Glide The Nile: 4-Day Dahabiya Nile Cruise Aswan To Luxor

Upon arrival at Aswan Airport, you’ll be met by our representative and transferred in comfort by private air-conditioned vehicle to your Nile cruise. After check-in, take time to settle into your cabin and enjoy a freshly prepared lunch on board.

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In the afternoon, your discovery of Aswan begins. Visit the impressive High Dam, a modern

engineering marvel built in the 1960s that forever changed the Nile by controlling its annual floods.

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Then continue to the Unfinished Obelisk, the largest known ancient obelisk, still lying in the granite quarries of Aswan. Measuring over 40 meters in length, it would have been the tallest obelisk ever erected had it been completed. The obelisk offers an extraordinary glimpse into ancient Egyptian craftsmanship, with visible tool marks revealing how workers cut massive stone blocks directly from the bedrock. A large crack left in the stone ultimately caused the project to be abandoned, yet it remains one of the most telling sites about ancient building techniques. Many believe it was commissioned by Queen Hatshepsut, while others suggest Queen Nefertiti — a mystery that still surrounds this monumental work.

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Your journey then leads to the enchanting Philae Temple, dedicated to the goddess Isis, revered as the divine mother and protector. Reached by a private boat ride across the serene waters, the temple sits gracefully on its picturesque island and is one of Aswan’s most breathtaking landmarks.

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As the day draws to a close, return to your cruise, where the quiet flow of the Nile sets the scene for the days ahead.

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Please note: If your flight arrives early, we will begin the tour directly upon arrival, making the most of your time before the cruise check-in at noon.

Begin the day with breakfast served on board as your ship sets sail toward Kom Ombo. Upon arrival, visit the remarkable double temple dedicated to two gods: Haroeris, the falcon god, on the southern side, and Sobek, the crocodile god, on the northern side. Built during the Ptolemaic era, this temple is unique in Egypt for its twin dedication. Of special interest is a scene carved on the inner rear wall, believed to depict a set of ancient surgical instruments — a fascinating glimpse into the knowledge of the time. The temple also preserves important calendar inscriptions, shedding light on how ancient Egyptians marked the flow of time and their sacred festivals.

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Just beside the temple, you will find the Crocodile Museum, a surprisingly beautiful and memorable experience. Here, crocodile mummies of all sizes are displayed, alongside delicate figurines and offerings once dedicated to Sobek. At once striking and captivating, the collection immerses you in the reverence these powerful animals inspired, allowing you to admire both their sheer strength and the extraordinary way they were preserved for eternity.

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Return to your ship and enjoy lunch on the sun deck, surrounded by the timeless scenery of the Nile as villages and palm groves pass by. As the cruise continues its gentle sail toward Edfu, take in the unfolding river landscapes before arriving in the afternoon. There, you will ride in a horse-drawn carriage through the streets of Edfu to reach the grand Temple of Horus, the most complete and best-preserved temple in Egypt, its entrance guarded by imposing granite statues of the falcon god. 

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Inside, every surface is alive with carvings: walls, columns, and doorways covered in reliefs that preserve the religious and political thought of ancient Egypt. Among the most striking are the scenes of Horus avenging his father Osiris by defeating Seth — a myth so central it was re-enacted here each year. Other inscriptions record the stages of the temple’s construction, offering not only myth and ritual but also precise dates that illuminate its history.

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What makes Edfu especially remarkable is the layering of time carved into its walls. Amid the hieroglyphs, you can also find inscriptions from the Roman period, as well as later markings left by crusaders and travelers. Standing inside, you feel the weight of centuries — how the temple was revered, repurposed, and even scarred — yet still endures as a living monument. It creates a powerful sensation of stepping back through layers of history, witnessing not only ancient devotion but also the echoes of all who passed through after.

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Among these echoes are the traces of early Christians who once inhabited the temple. In their fervor to erase the gods of Egypt, they defaced images and transformed holy chambers into living quarters. The walls still bear the wounds of this struggle, a silent testimony to faiths colliding. Yet even in this chapter of suffering, the temple’s resilience shines through. To walk through Edfu today is to feel that tension — between reverence and erasure, glory and survival — and to marvel at how this sanctuary, scarred but unbroken, still speaks across millennia.

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As the visit to Edfu comes to an end, take a moment to let the weight of its stories settle — the triumphs of Horus, the marks of conquerors, the scars of faith, all etched into its stone. With these impressions still vivid, you return to the quiet embrace of your dahabiya. Dinner awaits on board, and as the river carries you onward, the day’s intensity gives way to serenity. The boat glides through the twilight waters of the Nile, its course set gently toward Luxor, while you dine beneath the vast Egyptian sky.

Wake up and begin your morning in Luxor, one of Egypt’s most celebrated cities and once the capital of the New Kingdom. Known in antiquity as Thebes, it was the beating heart of power and devotion, home to the grandest temples ever conceived. Today, Luxor is often called the world’s greatest open-air museum, for its avenues, sanctuaries, and monuments preserve the very essence of ancient Egyptian civilization. Luxor is also unique in its geography and symbolism: the east bank of the Nile, where the sun rises, was the realm of life and worship, while the west bank, where the sun sets, became the realm of death and eternity. Together, they form a living map of the ancient Egyptian vision of existence.

