The World’s 15 Best Four-Day River Sailings

1.4-Day 3-Night Nile Cruise from Aswan to Luxor&Abu Simbel+Balloon

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,023 reviews · from $340Our pick

Spend three nights aboard a Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor, with guided visits to Philae, Abu Simbel, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Karnak, Luxor Temple, and the Valley of the Kings. You’ll travel in a group of up to 15, with guides such as Mohammed Abdo, Mido Mosa, or Hady, plus a sunrise balloon flight over Luxor.

“This was a brilliant experience, the food was great and the temples were fantastic. Very well organised and our tour guide Mohammed was very knowledgeable, funny and friendly. Unfortunately our balloon ride was cancelled due to weather (apparently September is best) Read more”

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2.4-Day 3-Night Nile Cruise from Aswan to Luxor including Abu Simbel, Air Balloon

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 612 reviews · from $329Best value

Spend three nights aboard a Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor, with meals, transfers, an Egyptology guide, Abu Simbel, Philae, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Luxor’s temples, and a sunrise balloon ride. Guides such as Mohamed Gobran, Mahmoud, and Ahmed Shawky Ali have earned strong praise for clear explanations and careful coordination. Expect early mornings and extra entrance fees.

“The whole experience was great. The service was excellent. Logistics/transportation were very good and on time. The program was as mentioned in the itinerary. Mohamed Gobran as a guide was awesome, very helpful, very explanatory anRead more”

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3.4-Day Nile Cruise from Aswan to Luxor with Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 593 reviews · 4 days · from $830

Spend three nights aboard a 5-star Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor with full board, private guides, and drivers. Visit Philae, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Karnak, Luxor Temple, Hatshepsut Temple, and the Valley of the Kings. Add Abu Simbel for a memorable extra day. Guides such as Mary, Ahmed Sony, and Zeinab have earned especially warm praise.

“Heba has been a great guide, explaining very well all the history of the temple, she was súper nice. she was very helpful with all the history of the aswan. i recommend 100% her guidance”

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4.4 Days Nile Cruise Luxor Abu Simbel & Air Balloon

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 310 reviews · 4 days · from $450

Travel from Aswan to Luxor aboard a premium 5-star Nile cruise, with Egyptologist guides such as Mohamed Gobran, Mahmoud, or Ahmed Shawky Ali. Expect early starts, Abu Simbel, Philae, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Luxor, Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, and a 30 to 45-minute hot-air balloon ride.

“i loved everything about the tour. Mohamed Gobran is the best tour guide you can expect from this ancient places. thanks to him , the Journey was very fun and pleasant. really really hot , but beside that, everything perfect.”

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5.4-Day Nile Cruise to Luxor with Balloon Flight

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 112 reviews · 4 days · from $1,300

Fly from Cairo to Aswan, visit Philae and Abu Simbel, then cruise north to Luxor with stops at Kom Ombo and Edfu. Your final morning brings a sunrise balloon flight over the Nile Valley, followed by the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, Karnak, and Luxor Temple. Guides may include Mary, Ahmed, Mido, or Heba.

“I really enjoyed discovering Egypt and the cruise overall was a memorable experience. The activities, especially the hot air balloon, were amazing and I truly recommend them. The service staff onboard were kind and attentive, which I appreciated a lot. However, the cruise itself could have been cleaner – I found a bug in my room, and the food unfortunately upset my stomach. Communication with Nice Tour was not always smooth, but when I had an issue it was resolved fairly quickly. In the end, despite a few downsides, the overall experience was unique and beautiful, and I would still recommend it to others who want to enjoy the Nile…”

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6.4-Day Nile Cruise to Aswan w/ Balloon & Flights

★★★★★★★★★★3.6 · 86 reviews · 4 days · from $1,100

Fly from Cairo to Luxor, tour Karnak, Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut, Edfu, Kom Ombo, and Abu Simbel, then return by air from Aswan. You get three nights on a 5-star full-board cruise, a felucca ride, an Edfu horse carriage, and a sunrise balloon flight. Guides include Mina Habeb, Emad Elsmaky, and Aladdin.

“We had a great experience. Would highly recommend Mina habeb and emad elsmaky as tour guides. Very knowledgeable and easy to understand. Was on time to pick us up and drop off. We felt very safe and had lots of fun.”

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7.4-Day Egypt Private Tour with Nile Cruise, Balloon

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 76 reviews

Spend four days with a private Egyptologist, beginning in Aswan and ending in Luxor. Visit Philae, Abu Simbel, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Karnak, and the Valley of the Kings, with three nights on a full-board 5-star Nile cruise. The early hot-air-balloon flight over Luxor is the grand finale.

“Mary, the guide, was super nice to us and really tried to teach us about Egyptian culture. She explained things slowly and clearly, even when they were hard to understand for foreigners, making it a fun trip.”

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8.4-Day 3-Night Nile Cruise with Hot Air Balloon

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 50 reviews · 4 days · from $1,000

Spend three nights aboard a Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor, with guided visits to Philae, Abu Simbel, Kom Ombo, Edfu, and Luxor’s major sights. Guides such as Ahmed Sony, Andro, Heba, and Mido have earned praise for clear storytelling. The final morning brings a sunrise balloon flight, but expect early starts and entrance fees paid separately.

