Luxor Travel Guide
Nile Cruise Guide: Luxor to Aswan
A Nile cruise guide: the Luxor to Aswan route, how many days, what is included, the temples you see, day trip vs cruise, and the best time to sail.
A Nile cruise is the classic way to experience Upper Egypt: floating between Luxor and Aswan, stepping off to explore riverside temples, and watching timeless scenery drift past from the deck. Reviewed June 2026.
What is a Nile cruise?
A Nile cruise is a multi-day river journey, almost always between Luxor and Aswan, on a cruise boat that doubles as your floating hotel. You sail between sites, visit temples on shore with a guide, and relax on deck in between. Explore boat-based options in the Nile cruises and boat tours.
How many days is a Nile cruise?
Most classic cruises run 3 to 4 nights between Luxor and Aswan (or the reverse). Shorter itineraries focus on the headline temples; longer ones add a more relaxed pace and extra stops. It pairs naturally with a Luxor visit — see the Luxor guide.
What temples do you see on a Nile cruise?
A typical Luxor–Aswan cruise includes stops such as:
- Luxor — Karnak and Luxor Temples, plus the West Bank (see the Karnak & Luxor Temples guide and the Valley of the Kings guide)
- Esna — the lock and temple
- Edfu — the well-preserved Temple of Horus
- Kom Ombo — the double temple on the river
