5-Day Luxor to Aswan Nile Cruise

After breakfast, cross the river to the West Bank, the burial ground of Egypt's kings. Descend into the beautifully painted tombs of the Valley of the Kings, then visit the terraced Temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari, carved into the foot of a dramatic limestone cliff. On the way back, pause for photos at the Colossi of Memnon, two giant statues of Amenhotep III. Back on board, the ship casts off and sails south to Esna, where you can watch from the deck as it passes through the river lock before continuing toward Edfu. Curious about life on board? Our Nile cruise guide covers it all.

Start the day with a ride in a traditional horse carriage through the streets of Edfu to the Temple of Horus, the best-preserved temple of ancient Egypt, with its massive gateway and carved scenes of Horus's battle against Seth. Enjoy lunch on board as the ship sails on to Kom Ombo. Here, your guide shows you a rare double temple dedicated to two gods, Sobek the crocodile and Haroeris the falcon, along with the nearby Crocodile Museum and its mummified crocodiles. In the evening, put on a traditional galabeya and join the costume party on board. Learn more about the gods and symbols you'll see in our guide to ancient Egyptian symbology.

Spend the morning exploring Aswan with your Egyptologist. Begin at the Aswan High Dam, the huge modern project that tamed the Nile's yearly flood. Then hop on a motorboat to the island Temple of Philae, the beautiful sanctuary of the goddess Isis, rescued and rebuilt stone by stone on higher ground. Finish at the ancient granite quarries to see the Unfinished Obelisk, which would have been the largest ever raised had it not cracked. The afternoon is yours to relax on the sun deck and take in Aswan's golden dunes and palm-lined islands. For more ideas, see our Aswan sightseeing guide.

Enjoy a final breakfast on board before checking out of your cabin. If you have the time, you can add an optional early-morning trip to Abu Simbel to see the colossal temples of Ramses II and Queen Nefertari. Afterwards, we transfer you to Aswan Airport or the railway station to continue your journey. Planning more of your trip? Read our tips on how to plan your Egypt trip.