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Nile cruise sailing between Luxor and Aswan
Nile Cruise Egypt · 2026/2027

Nile Cruise 2026/2027: Luxor and Aswan Cruises & Dahabiyas

Fourteen Nile cruises between Luxor and Aswan, side by side: three and four-night itineraries on five-star ships, two private dahabiyas, and quieter routes built for travelers coming back to Upper Egypt. Every price below is full board with an Egyptologist guide and entrance fees.

RoutesLuxor & Aswan
Programs4, 5 & 8 Days
Board BasisFull Board
StyleClassic, Dahabiya, Luxury

How much does a Nile cruise cost?

A Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan starts at $415 per person for three nights and $480 for four, full board with an Egyptologist guide and entrance fees. May to September is the cheapest season; October to March costs more, and Christmas–New Year is the peak.

Which Nile River Cruise Fits Your Egypt Trip?

A Nile cruise is the simplest way to see the temples of Upper Egypt: you unpack once, and the boat moves between Aswan, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Esna and Luxor while you sleep. Every cruise on this page is full board, with an Egyptologist guide, air-conditioned transfers and the entrance fees along the route.

The choice comes down to four things: the direction you sail, three nights or four, a five-star ship or a private dahabiya, and whether this is your first visit or your third. The table below compares all fourteen on duration, route, style and starting price.

All 14 Nile Cruises Compared

Duration, route, style and starting price for every Nile cruise we operate. Prices are per person, full board, and read straight from each cruise page.

Nile cruiseLengthRouteStyleFrom / personBest for
3 Nights Nile River Cruise from Aswan with Optional Abu Simbel3 nightsAswan to LuxorFull Board CruiseFrom $500 / personA first visit, with Abu Simbel as an option
4 Days Dahabiya Nile River Cruise Aswan to Luxor3 nightsAswan to LuxorPrivate DahabiyaFrom $945 / personCouples who want a private boat
4 Days Nile Cruise Aswan To Luxor3 nightsAswan · Kom Ombo · Edfu · LuxorFull Board CruiseOn requestThe classic route, price on request
4 Days off Beaten Path Nile River Cruise for Repeaters3 nightsAswan to LuxorFor RepeatersFrom $415 / personA second visit to Upper Egypt
4 Nights Nile River Cruise from Luxor with Optional Abu Simbel4 nightsLuxor to AswanFull Board CruiseFrom $560 / personA first visit starting in Luxor
5 Days Dahabiya Nile River Cruise Luxor to Aswan4 nightsLuxor to AswanPrivate DahabiyaFrom $1,050 / personPrivate sailing at the slowest pace
5 Days Hidden Treasures Nile Cruise for Returning Visitors4 nightsLuxor to AswanReturning VisitorsFrom $480 / personReturning visitors: Dendera and Abydos
5 Days Nile River Cruise from Luxor to Aswan4 nightsLuxor to AswanFull Board CruiseFrom $480 / personThe classic Luxor-to-Aswan cruise
Movenpick MS Royal Lily Nile Cruise4, 5 or 8 daysLuxor & AswanLuxury 5-starFrom $780 / personFive-star ship, 4, 5 or 8-day programs
MS Acamar Nile Cruise4, 5 or 8 daysLuxor & AswanLuxury 5-starFrom $800 / personFive-star ship on the classic itineraries
MS Farah Nile Cruise Itineraries & Prices4, 5 or 8 daysLuxor & AswanLuxury 5-starOn requestFive-star ship, dates on request
MS Mayfair Nile Cruise4, 5 or 8 daysLuxor & AswanLuxury 5-starFrom $855 / personFive-star ship with refined cabins
MS Tulip Nile Cruise4, 5 or 8 daysLuxor & AswanLuxury 5-starFrom $800 / personFive-star ship, Luxor and Aswan temples
Sanctuary Sun Boat III Nile Cruise5 or 9 daysLuxor & AswanLuxury 5-starFrom $1,125 / personTop of the range, 5 or 9 days

Best Nile Cruise Packages

Compare classic Nile River cruise packages, Dahabiya itineraries, and special routes for repeat visitors. Each package includes guided sightseeing and a clear route between Luxor and Aswan.

4 Days Aswan - Luxor3 Nights Nile River Cruise from Aswan with Optional Abu Simbel

3 Nights Nile River Cruise from Aswan with Optional Abu Simbel

Classic Aswan to Luxor Nile cruise with Kom Ombo, Edfu, and Luxor highlights, plus optional Abu Simbel.

Duration4 Days / 3 Nights
RouteAswan to Luxor
Dahabiya Aswan - Luxor4 Days Dahabiya Nile River Cruise Aswan to Luxor

4 Days Dahabiya Nile River Cruise Aswan to Luxor

A private Dahabiya Nile cruise with a quieter sailing style and essential temples along the route.

