3 Nights Nile Cruise from Aswan to Luxor | Guided Tour with Egyptologist

Your Egyptologist guide meets you at Aswan Airport or your hotel and transfers you to your 5-star Nile cruise for check-in and a welcome lunch onboard. The afternoon begins with a visit to the Aswan High Dam, one of the world's most ambitious engineering achievements, which transformed the flow of the Nile and powered modern Egypt. From there, take a short motorboat ride to Philae Island to explore the exquisite Temple of Isis — its colonnaded halls and riverside setting make it one of Egypt's most iconic monuments. Return to the ship for dinner and enjoy a folkloric evening show as the cruise prepares to set sail. Overnight aboard the cruise.

For those wishing to add an unforgettable experience, an optional early-morning excursion departs for Abu Simbel — a roughly 3.5-hour drive each way to visit the colossal rock-cut temples of Ramses II, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most breathtaking sights in the ancient world. This excursion is available at an additional cost and is not included in the cruise package. After rejoining the ship for lunch, the cruise sails toward Kom Ombo, where you'll visit the extraordinary double temple dedicated jointly to Sobek and Horus. Return onboard for dinner as the ship continues sailing toward Edfu. Overnight aboard the cruise.

After breakfast, board a traditional horse-drawn carriage for a scenic ride to the Temple of Horus at Edfu — one of ancient Egypt's most complete and majestic temples, with towering entrance pylons and walls covered in hieroglyphic inscriptions from floor to ceiling. The cruise then sails onward to Luxor, arriving in time to visit Luxor Temple as the afternoon light bathes its ancient columns in gold. If time allows, explore the vast Karnak Temple Complex, a forest of massive pillars and obelisks that took over 2,000 years to build. Return to the ship for dinner followed by a belly dancing performance. Overnight in Luxor.

After checking out of the cruise, your guide leads you across to the West Bank of Luxor for a memorable morning among the tombs and temples of ancient Thebes. An optional hot air balloon ride over the West Bank is available at sunrise for an unmatched aerial view of the Valley of the Kings and the surrounding desert — this is available at an additional cost. Continue with a visit to the Valley of the Kings to explore the painted royal burial chambers of Egypt's greatest pharaohs, including the tomb of Tutankhamun. Head to the impressive Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari, then stop at the iconic Colossi of Memnon for photographs of the two towering statues of Amenhotep III. An optional lunch at a local Luxor restaurant is available before your transfer to Luxor Airport.