MS Amwaj Living Stone Nile Cruise
4-Day Nile Cruise from Aswan to Luxor with Abu Simbel
Description
This 4-day Nile Cruise from Aswan to Luxor brings several of Egypt’s major riverside monuments together in one well-paced voyage aboard MS Amwaj Living Stone. The route starts in Aswan, where the Nile runs between granite islands, then heads north towards Luxor. Along the way, you visit temples built by pharaohs, Ptolemaic rulers and Roman emperors, while your cabin, meals and evening views travel with you.
A major part of the cruise is the visit to the Temples of Abu Simbel, south of Aswan. Ramesses II commissioned the two rock-cut temples, which are known for the huge seated statues at their entrance. The journey begins early and involves a long time on the road, but the monuments’ scale and detail make them a valuable addition to an Aswan-to-Luxor cruise. Our team arranges the transport and helps keep the visit straightforward and manageable.
Back in Aswan, you reach Philae Temple on Agilkia Island by motorboat. Its courtyards, carved columns and reliefs honour Isis, while the island setting gives the visit a quieter feel than many mainland sites. You also see the Aswan High Dam, the major engineering project that created Lake Nasser and changed the flow of the Nile. Together, these visits show ancient river culture alongside modern Egypt’s relationship with the water.
- Visit the Temples of Abu Simbel with organised road transport
- See Philae Temple and the Aswan High Dam
- Stop at Kom Ombo and explore the temple beside the Nile
- Visit Edfu Temple, dedicated to Horus
- Explore the Valley of the Kings, Temple of Queen Hatshepsut and Karnak Temple
As the cruise moves on, the scenery changes gradually. Cultivated fields, date palms, villages and desert-coloured hills pass beyond the deck. At Kom Ombo, the temple honours Sobek and Horus, with symmetrical courts and reliefs showing medical instruments and ritual scenes. You reach Edfu by road transfer from the riverbank, usually by horse-drawn carriage or vehicle, depending on local arrangements. Its temple is one of the best-preserved in Egypt. The long entrance pylons lead into halls covered with detailed inscriptions.
Luxor has the greatest concentration of ancient sites on the route. On the west bank, the Valley of the Kings contains decorated royal tombs cut into the limestone hills. The number of open tombs can change, and your guide explains which entrances are available that day. Nearby, the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut rises in terraces against the cliffs. Broad stone ramps and reliefs record the queen’s trading expedition to Punt.
On the east bank, Karnak Temple deserves a slower look. The complex includes the Great Hypostyle Hall, processional avenues, carved gateways and the sacred lake. A licensed Egyptologist guides you through the main features and provides context without turning each stop into a rushed lecture. The cruise schedule allows time for walking, photographs and breaks in the shade, although the archaeological visits still involve uneven ground, steps and considerable time outdoors.
MS Amwaj Living Stone provides a settled base between excursions, with cabins, shared deck areas and meals served during the sailing programme. This organised format suits travellers who want to see the main Aswan-to-Luxor sights without changing hotels each night. It is less suitable for anyone seeking a completely private schedule or finding early starts, road transfers and warm outdoor visits difficult. We coordinate the transfers, site visits and timing as one plan, leaving you to focus on the monuments and the changing Nile landscape. Bring comfortable walking shoes, sun protection and a small day bag; your booking details confirm the exact embarkation and disembarkation arrangements.
Included
Licensed Egyptologist guide for archaeological visits
Meals served aboard the cruise according to the cruise programme
Visits and transfers included in the published itinerary
Accommodation aboard MS Amwaj Living Stone Nile Cruise
Transport for the Temples of Abu Simbel excursion
Entrance fees for the listed sightseeing included in the itinerary
Excluded
Optional activities or sightseeing not listed in the itinerary
Travel to Aswan and from Luxor unless stated in your booking details
Drinks and personal expenses
Gratuities for guides, drivers and cruise staff
Any additional services requested during the cruise
Don't forget
Comfortable walking shoes with good grip
Hat, sunglasses and high-factor sunscreen
Refillable water bottle
Passport or accepted travel identification
Any personal medication and essential travel documents
Small day bag for shore excursions
Light, breathable clothing and a layer for cooler evenings
Frequently Asked Questions
The 4-day Nile cruise includes your accommodation aboard MS Amwaj Living Stone and the scheduled sightseeing programme between Aswan and Luxor, including visits to Philae Temple, the Aswan High Dam and the main archaeological sites listed for the sailing.
Your booking details confirm whether meals, entrance fees, a guide, pickup and transfers are included for your chosen departure. We recommend checking these inclusions before payment, as arrangements can vary by package.
This 4-day Nile cruise visits major sights between Aswan and Luxor, including the Temples of Abu Simbel, Philae Temple, the Aswan High Dam, Edfu, Kom Ombo, the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut and Karnak Temple.
The programme combines time on the river with guided visits on shore. Abu Simbel is generally visited from Aswan, while Edfu and Kom Ombo are explored during the sailing towards Luxor.
The 4-day Nile cruise has a structured pace, with sightseeing usually arranged in the morning or at practical times around sailing, meals and time aboard the ship. Several visits involve walking outdoors, so travellers should expect early starts and active shore excursions rather than a slow hotel-based break.
The exact order can change because of navigation, site access and local operating conditions. Our team provides the day-by-day arrangements and helps you understand the pace before departure.
