5 Night Dahabiya Nile River Cruise from Luxor to Aswan

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

Day 1
Check in - Luxor Sightseeing – Sailing to Esna
4 stops
1
Valley of the Kings
Your journey begins in Luxor, where you’ll be warmly welcomed by your guide and transferred to board your elegant dahabiya. After settling into your cabin, enjoy a leisurely breakfast as you prepare for a full day of exploring the treasures of Luxor. Your guide will take you to the Valley of the Kings, Egypt's ancient pharaohs' burial site. This UNESCO World Heritage site holds over 60 tombs carved into limestone cliffs, decorated with vibrant, millennia-old paintings. You'll visit tombs of legendary rulers, including boy king Tutankhamun, whose nearly intact tomb was found in 1922. Your guide will explain the afterlife beliefs, symbolic art, and engineering marvels of these eternal sanctuaries. The cool tomb interiors contrast with the desert sun, adding to the mystery. Admire hieroglyphs still glowing with color and imagine the sacred rituals performed here before moving on to your next adventure.
2 hours • Admission ticket included
2
Temple of Hatshepsut
Next, you visit the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari, an architectural masterpiece carved into the cliffs. Rising in three terraces, this temple honors Egypt's only female pharaoh. Your guide will share stories of her reign and building projects. Stroll the colonnades and admire reliefs depicting her divine birth and the Punt expedition perfect moment to reflect on ancient history. a Next, stop briefly at a local alabaster workshop and bazaar, where artisans preserve ancient carving techniques. See how alabaster was crafted using simple tools and skilled hands. There's no pressure to buy - enjoy the experience and gain appreciation for this timeless craft.
1 hour • Admission ticket included
3
Colossi of Memnon
After Hatshepsut Temple, your guide will take you the Colossi of Memnon, the towering statues of King Amenhotep III. Standing at an impressive 18 meters high, these monumental guardians have watched over the Theban Necropolis for more than 3,000 years. Your guide will share the legends surrounding the Colossi, including the mysterious "singing" sound they were said to make at dawn in ancient times. Admire the incredible craftsmanship of the statues, noting the intricate details carved into their faces, bodies, and bases. From this vantage point, you can glimpse the surrounding landscape, including nearby temples, ruins, and the vast desert stretching toward the Nile. Photographers will find endless opportunities here, capturing the majesty of the statues and the dramatic play of light and shadow as the sun rises. Your guide will provide context about the Colossi's historical significance, their role in royal funerary practices, and the cultural legacy they continue to represent today.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free
4
Temple of Karnak
Then we will cross to the East Bank of Luxor, where the mighty Karnak Temple Complex awaits — the largest religious structure ever built. Its main temple, dedicated to Amun-Ra, was expanded by pharaohs across 2,000 years. Walk through vast courtyards and gateways, and stand beneath the towering columns of the Great Hypostyle Hall, their surfaces carved with hieroglyphs that still echo stories of divine glory. Pause at the Sacred Lake, once used for purification rituals. Your guide will share the legends of rulers who shaped Karnak, from Seti I and Ramses II to Hatshepsut. With its grandeur, spirituality, and artistry, Karnak is more than a temple — it is a chronicle of ambition and devotion that inspires awe after 3,000 years. After photos, return to your cruise ship for lunch. Spend the afternoon on the sundeck as the breeze carries you along the Nile, passing villages and palm groves. Dinner is served on board as you approach Esna, ready for the next chapter of your journey.
2 hours • Admission ticket included
Day 2
Visit Khnum Temple – Sail to Edfu
1 stop
5
Temple of Khnum
After breakfast on board, your guide will take you to visit the Temple of Khnum in Esna, a hidden gem of Upper Egypt. Dedicated to Khnum, the ram-headed creator god believed to shape mankind on his potter’s wheel, this temple stands out for its remarkable hypostyle hall, supported by massive columns adorned with lotus and palm capitals. The intricate reliefs depict Roman emperors offering to Egyptian deities, a fascinating fusion of cultures carved in stone. As you explore, your guide will reveal the temple’s symbolic role in creation, fertility, and the annual flooding of the Nile, bringing to life the myths and rituals that once defined Esna’s spiritual significance. After your visit, return to the Dahabiya where the rest of the day is yours to relax on board. Enjoy the stillness of being moored in Esna—watching local life unfold along the riverbanks, sipping tea on deck, or simply unwinding in the calm atmosphere of this historic town.
1 hour • Admission ticket included
Day 3
Visit Edfu Temple - Sail to Jabal as Silsilah
1 stop
6
Temple of Horus
After breakfast, your Dahabiya sails to Edfu to visit the Temple of Horus, a Ptolemaic masterpiece and the peak of over 3,000 years of temple architecture. Explore its pylons, halls and sanctuaries as your guide interprets reliefs showing Horus and Seth and explains the temple’s spiritual and engineering importance. Return to the Dahabiya for lunch on deck, then relax as the Nile drifts by—fields, palm groves and timeless riverside villages. In the afternoon, step ashore at wadi Shatt er-Rigale to stroll among palm groves at the desert’s edge. By evening sail to Gebel el-Silsila, the ancient sandstone quarry. Anchor beneath cliffs and enjoy dinner on board—perhaps under the stars—ending a day of history and serene Nile scenery.
