7 Nights Nile Cruise from Luxor to Aswan and Back | 5-Star Full Board with Egyptologist

Your representative meets you on arrival at Luxor Airport or your hotel and transfers you to your 5-star Nile cruise for check-in and a welcome lunch onboard. The afternoon is yours to relax on deck, settle into your cabin, and take in your first views of the Nile at your own pace. Dinner and evening entertainment onboard. Overnight in Luxor.

Hot Air Balloon over Luxor (Optional): Rise before dawn for an optional hot air balloon flight over the West Bank — drifting silently above the Valley of the Kings, the Colossi of Memnon, and the golden Theban cliffs as the sun rises over the Nile. This experience is available at an additional cost and is widely considered one of the highlights of any trip to Egypt.

After breakfast, head to the West Bank of Luxor for a guided tour of three of Egypt's most iconic ancient sites. Explore the Valley of the Kings, where the elaborately painted royal tombs of Egypt's greatest pharaohs — including Tutankhamun — were hidden for over three thousand years. Continue to the Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari, its three dramatic terraces rising against the sheer cliffs of the Theban hills. Stop at the Colossi of Memnon, the two towering seated statues of Amenhotep III, for photographs before returning to the cruise for lunch. The ship then sets sail toward Esna, crossing the famous Esna Lock — a unique spectacle as the vessel is guided through the lock gates with the ancient town stretching along the banks. Afternoon tea is served as you continue sailing to Edfu. Dinner and entertainment onboard. Overnight in Edfu.

After breakfast, board a traditional horse-drawn carriage for the short ride through Edfu town to the magnificent Temple of Horus — one of the largest and most complete temples in Egypt, with perfectly preserved pylons and inner chambers filled with hieroglyphic reliefs depicting the mythological battles between Horus and Seth. Return to the cruise for lunch as the ship sails south toward Kom Ombo. In the afternoon, visit the extraordinary Kom Ombo Temple, its twin sanctuaries rising directly from the Nile bank and dedicated jointly to Sobek the crocodile god and Haroeris the falcon god. Explore the adjacent Crocodile Museum, home to a remarkable collection of mummified crocodiles and ancient medical instruments. The ship continues sailing toward Aswan. Dinner and entertainment onboard. Overnight in Aswan.

After breakfast, spend a full day exploring the sights of Aswan. Begin with the Aswan High Dam, one of the world's largest engineering projects, which created the vast Lake Nasser and transformed the Nile's flow across Egypt. Take a short motorboat ride to Philae Island to visit the exquisite Temple of Isis — one of Egypt's most beautifully situated ancient monuments, with colonnaded halls and sweeping Nile views. In the afternoon, board a traditional felucca sailboat and drift gently around the Nile islands, including the lush Kitchener's Island botanical garden and the Aga Khan Mausoleum on the West Bank hillside. Return to the cruise for dinner and evening entertainment. Overnight in Aswan.

Abu Simbel by Road (Optional): For those who have added the optional Abu Simbel excursion, an early departure takes you on an approximately 3.5-hour drive south through the Nubian desert to one of the ancient world's most breathtaking sites. The colossal rock-cut temples of Ramses II and Nefertari, carved directly into the sandstone cliff above Lake Nasser, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and among the most remarkable monuments ever created. Explore both temples with your guide before making the return journey to the ship. This excursion is available at an additional cost.

For guests not taking the Abu Simbel excursion, the morning is free to explore Aswan at leisure. All guests regroup onboard for lunch as the cruise begins its return journey north, sailing back through Kom Ombo and toward Edfu. Dinner and entertainment onboard. Overnight in Edfu.

A leisurely day on the Nile as the cruise makes its way back north through Esna and toward Luxor. Enjoy a relaxed breakfast, lunch, and dinner onboard while the timeless Nile landscape unfolds from the deck — green fields, palm groves, and traditional riverside villages that have changed little over centuries. Evening entertainment onboard. Overnight in Luxor.

After breakfast, your Egyptologist guide leads you on a morning tour of Luxor's East Bank. Begin at the extraordinary Karnak Temple Complex — the largest religious structure ever built, covering over 100 acres and featuring the legendary hypostyle hall with its 134 massive columns. Continue to Luxor Temple, whose grand pylon entrance and colonnade have stood on the East Bank of the Nile for over 3,000 years. The afternoon is free to explore Luxor's bustling bazaars, browse local crafts, or simply relax onboard. Dinner and entertainment onboard. Overnight in Luxor.

After a final breakfast onboard, check out of the cruise and transfer to Luxor Airport or your Luxor hotel, marking the end of your Nile journey.