Nile River Boat CruiseNile Cruise Aswan to Luxor With Private Guide
This Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor with a private guide is a 4-day, 3-night sailing operated by Nice Tours and sold on GetYourGuide for $450 per person, rated 4.3 from 653 verified reviews. A 5-star cruise ship carries you downstream from Aswan while a private Egyptologist guide and a private driver with a vehicle handle every shore day. You visit Philae, Kom Ombo, Edfu and the full set of Luxor sights, with Abu Simbel as an option on day 2. Meals are full board. Temple entrance fees are the main catch, because the listing contradicts itself on whether they are covered. This page breaks down the price, the day-by-day route and who should book a different cruise instead. For the wider market, see the Nile river cruise comparison.
About This Tour
Nice Tours runs this 4-day, 3-night sailing from Aswan to Luxor on a 5-star cruise ship, priced at $450 per person and rated 4.3 from 653 GetYourGuide reviews. The selling point is a private Egyptologist guide and a private driver with a vehicle for every shore tour, from Philae on day 1 to Karnak and Luxor Temple on day 4.
The route covers Philae, Kom Ombo, Edfu, the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut, the Colossi of Memnon, Karnak and Luxor Temple, with an optional Abu Simbel morning on day 2. Meals are full board on the ship plus a restaurant lunch in Luxor on the final day. Read the entrance-fee paragraph below before you book, because it changes the real cost.
$450 per person on GetYourGuide, with reserve now and pay later and free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure
4 days and 3 nights, sailing from Aswan to Luxor
Hotel pickup in Aswan, though local rules may rule out hotel pickups, so read the meeting point on your voucher. It ends at your accommodation in Luxor or at the airport or train station
A 5-star Nile cruise ship. The listing states no group size and no specific ship name, so the vessel is whatever the operator assigns. No minimum age and no wheelchair information are stated
Contradictory. The Includes list says entrance fees to temples and sites are covered, but the Know before you go section says they are not in the base price and your guide helps you buy tickets at each site. Treat them as extra and confirm with the operator
Full board on the ship and lunch at a local Luxor restaurant on day 4. Abu Simbel is covered only if you select that option, your final night in Luxor is not covered, and the listing lists gratuities as optional. Free cancellation applies up to 24 hours before departure
Check Dates and Availability
Starting times are shown on the booking page once you pick a date. Reserve now and pay later keeps the spot open, and free cancellation runs to 24 hours before departure.
Quick answer The short answer
This 4-day, 3-night Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor costs $450 per person, sails on a 5-star ship and includes a private Egyptologist guide and driver for all shore tours, full board and a 4.3 rating from 653 reviews. Temple entrance fees are listed as included in one place and excluded in another, so budget for them separately until the operator confirms. Abu Simbel is an optional add-on on day 2. Free cancellation applies up to 24 hours before departure.
Key takeaways
- Budget extra for temple tickets, or pick a listing where they are clearly covered, such as the 3-night cruise with temple tickets.
- Compare the full route and price spread on the Nile river cruise catalog before you commit.
- Want Abu Simbel and a balloon bundled in? See the 3-night cruise with Abu Simbel and balloon.
- See exactly what the price covers in What the Price Actually Covers.
What the Price Actually Covers
The $450 covers the ship, the meals and the private guiding, but the entrance-fee line needs care and several extras are paid on top.
What Is in the $450
The Includes list covers hotel pickup and drop-off in Aswan, the 5-star cruise with full board, lunch at a local restaurant in Luxor on day 4, a private Egyptologist guide and driver for all tours, the Abu Simbel tour if you select that option, pickup and drop-off at the airport or train station, WiFi onboard and gratuities marked as optional. Drinks onboard appear in the same list, but the list mixes in gratuities and add-ons, so confirm with the operator which drinks are actually served.
