4-Day Nile Cruise Aswan to Luxor with Hot Air Balloon

Float down the Nile with temples, a Nubian family visit, and a dawn balloon flight over Luxor's west bank.

A 4-day Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor with full-board accommodation on a 5-star ship, guided tours of Abu Simbel, Kom Ombo, Edfu, and Luxor temples, a visit to a Nubian village on Soheil Island, and a 35- to 45-minute hot air balloon ride at sunrise over Luxor's Valley of the Kings and Temple of Hatshepsut. An Egyptologist guide leads all excursions. Hotel pickup in Aswan is included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Explore Aswan and Nubian Village

• Visit Aswan High Dam
• Visit Philae Temple by motorboat
• Lunch on cruise
• Boat to Nubian Village on Soheil Island
• Meet Nubian family and tour village

Day 2: Abu Simbel and Kom Ombo Temples

• 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 cruise
• Horse carriage to Temple of Horus at Edfu
• Return to cruise and sail to Luxor
• Cross Esna Lock
• Lunch on board
• Afternoon tea on sundeck
• Arrive Luxor and visit Luxor Temple
• Dinner and belly dancing on cruise

Day 4: Luxor Balloon Ride and West Bank Tour

• Early morning 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 on East Bank

The experience

You arrive in Aswan and board your cruise ship by noon. The first afternoon takes you to Philae Temple, a Greco-Roman sanctuary dedicated to Isis, reached by motorboat. Later, a slow sail up the Nile brings you to a Nubian village on Soheil Island, where you'll have a welcome drink in a local family's home, talk with them about their customs, and walk the village with your guide before returning to the ship for dinner.

Day two starts before dawn: a guide picks you up around 4:30 am for the Abu Simbel trip, a small-group excursion to the rock-cut temples built for Ramesses II and Queen Nefertari. You're back on the cruise by noon for lunch as the ship sails south to Kom Ombo, where you visit the dual temple of Sobek and Horus. The ship continues overnight to Edfu. Day three opens with a horse carriage ride to the Temple of Horus at Edfu (the most complete and best-preserved Egyptian temple), then you relax on deck as the ship passes through the Esna Lock and sails toward Luxor. Late afternoon brings a visit to Luxor Temple on the east bank, followed by dinner and a belly dancing show on board.

The final day starts at 5:00 am with your hot air balloon flight, a 30- to 45-minute drift over Luxor's west bank at sunrise, giving you an aerial view of the Valley of the Kings and the temples below. After breakfast and checkout, you drive to the west bank to explore the Valley of the Kings, where pharaohs carved tombs into the mountains, then visit the Temple of Hatshepsut at El Deir El Bahari and photograph the Colossi of Memnon. The tour ends on the east bank at Karnak Temple, the largest temple in Egypt, built over 2,000 years and covering 63 acres. The ship docks by 4:00 to 5:00 pm. Drop-off is available at Luxor Airport, the train station, or your hotel.

What’s included

• Three nights' accommodation on a 5-star Nile cruise ship on a full-board basis.
• professional English-speaking Egyptologist guide.
• all transfers and pickup and drop-off service by air-conditioned vehicle.
• small-group tour of Abu Simbel.
• visit to a Nubian village with a welcome drink in a local family's home.
• 35- to 45-minute hot air balloon ride over Luxor's west bank at sunrise.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday, Wednesday and Friday6 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 11:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (5 to 11 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 15 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Fayrouz Egypt Travel

Is this one for you?Book this 3-night cruise if you want Abu Simbel and a balloon ride over Luxor without coordinating separate hotels, transport, or meals: everything's included on the ship.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

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

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 11 years). Children under 5 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.

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

Full board accommodation means breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served on the ship each day, with meals taken on board except for one optional lunch in a local restaurant on the final day in Luxor.

Is the Abu Simbel tour private or shared?

Abu Simbel is a small-group tour, so you'll travel with other passengers rather than as a private party. The guide picks you up from the ship around 4:30 am and returns you by noon.

Can I take photos during the hot air balloon ride?

Cameras are not permitted in the balloon basket, but you can use your cellphone to photograph the sunrise and landscape below.

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

If either excursion is cancelled due to weather, you receive a refund of $25 per adult or $12.50 per child for that activity.

Do I need to pay entrance fees separately, or are they included?

Entrance fees to the temples are not included in the cruise price and must be paid by card at each site, except for the Aswan High Dam and the motorboat to Philae Temple, which are paid in cash.

What if I arrive in Aswan very early in the morning?

If your arrival is before the ship's noon check-in, the tour can start immediately upon your arrival, so you don't lose time waiting.