Classic Nile Cruises
The most famous river route in the world — Luxor to Aswan, past Karnak, Edfu, Kom Ombo, and the Philae temples. Compare ships by class, pick your departure, and get on the water.
Is This The Right Route For You?
A Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan is still the most complete way to move through Upper Egypt. Four or five days on the river — waking up to Karnak, crossing to the Valley of the Kings in the morning cool, drifting past the twin reliefs at Kom Ombo overhanging the water, arriving at Philae on Agilkia Island as the light drops. The route earns its reputation. The practical decisions are smaller than most people expect.
Most people start by comparing prices before they have chosen a ship class. They browse ships before they know which level fits their travel style. This page keeps it straightforward — use the class filters below to compare standard, deluxe, and luxury Luxor to Aswan cruise ships on the same route, then get in touch when you have a shortlist.
The practical decisions are smaller than most people expect. Departure city, number of nights, and cruise class. That is really it. The route is the same regardless of which ship you choose.
Most travellers then compare standard, deluxe, ultra deluxe, and luxury cruise ships on the same route. This page is designed to keep those comparisons on one strong landing page so users can see real cruises directly and filter the class that fits their budget and style.
This page lists the real Nile cruise ships we work with on the Luxor and Aswan route. Use the class filters to narrow by standard, deluxe, or luxury, then get in touch when you have a shortlist. We book this route every season and can tell you plainly which ships are performing well right now.
Compare Ships By Class
Featured ships below give you a quick comparison of the Luxor and Aswan route. Use the class filters to browse the curated 12-card preview, then open the Standard, Deluxe, Ultra Deluxe or Luxury archive for the complete 23-vessel catalogue. Sailing days, programmes and From prices are kept on each named-vessel page.
Cruise class
Showing 12 cruises
From: €750A named Movenpick Royal Lotus Luxury Nile Cruise with 4-day / 3-night Aswan-to-Luxor and 5-day / 4-night Luxor-to-Aswan options, full board and firm seasonal cabin prices from USD 750 per person.
3 or 4 nightsLuxor ↔ Aswan5 Star Luxury Nile Cruise
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From: €930A named Movenpick Royal Lily Luxury Nile Cruise with 4-day / 3-night Aswan-to-Luxor and 5-day / 4-night Luxor-to-Aswan options, full board and firm seasonal cabin prices from USD 930 per person.
3 or 4 nightsLuxor ↔ Aswan5 Star Luxury Nile Cruise
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From: €899A named Acamar Ultra Deluxe Nile Cruise with 4-day / 3-night Aswan-to-Luxor and 5-day / 4-night Luxor-to-Aswan options, full board and firm seasonal cabin prices from USD 899 per person.
3 or 4 nightsLuxor ↔ Aswan5 Star Ultra Deluxe Nile Cruise
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From: €850A named Concerto II Ultra Deluxe Nile Cruise with 4-day / 3-night Aswan-to-Luxor and 5-day / 4-night Luxor-to-Aswan options, full board and firm seasonal cabin prices from USD 850 per person.
3 or 4 nightsLuxor ↔ Aswan5 Star Ultra Deluxe Nile Cruise
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From: €999A named Sonesta Moon Goddess Ultra Deluxe Nile Cruise with 4-day / 3-night Aswan-to-Luxor and 5-day / 4-night Luxor-to-Aswan options, full board and firm seasonal cabin prices from USD 999 per person.
3 or 4 nightsLuxor ↔ Aswan5 Star Ultra Deluxe Nile Cruise
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From: €832A named Le Fayan Ultra Deluxe Nile Cruise with 4-day / 3-night Aswan-to-Luxor and 5-day / 4-night Luxor-to-Aswan options, full board and firm seasonal cabin prices from USD 832 per person.
3 or 4 nightsLuxor ↔ Aswan5 Star Ultra Deluxe Nile Cruise
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From: €729A named Amwaj Living Stone Ultra Deluxe Nile Cruise with 4-day / 3-night Aswan-to-Luxor and 5-day / 4-night Luxor-to-Aswan options, full board and firm seasonal cabin prices from USD 729 per person.
