Sailing north · downstream
Sailing north from Aswan puts the current behind you and saves Karnak until last.
Board in time for lunch, which is included on the day you arrive. Philae and the High Dam are covered from here, and Abu Simbel is a day trip south before you sail.
The double temple of Sobek and Horus sits on the bank — you step off the gangway straight into it, usually at dusk.
The Temple of Horus by horse-carriage as it opens. Sailing downstream brings ships in early, before the crowds thicken.
The lock, and on the slower dahabiya sailings the small temple of Khnum, sunk below street level.
Disembark after breakfast. Karnak, Luxor Temple and the West Bank — then the airport or the Cairo sleeper train.
Both directions call at the same temples. What changes is the order you meet them in, whether the river is working with you or against you, and which city you are standing in when it ends. Those three things matter more than they sound.
We book rather more guests northbound than south, for reasons that are practical rather than poetic. Our Aswan and Luxor offices look after both ends of this route, so the suggestion comes from watching how the week actually runs.
The Nile flows north. Sailing downstream shortens the legs between moorings and makes arrival times more dependable, which is why the northbound trip is usually a night shorter for the same stops. It is how the ancient Egyptians travelled north as well — they sailed south against the current and drifted back down.
Southbound you open at Karnak, the largest religious building ever raised, and everything afterwards is smaller. Northbound the scale builds instead: Philae, then Kom Ombo, then Edfu, and Karnak at the end of the week when you have the context to read it properly.
Abu Simbel is a day trip from Aswan rather than Luxor. Northbound it happens before you board, while you are already at that end of the country. Southbound it falls on your final day and means travelling back south after you have sailed away from it.
Luxor airport and the overnight sleeper train to Cairo are both a short transfer from the mooring. If your holiday carries on to Cairo or the Red Sea, finishing here saves you a connection.
Sailing this route
Comfort
Book Semiramis III Nile Cruise for full-board sailing between Luxor and Aswan, with guided shore excursions and elegant cabins. Enquire today.
Comfort
Al Nabilatan Nile Cruise is a 5-star river vessel offering full-board sailings between Luxor and Aswan. Its 65 cabins, including junior suites, feature Andalos Islamic-style decor, while shared spaces include a sun terrace, swimming pool, pool bar, gym, reading room and grand lounge. The sailing programme combines time on the Nile with guided shore excursions to Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae Temple. Sailings operate weekly in both directions. Evenings may include a folkloric show, galabeyah party, belly dancer and discotheque. An optional Abu Simbel excursion can be arranged at the end of the Luxor to Aswan sailing.
Comfort
Sail the Nile between Luxor and Aswan aboard the Emilio, visiting Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae. Days balance guided temple visits with relaxed afternoons on deck as the river passes cultivated islands and riverside villages. All guided visits are led by our Egyptologists, who explain the archaeology and chronology at each site. We limit excursions to small groups, maximum eight participants, so time ashore is unhurried and personal. Unlike short-stop cruise schedules, this itinerary allocates proper time at Edfu and Kom Ombo for meaningful visits. Evening life onboard is simple and classic, with dinner, local entertainment and clear river views. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator and coordinate transfers, Egyptologists, sightseeing, and hotel and cruise bookings on the ground.
Comfort
The Grand Rose Nile Cruise is a five-star Nile river vessel offering full board accommodation, on-board amenities and a scheduled shore-excursion programme. Cabins are offered in Standard, Deluxe and Suite grades, several with Nile-view windows or balconies, and public spaces include a sun deck with shaded seating, a lounge bar, dining room and a small pool. We arrange weekly sailings between Luxor and Aswan that alternate sailing days and shore excursions to well-known sites. As a licensed Egyptian tour operator, we book the cruise and coordinate the shore excursions and embarkation logistics for you.
Comfort
King of Thebes Nile Cruise is a deluxe 5-star river cruise programme between Luxor and Aswan, with 3, 4 and 7-night sailing options. The vessel sails weekly in both directions, with embarkation and disembarkation in Luxor or Aswan. Full board covers lunch on embarkation day through breakfast on disembarkation day. Our private English-speaking Egyptologist guides accompany shore excursions to Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Philae and the Aswan High Dam. On board, cabins have air conditioning, television, a fridge and Wi-Fi, while shared facilities include a swimming pool, sun deck, fitness area, lounge bar and entertainment lounge. An Egyptian folklore show is scheduled on board. Abu Simbel is available as an optional excursion.
