Home Egypt Tours Nile Cruise
The Nile River is the birthplace of ancient Egypt civilization, which traverses main cities in Egypt from north to south, including Alexandrian, Cairo, Luxor and Aswan, and leaves us plenty of splendid ruins, temples and monuments. Therefore, traveling to Egypt, Nile cruise is a must. Here we provide a wide selection of the Nile Cruise ships, from three to fourteen nights. Boarding a 5-star cruise, you will enjoy luxurious amenities and service, take daily onshore excursions to highlight attractions, taste savory Arabic and international dishes, and relax on the sundeck, which will bring you an unforgettable experience.
Basic Information of Egypt Nile Cruise
Length of the Nile River in Egypt: 1,350 kilometers (839 miles)
Main cities along the Nile River: Alexandrian, Cairo, Luxor, Esna and Aswan
Best Time for a Nile Cruise: October to April
Famous Temples and Monuments:
Aswan: High Dam, Unfinished Obelisk & Philae Temple, Abu Simbel
Kom Ombo: Kom Ombo Temple (Temple of Sobek & Hareoris)
Edfu: Edfu Temple (Temple of Horus)
Luxor: Valley of the Kings, Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, Colossi of Memnon, Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple
Normal check in/out time: For most cruises, the normal check-in time is 11 am before lunch, and the check-out is 8 to 9 am after breakfast.
Between Luxor and Aswan (MOST popular)
5 days/4 nights from Luxor to Aswan
4 days/3 nights from Aswan to Luxor
6 days round-way cruise of Luxor to Luxor or Aswan to Aswan
Between Cairo and Aswan (Long Nile Cruise)
15 days/14 nights from Cairo to Aswan
13 days/12 nights from Aswan to Cairo
12 days/11 nights from Cairo to Luxor
10 days/9 nights from Luxor to Cairo
Between Aswan and Abu Simbel (Lake Nasser Cruise)
5 days/4 nights from Aswan to Abu Simbel
4 days/3 nights from Abu Simbel to Aswan

Typical Nile Cruise Routes and Schedules

Between Luxor and Aswan (MOST popular)

  • From Luxor to Aswan (5 days/4 nights)
  • From Aswan to Luxor (4 days/3 nights)
  • Date Activities Meals
    Day 01 Embark from Luxor before 12:00 pm. Visit the Karnak Temple and the Luxor Temple. L+D
    Day 02 Visit the Valley of the Kings & Queens and the Temple of Hatshepsut. B+L+D
    Day 03 Visit the Edfu Temple and the Kom Ombo Temple. B+L+D
    Day 04 Visit the High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk and the Temple of Philae. B+L+D
    Day 05 Disembark from Aswan at around 8 am. B+L
  • Date Activities Meals
    Day 01 Embark from Aswan before 12:00 pm. Visit the High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk and the Temple of Philae. L+D
    Day 02 Visit the Kom Ombo Temple and the Edfu Temple B+L+D
    Day 03 Visit the Valley of the Kings & Queens, the Temple of Hatshepsut, the Karnak Temple and the Luxor Temple. B+L+D
    Day 04 Disembark from Luxor at around 8 am. B+L+D

Between Luxor and Luxor (Aswan and Aswan)

  • From Luxor to Luxor (8 days/7 nights)
  • From Aswan to Aswan (8 days/7 nights)
  • Date Activities Meals
    Day 01 Embark from Luxor before 12:00 pm. L+D
    Day 02 Visit the Valley of the Kings & Queens and the Temple of Hatshepsut. B+L+D
    Day 03 Visit the Edfu Temple. Sailing to Aswan via Kom Ombo. B+L+D
    Day 04 Visit the High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk and the Temple of Philae. Felucca on the Nile. B+L+D
    Day 05 Free at leisure on the cruise. B+L+D
    Day 06 Visit the Kom Ombo Temple. Sailing to Esna. B+L+D
    Day 07 Sailing to Luxor. Visit the Karnak Temple and the Luxor Temple. B+L+D
    Day 08 Disembark from Luxor at around 8 am. B
  • Date Activities Meals
    Day 01 Embark from Aswan before 12:00 pm. L+D
    Day 02 Visit the Valley of the Kings & Queens and the Temple of Hatshepsut. B+L+D
    Day 03 Visit the Edfu Temple. Sailing to Aswan via Kom Ombo. B+L+D
    Day 04 Visit the High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk and the Temple of Philae. Felucca on the Nile. B+L+D
    Day 05 Free at leisure on the cruise. B+L+D
    Day 06 Visit the Kom Ombo Temple. Sailing to Esna. B+L+D
    Day 07 Sailing to Luxor. Visit the Karnak Temple and the Luxor Temple. B+L+D
    Day 08 Disembark from Luxor at around 8 am. B

Between Aswan and Abu Simbel (Lake Nasser Cruise)

  • From Aswan to Abu Simbel (5 days/4 nights)
  • From Abu Simbel to Aswan (4 days/3 nights)
  • Date Activities Meals
    Day 01 Embark from Aswan, check in before lunch. L+D
    Day 02 Visit the Kalabsha Temple and the Beit El Wali. Sail to Wadi El Sebua. B+L+D
    Day 03 Visit the Wadi El Sebua Temple and Dakka, and the Amada Temple B+L+D
    Day 04 Exterior visit of Kasr Ibrim from Sun Deck, B+L+D
    Day 05 Disembark from Abu Simbel, check out after breakfast. B
  • Date Activities Meals
    Day 01 Embark from Abu Simbel, and visit the Abu Simbel Temples. L+D
    Day 02 Exterior visit of Kasr Ibrim from Sun Deck. Visit the Amada Temple. B+L+D
    Day 03 Visit the Wadi El Sebua Temple and Dakka. B+L+D
    Day 04 Visit the Kalabsha Temple. Disembark from Aswan. B

