4-Day Nile Cruise Aswan to Luxor: Abu Simbel, balloon & temples

Four days floating the Nile between ancient temples and a sunrise balloon ride

A 4-day Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor with an Egyptology guide, stopping at Abu Simbel, Kom Ombo, and Edfu temples. You'll rise in a hot air balloon over the Valley of the Kings, tour Hatshepsut's Temple and the Colossi of Memnon, explore Karnak and Luxor temples, and sleep aboard a 5-star ship with all meals included. Hotel or port pickup and drop-off are part of the booking.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Explore Aswan and board cruise

• Arrive in Aswan
• Visit Philae Temple by motorboat
• Visit Aswan High Dam
• Visit local market in Aswan
• Check in Nile cruise

Day 2: Visit Abu Simbel and Kom Ombo Temples

• Visit Abu Simbel Temples
• Visit Kom Ombo Temple
• Sail to Edfu

Day 3: Visit Edfu Temple and sail to Luxor

• Visit Temple of Horus in Edfu
• Sail to Luxor

Day 4: Balloon ride and Luxor sightseeing

• Hot air balloon ride over West Bank
• Visit Valley of the Kings
• Visit Temple of Hatshepsut
• Visit Colossi of Memnon
• Visit Karnak Temple
• Visit Luxor Temple

The experience

The cruise departs Aswan after you visit Philae Temple by motorboat and the Aswan High Dam: a 111-meter structure built in the 1960s that controls the Nile's flow and generates electricity. You board the ship that evening and spend the next three nights on the water, moving downriver toward Luxor. Each morning and afternoon brings a new temple: Abu Simbel, built around 1244 BC during Ramses II's reign and relocated in the 1960s to escape the rising reservoir; Kom Ombo, where two deities (Sobek and Horus) were worshipped side by side in the same temple; and Edfu's Temple of Horus, where the falcon god was honored as the city's protector.

The balloon ride happens on the final morning, before dawn. You ascend over the West Bank as the sun rises, seeing the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's Temple, and the Colossi of Memnon, two 19-meter statues of Amenhotep III, from above. After landing, an Egyptology guide leads you through the Valley of the Kings' royal tombs, then to Hatshepsut's limestone temple with its three terraced levels, and past the Colossi. The day ends at Karnak Temple, a sprawling complex built over centuries for the gods Amun, Mut, and Khonsu, followed by Luxor Temple on the eastern bank. The tour finishes in Luxor around 4 to 5 pm.

Meals are served aboard: lunch starts on day one and breakfast ends on day four. Your cabin includes all facilities. An air-conditioned vehicle handles transfers between the ship and sites on land, and a horse-drawn carriage takes you through some areas. Children under 6 cannot ride the balloon. Children 5 to 11 are charged as adults if accompanied. Entrance fees are paid by card at each site except the High Dam and Philae motorboat, which require cash. If weather cancels the balloon or the Abu Simbel trip, you receive a refund of $25 per adult or $12.50 per child.

What’s included

• Lunch on day one through breakfast on day four.
• three nights aboard a 5-star cruise ship in a cabin with full facilities.
• visits to all temples and sites listed in the itinerary.
• air-conditioned vehicle for land transfers.
• hot air balloon ride over the Valley of the Kings.
• horse and carriage rides at selected sites.
• a qualified Egyptology guide speaking English.
• hotel or port pickup and drop-off in Aswan and Luxor.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday, Wednesday and Friday8 departure times: the first at 05:00, the last at 11:00Last departure this season: 14 Dec

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (5 to 11 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 14 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Fayrouz Egypt Travel

Is this one for you?The 4-day span leaves your final afternoon free in Luxor: enough time for an evening flight or train departure, but not for a second destination. If you need more time in Luxor or want to add sites beyond the Nile valley, a longer cruise or separate Luxor tour works better. If you're short on time, a 2-day version covers fewer temples but moves faster.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 11 years); Infant (under 5): free.

What is the Aswan High Dam and why does it matter to the tour?

The Aswan High Dam is a 111-meter-tall structure completed in 1971 that controls the Nile's water flow and generates electricity for Egypt. You visit it on day one as part of the opening tour in Aswan before boarding the cruise.

Can I take photos during the hot air balloon ride?

Cameras are not allowed in the balloon basket, but you can use your cellphone to photograph the sunrise, the Valley of the Kings, and the temples below.

What happens if bad weather cancels the balloon or Abu Simbel?

If either trip is cancelled due to weather, you receive a refund of $25 per adult or $12.50 per child for that activity. The rest of the tour continues as scheduled.

When does the tour end in Luxor, and what are my options?

The tour finishes around 4 to 5 pm on day four in Luxor. Drop-off is available at Luxor Airport, the train station, or hotels on the east bank, so evening departures are recommended.

Are entrance fees included in the cruise price?

Entrance fees are not included and are paid separately at each site by card, except at the Aswan High Dam and the motorboat to Philae Temple, which require cash payment.