3-Night Nile Cruise from Aswan to Luxor with Abu Simbel

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

Day 1
Arrival in Aswan – Aswan Sightseeing – Overnight on the Nile Cruise
6 stops
1
Aswan
Your adventure begins with pickup from Aswan Airport, your hotel, or the train station. Meet your professional Egyptologist guide and transfer to your deluxe Nile cruise ship, where you'll check in and enjoy a delicious lunch on board.
1 hour • Admission ticket free
2
Abu Simbel Temple Complex
Built during the reign of Pharaoh Ramses II in the 13th century BC, the temples are among Egypt's greatest architectural masterpieces and are recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Great Temple is famous for its four colossal statues of Ramses II guarding the entrance, while the interior showcases beautifully preserved reliefs depicting military victories, religious rituals, and offerings to the gods.
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket not included
3
Aswan High Dam
After lunch, begin exploring the highlights of Aswan. Your first stop is the impressive Aswan High Dam, one of the greatest engineering achievements of the twentieth century. Learn how the dam controls the annual flooding of the Nile River, provides hydroelectric power, and created the vast Lake Nasser, one of the world's largest artificial lakes. Enjoy panoramic views over the dam and surrounding scenery. In the afternoon, you may relax on the sun deck or enjoy free time exploring Aswan's vibrant markets and beautiful Nile Corniche. Dinner is served onboard, followed by an overnight stay in Aswan.
1 hour • Admission ticket not included
4
Temple of Philae
Next, travel to the Philae Temple marina and board a motorboat for a relaxing ride across the Nile to Philae Temple, located on beautiful Agilkia Island. Dedicated to the goddess Isis, this magnificent temple complex features towering pylons, elegant columns, sacred sanctuaries, and beautifully carved hieroglyphics. Your guide will explain the fascinating mythology of Isis and Osiris as well as the remarkable UNESCO project that relocated the temple to protect it from flooding after the construction of the High Dam.
2 hours • Admission ticket not included
5
Unfinished Obelisk
If time allows, continue to the Unfinished Obelisk, located within Aswan's ancient granite quarries. Here you'll discover how ancient Egyptian craftsmen carved massive stone monuments and see the largest known obelisk ever attempted, still attached to the bedrock after a crack halted its construction.
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket not included
6
Aswan
Return to your cruise ship in the late afternoon. Relax on the sun deck with panoramic views of the Nile before enjoying dinner on board. Overnight in Aswan.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free
Day 2
Abu Simbel Excursion – Kom Ombo Temple
6 stops
7
Aswan
Begin your day with an early departure to one of Egypt's most spectacular archaeological treasures—the Abu Simbel Temples. Travel comfortably through the Nubian Desert before arriving at these magnificent rock-cut temples built by Pharaoh Ramesses II over 3,000 years ago.
3 hours • Admission ticket free
8
Abu Simbel Temple Complex
Explore the Great Temple of Ramesses II, famous for its four colossal statues guarding the entrance, and admire the beautifully preserved interior decorated with scenes of military victories and religious ceremonies. Visit the nearby Temple of Queen Nefertari, dedicated to the goddess Hathor and considered one of the most beautiful monuments honoring an ancient Egyptian queen.
2 hours • Admission ticket not included
9
Aswan
After your guided visit, return to Aswan and board your Nile cruise.
3 hours • Admission ticket free
Kom Ombo (Pass by)
Enjoy lunch as the ship begins sailing north through the peaceful waters of the Nile.
10
Temple of Kom Ombo
In the afternoon, arrive at the riverside Kom Ombo Temple, uniquely dedicated to two deities: Sobek, the crocodile god, and Horus the Elder, the falcon-headed god. Explore the symmetrical temple design, beautifully carved reliefs, ancient medical instruments depicted on the walls, and learn about crocodile worship in ancient Egypt. You may also visit the nearby Crocodile Museum, home to fascinating mummified crocodiles discovered in the temple area.
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket not included
Edfu (Pass by)
Return to your cruise for dinner as the ship continues its scenic journey toward Edfu. Relax onboard while enjoying the peaceful atmosphere of the Nile under the stars. Overnight near Edfu.
Day 3
Edfu Temple – Esna Lock – Luxor Temple – Sail to Luxor
4 stops
11
Temple of Horus
After breakfast, travel by horse-drawn carriage or shuttle to the magnificent Temple of Horus at Edfu, one of the best-preserved temples in all of Egypt. Built during the Ptolemaic period, this extraordinary monument remains remarkably intact, allowing visitors to appreciate its massive entrance pylons, grand courtyard, hypostyle halls, and sacred sanctuary. Your guide will introduce you to the legendary battle between Horus and Seth, one of the most important myths in ancient Egyptian religion, while explaining the detailed carvings that decorate the temple walls.
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket not included
Esna Lock (Pass by)
Return to your cruise and continue sailing toward Luxor. During the journey, experience passing through the famous Esna Lock, an impressive engineering structure that raises and lowers cruise ships to accommodate changing water levels. Watching the lock in operation is one of the highlights of cruising the Nile. Enjoy lunch onboard while relaxing on the sun deck and admiring traditional villages, palm groves, farmland, and beautiful Nile scenery.
12
Luxor Temple
Upon arrival in Luxor, visit the magnificent Luxor Temple, located in the heart of the city. Originally built by Amenhotep III and expanded by Ramesses II, this spectacular temple is famous for its grand entrance, colossal statues, towering columns, and beautifully illuminated evening atmosphere. Learn about the temple's role in ancient religious festivals and its connection to Karnak Temple through the historic Avenue of Sphinxes.
2 hours • Admission ticket not included
Luxor (Pass by)
Return to your cruise ship for dinner and your final overnight stay aboard the Nile cruise in Luxor.
Day 4
Luxor West Bank – Karnak Temple – Departure
5 stops
13
Valley of the Kings
Enjoy breakfast onboard before checking out of your cruise. Your final day begins on Luxor's legendary West Bank, one of the world's greatest archaeological areas. Explore the famous Valley of the Kings, where generations of pharaohs, including Tutankhamun, were buried in richly decorated tombs carved deep into the desert mountains. Visit several royal tombs and admire their remarkably preserved colorful wall paintings and hieroglyphics.
2 hours • Admission ticket not included
14
Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el Bahari
Continue to the spectacular Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, one of Egypt's most impressive architectural masterpieces. Built into dramatic limestone cliffs, this unique terraced temple honors Egypt's most successful female pharaoh and offers breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape.
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket not included
15
Colossi of Memnon
Next, stop at the Colossi of Memnon, two enormous seated statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III that have stood guard over the Theban Necropolis for more than 3,400 years.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free
16
Temple of Karnak
Complete your journey with a guided visit to the awe-inspiring Karnak Temple Complex, the largest religious site ever constructed in the ancient world. Wander through the enormous Great Hypostyle Hall with its towering sandstone columns, admire sacred obelisks, massive statues, and beautifully decorated temples dedicated to the god Amun-Ra. Learn how generations of pharaohs expanded Karnak over nearly two thousand years, creating one of humanity's greatest architectural achievements.
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket not included
17
Luxor
Following your visit, you'll be transferred to Luxor Airport, the train station, or your hotel, bringing your unforgettable 3-night Nile Cruise from Aswan to Luxor with Abu Simbel to a memorable conclusion.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free

Additional info

• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

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