Two cruises, one trip
A Nile cruise and a Lake Nasser cruise in one trip
The two cruises meet in Aswan, so you can sail one straight after the other: four nights from Luxor to Aswan, then three or four nights across Lake Nasser to Abu Simbel, or the same in reverse. The easy connections are Monday sailings from Luxor, which reach Aswan on Friday when the MS Eugenie leaves for Abu Simbel, and Monday arrivals in Aswan, which meet three lake ships leaving the same day. Allow seven or eight nights on board.
Southbound, from each boat's weekly pattern
River first, then the lake: Luxor to Abu Simbel
Sail the river south to Aswan, then board a lake ship to Abu Simbel. You finish at Abu Simbel and return to Aswan by road or air.
| River sailing to Aswan | Arrives Aswan | Lake ship, same day | Lake ship, after a night in Aswan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Historia, Monday, 4 nights | Friday | MS Eugenie (Friday) | MS Kasr Ibrim (Saturday) |
| Oberoi Zahra, Tuesday, 4 nights | Saturday | MS Kasr Ibrim (Saturday) | None |
| Jaz Regent, Monday, 4 nights | Friday | MS Eugenie (Friday) | MS Kasr Ibrim (Saturday) |
| Jaz Royale, Thursday, 4 nights | Monday | Mövenpick Prince Abbas (Monday), Steigenberger Omar El Khayam (Monday), MS Nubian Sea (Monday) | None |
| Sonesta Sun Goddess, Monday, 4 nights | Friday | MS Eugenie (Friday) | MS Kasr Ibrim (Saturday) |
| Sonesta Moon Goddess, Monday, 4 nights | Friday | MS Eugenie (Friday) | MS Kasr Ibrim (Saturday) |
| Iris, Monday, 4 nights | Friday | MS Eugenie (Friday) | MS Kasr Ibrim (Saturday) |
| Loulia, Thursday, 4 nights | Monday | Mövenpick Prince Abbas (Monday), Steigenberger Omar El Khayam (Monday), MS Nubian Sea (Monday) | None |
| Nora, Sunday, 4 nights | Thursday | None | MS Eugenie (Friday) |
| Zekrayaat, Monday, 4 nights | Friday | MS Eugenie (Friday) | MS Kasr Ibrim (Saturday) |
| Lazuli Abydos, Monday, 4 nights | Friday | MS Eugenie (Friday) | MS Kasr Ibrim (Saturday) |
Northbound, from each boat's weekly pattern
Lake first, then the river: Abu Simbel to Luxor
Reach Abu Simbel by road or air from Aswan, sail the lake north to Aswan, then board a river boat to Luxor or Esna. This way the trip ends with Karnak and the Valley of the Kings.
| Lake sailing to Aswan | Arrives Aswan | River boat, same day | River boat, after a night in Aswan |
|---|---|---|---|
| MS Eugenie, Monday, 4 nights | Friday | Historia (Friday), Jaz Regent (Friday), Sonesta Sun Goddess (Friday), Sonesta Moon Goddess (Friday), Iris (Friday), Zekrayaat (Friday), Lazuli Abydos (Friday) | Oberoi Zahra (Saturday) |
| MS Kasr Ibrim, Wednesday, 3 nights | Saturday | Oberoi Zahra (Saturday) | None |
| Mövenpick Prince Abbas, Friday, 3 nights | Monday | Jaz Royale (Monday), Loulia (Monday) | None |
| Steigenberger Omar El Khayam, Friday, 3 nights | Monday | Jaz Royale (Monday), Loulia (Monday) | None |
| MS Nubian Sea, Friday, 3 nights | Monday | Jaz Royale (Monday), Loulia (Monday) | None |
Who sails where
The river boats and the lake ships
On the river we recommend Historia, the Oberoi Zahra, Jaz Regent, Jaz Royale, the Sonesta Sun Goddess and Moon Goddess, and the dahabiyas Iris, Loulia, Nora, Zekrayaat and Lazuli Abydos.
Five ships sail the lake: the MS Eugenie, the MS Kasr Ibrim, the Mövenpick Prince Abbas, the Steigenberger Omar El Khayam and the MS Nubian Sea. All but the Eugenie sail four nights south and three north; the Eugenie does the reverse.
Making the connection
How the change in Aswan works
River boats disembark in Aswan after breakfast. Before you book a same-day connection, check the lake ship’s boarding time, and add a night in Aswan if it is too tight or you want a rest between the two. The lake ships board south of the High Dam, so you need a transfer between the two moorings; ask for it to be included when you book.
Getting there and back
Getting to or from Abu Simbel
The one leg you cannot sail is between Abu Simbel and Aswan at the start or end. It is about 280 km by road, 3.5 to 4 hours, or about 45 minutes by air. Arriving by water is the reward: the lake ships moor near the temples, so you can see them without the day-trip crowds. See Abu Simbel on a Nile cruise and Nile cruise itineraries.
Planning
How long, and what it costs
Seven nights on board is the usual combination: four on the river and three on the lake, or three and four. Each cruise is priced on its own, at about US$120 to US$1,500 per person per night depending on the boat and the cabin. The Steigenberger Omar El Khayam also runs a seven-night round trip on the lake from Aswan, if you would rather stay on one ship.
Asked often
Nile and Lake Nasser together, answered
- Can you combine a Nile cruise with a Lake Nasser cruise?
- Yes. Both start or end in Aswan. Sail four nights from Luxor to Aswan, then three or four nights across Lake Nasser to Abu Simbel, or start at Abu Simbel and finish in Luxor. Some sailings connect the same day; others need a night in Aswan between them.
- Which Nile cruise connects with the MS Eugenie?
- The Eugenie leaves Aswan for Abu Simbel on Fridays, the day the Monday sailings from Luxor arrive: Historia, Jaz Regent, the Sonesta Sun Goddess and Moon Goddess, and the dahabiyas Iris, Zekrayaat and Lazuli Abydos. Coming back, it reaches Aswan on Friday, when the same boats leave for Luxor.
- Which river boats connect with the Prince Abbas or the Omar El Khayam?
- Both leave Aswan for Abu Simbel on Mondays and arrive back in Aswan on Mondays. Jaz Royale and the dahabiya Loulia reach Aswan on Monday and leave it on Monday, so they connect in either direction.
- How many nights do you need for a Nile and Lake Nasser cruise?
- Seven nights on board covers both: four on the river and three on the lake, or three and four. Add a night in Aswan if the connection is tight, and the road or flight between Abu Simbel and Aswan at one end.
