9-Day Cairo & Lake Nasser Cruise Holiday
Three days in Cairo, then four nights afloat on Lake Nasser, calling at quiet lakeside temples before Abu Simbel. Internal flights, hotels, your cabin and an Egyptologist are included.
The short answer
9-Day Cairo & Lake Nasser Cruise Holiday is a 9-day, 8-night trip to Cairo, Aswan and Abu Simbel: 4 nights in Cairo and 4 on a Lake Nasser cruise. Starts on Fridays. It includes domestic flights, an Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transfers. Prices start at £1,939 per person, two sharing (Classic, October–April).
02Overview
A first look
Lake Nasser is the part of Egypt that most itineraries miss. It is the vast lake behind the Aswan High Dam, and a ship on it takes you to temples that were lifted to the shore as the water rose. Over four nights you call at Kalabsha, Wadi el-Seboua, Dakka, Maharraqa, Amada, Derr and Pennut, pause for a view of Kasr Ibrim and finish at Abu Simbel.
Before the lake there are three days in Cairo. You begin with a dinner cruise on the Nile, then spend a day at Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum and another at the Egyptian Museum, Coptic Cairo, Islamic Cairo and Khan El Khalili. A flight takes you to Aswan to join the ship. After Abu Simbel you drive to Aswan and fly back to Cairo for a final night. We arrange every flight, transfer, hotel and your cabin. This holiday is offered at the Classic and Prestige standards only.
What lingers
- 01The Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum in a single guided day
- 02A Nile dinner cruise with a show on your first evening in Cairo
- 03Four nights on a Lake Nasser ship on full board, with a Nubian show on board
- 04Lakeside temples at Kalabsha, Wadi el-Seboua, Dakka, Maharraqa, Amada, Derr and Pennut
- 05A photo stop at Kasr Ibrim and the temples of Abu Simbel to finish
- 06A final night in Cairo after the flight from Aswan, so you can fly home unhurried
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classicfrom £1,9395★ hotels · 5★ Nile cruises | Lake Nasser Cruise · 4 nightsNubian Sea Lake Nasser Cruise | £1,939May–Sep: from £1,690 | |
| Prestigefrom £2,3625★ deluxe hotels · 5★ deluxe Nile cruises | Lake Nasser Cruise · 4 nightsMovenpick Prince Abbas Lake Cruise | £2,362May–Sep: from £2,047 |
Hotels on bed & breakfast · 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.
- New
Day by day
Detailed itinerary
9 Days / 8 Nights · Cairo · Giza Plateau · Grand Egyptian Museum · Islamic Cairo · Aswan · Lake Nasser
- 1
Your driver is waiting in the arrivals hall at Cairo Airport and takes you to your hotel, where you can rest after the flight. In the evening you are collected for a dinner cruise on the Nile: around two hours afloat with a buffet and a live show, before a private transfer back to the hotel.
- 2
This is a full day, around 8 hours, with an English-speaking Egyptologist. Entrance fees and an air-conditioned vehicle are included. You begin on the Giza Plateau with the pyramids and the Great Sphinx and break for lunch with a view. The afternoon is spent at the Grand Egyptian Museum, which holds the Tutankhamun collection. You then return to your hotel for a second night in Cairo.
- 3
Another full day of about 8 hours, led by your Egyptologist, with entrance fees and transport included. First comes the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square, then Coptic Cairo, the city's old Christian quarter. After a local lunch you wander through Islamic Cairo, the medieval heart of the city, and end in the Khan El Khalili bazaar. The driver then returns you to your hotel.
- 4
A driver collects you from your hotel and takes you to Cairo Airport for the flight to Aswan, at a time set by the airline. You are met in Aswan and taken to your ship to check in. Once you are in your cabin, you are on full board until you leave the ship.
- 5
Kalabsha is the first temple you visit from the lake. It was moved to its present site when the High Dam created Lake Nasser. Your English-speaking Egyptologist goes with you, and the entrance fee is covered. The ship then carries on toward Wadi el-Seboua, where it spends the night.
- 6
Today is given over to temples, visited with your Egyptologist and with entrance fees included. You see Wadi el-Seboua, Dakka and Maharraqa, followed by Amada, Derr and Pennut. These sites are far quieter than the famous temples on the Nile, and the lake around them is part of the experience. After dinner there is a Nubian show on board.
- 7
The ship pauses for a photo stop at Kasr Ibrim and then arrives at Abu Simbel. There is a panorama stop first, and then your Egyptologist guides you through the Abu Simbel temples, with the entrance fee included. The lake cruise ends here, and you spend your last night on board.
- 8
You leave the ship after breakfast. A private vehicle drives you from Abu Simbel to Aswan and on to Aswan Airport for the flight to Cairo, which runs to the airline's schedule. In Cairo your driver meets you and takes you to the hotel for the night. It is a long day of travelling.
- 9
Breakfast is at the hotel, and then your driver takes you to Cairo Airport for the flight home. The transfer takes about 90 minutes, so please allow for it. The extra night in Cairo is deliberate. It gives us a buffer if the flight from Aswan runs late, so you arrive with a full day to spare before your international flight.
Bundled in
- Domestic flights
The fine print
What's included – and what is left out
Included
- Five nights in Cairo hotels with breakfast, and four nights on a Lake Nasser ship on full board
- Internal flights from Cairo to Aswan and from Aswan to Cairo
- All airport, hotel, ship and road transfers in an air-conditioned vehicle, including Abu Simbel to Aswan
- A Nile dinner cruise with a show in Cairo
- Entrance fees to every site in the itinerary, including the temples of Abu Simbel
- Lunch on days 2 and 3
- An English-speaking Egyptologist on all sightseeing days
- Meet and assist at the airport
Not included
- International flights to and from Egypt
- Egyptian entry visa
- Tips for guides, drivers and ship staff
- Drinks on board and meals other than those stated
- Travel insurance and personal spending
Field notes
From our Egyptologists
- 01
Be among the first at Abu Simbel on your last cruise morning, when the facade glows and crowds are thin.
