Abu Simbel at either end
Abu Simbel is a day trip from Aswan and nowhere else. Beginning and finishing here means taking it before you board or after you return, whichever suits the flights.
Seven nights · out and back
Aswan Round-Trip Nile Cruises
Base yourself in the quieter city, with Abu Simbel at either end.
220 kilometres, five moorings, one direction.
- 01
Aswan
Board in time for lunch, included on the day you arrive. Philae, the High Dam and the islands from here; Abu Simbel fits the day before boarding.
- 02
Kom Ombo
Sobek and Horus on the bank, straight off the gangway.
- 03
Edfu
The Temple of Horus by horse-carriage — northbound arrivals tend to be early, ahead of the crowds.
- 04
Esna
The lock, taken both ways.
- 05
Luxor
The turn: Karnak, Luxor Temple and the West Bank before sailing back south.
- 06
Aswan
Back where you began. Disembark after breakfast, with Abu Simbel still available if you left it until now.
The Aswan round trip sails north to Luxor and back across seven nights. Same temples as the Luxor version and the same no-internal-flight logic — what differs is which city you sleep in first and last, and Aswan is comfortably the calmer of the two.
It also makes Abu Simbel straightforward. It is a day trip from Aswan, so on this shape it sits before you sail or after you return, rather than being squeezed into a one-way itinerary.
Why turn at Luxor rather than begin there
Aswan is the calmer base
Luxor is busier, hotter in the streets and heavier with traffic. If your first day in Upper Egypt is also your first off a long-haul flight, Aswan is a gentler place to arrive.
No internal flight
As with any round trip, you fly into one airport and out of the same one. No positioning flight, no second set of transfers, no luggage moved mid-holiday.
Karnak mid-week
On this shape Karnak falls in the middle rather than as an opener or a finale. Some guests prefer the largest temple when they are neither jet-lagged nor packing.
What you stop at
Sailing this route
97 ships sail this route, across four tiers, typically 7 nights.
Comfort5-Star Standard
16 ships
Comfort
Princess Sarah II Nile Cruise
Princess Sarah II is a Comfort-tier Nile cruise between Aswan and Luxor, offered on 3, 4 or 7-night full-board programmes. Routes call at Kom Ombo and Edfu and include guided visits to Luxor East Bank and the West Bank. All excursions are led by an English-speaking Egyptologist, small groups maximum eight guests. Unlike larger Nile cruise ships, Princess Sarah II has panoramic windows in every cabin and on-deck social spaces for uninterrupted river views. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator and arrange meet-and-assist, private air-conditioned transfers, and onboard assistance. Onboard facilities include a pool, sun deck, gym, daily housekeeping and a main dining room. Optional excursions such as Abu Simbel can be arranged for an additional fee.
Comfort
Princess Sarah Nile Cruise
Comfort
Queen of Sheeba Nile Cruise
Queen of Sheeba Nile Cruise is a river vessel offering full-board sailings on the Nile, with 72 suite-cabins featuring private bathrooms and large windows. Cabins are located on the main or upper deck. Packages typically cover 3 or 4 nights, with shore excursions included at sites such as Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, the Temple of Horus at Edfu, Kom Ombo, Philae and the Valley of the Kings. The vessel sails weekly in both directions between Luxor and Aswan. On board, guests have access to a recently refurbished lounge bar with Egyptian and Moorish interior details and a multi-cuisine restaurant. Arrival transfers from the airport, train station or hotel are included.
Comfort
Radamis II Nile Cruise
Radamis II is a Comfort Nile cruise operating 3- and 4-night sailings between Aswan and Luxor, calling at Kom Ombo and Edfu. All guided excursions are led by an English-speaking Egyptologist in small groups, maximum eight travellers. Cabins have panoramic windows, individual air-conditioning and bathrooms with full-size bathtubs; public areas include a sun deck, swimming pool and a barbecue area. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator and we arrange meet-and-assist, private air-conditioned transfers and on-board coordination. We do not run large coach-group excursions, so visits are paced for photography and short walks rather than rushed coach drop-offs. Choose the shorter Friday Aswan to Luxor option or the Monday Luxor to Aswan sailing, both timed to include the West Bank and East Bank highlights of Luxor.