Duration4 Days / 3 Nights
RouteAswan to Luxor
Repeaters Aswan - Luxor4 Days off Beaten Path Nile River Cruise for Repeaters

4 Days off Beaten Path Nile River Cruise for Repeaters

A Nile cruise itinerary focused on less repeated stops for travelers returning to Upper Egypt.

Duration4 Days / 3 Nights
RouteAswan to Luxor
4 Days Aswan - Luxor4 Days Nile Cruise Aswan to Luxor

4 Days Nile Cruise Aswan to Luxor

A classic full-board Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor with Philae, the High Dam, Kom Ombo, Edfu, and Luxor temples.

Duration4 Days / 3 Nights
RouteAswan to Luxor
5 Days Luxor - Aswan4 Nights Nile River Cruise from Luxor with Optional Abu Simbel

4 Nights Nile River Cruise from Luxor with Optional Abu Simbel

Luxor to Aswan Nile cruise with temples, West Bank sightseeing, and optional Abu Simbel.

Duration5 Days / 4 Nights
RouteLuxor to Aswan
Dahabiya Luxor - Aswan5 Days Dahabiya Nile River Cruise Luxor to Aswan

5 Days Dahabiya Nile River Cruise Luxor to Aswan

A longer Dahabiya Nile cruise from Luxor with Edfu, Kom Ombo, Aswan, and relaxed sailing time.

Duration5 Days / 4 Nights
RouteLuxor to Aswan
Hidden Treasures Luxor - Aswan5 Days Hidden Treasures Nile Cruise for Returning Visitors

5 Days Hidden Treasures Nile Cruise for Returning Visitors

A richer route for returning visitors, with Dendera, Abydos, and quieter Nile-side highlights.

Duration5 Days / 4 Nights
RouteLuxor to Aswan
5 Days Luxor - Aswan5 Days Nile River Cruise from Luxor to Aswan

5 Days Nile River Cruise from Luxor to Aswan

A classic Luxor to Aswan Nile cruise package covering temples, tombs, and Nile scenery.

Duration5 Days / 4 Nights
RouteLuxor to Aswan

Nile Cruise Prices by Season and Group Size

Cruise prices are per person and depend on two things: when you sail and how many of you travel together. Three of our cruises publish a full season grid; the rest quote a starting price, and we confirm the rest against your dates.

3 Nights Nile River Cruise from Aswan with Optional Abu Simbel

May 2026 to September 2026
9-16 Pax$500
5-8 Pax$540
2-4 Pax$715
1 Oct 2026 to 19 Dec 2026
9-16 Pax$775
5-8 Pax$815
2-4 Pax$1015
20 Dec 2026 to 4 Jan 2027
9-16 Pax$945
5-8 Pax$985
2-4 Pax$1190
5 Jan 2027 to 25 Mar 2027
9-16 Pax$775
5-8 Pax$815
2-4 Pax$1015

4 Nights Nile River Cruise from Luxor with Optional Abu Simbel

May 2026 to September 2026
9-16 Pax$560
5-8 Pax$600
2-4 Pax$785
1 Oct 2026 to 19 Dec 2026
9-16 Pax$920
5-8 Pax$965
2-4 Pax$1170
20 Dec 2026 to 4 Jan 2027
9-16 Pax$1145
5-8 Pax$1190
2-4 Pax$1400
5 Jan 2027 to 25 Mar 2027
9-16 Pax$920
5-8 Pax$965
2-4 Pax$1170

5 Days Nile River Cruise from Luxor to Aswan

May 2026 to September 2026
9-16 Pax$480
5-8 Pax$505
2-4 Pax$620
1 Oct 2026 to 19 Dec 2026
9-16 Pax$830
5-8 Pax$855
2-4 Pax$985
20 Dec 2026 to 4 Jan 2027
9-16 Pax$1055
5-8 Pax$1080
2-4 Pax$1215
5 Jan 2027 to 25 Mar 2027
9-16 Pax$830
5-8 Pax$855
2-4 Pax$985

Two patterns run through the grid. Summer is by far the cheapest season — a place on the 4-night cruise from Luxor is $560 between May and September against $920 from October — and the price per person falls as the group grows, so nine travelers pay noticeably less each than a couple on the same sailing. Every price includes the cabin, full board, the excursions with an Egyptologist guide and the entrance fees along the route. Tips, drinks and optional excursions are extra.

What a Nile Cruise Between Luxor and Aswan Covers

The temples on the classic route

Whichever direction you sail, the classic itinerary covers the same monuments. In Luxor: Karnak and Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple and the Colossi of Memnon. Between the two cities: the Temple of Horus at Edfu and the double temple at Kom Ombo. In Aswan: the High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk and Philae Temple. Entrance fees to all of them are in the cruise price, and an Egyptologist guide takes you round each one.

A day on board

Mornings are for the temples, before the heat. The rest of the day is spent sailing, and on the longer route those are long, quiet hours on the sun deck watching the Nile Valley go past. All cruises on this page are full board, so breakfast, lunch and dinner are on the boat; drinks and tips are the main extras to budget for.

