Nile Cruise Hub

5 Days Nile Cruise Luxor to Aswan

The five-day, four-night Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan is the classic Egypt river itinerary. If you have seen a photograph of a Nile cruise, it was almost certainly this route. For a first visit, it is the sensible default.

The full schedule

Day 1: Luxor East Bank. Board early afternoon. Karnak Temple, then Luxor Temple. Karnak alone takes around two hours, and it is the largest thing you will see all week.

Day 2: Luxor West Bank. Early start, usually 6am. The Valley of the Kings with three tombs, Hatshepsut Temple, and a photo stop at the Colossi of Memnon. The ship sails after lunch.

Day 3: Edfu and Kom Ombo. Edfu Temple in the morning by horse carriage. Sailing through the middle of the day. Kom Ombo Temple in the late afternoon, often lit as the sun drops.

Day 4: Aswan. Philae Temple by launch, the High Dam, and usually the Unfinished Obelisk. Free afternoon, or a felucca sail around Elephantine Island.

Day 5: Disembark. Breakfast and off by around 8am, or an early Abu Simbel excursion if you have added it.

Why four nights works better than three

The extra night does two useful things. It gives Luxor two full days rather than a rushed morning, which matters because Luxor holds the densest sightseeing on the river. And it puts a genuine sailing afternoon into the middle of the trip, which is when most people finally slow down and enjoy being on a boat.

Three-night sailings cover the same temples but leave less room to breathe.

Choosing a ship for this route

Almost every ship on the Nile runs this itinerary, so the route does not narrow your choice. What matters is the ship itself:

Cabin deck. Upper decks have larger windows and better views. Lower decks sit closer to the waterline and the engine.
Ship size. Larger ships have better facilities. Smaller ships board and disembark faster at each temple.
Category. Standard, deluxe and luxury differ mainly in cabin size, food quality and service levels, not in what you see.
Dahabiya alternative. If crowds bother you, a Dahabiya sails the same river with a dozen guests instead of a hundred, though it usually takes longer.

What to confirm

Exact ship name and sailing date, not just category.
Whether entrance tickets are included, especially the extra-ticket tombs.
Whether Abu Simbel is included or optional, and what it costs.
Whether the guide is private or shared, and the group size.
Cabin position, since mid-ship upper deck is quietest.

Best time to go

October to April is the comfortable window. December and January are busiest and priciest. March and November are arguably the sweet spot: warm, clear, and slightly cheaper than peak.