5-Day Marsa Alam to Luxor & Aswan Nile Cruise Holiday
You are driven privately between Marsa Alam and the Nile and spend four nights on a cruise ship in between, visiting the temples and tombs of Luxor, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Aswan and sailing a felucca at sunset.
The short answer
5-Day Marsa Alam to Luxor & Aswan Nile Cruise Holiday is a 5-day, 4-night trip to Luxor, Aswan and Marsa Alam: 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 £1,077 per person, two sharing (Essential, October–April).
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 £1,077well-priced Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 4 nightsNephtis · Magic I | £1,077May–Sep: from £962 | |
| Comfortfrom £1,2115★ Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 4 nightsRoyal Princess Amira · Tower Prestige | £1,211May–Sep: from £1,038 | |
| Classicfrom £1,3465★ Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 4 nightsGrand Sun · Stephanie | £1,346May–Sep: from £1,038 | |
| Prestigefrom £1,5965★ deluxe Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 4 nightsSonesta Moon Goddess · Nile Serenity | £1,596May–Sep: from £1,308 | |
| Luxuryfrom £2,4225★ luxury Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 4 nightsSonesta St. George I · Esmeralda | £2,422May–Sep: from £1,500 | |
| Signature Collectionfrom £3,268Iconic heritage vessels | Nile Cruise · 4 nightsHistoria | £3,268May–Sep: from £2,268 |
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 · Marsa Alam · Luxor · Edfu · Kom Ombo · Aswan
- 1
A private car picks you up at Marsa Alam and takes you across to the Nile at Luxor. Because you change city, the visits are arranged around your arrival. Karnak, Egypt's largest temple complex, is first, including the Sacred Lake, followed by Luxor Temple on the river front. After that you board your Nile cruise ship.
The English-speaking Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transport are all included. Lunch and dinner are served, and you spend the night on the ship.
- 2
The West Bank fills the day, with your Egyptologist guide. You visit the Colossi of Memnon, three tombs in the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut's terraced mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahari. The Valley of the Queens is a separate half-day outing, with a private vehicle, a private licensed Egyptologist guide and the ticket included. Expect plenty of walking in strong sun.
Guide, entrance fees and transport are included, and all meals are on the ship.
- 3
Two riverside temples are on today's programme, visited with your Egyptologist guide. At Edfu the Temple of Horus is among the best preserved in the country. Kom Ombo is a double temple on the bank, dedicated to Sobek the crocodile god and to Horus the falcon god. Entrance fees and transport are included. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are taken on board.
- 4
Aswan is your final day of sightseeing, with your Egyptologist guide. The temple of Isis at Philae was relocated to its island when the High Dam went up, and you see the dam too. The Unfinished Obelisk is where it was abandoned, in the granite quarry.
As the light softens you step on to a felucca at the cruise pier for a sunset sail of around three hours, circling Elephantine Island and Kitchener's Island with views towards the Aga Khan mausoleum. Entrance fees and transport are included, as is the transfer to the dock and back. One more night on the ship follows.
- 5
Breakfast on board is your last meal of the cruise. You then leave the ship and a private car begins the journey from Aswan to Marsa Alam, with no sightseeing planned. The itinerary gives no journey time, so ask us for the pickup time and the expected arrival before you arrange flights or onward plans.
02Overview
A first look
Marsa Alam is on Egypt's southern Red Sea coast, and the Nile is a long way inland. This five-day holiday takes care of the journey. A private car collects you on day one and drives you to Luxor, where Karnak and Luxor Temple come before you board a Nile cruise ship for four nights, full board.
The West Bank on day two includes the Valley of the Queens. Edfu and Kom Ombo follow, and you end at Aswan with Philae, the High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk and a felucca ride at sunset. On day five a private car returns you to the coast. You decide on the standard of ship when you book, from budget to luxury, and we confirm the vessel for your dates.
What lingers
- 01Private road transfers between Marsa Alam and Luxor on day one, and Aswan and Marsa Alam on day five
- 02Karnak and its Sacred Lake, with Luxor Temple, before you board the ship
- 03The Valley of the Kings (three tombs), the Valley of the Queens, Hatshepsut's temple and the Colossi of Memnon
- 04The temples of Edfu and Kom Ombo on the river
- 05Philae, the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk at Aswan
- 06A felucca ride at sunset around Elephantine Island on day four
- 07Four nights aboard a Nile cruise ship, full board
The fine print
What's included – and what is left out
Included
- Four nights on a Nile cruise ship on full board
- Private road transfer from Marsa Alam to Luxor on day 1
- Private road transfer from Aswan back to Marsa Alam on day 5
- English-speaking Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transport at every site in the cruise sightseeing, including three tombs in the Valley of the Kings
- Valley of the Queens half-day on day 2 with a private vehicle, a private licensed Egyptologist guide and the entrance ticket
- Sunset felucca ride in Aswan on day 4, with transfer to the dock and return and entrance fees
- Meals as stated: lunch and dinner on day 1, all meals on days 2 to 4, breakfast on day 5
Not included
- International flights to and from Egypt
- Egypt entry visa
- Hotel nights in Marsa Alam 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
At Karnak Temple, the earliest entry usually has the fewest coach groups and the softest light.
- 02
The West Bank of Luxor is hotter, so bring water and expect uneven stone steps.
- 03
At Philae Temple, afternoon light is often better for photos on the water approach.
