4-Day Nile Cruise Aswan to Luxor: Abu Simbel & Hot Air Balloon

Float down the Nile with eight temples and a sunrise balloon ride built into the same four days.

A 4-day Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor with three nights aboard a 5-star ship, visiting Philae Temple, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Karnak, and the Valley of the Kings. The itinerary spaces out the major sites so you spend real time at each one instead of rushing through. Meals are provided on board; an English-speaking guide leads the temple tours; hot air balloon and Abu Simbel are optional. The tour ends in Luxor by mid-afternoon on day four.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Aswan tour and Nile cruise embarkation

• Pick up from Aswan meeting point
• Transfer to 5-star Nile Cruise
• Visit High Dam of Aswan
• Motorboat to Philae Temple
• Guided tour of Philae Temple
• Free time at Philae Temple
• Overnight on Nile Cruise

Day 2: Abu Simbel tour and sail to Kom Ombo

• Explore Abu Simbel (optional)
• Return to Nile Cruise
• Sail to Kom Ombo Temple
• Overnight on Nile Cruise

Day 3: Edfu Temple and Luxor East Bank tour

• Visit Temple of Horus in Edfu
• Cross Esna Lock and sail to Luxor
• Tour Karnak Temple
• Visit Luxor Temple
• Overnight on Nile Cruise

Day 4: Luxor West Bank tour and drop off

• Tour Valley of the Kings
• Visit Temple of Hatshepsut
• See Colossi of Memnon
• Drive back and drop off in Luxor

The experience

The cruise departs from Aswan with pickup from your hotel or the airport, then heads straight to the Aswan High Dam before a motorboat takes you to Philae Temple, dedicated to the goddess Isis and relocated to its current island location decades ago. You board the 5-star cruise ship that evening and overnight there. Day two includes an optional early visit to Abu Simbel (if you booked that add-on), then the ship sails south to Kom Ombo Temple. Day three brings the Temple of Horus at Edfu in the morning, a crossing through the Esna Lock, and an afternoon tour of Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple on the east bank. All transfers between sites happen by air-conditioned vehicle with a qualified driver.

The final morning on day four is reserved for the west bank of Luxor: the Valley of the Kings, where six pharaohs including Tutankhamun were buried; the Temple of Hatshepsut, built by Egypt's only female ruler; and the Colossi of Memnon, the mortuary temple of Amenhotep III. A hot air balloon ride at sunrise is available as an optional add-on and includes pickup, the flight itself, and a certificate. The balloon can be cancelled by the ministry of aviation if weather turns bad, with a full refund. The tour ends with drop-off at your Luxor hotel or the train station by 3 to 4 PM.

Three nights of accommodation on the cruise ship are included on a full-board basis, meaning breakfast, lunch and dinner are served on board. The guide speaks English and is trained in Egyptology. All local taxes, service charges, landing fees and parking are covered. A motorboat ride to Philae and a cart ride at Edfu temple are part of the itinerary. You'll be added to a WhatsApp group before departure to coordinate pickup logistics. The specific cruise ship is assigned a few days before the trip once it receives sailing permission from the Egyptian government.

What’s included

• Three nights' accommodation on a 5-star Nile cruise ship on a full-board basis.
• all meals on board (breakfast, lunch and dinner).
• an English-speaking Egyptology guide for all temple tours.
• all transfers by air-conditioned vehicle with qualified drivers.
• a motorboat ride to Philae Temple.
• a cart ride at Edfu Temple.
• door-to-door pickup and drop-off in Aswan and Luxor.
• all local taxes, service charges, landing fees and parking.
• a hot air balloon flight with pickup, drop-off and certificate if you book that option.
• a shared small-group tour to Abu Simbel with an English-speaking guide if you book that option.

Options for this experience

3 options

Cruise without Abu Simbel and without balloonGuide in English · 10 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 12:30Pickup is included

Cruise with Abu Simbel, without balloonGuide in English or Arabic · 14 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 12:30Pickup is included

Cruise with Abu Simbel and balloonGuide in English or Arabic · 14 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 12:30Hot air balloon, lasting 3 hours; includes pickup

You pick the guide language when booking.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesMonday, Wednesday and Friday14 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 12:30

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (11 to 90 years) · Child (3 to 10 years) · Under 3: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 50

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Arabic

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by Egypt Best Holidays

Is this one for you?Book with Abu Simbel if you want to see the colossal rock temples in the far south. Without it, you stay on the main Nile route between Aswan and Luxor. Add the hot air balloon if you want a sunrise flight over the Luxor landscape on your final morning. It's optional and can be cancelled by the ministry of aviation if weather is poor, with a full refund.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Arabic.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 10 years). Under 3: they can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

Can I add the hot air balloon and Abu Simbel to my booking, or do I have to choose one?

You can book the cruise with both Abu Simbel and the hot air balloon together, or choose Abu Simbel alone, or take the cruise without either add-on. The balloon and Abu Simbel are separate optional purchases you select at checkout.

What happens on the morning of day four if I don't book the hot air balloon?

Day four includes the west bank tour of the Valley of the Kings, Temple of Hatshepsut, and Colossi of Memnon regardless of whether you add the balloon. The balloon is an optional sunrise activity that runs separately. Without it, you start the west bank tour by private vehicle in the morning.

Does the price include entrance fees to the temples?

Entrance fees to the temples and sites are not included in the cruise price and are paid separately on the day of your visit.

Where does the cruise pick me up in Aswan, and where does it drop me off in Luxor?

Standard pickup is from Aswan east bank hotels or a meeting point in Aswan. Pickup from west bank hotels or Aswan airport costs an extra $12 per person. Standard drop-off in Luxor is at east bank hotels or downtown Luxor. Drop-off at west bank hotels or Luxor airport costs an extra $10 per person.

Are meals and drinks included on the cruise, or do I need to pay extra?

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included on a full-board basis during your three nights on the ship. Water and other drinks on the cruise are available for an extra charge.