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After breakfast on board, set out with your private Egyptologist to visit the awe-inspiring Karnak Temple — the largest religious complex ever built by human hands. Dedicated to the Theban triad of Amun, Mut, and Khonsu, Karnak was not the work of a single pharaoh but the achievement of over thirty successive rulers who, across nearly two millennia, expanded and adorned it. The result is a sacred city within a city: vast courtyards, soaring pylons, and sanctuaries that reflect Egypt’s evolving history and faith.

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One of the most breathtaking spaces is the Great Hypostyle Hall, with its forest of 134 colossal columns rising nearly 20 meters high. To walk among them is to feel both humbled and uplifted — a space so iconic that its images have come to symbolize Egypt itself. The play of light and shadow across the carved hieroglyphs, the sheer scale of the architecture, and the echoes of rituals once performed here make it an experience beyond comparison.

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Karnak is more than a monument; it is a living testament to continuity, power, and devotion. To stand within its walls is to witness the ambition of a civilization that sought not only to honor the gods but to build in stone something as enduring as eternity itself.

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Next, continue to Luxor Temple, begun by Amenhotep III in the 18th Dynasty and later expanded by Ramses II, the most renowned pharaoh of the 19th Dynasty who reigned for 67 years. Dedicated to Amun-Ra, Mut, and Khonsu, the temple played a central role in the great religious festivals of ancient Thebes. Standing before its monumental pylon, you will see the impressive Obelisk of Ramses II — a timeless sentinel that connects the grandeur of the past with the wonder of the present.

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After your explorations, return to your dahabiya. The pace slows as you step back on board: stretch out on the sun deck, let the river breeze cool you, or simply reflect on the wonders you’ve just witnessed. With the Nile drifting gently past, the evening invites you to unwind in comfort, carrying the memories of Luxor with you as the journey continues.

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Early in the morning, your private guide will accompany you on an unforgettable journey to Luxor’s West Bank, the fabled land of the afterlife in ancient Egypt. Here, in a landscape of stark desert cliffs, lies the Valley of the Kings — a royal necropolis unlike any other. For over five centuries, pharaohs of the New Kingdom chose this hidden valley as their eternal resting place, carving tombs deep into the rock to safeguard their passage to eternity.

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The tombs are far more than burial chambers; they are masterpieces of sacred art. Corridors and chambers glow with scenes from the Book of the Dead, celestial maps, and symbolic depictions of rebirth, all painted in colors that remain vivid after more than 3,000 years. Stepping inside, you feel as though you’ve entered the pharaohs’ journey into eternity, surrounded by gods, guardians, and stars. Notable tombs often open to visitors include those of Ramses IV, Ramses III, and Merenptah.

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Your standard ticket includes entry to 3 tombs of your choice among the following:

• Setnakht

• Seti II

• Ramesses I

• Thutmose IV

• Siptah

• Ramesses VII

• Ramesses IV

• Ramesses IX

• Merenptah

• Ramesses III

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Optional tombs available at additional cost:

• Tutankhamun (~700 EGP)

Discovered in 1922 when a local Egyptian boy uncovered the first step leading to its entrance. His photograph can still be seen today in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. The excavation, carried out under the direction of Howard Carter, revealed treasures that astonished the world. Though smaller than other royal tombs, its significance and allure are unmatched.

• Ramesses V & VI (~220 EGP)

Famous for its extraordinary astronomical ceiling, depicting the sky goddess Nut arching across the heavens.

• Seti I (~2,000 EGP)

The most elaborately decorated tomb of all, with exquisite reliefs and vibrant colors that remain breathtaking.

• Tomb of Ay (~200 EGP)

The resting place of Tutankhamun’s successor, with symbolic decorations reflecting themes of rebirth.

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Continue to the stunning Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, a masterpiece of ancient architecture rising dramatically against the cliffs of Deir el-Bahari. Built for Egypt’s only female pharaoh, this temple reflects her remarkable reign during the 18th Dynasty and stands as a lasting monument to her ambition, devotion, and enduring legacy.

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Conclude your tour with a stop at the Colossi of Memnon, two monumental statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III that have stood guard over the Theban necropolis for more than 3,000 years. Towering 18 meters high, these weathered giants are all that remain of his once-magnificent mortuary temple. In antiquity, travelers recorded the mysterious “singing” sounds said to rise from the stone at dawn, adding myth and wonder to their presence.

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For those seeking a truly unforgettable perspective, an optional Luxor Hot Air Balloon Experience is available. Begin with an early pickup (between 3:00 and 5:00 a.m.) to soar above the Nile and the monuments of the West Bank at sunrise, watching the golden light wash over temples, tombs, and villages — a memory to last a lifetime.

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After your exploration of Luxor’s West Bank, you will be transferred to Luxor International Airport. From here, you may continue your journey deeper into Egypt or take with you the memories of the Nile, the temples, and the timeless presence of the pharaohs as you return home. Whether this marks the end of your adventure or simply the next chapter, this four-day Nile dahabiya cruise leaves you with impressions that linger far beyond your travels.