9 daysEgypt Nile + Pyramids
Cairo, Abu Simbel & a Nile Cruise
- Private Egyptologist guides throughout
- Best Oct–Apr
From$3,900approx. ≈ £2,950approx. ≈ CA$5,350approx. ≈ A$5,950approx. ≈ €3,350per person sharing
Egypt
The Nile Valley
Temples, tombs and life along the river
Between Luxor and Aswan, the Nile Valley holds some of ancient Egypt's greatest temples and tombs. Travel by river cruise or sailing dahabiya, stopping at Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae, with an optional trip to Abu Simbel.
For thousands of years the Nile has been Egypt's lifeline: a green ribbon of palms, sugarcane and fields running through the desert, lined with the monuments of the pharaohs. The stretch between Luxor and Aswan holds an extraordinary concentration of ancient sites, and traveling it by boat, as visitors have for centuries, remains one of the world's great journeys.
Choosing your boat
Most Nile cruises sail between Luxor and Aswan over three or four nights, on boats that range from comfortable to highly luxurious, with sundecks, pools and guided excursions at each stop. For a more intimate experience, a dahabiya, a traditional two-masted sailing boat with a dozen cabins or fewer, takes four or five nights, moors at quiet islands and village landings, and sails when the wind allows. Either way, an Egyptologist guide brings the sites to life.
Temples along the way
Luxor, ancient Thebes, is the starting point for most cruises, with Karnak, Luxor Temple and the tombs of the West Bank. Sailing south, Esna's Temple of Khnum reveals recently restored ceiling colors, Edfu's Temple of Horus is among the best preserved in Egypt, and Kom Ombo's unusual double temple honors both Sobek, the crocodile god, and Horus the Elder.
In Aswan, Philae Temple stands on an island between the dams, having been moved stone by stone in the 1970s to save it from the rising waters.
Aswan and Abu Simbel
Aswan is the most relaxed city on the Nile, with granite islands, felucca sails and brightly painted Nubian villages on the west bank. From here, a road journey of around three and a half hours or a short flight takes you south to Abu Simbel, where the great temples of Ramesses II and Nefertari were relocated in the 1960s. Around February 22 and October 22 each year, the rising sun reaches deep into the main temple's inner sanctuary.
How we plan the Nile
We'll help you choose between a cruise boat and a dahabiya, plan sightseeing for the quietest times of day and combine the river with Cairo and the pyramids, as on our Egypt Nile + Pyramids journey.
Highlights
Sailing by dahabiya
Travel slowly on a traditional sailing boat, mooring at quiet islands and village landings along the way.
Edfu and Kom Ombo
Explore one of Egypt's best-preserved temples and a rare double temple dedicated to two gods.
Philae Temple
Take a small boat to the island temple of Isis, rescued and rebuilt stone by stone above the rising water.
Abu Simbel
Stand before the colossal statues of Ramesses II on an unforgettable early-morning excursion from Aswan.
Felucca at sunset
Sail among Aswan's granite islands in a traditional felucca as the desert glows gold.
Nubian villages
Visit brightly painted villages on Aswan's west bank and learn about Nubian culture and history from local hosts.
Best time to visit
Best months
- ✓ Jan
- ✓ Feb
- ✓ Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- ✓ Oct
- ✓ Nov
- ✓ Dec
The best time to sail the Nile is from October to April, when days are warm and sunny and evenings on deck are pleasantly cool. December and January are the busiest months.
From May to September, temperatures in Luxor and Aswan regularly exceed 40°C (104°F), but cruising continues, with sightseeing at dawn and dusk and noticeably quieter sites. Because the river is regulated by the Aswan High Dam, boats run all year, although dahabiya sailing depends on the wind. Abu Simbel's sun festival falls around February 22 and October 22.
Getting there
Most Nile journeys start or end in Luxor or Aswan, both reached by domestic flights from Cairo of roughly an hour to an hour and a half. Luxor International Airport (LXR) also receives some international flights, depending on the season, and overnight sleeper trains between Cairo and Luxor or Aswan are a more atmospheric alternative.
Dahabiyas typically sail between Esna, south of Luxor, and Aswan, with transfers arranged for you. From Aswan, Abu Simbel is reached by road or on a short flight.
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