From: $1595

4.9

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Dahabiya-Nile-Cruise-From-Luxor-to-Aswan-Tripidays-Egypt-Tours

Queen-Hatshepsut-Temple-Valley-Of-The-Kings-Tripidays-Egypt

A woman closely examining the detailed hieroglyphic carvings on a wall inside the Kom Ombo Temple.

Valley-of-The-Kings-Luxor-Egypt-Tripidays-Egypt-Tours

A white directional signpost for Thutmosis KV34 at the Valley of the Kings Luxor, pointing towards several royal tombs including that of Thutmosis III, set against the barren rock cliffs.

Ramesses-vi-Tomb-at-Valley-of-the-Kings-Luxor-Tripidays-Egypt-Tours

Detailed and brightly colored hieroglyphs and religious scenes cover the walls of an Ancient Burial Chambers for Pharaohs with Hieroglyphics at the Valley of the Kings Luxor, showcasing the artistry of ancient Egyptian tombs.

The well-preserved, brightly painted walls and ceiling of the Valley of The Kings KV2 The Burial Chamber of Rameses IV, showing scenes from Egyptian funerary texts.

Intricate and well-preserved Reliefs and Paintings in the Tomb of Pharaoh Sety I in the Valley of the Kings, showing richly colored figures and hieroglyphics, including a procession of figures on barques.

The illuminated facade of the multi-terraced Queen Temple of Hatshepsut, built into the sheer cliffs of Deir el-Bahari on the West Bank of Luxor, showcasing its grandeur at night.

Colossal statues of Pharaoh Hatshepsut line the elevated terrace of the stepped Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut in Luxor, Egypt, seen under a dramatic orange sky.

The two colossal, seated statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III, known as the Colossi of Memnon.

The Obelisk of Ramesses II standing in front of the grand entrance to the Luxor Temple, a prominent landmark in Egypt.

The illuminated Luxor Temple at Night, showing massive columns, statues of pharaohs, and the grand entrance courtyard bathed in warm yellow light against the dark blue sky.

The Great Peristyle Court of Ramesses II illuminated at night in Luxor Temple

The large, open-air Sun Court of Amenhotep III and Hypostyle Hall Luxor Temple, showing rows of massive columns under a clear blue sky.

The sunlit Court of Amenhotep III Luxor Temple, featuring monumental columns, high walls, and tourists walking through the grand entrance.

Two colossal, standing Statues of Ramses 2nd line the Inner Court at Luxor Temple, flanking a column, with a warm light illuminating the ancient stone.

The grand entrance to the Temple of Luxor, showing the processional pathway lined with rows of sphinx statues and the massive stone pylon towers in the background.

A traveler resting among the gigantic, hieroglyph-covered columns of the Hypostyle Hall at Karnak Temple in Luxor.

The massive, carved columns of the Hypostyle Hall at Karnak Temple.

A person looking up at the intricately carved columns of the Karnak Temple's Hypostyle Hall.

View of the Sacred Lake at Karnak Temple with palm trees reflecting in the water and the temple ruins in the background.

The colossal entrance pylons of Edfu Temple, which is Dedicated to Horus God in Egypt, featuring massive carved reliefs and a central doorway.

A massive, grey granite Statue of Horus Falcon God at Temple of Horus or Edfu Temple, standing guard in the courtyard with the temple's colossal pylon columns and reliefs in the background.

Egypt-Edfu-Temple-of-Horus-Tripidays-Egypt-Tours

Edfu-Temple-of-Horus-Pillared-Hall-Tripidays-Egypt-Tours

A view of the beautifully preserved ritual barque and shrine, including a white falcon statue, inside The Sanctuary Inside Temple of Edfu Egypt, illuminated by warm golden light.

The ancient Kom Ombo Temple is seen from the Nile River at sunset, with its columns and walls.

The illuminated inner pathway of Kom Ombo Temple at Night, with tall, carved walls glowing brightly under warm lighting in Egypt.

Sunlit temple passage with steps flanked by ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs Edfu Temple interior

Philae Temple in Aswan Egypt from 4 days nile river cruise from Cairo to Aswan

Small group tour entering the majestic Temple of Isis at Philae Island Aswan Egypt

The sunlit main courtyard and facade of the Temple of Philae in Egypt, featuring massive pylons decorated with carved reliefs and a long colonnade with columns on the right.

