The Nile in Egypt at a glance
Most travelers meet the Nile between Luxor and Aswan in Upper Egypt. On this stretch the river passes the temples of Esna, Edfu and Kom Ombo, and a hotel ship covers it in 3 or 4 nights depending on the direction. Smaller options are a dahabiya sailing boat from Esna, a felucca ride around the islands of Aswan and a dinner cruise in Cairo. Lake Nasser, the reservoir behind the High Dam, has its own cruise to Abu Simbel.
This guide explains how these trips differ and what each one involves. It lists routes, nights, temple tickets in Egyptian pounds and price examples in US dollars with the year they apply to, so you can compare before you book. Luxor and the Valley of the Kings have their own guides: see Luxor and the Valley of the Kings. For the pyramids, head to the Giza plateau guide.
Our picks: cruises, dahabiyas and feluccas
Our take: the four-day cruise is the classic, the dahabiya sails the same river slowly, and the sunset felucca takes two hours.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
4-day luxury dahabiya from Aswan to Luxor
- 3 nights on a dahabiya
- Meals from first lunch to last breakfast
- Guide and transfers
Three nights on a sailing boat with meals, a guide and door-to-door transfers; entry fees are extra.
Check availability →
4-day Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor with a guide
- 3 nights on a five-star ship
- Full board
- Private Egyptologist
Three nights on a five-star ship with full board and a private Egyptologist; entry fees are extra.
Check availability →
Private sunset felucca sail in Luxor
- 2-hour felucca sail
- Tea on board
- Private transfers
Two hours on a private felucca with tea, with transfers from selected hotels.
Check availability →Nile cruises, felucca rides and Egypt tours
Nile cruises, felucca rides, dinner cruises and temple tours, with live prices and availability.
Plan your Nile trip
Start with the cruise pages, then pick the places you want to see.
Nile cruises compared
Hotel ships, what the price covers and dated 2026 examples.
Luxor to Aswan by boat
Nights per direction, the Esna lock and the stops on the way.
Dahabiya trips
Small sailing boats from Esna to Aswan, with routes and rates.
Felucca rides in Aswan
About one hour around Elephantine, with prices by group size.
Cairo dinner cruises
A 2-hour evening on the Nile with dinner and a show.
Lake Nasser cruise
Aswan to Abu Simbel by ship, with the route and the ship.
A Nile cruise day by day
An example program from boarding in Luxor to Aswan.
Aswan
Philae, the High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk and the Nubian Museum.
Temples, facts and practical pages
The stops on the river, the background and the planning details.
Kom Ombo
The double temple and the crocodile museum on one ticket.
Edfu
The Temple of Horus: hours, ticket and how ships connect.
Nile facts
Length, sources, dams and the countries of the basin.
Nile history
Floods, the calendar, the pharaohs and the High Dam.
Weather in Luxor and Aswan
Long-term monthly averages for highs, lows and rain.
Best time for a Nile cruise
Heat, season and a dated price comparison.
Where to stay in Aswan
The Corniche, the islands, the west bank or a ship.
Ways to travel on the Nile compared
Each row is an example for 2026. Prices change with season and cabin, so check before you book.
| Trip | Length | Route | Example in 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hotel ship | 3 or 4 nights | Luxor to Aswan or back | $1,624 for 4 nights per person in a double cabin (October 2026 to 30 April 2027) |
| Dahabiya | 4 nights, or 5 nights in another program | Esna to Aswan | EUR 330 per person per night in a double cabin |
| Felucca | About 1 hour | Around Elephantine and the botanical garden | $75 alone, $49 per person for 2 |
| Dinner cruise | About 2 hours | Cairo | From $57 for boat and dinner to $125 with hotel transfer |
| Lake Nasser ship | 4 nights from Aswan, 3 nights from Abu Simbel | Aswan and Abu Simbel | – |
For most first-time visitors, a 3 or 4 night ship between Luxor and Aswan is the simplest way to see the temples and the river. Choose a dahabiya if you prefer a very small boat, and add a felucca ride if you only have an afternoon in Aswan. Details are on the pages for Nile cruises, dahabiyas and feluccas.
