3 Nights Nile Cruise from Aswan to Luxor with Abu Simbel

Four days, three nights, Aswan to Luxor — with Abu Simbel included in the price, not sold to you as an extra on the morning. Departures every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from Aswan, on a licensed Egyptian operator with an Egyptologist guide at every site.

At a glance

• Route — Aswan → Kom Ombo → Edfu → Luxor
• Duration — 4 days / 3 nights
• Departures — every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from Aswan
• Abu Simbel — included, with transport and entrance
• Board — full board on the boat; drinks are charged separately
• Guide — licensed Egyptologist, not a driver-guide

Day by day

Day 1 — Aswan: the High Dam, Philae and embarkation

We meet you at Aswan airport or the railway station and go straight to the Aswan High Dam and the Temple of Philae, the island sanctuary of Isis that UNESCO moved block by block to save it from the water. You board the boat in time for lunch and stay moored at Aswan overnight, with dinner on board.

Day 2 — Abu Simbel, then Kom Ombo at sunset

An early start for Abu Simbel — the two temples Ramesses II cut into the rock face, about three hours south. This is included in your price; on most cruises it is an optional extra you are asked to pay for on the day.

Back on board, we sail north and reach Kom Ombo towards sunset, which is the best hour to see it. Kom Ombo is the only double temple in Egypt, shared between Sobek the crocodile god and Haroeris the falcon. We then continue to Edfu, where the boat moors for the night.

Day 3 — Edfu at first light, then Luxor

We visit the Temple of Horus at Edfu at six in the morning, before the heat and the crowds. It is the most completely preserved temple in Egypt — the roof is still on it.

The boat then sails on through the Esna floodgate to Luxor, ancient Thebes. In the afternoon you see Luxor Temple and Karnak, the two ends of the Avenue of Sphinxes. Overnight moored at Luxor.

Day 4 — The West Bank, and disembarkation

After breakfast and check-out we cross to the necropolis: the Valley of the Kings with three open tombs, the terraced Temple of Hatshepsut, and the Colossi of Memnon. The day ends around 12:30, and we transfer you to Luxor airport, the railway station, or anywhere you need to be in the city.

Prices

Per person in US dollars, for the whole four days. These are winter rates, excluding the Christmas period. The price per person falls as the party gets larger, because the guide, the vehicle and the Abu Simbel run cost the same whether there are two of you or ten.

Travelling in summer, or over Christmas? The rates above cover the winter season outside the Christmas period. Egypt prices move a long way by season, so ask us for your exact dates and we will send the real figure rather than have you plan around the wrong one.

On your own, a party of seven, or a larger group? Tell us and we will quote you properly — single cabins and children’s rates are given on request. We would rather give you a real number than a range.

Choose your boat

Deluxe

MS Sarah, MS A Sara, Radamis II. Comfortable five-star river boats with a sun deck and pool, outside cabins with private bathrooms, and full board. This is the tier most of our travellers book.

Superior — add $50 per person per night

Concerto 1, Blue Shadow, Nile Story, Nile Dolphin. Larger cabins, better fit-out and a stronger kitchen than the Deluxe boats.

Luxury — add $120 per person per night

Concerto 2, Steigenberger Minerva, Legacy. The top of the Nile fleet: suites, wide private balconies and hotel-grade service on the water.

What is included

• Three nights on board in an outside cabin with a private bathroom
• Full board — breakfast, lunch and dinner every day on the boat
• Abu Simbel, with transport and entrance ticket
• Aswan High Dam, Philae, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Karnak, Luxor Temple, Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon
• All entrance fees for the sites listed in the itinerary
• A licensed Egyptologist guide throughout
• Arrival and departure transfers in Aswan and Luxor

What is not included

• Drinks. The boat is full board, not all-inclusive — soft drinks, bottled water beyond the daily courtesy, beer and wine are billed at the end
• Tips for the crew and the guide
• Domestic flights to Aswan and out of Luxor
• International flights and the Egyptian entry visa
• Optional extras such as the Luxor hot-air balloon
• Personal spending and travel insurance

Questions about this cruise

Is Abu Simbel really included?

Yes — transport and entrance ticket, on the morning of day two. Most operators sell this trip with Abu Simbel as a paid optional extra, which is why their headline price can look lower than ours. If you would rather not go, tell us and we will take it out and adjust the price.

Which days does the cruise leave?

Monday, Wednesday and Friday from Aswan. If your dates do not line up with a departure we will tell you honestly rather than move you onto a boat that does not suit you.

Is it 3 nights or 4 days?

Both — they are the same trip. You spend three nights on board and the itinerary runs across four days, from arrival in Aswan to lunchtime disembarkation in Luxor.

Why does the price drop for bigger groups?

Because the parts of the trip that are not the cabin — the guide, the vehicle, the drive to Abu Simbel — cost the same for two people as for ten. When there are more of you, that cost is shared out and we pass the saving on. The cabin itself does not get cheaper, which is why the drop levels off.

Are meals and drinks included?

All meals on the boat are included. Drinks are not. Egyptian Nile cruises run on full board rather than all-inclusive, so the bar is billed separately and settled when you disembark. A couple having wine with dinner each night should expect that to add up.

Can we start from Luxor instead?

Yes, in the other direction — Luxor to Aswan runs as a four-night sailing because it goes against the current. Ask us and we will send both options side by side.