Contents
Nile Cruise | Introduction
The Nile Cruise is a classic way to explore southern Egypt. The Nile River is the lifeline of ancient Egyptian civilization, and traveling from Aswan northward to Luxor passes through many significant temples and towns. The typical cruise duration is 3 to 5 days, with stops at world-renowned archaeological sites. Along the way, you can visit major attractions from Aswan to Luxor, while enjoying the convenience of travel without dragging your luggage or enduring long commutes. Each day begins with a new adventure as you disembark to explore ancient wonders. It's the most charming way to combine "transportation" and "sightseeing" in one journey.
Nile Cruise | Transportation Options
Getting Around
There are two main ways to experience a Nile Cruise:
1. Join a guided tour on board – where a guide leads you to temples with fixed schedules, which is very hassle-free.
2. Independent travel with just a cabin and meals – more flexible, but requires more personal planning.
The cruise stops are fixed, but you can arrange your own guide or transportation to visit the sights. For distant places like Abu Simbel, you’ll need to arrange a private car or a local tour, while closer stops can be reached on foot or by short rides. More detailed transportation tips for each attraction can be found in my upcoming articles.
Aswan to Luxor River Cruise (with guide)
Aswan to Luxor River Cruise (lodging only)
Cairo to Aswan
If you're starting from Cairo and heading to Aswan to begin your Nile Cruise, you can either fly or take the train. Aswan International Airport is the main air hub, with frequent flights from Cairo and Luxor. A flight from Cairo takes about 1.5 hours and is the fastest option. For international travelers, you'd usually fly into Cairo first, then connect to Aswan.
Taking the train is another popular mode of transportation, especially the overnight sleeper train, which is ideal for travelers looking to save time and accommodation costs. The train journey from Cairo to Aswan takes about 12-14 hours. Though longer, it saves a night's accommodation and offers the chance to enjoy the Nile River scenery along the way. For ticket purchasing methods and travel experiences, please see this article.
Nile Cruise | 4 Days 3 Nights Itinerary
Whether with a tour group or on your own, the most common itinerary from Aswan starts with a 4-day, 3-night journey. The trip includes Abu Simbel, Kom Ombo Temple, Edfu Temple, and the major East and West Bank temples of Luxor. It's a packed but rewarding trip, perfect for first-time visitors to Egypt who want to see all the highlights of ancient civilization.
Day 1 | Aswan
On the first day, the focus is on sights near Aswan city. Typical stops include Philae Temple, the Aswan High Dam, and the Unfinished Obelisk. Independent travelers can customize their plans as long as they return to the ship by evening.
Must Visit | Philae Temple
Located on Agilkia Island in the Nile, Philae Temple is a key religious site from the late Egyptian and Ptolemaic periods. Its detailed carvings depict myths of the goddess Isis. Allocate at least two hours here, and visit early morning or late afternoon.
The content of the Philae Temple is rich, and I have a more detailed introduction in this article.
Must Visit | Unfinished Obelisks
Commissioned by Hatshepsut, this enormous granite obelisk cracked during carving and was abandoned—now a major Aswan landmark.
Attraction | Aswan High Dam
A modern engineering marvel crucial to Egypt’s development, the dam formed Lake Nasser and regulates the Nile's flow. It's close to the Unfinished Obelisk. If you’re more interested in historical sights, you can skip this.
For more Aswan sights, check this article.
Day 2 | Abu Simbel & Kom Ombo
The ship stays docked in Aswan in the morning. Many visitors leave early for Abu Simbel. Those not going can explore more of Aswan. In the afternoon, the cruise heads to Kom Ombo for a visit.
Recommended Visit | Abu Simbel Temple
Built by Ramses II in the 13th century BCE, Abu Simbel is one of Egypt’s top sights. Whether through a guided tour or private car, the cruise will wait for passengers to return before moving on.
The content of the Abu Simbel Temple is rich, and I have a more detailed introduction in this article below.
Must Visit | Kom Ombo Temple
A rare double temple dedicated to Sobek (crocodile god) and Horus (falcon god). The best way to visit is via Nile Cruise.
The temple of Kom Ong Po is rich in content, and I've included it belowmy other post hereA more detailed introduction can be found in the following paragraphs.
Day 3 | Edfu Temple & Luxor East Bank
By early morning, the cruise reaches Edfu for a visit. Then it passes through Esna Lock, a mini highlight, and arrives in Luxor. East Bank sights typically include Karnak and Luxor Temples.
Must Visit | Edfu Temple
One of Egypt’s best-preserved temples, built during the Ptolemaic period. Reachable by local carriage from the dock.
The Temple of Edfu is rich in content, and I provide a more detailed introduction in this article.
