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

See the Nile’s greatest temples in comfort without long drives between them

A 4-day, 3-night cruise down the Nile from Aswan to Luxor that bundles the major pharaonic sites (Abu Simbel, Kom Ombo, Edfu, the Valley of the Kings, Karnak and Luxor temples) into one itinerary with onboard accommodation, meals and an English-speaking Egyptology guide. You sleep on the ship, wake to new temples, and fly over Luxor's West Bank by hot air balloon on the final morning. Arrival in Aswan should be before noon on day one. The tour ends in Luxor around 3:30–4:30 pm on day four, so evening departure is recommended.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and Aswan sightseeing

• Meet guide at Aswan arrival
• Transfer to Nile Cruise and check in
• 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 pick up for Abu Simbel trip
• Visit Abu Simbel temples outside
• Return to cruise and have lunch
• Sail to Kom Ombo city
• Visit Kom Ombo Temple
• Dinner on board 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 have lunch
• Afternoon tea on sundeck
• Visit Luxor Temple
• Dinner and belly dancing show on cruise

Day 4: Hot air balloon and Luxor 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
• Transfer to Luxor hotel or airport

The experience

The cruise departs Aswan on your first afternoon after you check in by noon. A guide meets you at the airport, railway station or hotel and transfers you to a 5-star Nile cruise ship. After lunch on board, you visit the Aswan High Dam and then take a motorboat to Philae Temple, a Greco-Roman sanctuary dedicated to the goddess Isis. Dinner and a folkloric show happen on deck that night.

Day two starts before dawn. Around 4:30 am, you're picked up for the drive to Abu Simbel, 285 km south of Aswan. One of Egypt's most impressive temples, carved into rock for King Ramesses II and his queen Nefertari. You spend about 90 minutes there with your guide explaining the history from outside, then drive back to the ship for lunch around 1:30 pm. The cruise then sails to Kom Ombo, where you visit the dual temple of Sobek and Horus before continuing overnight to Edfu. Day three begins with a horse carriage ride to the Temple of Horus at Edfu, considered the best-preserved temple in Egypt. After returning to the ship, you sail toward Luxor, crossing the Esna Lock and relaxing on deck as the landscape passes. Late afternoon brings you to Luxor Temple on the East Bank, followed by dinner and a belly dancing show.

The final morning, around 5:30–6 am, you board a hot air balloon for a 30–40 minute flight over Luxor's West Bank, drifting above the Valley of the Kings, the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon. After breakfast and checkout, you're driven to the West Bank to walk through the Valley of the Kings and visit Hatshepsut's temple, then cross back to the East Bank for Karnak Temple: the largest temple ever built, spanning 63 acres. Transfer to your Luxor hotel, airport or railway station happens around 3:00–4:00 pm. Entrance fees to the temples are paid separately by card (except the High Dam and Philae motorboat, which are cash).

What’s included

• Three nights' accommodation on a 5-star Nile cruise on full-board basis with all meals from lunch on day one through breakfast on day four.
• all transfers by air-conditioned vehicle from your arrival point to the ship and from the ship to your departure point in Luxor.
• a professional English-speaking Egyptology guide.
• a 30–40 minute hot air balloon flight over Luxor's West Bank on the final morning.
• entry to Abu Simbel temples, Kom Ombo, Edfu, the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's Mortuary Temple, Karnak and Luxor temples (entrance fees paid separately).
• a horse carriage ride to Edfu Temple.
• folkloric entertainment including a belly dancing show.
• and afternoon tea on the sundeck.

Before you book

Lasts 4d, runs every day except Tuesday and Saturday, 12 start times, from US$ 1,100 per person, with a live guide in English, Spanish and Arabic and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day except Tuesday and Saturday12 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 13:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (5 to 11 years) · Infant (under 5)

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and Arabic

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Prices and times updated 15 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Egypt Gift Tours

Is this one for you?Book this cruise if you're arriving in Aswan for the first time and want to see the Nile's major temples in sequence without organizing transport, timing or guides yourself: the fixed itinerary and onboard accommodation are what pack the full Upper Nile Valley into four days.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Arabic.

Can children come?

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

Do I need to arrange my own transportation to and from the ship?

No. A licensed guide meets you at Aswan Airport, the railway station or your hotel and transfers you by air-conditioned vehicle to the cruise ship for check-in. On the final day, you're transferred from the ship in Luxor to your hotel, airport or train station, or to a West Bank hotel for an extra charge.

What's included in the cruise fare?

Three nights' accommodation on a 5-star Nile cruise on a full-board basis; all meals from lunch on day one through breakfast on day four; all transfers by air-conditioned vehicle; the hot air balloon ride over Luxor (30–40 minutes); and a professional English-speaking Egyptology guide. Entrance fees to the temples, the High Dam and the motorboat to Philae Temple are paid separately.

Is the Abu Simbel trip included, or do I book it separately?

Abu Simbel is included. You travel in a small shared group with the guide on day two, departing around 4:30 am and returning to the ship by 1:30 pm. If the trip is cancelled due to bad weather, you receive a refund of $30 per person or $15 per child.

Can I take photos during the hot air balloon flight?

You can use your cellphone to take pictures, but cameras are not allowed in the balloon basket. Children under 6 years old are not permitted on the balloon flight. If the flight is cancelled due to bad weather, you receive a refund of $30 per person or $15 per child.

When does the cruise depart, and what time should I arrive in Aswan?

The cruise departs Aswan on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday or Friday. You should arrive before 12:01 pm on day one so you can check in and have lunch on board. If you arrive earlier, the tour can start immediately upon arrival. The tour ends in Luxor around 3:30–4:30 pm on day four, so an evening flight or train departure is recommended.