Nile Sailing with M/S Concerto
Aswan to Luxor Nile Cruise with Abu Simbel
Description
The 4-day Nile Cruise from Aswan to Luxor brings several of Egypt’s main riverside sites together in one well-paced trip aboard the Concerto Nile Cruise. In Aswan, you see the scale of the Aswan High Dam and cross the Nile by boat to Philae Temple. With accommodation, meals and sightseeing arranged around the sailing schedule, you spend less time organising transfers and more time at the monuments.
An early excursion to the Abu Simbel Temples is a key part of the cruise. Carved into the rock during the reign of Ramesses II, the two temples have huge seated figures at the entrance and detailed interior chambers. The journey from Aswan starts early, but Abu Simbel’s scale and setting make the visit worthwhile. Our team coordinates the transport and timing so you return to the ship for the next stage of the cruise.
Philae Temple sits on Agilkia Island and is reached by boat. Its courtyards, columns and reliefs honour Isis, while the island setting gives the visit a different feel from the desert temples farther north. The Aswan High Dam is part of the modern Nile story too: it changed water management, agriculture and settlement along the river. A guide places both sites in their ancient and modern context without hurrying you through the details.
Once the Concerto Nile Cruise is under way, the scenery becomes part of the day. From the upper deck, watch palm groves, cultivated fields and small riverside communities pass by before going ashore at Kom Ombo. The temple is unusual because it is dedicated to two gods, Sobek and Horus, and its symmetrical design makes the layout easy to follow. At Edfu, a short transfer from the river takes you to the well-preserved Temple of Horus, where tall pylons and enclosed courts show the scale of Ptolemaic temple building.
The ship provides a calm base between visits. Days include guided sightseeing, time to rest on deck and meals served according to the cruise programme. The pace suits travellers who want a structured archaeological tour without changing hotels each night. You should be comfortable walking over uneven stone, climbing some steps and getting on and off boats or vehicles. In summer, the heat can make early starts and sun protection especially important.
After sailing into Luxor, the western bank takes you to the Valley of the Kings, where tombs were cut into the limestone hills for New Kingdom rulers. Your guide explains the wall paintings and burial beliefs as you move through the open tombs available that day. Nearby, the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut rises in broad terraces against the cliffs. Its colonnades and reliefs tell the story of one of Egypt’s most important female pharaohs.
- Visit Abu Simbel, Philae Temple and the Aswan High Dam
- Sail between Aswan and Luxor aboard the Concerto Nile Cruise
- See the temples at Kom Ombo and Edfu
- Explore the Valley of the Kings and the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut
- Finish at Karnak Temple in Luxor with a licensed Egyptologist guide
The final major visit is Karnak Temple, a vast complex on Luxor’s east bank. The avenue, pylons, columned halls and sacred lake are easier to follow when seen in sequence with a guide. Booking the cruise as an organised trip also helps with entrance arrangements, local transport and the order of visits, leaving you free to enjoy the river between excursions. Bring your passport or a copy as requested by our team, and keep comfortable walking shoes and a hat ready for each shore visit.
Included
Accommodation aboard the Concerto Nile Cruise for the cruise programme
Boat transfer to Philae Temple
Abu Simbel excursion from Aswan
Meals served on board according to the cruise programme
Entrance fees to the listed archaeological sites
Guided sightseeing with a licensed Egyptologist
Transfers by air-conditioned vehicle during included excursions
Excluded
Any additional entrance fees not stated in the inclusions
Gratuities for guides, drivers and cruise staff
Drinks served on board
Travel to Aswan and onward travel from Luxor
Optional excursions or activities not listed
Personal expenses
Don't forget
Passport or a copy of your passport
Small day bag for shore excursions
Refillable water bottle
Modest clothing for visits to religious and historic sites
Comfortable walking shoes for uneven ground and temple steps
Hat, sunglasses and high-factor sunscreen
Any regular medication and personal toiletries
Light, breathable clothing and a warmer layer for early mornings
Frequently Asked Questions
The 4-day Concerto Nile Cruise usually includes accommodation aboard the Concerto Nile, the planned sightseeing between Aswan and Luxor, and visits to major sites such as Philae Temple, Edfu, Kom Ombo, the Valley of the Kings, and Karnak Temple.
Transfers, meals, entrance fees, and guide services depend on the package selected, so check the booking inclusions before you confirm. Our team can clarify what applies to your reservation.
This Nile cruise lasts four days and follows a south-to-north route from Aswan to Luxor, combining sailing with scheduled sightseeing. The itinerary includes the Aswan High Dam and Philae Temple, time at Abu Simbel Temples, visits to Kom Ombo and Edfu, then the Valley of the Kings, Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, and Karnak Temple.
Expect early starts on some sightseeing days, walking at archaeological sites, and time on board between visits. The exact order can change because sailing and docking depend on the cruise schedule.
Pickup and transfer arrangements for the 4-day Concerto Nile Cruise depend on where you are staying in Aswan and the package you book. Our team confirms the meeting point and transfer details with you before the cruise, including how you reach the boat and how your Luxor drop-off is arranged.
