5-Day Hurghada to Luxor & Aswan Nile Cruise Holiday
You are driven privately from Hurghada to Luxor, spend four nights on a Nile cruise ship that runs to Aswan, then are driven back. Karnak by night and a Nubian village visit come with the major temples.
The short answer
5-Day Hurghada to Luxor & Aswan Nile Cruise Holiday is a 5-day, 4-night trip to Luxor, Aswan and Hurghada: 4 nights on a Nile cruise. Starts on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays or Sundays. It includes an Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transfers. Prices start at £987 per person, two sharing (Essential, October–April).
02Overview
A first look
Holidaying on the Red Sea does not have to mean missing the Nile. This five-day holiday collects you in Hurghada, drives you to Luxor in about five hours and hands you over to a Nile cruise ship for four nights. The ship travels from Luxor to Aswan and calls at the great names: Karnak, Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae.
There are two extra treats. On your first evening you go back to Karnak for the sound and light show. In Aswan, on day 4, a Nubian village visit follows the sightseeing. On the final morning you leave the ship and are driven the seven hours back to Hurghada. Both long journeys are private and organised for you. You pick the standard of ship when you book, from budget to luxury, and the sightseeing is the same throughout.
What lingers
- 01A private drive from Hurghada to Luxor, about five hours
- 02Karnak and its Sacred Lake, Luxor Temple, then the Karnak sound and light show after dark
- 03The Valley of the Kings (three tombs), Hatshepsut's temple and the Colossi of Memnon
- 04Edfu and Kom Ombo temples on the way to Aswan
- 05Philae Temple, the High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk and a Nubian village visit
- 06Four nights aboard on full board, then a private drive back to Hurghada
Choose your comfort level
Prices are per person in GBP, from 2 people sharing a double room, including accommodation at the properties listed or similar.
| Comfort level | Where you stay or similar | Per personfrom, Oct–Apr | Choose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essentialfrom £987well-priced Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 4 nightsNephtis · Magic I | £987May–Sep: from £872 | |
| Comfortfrom £1,1225★ Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 4 nightsRoyal Princess Amira · Tower Prestige | £1,122May–Sep: from £949 | |
| Classicfrom £1,2575★ Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 4 nightsGrand Sun · Stephanie | £1,257May–Sep: from £949 | |
| Prestigefrom £1,5065★ deluxe Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 4 nightsSonesta Moon Goddess · Nile Serenity | £1,506May–Sep: from £1,218 | |
| Luxuryfrom £2,3335★ luxury Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 4 nightsSonesta St. George I · Esmeralda | £2,333May–Sep: from £1,410 | |
| Signature Collectionfrom £3,178Iconic heritage vessels | Nile Cruise · 4 nightsHistoria | £3,178May–Sep: from £2,179 |
Nile cruise on full board. You'll stay in these properties, or a similar choice of the same quality. Choose your date in the booking panel for the exact price.
Day by day
Detailed itinerary
5 Days / 4 Nights · Hurghada · Luxor · Edfu · Kom Ombo · Aswan · Qena
- 1
A private driver picks you up in Hurghada and makes the five-hour run to Luxor. You join your Nile cruise ship there, with the sightseeing arranged around your arrival. On the East Bank you see Karnak, Egypt's largest temple complex, including the Sacred Lake, followed by Luxor Temple by the river. An English-speaking Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transport are all included.
Once night falls you return to Karnak for the sound and light show, about two hours, which is also included. Lunch and dinner are served and you sleep aboard. Expect a full day that finishes late.
- 2
You spend the day across the river on Luxor's West Bank with your Egyptologist. The Colossi of Memnon, a pair of enormous seated figures of Amenhotep III, come first. After them is the Valley of the Kings, where your ticket opens three tombs, and the day ends at Queen Hatshepsut's terraced mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahari.
Guide, entrance fees and transport are included, and all three meals are served aboard the ship.
- 3
The ship works its way south and you step ashore at two temples, with your Egyptologist beside you. Edfu, the Temple of Horus, is one of the best-preserved in the country. Kom Ombo sits on the bank of the river and is a double temple, with one half for the crocodile god Sobek and the other for the falcon god Horus. Entrance fees and transport are included.