Tour Details

Duration	5 Days / 4 Nights
Tour Location	Luxor / Esna / Edfu / Gebel El Silsila / Kom Ombo / Aswan
Tour Type	Daily Tour
Pickup	Luxor Airport or Your Hotel

Majestic Dahabiya Cruise From Luxor to Aswan in 5 Days

This 5 day dahabiya Nile cruise from Luxor sails south to Aswan aboard a traditional wooden sailing vessel carrying a maximum of 20 guests. The itinerary covers Luxor's West and East Banks, Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, Colossi of Memnon, and Karnak Temple before boarding at Esna for four nights of sailing through Edfu, Gebel el-Silsila, Kom Ombo, and Aswan. Egypt's only 5 day boutique cruise among our Dahabiya Nile River Cruises, it operates on a slow travel concept aboard a private wooden sailing boat.

Day 1 begins with private vehicle transfers to Luxor's West Bank for the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut Temple, followed by the Colossi of Memnon and Karnak Temple on the East Bank, then a road transfer to Esna for boarding. Day 2 sails to Edfu for a guided visit to the Temple of Edfu, one of Egypt's best preserved Ptolemaic structures, then continues to the sandstone quarry site of Gebel el-Silsila, with its rock-cut chapels and New Kingdom inscriptions. Day 3 brings the dual deity Temple of Kom Ombo, dedicated to both Sobek and Horus the Elder, before the dahabiya sails into Aswan. Day 4 covers Aswan's principal sites: the High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk, and Philae Temple on Agilkia Island. Day 5 is departure from Aswan by transfer to the airport, hotel, or train station.

Why Book This Tour

Egypt's Only 5 Day Boutique Dahabiya Sailing Cruise
Intimate Small Group Dahabiya Experience
Board Directly at Esna and Start Sailing Sooner
Includes the Rare Stop at Gebel El Silsila
Private Egyptologist Guide for Every Excursion
Private Air-Conditioned Transfers Throughout
4 Nights Aboard a Dahabiya with En-Suite Cabins
All Entrance Fees Included
Flexible Itinerary Customization Available
Freshly Prepared Onboard Meals Served Daily
Access to Exclusive Mooring Stops Unreachable by Large Ships
Slow Travel Experience on a Traditional Wooden Sailing Vessel

Included

Meet and assist with the Tripidays representative at Luxor airport or hotel
4 Nights of accommodations at Dahabiya cruise
Meals are provided as mentioned in the itinerary
Private licensed Egyptologist guide for all excursions
All transfers by modern private air-conditioned vehicle
Motorboat transfer to Philae Temple on Agilkia Island
Entrance fees to all attractions listed in the itinerary
One bottle of water during the tours
Our assistance during your stay
All Taxes and Charges

Excluded

International flights to Egypt
Egypt entry visa
Domestic flights (not applicable — this tour is land and river only, Luxor to Aswan)
Personal expenses: souvenirs, extra meals, drinks beyond what is served onboard
Tips for guides, drivers, and dahabiya crew
Travel insurance
Abu Simbel excursion
Any upgrade to a larger or private dahabiya charter beyond the standard shared vessel

