Day One: Check-In The Cruise & Explore Luxor Sightseeing
Morning time, we will pick you up from Luxor hotel / Airport to start your 5 days Dahabiya Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan joining your private tour guide where you will visit Luxor highlights:
Stop at: Valley of the Kings
The Valley of the Kings was part of the ancient city of Thebes and is home to an impressive collection of royal tombs dating from approximately 1570 BC to 1050 BC, belonging to the 18th, 19th, and 20th Dynasties. Used as royal burial chambers between the 16th and 11th centuries BC, the valley served as the final resting place for Egypt’s pharaohs and their treasures. In recognition of its historical importance, the site was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.
Stop at: Hatshepsut Temple
The Temple of Queen Hatshepsut is a magnificent rock-cut monument located at Deir El-Bahari. Built around 1479 BC, this elegant funerary temple was dedicated to Queen Hatshepsut, one of the most powerful rulers of the 18th Dynasty. The temple commemorates her reign and achievements and is renowned for its unique architectural harmony with the surrounding cliffs.
Stop at: Colossi of Memnon
Standing in the Theban Necropolis on the west bank of the Nile, the Colossi of Memnon are two massive quartzite sandstone statues built around 1350 BC by King Amenhotep III. These monumental figures once guarded the entrance to his vast funerary temple and remain among the most iconic symbols of ancient Thebes.
After that, enjoy your lunch onboard the Dahabiya cruise.
Stop at: Karnak Temple
Karnak Temple is one of the greatest religious complexes in the world and a true architectural masterpiece. It was the main center of worship for the gods Amun-Re, Mut, and Montu, along with many other ancient Egyptian deities.
The complex was built and expanded over nearly 2,000 years, from the Middle Kingdom until the Roman period, in the ancient city of Thebes. Among its most impressive features are the Avenue of Sphinxes, the Great Hypostyle Hall, and many remarkable temples and monuments that reflect the power and creativity of Ancient Egypt.
Then you will be transferred from Luxor to Esna for embarking your Nile boat where you will enjoy the dinner meal on the boat.
Overnight in Esna on board your Nile boat.
Day Two: Visit Edfu Temple & Sail To Kom Ombo
Enjoy the best delicious breakfast onboard the cruise & sailing to Edfu, arrive around noon time to visit:
Stop at: Edfu Temple
The Temple of Edfu is one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt and one of the last great temples built during the Ptolemaic era (237–57 BC). Dedicated to Horus, the god of the sky, the temple stands on the legendary site where Horus is believed to have defeated Set, according to the Osiris myth.
Its impressive architecture and detailed carvings beautifully blend ancient Egyptian and Greek influences, making it one of the highlights of any Dahabiya Nile cruise.
Sail to Kom Ombo & spend the overnight onboard the cruise.
Day Three: Explore Kom Ombo Temple & Sail To Aswan
Enjoy the breakfast, then join your private tour guide to visit:
Stop at: Kom Ombo Temple
The Temple of Kom Ombo, meaning “The Hill of Gold,” dates back to the Greco-Roman period (205–180 BC) during the reign of Ptolemy V. What makes this temple truly unique is its rare double design, divided into two symmetrical sections—one dedicated to Sobek, the crocodile god, and the other to Horus, the falcon-headed sky god.
At the end of the day, enjoy sailing to Aswan. The lunch & dinner meals will be served onboard the Dahabiya boat.
Day Four: Explore Aswan Attractions
Morning time, have your breakfast & join your private Egyptologist guide to continue your 5 days Dahabiya Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan by visiting the most famous attractions in Aswan:
Stop at: The Aswan High Dam
The Aswan High Dam was constructed between 1960 and 1970 with the assistance of the Moscow-based Hydroproject Institute. Its purpose was to control the annual flooding of the Nile, generate hydroelectric power, and provide increased water storage for irrigation through Lake Nasser.
Following its construction, several ancient monuments, including Abu Simbel and Philae Temple, were threatened by rising waters. Thanks to an extraordinary UNESCO-led rescue mission in the 1960s—one of the most remarkable archaeological operations in history—these temples were successfully relocated and preserved.
Stop at: The Unfinished Obelisk
The Unfinished Obelisk is a unique ancient monument that offers invaluable insight into how obelisks were carved in ancient Egypt. Commissioned by Queen Hatshepsut (1508–1458 BC), it was intended to stand at the entrance of Karnak Temple alongside what is now known as the Lateran Obelisk in Rome.
Known in ancient times as “Tekhenu,” meaning “to pierce the sky,” the obelisk would have reached a height of 42 meters and weighed approximately 1,200 tons. A crack discovered during construction halted the work, leaving the obelisk in its original location to this day.
Stop at: Philae Temple
Philae Temple is a breathtaking sanctuary dedicated to Isis, the goddess of love and magic. The temple is famous for its reliefs depicting the Myth of Osiris, telling the story of Osiris’s murder by his brother Set, his resurrection as ruler of the underworld, and the triumph of his son Horus, the sky god.
Due to the construction of the Aswan High Dam, the temple was relocated in the 1960s to Agilkia Island as part of a UNESCO rescue project, preserving this masterpiece for future generations.
At the end of the day, you will back to the Nile cruise for the overnight. The lunch and dinner will be on board the boat.
Day Five: End Your Dahabiya Nile Cruise Luxor To Aswan
After breakfast, you will disembark from the Dahabiya. You will then be transferred to your preferred location in Aswan for your final departure, bringing your beautiful 5-day Dahabiya Nile cruise in Upper Egypt to a memorable end.
Hint: You can share your thoughts about adding or removing any tours from your tour itinerary to be able to accommodate your requirements and fulfill your needs.