A few things to know before you go
Details that decide how a trip is planned and priced.
The direction sets the nights
A typical program takes 4 nights from Luxor to Aswan, 3 nights from Aswan to Luxor and 7 nights for the round trip. A program described as five days is 4 nights.
Luxor to Aswan →Long cruises start in Cairo
In 2026, long cruises take 14 nights from Cairo to Aswan and 12 nights from Aswan to Cairo. That is a different trip from a package with a domestic flight.
Day by day →Abu Simbel is priced on its own
Adult tickets cost EGP 750 to 822 and student tickets EGP 375 to 445.50. Check the price before you book.
Aswan →The crocodile museum is on the Kom Ombo ticket
The area ticket costs EGP 450 for adults and EGP 225 for students and covers the temple and the museum. You do not pay a second museum entry.
Kom Ombo →Do not swim in the Nile
The German Foreign Office advises against bathing in fresh water in Egypt because of schistosomiasis, even if a boat advertises swimming stops.
The High Dam has two dates
The dam body was finished in July 1970, and the formal inauguration took place on 15 January 1971.
History →More independent Egypt guides
Separate guides from the same team, each focused on one place in Egypt.
Luxor
Karnak, the Valley of the Kings and Nile cruises to Aswan.
Nubian Aswan
Gharb Soheil, Elephantine, Philae and day trips to Abu Simbel.
Giza Pyramids
Pyramid tickets, the Sphinx, the Grand Egyptian Museum and Saqqara.
Valley of the Kings
Tomb tickets, Tutankhamun, Hatshepsut and the West Bank of Luxor.
Abu Simbel
The temples of Ramses II and Nefertari: day trips from Aswan, flights and the Sun Festival.
Karnak Temple
The temple of Amun in Luxor: tickets, the Hypostyle Hall, the light show and the Avenue of Sphinxes.
Khan el-Khalili
The great bazaar of Islamic Cairo, Al-Muizz Street, the Citadel and Cairo at night.
Philae Temple
The Temple of Isis near Aswan, the boat ride, the sound and light show and the High Dam.
Luxor Temple
Tickets, evening visits, the Avenue of Sphinxes and Ramses II on the East Bank.
Marsa Alam
Red Sea snorkeling, Dolphin House trips, dugongs and day trips to Luxor.
The Nile in Egypt: frequently asked questions
Where does a Nile cruise go?
Most cruises sail between Luxor and Aswan and stop at the temples of Esna, Edfu and Kom Ombo. Ships also run in the other direction. Longer programs start in Cairo, and Lake Nasser has a separate cruise to Abu Simbel. See Luxor to Aswan.
How long is a Nile cruise?
A typical program takes 4 nights from Luxor to Aswan and 3 nights from Aswan to Luxor. A dahabiya can take 4 or 5 nights from Esna to Aswan, depending on the boat. Longer cruises from Cairo take 12 to 14 nights.
How much does a Nile cruise cost?
That depends on the ship, the cabin, the season and what is included. A mid-range ship costs $1,232 for 3 nights and $1,624 for 4 nights per person in a double cabin from October 2026 to 30 April 2027. A luxury ship costs $4,960 for 4 nights from 4 November to 21 December 2026. Check prices before you book. See Nile cruises compared.
When is the best time to go?
For temple visits, November to March is much less hot than June to August. Long-term averages already reach about 35 °C in October and April. The best time page compares the months.
How do I get from Cairo to Luxor or Aswan?
A night train runs daily, departing at 19:45 and arriving in Luxor at 06:10 and in Aswan at 09:25 the next day. Check the current timetable before you go.
Is the-nile.org an official website?
No. This is an independent travel guide. It is not the official website of the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities or of any cruise line, and it is not connected to any tour operator or hotel.