Cruise ships or a private dahabiya

Six named five-star ships — Movenpick MS Royal Lily, MS Acamar, MS Farah, MS Mayfair, MS Tulip and Sanctuary Sun Boat III — sail 4, 5 and 8-day programs on set departure days, from $780 per person. The two dahabiyas are traditional Nile sailing boats, smaller and quieter, chartered privately for your group, and they can start on any day of the week: $945 for three nights from Aswan, $1,050 for four nights from Luxor.

Routes for a second visit to Egypt

If you have already done Karnak and the Valley of the Kings, two itineraries go elsewhere. The 3-night Off the Beaten Path cruise from Aswan adds Elephantine Island, a Nubian village, Kitchener Island, the Mummification Museum, the Valley of the Queens, Medinet Habu and Deir el-Medina, from $415. The 4-night Hidden Treasures cruise from Luxor adds Dendera and Abydos, from $480. The 5-day dahabiya also stops at Gebel el-Silsila, the ancient sandstone quarry between Edfu and Kom Ombo.

Adding Abu Simbel

Abu Simbel is not included in any cruise price. On the 3-night cruise from Aswan and the 4-night cruise from Luxor it is an optional excursion from $90 per person, which covers the entrance ticket, the guide and a private vehicle. On the other cruises, the easiest way to see it is a private day tour from Aswan before or after the boat.

Cruises with fixed dates

Two Nile cruises run on set dates rather than weekly. The 4-day Christmas and New Year cruise between Aswan and Luxor starts at $850 per person. The 2027 total solar eclipse tour puts you on the Nile for the eclipse of 2 August 2027, starting from Aswan airport, from $1,199 per person including the cruise, the viewing spot and transfers.

Nile Cruise Questions, Answered

How much does a Nile cruise cost in 2026/2027?

Three nights between Aswan and Luxor start at $415 per person and four nights at $480, full board with an Egyptologist guide and entrance fees. Named five-star ships start at $780 per person, and a private dahabiya at $945. Prices rise from October and peak over Christmas and New Year.

Is it better to sail Luxor to Aswan or Aswan to Luxor?

Both directions cover the same major Nile Valley temples. Sailing from Luxor to Aswan goes upstream, against the current, so it takes four nights instead of three and leaves more time on the water. Aswan to Luxor is three nights and ends in Luxor, which suits trips that start with Abu Simbel.

Should I book three nights or four?

Three nights covers Aswan, Kom Ombo, Edfu and Luxor and works when your Egypt itinerary is tight. Four nights adds a second day of sightseeing and long stretches of sailing, and it is the only length offered on the Luxor-to-Aswan route, because the boat is sailing upstream.

What is included in a Nile cruise price?

Every cruise on this page is full board with an Egyptologist guide, the excursions and entrance fees along the route, air-conditioned transfers, and service charges and taxes. Tips and personal expenses are extra, and on the named ships domestic flights and extra tours are not included either.

Is Abu Simbel included in a Nile cruise?

No cruise includes Abu Simbel in the price. The 3-night cruise from Aswan and the 4-night cruise from Luxor offer it as an optional excursion from $90 per person, covering the entrance ticket, the guide and a private vehicle. On other cruises you can add a private day tour from Aswan.

When is the best time for a Nile cruise?

October to April is the main season, when Upper Egypt is cool enough for long temple visits. May to September is hot but much cheaper: a place on the 4-night cruise from Luxor is $560 in a group of 9 to 16 in summer, against $920 from October.

What is the difference between a dahabiya and a cruise ship?

A dahabiya is a traditional Nile sailing boat, smaller and quieter than the big ships; both of ours are private and can start on any day of the week. The five-star cruise ships run set weekly departure days. Dahabiyas start at $945 for three nights and $1,050 for four; ships from $780.

Which Nile cruise suits a second visit to Egypt?

Two itineraries skip the standard stops. The 3-night Off the Beaten Path cruise from Aswan adds Elephantine Island, a Nubian village, Kitchener Island, Medinet Habu and Deir el-Medina, from $415. The 4-night Hidden Treasures cruise from Luxor adds Dendera and Abydos, from $480.

How does the number of travelers change the price?

Cruise prices are per person and drop as the group grows. On the 4-night cruise from Luxor in summer, 9 to 16 travelers pay $560 each, 5 to 8 pay $600 and 2 to 4 pay $785. Solo travelers pay a single-occupancy price, shown on the cruises that list one.

Which days do the cruises depart?

The dahabiyas can start on any day of the week. The classic 5-day cruise from Luxor to Aswan runs on Saturdays and Mondays. MS Royal Lily sails Mondays and Fridays, Sun Boat III Fridays and Tuesdays; each ship page lists its own days. Send us your dates to confirm availability.

Not Sure Which Nile Cruise to Book?

Send us your travel dates, how many of you there are and which end of the route you start from, and we will come back with the cruises that are available and an exact price per person.