Comfort
Royal Esadora Nile Cruise
Sail between Aswan and Luxor on board Royal Esadora, visiting Kom Ombo, Edfu, Luxor West Bank and Luxor East Bank. The vessel provides a shaded sun deck with a small pool, an air-conditioned lounge, an on-board massage room and a boutique. We provide English-speaking Egyptologists who lead excursions for groups capped at eight guests. Unlike many large coach sightseeing packages, excursions are run in small guided groups. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator and we coordinate transfers and onshore logistics while you travel in Egypt. Guided visits include the temple complexes at Kom Ombo and Edfu; optional visits to Abu Simbel can be arranged by road or by flight for an extra fee. Expect walking on uneven ancient stone and limited shade at some open-air sites, so bring sun protection and comfortable shoes.
Comfort
Royal Princess Nile Cruise
The Royal Princess Nile Cruise sails between Aswan and Luxor, calling at Kom Ombo, Edfu, Luxor West Bank and Luxor East Bank. The route focuses on temple visits and short shore excursions, with mornings allocated for landings before the midday heat. We limit groups to a maximum of eight participants, so you will not travel on a large coach-style tour. Unlike many short cruises that rush Edfu and Kom Ombo, this itinerary allows unhurried visits to both sites. Onboard the vessel you will find a sun deck with pool, social lounges and cabins with panoramic Nile views, making river travel an uninterrupted way to move between Upper Egypt’s principal temples. We arrange local transfers, Egyptologists for guided visits and meet-and-assist at embarkation and disembarkation.
Classic5-Star Deluxe
40 ships
Classic
Mirage Nile Cruise
Sail the Nile between Luxor and Aswan, calling at Karnak, Luxor, the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae. The itineraries run in both directions, giving you a choice of embarkation port and a different sequence of visits. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator, and our Egyptologists lead small groups of no more than eight guests per guide. Compared with larger overnight cruise operators, this itinerary keeps a steadier pace so you spend more time ashore at Edfu and Kom Ombo rather than rushing between sights. Expect riverside approaches, a late-afternoon felucca sail at Aswan, and guided visits timed to reduce crowding where possible.
Classic
Monica Nile Cruise
We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator, offering the Monica Nile Cruise between Luxor and Aswan. The itinerary pairs visits to Karnak Temple, the Valley of the Kings, Deir el-Bahari, Edfu’s Temple of Horus, Kom Ombo and Philae with relaxed sailing time on the sun deck. Our Egyptologists place each monument in its historical context and answer specialist questions. We limit guided groups to eight guests to reduce queues and allow fuller time at each site. Unlike larger Nile boats that rush multiple stops, Monica provides longer onshore time at Edfu and Kom Ombo and an afternoon in Aswan for the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk.
Classic
Moondance Nile Cruise
MS Moondance is a four-day Nile cruise linking Luxor and Aswan. We arrange private Egyptologist-led visits and shore transfers as a licensed Egyptian tour operator. We don't run mass coach tours; we prefer private or small-group sailings that let you visit Karnak Temple and the Luxor West Bank at quieter times. Compared with single-day excursions from Luxor, a four-day cruise gives relaxed transit time and evening light on the Nile. Trade-offs: cabins are compact, upper decks have limited shade at midday, and some shore visits require walking on uneven ancient stone and early starts for sunrise photography.
Classic
Nile Capital Nile Cruise
Classic
Nile Premium Nile Cruise
MS Nile Premiums is a four-day cruise linking Luxor and Aswan with guided temple visits and onboard accommodation. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator and operate this as a Nile-only itinerary–Cairo or Giza visits are not bundled into the cruise. Unlike many three-night packages, the fourth day allows scheduled calls at Edfu and Kom Ombo rather than rushed drive-bys. Expect organised shore visits with our Egyptologists, compact cabin layouts on most Nile vessels, and short organised walks on uneven ancient stone at shore sites. Standard site entrance fees are included unless stated; pyramid interiors, premium tombs and gratuities are excluded.