1 hour • Admission ticket included
Day 4
Visit Jabal as Silsilah and Kom Ombo Temple - Sail to Daraw
2 stops
7
After breakfast on board, set out to explore Gebel el-Silsila, the great sandstone quarry that supplied blocks for Egypt’s temples. Walking among the carved cliffs and ancient shrines, you’ll sense the scale of work that fueled Egypt’s monumental architecture. Your guide will share the stories of workers, gods, and pharaohs who left their marks here. Return to the Dahabiya for lunch as you sail further along the Nile, watching the ever-changing riverbanks glide past—farmlands, palm groves, and quiet villages.
1 hour • Admission ticket free
8
Temple of Kom Ombo
By afternoon, arrive at Kom Ombo, where a unique double temple stands on the river’s edge. Dedicated to two gods—Sobek, the crocodile god, and Horus the falcon god—this remarkable site is rich with symmetry, medical reliefs, and tales of worship. Explore its chambers and admire the detailed carvings before returning to the ship. As evening falls, enjoy dinner on board while your Dahabiya anchors nearby, surrounded by the calm of the Nile under the stars.
1 hour • Admission ticket included
Day 5
Daraw Camel Market & Sail to Aswan
2 stops
9
At dawn, you head into the heart of Daraw’s famous camel market, where the energy is unmatched—an authentic spectacle of tradition and commerce. Traders in flowing galabeyas haggle with spirited voices, camels bellow as they shift in the dust, and the entire market comes alive with colors, sounds, and a rhythm that has pulsed here for centuries. It is not merely a market, but a cultural performance that offers a rare glimpse into the beating heart of Nubian life. Later, you return to the river, where your dahabiya awaits, its white sails catching the morning breeze as you embark on the final, tranquil leg of your timeless Nile voyage.
2 hours • Admission ticket included
10
Aswan
The Dahabiya sails gently into Aswan, gliding across the calm waters of the Nile as palm groves and golden dunes unfold on the riverbanks. Minarets rise in the distance, and the warm southern breeze carries with it the scent of Nubia, announcing your arrival to this timeless city where ancient temples meet the lively rhythm of modern life.
Admission ticket free
Day 6
Dahabiya Check Out - Aswan Highlights - Departure from Aswan
3 stops
11
Aswan High Dam
Enjoy breakfast on board before checking out. Afterward, begin your guided tour of Aswan, starting with the impressive High Dam. Built in the 1960s under President Gamal Abdel Nasser, the dam was designed to control the Nile’s floods, generate hydroelectric power, and provide water for irrigation across Egypt. From the top, take in sweeping views of Lake Nasser—one of the largest man-made lakes in the world—stretching into the horizon. Your expert guide will share insights into the dam’s remarkable engineering achievements, its role in transforming Egypt’s agricultural economy, and the cultural impact of its construction, including the UNESCO-led campaign to relocate ancient monuments threatened by the rising waters. Feel the cool breeze off the lake and admire the dramatic contrast between the shimmering blue water and the golden desert before continuing on to your next Aswan landmark.
1 hour • Admission ticket included
12
Temple of Philae
Next, enjoy a scenic motorboat ride across the tranquil waters to Agilika Island, where the beautiful Philae Temple awaits. Dedicated to Isis, the revered goddess of magic and motherhood, this temple is celebrated for its graceful colonnades, intricate reliefs, and romantic island setting. Your guide will share the temple's fascinating history, including its rescue and relocation by UNESCO to save it from the rising waters of Lake Nasser. Wander through the courtyards, admire the vivid carvings, and feel the serene atmosphere that has inspired travelers for centuries. After your visit, glide back to the mainland and stop at a traditional perfume shop, where you'll discover the ancient art of fragrance-making. Learn how essential oils and scents were crafted in Pharaonic times, sample exotic aromas, and perhaps take home a bottle as a fragrant memory of your journey — please note that any purchases made at the perfume shop are at your own expense and not included in the tour price.
1 hour • Admission ticket included
13
Unfinished Obelisk
Continue to the Unfinished Obelisk, still connected to its bedrock and carved from red granite in the ancient quarries of Aswan. Intended to honor Amun-Ra, it would have been the largest obelisk ever erected, but construction was abandoned when a deep crack appeared in the stone. Your guide will explain ancient quarrying techniques and the immense effort required to shape and transport such monumental works. At the end of the tour, we will transfer you to Aswan Airport for your flight to Cairo, ensuring a smooth and comfortable journey. Optional: For those wishing to return to Luxor, a private transfer can be arranged at an additional cost, either by car or by sailing back on the Dahabiya itself.
1 hour • Admission ticket included

Additional info

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Each cabin includes a private bathroom and full onboard facilities for your comfort.
• Optinal: For those wishing to return to Luxor, a private transfer can be arranged at an additional cost, either via car or by sailing back on the Dahabiya itself.

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