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

Four days sailing Egypt's most famous river, stopping at temples built across two thousand years.

A 4-day Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor with three nights aboard a 5-star boat, guided visits to Abu Simbel, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Valley of the Kings, Karnak and Luxor temples, plus the Aswan High Dam and Philae Temple. You disembark for guided tours at each stop, travel by air-conditioned van and horse carriage, and return to the boat for meals and overnight stays. An optional hot air balloon ride over Luxor's West Bank is available on the final morning.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and Aswan sightseeing

• Meet and transfer to cruise boat
• Check in and have lunch on board
• Visit Aswan High Dam
• Visit Philae Temple by motorboat
• Dinner and folkloric show on cruise

Day 2: Abu Simbel and Kom Ombo visit

• Early pickup for Abu Simbel trip
• Visit Abu Simbel Temples
• Return to cruise for lunch
• Sail to Kom Ombo
• Visit Kom Ombo Temple
• Dinner on cruise and sail to Edfu

Day 3: Edfu Temple and Luxor arrival

• Breakfast on board
• Horse carriage ride to Edfu Temple
• Return to cruise and sail to Luxor
• Cross Esna Lock and lunch on board
• Visit Luxor Temple
• Dinner and belly dancing show on cruise

Day 4: Luxor tour and departure

• Optional hot air balloon flight
• Breakfast and check out
• Visit Valley of the Kings
• Visit Temple of Hatshepsut
• Photo stop at Colossi of Memnon
• Visit Karnak Temple
• Transfer to hotel, airport or railway station

The experience

The cruise departs Aswan with a transfer from the airport, railway station or your hotel. After checking in and lunch on board, your guide takes you to the Aswan High Dam, built in 1960 to control the Nile's flood and generate power, then by motorboat to Philae Temple, a Greco-Roman shrine to the goddess Isis on an island in the river. You return to the boat for dinner and an overnight stay.

Day two starts before dawn: around 4:30 am your guide picks you up for the drive to Abu Simbel, arriving by 8 am to see the rock-cut temples of Ramses II and Queen Nefertari carved into the mountainside. After touring, you're back on the cruise by noon for lunch while the boat sails to Kom Ombo, where you visit the dual temple dedicated to Sobek the crocodile god and Horus the falcon god. The boat continues overnight to Edfu.

Day three includes a horse carriage ride to the Temple of Horus at Edfu, considered the most complete and best-preserved Egyptian temple, then a full day sailing the Nile to Luxor. You arrive at the dock in late afternoon to visit Luxor Temple on the East Bank, which layers ancient Egyptian, Christian and Islamic architecture. If you arrive by 3 pm, both Karnak and Luxor temples fit into the afternoon. Dinner on board includes a belly dancing show.

The final day offers an optional hot air balloon ride at sunrise over Luxor's West Bank: a 30- to 45-minute flight with views of the temples and mountains below. Afterward, you tour the Valley of the Kings, where pharaohs carved tombs into the mountains, then the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut at El Deir El Bahari, and finish with a photo stop at the Colossi of Memnon. A visit to Karnak Temple, built over 2,000 years and covering 63 acres, closes the tour before your transfer back to your hotel, airport or railway station around 3 to 4 pm.

What’s included

• Guided tours and entry to all temples and sites.
• all transfers by air-conditioned van with a qualified driver.
• accommodation for three nights on a 5-star Nile cruise.
• English-speaking tour guide throughout.
• pickup and drop-off at Aswan Airport, railway station or hotel.
• a small shared group for the Abu Simbel excursion.
• all local taxes and service charges.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday, Wednesday and Friday7 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 12:00

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (6 to 11 years) · Infant (under 6): free

GroupUp to 30

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 34 pickup points.

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

Paid on siteUS$ 100

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Aegyptus Reisen

Is this one for you?The 4:30 am start on day two is what gets you to Abu Simbel before the crowds and heat. If you prefer a slower morning pace, check whether the operator offers a later departure option. The boat sails overnight between stops, so you wake at a new site each day without packing or moving your bags: the rhythm suits travelers who want to see multiple temples without the logistics of changing hotels.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 11 years); Infant (under 6): free.

What is Abu Simbel and why do we visit it so early in the morning?

Abu Simbel is a pair of rock-cut temples carved into a mountainside for Pharaoh Ramses II and Queen Nefertari, featuring colossal statues and intricate carvings. The early morning departure, around 4:30 am, allows you to arrive by 8 am and tour the temples before the heat and crowds build, then return to the cruise for lunch.

Do we stay in hotels in Luxor or sleep on the boat the whole time?

You sleep on the 5-star Nile cruise boat for all three nights: one in Aswan, one in Edfu and one in Luxor. The boat is your accommodation throughout the journey.

What is the hot air balloon ride and is it included?

The hot air balloon ride is an optional tour on the final morning, departing around 5 am for a 30- to 45-minute flight over Luxor's West Bank at sunrise, with aerial views of the temples and landscape below. It costs extra and is not included in the cruise price.

How much walking and climbing is involved at the temple sites?

The temples require moderate walking on uneven ground and some climbing of stairs and ramps, particularly at the Valley of the Kings and inside the larger temples like Karnak. The pace is guided and you can rest between sites, but the tour suits all fitness levels.

Is the guide English-speaking and do we have the same guide all four days?

Yes, an English-speaking guide leads all visits throughout the cruise. For the early Abu Simbel excursion on day two, you join a small shared group with an English-speaking guide.

What meals are provided and are dietary needs accommodated?

Lunch and dinner are served on board each day, plus breakfast before the final day's tours. The cruise accommodates vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and other dietary requirements if you note them at booking.