4 Days 3 Nights Concerto Nile Cruise from Aswan to Luxor

Start your Nile cruise by getting on the ship a bit before lunch, so you can check into your cabin and settle in with that easy, comfortable kind of calm for the start of your trip along the Nile River.  

After lunch, in the afternoon you go sightseeing, first stopping at the High Dam, which is considered one of Egypt’s greatest modern engineering achievements; it helps control the flow of the Nile, generates hydroelectric power, and gives you sweeping panoramic sights across Lake Nasser.  

Then later the program keeps moving by motorboat toward the gorgeous Philae Temple; it is dedicated to the goddess Isis. This temple sits on Agilkia Island, surrounded by quiet waters, and it is well known for its beautifully preserved carvings and a peaceful atmosphere, so overall it feels like one of the most scenic and truly unforgettable landmarks in Aswan.

Start your day fairly early with an optional trip out to Abu Simbel, either by road or flight (at an extra cost). Once you arrive, you’ll go and explore the amazing Abu Simbel Temples of Ramses II plus Queen Nefertari. These stunning rock-cut places are carved right into a sandstone cliff, and they’re often seen as true highlights of ancient Egyptian engineering. They were restored and moved to their present location, mainly to keep them safe from flooding after the building of the High Dam, so they became one of the more remarkable preservation efforts in all of history. 

After that visit, you’ll head back to your cruise ship and start sailing north toward Kom Ombo, while taking in those lovely views along the Nile. In the afternoon, stop at the unusual Kom Ombo Temple. It’s a rare double temple, dedicated to Sobek, the crocodile god, and Horus the Elder. The area is well known for its careful ancient medical reliefs, and it also has a small museum where you can see mummified crocodiles, which gives a striking look into Egyptian ideas and everyday life.

In the morning, make time for a visit to the Temple of Horus in Edfu, and go there by a traditional horse carriage ride, sort of old-fashioned but nice. This temple is among the best-preserved in Egypt; it’s dedicated to the falcon god Horus. You can wander through detailed wall carvings that recount the ancient story of the battle between Horus and Seth, plus you’ll find sacred chambers that are still very well kept. Afterward, hop back on your cruise ship and sail toward Luxor, while lunch is served on board, and the Nile scenery is calm, steady, almost hypnotic. 

In the afternoon and into the evening, step into the Karnak Temple Complex, which is really a huge religious site of the ancient world, connected to the god Amun-Re. Expect colossal statues, sacred lakes, and the Great Hypostyle Hall with its 134 massive columns, standing there like silent witnesses. Then continue to Luxor Temple, beautifully placed right in the middle of the city. As the sun goes down, golden light makes its giant statues, obelisks, and elegant courtyards glow, and the whole place turns magical as evening arrives.

After breakfast on board, you will check out from the cruise and begin this final morning tour wandering through some of Luxor’s most iconic ancient sites. First, you’ll head to the Valley of the Kings, that legendary burial place of Egypt’s pharaohs, tucked inside the desert hills. Here, you’ll explore three royal tombs that are part of the tour, and there’s also a chance to step inside the famous Tomb of Tutankhamun for an extra charge. 

Then it’s on to the impressive Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, which feels like a one-of-a-kind architectural marvel, cut right into the limestone cliffs, and it was made in honor of Egypt’s influential female pharaoh. To finish, you’ll see the Colossi of Memnon, two huge stone statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III that once guarded the entrance to a grand mortuary temple, giving you a dramatic ending to your Luxor sightseeing experience.