Luxor to Aswan
Nile cruise in Egypt
In short: a Nile cruise in Egypt takes 3 or 4 nights between Luxor and Aswan on a classic ship and costs roughly €400 to €700 per person (about $450 to $800 or £350 to £600), including full board and guided excursions. A dahabiya, a traditional sailing boat with six to ten cabins, takes 4 to 6 nights and starts at around €1,200 (about $1,400 or £1,050). A Nile cruise is often the resting point of an Egypt trip: between Luxor and Aswan you see temples, villages and river landscapes from the water, at a pace that suits the size of Egypt better. Below you will find the options, the route, what it costs and how to fit a cruise into your trip.
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Choose between a classic Nile cruise, a luxury ship or a small dahabiya.
Easy to combine with Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and Abu Simbel.
We look at the sailing schedule, atmosphere, level of comfort and how busy the excursions are.
Nile cruise or dahabiya: which suits you?
A classic cruise ship often has 50 or more cabins, a sun deck with a swimming pool, restaurants and a fixed excursion programme. A dahabiya is a sailing boat with six to ten cabins, where the days pass more slowly and you moor at places the big ships sail past. Choose the cruise ship if you want comfort and facilities at an attractive price, and the dahabiya if quiet and small scale weigh more heavily for you.
A Nile cruise on a small boat or sailing boat
If you would rather not sail on a large cruise ship, the Nile offers three smaller options. The dahabiya is a sailing boat with six to ten cabins and the most comfortable small boat for a Nile cruise of several days. The sandal is an even smaller sailing boat with a few cabins, suited to a small party who want the whole boat to themselves. A felucca is an open sailing boat without cabins: lovely for an afternoon of sailing around Aswan, but for a trip of several days only suitable if you want to travel very simply. Our guide to a dahabiya Nile cruise explains how a small sailing boat fits into a complete trip.
The route of a Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan
The classic route takes three or four nights and passes the Esna lock, the Temple of Horus at Edfu and the double temple of Kom Ombo. You can also sail the other way, from Aswan to Luxor; that direction is often a night shorter because the ship sails with the current. A dahabiya usually sails between Esna, an hour south of Luxor, and Aswan, in four to six nights. Which direction suits you best depends on your flights and on the rest of your route through Egypt.
What does a Nile cruise cost?
As a guide: a good classic cruise of three or four nights costs roughly €400 to €700 per person (about $450 to $800 or £350 to £600), including full board and guided excursions. Luxury ships cost more, and a dahabiya, at around €1,200 to €1,600 for four or five nights (about $1,400 to $1,850 or £1,050 to £1,400), costs roughly double. Rates differ by season: around public holidays and school holidays they are higher than in summer. In a trip proposal we include the cruise in the total budget, so you know exactly where you stand in advance. For orientation, our 10-day tour Egypt Highlights includes three nights on a classic Nile cruise ship and costs from €2,195 per person sharing a double room (about $2,500 or £1,900) for the whole trip.
Which is the best Nile cruise ship?
There is no single best Nile cruise ship. The range runs from solid five-star ships to boutique ships with a limited number of suites. The difference lies mainly in cabin size, the cuisine, how busy it is on board and the way excursions are organised. We select ships we stand behind ourselves, looking at maintenance, service and the atmosphere on board.
Temples along the river
A good Nile route links Luxor, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Aswan in a natural way. We make sure the excursions do not feel disconnected, but form part of a story about ancient and modern Egypt.
Nile cruise and stay: part of a complete trip
A cruise is rarely a stand-alone part of a trip. We build it into a larger tailor-made Egypt tour, for example with Cairo beforehand, Abu Simbel afterwards and, if you like, a calm finish at the Red Sea. That gives you a Nile cruise and stay in one trip: Cairo and a Nile cruise, followed by a few nights by the sea.
Typical route
The places that often come together in a strong Egypt trip.
Luxor as the starting point, with Karnak, Luxor Temple and the Valley of the Kings.
Edfu and Kom Ombo as temple stops between Luxor and Aswan.
Aswan as a gentle landing on the Nile, with Philae, a Nubian atmosphere and a calmer pace.
Abu Simbel as an early excursion from Aswan, often as an impressive finale.
Sample itinerary
One possible structure, always adapted to your pace.
Boarding in Luxor
Start with Luxor and its main temples. Depending on the ship, we plan the visits before or after boarding.
Temples along the Nile
Sail through the Esna lock and past the temples of Edfu and Kom Ombo towards Aswan. A dahabiya feels smaller in scale and often sails at a calmer pace than a classic ship.