Classic
Nile Story Nile Cruise
Nile Story Nile Cruise operates small-group sailings between Aswan and Luxor, on 3- or 4-night itineraries. The route visits Kom Ombo, Edfu, Luxor West Bank and Luxor East Bank, with guided excursions led by an English-speaking Egyptologist. Your package is full board, includes entrance fees to listed sites, private meet and assist at airports or stations, and transfers in air-conditioned vehicles. Groups are limited to 1–8 guests maximum, which gives more time ashore and shorter waits at ancient sites than typical large motor-boat cruises. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator and manage your on-the-ground arrangements, including sightseeing, transfers and local guiding.
Prestige5-Star Ultra Deluxe
15 ships
Prestige
Le Fayan Nile Cruise
Board MS Le Fayan at the Luxor Corniche pier and step aboard a compact Nile cruise that runs four days downriver to Aswan. I guide the shore excursions myself when available; we move with the light – morning visits to the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut's temple when tombs are coolest, late-afternoon walk through Karnak's Hypostyle Hall if crowds thin. Cabins are Nile-cruise size and practical, with private en suite bathrooms and wardrobe space; this is intimate, not an ocean liner. Each afternoon you sit on the shaded sun deck and watch feluccas, fishermen and river markets pass close to the bank. We stop at Edfu and Kom Ombo for temple walks; plan on 60–90 minute shore calls in Edfu and a short market visit at Kom Ombo's quay. In Aswan we moor on the Corniche and arrange the motorboat transfer to Philae Temple. Meals follow local rhythms: breakfasts and lunches on board, an evening of grilled fish when the catch is good. Note practical details up front: luggage transfers use the pier gangway, mobile signal is patchy between Nile bends, and some tombs require extra-permit fees. If you like quiet mornings in old temples and direct commentary from an Egyptologist, this four-day downriver cruise keeps logistics simple and the day-to-day focused on sites and sunlight.
Prestige
Salacia Nile Cruise
Salacia Nile Cruise offers full board, scheduled excursions and weekly Luxor–Aswan sailings. Enquire with Discovery Tours Egypt today.
Prestige
Sonesta Moon Goddess Nile Cruise
Spend a full day aboard the Sonesta Moon Goddess from Aswan, with guided visits to Philae Temple (Agilkia Island), the Aswan High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk. We arrange hotel transfers in Aswan, an English-speaking Egyptologist, all on-board meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) and standard site entrance fees for the included visits. We are licensed by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism (ETAA); itineraries and times are subject to seasonal river conditions and port schedules.
Prestige
Steigenberger Legacy Nile Cruise
Book Steigenberger Legacy Nile Cruise with full board, Luxor–Aswan sailing, shore excursions and cabin choices. Enquire now.
Prestige
Steigenberger Minerva Nile Cruise
Steigenberger Minerva Nile Cruise offers full board, Nile-view cabins and guided shore excursions between Luxor and Aswan. Enquire now.
Prestige
Steigenberger Regency Nile Cruise
Steigenberger Regency Nile Cruise
Luxury5-Star Luxury
26 shipsLuxury
Sonesta St. George I Nile Cruise
Luxury
Sonesta Star Goddess Nile Cruise
Book Sonesta Star Goddess Nile Cruise for suite accommodation, full board dining and guided Nile shore excursions between Luxor and Aswan. Enquire now.
Luxury
The Oberoi Zahra Nile Cruise
A four-day Nile cruise aboard MS The Oberoi Zahra with Egyptologist-led shore excursions and private transfers arranged by our team. We don't bundle premium tombs and pyramid interiors into the fixed cruise price; we add them on request to keep the base price transparent. Compared with rushed three-day packages, a four-day schedule gives proper time ashore at Luxor West Bank and the Aswan temples. Standard site entrance fees are included; pyramid interiors (Khufu/Khafre) and premium tombs (Tutankhamun/Seti I) are excluded unless requested. Trade-offs include early starts, walking on uneven ancient stone and limited shade at midday temple visits.
