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

The Nile unfolds from above: a hot air balloon lifts off at dawn over Luxor's West Bank.

A 4-day Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor aboard a 5-star ship includes all meals, a qualified Egyptologist guide, and visits to major temples on both banks. Day one covers the Aswan High Dam and Temple of Philae by motorboat. Day two takes you to a Nubian village on Sohail Island and the Temple of Kom Ombo. Day three includes a horse carriage ride to Edfu's Temple of Horus and evening visits to Luxor Temple. Day four begins with a hot air balloon flight at sunrise, then continues to the Valley of the Kings, Temple of Hatshepsut, and Karnak Temple.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and Aswan sightseeing

• Arrival transfer to Nile Cruise
• Check in and lunch on board
• Visit Aswan High Dam
• Visit Temple of Philae by motorboat
• Dinner and folkloric show on cruise
• Overnight on cruise

Day 2: Nubian Village and Kom Ombo

• Visit Nubian community on Sohail Island
• Boat ride past Elephantine Island
• Return to cruise for lunch
• Sail to Kom Ombo city
• Visit Kom Ombo Temple
• Dinner on cruise
• Sail to Edfu for overnight

Day 3: Edfu temple and Luxor arrival

• Horse carriage ride to Edfu Temple
• Return to cruise and relax on deck
• Sail to Luxor crossing Esna Lock
• Lunch on board
• Afternoon tea on sundeck
• Visit Luxor Temple on East Bank
• Dinner with belly dancing show
• Overnight on cruise in Luxor

Day 4: Hot air balloon and West Bank tour

• Early morning hot air balloon flight
• Visit Valley of the Kings
• Visit Temple of Hatshepsut
• Photo stop at Memnon statues
• Optional lunch at local restaurant
• Visit Karnak Temple on East Bank

The experience

The cruise departs Aswan on Monday, Wednesday or Friday. You're picked up by air-conditioned van and transferred to your 5-star ship for check-in and lunch. Your first afternoon takes you to the Aswan High Dam, built in 1960 to control the Nile's flood and generate power, then by small motorboat to the Temple of Philae, a Greco-Roman shrine to the goddess Isis on an island in the river. Dinner and a folkloric show happen on board.

Day two starts with a 3-hour group visit to a Nubian community on Sohail Island. You travel by felucca sailboat or motor boat past Elephantine Island, learn about local culture, and drink tea in a traditional house before returning to the cruise by noon. The ship sails to Kom Ombo, where you tour the dual temple dedicated to Sobek the crocodile god and Horus the falcon god. Day three begins with a horse carriage ride to the Temple of Horus at Edfu, one of Egypt's most complete and best-preserved temples. After returning to the ship, you sail toward Luxor, crossing the Esna Lock. In the late afternoon, you're transferred to Luxor Temple on the East Bank to see ancient Egyptian, Christian and Islamic structures. Dinner includes a belly dancing show.

Day four starts at 5 a.m. for a 30- to 45-minute hot air balloon flight after sunrise, giving you an aerial view of the West Bank's landscape and monuments. You then drive to the Valley of the Kings, where New Kingdom pharaohs carved tombs into the mountains to hide treasure and protect mummies. Next is the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut at El Deir El Bahari, followed by a photo stop at the Colossi of Memnon. After lunch at a local restaurant (optional), you return to the East Bank to tour Karnak Temple, the largest temple ever built, which took 2,000 years to complete and covers about 63 acres.

What’s included

• Accommodation on the 5-star cruise on a full board basis.
• all meals and overnight stays.
• a qualified Egyptologist guide throughout.
• all Nile cruise excursions as listed in the itinerary.
• the Nubian village group tour and Temple of Kom Ombo.
• visits to the West and East Banks of Luxor.
• all transfers in a modern air-conditioned vehicle.
• meet and assist service at arrival and departure.
• entry to the High Dam and Temple of Philae in Aswan.

Options for this experience

3 options

Twin CabinGuide in English · Available from 3 May 2027

Double CabinGuide in English · 08:00, 09:00, 10:00 and 14:00Pickup is included

Double roomGuide in English · 08:00, 09:00, 10:00 and 14:00Pickup is included for 3 nights

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

Before you book

Days and timesMonday, Wednesday and FridayDepartures at 08:00, 09:00, 10:00 and 14:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (12 to 90 years) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3)

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish

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.You can choose from 18 pickup points.

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

Paid on siteUS$ 150

Prices and times updated 9 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Imperialegypt

Is this one for you?Book this cruise if you want the major temples of Upper Egypt and the Nile's landscape seen both from the water and from the air: the hot air balloon flight at sunrise is the standout moment, and the 4-day length fits all the key sites without rushing. The ship's full board and guided itinerary mean you don't arrange meals or navigate between stops yourself, leaving you free to absorb each temple and the river itself.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3).

What's included in the meals on the 4-day Nile cruise?

Full board is included throughout the cruise: breakfast, lunch and dinner are served on the ship each day. Drinks are not included and must be purchased separately.

How do you get to the Temple of Philae from Aswan?

A small motorboat takes you from the cruise ship to Philae Temple on an island in the Nile, allowing you to visit the Greco-Roman shrine to the goddess Isis without needing to arrange separate transport.

What happens on the morning of day four in Luxor?

A hot air balloon flight departs at dawn, lasting 30 to 45 minutes and offering an aerial view of the West Bank's landscape and ancient landmarks before you descend and begin the ground tour of the Valley of the Kings.

Is the Nubian village visit a private tour or a group experience?

The Nubian village on Sohail Island is a group tour lasting about three hours, with round-trip boat transfer from the cruise ship, a guided visit to learn about local culture and history, and tea served in a traditional house.

Which temples are visited on the East Bank of Luxor?

Luxor Temple is visited in the late afternoon of day three, and Karnak Temple, the largest temple ever built, is toured on day four after the hot air balloon flight and West Bank sites. If you arrive at the Luxor dock by 3 or 3:30 p.m., both temples can fit into the same afternoon.