Name: 3 Night Christmas Nile Cruise from Aswan to Luxor
Brand: Egypt Best Vacations
SKU: 1
Price: 800
Availability: InStock

Duration4 Days
AvailabilityChristmas Holidays
PickupAswan Airport
Tour TypeSmall group
(max 16 people)

Overview

Christmas Nile Cruise 2026: 3 Nights from Aswan to Luxor

This 3 night Christmas Nile cruise sails from Aswan to Luxor over four days, departing Monday, Wednesday and Friday throughout the Christmas holidays. Prices start at $850 per person sharing a triple cabin, or $935 twin-share, and include full board, guided touring at every site, and entrance fees to all the temples on the itinerary.

December is the best month of the year to be on this river. Days in Upper Egypt sit around 22–25°C — warm enough to enjoy the long walk through Karnak, mild enough that the Valley of the Kings is comfortable at midday rather than punishing. Evenings on deck turn cool, around 10–12°C, so bring a layer for after dark.

Egypt keeps Christmas twice. December 25th is marked across the country, and then Coptic Christmas falls on January 7th — a national holiday in its own right, observed by Egypt’s Coptic Orthodox Church. The festive season along the Nile runs from mid-December right through to it, so whichever week you sail, you’re sailing through a Christmas.

You choose the ship. The same itinerary runs across four classes — Standard, Deluxe, Ultra Deluxe and Luxury — so the temples, the guiding and the sailing days stay identical while the cabin, the dining and the deck space change with your budget.

Egypt Best Vacations is a licensed Egyptian tour operator based in Luxor, at the far end of this sailing. Every departure is led by a licensed Egyptologist, and TripAdvisor has named us a Travelers’ Choice winner three years running — 2024, 2025 and 2026. Children under 6 travel free and ages 6 to 11 pay half the adult rate.

Sailing over New Year instead? See our 3 Night New Year Nile Cruise.

Tour Highlights

This 3-Night Aswan Luxor Christmas Nile Cruise Tour promises an unforgettable journey through Egypt’s most iconic destinations, combining festive celebrations with ancient wonders for a truly magical holiday experience.

Christmas Celebration on the Nile: Experience the magic of Christmas aboard a Nile River cruise ship, adorned with festive decorations and filled with holiday cheer.
Exploration of Aswan: Discover the timeless beauty of Aswan, known for its picturesque landscapes and ancient monuments. Visit the iconic Philae Temple, dedicated to the goddess Isis, and marvel at the High Dam, a modern engineering marvel that controls the flow of the Nile.
Luxor's Ancient Treasures: Explore the awe-inspiring temples and tombs of Luxor, the ancient city of Thebes. Visit the Karnak Temple Complex, a vast open-air museum of ancient Egyptian history, and the Valley of the Kings, where the tombs of pharaohs like Tutankhamun were discovered.
Sunset Cruises: Experience the romance of the Nile with enchanting sunset cruises, where you can relax on deck and watch the golden hues of the Egyptian sky reflect off the shimmering waters of the river.
Insightful Guided Tours: Gain insight into Egypt's rich history and culture with expert-guided tours of each site, providing fascinating commentary and anecdotes about the significance of each landmark.

Price Includes

Airport pick up and drop off service upon arrival and departure
All transfers as per the itinerary by air-conditioned vehicles
Nile cruise ship (based on category) on a full board basis for 03 nights
09 meals: 03 breakfasts, 03 lunches, and 03 dinners
All tours as per the itinerary
Entrance fees of all sites as per the itinerary
Licensed English speaking tour guide
All service charges & local taxes

Price Excludes

Gratuities
Drinks and personal expenses
Any optional tour
Travel insurance

Tour Itinerary

Day 1Arrive Aswan: High Dam, Philae Temple, Unfinished Obelisk

Meet your Egyptologist guide at Aswan airport or railway station and start straight into the sightseeing. The High Dam first — two kilometres of rockfill that ended the Nile’s annual flood in 1970 and created Lake Nasser behind it.

Then Philae, the temple of Isis, which is not where it was built. When the water rose, the whole complex was cut into forty thousand blocks and reassembled on higher ground at Agilkia island. You reach it by boat. Finish at the Unfinished Obelisk, still lying in the granite quarry where it cracked — had it been raised it would have stood 42 metres and weighed over 1,000 tonnes, the largest ever attempted.

Board your ship in the afternoon and settle in. December evenings on deck are cool, so bring a layer.

Optional: Nubian village and camel ride

Meals: lunch, dinner

Day 2Sail to Kom Ombo and Edfu

A free morning on board, or take the optional early run south to Abu Simbel — a long day out, but the only chance on this itinerary to stand in front of Ramesses II’s colossi.

The ship sails after lunch. Kom Ombo in the afternoon: a double temple, split precisely down the centre line, one half for Horus the falcon and the other for Sobek the crocodile. Two sanctuaries, two sets of everything, mirrored. The Crocodile Museum next door holds the mummified animals recovered from the site.

