3 nights / 4 days · Aswan to Luxor (with the current) · From $390 per person · All 6 temples included
A 3-night Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor is the shortest commercial Nile cruise sold in Egypt, sailing downstream over 4 days and stopping at the six core Pharaonic temples between the two cities. The boat departs Aswan on Friday or Monday morning and arrives in Luxor 3 nights later, with stops at Philae, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Karnak, Luxor Temple, and the Valley of the Kings.
This is the right cruise length for travelers on a tight schedule, on a stopover from a longer Middle East trip, or for anyone who wants the cruise to be one element of a larger Egypt itinerary rather than the centerpiece. If your dates allow an extra day, the 4-night Nile cruise Luxor to Aswan is more relaxed; if you have already cruised the Nile and want something different, the Lake Nasser cruise visits an entirely separate set of Nubian temples. Egyptdaytours.com is part of the wider Nile cruise Egypt guide; we book this 3-night route on 8 different cruise vessels.
The 3-night itinerary follows a fixed sequence on most cruise vessels. Departures are typically Friday or Monday morning from Aswan. Here is the day-by-day sequence on a Friday departure.
Arrive Aswan by flight from Cairo or by sleeper train from Cairo / Luxor. Transfer to your cruise vessel for embarkation (typically from 11am, lunch on board from 12:30pm). Afternoon visit to the High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk, and Philae Temple by motorboat. Return to the boat for dinner. Overnight moored in Aswan.
Optional pre-dawn flight to Abu Simbel (extra cost, returns by 11am). The boat sails north after lunch, arriving Kom Ombo around 4pm. Visit Kom Ombo Temple (the double sanctuary of Sobek and Haroeris) at golden hour. The boat continues sailing through the evening and moors at Edfu around 9pm. Overnight in Edfu.
Early-morning visit to Edfu Temple, the best-preserved Pharaonic temple in Egypt, by horse-drawn carriage from the dock. The boat sails north through the Esna lock during late morning and afternoon. Lunch on board. Arrive Luxor in the early evening. Optional Luxor Temple visit after sunset to see it floodlit. Overnight in Luxor.
Early-morning Valley of the Kings (3 tombs included, Tutankhamun optional extra), Hatshepsut Temple at Deir el-Bahari, and the Colossi of Memnon. Return to the boat for breakfast. After breakfast, visit Karnak Temple (the largest religious complex in the ancient world). Lunch on board. Disembark by 1pm. Transfer to Luxor airport for return flight to Cairo, or onward to your next destination.
A 3-night Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor costs between $390 and $640 per person sharing a double cabin on a standard 5-star vessel, including full-board meals, all temple entrance fees, and a private Egyptologist guide. The price varies by season (peak December and Easter weeks are 25 to 35 percent higher), by vessel (refurbished boats cost more than older ones), and by cabin category (suites are 30 to 50 percent more than standard cabins).
Luxury vessels (Sanctuary Sun Boat IV, Oberoi Philae) run $900 to $1,800 per person for the same 3 nights. Add-ons not included: international flights to Egypt, the Egypt e-visa ($25), tips for the crew ($60 to $80 per person), Abu Simbel by flight ($250), Tutankhamun tomb additional ticket ($45), and hot-air balloon over Luxor ($120).
A 3-night cruise covers all six core temples and works well if you are on a tight schedule. The trade-off is that Edfu and Kom Ombo are usually visited within 12 hours of each other (afternoon to early next morning), which is enough to see them properly but does not allow much lingering. The final day in Luxor is also packed: Valley of the Kings + Hatshepsut + Karnak in a single day, with a disembarkation deadline of 1pm.
If your dates allow it, the 4-night Nile cruise Luxor to Aswan spreads the same temples across an extra day at a more relaxed pace. You sail upstream (which is slower and gives you more time on the deck), visit Edfu and Kom Ombo on separate mornings, and finish in Aswan with a full afternoon for Philae instead of a rushed morning visit.
The 3-night Aswan-to-Luxor cruise is the right choice for the following travelers.
Stopover travelers. Cairo-to-Dubai or Cairo-to-Israel routings that have a 5 to 6 day window in Egypt can fit Cairo (2 nights) + cruise (3 nights) + return flight in a single tight loop.
Travelers combining Egypt with a longer trip. Egypt + Jordan, Egypt + Greece, or Egypt + Israel itineraries often allocate 7 to 10 days total for Egypt; a 3-night cruise fits within that allocation.
Cruise passengers shore-extending. Travelers on a Mediterranean cruise stopping at Alexandria or Port Said can extend their stay with a 3-night Nile cruise as a high-density Egypt experience.
Repeat visitors. Travelers who have done a longer Nile cruise on a previous Egypt trip and want a focused short cruise to revisit favorite temples.
If you are a first-time visitor with 10+ days in Egypt, the 4-night cruise is the better default.
“Three nights on the Nile from Aswan to Luxor was the right length for our short trip. Edfu and Kom Ombo on the same day was a bit rushed but the guide kept us moving without us feeling herded.”
“Did the 3-night cruise as part of an 8-day Egypt + Petra trip. Compressed but complete. Attar planned the connections so we had zero downtime in airports.”
“Our guide for the 3 nights was excellent. The boat was a Movenpick and the food was a real surprise. Worth every minute even at the shorter length.”
Full-board on the boat (breakfast, lunch, dinner, afternoon tea), a private Egyptologist guide at every temple, all entrance fees for the six core temples, transfers between the boat and your hotel, and the cabin for 3 nights. Not included: international flights, Egypt e-visa ($25), tips, optional add-ons like Abu Simbel or hot-air balloon.
The 3-night cruise sails Aswan-to-Luxor with the current, finishes in Luxor by 1pm on day 4, and packs Edfu plus Kom Ombo into a tight 12-hour window. The 4-night sails Luxor-to-Aswan upstream, gives you separate mornings for Edfu and Kom Ombo, and ends with a full afternoon at Philae in Aswan. Same temples, more relaxed pace.
Yes. Abu Simbel by flight from Aswan is the most popular add-on. The flight departs around 5am on Day 2 (Saturday) and returns by 11am, in time to rejoin the cruise as it sails north. Cost is approximately $250 per person including flight, transfers, guide, and temple entry.
Yes. The six core Pharaonic temples (Philae, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Karnak, Luxor Temple, Valley of the Kings) are all included in the standard 3-night itinerary. What you trade off is breathing room: each visit is shorter than on a 4-night cruise, and the final day is quite packed.
Most cruise vessels operate either a Friday departure (returning Monday) or a Monday departure (returning Thursday). A small number of boats sail other days; we match your dates to the available departures at quote stage. Peak holiday weeks see departures on additional days.
Yes. The standard combination is 2 to 3 nights Cairo + flight to Aswan + 3-night cruise + flight back from Luxor to Cairo (or onward). We arrange the full sequence as one package, with all transfers included.
By cruise length
3-night Nile cruise · 4-night Nile cruise · 7-night Nile cruise · Dahabiya cruise · Lake Nasser cruise
By cruise boat
Luxury cruise ships · Budget Nile cruise · Nile cruise vs dahabiya
By itinerary
Nile cruise from Cairo · Cruise + Alexandria · Cruise + Red Sea · Cruise + Jordan
By season
Best time for a Nile cruise · Packing guide
Last reviewed by Attar on 2026-05-16. Reviewed quarterly.