Highlights

Luxor Attractions

Valley of the Kings
Queen Hatshepsut Temple
Colossi of Memnon
Karnak Temple

Aswan Attractions

Edfu Temple
Gebel El Silsila
Kom Ombo Temple
The High Dam
Philae Temple

Itinerary

Your Tripidays representative meets you at Luxor Airport or your hotel and transfers you by private vehicle to begin sightseeing on the West Bank. This carefully planned start allows travelers to explore 5 day Egypt tour options that combine Luxor's ancient treasures with a boutique dahabiya sailing experience. After Luxor's monuments, you'll drive to Esna to board your dahabiya, your home on the Nile for the next four nights.
Valley of the Kings
Your exploration starts on Luxor’s West Bank with a visit to the legendary Valley of the Kings, a home to the decorated tombs of Egypt’s greatest pharaohs. You will know about the symbolism of the wall paintings, burial rituals, and beliefs about the afterlife that shaped ancient Egyptian civilization. Travelers seeking a broader introduction to Egypt before sailing often choose a classic Nile cruise from Cairo, combining the pyramids and Cairo's historic landmarks with a journey through Upper Egypt.
Hatshepsut Temple
Continue to the magnificent Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, a masterpiece of ancient architecture built into the cliffs of Deir el-Bahari. Your guide will share insights into Hatshepsut’s reign, her bold legacy as one of Egypt’s most powerful female rulers, and the stories carved into the temple terraces.
Colossi of Memnon
Stop before the imposing Colossi of Memnon, two massive statues that have stood guard over the West Bank for more than 3,000 years. Learn about their history, ancient legends, and their role in welcoming visitors to the mortuary temple of Amenhotep III.
Karnak Temple
On Luxor’s East Bank, visit the awe-inspiring Karnak Temple Complex. Walk through the vast Hypostyle Hall with its towering columns and finely carved hieroglyphs while your guide explains how Karnak evolved over centuries into Egypt’s most important religious center.
Transfer to Esna and Dahabiya Boarding
After Karnak, your vehicle transfers you south to Esna, where your traditional wooden dahabiya is moored. This is the point where the 5 day dahabiya Nile cruise from Luxor formally begins, a vessel built for the pace of the river, not the schedule of a large ship.

Meals
Lunch, Dinner
The dahabiya sails south overnight from Esna. You'll wake on the water with Edfu approaching. After the temple visit, the afternoon stop at Gebel el-Silsila is one of the standard cruise itinerary's that are skipped entirely.
Temple of Edfu
Your guide walks you through the most completely preserved temple in Egypt, built by the Ptolemaic dynasty between 237 and 57 BCE and sealed by sand for centuries until its excavation in the 1860s. Every processional hall, inner sanctuary, and carved pylon is intact in a way that Karnak and Luxor Temple, continually modified over millennia, simply are not.
Gebel El Silsila
You'll moor at a stretch of sandstone cliffs that narrowed the Nile enough for ancient Egyptians to consider it a sacred threshold and practical enough to quarry the stone that built Karnak, Luxor Temple, and Edfu itself. Step ashore and you'll find rock-cut shrines, New Kingdom graffiti, and a stela of Ramesses II carved directly into the cliff face, most of it seen by almost no standard cruise passenger.

Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The dahabiya moors at Kom Ombo in the morning. After the temple, the afternoon is spent on the water as the vessel makes its final approach into Aswan. The light on the Nile changes; this far south, the riverbanks are narrower and more dramatic.
Kom Ombo Temple
Visit the unique Temple of Kom Ombo, famous for its perfectly symmetrical design. Dedicated to both Sobek, the crocodile god, and Horus the Elder, the temple reflects ancient Egyptian beliefs in balance and duality. Explore its carvings, medical reliefs, and the small museum displaying mummified crocodiles.

Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The dahabiya docks in Aswan, and private vehicles meet you at the mooring. The three Aswan sites on this day represent three different relationships Egypt has had with stone building, with it, abandoning it, and rescuing what was built from it. Travelers who prefer to begin their Nile journey in Upper Egypt rather than arriving through Luxor may also choose to join from Aswan without a flight, following a different route through the same remarkable river landscapes.
Aswan High Dam
Visit the Aswan High Dam, a landmark of modern Egypt. Learn about this monumental project that transformed agriculture, energy production, and life along the Nile, while enjoying sweeping views of Lake Nasser.
Unfinished Obelisk
Your guide takes you to the northern quarry in Aswan, where a single obelisk, at 42 metres, the largest ever attempted in ancient Egypt, was abandoned in place when a crack appeared in the granite during carving, probably in the reign of Hatshepsut. Still attached to the bedrock on three sides, it shows the entire process of monument-making frozen at the moment it failed.
Philae Temple
You'll reach Philae by motorboat, crossing to Agilkia Island where the entire temple of Isis was dismantled and reassembled stone by stone between 1972 and 1980 to save it from the rising waters of Lake Nasser. The UNESCO relocation project moved 16,000 blocks; the result is a temple that reads as fully coherent, its colonnaded forecourt, twin pylons, and hypostyle hall intact on an island that wasn't its original home.

Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After your final breakfast onboard, you check out from the dahabiya, and your Tripidays representative transfers you to Aswan Airport, your hotel, or the train station to complete your boutique dahabiya cruise from Luxor to Aswan. Travelers wishing to explore even farther south into Nubia often choose a Nile cruise with Abu Simbel instead, adding Egypt's most monumental rock-cut temples to their Upper Egypt experience.