3 or 4 nightsLuxor ↔ Aswan5 Star Ultra Deluxe Nile Cruise
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From: €640A named Royal Princess Standard Nile Cruise with 4-day / 3-night Aswan-to-Luxor and 5-day / 4-night Luxor-to-Aswan options, full board and firm seasonal cabin prices from USD 640 per person.
3 or 4 nightsLuxor ↔ Aswan5 Star Standard Nile Cruise
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From: €640A named M/S Semiramis II Standard Nile Cruise with 4-day / 3-night Aswan-to-Luxor and 5-day / 4-night Luxor-to-Aswan options, full board and firm seasonal cabin prices from USD 640 per person.
3 or 4 nightsLuxor ↔ Aswan5 Star Standard Nile Cruise
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From: €475A named M/S Radamis II Standard Nile Cruise with 4-day / 3-night Aswan-to-Luxor and 5-day / 4-night Luxor-to-Aswan options, full board and firm seasonal cabin prices from USD 475 per person.
3 or 4 nightsLuxor ↔ Aswan5 Star Standard Nile Cruise
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From: €599A named M/S A Sara Standard Nile Cruise with 4-day / 3-night Aswan-to-Luxor and 5-day / 4-night Luxor-to-Aswan options, full board and firm seasonal cabin prices from USD 599 per person.
3 or 4 nightsLuxor ↔ Aswan5 Star Standard Nile Cruise
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From: €850A named deluxe Nile cruise with 4-day / 3-night Aswan-to-Luxor and 5-day / 4-night Luxor-to-Aswan programmes, seasonal cabin prices and Egypt Story route support.
3 or 4 nightsLuxor ↔ Aswan5 Star Deluxe Nile Cruise
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We have been booking and guiding this route for over 20 years. Here is what that means in practice when you book with us.
Our team are former Egyptologist guides who have personally led groups through Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, Edfu, and Philae. When we recommend a ship, it comes from that experience — not a commission structure.
Every shore visit uses your own private Egyptologist guide. No group buses, no shared tours, no following a flag through the hypostyle hall at Karnak while someone shouts into a megaphone.
We quote the full price upfront. No entry fees charged separately on the day, no hidden supplements added at checkout. What we quote is what you pay.
When you get in touch, you speak directly with the people running your trip — not a call centre. Questions get real answers from people who know the route.
Helpful Cruise Guides
An Egypt itinerary with kids usually works best when it keeps the route classic but not overloaded, with Cairo, the [...]
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Plan a slower-paced Egypt itinerary for seniors and older travellers, with practical advice on Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, cruise choices and [...]
Read ArticleRoute Questions
Straight answers to the most common questions we hear from travellers planning the classic Upper Egypt route for the first time.
The classic Luxor and Aswan Nile cruise stops at Karnak temple complex and Luxor temple in Luxor, the Valley of the Kings and Deir el-Bahari on the west bank, the Edfu temple of Horus, the Kom Ombo double temple, and the Philae temple complex on Agilkia Island near Aswan. Most four and five night itineraries cover all of these. Longer programs add more time at each stop.
Both directions cover the same temples — the choice is mainly about which city fits your wider Egypt itinerary. If you are flying into Luxor from Cairo, a southbound Luxor departure makes obvious sense. If your trip ends in Aswan near Abu Simbel, starting from Aswan northbound can work better. We help every client work out which direction suits their full itinerary before confirming the booking.
Four or five nights covers all the major stops at a reasonable pace and is the most common length for first-time Nile cruise travellers. Seven nights is slower and more relaxed — some people prefer it, particularly if they want more time in Luxor on both ends of the journey. If you have never done this route before and your schedule is flexible, five nights tends to be the sweet spot.
The route and the temple stops are identical across all three classes. The difference is entirely onboard. Standard ships are clean and functional with simpler cabin finishes and a basic dining experience. Deluxe ships have better-maintained interiors, more reliable air conditioning, and noticeably improved dining. Luxury ships are a different product again — newer vessels, higher service ratios, premium cabin fittings, and an atmosphere closer to a boutique hotel than a cruise ship. Choosing the right class comes down to how much the onboard experience matters to you relative to the overall trip budget.
With Egypt Story Tours, every shore excursion uses a private Egyptologist guide — included as part of the package. You will never be placed in a shared group. That applies at every temple stop on the route, from the Valley of the Kings to Philae. It is not an upgrade — it is how we run every Nile cruise we book.