Pickup and transfers can be arranged for the Nile cruise when they are included in your selected booking, with the meeting point confirmed before travel. The itinerary runs between Aswan and Luxor, so we need your accommodation or arrival details to coordinate the correct pickup and drop-off.
Transfer arrangements may differ depending on whether you join in Aswan, leave in Luxor or add transport to Temples of Abu Simbel. We will confirm the practical details with your booking information rather than assume a hotel or arrival time.
The cruise can suit families, but children and travellers with limited mobility should be prepared for uneven ground, steps, heat and walking at archaeological sites such as Edfu, Kom Ombo, the Valley of the Kings and Karnak Temple.
Ships and ancient monuments may not be fully step-free, and some shore visits require boarding transport or walking over rough surfaces. Tell our team about mobility needs, medical considerations or children’s ages before booking so we can check the arrangements for your sailing.
Bring light, breathable clothing, comfortable walking shoes, sun protection, a hat, sunglasses, a refillable water bottle and any personal medication. Modest clothing that covers the shoulders and knees is suitable when visiting temples and other religious or cultural sites.
Keep a light layer for cooler mornings, a small day bag for shore excursions and your travel documents close at hand. Booking and cancellation conditions are shown with your selected departure; review them before payment, since the applicable policy depends on that booking.
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Why travelers choose A1Toureg
- Transparent pricing with no unexpected fees.
- Reserve today and pay on the day of your tour on most excursions.
- Free cancellation on selected tours.
- Organized with trusted licensed Egyptian partners.
- Fast confirmation and personal assistance.
- Comfortable transportation for every journey.
- Support in English, German, French, Italian, Russian & more.
- We're with you every step of the way.
Your unforgettable Egypt journey starts with a booking you can trust.
* Available on selected tours. Flights, cruises and special bookings may have different cancellation policies.
Keep things flexible!
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before activity starts
Ways You Can Pay!
If you choose to pay online, a secure payment link can be provided after booking. For assistance or alternative payment options, please contact us via WhatsApp.
Your Itinerary
Your 4-day Nile voyage begins in Aswan, where our team arranges the transfer for your early excursion to the Temples of Abu Simbel. The journey by road takes several hours each way, so the visit occupies much of the morning. At the site, you have time to enter the two rock-cut temples, see the large seated figures of Ramesses II and examine the carved interiors before returning to Aswan.
After lunch, continue to the Aswan High Dam, an important modern engineering project that changed the course of the Nile and created Lake Nasser. You then visit Philae Temple, reached by a short boat ride across the water. The temple complex honours Isis and includes reliefs, columns and sanctuaries that were carefully relocated when the area was threatened by rising water.
In the late afternoon, board MS Amwaj Living Stone Nile Cruise, complete your check-in and settle into your cabin. The evening is for relaxing on deck, reviewing the next day's sailing schedule and enjoying the first views along the Nile.
The ship leaves Aswan after breakfast and continues north through the Nile Valley. The morning is spent watching rural scenery pass from the deck: cultivated banks, palm groves and villages sit close to the water, while the desert begins just beyond the green strip. Meals and time on board follow the cruise schedule.
Later, visit Kom Ombo, whose riverside temple is unusual because it was dedicated to two gods, Sobek and Horus the Elder. Your guide explains the temple's symmetrical layout, reliefs and the ancient medical instruments carved into its walls. The site is reached from the ship on foot, with uneven stone surfaces in some areas.
Continue by cruise to Edfu. A local transfer usually takes travellers to the temple entrance, where the well-preserved gateway and long processional court provide a clear picture of Ptolemaic temple design. After the visit, return to the ship for dinner and an evening sailing toward Luxor. The pace is measured, with time to rest between shore excursions.
As the cruise reaches Luxor, breakfast is followed by disembarkation or a scheduled transfer for the day's sightseeing, depending on the operating plan. Our team keeps the movements organised so you can leave the ship with the essentials you need while luggage arrangements are handled separately. Wear comfortable shoes and carry water; temple grounds involve walking over sun-exposed surfaces.
The main visit is Karnak Temple, a vast religious complex built and expanded by successive pharaohs. Walk through the avenue of ram-headed sphinxes, pass the monumental first pylon and enter the Great Hypostyle Hall, where towering columns still carry traces of ancient decoration. Your guide places the different buildings and inscriptions in context without rushing the visit.
After the tour, return to the cruise or your arranged overnight accommodation according to the booking plan. The remaining time is free for lunch, rest and preparation for the West Bank visit. Keep personal belongings together during transfers, and confirm the next morning's departure arrangements with our team.
After breakfast, travel across the Nile to Luxor's West Bank for the final sightseeing programme. The first major stop is the Valley of the Kings, where selected tombs are open according to the day's access arrangements. Descend into the decorated corridors to see painted scenes of the afterlife; steps can be uneven, and the interior may feel warm, so take the visit at a comfortable pace.
Continue to the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, built against the cliffs at Deir el-Bahari. Its broad terraces, colonnades and surviving reliefs explain how Hatshepsut presented her reign and trading expeditions. Your guide indicates the main viewpoints and allows time for photographs before the group moves on.
After the West Bank visits, return across the river for the final transfer. Depending on your onward plans, our team takes you to the airport, railway station or another agreed drop-off point in Luxor. Allow time for luggage collection and keep travel documents accessible during this departure-day movement.