This 14 days Nile cruise from Aswan to Cairo is Egypt’s rarest river journey — a full Nile cruise covering nearly 1,000 kilometers, while standard cruises sail only the 230 kilometers between Luxor and Aswan. Over two weeks aboard a 5-star ship, you sail the entire Nile Valley from Philae Temple in Aswan to the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo.
What makes this long Nile cruise unique is Middle Egypt — the stretch of river no short cruise reaches. You will step ashore at the Temple of Hathor at Dendera, the Temple of Seti I at Abydos, Akhenaten’s lost city at Tell el-Amarna, and the rock-cut tombs of Beni Hassan, sites most travelers to Egypt never see.
This Aswan to Cairo Nile cruise package includes 13 nights full board, all guided tours and entrance fees, and a licensed Egyptologist throughout. Private and tailor-made by Egypt Best Vacations, a TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice winner for 2024, 2025, and 2026 — this is the complete Nile, sailed slowly.
Please keep in mind that slight changes might occur due to circumstances beyond our control.
Upon arrival at Aswan International Airport, you will meet and assist by our representative of “Egypt Best Vacations“. Then, transfer to your cruise ship to begin your 14 days Nile cruise from Aswan to Cairo. Free evening in Aswan.
Meals Plan: Lunch & Dinner
Your actual Aswan to Cairo Nile cruise package begins right now. Explore the highlights of the beautiful City of Aswan. Visit the Aswan High Dam. The High Dam in Aswan, Egypt, is regarded as one of the most significant engineering feats of the twentieth century. Aswan High Dam was built to save water and protect Egypt from the Nile‘s high and low floods and to generate electricity.
Continue to the beautiful Temple of Philae. Philae Temple or the temple of Isis at Philae Island in Aswan is one of the most beautiful temples in Egypt. It is known as the “Pearl of Egypt”. The temple is located on an island, so it requires a short boat ride. End your tour at the granite quarry of the Unfinished Obelisk. Here, you will learn how the ancient Egyptians fashioned their obelisks and statues of gods and kings. Then, transfer back to your Nile cruise for a free evening in Aswan.
Optional tour: Tour to Nubian Village in Aswan
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Visit the magnificent Nubian Museum which was built to preserve Nubian culture and history. The Nubian Museum was founded in response to the international salvage campaign of the ancient Nubian monuments initiated by UNESCO upon the request of the Egyptian government in 1960. Work on establishing the Nubian Museum began in the early 1980s when a committee was formed comprising of specialists from the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Egyptian universities, and UNESCO.
Take a motorboat to the Botanical Island or Kitchener’s Island. Covering 6.8 hectares, the gardens are filled with birds as well as hundreds of species of flora. Then, return back to your Nile cruise for a free evening in Aswan.
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Set sail to Kom Ombo to visit the twin Temple of Horus and Sobek and the Crocodile Museum. This temple was built during the Greco-Roman period. The temple began during the time of Ptolemy V and was completed by the time of Emperor Tiberius. The emperors Domitian, Caracalla, and others added to the temple. So it took about 400 years to finish. Enjoy a short visit to the Crocodile Museum, before you go back to your Nile cruise ship to set sail to Edfu. Overnight in Edfu.
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Before/after breakfast, you will take a horse and carriage to the Temple of Horus in Edfu. This temple is the most intact temple in Egypt and it was built during the Greco-Roman period. The Temple of Edfu is fully inscribed with reliefs and hieroglyphs on its exterior and interior walls. Take your carriage back to your cruise ship to set sail to Luxor via the Lock of Esna. Upon arrival in Luxor, you will visit the impressive Temple of Karnak and the majestic Temple of Luxor. Both temples were dedicated to the Theban Triad; Amun, Mut and Khonsu. Overnight in Luxor, where you’re going to spend two days of your 14 days Nile cruise itinerary in Luxor.
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Breakfast, then commence your Luxor West bank tour. Visit the impressive Valley of the Kings. The Valley of the Kings is one of the most important highlights not only in Luxor but throughout Egypt. The Ancient Egyptians named it (Ta-Iset-Ma’at), which means “the Place of Truth”. The Valley of the Kings is the necropolis of the great Egyptian pharaohs of the 18th to the 20th Dynasty (1550-1080 BCE). From the Valley of the Kings to the unique Temple of the female pharaoh Hatshepsut, and then to Colossi of Memnon of Amenhotep III. Then, transfer back to the Nile cruise for a free evening in Luxor.