Time between the stops is yours to spend on deck, and breakfast, lunch and dinner are all aboard.
- 4
Aswan fills the day, with your Egyptologist guide throughout. You visit Philae, the temple of Isis that was moved to a new island, then the Aswan High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk, which is still lying in its granite quarry. Guide, entrance fees and transport are included.
The day also takes in a Nubian village visit, arranged with pickup and drop-off in Aswan, a boat and an air-conditioned vehicle as needed, a guide, and bottled water. Meals are all on the ship, where you spend a last night.
- 5
After a final breakfast aboard you disembark in Aswan, and your private driver sets off with you for Hurghada. The journey takes about seven hours, and nothing else is planned for the day. As it is a long drive, leave the evening free and book any onward travel for later that night or the following day.
The fine print
What's included – and what is left out
Included
- Four nights on a Nile cruise ship on full board
- Private transfer from Hurghada to Luxor on day 1
- Private transfer from Aswan to Hurghada on day 5
- English-speaking Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transport at every site in the itinerary, including three tombs in the Valley of the Kings
- Admission to the Karnak Temple sound and light show on the evening of day 1
- Nubian village visit in Aswan on day 4, with boat and air-conditioned vehicle as needed, a guide and bottled water
- Meals as stated: lunch and dinner on day 1, all meals on days 2 to 4, breakfast on day 5
- Taxes and service charges
Not included
- International flights to and from Egypt
- Egypt entry visa
- Hotel nights in Hurghada before or after the holiday
- Tips for guides, drivers and ship staff
- Drinks on board and meals other than those stated
- Premium tombs such as Tutankhamun and Seti I
- Travel insurance and personal expenses
Field notes
From our Egyptologists
- 01
Karnak is quieter early morning, before coach arrivals from Luxor hotels.
- 02
At Philae, the first boat departures usually give the best light on the water.
- 03
The Valley of the Kings tomb interiors involve stairs and narrow passages.
- 04
Bring small cash for toilets and drinks at rest stops between Hurghada and Luxor.
- 05
Summer departures need a hat, sunscreen and a refillable water bottle for open sites.
Tailor it
Make it yours
Pick your ship standard when you book. Ask us about adding Abu Simbel or extra nights in Luxor or Aswan.
Your own specialist deals with each request before you book.
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- Holidaymakers based in Hurghada who would like the Nile and its temples without leaving the Red Sea behind. Suited to couples, friends and solo travellers who are happy with two long drives and a busy first day that ends with an evening show.
Maybe not, if
- Travellers who need step-free access to every site, or who dislike long car journeys. Days 1 and 5 are long.
Honest assessment
The honest pluses and minuses, as our own team sees them after running this trip.
Highlights
- Karnak in daylight and after dark, the Valley of the Kings, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae in five days
- No flights: private road transfers from and back to Hurghada
- Four nights on one ship, so no repacking
Things to Consider
- Two long drives, about five and seven hours
- Uneven stone, steps and little shade at the major sites
- Abu Simbel is not included
Where it fits
A neat way to add the Nile to a Red Sea stay. Abu Simbel is not included, so tell us if it is on your list.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Most Nile cruises begin at the Luxor or Aswan airports. This one starts and ends in Hurghada by road, so it suits Red Sea guests who would rather not fly. You choose the ship standard; the sightseeing stays the same.
Compare
Similar tours to compare
On the ground
Your route
Snapshot
Good to know
- Travel style
- Guided Multi-Day Holiday with Nile Cruise
- Accommodation
- Nile cruise ship, standard chosen at booking
- Destinations
- Hurghada · Luxor · Edfu · Kom Ombo · Aswan · Qena
- Includes
- 4 nights on a Nile cruise ship, full board · Private transfer Hurghada to Luxor · Karnak sound and light show · Nubian village visit in Aswan · Private transfer Aswan to Hurghada · Entrance to the sites in the itinerary · Taxes and service charges
- Best for
- Guests staying in Hurghada · First-time visitors to the Nile · Travellers who want temples without changing hotels
The morning of
Meeting point & timing
- Where
- Hurghada hotel pickupMap
Before you go
What to pack & wear
What to bring
- Passport and any required travel documents
- Comfortable walking shoes with good grip
- Sun cream, SPF 30 or higher
- Sun hat and sunglasses
- Refillable water bottle
- Any personal medication
- Small day bag
- A light layer for the ship and the evening show
What to wear
- Light, breathable clothing for sun and heat
- Closed shoes for temples and uneven ground
- Clothes that cover shoulders and knees at mosques, temples and the village visit
- A hat and sunglasses
- A light jacket for winter evenings on the river and at the Karnak show
Children & families
Children are welcome. Every child has a seat in the vehicle, so transport, guiding and meals are charged at the adult rate at any age. Entrance tickets are free for children under 6 and full price from 6. Cabin prices depend on the child's age and the cabin used, so we give you the exact figure once you tell us the age at booking.
