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3 Nights Nile Cruise Aswan to Luxor — Itinerary, Rates & Booking
The shortest Nile cruise sailing: 3 nights from Aswan to Luxor aboard a 5-star floating hotel, visiting Philae, Kom Ombo, Edfu and the temples of Luxor. From $220 per person.
3 Nights Nile Cruise Aswan to Luxor — Overview
The 3 Nights Nile Cruise is the shortest Nile cruise package available, and it is the perfect way to experience the highlights of Upper Egypt when time is limited. The program normally starts in Aswan and ends in Luxor, sailing the most temple-rich stretch of the Nile in just three nights aboard a five-star floating hotel.
Along the way you visit the Aswan High Dam and the beautiful Temple of Philae, the unique double temple of Kom Ombo, and the superbly preserved Temple of Edfu. In Luxor you explore the Theban West Bank — the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon — with an optional afternoon among the great East Bank temples of Karnak and Luxor.
It is ideal for travellers in a hurry, for anyone who wants to visit multiple cities in a short holiday of fewer than seven nights, and as the cruise portion of a wider Egypt itinerary that also includes Cairo.
Day by Day Itinerary
Arrival in Aswan & Gateway to Ancient Nubia
Your journey begins in Aswan, the sun-drenched southern frontier of ancient Egypt. On arrival you enjoy a complimentary transfer and step aboard your floating hotel. After settling in and having lunch, you set off to explore the Aswan High Dam, the modern engineering marvel that tamed the Nile's annual floods and created the vast Lake Nasser. You then travel by motorboat to the island of Agilkia to visit the Temple of Philae, the sacred complex dedicated to the goddess Isis and often called the "Pearl of the Nile". You spend your first night docked in Aswan.
The Duality of Gods & the Triumph of Horus
The ship sets sail northwards at dawn. Your first stop is the unique Temple of Kom Ombo, perched dramatically on the river's edge — a rare double sanctuary dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek and the falcon-headed Horus the Elder, with a fascinating Crocodile Museum nearby. You then continue to Edfu, where a traditional horse-drawn calèche takes you to the Temple of Edfu, the best-preserved cult temple in all of Egypt, whose towering pylon and immaculate hieroglyphs tell the epic story of Horus's triumph over Seth.
Sailing to Thebes, the World's Greatest Open-Air Museum
Enjoy a leisurely morning sailing past timeless scenes of rural Egyptian life. After crossing the Esna Lock you arrive in Luxor, the site of ancient Thebes and the magnificent capital of the New Kingdom pharaohs. This afternoon offers an optional visit to the East Bank temples: the vast Karnak Temple Complex with its Great Hypostyle Hall of 134 colossal columns, and — as dusk falls — the beautifully illuminated Luxor Temple, connected to Karnak by the ancient Avenue of Sphinxes.
Journey into the Afterlife & Departure
Your final morning explores the Theban Necropolis on the West Bank, the land of the setting sun. You visit the world-famous Valley of the Kings, the final resting place of pharaohs such as Tutankhamun and Ramses II, and descend into vibrantly painted tombs. You then marvel at the striking Temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari, and on the way back you pause before the Colossi of Memnon, two massive statues of Amenhotep III that have guarded this land for over 3,400 years. After check-out you disembark, and a complimentary bonus transfer to the airport or train station brings your Nile adventure to a seamless close.
Program Summary
| City | Places to Visit |
|---|---|
| Arrival | Free bonus transfer to your Nile cruise on arrival |
| Aswan | Aswan High Dam & the Temple of Philae |
| Kom Ombo | Temple of Kom Ombo |
| Edfu | Temple of Edfu (by horse-drawn calèche) |
| Luxor | Optional: Karnak Temple & Luxor Temple |
| Luxor | Valley of the Kings, Colossi of Memnon & Hatshepsut Temple |
| Departure | Free bonus transfer to the airport or train station |
* Optional visits (Karnak & Luxor Temple) are not included in the standard cruise program but can be added on request against an extra charge.
* The free bonus arrival & departure transfers are provided as a gift by Nile-Cruise-Egypt.com and are not part of any normal cruise program.
* The above program may change in sequence due to navigational circumstances, but not in the visits included.
Photos
Rates
Solo Guest
1 guest
2 to 6 Guests
per person
7+ Guests
per person
Children
Infants up to 4 years old join free of charge.
Children from 4 to under 12 years old receive a 50% discount.
Best For
Travellers who are short on time but want to see the very best of Upper Egypt — first-time visitors, couples, families and history lovers. It suits anyone combining a Nile cruise with a Cairo stay, or looking for a compact holiday of fewer than seven nights that still takes in Aswan, the river temples and Luxor.
What You’ll See
- The Aswan High Dam and the vast Lake Nasser
- The Temple of Philae, the "Pearl of the Nile", dedicated to Isis
- The unique double Temple of Kom Ombo (Sobek & Horus)
- The superbly preserved Temple of Edfu, reached by horse-drawn calèche
- Optional Karnak Temple Complex and Luxor Temple on the East Bank
- The Valley of the Kings on the Theban West Bank
- The Temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari
- The Colossi of Memnon
Tour Includes
- The 3 nights itinerary is already included in the rate of the 3 Nights Nile Cruise Package.
- Sightseeing tours as per the itinerary with a private Egyptologist guide
- Entrance fees to the sites included in the program
- All transfers by private air-conditioned vehicle
- Free bonus arrival and departure transfers
- All taxes and service charges
Tour Excludes
- International and domestic airfare
- Egypt entry visa
- Optional visits (Karnak Temple & Luxor Temple)
- Drinks and beverages
- Personal expenses
- Tipping and gratuities
Tour FAQ
How long is the 3 Nights Nile cruise?
Does the cruise sail from Aswan to Luxor or Luxor to Aswan?
Are meals included on board?
Are Karnak and Luxor Temple included?
Is a guide included?
Can children join the cruise?
What is the best time of year to take this cruise?
Early Booking Benefits
💰 Payment & Deposit
- Deposit: only 20% deposit at the time of booking.
- Installments: 0% interest, equal monthly installments. The last installment is required 30 days before the tour date.
🛌️ Tour Privileges — all tours booked 6 months in advance get
- A private guide free of charge, without supplements.
- Your choice of guiding language: English, French, Italian, German or Spanish.
📅 Flexibility (Changes)
- Date change: free of charge, with respect to seasonality price, up to 7 days before the tour date.
- Tour swap: free of charge, with respect to the price difference between both tours, up to 7 days before the tour date.
- Name change: free of charge up to 7 days before the tour date.
📉 Price Fluctuation Protection
- Price increase guarantee: your price is protected against any future increase in tour rate, fuel price, government taxes or entrance fees.
- Price drop guarantee: you receive a refund of the difference if the price drops (same booking conditions).
🌍 National / Global Shutdown Protection
Examples: pandemic, airspace closure, or force-majeure events affecting all tours.
- Postpone travel date free of charge: move your travel to a later date, keeping the exact same booked plan, benefits and conditions.
- Full refund: receive a 100% refund.