A Nile cruise itinerary at a glance
The example below is a 4 night program from Luxor to Aswan on one hotel ship. It spans five days: boarding on day 1 and disembarking on day 5. Stops, their order and their timing change by ship and operator, and operators reserve the right to alter a program.
Use it to see how the days are built and what to prepare. Check the program of the ship you book, because a stop at a temple is not guaranteed on every route.
Our picks: itineraries to compare
Our take: the five-day cruise follows the full route, the four-day cruise adds a balloon flight, and the third includes entry fees.
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.
5-day, 4-night cruise from Luxor to Aswan
- 4-night cruise
- Meals and guide
- Entry fees
Four nights with meals, a guide and entry fees included; the ship can change.
Check availability →
5-day Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan with Abu Simbel
- 4 nights on a five-star ship
- Programme excursions
- Egyptologist
Four nights with the programme excursions and an Egyptologist; entry fees and drinks are extra.
Check availability →
4-day Nile cruise with Abu Simbel and a balloon flight
- 3 nights on a five-star ship
- Abu Simbel trip with guide
- Balloon flight
Three nights on a five-star ship, the Abu Simbel trip and a balloon flight over Luxor; entry fees are extra.
Check availability →Nile cruises with a day-by-day program
Nile cruises between Luxor and Aswan with temple visits, with live prices and availability.
The example program day by day
One 4 night hotel ship program from Luxor to Aswan. Changes are possible.
Day 1: Boarding and the east bank of Luxor
You board in Luxor and visit the east bank. Match your arrival and your transfer to the boarding time. For the temples of Luxor, see the guide to Luxor.
Day 2: The west bank and the sail to Esna
The west bank comes next, then the ship sails towards Esna. The tombs there have their own guide to the Valley of the Kings. The Esna lock sits on this stretch, and there is no fixed waiting time.
Luxor to Aswan →Day 3: Edfu and Kom Ombo
The Temple of Horus at Edfu is open until 17:00, from 6:00 on Sundays and Wednesdays and from 7:00 on other days. Entry is EGP 550, students EGP 275. At Kom Ombo the area ticket costs EGP 450, students EGP 225, and includes the crocodile museum. Kom Ombo is open from 7:00 to 21:00.
Edfu → Kom Ombo →Day 4: Aswan
The day brings the High Dam and the Temple of Isis at Philae, and a motorboat trip to the botanical garden. Philae costs EGP 550, students EGP 275, and you reach the island by a rented boat. The dam body was finished in July 1970 and inaugurated on 15 January 1971.
Aswan →Day 5: Disembarking
The program ends with disembarking in Aswan. Plan your onward transport in advance, and ask your operator for the disembarkation time.
Other programs compared
Examples that show how different the days can be.
| Program | Length | Sequence |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel ship, Luxor to Aswan | 4 nights | Luxor east bank, west bank and Esna, Edfu and Kom Ombo, Aswan |
| Hotel ship, Aswan to Luxor | 3 nights | The other direction |
| Dahabiya, Esna to Aswan | 5 nights over 6 days | Esna, El Kab and Edfu, a day on the river, Gebel Silsileh, Kom Ombo, disembarking near Aswan |
| Long cruise, Cairo to Aswan | 14 nights | Beni Suef, Minya, Tell el-Amarna, Assyut, Sohag, Qena, Luxor, Esna, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Aswan |
| Long cruise, Aswan to Cairo | 12 nights | The reverse direction |
For most first-time visitors who have about a week, the 4 night Luxor to Aswan program is the best starting point: five days cover the east and west banks, two temples on the river and the sights of Aswan. Choose the dahabiya if you want fewer people on board, and the long cruise only if you have 12 to 14 nights and want the river itself.
How to plan the days
Points that save time on board.
Arrival and boarding
Match your flight or train to the boarding time. A night train from Cairo runs daily with a 19:45 departure and arrival in Luxor at 06:10 and in Aswan at 09:25 the next day. Check the current timetable before you go.
What is included
A package may include the standard entrances and a guide, or exclude extra tombs, drinks and Abu Simbel. See what packages cover under Nile cruise prices.
Overnights
A ship does not sail every night. Some nights are spent docked in Luxor or Aswan.
Heat
Long-term highs reach about 41 °C from June to August. The best time page compares the months.
Go further
Pages that go with the program.
Nile cruise itinerary: frequently asked questions
What does a day on a Nile cruise look like?
Days are built around visits and sailing. In the example program, day 1 is boarding and the east bank of Luxor, day 2 the west bank and the sail to Esna, day 3 Edfu and Kom Ombo and day 4 Aswan. Day 5 is disembarking.
Is five days the same as five nights?
No. A program sold as five days has 4 nights.
Does every ship stop at the same temples?
No. Stops and their order differ, and an operator can change a program. Check the itinerary of your ship.
Can I do the trip in the other direction?
Yes. The same program takes 3 nights from Aswan to Luxor. Longer cruises from Cairo to Aswan take 14 nights, and 12 nights back.
Are the temple tickets part of the program?
That depends on the package. Check which entrances are included and what you pay for extra tombs or Abu Simbel.
Is this itinerary an official timetable?
No. It is an example program from an independent guide, not an official timetable and not the website of a cruise line or of the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.