Between Cairo and Aswan

  • From Cairo to Aswan (15 days/14 nights)
  • From Aswan to Cairo (13 days/12 nights)
  • Date Activities Meals
    Day 01 Embark from Cairo before lunch. D
    Day 02 Pyramids & Sphinx, the Egyptian Museum. B+L+D
    Day 03 Visit Memphis & Sakkara, Coptic Cairo. B+L+D
    Day 04 Full day sailing to Beni Suef. B+L+D
    Day 05 Sailing to Minya. B+L+D
    Day 06 Tuna El Gebel & Ashmunein. Beni Hassan Tombs. B+L+D
    Day 07 Sailing to Tel El Amarna, Northern tombs. B+L+D
    Day 08 Full day sailing to Sohag. B+L+D
    Day 09 Sailing to El Balyana, Abydos Temple. B+L+D
    Day 10 Sailing to Qena & Dandarah Temple. B+L+D
    Day 11 Luxor West Bank (Valley of Kings + Hatshepsut Temple). B+L+D
    Day 12 Luxor East Bank (Karnak Temple & Luxor Temple). B+L+D
    Day 13 Edfu Temple and Kom Ombo Temple B+L+D
    Day 14 Aswan High Dam, Philae Temple, Nubian Museum. B+L+D
    Day 15 Disembark from Aswan. B
  • Date Activities Meals
    Day 01 Embark from Aswan before lunch. D
    Day 02 Aswan High Dam, Philae Temple, Nubian Museum. B+L+D
    Day 03 Kom Ombo Temple, Sailing to Edfu. B+L+D
    Day 04 Edfu Temple, Sailing to Luxor. B+L+D
    Day 05 Luxor West Bank (Valley of Kings + Hatshepsut Temple) and East Bank (Karnak Temple & Luxor Temple). B+L+D
    Day 06 Sailing to Qena, Dandarah Temple. B+L+D
    Day 07 Abydos Temple, Sailing to El Balyana. B+L+D
    Day 08 Sailing from Sohag to Tel El Amarna. B+L+D
    Day 09 Tuna El Gebel & Ashmunein. B+L+D
    Day 10 Beni Hassan Tombs. Sailing to Beni Suif. B+L+D
    Day 11 Coptic Cairo Tour. B+L+D
    Day 12 Pyramids & Sphinx, Egyptian Museum. B+L+D
    Day 13 Disembark from Cairo. B

Main Attractions along the Nile River

Trip Planning FAQs

How many days are required to take a Nile River cruise?
The typical Nile river cruise usually takes 4 days 3 nights to sail downstream from Aswan to Luxor, with stopovers at Edfu and Kom Ombo, or sails in a reversed route for 5 days 4 nights, including the same sightseeing tours.

There are also some long cruises such as 6-8 days between Aswan and Luxor, 12-day from Cairo to Luxor and 15-day from Cairo to Aswan, which allow you more relaxing and peaceful time on board. Besides, the Lake Nasser cruise between Aswan and Abu Simbel takes 4-5 days.
What are the differences among 4, 5, 7 or even long days Nile Cruise tours?
The major difference is the time that you stay on the ship. No matter you choose a 4-5 day cruise tour or a week-long itinerary, the usual highlights are the same, such as:

Aswan: High Dam, Unfinished Obelisk & Philae Temple, Abu Simbel
Kom Ombo: Kom Ombo Temple (Temple of Sobek & Hareoris)
Edfu: Edfu Temple (Temple of Horus)
Luxor: Valley of the Kings, Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, Colossi of Memnon, Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple

The longer Nile cruises will add some extra stops for excursions or dock extra nights in Aswan and Luxor, which will allow you to spend more time on the cruise. If you just have limited time for a highlight tour of Egypt, the four to five days' cruises are the best. While if you prefer a leisurely holiday on the cruise, our longer luxury Nile River cruise will provide a lifetime memory.
How can I choose a Nile Cruise ship?
There are over a hundred cruise ships sailing on the Nile River. In our search plate, you can easily search for the suitable ships just fill in the From/To cities and the boarding date. Or just leave it to our professional consultants, as we have the best choices through our field investigations and numerous former guests' feedback. Our team knows what a real luxury criterion is, what the best value is, and how to save money for our valued guests.
What should I pack for the Nile Cruise?
Taking a trip in a tropical country, you will never go wrong to pack the bug spray, sun block, sunglasses and a hat. Light sport shoes are also necessary as some roads of the ancient heritage sites are not very flat. The anti-diarrhea is suggested just in case. If there are still some space, you can bring a small flashlight, a binocular and a hand fan for the Nile Cruise tour.
What is the Dahabiya Nile Cruise?
The Dahabiya is a sailing boat which relies on wind power. Most Dahabiya boats have two sails but no engines except for a generator used for making electricity. Usually one Dahabiya only has four to ten cabins equipped with modern bathroom, Wi-Fi, air-conditioner and etc. Sailing on a Dahabiya Nile Cruise is a relaxing and classic way to see the Nile, which will stop at some quiet islands instead of the crowded cities, enabling you to explore some unique temples, monuments, and visit local idyllic villages.