Egypt: Nile Cruise, Cairo & Luxor Tour with Balloon Ride

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.59 (32 reviews) 88% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/46

Duration9d

GroupUp to 15

LanguagesEN · AR +6

PickupAt your hotel

Travel Egypt’s ancient wonders by cruise train and balloon

You’ll move from Cairo’s wild energy to silent tombs in Luxor, riding trains and boats along the Nile with a local guide who knows every shortcut. Expect sunrise balloon rides over ancient ruins, market scents that stick with you, and temples that feel bigger than history books ever made them seem.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Arrival in Cairo

Arrival and hotel check-in
Information meeting
Leisure time

Day 2 — Cairo – Giza Pyramids – Saqqara

Visit Giza Plateau
See Great Sphinx
Tour pyramids
Visit Saqqara Plateau

Day 3 — Alexandria – Amphitheater – Pompey's Pillar

Drive to Alexandria
Visit Bibliotheca Alexandrina
Lunch at local restaurant
Tour Roman Amphitheater
See Pompey's Pillar
Visit Qaitbay Citadel
Return to Cairo

Day 4 — Museum – Citadel – Khan el Khalili

Tour Egyptian Museum
Lunch at authentic restaurant
Visit Saladin Citadel
See Mohamed Ali Mosque
Shop at Khan el Khalili

Day 5 — Transfer to Nile Cruise & Aswan

Meet guide at Aswan
Transfer to Nile Cruise
Lunch on board
Visit High Dam
Tour Temple of Isis
Dinner and folkloric show

Day 6 — Abu Simbel & Kom Ombo Temple

Pick up for Abu Simbel
Visit Abu Simbel Temples
Return to cruise
Lunch on board
Sail to Kom Ombo
Visit Kom Ombo Temple
Dinner on board
Sail to Edfu

Day 7 — Edfu Temple & Luxor Arrival

Horse carriage to Edfu Temple
Return to cruise
Relax and sail to Luxor
Cross Esna Lock
Lunch on board
Afternoon tea on sundeck
Visit Luxor Temple
Dinner and belly dancing

Day 8 — Balloon Ride & Luxor Tour

Hot air balloon flight
Breakfast
Visit Valley of the Kings
Tour Hatshepsut Temple
Photo stop at Memnon statues
Lunch at local restaurant
Visit Karnak Temple
Transfer to Luxor Airport

Day 9 — Final Departure

Early breakfast
Transfer to Cairo Airport

The Experience

First thing I remember is the sound — Cairo’s traffic is its own language, honestly. Our guide, Ahmed, met us right at the airport (he had this sign with my name in big blue marker) and somehow steered us through the arrivals chaos like he’d done it a thousand times. I was still half-awake when we pulled up to the hotel, but the city was already buzzing outside. That first night I just sat by the window listening to car horns and calls to prayer mixing together. It felt like I’d landed somewhere that never really sleeps.

The next morning started early — Giza Pyramids day. The sand gets everywhere, but you stop caring once you’re standing in front of those things. Ahmed told us stories about Cheops and Chefren while a camel handler tried to convince me his camel’s name was Michael Jackson (I’m not sure if he was joking). The Sphinx looks smaller than you expect but somehow more mysterious up close. Later at Saqqara, there was this dry wind that made the stones feel even older under your hands.

We took a day trip from Cairo to Alexandria — long drive but worth it for the sea air alone. Lunch was grilled fish in some place by the harbor where nobody spoke English; our guide ordered for us and laughed when I tried to pronounce “Qaitbay.” The Roman amphitheater’s marble seats were cool even in the sun. Back in Cairo, wandering Khan el Khalili market was total sensory overload: bakhoor smoke curling around piles of spices, gold sellers waving us over, kids darting between stalls. I bought tea leaves I’ll probably never use.

The overnight train south rattled so much I barely slept (bring earplugs), but waking up rolling into Aswan felt like another world — palm trees and slow river boats instead of city noise. The Nile cruise itself was way more comfortable than I expected; meals on deck watching green fields slide by is something I still think about. Visiting Abu Simbel meant a 4:30am start (painful), but seeing those temples rise out of pink desert light? Worth every yawn.

Luxor hit different — maybe it was the hot air balloon ride at sunrise, floating above temples and fields while everything turned gold below us. My hands were shaking a bit (heights aren’t my thing), but everyone cheered when we landed safely in some farmer’s field. The Valley of the Kings felt quiet compared to everywhere else; inside one tomb it smelled faintly sweet and old, like dust and incense mixed together. By then I’d stopped trying to take photos of everything — just wanted to remember how it all felt.

What’s included

Your journey includes airport meet-and-greet with transfers both ways in Cairo.
four nights’ hotel accommodation with breakfast.
three nights aboard a five-star Nile cruise including all meals.
overnight sleeper train from Cairo to Aswan.
guided visits to major sites such as Abu Simbel Temples and Valley of the Kings.
domestic flight from Luxor back to Cairo.
horse carriage ride at Edfu Temple.
sunrise hot air balloon experience over Luxor.
entry fees as per itinerary.
plus support from an expert Egyptology guide throughout your trip.

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Mody Egypt Tours