Overview
Across Luxor and Aswan, this five-day Nile cruise carries you deep into southern Egypt, where ancient temples line the riverbanks and the same waters that fed the pharaohs still drift past your cabin window. Your journey begins with a private transfer from your Cairo hotel and a short domestic flight to Luxor, where a 5-star cruise ship becomes your floating base. With a private Egyptologist at your side, you’ll trace the columns of Karnak Temple and the illuminated avenue of Luxor Temple, then cross to the West Bank for the rock-cut tombs of the Valley of the Kings and the terraced grandeur of the Temple of Hatshepsut. As the ship sails south, the days unfold at a comfortable pace: the falcon god’s stronghold at the Temple of Edfu, the riverside double sanctuary of Kom Ombo, and long stretches of deck time as palm groves and desert cliffs slide past. In Aswan, you’ll take in the High Dam and reach the island setting of Philae Temple by motorboat, with a free afternoon to explore at your own pace. An optional dawn excursion to the colossal monuments of Abu Simbel rounds out the route before your return flight to Cairo. With your guide, meals, transfers, and stays all handled, you focus only on the temples and the slow rhythm of the river.
Trip Highlights
- Wander Karnak Temple's forest of towering columns
- Stand before Luxor Temple's illuminated procession avenue
- Descend into the painted tombs of the Valley of the Kings
- Marvel at the terraced Temple of Hatshepsut beneath limestone cliffs
- Step into the well-preserved Temple of Edfu, shrine of Horus
- Visit the riverside double Temple of Kom Ombo
- Reach island-set Philae Temple by motorboat
- Take in sweeping views from the Aswan High Dam
- Cruise the Nile past palm groves and desert cliffs
- Add a dawn visit to the colossal monuments of Abu Simbel
Route: Cairo → Luxor → Nile Cruise (4 nights) → Aswan → Cairo
