Step aboard the Al Hambra Nile Cruise and let Egypt’s great river carry you gently between Luxor and Aswan on a voyage that feels wonderfully out of time. Mornings unfold over palm-lined shores washed in soft desert light, afternoons draw you ashore to walk among towering temples, richly painted tombs, and easy-going riverside hamlets in the company of a well-versed local guide. Between visits, plush suites, sun-soaked upper decks, gracious hospitality, and thoughtfully cooked cuisine make every stretch of water feel like a small holiday in itself. Feluccas glide past on the breeze, evenings settle into quiet star-lit stillness, and the pulse of a river that has moved lives for thousands of years slowly becomes your own. Daily Pyramids Tours would be delighted to host you on this most memorable of Nile journeys.
Among the finest all-suite vessels plying the water between Luxor and Aswan, the Al Hambra Nile Cruise sets the bar for refined river travel in Egypt. Every detail is tuned for guests who prize space, privacy, and genuine indulgence: oversized suites, a striking two-level spa, softly lit lounges, and attentive one-to-one service. Add in sweeping Nile-facing windows, considered dining, and wellness spaces rarely encountered on the river, and Al Hambra becomes a beautifully composed setting from which to uncover Egypt’s ancient heartlands in style.
Day 1: Arrival in Aswan – Aswan City Tour
Your journey opens in Aswan, where a representative greets you at the airport or your hotel and accompanies you throughout the day’s exploration. Settled into a private air-conditioned vehicle, you set out for the High Dam first, a modern feat of engineering that reshaped the Nile’s course and rescued a wealth of Nubian monuments from rising waters.
From there you carry on to the Unfinished Obelisk, still resting in the very granite quarry it was hewn from before a hidden flaw halted the work — a rare, tactile lesson in how the ancients wrestled stone from the earth.
A motorised felucca then ferries you across the river to Philae Temple, the sacred sanctuary of Isis, painstakingly relocated block by block to Agilkia Island. An optional loop around Elephantine Island and the First Cataract reveals the river’s rockier, wilder character.
Lunch is taken at a local restaurant before you check in aboard your cruise vessel. Dinner is served on board, followed by an overnight stay in Aswan.
Meals: Lunch – Dinner
Day 2: Kom Ombo & Sailing to Edfu
Following breakfast on board, you head north by private vehicle to Kom Ombo, some 45 km from Aswan. Waiting on the riverbank is the extraordinary Temple of Kom Ombo, an almost perfectly symmetrical double temple honouring both Sobek, the crocodile deity, and Haroeris, an aspect of Horus.
You wander through its mirrored sanctuaries, hypostyle halls, and ritual chambers, then step next door into the Crocodile Museum, where mummified crocodiles unearthed near the temple lie in careful display.
After a lunch stop at a local restaurant, you rejoin the ship as it slips downstream toward Edfu. The afternoon drifts by in a slow parade of sugarcane fields, riverside villages, and sandstone cliffs that shape the character of Upper Egypt.
An onboard briefing sets you up for tomorrow’s visit before the vessel moors overnight in Edfu.
Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
Day 3: Edfu Temple & Arrival in Luxor
After breakfast, a traditional horse-drawn carriage clip-clops you into Edfu town for a visit to the Temple of Horus — widely regarded as the most completely preserved of Egypt’s ancient temples.
Its towering pylons, cavernous halls, and finely carved inscriptions bring alive the mythology of Horus and Seth and the ritual world of the Ptolemaic era. Preservation is such that you can trace nearly every original architectural level, right up to the roof terraces.
Back on board, sailing resumes northward for Luxor, with lunch served under way.
On arrival you visit Luxor Temple on the East Bank, a monument shaped across centuries by rulers such as Amenhotep III and Ramesses II.
Its stately colonnades, wide courts, and sphinx-flanked processional avenue give an unmistakable sense of the ceremonial pulse of ancient Thebes. The cruise remains docked overnight in Luxor.
Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
Day 4: Luxor West Bank & Departure
After breakfast and disembarkation, you cross over to the West Bank, the great necropolis of ancient Thebes. Exploration begins in the Valley of the Kings, where three royal tombs open to reveal vivid painted walls and sacred texts guiding pharaohs into the afterlife.
You then continue to the Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari, an architectural triumph rising in graceful terraces against the cliffs, dedicated to one of Egypt’s most formidable female sovereigns.
A final pause is made at the Colossi of Memnon, the two great statues that once flanked the entrance of a vast mortuary complex. Following lunch, you are transferred to Luxor Airport or your hotel for onward departure.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 1: Arrival in Luxor – East Bank Exploration
Landing in Luxor by air or rail, you are welcomed by a representative and driven in a private air-conditioned vehicle straight to your Nile cruise vessel.
Once checked in, your exploration opens at the Karnak Temple Complex, the largest religious site ever raised by human hands, extended and embellished over two thousand years by generations of pharaohs.
You then head to Luxor Temple, a New Kingdom gem historically tied to Karnak by the majestic Avenue of Sphinxes.
Lunch is enjoyed at a local restaurant during the day before you return to the ship for an overnight stay in Luxor.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Day 2: West Bank of Luxor – Sailing Toward Edfu
After breakfast, you cross to the West Bank of Luxor to explore the Valley of the Kings, where more than 60 royal tombs still guard brilliantly painted scenes of the ancient Egyptian journey into the afterlife.