Experience | Esna Lock
Esna Lock isn’t an official tourist attraction, but it’s definitely a highlight of the entire cruise journey—thanks to the towel sellers! While the cruise ship waits to pass through the lock, the engine shuts down, and suddenly, you’ll notice small boats paddling up, loaded with towels for sale.
These vendors tie their boats to the cruise ship and energetically shout “Hello! Hello!” to get passengers' attention. They unfold and display the towels from below. If someone shows interest, they roll up the towel and toss it up onto the deck for a closer look and to bargain. If a deal is made, the buyer can simply throw money down to complete the purchase.
Even if you don’t plan to buy anything, you should definitely head up to the deck—it's an entertaining spectacle. When we were there, no one on our ship bought a towel, but we still watched the whole lively scene for over half an hour!
While watching the towel-tossing show, the ship is actually queuing up to pass through the lock. The lock has two gates on each side and allows several ships to enter at once. After the cruise moves into the first gate, water is released to lower the water level, allowing the ship to descend to the lower part of the river.
You can stay on the deck and watch the entire water level adjustment process—it’s quite a fascinating experience in itself.
Must Visit | Karnak Temple
Located on the east bank of the Nile, the Karnak Temple is one of the largest and best preserved temples in Egypt. The construction of this temple took thousands of years and was expanded by dozens of pharaohs, so it is recommended to schedule at least 2-3 hours.
The Karnak Temple is rich in content, and I provide a detailed introduction in this article.
Must Visit | Luxor Temple
Luxor Temple was originally built by Amenhotep III and later expanded by Ramesses II. It faces Karnak Temple across the Avenue of Sphinxes, a long processional road lined with ram-headed sphinx statues. Unlike the grand scale of Karnak, Luxor Temple has a more refined and elegant feel.
In the evening, when the temple is illuminated, the atmosphere becomes especially enchanting—making it a perfect spot for night photography. It's recommended to spend 1–2 hours exploring the site.
The Luxor Temple is rich in content, and I provide a detailed introduction in this article.
Day 4 | Luxor West Bank
After three nights, you disembark and explore Luxor’s West Bank. Standard tours include the Colossi of Memnon, Valley of the Kings, and Hatshepsut Temple. Independent travelers can visit even more sites and consider staying an extra night. More West Bank info in this article.
Must Visit | Colossi of Memnon
The Colossi of Memnon are typically visited at the beginning or end of a West Bank tour, as they are conveniently located near the main archaeological sites. A visit takes about 10-20 minutes.
Must Visit | Valley of the Kings
Unlike the towering pyramids of the Old Kingdom, the tombs in the Valley of the Kings are discreetly hidden deep within the valley to protect them from tomb raiders. This clever concealment helped preserve many of the royal burials for centuries.
Inside several of these tombs, you'll find incredibly vivid wall paintings that remain stunningly colorful even after thousands of years. It's recommended to visit 3 to 4 tombs during your trip, and you should allow around 2 to 3 hours for the entire experience.
The Valley of the Kings is rich in content, and I have provided a detailed introduction in this article.
Must Visit | Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut
This temple was built by Hatshepsut, one of the most famous female pharaohs in Egyptian history. It's renowned for its unique terraced design and dramatic backdrop of towering cliffs, blending seamlessly into the surrounding natural landscape.
Hatshepsut’s reign is legendary—she rose to power as a regent but ruled as a pharaoh in both title and appearance. After her death, her successors attempted to erase her legacy by defacing statues and inscriptions. Despite this, the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut remains a must-visit site today, admired for its grandeur and architectural brilliance. Plan to spend around 1–2 hours exploring the temple.
The Hatshepsut Temple is rich in content, and I provide a detailed introduction in this article.
Nile Cruise | Accommodation Experience
Your accommodation is the cruise ship itself. There are various classes, from 3-star basics to 5-star luxury. Most include meals, lodging, and some guided excursions. Ships may also offer afternoon tea, basic entertainment, or performances.
Lodging Review | Nile Carnival Cruise
We sailed on Nile Carnival Cruise, a mid-to-high-end ship. Rooms featured large windows for river views and modern amenities (AC, TV, hairdryer, separated shower). Compact, but comfy for a moving hotel.
Public areas included a gym, workspace, lounge, spa, and pool.
Typical daily rhythm: breakfast, temple visits, lunch and rest, scenic cruising in the evening. Most guests relaxed in their cabins or on the sun deck, enjoying the Nile sunset.
After dinner, the lounge bar often had shows or parties.
Meals were buffet-style. While not gourmet, they were filling, diverse, and included Egyptian dishes—generally satisfying.
Further reading
- More Egypt posts
- More Luxor posts
- More Aswan posts
- More Luxor cruise attraction posts
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