| Line | In the price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise ship, 3 nights | Yes | 5-star ship, full board, breakfast lunch and dinner |
| Private guide and driver | Yes | Egyptologist guide plus driver and vehicle on all shore tours |
| Temple entrance fees | Unclear | Includes list says yes, Know before you go says no, treat as extra and confirm |
| Abu Simbel | Only if option selected | Day 2 morning, south of Aswan on Lake Nasser, not on the river route |
| Drinks onboard | Listed, unclear | Confirm what is covered before you rely on it |
| Final night in Luxor | No | Your accommodation in Luxor after day 4 is not included |
| Luxor restaurant lunch | Yes | Day 4, local restaurant |
| WiFi | Yes | Listed in the Includes |
What You Pay on Top
The entrance-fee contradiction is the one to resolve. The ministry price list shows Philae at EGP 550 for foreign adults, Kom Ombo at EGP 450, Abu Simbel at EGP 750 and the Valley of the Kings at EGP 750, so across nine sites the tickets add up to a real sum in Egyptian pounds. If the fees are not in the base price, your guide helps you buy tickets at each site.
Other likely extras are drinks beyond whatever the ship serves, tips for the guide and driver, which the listing marks optional, and any peak-season pricing the booking page shows for your date. No mandatory checkout charge is stated for this listing. If you want the fees settled at booking instead, the 3-night cruise with temple tickets covers every entrance fee on its itinerary at $600 per person, with a $200 per person supplement for travel from December 20 to January 2.
The Honest Notes
Three things to plan around. First, treat temple tickets as extra and email the operator before you pay, so you know the real total. Second, the itinerary can change with sailing conditions or Nile water levels, and in low-water periods some sailings are suspended or ships swap passengers at the locks, so a fixed promise about the order of stops is unwise.
Third, ask the operator for a schedule and pickup times in writing, since travellers say clearer and earlier notice of daily schedules would help.
Sources: Nile, Wikipedia, Aswan, Wikipedia
The pylon of the Edfu temple rises behind the colonnaded court. Photo: MatthiasKabel, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
What the Day Is Really Like
The listing lays out four shore days around three nights of sailing, with no fixed clock times given, so departure and pickup times come from the booking page.
Day 1, Aswan and Philae
Your private guide picks you up at your hotel in Aswan, assuming local rules allow hotel pickups, and drives you to Philae Temple, the Graeco-Roman complex on the water that reopened in 1980 after the temples were moved in the late 1970s. The Temple of Isis is the centrepiece, and Philae tickets run EGP 550 for foreign adults with the site open 7:00 to 16:00. After the visit you board the cruise ship, have lunch onboard and settle in for a relaxed afternoon and evening on the river.
Day 2, Optional Abu Simbel, Then Kom Ombo
The morning offers a choice. Join the optional guided trip to Abu Simbel, the Ramses II temple that was moved between 1964 and 1968 ahead of the rising water of Lake Nasser, with tickets at EGP 750 for foreign adults and the site open 6:00 to 17:00. It is an early start by road, south of Aswan, and it is not on the river route.
Or sleep in and enjoy a leisurely morning onboard. At lunch the ship begins sailing toward Kom Ombo, 50 km north of Aswan, where the double temple dedicated to Sobek the crocodile god and Horus the falcon-headed god has two of everything, gateways and chapels on each side. After the tour you return for dinner and sail overnight toward Edfu.
Day 3, Edfu
After breakfast your guide takes you to Edfu, where the Temple of Horus is the largest temple dedicated to that god in Egypt. Two large granite falcon statues flank the entrance gate. The temple was completed in 57 BC, and between Edfu and Luxor the ship later passes the Esna lock, which can add a wait of an hour or more.
The rest of the day is sailing time, with the river banks doing the work.
Day 4, Luxor West and East Banks, Then Drop-off
After breakfast you leave your luggage at reception and spend the whole day in Luxor. On the west bank you start at the Valley of the Kings, where tickets run EGP 750 for foreign adults, then visit the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut and stop briefly at the Colossi of Memnon. Lunch is at a local restaurant in Luxor.
In the afternoon you cross to the east bank for Karnak, whose Great Hypostyle Hall covers 5,000 square metres with 134 columns, and finish at Luxor Temple. Your driver then drops you at your accommodation in Luxor or at the airport or train station. Your final night's accommodation in Luxor is not included, so book it yourself.
