A River Cruise on the Nile
Africa’s other great river trip: temples, tombs and feluccas.
Get Free Africa River Cruise QuotesA river cruise on the Nile is Africa’s other great river trip — no elephants, but five thousand years of history lined up along the banks.
Luxor to Aswan, Stop by Stop
Most Nile cruises sail between Luxor and Aswan, in either direction. In Luxor you visit the Karnak and Luxor temples on the east bank and cross to the west bank for the Valley of the Kings and the temple of Hatshepsut. Heading south, ships call at Edfu, home to one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt, and at Kom Ombo, a double temple right on the riverbank. At Aswan there is the Philae temple on its island, a felucca sail among the granite islands, and the option of an early-morning trip to Abu Simbel.
A typical Nile program
- Cairo and Giza: the pyramids, the Sphinx and the Egyptian museums (2–3 nights)
- Fly to Luxor or Aswan
- Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan (3–4 nights)
- Optional Lake Nasser cruise or flight to Abu Simbel
- Fly back to Cairo for the flight home
Choosing a Nile Cruise
Nile ships are larger than the Chobe houseboats but still small next to an ocean ship, and the lines differ more than you might expect. Some own their ships; others charter Egyptian vessels. Some include every site and an Egyptologist guide; others leave more to optional tours. Some spend extra days in Cairo — CroisiEurope, for example, has added a pre-cruise day in Cairo to its 2027 Nile program. Our advisors compare these details side by side.
For temple-by-temple detail, see our sister site Nile Riverboat Cruises. If you would like to see North Africa from an ocean ship instead, Cruising Africa covers Mediterranean and Red Sea calls.
Nile Cruise Questions
How long is a river cruise on the Nile?
The classic sailing between Luxor and Aswan takes three or four nights. It usually sits inside a program of 10 to 14 days that also includes Cairo and Giza, and sometimes a separate cruise on Lake Nasser to Abu Simbel.
Which lines cruise the Nile?
Viking, AmaWaterways, Uniworld and CroisiEurope all sell Nile programs, alongside Egyptian-owned ships that tour operators charter. The differences are in ship size, how many sites are included and how much time is spent in Cairo.
Is it safe to cruise the Nile?
Luxor to Aswan is a long-established tourist route, and the lines run guided, escorted touring ashore. Advice can change, so read the current U.S. State Department advisory for Egypt before you book and again before you fly.
Lake Nasser: The Nile Beyond the Dam
South of the Aswan High Dam the Nile becomes Lake Nasser, and a handful of vessels sail it on cruises of a few nights between Aswan and Abu Simbel. It is a quieter trip than the Luxor–Aswan run, with temples such as Kalabsha, Amada and Qasr Ibrim that were moved or stranded when the lake filled, and arrival by water at the great temples of Ramses II at Abu Simbel. If you have the time, it makes a memorable second river trip within the same holiday.
Plan Your River Cruise on the Nile
Our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise will compare Nile programs, ships and Cairo add-ons and send free quotes.
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