Aswan and Philae
Visit Philae, enjoy the landscape around Aswan and leave enough room so that the trip does not consist of excursions alone.
Abu Simbel or an extension
Add Abu Simbel or extend with extra nights in Aswan, Cairo or at the Red Sea.
Practical
Cruise ship or dahabiya
A classic ship offers more facilities. A dahabiya is smaller, quieter and often more atmospheric, but it does not suit every budget or schedule.
Sailing schedule
Not every boat departs daily. That is why we build the rest of the trip around the sailing schedule rather than the other way round.
Combining
A Nile cruise works best as part of a complete route, with Cairo beforehand and Aswan, Abu Simbel or the Red Sea afterwards.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a Nile cruise and a dahabiya cruise?
A classic Nile cruise sails on a large ship, often with 50 or more cabins, a swimming pool, restaurants and a fixed excursion programme. A dahabiya cruise sails on a small sailing boat with six to ten cabins, calmer and smaller in scale, and moors at places the big ships do not reach. Both sail between Luxor and Aswan; the difference lies in scale, pace and comfort.
How many days does a Nile cruise take?
Many cruises take 3 to 4 nights between Luxor and Aswan. A dahabiya takes 4 to 6 nights, depending on the route and the sailing schedule, and is planned at a calmer pace.
How much does a Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan cost?
Count on roughly €400 to €700 per person (about $450 to $800 or £350 to £600) for a good classic cruise of three or four nights, including full board and excursions. Luxury ships and dahabiyas cost clearly more, with a dahabiya from around €1,200 (about $1,400 or £1,050). The exact rate depends on season, ship and cabin type.
Do you sail from Luxor to Aswan or the other way round?
Both directions sail. From Luxor to Aswan usually takes four nights, the other way three, because the ship then sails with the current. We choose the direction that best fits your flights and the rest of your route.
When is the best time for a Nile cruise?
From October to April the weather on the Nile is at its most pleasant. In summer it is hot in Luxor and Aswan, but the ships are quieter and the rates lower. For the full picture per month, read our guide to the best time to visit Egypt.
What is the best Nile cruise?
The best Nile cruise is the one that fits your travel dates, budget and style: there is no single best ship. The range runs from solid five-star ships to boutique ships with a limited number of suites, and the difference lies mainly in cabin size, cuisine, how busy it is on board and how excursions are organised. We select ships we stand behind ourselves.
Can you do a Nile cruise on a small boat?
Yes. The best-known small boat for a Nile cruise is the dahabiya, a sailing boat with six to ten cabins that moors at places the big ships sail past. Smaller still are the sandal, with a few cabins, and the felucca, an open sailing boat for short trips. For a cruise of several days with comfort, the dahabiya is the best choice.
Is a dahabiya better than a cruise ship?
Not always. A dahabiya is smaller and more atmospheric, while a cruise ship often offers more facilities. The best choice depends on your travel style.
Can Abu Simbel be combined with a Nile cruise?
Yes. Abu Simbel is usually planned from Aswan, mostly early in the morning to keep the experience calmer. Read more in our Abu Simbel guide.
Does a Nile cruise leave every day?
No. Ships and dahabiyas work with fixed sailing schedules. That is why we first check which departure days fit your travel period.
Can you book a Nile cruise on its own?
It is possible, but we usually advise the cruise as part of a complete trip. Then Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and Abu Simbel connect more logically.
Can you combine Cairo and a Nile cruise in one trip?
Yes, and it usually works best that way: Cairo beforehand, then Luxor and the Nile cruise to Aswan and, to finish, Abu Simbel or a few days at the Red Sea. Our 10-day Egypt Highlights tour, for example, combines Cairo with three nights on a classic Nile cruise ship.
How long is the journey from Hurghada to Luxor?
With a private driver the drive from Hurghada to Luxor takes about 4 hours. That is why many travellers first combine a Nile cruise from Luxor and finish the trip with a few days at the Red Sea, instead of driving back and forth every day.
Read on
Dahabiya Nile cruise
Small and quiet on the Nile: the stylish alternative to the classic cruise ship between Luxor and Aswan.
Egypt itinerary: 10 days
A compact route for travellers who want to experience the heart of Egypt properly, day by day.
Visiting Abu Simbel
How the early day trip from Aswan works: 280 km, about three hours each way, and where it fits in your route.
Cairo to Luxor
One hour by air or about ten hours by sleeper or day train: the options, the fares for foreigners and what we do.
Best time to visit Egypt
Month by month: when Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and the Red Sea are at their most comfortable.
Egypt Highlights (10 days)
Private tour through Cairo, Luxor and Aswan with the great sights of ancient Egypt.
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