Egypt Short Breaks Itinerary: What to See in 3, 4, or 5 Days
November 19, 2025
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about Egypt Short Breaks Itinerary: What to See in 3, 4, or 5 Days
From:
$1525
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Tour Details
| Duration |
5 Days / 4 Nights |
|---|---|
| Tour Location |
Aswan / Kalabsha / Wadi El Seboua / Amada / Derr / Tomb of Pennut / Kasr Ibrim / Abu Simbel |
| Tour Type |
Daily Tour |
| Pickup |
Aswan Airport or Your Hotel |
Memorable Cruise from Aswan to Abu Simbel in 5 Days
This 5 day Lake Nasser cruise departs directly from Aswan and sails south to Abu Simbel over four nights, stopping at Kalabsha Temple, Wadi El Seboua, the Temple of Amada, Derr Temple, the Tomb of Pennut, and Kasr Ibrim before reaching the Abu Simbel temples on Day 4. Ideal for travelers interested in Nile Cruise only trips in Egypt, this itinerary focuses entirely on the cruising experience and archaeological sites along Lake Nasser, with no domestic flights required. Egypt's first Lake Nasser cruise departing from Aswan is the only package covering all temple sites en route to Abu Simbel in a single sailing itinerary.
Day 1 starts with boarding in Aswan and settling into your cabin as the ship docks overnight. Day 2 takes you to Kalabsha Temple, relocated during the Aswan High Dam construction and dedicated to the Nubian god Mandulis, before sailing south toward Wadi El Seboua. On Day 3, the ship docks for a guided visit to the Wadi El Seboua Temple complex, known as the Valley of the Lions for its avenue of ram headed sphinxes, followed by the Temple of Amada (the oldest surviving temple in Nubia), the Temple of Derr, and the Tomb of Pennut, a rare record of Nubian viceregal life in the New Kingdom. Day 4 passes Kasr Ibrim viewed from the ship under preservation rules before arriving at Abu Simbel for a guided exploration of the rock cut temples of Ramses II and Queen Nefertari, with an optional evening Sound & Light Show. Day 5 is disembarkation with transfer to Aswan airport or hotel.
Why Book This Tour
- Egypt's #1-Ranked Lake Nasser Cruise Departing Aswan
- The Only Route Covering Every Temple Between Aswan & Abu Simbel
- Private Egyptologist Guide for Every Excursion
- A comfortable Lake Nasser Cruise Ship Accommodation
- Private Airport & Hotel Transfers Included
- No Domestic Flight Required
- All Temple Entrance Fees Included
- Full Board Dining Throughout the Cruise
- Flexible Itinerary Adjustments Available
- 24/7 Customer Support
Included
- Meet and assist with the Tripidays representative at Aswan hotel or airport
- 4 Nights of accommodations on a Lake Nasser Cruise
- Private Egyptologist Guide
- Private Air Conditioned Transfers
- Full Board Meals
- All Temple Entrance Fees
- Complimentary Bottled Water During Excursions
- Taxes & Service Charges Included
Excluded
- International Flights from / to Egypt
- Egypt Entry Visa
- Travel Insurance
- Personal Expenses
- Guide & Driver Gratuities
- Abu Simbel Sound & Light Show
- Pre or Post Cruise Accommodation in Aswan
Highlights
Abu Simbel Attractions
- Kalabsha Temple
- Wadi El Seboua
- Amada Temple
- Derr Temple
- Tomb of Pennut
- Kasr Ibrim
- Abu Simbel Temple
Itinerary
Your Tripidays representative meets you at Aswan Airport or your hotel and transfers you directly to the cruise ship for boarding. This itinerary is a popular choice among travelers looking for 5 day Egypt holiday packages that combine easy logistics with a complete Lake Nasser cruising experience. The ship remains docked in Aswan tonight, giving you time to settle into your cabin and prepare for four days of sailing.
Meals
Lunch, Dinner
The ship sails south from Aswan as Lake Nasser opens up around you, 500 square kilometres of still water flanked by desert escarpments. The 5 day lake nasser cruise from Aswan follows a route no Luxor based cruise ever reaches.
Kalabsha Temple
Your guide walks you through one of the largest free-standing temples in Egyptian Nubia, relocated stone by stone in 1970 to save it from the rising waters of Lake Nasser. The temple was dedicated to the Nubian solar deity Mandulis, and the outer gateway still carries reliefs showing Augustus Caesar presenting offerings, an oddity worth pausing at.
Sailing to Wadi El Seboua
Stand at the bow as the ship pulls away from Kalabsha and the desert shoreline narrows to a thin band between water and sky. This stretch of lake carries no other tourist traffic; the silence on deck is one of the things travellers remark on most. Travellers seeking a smaller vessel experience may also consider a dahabiya sailing cruise luxury option on the Nile, although the remote temples of Lake Nasser can only be reached by this route.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The ship docks near Wadi El Seboua as daylight comes in. Three separate monuments are within reach today, none of them accessible from the standard Nile cruise route.