Luxury
Tosca Nile Cruise
MS Tosca is a 3 or 4-night 5-star Nile cruise between Aswan and Luxor, calling at Philae, Edfu, Kom Ombo and the Luxor West Bank. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator and we arrange full-board accommodation, meet-and-assist on arrival and departure, transfers in air-conditioned vehicles, and private Egyptologist-led excursions. Excursions are capped at eight guests per guide for a small-group experience. The itinerary includes the High Dam, Philae Temple, the Unfinished Obelisk, the Temple of Horus at Edfu, Kom Ombo and Luxor's Karnak and West Bank monuments. The standard fare does not include the Abu Simbel excursion, which we offer as an optional add-on. The MS Tosca's design was created by the Red Carnation Hotel Collection, and onboard dining and leisure time are scheduled to let you step ashore for guided visits and return for relaxed afternoons on deck.
Luxury
Esplanade Nile Cruise
This cruise sails between Luxor and Aswan aboard MS Esplanade, with guided visits to Luxor, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Aswan. Accommodation is full board on MS Esplanade, and we provide an English-speaking Egyptologist for groups of no more than eight guests. All sightseeing between Luxor and Aswan is included, with private air-conditioned transfers at embarkation and disembarkation. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator and we coordinate arrival and departure meet-and-assist, onboard meals and excursions. Unlike shorter itineraries that compress temple visits, this schedule spaces morning and late-afternoon visits to avoid the midday heat. An optional Abu Simbel excursion is available from Aswan on disembarkation day.
Luxury
Farah Nile Cruise
Sail the Nile for four days aboard MS Farah, operating the standard Luxor–Aswan route with guided shore visits. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator and arrange cabins, transfers and Egyptologist-led excursions rather than running large coach tours. Unlike many packaged cruises, we prioritise private or small-group shore time so visits are less rushed. Expect honest trade-offs: early starts, walking on uneven temple stone, and limited shade on open decks at midday. Standard site entrance fees are included unless stated; pyramid interiors and premium tombs are excluded unless explicitly requested.
20 more vessels sail this route without a published tier. See every Nile cruise
Or sail it over seven nights instead of three.
A dahabiya covers the same stretch under sail with six to twelve guests aboard, mooring at El Kab and Gebel Silsila where the larger vessels carry on past. It costs more per night and takes twice as long, which is rather the point.
Dahabiya cruises
When to begin from Luxor instead
If your flights route through Luxor, begin there — a positioning flight down to Aswan to gain nothing is a poor trade. The Luxor round trip is the same seven nights and the same temples; only the order and the base city change. And if you have three or four nights rather than seven, take a one-way.
Questions we get about the direction
01How many nights is an Aswan round-trip cruise?
Seven, sailing Aswan to Luxor and back to Aswan. The same length as the Luxor round trip, covering the same temples; what changes is the city you begin and end in.
02Is Abu Simbel included?
It is an add-on rather than part of the sailing, but this is the shape that suits it best. Abu Simbel is a day trip from Aswan by short flight or road convoy, so it fits either before boarding or after you return.
03Aswan or Luxor as the base?
Aswan is quieter, smaller and easier on a first day in Upper Egypt, and it is the only end from which Abu Simbel works as a day trip. Luxor has more flights and sits nearer the Cairo sleeper train. Base yourself where your flights actually land.
04How much of the week is spent sailing?
Roughly half. A seven-night round trip has genuine sailing time built in rather than a run of dock-and-go stops, which is much of the appeal — the stretch between Edfu and Esna is the part guests remember.
Tell us your dates and we'll pick the direction.
Our Aswan and Luxor offices look after both ends of this route. Egypt travel specialists since 1988, with offices in Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Hurghada, Marsa Alam and Sharm El Sheikh.