Egypt » Luxor | 🏛 Hot Air Balloon In Luxor · Boat Tours

Luxor to Aswan: Nile Cruise, Hot Air Balloon & Temples

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/29

Duration3d

GroupPrivate

LanguagesEN · AR +3

PickupAt your hotel

Sunrise balloon ride over Luxor and ancient temples by Nile

You’ll wake before dawn for a hot air balloon ride over Luxor, wander through Karnak Temple with an Egyptologist guide, drift along the Nile on a 5-star cruise with full-board meals, and stand beneath Abu Simbel’s colossal statues near Aswan. It’s not just sightseeing—it’s feeling history under your skin.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Hot Air Balloon and Luxor sightseeing

Pick up from accommodation
Hot air balloon ride over Luxor
Visit Valley of the Kings
Visit Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut
Visit Colossi of Memnon for photos
Visit Karnak Temple
Lunch on the cruise ship
Board cruise and sail to Edfu

Day 2 — Edfu and Kom Ombo temples visit

Breakfast on the cruise ship
Visit Temple of Horus in Edfu
Sail to Kom Ombo
Visit Kom Ombo Temple
Return to cruise ship and relax

Day 3 — Abu Simbel temple and departure

Check out and leave luggage at reception
Pick up from cruise reception
Group tour to Abu Simbel Temple
Return to ship and transfer to accommodation

The Experience

“If you listen close, you can hear the river talking,” our guide Amr said as we leaned over the rail of the cruise ship, somewhere between Luxor and Edfu. I’d just come down from the roof deck where the air still smelled faintly of diesel and sweet tea. The day had started even earlier—before dawn, bundled up in a van for the hot air balloon ride. I was groggy but jittery with nerves. Floating above the Valley of the Kings as the sun cracked open over Luxor… it’s hard to put into words. The fields below looked almost painted on, and there was this hush except for a few distant dogs barking. When we landed, I realized my hands were shaking from more than just cold.

Back on solid ground, Amr led us through Karnak Temple—he seemed to know every shadowy corner and every story carved into those columns. He pointed out some graffiti left by French soldiers (I think he said Napoleon’s men?) and laughed when I tried to read a bit of hieroglyphics out loud. Lunch on the cruise ship was actually good—I’d expected bland buffet stuff but there was this eggplant dish that surprised me. Sailing upriver after lunch felt slow in a good way; I watched kids waving from the banks and tried not to nap.

The next morning, we visited Edfu’s Temple of Horus before most people were awake. The stone felt cool under my hand—maybe it’s silly but I kept thinking about how many centuries have passed here. Kom Ombo temple came later, with its crocodile mummies (yes, really), and then back to drifting along the Nile as dusk settled in. There was something comforting about hearing Arabic music from someone’s phone nearby while watching the sky turn pink.

Our last day started before sunrise again for Abu Simbel—a long drive from Aswan but worth every minute. The scale of it is wild; standing at Ramses II’s feet made me feel tiny in a way that’s hard to shake off even now. By afternoon we were dropped off at our hotel in Aswan, tired but sort of buzzing inside. I still think about that view from above Luxor—how quiet everything seemed from up there.

What’s included

Your journey includes hotel pickup in Luxor, all transportation between sites with a licensed driver, guided visits with an Egyptologist guide, entry to attractions like Karnak Temple and Abu Simbel, two nights’ accommodation on a 5-star full-board Nile cruise (with surprisingly good lunches), plus that sunrise hot air balloon ride before you’re dropped off at your hotel in Aswan.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelers

Operated by Nice tours