Nile River Cruise (Aswan to Luxor) GORGEOUS Scenery & Temples
A travel vlogger sails from Aswan to Luxor and shows the river scenery and the temples along the way. Third-party video by Swifty Travels. This site did not shoot it and has no relationship with the creator.
Who This Tour Rules Out
The listing states no minimum age, no fitness grade and no wheelchair information, so the limits come from the route and the fine print rather than from a stated rule.
Not for You If
If you need guaranteed wheelchair access, this listing states none, and the temples involve uneven ground, ramps and stairways, so confirm access with the operator before booking. If you want tickets paid at checkout, the ambiguity over entrance fees rules this listing out, and the 3-night cruise with temple tickets is the cleaner buy. If you want a longer sailing, the 4-night cruise with private guide runs Luxor to Aswan over 5 days at $980.
And if you simply want the lowest 3-night price with Abu Simbel and a balloon included, the 3-night cruise with Abu Simbel and balloon starts at $340, though it adds $110 in mandatory checkout charges and excludes entry fees.
Practical Limits
The optional Abu Simbel morning is a very early road start, and Abu Simbel opens at 6:00 according to the ministry price list. Day 4 is the heaviest walking day, with the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut, Karnak and Luxor Temple in one go, so it suits travellers with a full day of walking in them. The preferred sailing season runs from October to April, and Aswan's average summer highs stay above 40 C, which rules out the deep summer for anyone who struggles with heat.
Children are not excluded, since no minimum age is stated, but child prices and cabin rules are not stated either, so ask. Free cancellation stops 24 hours before departure, so late changes cost the booking.
Papyrus-style columns line the halls of the double temple at Kom Ombo. Photo: Chabe01, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Getting There and What to Add
The tour starts with hotel pickup in Aswan and ends at your hotel, the airport or the train station in Luxor, so the logistics beyond that are yours to arrange.
Reaching Aswan and Leaving Luxor
Most travellers fly into Egypt through Cairo, where a flight to Aswan takes about 3 hours 48 minutes door to door and the train about 14 hours 15 minutes, per Rome2Rio. The listing includes pickup and drop-off at the airport or train station, so hand the driver your arrival details through the email or WhatsApp contact the supplier uses before the tour. At the Luxor end the drop-off covers your accommodation in Luxor or the airport or train station, but not your final night's hotel, which you book yourself.
Your passport needs at least 6 months of validity beyond arrival and a blank page, and the FCDO lists US$30 for on-arrival visas while Gulf News reports a rise to US$45, so check the current fee before you fly.
What the Cruise Leaves Out
The itinerary skips the Aswan High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk, both standard Aswan stops on other listings, so add them on your first afternoon if you arrive a day early. A short felucca ride around Elephantine Island costs from $15. In Luxor you could add the Esna Temple south of the city on a free morning.
If you skip the optional Abu Simbel day trip, the site lies south of Aswan on Lake Nasser, with sources giving anywhere from about 230 to 290 km, and can also be visited on a separate excursion, with tickets at EGP 750. For pre-trip reading, the site's Philae Temple and Edfu Temple guides cover the two stops you will see in most detail.
Day by Day on the River
The listing gives no clock times, only the order of the days, so the steps below follow the itinerary phases.
-
Start
Hotel pickup in Aswan
Your private Egyptologist guide meets you at your hotel, unless local rules rule out hotel pickups, in which case the voucher meeting point applies.
-
Morning
Philae Temple
Drive to the water and cross to Philae, the Graeco-Roman complex known as the Pearl of Egypt, with colonnades, kiosks and sanctuaries. Entry tickets are a likely extra at EGP 550 for foreign adults.
-
After lunch
Board the ship
Board the 5-star cruise ship, have lunch onboard and spend the afternoon and evening settling in.
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Day 2 morning
Optional Abu Simbel
Either join the optional road trip to the Ramses II temples at Abu Simbel or enjoy a leisurely morning onboard. It is an early start by road.
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Day 2 afternoon
Sail to Kom Ombo
Sailing begins at lunch. At Kom Ombo, 50 km north of Aswan, visit the double temple of Sobek and Horus with your guide, then return for dinner and sail overnight to Edfu.