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

This cruise includes 4 nights aboard a dahabiya with a private en-suite cabin, all meals onboard, a private licensed Egyptologist guide, entrance fees to all listed attractions across Luxor, Edfu, Gebel el-Silsila, Kom Ombo, and Aswan, all private vehicle transfers, and the motorboat crossing to Philae Temple.

This is Egypt's only 5 day boutique dahabiya sailing vessel cruise from Luxor, a traditional wooden boat, sailing at a pace and stopping at sites that large cruise ships on the same route cannot access.

A dahabiya is a traditional Egyptian wooden sailing vessel, originally built in the 19th century for private Nile travel, carrying between 8 and 20 guests with private cabins and open deck space. Unlike a standard cruise ship carrying 150 to 300 passengers, the dahabiya's shallow draft allows it to moor at smaller sites, including Gebel el-Silsila, and its small passenger count means every excursion is a private guided experience rather than a group tour.

Boarding takes place at Esna, approximately one hour south of Luxor by private vehicle. Day 1 begins with full sightseeing across Luxor's West and East Banks, Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, Colossi of Memnon, Luxor Temple, and Karnak Temple before your vehicle transfers you to Esna to board in the afternoon.

No domestic flights are included or required. This tour operates entirely by river and private road vehicle, departing from Luxor and ending in Aswan with no flights at any point in the itinerary.

What to Pack

Hat Backpack Comfy Shoes

Powerbank Medical Kit Comfy Clothes

Sunglasses & Sunscreen Personal Hygiene Products Valid Passport For 6 Months

Tour Locations

From:

$1595

4.9

Travel Date (approx.)

06/26/2026

Adults

Over 12+

Children

Under 12

What Our Customers Say

Hear from our satisfied customers about their travel experiences with us.

4735 Reviews

"Our family vacation to Egypt was unforgettable, thanks to Tripidays Egypt Tours. From the thrilling Nile cruise to exploring the iconic Pyramids of Giza, every part of the tour package was perfect. Ahmed, our guide, brought history to life with his storytelling, making this trip truly memorable. Highly recommend booking your Egypt holiday with Tripidays!"

Sarah J.

Houston, USA

"Our Egypt trip with Tripidays was an absolute pleasure. From the well-organized Cairo tour to the magical moments in Alexandria, every detail was handled expertly. Mona, our tour guide, was fantastic, ensuring we enjoyed every part of the package. If you're planning a holiday in Egypt, Tripidays is the way to go!"

Liam O.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

"Visiting Egypt was a dream come true, and Tripidays Egypt Tours made it an incredible vacation. The Nile cruise was the highlight of our trip, with stunning views and excellent service. Hassan, our guide, shared fascinating insights into Egyptian culture and history. I can't wait to recommend this tour package to my friends!"

Emily R.

Madrid, Spain

"Tripidays Egypt Tours exceeded our expectations on every level. The Nile cruise was a luxurious and relaxing part of our trip, and Fatima, our guide, made sure we had an enriching cultural experience. This Egypt holiday was perfectly curated, and I wouldn’t hesitate to book another vacation with them."

Mark T.

New York, USA

"From start to finish, our Egypt trip was handled with professionalism by Tripidays. Youssef, our guide, ensured every moment was special, whether exploring ancient temples or relaxing on the Nile cruise. If you're looking for an ideal Egypt tour package, Tripidays is the best choice!"

Anna K.

Roma, Italy

"This Egypt vacation was everything we hoped for and more. The Nile cruise was a highlight, with its luxurious cabins and breathtaking scenery. Nadia, our tour guide, made sure our trip was stress-free and full of fascinating stories. A wonderful holiday that I’d recommend to anyone planning a trip to Egypt!"

John L.

Ottawa, Canada

"Our Egypt trip with Tripidays was a joy for the whole family. The carefully planned tour package, which included a delightful Nile cruise, made the vacation stress-free. Karim, our guide, kept the kids engaged and excited while sharing the history of Egypt. We can't thank Tripidays enough for this amazing holiday!"

Priya S.

Berlin, Germany

"Tripidays Egypt Tours gave us an exceptional cultural experience. The tour package was perfectly balanced, with an immersive exploration of Egypt’s ancient sites and a relaxing Nile cruise. Layla, our guide, was passionate and knowledgeable, making this trip one we’ll never forget. I’d recommend this Egypt vacation to anyone!"

Maria H.

Sydney, Australia