Please provide accurate hotel, train, flight, or transfer information when booking. If you are visiting Abu Simbel Temples before boarding, ask us to confirm how that connection fits the itinerary.
The cruise can suit families, but travellers should be comfortable with walking, steps, uneven ground, and warm outdoor conditions at sites including Philae Temple, Edfu, the Valley of the Kings, and Karnak Temple. Children need close supervision near the river, onboard stairways, and ancient-site edges.
Mobility access varies between the boat, docks, vehicles, and archaeological sites. Tell our team about any mobility needs before booking so we can check the practical arrangements and suggest the most suitable plan.
Pack light, breathable clothing, comfortable walking shoes, sun protection, and a hat for sightseeing at the Aswan High Dam, Abu Simbel Temples, and Luxor’s open-air temples. Shoulders and knees should be covered when visiting religious or culturally sensitive places.
Bring water, personal medication, a small day bag, and a light layer for cooler mornings or evenings. A phone or camera is useful, although photography rules can differ inside individual monuments.
You can request the 4-day Concerto Nile Cruise through our booking process by submitting your travel dates, traveller details, and any transfer or accessibility requirements. Availability and the final booking conditions must be confirmed for your requested sailing date.
Cancellation terms depend on the booking date, cruise availability, and the fare or package selected. Review the cancellation policy shown with your booking, or ask our team to explain the applicable conditions before payment.
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* Available on selected tours. Flights, cruises and special bookings may have different cancellation policies.
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Free cancellation up to 24 hours before activity starts
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Your Itinerary
Your 4-day Nile Cruise on the Concerto Nile begins in Aswan, where our team arranges your transfer to the boat and helps with embarkation. After settling into your cabin, travel by road to the Abu Simbel Temples. The journey takes several hours each way, but the scale and detail of Ramses II’s rock-cut temple make this one of the most important visits on the programme. Take time to walk through the courtyards and inner chambers before returning to Aswan.
Back on board, visit the Aswan High Dam, the major engineering project that changed the management of the Nile and created Lake Nasser. Continue by boat to Agilkia Island for Philae Temple, reached by a short motorboat ride. The temple complex was relocated from its original island after the dam was built, and its carved columns and reliefs are best seen with a guide explaining the move and the worship of Isis.
Return to the Concerto Nile for dinner and your first night on the river. The schedule can shift with sailing conditions and the order of visits, so our team confirms the practical details when you arrive.
Wake as the Concerto Nile continues north through the Nile Valley. After breakfast, the boat reaches Kom Ombo, where the riverside temple sits directly above the water. Walk through its courts and halls with your guide, looking for the unusual double design dedicated to Sobek and Horus. Carved medical instruments and the crocodile connection give the site a character that differs from the temples visited in Aswan.
Return to the boat for lunch and a period of sailing. The riverbanks pass slowly: cultivated fields, palms, villages and patches of desert appear in succession. This is a relaxed part of the cruise, with time to rest on deck or watch the landscape from the shaded areas while the crew prepares for the next stop.
Later, visit Edfu by a local transfer from the river. The Temple of Horus is one of Egypt’s most complete surviving temples, with a tall entrance pylon, broad courtyards and well-preserved inscriptions. After the visit, return to the Concerto Nile and continue toward Luxor, where the boat remains overnight.
After breakfast, cross to Luxor’s West Bank for a morning among the royal tombs of the Valley of the Kings. Your guide explains how the tombs were cut into the limestone hills and how their painted chambers prepared pharaohs for the afterlife. Entry arrangements vary by the tombs open that day, and the walk can include uneven ground, steps and warm exposed sections, so comfortable shoes and water are useful.
Continue to the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, built in terraces against the cliffs at Deir el-Bahari. The approach leads through broad courtyards to colonnades decorated with scenes of trade, ritual and royal ceremonies. There is time to see the main levels and hear how Hatshepsut presented her rule before leaving the West Bank.
Return to the Concerto Nile for lunch and a quieter afternoon on board. The boat’s overnight position in Luxor gives you a practical base for the final sightseeing day. Our team can advise on the walking distances and meeting arrangements before you leave the ship.
After breakfast and the check-out process, visit Karnak Temple, Luxor’s vast temple complex on the East Bank. Follow the route through the avenue of ram-headed sphinxes, the monumental pylons and the Great Hypostyle Hall, where rows of massive columns still carry traces of their original decoration. Your guide brings the different building phases into focus, making the scale easier to understand as you move through the complex.
Allow time for photographs and a final look at the inscriptions before returning to the boat or meeting your transfer. The morning visit involves outdoor walking across broad stone surfaces, so a hat, water and suitable footwear are sensible, especially during warmer months.
After disembarkation, our team assists with your onward transfer from Luxor. Depending on your travel plans, this may be to the airport, your next accommodation or another arranged destination. The cruise ends in Luxor after four days on the Nile, with the departure details confirmed locally to match your onward arrangements.