Sail on to Edfu as the light goes.

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 3Edfu, Esna Lock, Karnak and Luxor Temple

Horse and carriage to Edfu before breakfast. The Temple of Horus is the most complete temple standing in Egypt, and the reason is unglamorous: it spent centuries buried in sand and silt, which protected the reliefs and the roof until excavation in the 1860s. The inscriptions here are the fullest surviving account of how an Egyptian temple actually functioned.

Back on board to sail north through the Esna Lock, where the ship is raised to the next stretch of river — worth being on deck for. Arrive in Luxor and cross to the east bank for Karnak, which thirty dynasties kept adding to across roughly two thousand years, and Luxor Temple, connected to it by the avenue of sphinxes. Both were dedicated to the Theban triad: Amun, Mut and Khonsu.

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 4Luxor West Bank and departure

Disembark after breakfast and cross to the west bank. The Valley of the Kings holds 65 known tombs; your ticket covers three, and your guide will pick the best open on the day — decoration and crowding both vary. Tutankhamun’s tomb, and those of Seti I and Ramses V, require separate tickets and can be added on request.

On to Hatshepsut’s mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahari, cut in terraces straight into the cliff, and a final stop at the Colossi of Memnon — two seated statues of Amenhotep III, all that survives of what was once the largest temple complex in Egypt. Transfer to Luxor airport, the railway station, or your hotel.

Optional: sunrise hot air balloon over the west bank

Meals: breakfast

Price Per Category of the Ship

5-Star Standard Nile Cruise Ships (3.5 Stars in Europe & USA)

800 USD per person in a triple cabin.

850 USD per person in a twin cabin.

1450 USD per single traveler, traveling alone.

Our Standard Nile Cruise Ships:

MS Nile Carnival
MS Semiramis I
MS Nile Shams
MS Nile Dolphin
MS Nile Story
MS Princess Sarah
H.S Radamis II
MS Zeina and more of similar category

5-Star Deluxe Nile Cruise Ships (4 Stars in Europe & USA)

950 USD per person in a triple cabin.

1100 USD per person in a twin cabin.

1870 USD per single traveler, traveling alone.

Our Deluxe Nile Cruise Ships:

MS Blue Shadow I
MS Blue Shadow II
MS Nile Paradise
H.S Radamis I
H.S Moon Dance
MS Concerto I
MS Nile Premium
MS Nile Style and more of similar category

5-Star Ultra Deluxe Nile Cruise Ships (4.5 Stars in Europe & USA)

1350 USD per person in a triple cabin.

1550 USD per person in a twin cabin.

2635 USD per single traveler, traveling alone.

Our Ultra Deluxe Nile Cruise Ships:

MS Movenpick Royal Lily
MS Movenpick Royal Hamees
MS Movenpick Royal Lotus
MS Le Fayan
MS MayFair
MS MayFlower
MS Esplanade
MS Acamar
MS Amwaj Livingstone
MS Esmeralda and more of similar category

5-Star Luxury Nile Cruise Ships (5 Stars in Europe & USA)

2000 USD per person in a triple cabin.

2250 USD per person in a twin cabin.

3800 USD per single traveler, traveling alone.

Our Luxury Nile Cruise Ships:

MS Farah
MS Sonesta Sun Goddess
MS Sonesta Saint George
MS Mazaj Tulip
MS Mazaj Tamr
MS Le Fayan II Suites
MS Movenpick Sun Ray
MS Vice Roy and more of similar category

Things to Know

Pricing Policy

All our prices are quoted in USD per person per trip. You can also make your payment online through a secure payment gateway with no additional fees or surcharges. We accept USD, Euros, GBP, CAD, AUD and NZD. The starting price is for one adult in a triple room on a group tour. There’s a single supplement for single accommodation.

Tipping

Tipping is not included in our tour packages and is left entirely to your discretion. While it is not mandatory, it is greatly appreciated by the people who assist you during your journey.

Here is a suggested tipping list:

Driver – full day $3-5 per person per day.

Driver – transfer $1-3 per person per day.

Tour guide – full day $15-20 per person per day.

Tour guide – half day $10-15 per person per day.

Representative / tour leader $3-5 per person per day.

Standard & Deluxe Nile cruise crew $5–10 per person per night paid at the end of the cruise.

Ultra Deluxe & Luxury Nile cruise crew $10–20 per person per night paid at the end of the cruise.

Children Policy

Children from 0 – 5.99 years are free.
Children from 6 – 11 years pay 50% of the adult price.
Children from 12 years pay adult price.

Cancellation Policy

We do not charge cancellation fees for tours canceled due to ‘force majeure’ events such as natural disasters or other uncontrollable circumstances. However, if you cancel for personal or business reasons after we have incurred booking costs on your behalf, these costs will be charged to you.