Optional tour: Sunrise Hot Air Balloon over Luxor
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Set sail to Qena. Visit the stunning Temple of the goddess Hathor at Dendera. The temple of Dendera dates back to the Ptolemaic Period, although evidence points to older structures once existing on the site, dating as far back as king Pepy I, from the Old Kingdom. Among the temple’s most notable features are astronomical engravings on its ceiling. Go back to the ship for a free evening in Qena.
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Set sail to Baliana to visit the magnificent Temple of pharaoh Seti I at Abydos. The Temple of Seti I at Abydos is amongst the most famous, cited by many as the most impressive religious structure still standing in Egypt. Unlike other Egyptian temples, it is L-shaped rather than rectangular and incorporates seven great doorways and seven sanctuaries. The temple was dedicated to the major gods Osiris, Isis, Horus, Amun-Ra, Ra-Horakhty, and Ptah as well as the deified Seti I himself. Head back to your cruise ship to set sail to Sohag. Overnight in Sohag.
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Set sail to Tell El-Amarna to overnight there. You will take two nights of your long Nile cruise package in El-Minya.
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Visit the City of Akhenaton at Tell El-Amarna. On a virgin site on the east bank of the Nile River, Akhenaten (Amenhotep IV) built the city about 1348 BCE as the new capital of his kingdom when he abandoned the worship of Amon and devoted himself to worship of the Aton. About four years after Akhenaten’s death (c. 1332), the court returned to Thebes, and the city was abandoned.
Continue to the City of god Thoth at Ashmounin. A provincial capital since the Old Kingdom of Egypt, Hermopolis developed into a major city of Roman Egypt, and an early Christian center from the third century. It was abandoned after the Muslim conquest but was restored as both a Latin Catholic (meanwhile suppressed) and a Coptic Orthodox titular see. End your tour at Tuna El-Gabal. It is the necropolis of Hermopolis Magna, ancient capital of the 15th nome and cult centre of Thot, god of writing and sciences. Set sail to El-Minya to overnight there.
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Visit the amazing tombs from the Old Kingdom period at Bani Hassan. The tombs are located in two distinct areas: the upper and lower cemeteries. The tombs of the upper cemetery are a testament to the ancient Egyptians’ architectural skills. They were cut into the rock with great accuracy using simple tools like chisels with bronze blades, which were struck with wooden mallets. The tombs are the final resting places of the senior officials of this region, the 16th Upper Egyptian province, which was known as the Oryx nome. The repetition of names like Baqet, Khety, and Khnumhotep through a number of generations suggests that many of the owners of these tombs were related. Then, go back to the ship to set sail to Bani Suef. Overnight in Bani Suef.
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Set sail to Cairo. Upon arriving in Cairo, you will visit the Community of Religions. This tour includes the famous Coptic Hanging Church. Cairo’s Church of the Saint Virgin Mary was built on the ruins of the Roman Babylon Fortress. Because of its location over the ruins of the fortress, it is known as Al Mo’llaqah Chruch or the “Hanging Chruch.”
Then proceed to the Abu Serga Church. The Church of Abu Serga is located in the modern Old Cairo, in the midst of the ancient Roman fortress of Babylon. The Holy Family drank from a well in the church, so the church is characterized among the other Egyptian Coptic churches. Then to the Synagogue of Ben Ezra. Ben Ezra Synagogue in Cairo is one of the most important and largest synagogues in Egypt. The Synagogue is named after the great Jewish Rabbi Ezra the Scribe. Then, head back to the Nile cruise for a free evening in Cairo.
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Visit the Great Pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure with the Sphinx at the Giza plateau. The Great Pyramids of Giza and the other Egyptian pyramids are very human monuments. Imagine the Great Pyramids of Giza 4000 years ago when they were complete with their limestone casings, their brilliance must have been blinding. Today, you will learn about the mysteries behind the pyramids.
Savor your lunch at a local restaurant, then proceed to the Grand Egyptian Museum. Explore the world’s largest collection of ancient Egyptian treasures in one stunning modern complex. You’ll stand face-to-face with the full Tutankhamun collection and enjoy immersive galleries that bring Egypt’s history to life. Then, transfer back to your hotel. Then, transfer back to your cruise ship for the final night of your 14 days Aswan to Cairo Nile cruise tour.
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Conclude your Aswan to Cairo Nile cruise itinerary by disembarkation. Then, transfer to Cairo Airport for final departure. It is sad to leave, so feel free to contact us about your next adventure in Egypt.
Meals Plan: Breakfast Only
