Overview
Tour Description
Most Nile cruises last three or four nights. This one lasts seven, sailing from Aswan to Luxor and back again, so you see every major temple on the river without rushing and still have days to simply sit on deck and watch the river go by. Abu Simbel, a sunrise balloon flight over Luxor and a Nubian village are all included.
Highlights
- 7 nights full board on a 5-star luxury Nile cruise
- High Dam and Philae Temple in Aswan
- Kom Ombo and Edfu along the way
- Karnak, Luxor Temple and the Valley of the Kings
- Hot air balloon flight over Luxor at sunrise
- Private trip to Abu Simbel and a visit to a Nubian village
Itinerary
Day 1: Aswan: High Dam and Philae, board the cruise
We pick you up in the morning from your Aswan hotel or the airport, and your guide takes you to the High Dam and by boat to Philae Temple, the temple of Isis rebuilt on Agilkia Island. You then check in to your 5-star Nile cruise for lunch.
Meals: Lunch, dinner. Overnight: Nile cruise, Aswan.
Day 2: Kom Ombo and sailing to Esna
The ship sails north after breakfast. At Kom Ombo you visit the temple that looks out over the Nile, built in two mirrored halves with two entrances, two halls and two sanctuaries. Then you sail on towards the Esna lock.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight: Nile cruise.
Day 3: A day on the river
A free day on board as the ship passes through the Esna lock and sails on to Luxor. Read on the sun deck, swim in the pool, and watch village life along the banks.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight: Nile cruise, Luxor.
Day 4: Karnak and Luxor Temple
Your Egyptologist joins you after breakfast for Karnak, a complex of temples spread across more than 200 acres and built by generation after generation of pharaohs. After lunch and a rest on board, you visit Luxor Temple in the evening. It was built by Amenhotep III and Ramses II for the Opet festival, and it is lit beautifully after dark.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight: Nile cruise, Luxor.
Day 5: Hot air balloon and the West Bank
A driver collects you before dawn for a hot air balloon flight of 45 to 80 minutes over the West Bank. After breakfast you visit the Valley of the Kings, where Ramses II, Thutmose I and many other pharaohs were buried, the Temple of Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon. The ship then starts sailing south.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight: Nile cruise.
Day 6: Edfu and sailing back to Aswan
You visit the Temple of Horus at Edfu, whose walls show the battle of Horus against Seth. The ship continues upstream to Aswan.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight: Nile cruise.
Day 7: Abu Simbel and a Nubian village
An early start with a breakfast box, and a private car takes you and your guide to Abu Simbel. Ramses II carved the two temples into the sandstone cliff around 1250 BC: the Great Temple for himself and the smaller one for Queen Nefertari. Back in Aswan for lunch on board, you take a boat in the afternoon to a Nubian village to visit a family home and learn about Nubian culture.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight: Nile cruise, Aswan.
Day 8: Disembark in Aswan
After breakfast you check out and we take you anywhere in Aswan, including the airport or the train station.
Meals: Breakfast.
Included and Excluded
- Our staff’s assistance throughout the trip
- 7 nights on a 5-star luxury Nile cruise, full board
- English-speaking Egyptologist guide
- All cruise excursions in the itinerary, with entrance fees
- Private Abu Simbel trip
- Hot air balloon flight over Luxor
- Nubian village visit
- All transfers by modern air-conditioned vehicle
- All service charges and taxes
- Flights to and from Aswan
- Drinks on board
- Tips for the guide and crew
- Personal expenses
Prices:
What will it cost you?
Prices per person change with the season and how many of you travel. Set yours and see the real number — no email needed.
Note:
All the accommodation in Cairo, Luxor and Aswan hotels and Nile cruises are 5* ultra deluxe accommodations
Tour Attractions
FAQs
How much does the 7-night Nile cruise cost?
From $4,550 per person sharing a double cabin from May to September, and $6,550 per person from October to April. Single travelers pay $6,800 in summer and $8,200 in winter. Abu Simbel, the balloon flight and the Nubian village are included.
Why choose a 7-night cruise instead of 3 or 4 nights?
A 7-night round trip covers every major site between Aswan and Luxor at an easy pace, with a full day of sailing and time to rest between visits. It suits travelers who want the Nile itself to be the holiday.
Where does the cruise start and finish?
It starts and ends in Aswan. We can pick you up from Aswan Airport, the train station or a hotel, and take you back to any of them at the end.
Can I start the cruise in Luxor instead?
Yes. The same 7-night round trip can start in Luxor. Tell us your dates and we will check which direction fits your flights.
What is included in a luxury tour?
VIP airport service, private guides and vehicles, 5-star hotels, a deluxe cruise or dahabiya, and internal flights.
