Nile cruises, Luxor to Aswan
Egypt Nile cruise tours, with your own guide at every temple
A 5-star Nile cruise moves you between Luxor and Aswan while you sleep, with full board on the way. The sightseeing is private: your own Egyptologist and vehicle at each stop.
No deposit required · Personalized itinerary within 24 hours (Sun–Thu) · 100% private travel
The cruise on our journeys
- Route
- Luxor to Aswan, sailing south. You fly from Cairo to Luxor, see Karnak and Luxor Temple, and board the same day. You leave the ship in Aswan and fly on.
- Nights on board
- 4 nights on each journey below. No hotel changes between Luxor and Aswan.
- Meals
- Full board on the cruise: breakfast, lunch and dinner while you are on board. Drinks on the Nile cruise are not included.
- The ship
- MS Le Fayan, or similar: a 5-star Nile cruise. Every journey on this page is priced with it, and you can upgrade.
- Sightseeing
- Private, with your own guide and vehicle: the Valley of the Kings and the Temple of Hatshepsut on the West Bank, the Temple of Horus at Edfu, the double temple of Kom Ombo, and in Aswan the High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk and a felucca sail around Elephantine Island. Entrance fees are included.
- Flights
- Domestic flights are included: Cairo to Luxor at the start, and from Aswan to Cairo or Hurghada, depending on the journey.
- Not included
- Drinks on the Nile cruise, international flights to and from Egypt, the Egypt visa fee, travel insurance and tipping.
- Price basis
- Per person, for 2 travelers sharing, with 5-star hotels and a 5-star Nile cruise. Groups of 3 or more pay less per person. Your exact price is fixed in writing before you pay.
What “or similar” means. The hotels and Nile cruise named on each journey are the ones we plan for. If one is unavailable on your dates, we offer an alternative of the same star rating and a comparable location and standard. We name it in your written quotation before you pay or anything is booked, and you can ask for a different option.
Journeys with a Nile cruise
Every one of our journeys that includes the cruise. Each is a starting point: we adjust the days, the pace and the hotels to you. Prices are per person, 2 sharing. See what every private tour includes.
Cruise, luxury ship or dahabiya
The three choices in our trip estimator, per person.
5-star Nile cruise
Included in every journey above. MS Le Fayan, or similar, with full board.
Luxury Nile cruise ship
+ $250–$400 per person. An upgrade from the standard 5-star ship; ask for it when you inquire.
Private dahabiya
+ $600–$900 per person. A small sailing boat with a handful of cabins, quieter and more private than the large cruise ships. Added on request.
These are estimates, the same as the trip estimator on each cruise journey’s page. Your exact price is fixed in writing before you pay.
When to go
What the seasons mean for a cruise.
October to April
The season. Days in Luxor sit in the seventies Fahrenheit (twenties Celsius), so a full day at the temples is comfortable. It is also when the sites are busiest. Bring warm layers for evenings from December to February.
Christmas and New Year
The peak within the peak. The Nile boats fill months ahead, and 20 December to 5 January is priced separately. If your dates are fixed to a school vacation, book early.
May to September
Luxor and Aswan are regularly above 105°F (40°C), so sightseeing starts early and the middle of the day is spent indoors. It is also considerably cheaper and far quieter.
For a first trip, our suggestion is late October or March. Best time to visit Egypt, month by month →
Nile cruise questions
Is the Nile cruise private?
The sightseeing is: your own Egyptologist guide and vehicle at every stop, as on all our journeys. The ship itself is a 5-star cruise ship. If you want the boat to be quieter and more private too, ask about a dahabiya, a small sailing boat with a handful of cabins.
What is included on board?
Your nights on the cruise and full board: breakfast, lunch and dinner. Drinks on the Nile cruise are not included, and neither is tipping. Before you travel, we tell you in writing what tipping is normal for each part of your trip.
How far ahead should we book a Nile cruise?
Two to three months ahead gives the most choice of Nile cruise cabins and hotels, especially for Christmas, New Year and December to January. We can move faster when needed.
Can we see Abu Simbel on a cruise journey?
Yes. Abu Simbel is three hours south of Aswan. Some of the journeys above include the excursion; on the others we can add it as an extra, by road or by air.
Tell us what you have in mind
Your day-by-day plan and estimated price within 24 hours (Sun–Thu). Nothing is booked until you approve it.
Plan My TripNo deposit required · Personalized itinerary within 24 hours (Sun–Thu) · 100% private travel