Nile Cruise Aswan to Luxor: Temples & Hot Air Balloon

Abu Simbel's colossal statues, a dawn balloon flight over Luxor, Karnak Temple's towering columns, and nights aboard the Nile

A 3-day Nile River cruise from Aswan to Luxor with an English-speaking Egyptologist guide, hotel pickup, and accommodation aboard a 5-star cruise ship with all meals included. You visit Abu Simbel Temples, Kom Ombo Temple, Edfu Temple by horse-drawn carriage, float 1,500 feet above the Valley of the Kings in a hot air balloon, and tour the Temple of Hatshepsut, Colossi of Memnon, and Karnak Temple. The itinerary is fixed, so transport, timing and all site access are arranged. You choose your cabin tier at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Visit Abu Simbel and Kom Ombo Temples

• Pickup and travel to Abu Simbel Temple
• Guided tour of Abu Simbel Temple
• Board cruise ship
• Sail to Kom Ombo Temple
• Visit Kom Ombo Temple
• Return to ship for dinner and sail

Day 2: Visit Edfu Temple and relax

• Breakfast on cruise ship
• Visit Edfu Temple by horse-drawn carriage
• Return to cruise ship
• Lunch and dinner on cruise ship

Day 3: Hot air balloon and Luxor sights

• Pickup from cruise ship
• Hot air balloon flight
• Visit Valley of the Kings
• Visit Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut
• See Colossi of Memnon
• Felucca boat sail on Nile
• Visit Karnak Temple
• Visit Luxor Temple
• Hotel drop-off

The experience

The cruise departs Aswan after pickup and heads straight to Abu Simbel Temples, the grandest temple complex commissioned under Ramesses II, with four colossal statues carved into the cliff face. After a guided tour, you board the cruise ship and sail down the Nile to Kom Ombo Temple, which stands unique for its dedication to two different deities. Dinner happens aboard as the ship continues south through the night.

Day two centers on Edfu Temple, reached by horse-drawn carriage from the ship. It is one of Egypt's best-preserved shrines, and the carriage ride itself is part of the journey. You return to the ship for the afternoon and evening, with the Nile flowing past your cabin.

The final day starts before dawn with a hot air balloon flight lasting 45 to 80 minutes at over 1,500 feet, drifting above the Valley of the Kings. After landing, you visit the Valley of the Kings itself, then the Temple of Hatshepsut: three massive terraces rising from the desert floor into the Deir el-Bahari cliffs. The Colossi of Memnon come next, followed by a traditional felucca sailing boat ride on the Nile (drinks available for purchase). The day ends at Karnak Temple, one of history's greatest worship complexes, and Luxor Temple before hotel drop-off.

An English-speaking Egyptologist guide accompanies the entire tour. All meals are served aboard the cruise ship. The cabin includes full amenities. The 5-star ship itself is your accommodation for two nights, and the itinerary holds all transport, timing and site access together so nothing requires separate planning.

What’s included

• Expert English-speaking Egyptologist guide.
• hotel pickup and drop-off.
• transportation by air-conditioned vehicle.
• private cabin aboard a 5-star cruise ship with all amenities.
• all meals throughout the 3 days.
• horse-drawn carriage ride at Edfu Temple.
• hot air balloon flight over the Valley of the Kings.
• guided access to Abu Simbel Temples, Kom Ombo Temple, Edfu Temple, Temple of Hatshepsut, Colossi of Memnon, and Karnak Temple.
• traditional felucca sailing boat ride on the Nile.
• all taxes.

Options for this experience

3 options

Standard Cruise ShipGuide in English · 04:00Pickup is included

Deluxe Cruise ShipGuide in English · 04:00Pickup is included

Luxury Cruise ShipGuide in English · 04:00Pickup is included

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

Before you book

Lasts 3d, runs Monday to Saturday at 04:00, from US$ 424 per person, with a live guide in English, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesMonday to SaturdayDeparts at 04:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (11 to 60 years) · Child (6 to 10 years) · Infant (under 6)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 32 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 17 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Nice tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want temples and the Nile seen together on a fixed 3-day route with an Egyptologist guide steering you through five complexes. Choose it over land-based tours when you'd rather sleep and eat aboard one ship than move between hotels.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 10 years); Infant (under 6).

What is Abu Simbel Temple like compared to the other sites on this cruise?

Abu Simbel Temples is the largest and most elaborate of the temples you visit, famous for its four colossal statues of Ramesses II carved directly into the cliff face. It is the first stop after pickup, setting the scale for the other sites (Kom Ombo, Edfu, Hatshepsut, and Karnak), which are significant but smaller or differently designed.

Can I do the hot air balloon flight if I have mobility concerns?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels according to the operator. The balloon flight itself lasts 45 to 80 minutes and requires boarding and exiting the basket. If you have specific mobility questions, contact the operator before booking to confirm the setup.

Does the price include entry to the temples and the balloon flight?

All meals, accommodation, transport, the Egyptologist guide, hotel pickup and drop-off, and the horse carriage ride at Edfu are included. Temple entrance fees and the hot air balloon flight cost extra and are not included in the cruise price.

What is the difference between the Standard, Luxury, and Deluxe cruise ship options?

All three options follow the same itinerary, guide, meals and activities. The difference is your cabin tier aboard the ship. You choose Standard, Luxury, or Deluxe at checkout, and the price reflects the cabin grade and amenities.

Is tipping included in the price?

Tipping is optional and not included. You decide whether and how much to tip your guide and crew.