Routes & durations
Nile cruise routes & how many days
- Luxor → Aswan: usually 5 days / 4 nights — the most relaxed direction, with extra time at Edfu and Kom Ombo.
- Aswan → Luxor: usually 4 days / 3 nights — efficient, covers the essentials, pairs well with a Cairo add-on.
- Full round (Luxor–Luxor or Aswan–Aswan): around 7 nights / 8 days for the complete journey.
- Dahabiya sailings: typically 5–8 days, at a slower wind-led pace.
All routes pass the Esna lock and visit the same major sites — the direction only changes the order.
Along the way
Temples & highlights along the Nile
- Luxor (East Bank): Karnak Temple complex & Luxor Temple.
- Luxor (West Bank): Valley of the Kings & Hatshepsut Temple.
- Esna: the Esna lock — a memorable engineering moment as the ship is raised.
- Edfu: the Temple of Horus, one of Egypt's best-preserved.
- Kom Ombo: the double temple of Sobek and Haroeris, right on the river.
- Aswan: Philae Temple (reached by boat), the High Dam, felucca sailing & Nubian culture.
