BudgetDay Trip
Stopover
Cairo Stopover: Pyramids in 24 Hours
Private departurePyramids of Giza, Sphinx, Egyptian Museum
1 days·★ 4.7
From · per person
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Nile CruiseLuxury
5 days · 4 nights · Aswan, Wadi el-Seboua, Abu Simbel
Lake Nasser Cruise: Aswan to Abu Simbel
Visit relocated Nubian temples by lake
★ 4.9 · 234 reviews—Private journeyFrom $1990 pp
All tours are private. Your group only — no strangers, no shared coaches, no fixed departures.
Journey highlights
- ★Sail the legendary Nile aboard a deluxe cruise vessel with full board
- ★Visit Karnak and Luxor Temples — the largest religious complex on earth
- ★Explore Valley of the Kings tombs including Tutankhamun's resting place
- ★Marvel at Edfu and Kom Ombo — the best-preserved Ptolemaic temples
- ★Experience Aswan's Philae Temple, High Dam, and Nubian culture
About this journey
This 5-day luxury nile cruise introduces you to the very best of Aswan, Wadi el-Seboua, Abu Simbel, crafted by Egypt Stay & Tours' specialists with over 20 years of Egypt expertise. From the moment your private chauffeur greets you at the airport to your final farewell, every detail has been considered. You'll travel with an expert Egyptologist (or local equivalent) who brings ancient history to life, stay in carefully selected luxury accommodations, and experience moments most travellers miss.
Unlike generic group tours, this itinerary is fully customisable. Add experiences, extend stays, upgrade hotels, or adjust the pace — we tailor every journey to suit your style. With 24/7 in-country support, transparent pricing, and direct relationships with all suppliers (including our own seven hotels in Egypt), you'll experience Egypt the way it should be experienced: seamlessly, authentically, and without compromise.
Egyptologist's note
What this trip really shows you
Lake Nasser cruises run a different route from the Nile cruises — south of the Aswan High Dam, on the artificial lake created in the 1960s, calling at Wadi el-Seboua, Amada, Qasr Ibrim, and finishing at Abu Simbel. These temples were all relocated during the UNESCO salvage campaign of the 1960s and most are accessible only from the lake.
The cruise length (typically four or five nights) is shorter than a Nile cruise because there are fewer sites and the lake is essentially empty — five or six vessels operate the entire route. The visit to Abu Simbel from a moored cruise boat at first light is the headline experience.
Historical context
Twenty-three Nubian temples were relocated as part of the UNESCO Aswan campaign (1960-80) to escape the rising waters of Lake Nasser. Abu Simbel was the largest and most expensive piece of cultural heritage engineering ever attempted — the temples were cut into 1,036 sandstone blocks (the largest weighing 30 tonnes), moved 65 metres higher and 200 metres back, and re-assembled inside a hollow concrete dome covered with the original cliff face.
What you'll experience
- Visit Abu Simbel from a cruise vessel at dawn before the day-trip flights arrive
- See the relocated temples of Wadi el-Seboua, Amada, and Qasr Ibrim
- Sail Lake Nasser's empty waters with five or six other vessels at most
- Walk inside the salvage dome behind Abu Simbel — most visitors never see this engineering
- Have nights moored under genuinely dark sky (no light pollution within 100 km)
- Cross from Egypt to the Sudanese border zone — the lake straddles the modern frontier
Insider tip from your guide
Lake Nasser cruises and Nile cruises are completely separate operations. Most travellers do not realise this and book one expecting the other. If you want both, you sail Nile-cruise Luxor-Aswan, then transfer to a Lake Nasser cruise the same day from a separate Aswan dock.
Best for
Travellers determined to see the salvaged Nubian templesRepeat visitors who already did the standard Nile cruiseAstronomy and photography travellers wanting genuine dark skyEngineering and heritage-conservation enthusiasts
Day-by-day itinerary
Travel to Aswan by train, road, or onward Nile cruise. Visit Philae Temple and the Aswan High Dam. Afternoon felucca sail around Elephantine Island.
What's included
- ✓Private airport transfers (arrival & departure)
- ✓All accommodation (4 nights) on bed & breakfast basis
- ✓All sightseeing and excursions per itinerary
- ✓Expert local guide
- ✓All entry fees to monuments and sites
- ✓All transportation in private air-conditioned vehicle
- ✓Bottled water during tours
- ✓All taxes and service charges
- ✓24/7 emergency support during your trip
- ✓Lunch on touring days
- ✓Welcome dinner on day 1
- ✓Domestic flights (where included in itinerary)
- ✓VIP fast-track at airports
- ✓Nile cruise accommodation with full board (all meals included)
What's not included
- —International flights to/from your home country
- —Egypt entry visa (USD $25 on arrival or e-visa available)
- —Travel insurance (mandatory — we can recommend providers)
- —Personal expenses (laundry, phone calls, minibar)
- —Optional excursions and activities
- —Tips and gratuities for guides, drivers, and hotel staff (USD $8–12 per person per day suggested)
- —Drinks with meals (unless specifically stated)
- —Anything not specified in 'Inclusions'
Practical information
Practical Information
Best Time to Visit
October to April (cooler weather, peak season)
Departure Dates
Daily departures · Year-round
Languages Available
English, Arabic, German, French, Italian, Spanish (on request)
Physical Rating
Easy to moderate — comfortable for most travellers, some walking on uneven surfaces at sites
Cancellation Policy
Free cancellation up to 60 days before departure. 50% refund 30-59 days. No refund within 30 days. (Christmas/NYE/peak holiday departures: 90 days for full refund.)
Deposit Required
20% at booking, balance 30 days before departure
Frequently Asked Questions
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