A Nile cruise is a floating hotel that moves along the river while you sleep, so you unpack once and still see the great temples of Upper Egypt. Between Aswan and Luxor the river passes the temples of Kom Ombo and Edfu, and ships cross the Esna lock. Each day normally combines one or two guided visits ashore with time on board.
It is the most relaxed way to cover Aswan and Luxor, because the travelling happens between sightseeing stops rather than instead of them.
| Route | Typical length | Sights on the program | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aswan → Luxor | 3 nights / 4 days | Philae, High Dam, Unfinished Obelisk, Kom Ombo, Edfu, then Luxor | Shorter trips, first-timers, ending in Luxor |
| Luxor → Aswan | 4 nights / 5 days | Karnak, Luxor Temple, Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Aswan | More time in Luxor, a calmer finish in Aswan |
| Longer boutique programs | 7 nights or more (varies) | Same temples plus extra stops, mostly on small boats | Slow travel, history lovers |
Programs differ by ship and season. The tables above describe the typical shape, and your written quotation lists the exact visits.
Our two programs are priced per person in US Dollars, the same in a double or single cabin. The figures below are for 2 guests with private transfers; the full tables by group size are on each route page.
Entrance tickets (US$ 88 per person for all sites in the program) are not included. Rates were issued on 9 November 2026 and are subject to availability. See all rates and what is included.
Sailing Aswan to Luxor follows the current, so it is usually shorter, and it finishes in Luxor, where the largest group of monuments is. Sailing Luxor to Aswan goes against the current, usually takes a night longer and gives a full day in Luxor at the start. Many travellers pick the direction that matches their flights, since the airports of both cities handle international connections through Cairo. Our 3-night vs 4-night guide compares them point by point.
Ships on the Nile are commonly described as luxury or deluxe, 5-star, 4-star and standard, with smaller boutique boats called dahabiyas in addition. The category affects cabin size, dining, public areas and service levels. It does not change the temples you visit. Marketing labels such as "deluxe" are not an official class, so always ask for the vessel's current official classification. See Luxury vs Standard Nile Cruises.
The season runs from October to April, with the busiest weeks around Christmas and New Year. In summer, temperatures in Luxor and Aswan regularly pass 40°C: cruises still run, sightseeing is moved to early morning and prices are generally lower. Read our month-by-month guide to Egypt for detail.
Our 14-point comparison checklist turns this into a table you can fill for any vessel.
Abu Simbel is not on the river route between Aswan and Luxor, so it is arranged separately from Aswan as a full-day trip. See our private Abu Simbel tour. We also arrange airport transfers in Aswan and private transfers between Aswan and Luxor for travellers who want to combine a cruise with a road transfer.
Seven Tours Egypt is a family-owned Category A travel agency (Tourism Licence No. 346) that has operated since 1981, with its main branch in Aswan. We do not own cruise ships. We check availability with ship operators, give you an itemised written quotation and look after the services around the cruise. We publish a vessel on this site only after our supplier access has been verified, and we never show availability or prices we have not confirmed.
No payment is asked at enquiry. You receive an itemised written quotation first.
Request a Nile cruise quote on WhatsApp Or use the contact formMost cruises on this route are 3 nights (usually Aswan to Luxor, with the current) or 4 nights (usually Luxor to Aswan, against the current). Longer programs of 7 nights or more exist, mostly on smaller boutique boats.
October to April is the main season, with daytime temperatures roughly between 20 and 28°C in Luxor and Aswan. Summers are very hot in Upper Egypt, and cruises are cheaper but the sightseeing is done early in the morning.
No. Seven Tours Egypt is a licensed Category A travel agency and DMC. We arrange Nile cruise bookings and the land services around them (transfers, private guides, Abu Simbel, extra sightseeing) with ship operators, and we publish a vessel only after our access to it has been verified in writing.
