Overview
This 3 night Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor is a 4 day program on a Nile cruise ship. You visit Philae Temple and the Aswan High Dam, Kom Ombo and Edfu, then the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Hatshepsut, Karnak and Luxor Temple. Meals are full board on the ship, and a private Egyptologist guide and private transfers are included. The price starts at 650 USD per person.
Sailing the Nile between Aswan and Luxor at golden hour.
What your 3 night Nile cruise includes
The sightseeing tours are private. The ship is not: it carries other guests. Entrance fees to the sites in the itinerary, full-board dining and your cabin are included. For a slower, smaller boat, compare the 5 night dahabiya cruise, the 6 night dahabiya cruise or the longer 4 night Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan.
Your days on the Nile
Aswan and Philae
You begin in Aswan with Philae Temple, the island sanctuary of Isis, and the Aswan High Dam, then board the ship in the late afternoon.
Kom Ombo and Edfu
The ship sails north. You visit the double temple of Kom Ombo, dedicated to Sobek and Horus the Elder, and the Temple of Horus at Edfu.
Luxor: Valley of the Kings and Karnak
In Luxor you visit the Valley of the Kings and the Temple of Hatshepsut on the West Bank, then Karnak and Luxor Temple on the East Bank. A hot air balloon over Luxor can be arranged on request as an optional extra.
The columns of Kom Ombo Temple beside the Nile.
Practical notes
Bring a hat, sunscreen, light layers for cool evenings on deck and comfortable shoes for temple visits. Drinks on board are not included.
The island temple of Philae near Aswan.
Why Book Private with El Sultan?
The ship carries other guests, but your sightseeing and transfers are yours alone. That is what private means on this cruise.
- A private Egyptologist — from Philae and the Aswan High Dam to Kom Ombo, Edfu, the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut and Karnak. You move at your own pace in every temple.
- Private transfers included — you are met and moved without sharing a bus with strangers.
- Entrance fees and full board included — from 650 USD per person, so there are no ticket counters and no meal planning.
- Honest options — a cruise ship suits a short, good-value trip. For a slower, smaller boat, compare our 5 night dahabiya cruise or the 6 night dahabiya cruise.
- A local team on WhatsApp — before, during and after your trip.
Book this Nile cruise
Send us your dates and group size. We reply within 24 hours.
Itinerary
You are met at Aswan airport with meet and assist and taken in a private air-conditioned vehicle to Philae Temple, the island sanctuary of the goddess Isis. The temple was moved to Agilkia Island when its original island was flooded by the Nile. Your Egyptologist explains the reliefs and the story of the move. You then see the Aswan High Dam before you transfer to the ship in the late afternoon, check in to your cabin and have dinner on board. Overnight in Aswan.
After breakfast the ship sails north. At Kom Ombo you visit the double temple dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek and to Horus the Elder, with two sanctuaries side by side. Lunch is served on board while the ship continues toward Edfu. In the afternoon your Egyptologist guides you through the Temple of Horus, one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt. You return to the ship for dinner, and the ship continues to Luxor, where it stays for the next two nights.
You wake in Luxor, the site of ancient Thebes. After breakfast you cross to the West Bank to visit the Valley of the Kings, where New Kingdom pharaohs were buried in painted tombs cut into the limestone hills. Next you visit the Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari, built against the cliffs for one of Egypt's few female pharaohs. You return to the ship for lunch and dinner and spend the night on board in Luxor.
After breakfast you leave the ship and visit Karnak Temple, the largest temple complex in Luxor, with its Hypostyle Hall and the sacred lake. Then you visit Luxor Temple on the bank of the Nile, built mainly under Amenhotep III and extended by Ramesses II. Your private vehicle then takes you to Luxor airport or to your hotel in Luxor. This ends your 4 day Nile cruise program, and your Egyptologist helps with the transfer.
Included & Excluded
Included
- Meet and assist on arrival and on departure
- Private air-conditioned transfers
- 3 nights aboard a Nile cruise ship, full board (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
- Private Egyptologist guide on all tours
- Entrance fees to the sites in the itinerary
- Bottled water during excursions
Excluded
- International flights, and domestic flights to Aswan and from Luxor (can be arranged)
- Drinks on board
- Gratuities for guides, drivers and cruise staff
- Personal expenses (laundry, phone calls)
- Optional extras: hot air balloon over Luxor and Abu Simbel excursion
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days and nights is the 3 night Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor?
It is a 4 day, 3 night program with guided visits each day and nights aboard the ship.
Which temples and sites are included?
Philae Temple, the Aswan High Dam, Kom Ombo, the Temple of Horus at Edfu, the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Hatshepsut, Karnak and Luxor Temple.
Are meals, entrance fees and a guide included?
Yes. Full board on the ship, entrance fees for the sites in the itinerary and a private Egyptologist guide are included. International and domestic flights, drinks, gratuities and personal expenses are not included.
How is this different from a dahabiya cruise?
This is a Nile cruise ship with more onboard facilities, while a dahabiya is a smaller traditional sailing boat. Both sail the same stretch of the Nile.
Can I add Abu Simbel or a hot air balloon?
Yes. These can be arranged on request as optional extras. They are not included in the price.
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