Wadi El Seboua
Explore the Temple of Wadi El Seboua, famously known as the “Valley of the Lions.” The avenue of sphinxes and inscriptions from the reign of Ramses II offers insight into ancient Nubian religious life.
Visit Amada
Your guide leads you into the oldest standing temple in Nubia, constructed under Thutmose III around 1450 BCE. The painted reliefs here are the most complete on Lake Nasser, with colours still legible after 3,400 years of desert preservation.
Temple of Derr
From the outside, it looks modest. Inside, the rock-cut sanctuary built by Ramses II holds painted ceiling reliefs that most Egypt visitors never see, since this temple sits entirely within the Lake Nasser cruise zone.
Tomb of Pennut
You enter a small but detailed New Kingdom tomb cut for Pennut, a Nubian viceroy under Ramses VI. The painted scenes document a Nubian official's life and rank with a specificity that larger royal tombs rarely provide.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This is the culminating day of the 5 day lake nasser cruise from Aswan. The ship passes Kasr Ibrim in the morning before docking at Abu Simbel for a full afternoon guided visit.
Kasr Ibrim
Your guide points out Kasr Ibrim from the deck as the ship passes. Now an island since the Nasser waters rose, it was once a clifftop fortress continuously occupied from the Pharaonic period through the Roman and Christian eras into the Ottoman period. No landing is permitted; the vantage from the water makes its isolation read clearly.
Abu Simbel Temples
You arrive at the rock face, and the scale hits immediately the four seated colossi of Ramses II at the Great Temple, which stand 20 metres tall each, cut directly into the sandstone cliff. Your Egyptologist guide moves you through both temples, the Great Temple of Ramses II and the smaller Temple of Hathor dedicated to Queen Nefertari, with enough time to understand the astronomical alignment: twice a year, light reaches the sanctuary's innermost statues 65 metres into the rock. The entire complex was relocated 65 metres uphill between 1964 and 1968 to escape the Nasser floodwaters, one of the largest archaeological salvage operations ever completed.
Optional Sound & Light Show
Stay on after sunset for the outdoor Sound & Light Show, where the temple facades are illuminated and narrated. This is an optional paid excursion; confirm interest with your guide on Day 3. Travellers interested in combining Abu Simbel with the classic Luxor Aswan route may also consider a Nile cruise with Abu Simbel from Luxor, while this Lake Nasser itinerary offers a more focused exploration of Nubia's remote monuments.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Breakfast is served onboard before check out. Your Tripidays representative arranges your transfer to Aswan Airport or your hotel, completing the cruise. Travellers who prefer a package that includes flights and hotel arrangements before embarkation may also consider a Lake Nasser cruise departing Cairo, while this itinerary is designed for those wishing to begin their journey directly from Aswan.
Meals
Breakfast
Notes:
* You can let us know if you'd like to customize your tour itinerary to meet your needs. We value your input and aim to accommodate your requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
The cruise includes 4 nights aboard a Lake Nasser ship, a private Egyptologist guide, all meals from lunch on Day 1 through breakfast on Day 5, entrance fees to all six temple sites (Kalabsha, Wadi El Seboua, Amada, Derr, Tomb of Pennut, Abu Simbel), all private transfers, and taxes. International flights, visa, and tips are not included.
This is Egypt's Lake Nasser cruise departing directly from Aswan, the only package that visits every Nubian temple site en route to Abu Simbel with no domestic flight required. Tours leaving from Cairo add a flight leg that displaces a sailing day; this itinerary uses all four days on the water.
A standard Nile cruise runs between Luxor and Aswan on the river, visiting Karnak, Edfu, Kom Ombo, and similar sites. Lake Nasser is a separate body of water south of the Aswan High Dam, and the temples along its shores, Kalabsha, Wadi El Seboua, Amada, and Abu Simbel, are accessible only by lake cruise.
The ship departs from Aswan, sailing south across Lake Nasser through the Nubian Desert. Day 2 docks at Kalabsha, then sails to Wadi El Seboua for the overnight. Day 3 visits Wadi El Seboua, Amada, Derr, and Pennut before continuing south. Day 4 passes Kasr Ibrim by ship, then docks at Abu Simbel for the afternoon and evening.
No domestic flight is required or included for this tour. The cruise departs from Aswan, so you board directly after your arrival transfer; no additional flight is needed.
What to Pack
Hat
Backpack
Comfy Shoes
Powerbank
Medical Kit
Comfy Clothes
Sunglasses & Sunscreen
Personal Hygiene Products
Valid Passport For 6 Months
