3 or 4 nights · Aswan to Abu Simbel and back · Lake, not the Nile · From $880 per person
A Lake Nasser cruise is a 3 or 4 night sailing on the man-made reservoir south of the Aswan High Dam, visiting the rescued Nubian temples that UNESCO relocated when the Lake was created in the 1960s. The route runs between Aswan and Abu Simbel, with stops at Kalabsha, Wadi El Seboua, Amada, and Kasr Ibrim. This is NOT a Nile cruise: different water body, different boats, different temples, different route.
Lake Nasser cruises are best understood as a separate cruise category, not an alternative to the standard Nile cruise. Most travelers who book Lake Nasser have already done a Nile cruise on a previous Egypt trip and are returning for something different. If this is your first Egypt visit, see our 3-night Nile cruise Aswan to Luxor instead. For the more intimate sailing-boat experience on the Nile itself, see Nile cruise vs dahabiya.
Lake Nasser is the world’s third-largest man-made reservoir, created in 1964 when the Aswan High Dam blocked the Nile. The lake stretches 550 km south from Aswan into Sudan and submerged dozens of Nubian villages and temple complexes when it filled. The temples that survive today were rescued and relocated by UNESCO between 1960 and 1980, with funding from over 50 countries.
What this means for your cruise:
Smaller boat selection. Only a handful of vessels operate Lake Nasser. The two best-known are MS Eugenie and MS Kasr Ibrim, both ~65 cabins with a colonial-era aesthetic. The standard Nile fleet of 200+ boats has zero presence here.
Quieter route. Most cruise traffic stays north of the High Dam. Lake Nasser sailings are limited; the temples you visit are often empty.
Different temples entirely. Kalabsha, Wadi El Seboua, Amada, Kasr Ibrim, Abu Simbel. These are Nubian temples, mostly Ramesside, all relocated to higher ground when the lake filled.
Most Lake Nasser cruises run a 3 or 4 night Aswan-to-Abu Simbel one-way (or round-trip).
Transfer from your Aswan hotel to the boat at the High Dam pier. Lunch on board as the boat sails south. Afternoon visit to Kalabsha Temple, dedicated to the Nubian fertility god Mandulis, originally built under the Roman emperor Augustus. Overnight moored.
Morning visit to Wadi El Seboua (Valley of the Lions), built by Ramses II and featuring an avenue of sphinxes. Afternoon visit to Amada, the oldest Egyptian temple in Nubia (Thutmose III, ~1450 BCE). Sail through golden hour.
Morning sail past Kasr Ibrim, a clifftop fortress (you view from the boat, no landing). Afternoon arrival at Abu Simbel. Visit the Great Temple of Ramses II and the Small Temple of Nefertari at golden hour. Optional sound-and-light show after dinner.
Pre-dawn return visit to Abu Simbel to see the sunrise align with the sanctuary (this happens on the equinoxes in late February and late October; on other dates the early light is still excellent). Breakfast on board. Disembark mid-morning. Transfer to Abu Simbel airport for return flight to Aswan or Cairo.
A 3-night Lake Nasser cruise costs between $880 and $1,400 per person sharing a double cabin on MS Eugenie or MS Kasr Ibrim. 4-night cruises run $1,150 to $1,800 per person. Includes full-board, all temple entrance fees, and a private Egyptologist guide. Not included: international flights, Egypt e-visa, tips, return flight from Abu Simbel to Aswan or Cairo (typically $130-180 per person).
Lake Nasser cruises sail year-round but the comfortable season is October through April. Summer sailings continue at lower prices but daytime temperatures in Abu Simbel reach 45 degrees Celsius.
Repeat Egypt visitors who have already done a standard Nile cruise. Travelers fascinated by Nubian history and the UNESCO rescue of the temples. Photographers who want emptier temple shots than the busy Nile route. Anniversary trips where the “quieter, more unusual” angle matters.
If this is your first Egypt trip, book the 4-night Nile cruise Luxor to Aswan instead. The standard Nile cruise covers the more famous temples (Karnak, Valley of the Kings, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Philae) and is a richer first introduction to Ancient Egypt.
“Lake Nasser was our second Egypt trip. Done the standard Nile cruise four years ago. The Nubian temples and the empty quiet of the lake were exactly what we wanted second time around.”
“Combined a 3-night Lake Nasser with 3 nights in Cairo for an 8-day trip. Eugenie boat, excellent food, almost no other tourists at the temples.”
“Did Lake Nasser solo on a Kasr Ibrim sailing. Quieter than expected, beautiful temples, felt safe throughout. Attar arranged everything.”
No. Lake Nasser is a man-made reservoir south of the Aswan High Dam, created in 1964 by flooding the Nile valley. The temples you visit are Nubian (not the same as the Karnak/Luxor temples on a standard Nile cruise) and were relocated to higher ground when the lake filled. Different water, different boats, different route.
Primarily MS Eugenie and MS Kasr Ibrim, both 65-cabin vessels with a colonial-era design. A small number of other boats sail occasionally. We match dates to available vessels at quote stage.
Three or four nights. Three-night cruises sail Aswan-to-Abu Simbel one-way. Four-night cruises include a Kalabsha or Wadi El Seboua second visit. Longer cruises are rare.
Different temples (Nubian vs Pharaonic), different boats (2 vessels vs 200+), much quieter (10-20 percent of the Nile fleet traffic), and different itinerary. Do the standard Nile cruise first on a first Egypt visit; do Lake Nasser on a repeat trip.
Yes, but the logistics are tight. A typical combination is 4-night Nile cruise Luxor-Aswan, overnight Aswan, then 3-night Lake Nasser Aswan-Abu Simbel. Total: 8 nights on the water. Most travelers prefer to do these as separate trips on separate visits.
October through April. November and February are particularly comfortable. Summer sailings (June-September) continue but Abu Simbel temperatures reach 45 degrees Celsius midday. The Sun Festival at Abu Simbel in late February and late October is a notable special date.
Other Nile cruise options
Nile cruise overview · 3-night Nile cruise · 4-night Nile cruise · Dahabiya cruise
By boat category
Luxury cruise ships · Nile cruise vs dahabiya
Pair with
Cruise + Alexandria · Cruise + Red Sea · Custom Egypt + Lake Nasser
Practical
Best time to cruise · Packing guide
Last reviewed by Attar on 2026-05-16. Reviewed quarterly.