From the date of booking up to 75 days before the date of your arrival, 15% of the total tour price will be charged.
Between 74 and 61 days before your arrival date, 25% of the total tour price will be charged.
Between 60 and 30 days before your arrival date, 50% of the total tour price will be charged.
Between 29 and 15 days before your arrival date, 75% of the total tour price will be charged.
Between 14 and 08 days before your arrival date, 95% of the total tour price will be charged.
Between 07 and 1 day before your arrival date, 100% of the total tour price will be charged.

Deposit and Payment

A deposit between 25-50% is required to secure your booking through a payment link. The remaining balance will also be paid through payment links.

Travel Insurance

We don’t provide a travel insurance. We recommend to buy it beforehand if you want

Extra Expenses & Additional Entry Tickets

Our tours do not include entrance fees for special archaeological sites such as:

Tombs of Seti I and Ramses V in the Valley of the Kings
Entering the Tomb of Tutankhamun in the Valley of the Kings in Luxor.

These attractions require an additional fee. Please contact us if you would like to add or adjust anything in your itinerary.

Other personal expenses during your trip may include:

Food tours and alcoholic beverages.
Tipping for guides, drivers, and hotel staff.
Visa fees and recreational activities.
Additional transportation.
Unexpected costs due to bad weather, flight cancellations, or extra hotel nights and meals.

FAQs

Can you take a Nile cruise over Christmas?

Yes. This 3 night Christmas Nile cruise sails Aswan to Luxor on Monday, Wednesday and Friday throughout the Christmas holidays, visiting Philae Temple, the High Dam, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Karnak, Luxor Temple and the Valley of the Kings. December is the busiest month of the Nile cruise season, and the most comfortable.

How much does a 3 night Christmas Nile cruise cost?

Prices depend on the class of ship. Per person, sharing:

Ship class	Triple	Twin	Single
Standard	$800	$850	$1,450
Deluxe	$950	$1,100	$1,870
Ultra Deluxe	$1,350	$1,550	$2,635
Luxury	$2,000	$2,250	$3,800

Every price includes full board, guided touring and entrance fees to all sites in the itinerary.

Which ship will I sail on?

You choose the class, and the itinerary stays identical across all four — same temples, same guide, same sailing days. Standard ships (3.5-star) include MS Nile Carnival and MS Semiramis I. Deluxe (4-star) includes MS Blue Shadow I and MS Nile Premium. Ultra Deluxe (4.5-star) includes MS Mövenpick Royal Lily and MS Amwaj Livingstone. Luxury (5-star) includes MS Farah and MS Sonesta Saint George. What changes is the cabin, the dining and the deck space.

Is a gala dinner included?

No. A gala dinner is not included in the price of this cruise, and most ships sailing at Christmas — Standard and Deluxe in particular — do not serve one. Your evening meals are the full-board dinners included in the price.

Are entrance fees included?

Yes. Entrance fees to every site listed in the itinerary are included in the price — Philae, the High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Karnak, Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut’s temple. A small number of special-access tickets are charged separately: Tutankhamun’s tomb, the tombs of Seti I and Ramses V, and Abu Simbel.

What is included in the price?

Three nights full board on your chosen ship (three breakfasts, three lunches, three dinners), all transfers by air-conditioned vehicle, airport pickup and drop-off, guided touring at every site with a licensed Egyptologist, entrance fees to all listed sites, and all service charges and local taxes. Not included: gratuities, drinks, optional excursions and travel insurance.

What is the weather like on the Nile at Christmas?

December days in Aswan and Luxor sit around 22–25°C, which is why it’s peak season — comfortable for the long walks through Karnak and the Valley of the Kings. Evenings on deck drop to roughly 10–12°C, so pack a warm layer.

Does Egypt celebrate Christmas twice?

Yes. December 25th is marked across the country, and Coptic Christmas falls on January 7th — a national holiday observed by Egypt’s Coptic Orthodox Church. The festive season on the Nile runs from mid-December through to it, so sailings in the first week of January coincide with Egypt’s own Christmas.

Do children get a discount?

Yes. Children under 6 travel free, ages 6 to 11 pay 50% of the adult price, and 12 and over pay the adult rate. The short itinerary and the ship as a fixed base make this an easy trip with children.

Can I visit Abu Simbel on this cruise?

Yes, as an optional excursion on the free morning of Day 2, before the ship sails for Kom Ombo. It’s an early start and a long day out, and it’s charged separately — ask us to add it when you book so the timing works with your sailing.

How far in advance should I book?

Three to six months where possible. Christmas is the busiest week of the Nile cruise season and the better ships and cabin categories sell out first — we’d suggest securing festive departures by September or October.

Where does the cruise start and end?

It starts in Aswan and ends in Luxor. We meet you at Aswan airport or railway station, and after the Day 4 west bank tour you’re transferred to Luxor airport, the railway station, or your hotel. Transfers from Cairo or the Red Sea can be added.

Sailing over New Year? See our 3 Night New Year Nile Cruise.

3 Night Christmas Nile Cruise from Aswan to Luxor

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