Accessibility
Who can join this
Expect a good deal of walking around large archaeological sites, over uneven stone and sand, with steps and a few narrow tomb passages. Karnak and the Valley of the Kings have long open stretches with little shade, and the sound and light show is outdoors in the evening. Getting on the ship, the boat to Philae and the boat for the Nubian village visit all involve steps or a gangway. The two road transfers are long: about five hours on day 1 and seven on day 5. Vehicles are private and air-conditioned, but we cannot promise wheelchair access at every site. Tell us what you need when you book and we will be honest about which parts will suit you.
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
This holiday uses a Nile cruise ship and two long private road transfers, and vehicle types vary, so we make no claim about carbon savings. Sightseeing is run through local suppliers in Luxor and Aswan, and the Nubian village visit brings some of your spending to the people who live there. Please bring a refillable water bottle and avoid touching the painted walls in tombs.
Licensed Egyptologist guides
State-licensed, and people we have worked with for years
Fair wages on the ground
Drivers + guides paid above market
Site preservation
We follow the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities' site rules: marked paths, no touching reliefs
Local teams, real help
Our own offices in Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Hurghada, Marsa Alam and Sharm El Sheikh
If plans change
Cancellation and refunds
If you cancel, your refund depends on how soon you let us know and on the kind of holiday. See our current cancellation and refund terms
Asked & answered
Frequent questions
01Where does the holiday begin and end?
In Hurghada. A private driver takes you to Luxor on day 1, and brings you back from Aswan to Hurghada on day 5.02How long are the drives?
Roughly five hours from Hurghada to Luxor on day 1, and roughly seven hours from Aswan back to Hurghada on day 5. Both are private.03Which ship will I be on?
You choose a standard when you book, from budget to luxury, and we name the ship for your dates. The route and sightseeing do not change with the standard.04Where does the ship go?
It travels from Luxor to Aswan over four nights. You see Karnak and Luxor Temple, the West Bank, Edfu and Kom Ombo, then Philae, the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk.05Is the Karnak sound and light show included?
Yes. On the evening of day 1 you attend the show at Karnak Temple, with admission included. It lasts about two hours and is held outdoors, so take a light layer in winter.06What does the Nubian village visit involve?
On day 4, once the Aswan sights are done, you visit a Nubian village. Pickup and drop-off in Aswan, a boat and air-conditioned vehicle as needed, a guide and bottled water are all included.07Which meals are included?
You have full board on the ship: lunch and dinner on day 1, then breakfast, lunch and dinner on days 2 to 4, with breakfast on day 5.08Do I get a Hurghada hotel with this holiday?
No. It starts and ends with a transfer, and the only nights included are the four aboard the ship. Your Hurghada hotel is booked separately.09Does the holiday include Abu Simbel?
No, Abu Simbel is not part of this itinerary. Ask us about adding it, or look at our longer Nile cruise holidays.10Will I catch my flight home to the UK?
The road trip from Aswan to Hurghada takes about seven hours and is booked separately from your international flight, so a late start or a hold-up could cost you the connection. A late-evening or night flight is safer, and one more night in Hurghada before flying is better still. Do take travel insurance that covers missed connections.
Last updated Product ID: TOU-HRG-295924
At a glance
- Length
- 5 days · 4 nights
- Starts
- Mon, Thu, Fri, Sat or Sun
- Route
- Hurghada → Luxor → Edfu → Kom Ombo → Aswan → Hurghada
- Includes
- Egyptologist guide, entrance fees, transfers