Comfort
MS Kleos is a four-day Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan with daily guided excursions to major temples and tombs. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator and our Egyptologists lead the shore visits. Unlike larger seven-night cruises, this compact itinerary concentrates on Karnak Temple, Luxor West Bank, Edfu and Kom Ombo so you see the key sites without extra nights. We keep shore groups deliberately small rather than running large coach rotations. Standard site entrance fees are included; premium tombs such as Tutankhamun or Seti I are extra. Note the trade-offs: early starts, walks on uneven ancient stone and limited shade on deck at midday.
Classic
A 4-day Aswan to Luxor Nile cruise built around the 2 August 2027 total solar eclipse. Eclipse from the sun deck on disembarkation day, then transfer to Luxor airport.
Classic
Discover Al Kahila Nile Cruise on the Nile between Luxor and Aswan, with full-board cabins, shore excursions and views. Enquire today.
Classic
Jaz Crown Jubilee Nile Cruise
Classic
Jaz Crown Prince Nile Cruise offers full board, guided shore excursions and comfortable cabins on the Nile. Enquire with Discovery Tours Egypt today.
Classic
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
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.
Prestige
Jaz Regent Nile Cruise on the Luxor–Aswan river route offers full board, guided shore excursions and cabin choices. Enquire now.
Prestige
Book Sonesta Star Goddess Nile Cruise for suite accommodation, full board dining and guided Nile shore excursions between Luxor and Aswan. Enquire now.
Prestige
Book Steigenberger Legacy Nile Cruise with full board, Luxor–Aswan sailing, shore excursions and cabin choices. Enquire now.
Prestige
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
Prestige
Steigenberger Royale Nile Cruise
Luxury
Four-day Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan aboard MS The Oberoi Phiale with guided visits to Karnak, Luxor West Bank, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae. As a licensed Egyptian tour operator, we provide our Egyptologists for shore excursions and time visits early or late to avoid the midday sun. Unlike larger motor-vessel programmes, we keep longer stops at Edfu and Kom Ombo rather than brief drive-by visits. Expect early starts, walking on uneven ancient stone and limited shade on sun decks; premium tombs such as Tutankhamun's are excluded unless requested. We arrange private transfers and bespoke extensions in Luxor or Aswan.
Luxury
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
This 5-star Nile river cruise links Luxor and Aswan with sailing days and shore excursions at Egypt’s major riverside sites. The programme includes visits to 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, with embarkation and disembarkation available at either port. Full board runs from lunch on embarkation day through breakfast on disembarkation day. Drinks beyond water served with meals are generally extra. Discovery Tours Egypt selects and arranges the cruise with the vessel’s owning cruise line, so cabin allocation and sailing details are confirmed at booking.
Luxury
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
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.
Luxury
Our Historia Nile Cruise operates daily with flexible itinerary options – 4-, 5- and 8-day cruises. A welcome drink on arrival, a freshly prepared buffet lunch with vegetarian choices, English-speaking onboard commentary and roundtrip hotel transfers within city limits where offered. All port fees, taxes and service charges are included. The cruise operates aboard the MS Historia. Entrance fees to archaeological sites, optional land excursions and gratuities are not included.
6 more vessels sail this route without a published tier. See every Nile cruise
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 (1 on this route)
Southbound is the better choice if your flights bring you into Luxor first — adding a positioning flight to Aswan to save one night on the river is a poor trade. It also suits travellers who would rather finish somewhere quiet: Aswan is the calmer of the two cities, and ending on a felucca off Elephantine Island beats ending in Luxor traffic. And if your dates only suit a Luxor-departure ship, take it. The temples are the same either way.
For most travellers we suggest Aswan to Luxor. You sail downstream with the current, the temples build towards Karnak rather than beginning with it, and you finish in Luxor with onward flights and the Cairo sleeper train both close to the mooring. Sail southbound if your flights bring you into Luxor first, or if you would rather end in the quieter of the two cities.
Three nights is the standard northbound sailing aboard a river ship — one fewer than the southbound leg, because the current is with you. Dahabiyas take seven or eight nights over the same stretch and moor at smaller sites the larger vessels pass, including El Kab and Gebel Silsila.
Philae Temple and the High Dam from Aswan at the start; the double temple of Sobek and Horus at Kom Ombo; the Temple of Horus at Edfu, the best-preserved temple in Egypt; the lock and temple of Khnum at Esna on the slower sailings; then Karnak, Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings and the Colossi of Memnon at the Luxor end.
Yes — and take it at the beginning. Abu Simbel is a day trip from Aswan by short flight or road convoy, so it sits before you board rather than being added once you have sailed north away from it. Our Aswan office holds the flight seats and the guide, so it slots in the day before boarding without a second hotel move.
Yes. It falls on the morning you disembark in Luxor. We hold a guide and private vehicle for that morning so the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's temple and the Colossi of Memnon are covered ahead of an evening flight, without adding a night to the holiday.
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.
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