The morning continues at the Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari, an architectural wonder cut into the cliffside and honouring Egypt’s most powerful female pharaoh.
A short stop at the Colossi of Memnon lets you stand before the two giant statues that mark what remains of Amenhotep III’s mortuary temple.
Following lunch at a local restaurant, you rejoin the cruise as it casts off southward for Edfu. The night is spent gliding along the Nile.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3: Edfu and Kom Ombo Temples
Arriving at Edfu, you climb aboard a horse-drawn carriage that takes you into town for a guided visit to the Temple of Horus.
This exquisitely preserved Ptolemaic temple stands as a tribute to the falcon god Horus and counts among the most complete ancient monuments anywhere in Egypt.
Back on board, the ship pushes on toward Kom Ombo, where you step ashore to explore a distinctive double temple shared between Sobek, the crocodile god, and Haroeris, an aspect of Horus.
Its balanced twin layout and dramatic riverside setting make it one of the Nile’s most striking sanctuaries. Lunch is served on board as sailing continues, and the ship then presses on toward Aswan.
The night is spent moored in Aswan.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4: Aswan Highlights and Nile Sailing
The day opens at the High Aswan Dam, a landmark of modern engineering that transformed Egyptian agriculture and water management and gave birth to the vast expanse of Lake Nasser.
Next comes the Unfinished Obelisk, a colossal granite monolith abandoned in its quarry that offers an unmatched glimpse into how ancient masons shaped stone.
A short motorboat crossing then brings you to Philae Island for a visit to the Temple of Isis, a Ptolemaic sanctuary relocated stone by stone following the construction of the Aswan Dam.
Lunch is served at a local restaurant, followed by a peaceful traditional felucca sail around Elephantine Island, a gentle way to soak up the granite outcrops and unhurried river life of Aswan.
You return to the vessel for a final overnight on board.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5: Departure from Aswan
Following a last breakfast on board, you check out from the cruise. A private air-conditioned vehicle transfers you to Aswan Airport or the train station in time for your onward journey.
Meals: Breakfast
At Daily Pyramids Tours, all prices are quoted in US Dollars (USD) unless otherwise specified. However, we gladly accept payments in other major currencies such as Euros (EUR), British Pounds (GBP), and more, based on the official daily exchange rate on the payment date.
Our prices reflect current market conditions, seasonal fluctuations, and service availability, so they may change without prior notice. Once a deposit or full payment is received, your booking price is locked in and guaranteed.
What’s Included in Our Packages:
Please check your specific booking confirmation and itinerary for exact inclusions and exclusions.
Holiday Supplement:
A 25% surcharge applies to all Nile Cruises and tour packages booked during Christmas, New Year, and Easter holidays due to peak demand.
To ensure a smooth booking process with Daily Pyramids Tours, our payment terms vary depending on the service type:
After payment, you will receive written confirmation, a tailored itinerary, and travel documents via email. Receipts for all payments will be provided.
We understand plans can change. Our cancellation terms are:
Refunds, when applicable, are processed within 14 business days of receiving your written cancellation notice. Some cruises or hotels may have stricter cancellation policies, which will be clearly communicated in your itinerary.
At Daily Pyramids Tours, we welcome families and offer the following children’s pricing:
Discounts apply only when children share accommodation with two full-paying adults. Note that certain Nile Cruises and luxury hotels may have different policies or restrictions for young children, which will be detailed in your itinerary if relevant.
Some special experiences are optional and not included in standard packages. You may book these in advance or arrange on-site (subject to availability). Examples include:
Optional tours are payable in USD or local currency (EGP). We recommend booking in advance, especially during peak seasons.
While our packages are comprehensive, travelers should budget for:
We advise carrying small amounts of local currency (EGP) for convenience, especially for tipping and shopping at local markets.
Tipping (“baksheesh”) is a customary way to show appreciation for good service in Egypt. Though not mandatory, it is widely appreciated:
Tipping is generally not included in your package price. We recommend carrying small USD or EGP bills for tipping convenience.
Pricing for a Nile cruise shifts with the length of the sailing, the class of the vessel, and what is included on board. As a rule of thumb, expect to pay between $600 and $900 per person for a 3-4 night sailing on a mid-range to luxury ship. Higher-end cruises with extended itineraries and elevated amenities will naturally sit above that range.
The sweet spot for a Nile cruise runs from October to April, when temperatures ease into a comfortable range for temple visits and long days ashore. The peak summer stretch of May to September is best avoided, as the heat along the river can climb to punishing levels.
Absolutely. A Nile cruise weaves together slow, scenic days on the water with guided access to Egypt’s most iconic temples and tombs, all from the comfort of a floating base. It is one of the most relaxed, culturally rich, and genuinely memorable ways to see the country.
Swimming directly in the Nile is generally discouraged for reasons of hygiene and safety, from water quality concerns to unpredictable currents beneath the surface. As a result, cruises do not permit guests to swim in the river itself.
Daytime dress on a Nile cruise is relaxed and practical, with lightweight, breathable fabrics best suited to the climate. Evening meals and onboard events call for a slightly smarter casual look, while modest coverage is expected whenever you visit temples, tombs, or other places of worship.
