hotel. Spend the morning on an optional trip to Abu Simbel (by a 45-minute flight, schedules permitting, or about 3–3.5 hours each way by road), or take a boat to a Nubian village instead. End the day with a drink on the terrace of the Old Cataract.
- Day8
Fly to Cairo and depart
Fly from Aswan to Cairo, about 1 hour 20 minutes, timed to connect with your international flight home via the Gulf or Asia, or continue to the Red Sea.
Where you’ll stay
| Location | Accommodation |
|---|---|
| Cairo (Giza), 2 nights | Steigenberger Pyramids Cairo or similar |
| Nile cruise, 4 nights | Sonesta St. George I or similar five-star ship |
| Aswan, 1 night | Mövenpick Resort Aswan or similar |
What’s included
- 3 nights' hotel accommodation with daily breakfast
- 4-night five-star Nile cruise Luxor to Aswan with full board
- Domestic flights Cairo–Luxor and Aswan–Cairo
- Private English-speaking Egyptologist guide on every touring day, including the cruise
- Private air-conditioned vehicle and driver for all transfers and touring
- 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)
- Optional Abu Simbel excursion, Tutankhamun's tomb and entry inside a pyramid
- Drinks on board and meals not listed
- Tips for guides, drivers, crew and hotel staff
Destinations on this journey
Cairo & Giza · Luxor · Aswan
Nile Cruise Holiday in 8 Days: Cairo, a 4-Night Luxor to Aswan Cruise and Aswan: FAQs
Why sail from Luxor to Aswan?
The southbound sailing usually runs four nights against three going north, so there is more time at each temple and a proper afternoon of cruising. Our guide to which direction to cruise the Nile explains the trade-offs.
Is four nights on the river enough?
For most first-time visitors, yes: it covers every major temple between Luxor and Aswan. A seven-night return cruise adds Dendera and Abydos but repeats the scenery. See 3, 4 or 7 nights on the Nile.
Will we be with a big group on the ship?
You share the ship with other passengers for meals and on deck, but your private Egyptologist takes you to each site separately, at your own pace. Our Nile cruise guide covers ships, cabins and life on board.
What is included on board?
Full board (breakfast, lunch and dinner) is included, along with tea and coffee on most ships. Drinks with meals, alcohol, laundry and crew tips are extra. Read Nile cruise food and drink for what to expect.
Could we take a dahabiya instead?
Yes. A dahabiya is a smaller sailing boat that stops at quieter sites, usually over 4–5 nights from Esna to Aswan. Compare them in Nile cruise vs dahabiya.
