3 Nights Nile River Cruise from Aswan with Optional Abu Simbel

Who Is the 3-Night Cruise From Aswan Best For?

This cruise suits travelers who want Aswan, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Luxor in the shortest time, with the option of Abu Simbel on the way. Because it sails north with the current, the route takes three nights instead of four, and it costs less than the longer cruise from Luxor. Departures are on Wednesdays and Fridays.

The trade-off is time in Luxor. You see the West Bank and Karnak on the last day, but Luxor Temple is not part of this program. If Luxor matters most to you, the 4-night cruise from Luxor spends two full days there, including Luxor Temple by night, and departs on Saturdays and Mondays. Our guide to choosing Luxor to Aswan or Aswan to Luxor compares the two routes side by side.

Should You Add Abu Simbel for $90?

If this is your first trip to Egypt, most travelers find it worth it. The temples of Abu Simbel stand about 280 km south of Aswan, near the border with Sudan, and are hard to reach later in a trip that ends in Luxor. On this cruise the visit fits into the morning of day 2, while the ship is still in Aswan, and the $90 covers your entrance ticket, Egyptologist guide and private air-conditioned vehicle.

Ramses II cut the Great Temple into a sandstone cliff in the 13th century BC. Four seated statues of the king, each about 20 meters tall, guard the entrance. Beside it, the smaller temple honors the goddess Hathor and his queen Nefertari, one of the few Egyptian temples where a queen's statues stand the same height as the king's. In the 1960s both temples were cut into blocks and rebuilt on higher ground in a UNESCO rescue project to save them from the waters of Lake Nasser.

The road crosses open desert, roughly three to three and a half hours each way, so the morning starts very early with breakfast boxes. If you skip it, you have a free morning on board in Aswan instead. Twice a year, around 22 February and 22 October, the rising sun reaches the statues deep inside the Great Temple; read about the Abu Simbel Sun Festival if your dates are close.

What Each Day Feels Like

• Day 1: the busiest start. You meet your guide in Aswan, visit the High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk and Philae Temple, then check in on board for lunch. Arrive rested.
• Day 2: an early Abu Simbel morning, or a slow morning on board, then sailing towards Kom Ombo through the afternoon.
• Day 3: Kom Ombo and Edfu, the best-preserved temple in Egypt, then the long stretch north towards Esna and Luxor.
• Day 4: check-out after breakfast, a full day of sightseeing on the West Bank and at Karnak, and drop-off in Luxor.

Planning Around the Start and End

The cruise begins with sightseeing on day 1, so it is easiest to reach Aswan the evening before, by a domestic flight from Cairo or the overnight train. The tour finishes in Luxor after Karnak on day 4, so book an evening flight out of Luxor, or better, add a night in the city. An extra night gives you time to see Luxor Temple, which this cruise does not include; our Luxor tours page lists the options.

How to Get the Best Price

Price depends on the season and on how many people travel together. Between May and September the cruise starts at $500 per person for groups of 9 to 16, $715 for 2 to 4 travelers and $1,230 for solo travelers. From October to March it starts at $775, and over Christmas and New Year at $945. Summer is the cheapest season, but Aswan and Luxor are very hot from June to August, often above 40°C, so sightseeing starts early and the middle of the day is spent on board. October to April is the most comfortable time, and the Christmas period books up first.

Practical Tips for the Cruise

• Carry small notes in Egyptian pounds. Tips are not included in the price.
• Pack a warm layer for winter evenings on deck, and a hat and sunscreen for the open temple sites.
• Wear comfortable shoes: Karnak and the Valley of the Kings involve a lot of walking on day 4.