- 02
Bring binoculars for Kasr Ibrim, which you pass by boat and only see from a distance.
- 03
Stay on deck after dark, as the lake has little light pollution and the sky over Nubia is spectacular.
- 04
Pack a sun hat and thin layers; landings at the temples are hot while the breeze on deck is cool.
Tailor it
Make it yours
You choose the standard of hotel and ship when you book. Ask us about extra nights in Cairo or adding a Nile stay in Luxor.
Your own specialist deals with each request before you book.
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- Travellers who want Cairo's major sights followed by something different: a ship on Lake Nasser, quiet temples and Abu Simbel. Suits couples, friends and return visitors who are happy with two flights and several hours of walking on sightseeing days.
Maybe not, if
- Travellers who need step-free access to every site, or who dislike long journeys. Days 2, 3 and 8 are long.
Honest assessment
The honest pluses and minuses, as our own team sees them after running this trip.
Highlights
- Lakeside temples that most Egypt itineraries miss, plus Abu Simbel
- Both internal flights and all transfers arranged for you
- A final night in Cairo before you fly home
Things to Consider
- Day 8 is a long travel day, with a drive and a flight
- Uneven stone, steps and little shade at the temples
- Luxor is not part of this holiday
Where it fits
A good second trip to Egypt, or a first trip for anyone who wants Abu Simbel and quieter temples. Luxor is not included.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Most Egypt holidays cruise the Nile between Luxor and Aswan. This one cruises Lake Nasser instead, calling at temples moved to the shore and finishing at Abu Simbel, with every flight and transfer booked for you.
Compare
Similar tours to compare
On the ground
Your route
Snapshot
Good to know
- Travel style
- Guided multi-day holiday with a Lake Nasser cruise
- Accommodation
- Cairo hotels and a Lake Nasser ship, Classic or Prestige standard chosen at booking
- Destinations
- Cairo · Giza Plateau · Grand Egyptian Museum · Islamic Cairo · Aswan · Lake Nasser · Kalabsha Temple · Wadi el-Seboua · Amada · Abu Simbel
- Includes
- 5 nights in Cairo hotels with breakfast · 4 nights on a Lake Nasser ship, full board · Flights from Cairo to Aswan and Aswan to Cairo · Entrance fees to every listed site · English-speaking Egyptologist on sightseeing days · All transfers in an air-conditioned vehicle
- Best for
- Travellers who want Abu Simbel and the lake temples · Return visitors looking beyond the Nile route · Those who enjoy a slow week afloat
The morning of
Meeting point & timing
- Where
- Cairo International Airport (CAI), Arrivals HallMap
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 and the flights
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 lake 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. Hotel and cabin prices depend on the child's age and the room or 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 a good deal of walking around archaeological sites, on uneven stone and sand, with steps. Several temples offer little shade, and the landings on the lake and the gangway to the ship involve steps. Day 8 is a long travel day, with a drive from Abu Simbel to Aswan followed by a flight. 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 say honestly which parts suit you.
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
The holiday uses two internal flights, a lake ship and private road transfers, and vehicle types vary, so we make no claim about carbon savings. Sightseeing is led by local Egyptologists and arranged through local suppliers in Cairo, Aswan and on the lake, so much of what you spend stays in the places you visit. We ask guests to bring a refillable water bottle and to keep their hands off painted temple walls.
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
01Is this a Nile cruise holiday?
No. The ship cruises Lake Nasser, the great lake behind the Aswan High Dam, rather than on the river. You call at temples on the shore and end at Abu Simbel. The temples of Luxor are not part of this holiday.02Are the internal flights included?
Yes. The flights from Cairo to Aswan on day 4 and from Aswan to Cairo on day 8 are booked for you and are included in the price. International flights are not.03Will I make my international flight?
Domestic and international tickets are separate bookings, so a late internal flight can cost you your connection. For that reason the holiday finishes with a night in Cairo before you fly home. If you choose to fly out on the day you reach Cairo, pick a late-evening or night departure and make sure your travel insurance covers missed connections.04Which ship and hotels will we have?
You choose a standard when you book, and we confirm the ship and hotels for your dates. The itinerary and sightseeing do not change.05What meals are included?
Day 1 is dinner on the Nile dinner cruise. Days 2 and 3 include breakfast and lunch. Days 4 to 7 on the ship are full board, with breakfast, lunch and dinner. Days 8 and 9 are breakfast only.06How do we get from Abu Simbel to Aswan?
The ship's cruise ends at Abu Simbel. On day 8 a private vehicle drives you to Aswan and then to the airport for the flight to Cairo. It is a long day, so wear something comfortable.07Is the sightseeing guided?
Yes. An English-speaking Egyptologist leads the sightseeing days in Cairo and the temple visits on the lake. Entrance fees and transport on those days are included.08What is not included?
International flights, the Egyptian visa, tips for guides, drivers and ship staff, drinks other than those stated, and travel insurance.09When is the best time to go?
October to April is cooler and the most comfortable for walking around the sites. Summers are very hot, so days begin early.
Last updated Product ID: TOU-CAI-444663
At a glance
- Length
- 9 days · 8 nights
- Starts
- Fridays only
- Route
- Cairo → Aswan → Abu Simbel → Cairo
- Nights
- 4 Cairo · 4 Lake Nasser cruise
- Includes
- Domestic flights, Egyptologist guide, entrance fees, transfers