Lake Nasser Cruise: Aswan to Abu Simbel
A Lake Nasser cruise sails south from Aswan to Abu Simbel in five days, stopping at Nubian temples that Nile cruises do not reach: Kalabsha, Beit El Wali, Wadi El Seboua, Dakka, Amada, Derr and the island of Kasr Ibrim. You wake up at Abu Simbel on the last morning, and the boats are full board with private guided sightseeing.
Key Takeaways
- Three boats run the route: the Lake Nasser Cruise, Aswan to Abu Simbel, the five-star Steigenberger Omar El Khayam Lake Nasser Cruise, and the Mövenpick Prince Abbas Lake Nasser Cruise.
- All three use the same five-day plan, from Aswan on day one to Abu Simbel on day five, ending with a transfer to Abu Simbel Airport or your hotel.
- Kasr Ibrim is the only monument on the lake still standing where it was built. Landing is not permitted, so you see it from the sundeck.
- Included: full board on the boat, a guide speaking English, Portuguese, German or Spanish, private guided sightseeing, entrance fees, bottled water and private transfers. Optional tours, personal spending and tips are not.
- An optional sound and light show at Abu Simbel is offered on the fourth evening.
Day by day
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Day |
Stops |
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1. Aswan |
Embark and lunch on board. The High Dam, which created the lake, the Temple of Philae on Agilkia Island and the Unfinished Obelisk in the granite quarries |
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2. Kalabsha and Beit El Wali |
Kalabsha Temple, built for the Nubian god Mandulis and moved when Lake Nasser formed, mixing Roman and Egyptian imagery. Beit El Wali, a small rock-cut temple of Ramesses II. The boat crosses the Tropic of Cancer on its way to Wadi El Seboua |
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3. Wadi El Seboua and Dakka |
The Valley of the Lions, named for the avenue of sphinxes leading to its temples, the Temple of Dakka built for Thoth, and the Temple of Maharraqa with its spiral staircase on the Prince Abbas itinerary. Then a long sail to Amada |
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4. Amada, Derr and Kasr Ibrim |
Amada Temple, the oldest monument on the lake, the Temple of Derr and the Tomb of Pennut, Viceroy of Kush. Kasr Ibrim from the sundeck, then Abu Simbel by evening |
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5. Abu Simbel |
The two temples cut into the mountainside for Ramesses II and Queen Nefertari, then disembarkation |
Choosing a boat
The routes match, so choose by boat and itinerary wording. The Steigenberger Omar El Khayam Lake Nasser Cruise is a five-star boat sailing four nights, and its itinerary dates Amada Temple to the 18th Dynasty. The Mövenpick Prince Abbas Lake Nasser Cruise lists Amada as going back to Thutmose III and adds the Temple of Maharraqa to day three. The Lake Nasser Cruise, Aswan to Abu Simbel describes the route in terms of the monuments most visitors never see. Browse them all under Lake Nasser cruises.
Why it feels different from a Nile cruise
On the Nile you step off the boat at working towns and big temples. On the lake the sites are small and quiet: the itinerary describes Amada, Derr and the Tomb of Pennut as small sites with unusually well-preserved inscriptions. Most of the temples here were moved when the lake rose behind the High Dam, and Abu Simbel itself was moved in the 1960s to keep it clear of the water. If you have time for both, our guide to the two Nile cruise directions covers the classic route between Aswan and Luxor, and what a cataract is explains the river geography around Aswan.
Read about Lake Nasser, Qasr Ibrim and the Abu Simbel temples.
Abu Simbel by other routes
If a five-day cruise is too long, the Abu Simbel Tour visits the Great Temple of Ramses II, dedicated to Ramses II and the gods Ptah, Re-Horakhty and Amun-Re, and the smaller temple for Queen Nefertari and Hathor. Abu Simbel's Sun Festival falls on February 22 and October 22. The site is open daily from 06:00 to 17:00, with last entry at 16:00, and Kalabsha Temple opens from 07:00 with last entry at 15:00. For a trip that combines Nubia and the Nile, see the 09 Days Egypt and Nubia Tour.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the cruise? Five days, from Aswan to Abu Simbel.
Do I see Abu Simbel? Yes, on the last morning, after the boat reaches Abu Simbel the evening before. The sound and light show is optional.
Can I visit Kasr Ibrim? No. Landing is not permitted, so you view it from the sundeck.
What is included? Full board, the guide, private guided sightseeing, entrance fees, bottled water and private transfers.
What is not included? Optional tours, personal spending and tips.