Luxor to Aswan: nights and direction
The Luxor to Aswan cruise follows the Nile south through Upper Egypt. The direction decides the length. 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 sold as five days has 4 nights. Smaller dahabiya boats start in Esna instead of Luxor and take 4 or 5 nights to Aswan, depending on the boat.
The program below is one example. Ships differ in their stops and their order, and a stop at a temple is not guaranteed on every route. Luxor itself is covered by the guide to Luxor; this page follows the river from Esna to Aswan.
Our picks: Luxor to Aswan and back
Our take: four nights upstream, three nights upstream, or two nights downstream from Aswan.
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 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 guided tours and Abu Simbel
- 3 nights on a five-star ship
- Meals on board
- Egyptologist and transfers
Three nights from Luxor to Aswan with meals and an Egyptologist; entry fees and drinks are extra.
Check availability →
3-day Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor
- 2 nights on the Nile
- Egyptologist
- Hotel pick-up
Two nights downstream with an Egyptologist and a carriage ride; entry fees and drinks are extra.
Check availability →Luxor to Aswan cruises and temple tours
Cruises between Luxor and Aswan and tours to the temples along the Nile, with live prices and availability.
The stops between Luxor and Aswan
In the order a hotel ship sails them from Luxor. Prices are for foreign adults, with students at half price.
Luxor
The cruise starts with the east bank, and the west bank follows the next day. The temples and tombs there have their own guides, including the Valley of the Kings. Match your arrival and transfer with the boarding time.
Esna
Ships heading south from Luxor pass through the Esna lock. There is no fixed waiting time. Upgrades to the control and monitoring systems at the New Esna Barrage were announced in August 2026. That does not mean a closure to shipping, so ask your operator whether it affects your dates.
Edfu
The Temple of Horus stands on the west bank. It was built between 237 BC and 57 BC under the Ptolemies. Entry costs EGP 550, students EGP 275. It is open until 17:00, from 6:00 on Sundays and Wednesdays and from 7:00 on other days. Some packages include a carriage between the landing and the temple.
Edfu guide →Kom Ombo
The double temple dates from the Greek and Roman period and has parallel sanctuaries for Sobek and Haroeris, the older Horus. The area ticket costs EGP 450, students EGP 225, and includes the crocodile museum next door. Hours are 7:00 to 21:00 daily, and the museum ticket office closes at 20:00.
Kom Ombo guide →Aswan
The program ends with the High Dam, the Temple of Isis at Philae and a motorboat trip to the botanical garden. Philae costs EGP 550, students EGP 275, is open until 16:00 with last entry at 15:00, and you reach the island by a rented boat that is not part of the temple ticket.
Aswan guide →The Esna lock
Esna is where the river is regulated by a lock and a barrage, and a ship heading south from Luxor passes through the lock. A ship that only passes is not the same as a ship that stops at the temple, and a stop at Esna is not guaranteed on every route. Dahabiya trips usually start in Esna, not in Luxor.
Ask three things before you book: where the boat starts, where it ends, and which transfers are included. A dahabiya that starts in Esna may include a transfer from Luxor or Aswan to the boat, and another may not.
Routes and nights compared
Examples, not a timetable that applies to every ship.
| Route | Nights | Boat | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Luxor to Aswan | 4 | Hotel ship | Temples at Edfu and Kom Ombo, Aswan sights on day 4 |
| Aswan to Luxor | 3 | Hotel ship | The other direction |
| Luxor, Aswan and back | 7 | Hotel ship | Round trip |
| Esna to Aswan | 4 | Dahabiya | EUR 330 per person per night in a double cabin |
| Aswan to Esna | 3 | Dahabiya | The other direction |
| Esna to Aswan | 5, over 6 days | Dahabiya | Stops at El Kab, Edfu, Gebel Silsileh and Kom Ombo |
| Cairo to Aswan | 14 | Long cruise ship | 12 nights from Aswan to Cairo |
For most travelers who want the main temples in one week, the 4 night hotel ship from Luxor to Aswan is the simplest choice. Pick the dahabiya if you prefer a boat with a handful of cabins and accept a start in Esna. The long cruise from Cairo suits you if the river itself is the goal and you have 12 to 14 nights.
What to check before you book
Small points that change the plan.
Overnights in port
A ship is not under way every night. Some nights are spent docked in Luxor or Aswan, and one dahabiya programme ends with a last night at the dock next to the Aswan bridge.
Tickets
A cruise price may include the standard entrances or not. Extra tombs and Abu Simbel are often separate. See what packages cover under Nile cruise prices.
Swimming
Some dahabiya programs advertise swimming. The German Foreign Office advises against bathing in fresh water in Egypt because of schistosomiasis, so treat a swim stop as optional.
Heat
Temple days are hot in summer. Long-term highs reach about 41 °C in June to August in both Luxor and Aswan. The best time page compares the months.
Plan the rest of your trip
Pages that go with the route.
Luxor to Aswan cruise: frequently asked questions
How many nights is the Luxor to Aswan cruise?
A typical program takes 4 nights from Luxor to Aswan and 3 nights in the other direction. A dahabiya takes 4 or 5 nights from Esna to Aswan, depending on the boat.
Which temples do I see on the way?
An example program stops at Edfu and Kom Ombo and ends with the High Dam, Philae and the botanical garden in Aswan. Other ships may differ.
How long do I wait at the Esna lock?
There is no fixed time. The wait depends on traffic and the day, so ask your operator how the lock affects your schedule.
Where does the dahabiya start?
In Esna. Some boats include a transfer from Luxor or Aswan, so check what your booking covers.
Is a stop at every temple guaranteed?
No. Stops and their order change by ship and route, and an operator may alter the program. Treat the example as a guide.
Is this site run by a cruise line?
No. This is an independent guide, not the official website of any cruise line or of the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.