4 Nights Nile River Cruise from Luxor with Optional Abu Simbel

Why Choose the 4-Night Cruise From Luxor?

Choose this cruise if you want the most complete version of the Luxor to Aswan route. Sailing south means sailing against the current, so the trip takes four nights instead of three. That extra time goes to Luxor, with two full days of sightseeing, and to Aswan, where the ship stays long enough for an optional morning at Abu Simbel. Departures are on Saturdays and Mondays.

Compared with the 3-night cruise from Aswan, which departs on Wednesdays and Fridays and starts from $500, this route costs a little more but adds Luxor Temple by night and a slower pace. If you are unsure which direction suits you, our guide to Luxor to Aswan or Aswan to Luxor explains the differences.

Two Days in Luxor: What You Will See

Luxor stands on the site of ancient Thebes, the religious capital of Egypt for much of the New Kingdom, and it holds more major monuments than any other city in the country.

• Karnak: the largest temple complex in Egypt, built and enlarged over some 2,000 years. Its Great Hypostyle Hall holds 134 giant columns.
• Luxor Temple by night: built mainly by Amenhotep III and Ramses II. The visit after dark, with the columns and statues lit up, is a highlight of day 1.
• The Valley of the Kings: more than 60 royal tombs cut into the desert hills. The standard ticket covers a selection of tombs; a few special tombs, such as Tutankhamun's, need a separate ticket.
• Hatshepsut Temple: the terraced temple of a female pharaoh who ruled for about two decades, set against the cliffs of Deir el-Bahari.
• The Colossi of Memnon: two seated statues of Amenhotep III, about 18 meters tall, that once guarded his mortuary temple.

Edfu and Kom Ombo on Day 3

Day 3 is spent between two temples from the Ptolemaic era, the last period of the pharaohs, when Greek kings ruled Egypt. At Edfu, you ride to the Temple of Horus by horse carriage. It is the most complete temple in Egypt, with its roof, walls and huge entrance gateway still standing. Later the ship stops at Kom Ombo, a double temple with two of everything: one side for Sobek, the crocodile god, and one for Horus the Elder. The ship then sails on to Aswan for the night.

Abu Simbel on Day 4: Worth the Early Start?

For most first-time visitors, yes. The two rock-cut temples of Ramses II and Queen Nefertari stand about 280 km south of Aswan, and this is the easiest moment in the trip to reach them, because the ship spends day 4 in Aswan. The $90 option includes the entrance ticket, an Egyptologist guide and the air-conditioned vehicle, and you are back on board for lunch.

The drive takes roughly three to three and a half hours each way, so the day starts with breakfast boxes before sunrise. In return, you see the four colossal statues of Ramses II on the facade of the Great Temple, and learn how both temples were moved, block by block, to higher ground in the 1960s to escape the rising waters of Lake Nasser. If you prefer a rest day, skip it and keep a free morning on board in Aswan.

Prices and the Best Time to Sail

From May to September the cruise starts at $560 per person for groups of 9 to 16, $785 for 2 to 4 travelers and $1,355 for solo travelers. From October to March it starts at $920, and the Christmas and New Year period starts at $1,145. October to April brings warm days and cool evenings, which are ideal for temple visits; summer is cheaper, but expect temperatures above 40°C in the afternoons. For a wider view of what cruises cost across the year, see our Nile cruise prices guide.

Before You Go

• Arrival: day 1 starts with Karnak before check-in, so plan to reach Luxor the evening before or on an early flight.
• Departure: the cruise ends in Aswan on day 5 after lunch, so book an evening flight or train, or stay a night in Aswan.
• Money: tips and personal expenses are not included, so keep small notes in Egyptian pounds.
• Clothing: pack light clothes for the day, a warmer layer for evenings from November to February, and a sun hat for Abu Simbel and the West Bank.