“Was a really good option to know Egypt and it's gorgeous temples Will reccomend it, yes! what I don't like it: the timing for the temples is short, I don't know if longer duration cruices will allow you to stay longer in the temples but will be good”

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9.4 Days Nile River Cruise with Guided Tours

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 42 reviews · 4 days · from $570

You’ll spend three nights aboard a 5-star Nile ship, with meals, an English-speaking Egyptologist, and transport included. The route covers Philae, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Luxor’s West Bank, Karnak, and Luxor Temple. Guides George and Semi have led recent departures, though the guide and ship can change.

“El crucero tiene muy buenas instalaciones. El personal del crucero muy atento y la comida impresionante. Lo único que nos molestó fue el cambio del programa la semana antes ya que al embarcar estuvimos dos días atracados en Asuán, uno solo de navegación por el Nilo y otro atracados en Luxor, con lo que los dos últimos días de excursiones en Luxor se resumieron en una mañana que el guía se quitó de encima lo antes que pudo.”

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10.From Manaus: 3 or 4-Day Rio Negro & Anavilhanas River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 32 reviews · 3 - 4 days · from $600

Travel from Manaus by a traditional 50-foot Amazon boat for three or four days. Your bilingual guide leads jungle walks, dolphin swims, piranha fishing, canoe trips, and indigenous visits. Sleep in a hammock or two-bed cabin, eat local dishes, and watch the river from the upper deck. The boat is simple, social, and close to nature.

“Íbamos un compañero y yo solamente en el barco pero la experiencia ha sido increíble. Tanto el guia Anailson, como el capitán y la cocinera han sido excelentes. Las actividades realizadas muy buenas y la sensación de dormir en el barco en el amazonas es algo que nunca olvidaré. Totalmente recomendable, de esas cosas que no se olvidan nunca en la vida.”

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11.Luxury 4-Day 3-Night Nile Cruise from Aswan to Luxor

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 29 reviews · from $800

Spend four days aboard a luxury Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor, with private transfers, full-board meals, and an Egyptologist guide. Visit Philae, Kom Ombo, Edfu, the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut’s temple, Luxor Temple, and Karnak. The tour also includes a felucca ride and airport transfer, with a private group format.

“Great overall experience. Nice and spacious rooms, pleasant staff, great food and great guide! The whole family loved it.”

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12.Aswan to Luxor: 4-Day Luxury Dahabiya Nile Cruise Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 28 reviews · 4 days · from $950

You will cruise from Aswan to Luxor aboard the Anoush Dahabiya, with meals, an English or French guide, and visits to Philae, Kom Ombo, Gebel El-Silsila, Edfu, the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut’s Temple, and Karnak. Expect a small boat, attentive service, quiet Nile views, and a few practical catches, including extra entrance fees, uneven WiFi, and cool evenings.

“Better than expected We really loved it, a unique and relaxing way to experience Egypt's ancient history The staff was very attentive The chef prepared lovely Egyptian dishes The guide was knowledgeable and helpful ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐”

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13.4-Day 3-Night Nile Cruise from Aswan to Luxor – Luxury Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 27 reviews · from $830

Travel from Aswan to Luxor aboard a Nile cruise with private air-conditioned transfers, three meals daily, temple visits, and a private Egyptologist guide. You’ll see Philae, Kom Ombo, Edfu, the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut, Karnak, and Luxor Temple. Guide Ashraf Elbadry receives especially strong praise, while ship quality can vary.

“This trip was wonderful from beginning to end. Boat is comfortable; food good and plentiful. Attractions, of course, are amazing and very well-run. Our guide was excellent, knowledgeable, kind, and flexible, adjusting our schedule to our preferences. Recommend this trip!”

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14.4-Day Nile Cruise from Aswan to Luxor with Meals

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 24 reviews · 4 days · from $1,250

You fly from Cairo to Aswan, visit Philae and the High Dam, then sail three nights to Luxor with full-board meals and guided temple visits. Expect a small group of up to four, an English-speaking Egyptology guide, Edfu horse carriage ride, and optional hot-air balloon flight. Confirm extra excursions, tips, and return-flight times before booking.

“When we got to Aswan, it wasn’t clear where we would be picked up. Adham was great in being available via Whastapp the whole time. Made us feel comfortable. The tour overall was packed with things to do and see. Good value for money, we did get frustrated when our return flights to Cairo were booked last minute which meant a midnight flight and the tour ends mid morning on the last day. We had to pay $16USD each for lunch and we didn’t feel we were welcomed there after our tour had officially ended to be honest. You tip upfront as well, I thought this was a bit strange.…”

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15.Nile Cruise 4 Days / Deluxe from Aswan to luxor- Private Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 13 reviews · from $490

Sail from Aswan to Luxor for three nights aboard the M/S Radamis II or a similar deluxe ship. You’ll see Philae, Kom Ombo, Edfu, the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut’s temple, Karnak, and Luxor Temple. The private booking includes transfers, meals, entrance fees, and an English-speaking guide such as Ashraf, Ambro, or Sayed.

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