- 04
Wear closed shoes with grip, especially around worn limestone and sandstone.
- 05
In Aswan, ask about the north side viewpoints at the High Dam for clearer sightlines.
Tailor it
Make it yours
Choose 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
- Visitors on the southern Red Sea coast who want the Nile and its temples. Suits couples, friends and solo travellers happy with long drives at each end.
Maybe not, if
- Travellers who need step-free access to every site, or who dislike long drives.
Honest assessment
The honest pluses and minuses, as our own team sees them after running this trip.
Highlights
- Karnak, both Valleys on the West Bank, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae in five days
- No flights: private road transfers from and back to Marsa Alam
- Four nights on one ship, so no repacking
- A sunset felucca ride in Aswan on day 4
Things to Consider
- Two long road transfers
- Uneven stone, steps and little shade at the major sites
- Abu Simbel is not included
Where it fits
A good way to add the Nile to a stay on the southern Red Sea coast. Abu Simbel is not included.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Most Nile cruises begin at Luxor or Aswan airports. This one begins and ends at Marsa Alam by road, so it suits Red Sea guests who prefer not to fly. The ship standard is your choice; the sightseeing does not change.
Compare
Similar tours to compare
On the ground
Your route
Snapshot
Good to know
- Travel style
- Guided multi-day holiday with a Nile cruise
- Accommodation
- Nile cruise ship, standard chosen at booking
- Destinations
- Marsa Alam · Luxor · Edfu · Kom Ombo · Aswan
- Includes
- 4 nights on a Nile cruise ship, full board · Private road transfer from Marsa Alam to Luxor · Private road transfer from Aswan back to Marsa Alam · Valley of the Queens half-day with a private guide · Sunset felucca ride in Aswan · Entrance to the sites in the itinerary
- Best for
- Guests staying at Marsa Alam · First-time visitors to the Nile · Travellers who prefer not to fly
The morning of
Meeting point & timing
- Where
- Marsa Alam pickup pointMap
Before you go
What to pack & wear
What to bring
- Passport and any visa or travel documents
- Comfortable walking shoes with good grip
- Sun cream, SPF 30 or higher
- Sun hat and sunglasses
- Refillable water bottle
- Any regular medication
- Small day bag
- A light layer for the ship
What to wear
- Light, breathable clothing for sun and heat
- Closed shoes for temples and uneven ground
- Clothing that covers shoulders and knees at mosques and temples
- A hat and sunglasses
- A light jacket for evenings on the river in winter
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
This holiday involves walking around large archaeological sites, on uneven stone and sand, with steps and some narrow tomb passages. The Valley of the Kings, the Valley of the Queens and Karnak have long outdoor stretches with little shade. Boarding the ship, the boat to Philae and the felucca involve steps and a gangway. Both private road transfers between Marsa Alam and the Nile are long. Vehicles are private and air-conditioned where required, but we cannot promise wheelchair access at every site. Tell us your needs when you book and we will say honestly which parts suit you.
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
The holiday uses a Nile cruise ship, a sailing felucca and two long private road transfers, and vehicle types vary, so we make no claim about carbon savings. Sightseeing is arranged through local suppliers in Luxor and Aswan, so much of what you spend stays in the places you visit. We ask guests to bring a refillable water bottle and not to touch 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 start and finish?
In Marsa Alam. A private driver takes you to Luxor on day 1, and a private transfer brings you from Aswan back to Marsa Alam on day 5.02How long are the road transfers?
Each is a long road journey. The itinerary does not state a time, so we confirm the pickup time and expected arrival with you when you book.03Which ship will we have?
You choose a standard when you book, from budget to luxury, and we name the ship for your dates. The route and the sightseeing are the same at every standard.04Where does the ship go?
You join it at Luxor on day 1 and spend four nights on the Nile. You see Karnak and Luxor Temple, the West Bank, Edfu and Kom Ombo, then Philae, the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk in Aswan.05What is the Valley of the Queens half-day?
It is a trip on day 2 to the Valley of the Queens, on Luxor's West Bank, with a private vehicle, a private licensed Egyptologist guide and the entrance ticket. It comes on top of the West Bank sightseeing.06What is the sunset felucca ride?
On day 4 a felucca, the traditional Nile sailing boat, takes you for about three hours around Elephantine Island and Kitchener's Island, past the Aga Khan views, as the sun goes down. The transfer to the dock and back and the entrance fees are included.07Are meals included?
Yes, full board on the ship: lunch and dinner on day 1, breakfast, lunch and dinner on days 2 to 4, and breakfast on day 5.08Is a hotel in Marsa Alam included?
No. The holiday begins and ends with a road transfer, and the only nights included are the four on the ship. Your Marsa Alam hotel is booked separately.09Is Abu Simbel included?
No. This itinerary does not include Abu Simbel. Ask us if you would like it added.10Will I make my flight home?
The road back from Aswan to Marsa Alam is a long one, and your international flight is a separate booking, so a delay on the way could cost you the connection. We would add a final night on the coast. If you have to fly the same day, pick a late-evening or night flight, and check that your travel insurance covers a missed connection.
Last updated Product ID: TOU-MRS-652579
At a glance
- Length
- 5 days · 4 nights
- Starts
- Mon, Thu, Fri, Sat or Sun
- Route
- Luxor → Edfu → Kom Ombo → Aswan → Marsa Alam
- Includes
- Egyptologist guide, entrance fees, transfers