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Day 3
Edfu and the long sail
After breakfast, visit the Temple of Horus at Edfu, then spend the rest of the day sailing toward Luxor, passing the Esna lock which can add a wait of an hour or more.
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Last day
Luxor west and east banks, then drop-off
Leave luggage at reception, tour the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon, have lunch at a local restaurant, then see Karnak and Luxor Temple before your driver drops you at your hotel, the airport or the train station.
Pros and Cons
A straight read of the listing, with the weak points named and the fixes attached.
What we genuinely like
- A private Egyptologist guide and a private driver with a vehicle on every shore day
- Full board for 3 nights on a 5-star ship at $450 per person, plus a restaurant lunch in Luxor on day 4
- The full temple set, Philae, Kom Ombo, Edfu, the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut, Karnak and Luxor Temple, in 4 days
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and reserve now, pay later
- Rated 4.3 from 653 verified GetYourGuide bookings
The honest downsides
- The entrance-fee line contradicts itself between the Includes list and the Know before you go section, so email the operator and budget for tickets at EGP 550 for Philae, EGP 450 for Kom Ombo and EGP 750 each for Abu Simbel and the Valley of the Kings until confirmed
- Drinks onboard are listed in a mixed Includes list without detail, so confirm what is actually served and bring cash for the rest
- The itinerary can change with sailing conditions or Nile water levels, and the Esna lock can add a wait of an hour or more
- Travellers say clearer and earlier notice of daily schedules and pickup times would help, so ask for the schedule in writing
- No group size, ship name, minimum age or wheelchair information is stated
Who it's NOT for: Not for travellers who want temple tickets, drinks and a named ship locked in at booking, since this listing leaves all three to confirm with the operator.
Questions About This Cruise
Are temple entrance fees included in the $450?
The listing is contradictory. The Includes list covers entrance fees to temples and sites, but the Know before you go section says they are not in the base price and your guide helps you buy tickets at each site. Treat them as extra and confirm, or book the 3-night cruise with temple tickets where the fees are clearly included.
Is Abu Simbel part of this Nile cruise?
Only if you select that option at booking, and it runs as a road trip on the morning of day 2. Abu Simbel sits south of Aswan on Lake Nasser, not on the river route. If you want it bundled in, compare the 3-night cruise with Abu Simbel and balloon.
Where does the cruise start and end?
It starts with hotel pickup in Aswan, though local rules may rule out hotel pickups, so read the meeting point on your voucher. It ends at your accommodation in Luxor or at the airport or train station, but your final night's accommodation in Luxor is not included. See Getting There and What to Add for the transport picture.
What kind of boat is it?
A 5-star Nile cruise ship, though the listing names no specific vessel, so the operator can assign any ship in its pool. The Includes list covers full board and WiFi onboard. For a small-boat alternative, see the Luxury Dahabiya Cruise with a dozen or so passengers.
What meals are covered?
Breakfast, lunch and dinner on the ship for 3 nights, plus lunch at a local restaurant in Luxor on day 4. Drinks onboard appear in the Includes list, but the list mixes in gratuities and add-ons, so confirm with the operator. The Nile river cruise price guide explains what most listings cover.
Can I cancel this tour?
Yes, free cancellation applies up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. That 24-hour window is shorter than the 6-day windows on the 4-night Luxor to Aswan cruise, which matters if your plans are shaky.
Is a guide included in my language?
The private Egyptologist guide is English-speaking by default, and the listing covers Arabic, English, French, German, Spanish and Italian, but Spanish, German, Italian or French guides are an add-on. Check the language options at booking, and see the route detail in What the Day Is Really Like.
What Travelers Said
Heba was the guide for the first day and amazing so far. She is very knowledgable and helped explain everything. Really nice car with air con as well, so far very good, more to come!
Ahmed Abd Elwahab was the guide in Abu Simbel and did a very good job. He was friendly, explained the history of the temples in clear and interesting detail, and pointed out several features that we would probably have overlooked on our own. His guidance made the visit more enjoyable and helped us better understand the significance of the site without feeling overwhelming.
Mary was the guide before the cruise. She was kind knowledgable and very organized. We appreciate the time she took to share her passion of Egyptian history with us. Chris bowman and David Maglio
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