Nile Cruise Aswan to Luxor: Temples & Hot Air Balloon

Float down the Nile while nine temples unfold on both banks, then rise above Luxor at sunrise in a balloon.

A 4-day Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor with 3 nights aboard a 5-star boat, guided visits to Abu Simbel Temple, Philae Temple, Kom Ombo, Edfu's Temple of Horus, Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings, Temple of Hatshepsut, Karnak Temple and the Aswan High Dam, plus a 30- to 45-minute hot air balloon flight over the West Bank at dawn. A guide in English or Arabic leads the temple visits and site explanations. Transfers between hotels and the boat are included. The hot air balloon trip is subject to weather and carries a 25 USD refund if cancelled. Children under 6 cannot participate. Entrance fees to all sites and temples are optional add-ons at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and Aswan sightseeing

• Visit Philae Temple by motorboat
• Visit Aswan High Dam
• Overnight on cruise boat

Day 2: Abu Simbel and Kom Ombo visit

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

Day 3: Edfu Temple and Luxor arrival

• Horse carriage ride to Temple of Horus at Edfu
• Relax and sail to Luxor crossing Esna Lock
• Visit Luxor Temple
• Dinner and overnight on cruise boat

Day 4: Hot air balloon and Luxor tour

• Hot air balloon flight over Luxor
• 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

Four days means the cruise holds nine major sites without rushing the day. You board at Aswan and spend the first afternoon at Philae Temple, reached by small motorboat to the Greco-Roman sanctuary of Isis, then visit the Aswan High Dam built in 1960 to control the Nile's flood. That night you sleep on the boat.

Day two starts before dawn for the drive to Abu Simbel, the rock-cut temples of Ramses II and Queen Nefertari carved into the mountainside. You arrive around 8 am in a small group with your guide, return to the boat by noon for lunch, then sail toward Kom Ombo while you relax on deck. The afternoon brings a visit to Kom Ombo Temple, dedicated to Sobek the crocodile god and Horus the falcon god, before the boat continues to Edfu overnight.

Day three opens with a horse-drawn carriage ride to Edfu's Temple of Horus, the most complete and best-preserved temple in Egypt. After breakfast and the visit, you return to the boat and sail toward Luxor, crossing the Esna Lock while you watch the Nile Valley landscape. Late afternoon at Luxor dock, you're transferred to Luxor Temple on the East Bank to see Egyptian, Christian and Islamic architecture layered across centuries. Dinner on board includes a belly dancing show.

Day four begins around 5 am with pickup for the hot air balloon flight: 30 to 45 minutes aloft over the West Bank, with an aerial view of temples and mountains below. After breakfast and checkout, you drive to the Valley of the Kings, where pharaohs carved tombs into the mountain to hide treasure and protect mummies. Next is the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut at El Deir El Bahari, the famous queen's temple, followed by a photo stop at the Colossi of Memnon. The tour ends at Karnak Temple, the largest temple ever built, covering 63 acres and constructed over 2,000 years. By 3 or 4 pm you're transferred to your Luxor hotel, airport or railway station.

What’s included

• 3 nights aboard a 5-star cruise boat.
• hot air balloon flight with certificate (30 to 45 minutes over Luxor's West Bank).
• guided visits to Abu Simbel Temple in a small group, Philae Temple, Aswan High Dam, Kom Ombo Temple, Temple of Horus at Edfu, Luxor Temple, Valley of the Kings, Temple of Hatshepsut, and Karnak Temple.
• horse-drawn carriage or bus ride to Edfu.
• all transfers between your hotel and the boat, and between the boat and temple sites.
• a guide fluent in English or Arabic.
• belly dancing show with dinner on day three.

Options for this experience

3 options

Without Abu Simbel and without balloon rideGuide in English or Arabic · 9 departure times: the first at 07:30, the last at 11:30Cruise and tours: all sightseeing is included except Abu Simbel and the balloon ride; pickup is included

Tour with Abu Simbel, without balloon rideGuide in English or Arabic · 9 departure times: the first at 07:30, the last at 11:30Pickup is included

Tour including Abu Simbel and balloon rideGuide in English or Arabic · 08:00, 09:00, 10:00 and 11:00Hot air balloon ride included; pickup is included

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

Before you book

Lasts 4d, runs Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9 start times, from US$ 229 per person, with a live guide in English and Arabic and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesMonday, Wednesday and Friday9 departure times: the first at 07:30, the last at 11:30

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 70

Live guideEnglish and Arabic

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 15 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Go Tours Egypt

Is this one for you?Pick the Abu Simbel option if seeing that temple and the dawn balloon ride are both must-dos. Choose the standard version if either matters less and you want to lower your cost while still visiting nine temples across four days.

Traveler reviews

4.68★★★★★★★★★★

668 verified traveler reviews

5 ★538

4 ★82

3 ★25

2 ★7

1 ★16

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Arabic.

Can children come?

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

What happens if the hot air balloon is cancelled?

If bad weather or another reason cancels the balloon flight, you receive a 25 USD refund per person. The rest of the tour (temples, boat cruise and all other sites) continues as scheduled.

Does the price include entrance fees to the temples?

Entrance fees to all sites and temples are optional add-ons you choose at checkout. They are not included in the base tour price.

What's included in the 4-day cruise itself?

The cruise includes 3 nights aboard a 5-star boat, all transfers to and from temples and hotels, a guided tour in English or Arabic, a horse-drawn carriage or bus ride to Edfu Temple, the hot air balloon flight (weather permitting), and a flight certificate after the balloon ride.

Can I take photos during the hot air balloon flight?

Cameras are not allowed in the balloon basket. You can use your cellphone to take pictures during the flight.

What if I arrive at Luxor after 3 pm on day three?

If you arrive at the Luxor dock by 3 or 3:30 pm, there is time to visit both Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple that afternoon. Later arrivals may see only Luxor Temple before dinner.