3-Day Nile Cruise Luxor to Aswan: Hot Air Balloon & Temples

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Guide in English or Arabic04:00

Guide in English or Arabic04:00

Guide in English or Arabic04:00

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Rise above the Valley of the Kings at dawn, then sail downriver through three millennia of temples

A 3-day guided Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan with hot air balloon ride, 5-star ship accommodation and temple visits. The itinerary opens with an early-morning balloon flight over the West Bank, then moves through Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's Mortuary Temple and Karnak Temple before boarding the ship. Days two and three bring visits to the Temple of Horus in Edfu and the dual Temple of Kom Ombo, ending with a group excursion to Abu Simbel. A professional Egyptologist guide and all transport within Luxor and Aswan are included. You choose between Standard, Deluxe or Luxury ship cabins at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Hot Air Balloon and Luxor Temples

• 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
• Visit Karnak Temple
• Lunch on the cruise ship
• Board cruise and sail to Edfu

Day 2: Edfu and Kom Ombo Temples

• 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 onboard

Day 3: Abu Simbel Temple and Departure

• Check out and leave luggage at reception
• Pick up from cruise reception
• Travel to Abu Simbel Temple by air-conditioned vehicle
• Visit Abu Simbel Temple
• Return to Aswan and drop off at accommodation

The Experience

You arrive in Luxor and the tour begins before sunrise. A driver picks you up from your hotel and takes you to the balloon launch site, where you board a hot air balloon to drift over the West Bank as the light breaks across the desert. After landing, the day continues on foot through the Valley of the Kings (the burial ground of New Kingdom pharaohs), then to the Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, built on a grander scale than the older temple it mirrors, and a quick stop at the Colossi of Memnon for photographs. By midday you've moved to Karnak Temple, the vast complex of three main temples and smaller shrines built over 1,500 years by successive generations. Lunch waits on the ship, and you begin sailing upriver toward Edfu.

The second day starts with breakfast aboard, then a guide meets you at the ship's reception to visit the Temple of Horus in Edfu. The reliefs carved into the inner walls depict the mythological battle between Horus and Set in scenes that still read clearly after millennia. Back on the ship, you continue sailing to Kom Ombo, where another guide takes you to a temple unlike any other: a double structure dedicated to both Sobek the crocodile god and Horus the falcon-headed god, with each deity's own gateways and chapels mirrored on either side. The rest of the afternoon and evening are yours to spend on deck or in your cabin.

Day three departs early. After checking out, you join a small group for a three-hour drive south to Abu Simbel, the Great Temple of Ramses II carved into the mountainside itself. The facade stretches 38 meters wide and 31 meters high, dedicated to Ptah, Amun-Re, Re-Harakhte and Ramses II. Once you've finished, the driver returns you to your accommodation in Aswan.

What’s included

• Professional Egyptologist guide in English.
• hotel pickup in Luxor and drop-off in Aswan.
• hot air balloon ride.
• all transportation between sites.
• two nights' accommodation on a 5-star Nile cruise with full board.
• entry to Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's Mortuary Temple, Karnak Temple, Temple of Horus, Kom Ombo Temple and Abu Simbel Temple.
• all taxes.

Days and timesTue · Fri · Sun · 04:00

AgesAges 11+ · 6 to 10 years · Under 6

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup

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

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelers

Operated by Nice tours

Is this one for you?Book the Standard Ship if you want the full itinerary and temple access at the best value. Choose Deluxe or Luxury if you prefer a larger cabin and more onboard amenities during your two nights sailing. The early balloon departure and fixed schedule mean the temples are visited before crowds arrive, and the ship handles all your meals and accommodation so you're not arranging lodging in multiple towns.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German and Arabic.

Can children come?

6 to 10 years; under 6.

What time does the hot air balloon ride happen on the first day?

The hot air balloon ride departs early in the morning from Luxor so you can see the West Bank at sunrise, before the day's temple visits begin.

Do I stay on the same ship for all three nights?

Yes, the 5-star cruise ship is your accommodation for nights one and two. You check out on the morning of day three after the Abu Simbel excursion and transfer to your hotel in Aswan.

What temples will I visit on this tour?

You visit the Valley of the Kings, the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, Karnak Temple, the Temple of Horus in Edfu, Kom Ombo Temple, and Abu Simbel Temple: six major sites across the three days.

Is the guide the same person for all three days?

A professional Egyptologist guide who speaks English accompanies you throughout the tour, providing context at each temple and site.

How far is Abu Simbel from Aswan, and do I travel alone?

Abu Simbel is a three-hour drive from Aswan. You travel there on the final morning as part of a small group in an air-conditioned vehicle, then return to Aswan for hotel drop-off.

What's included in the cruise accommodation?

The 5-star cruise includes a cabin with all facilities, full-board meals, and all onboard amenities for nights one and two. You choose between Standard, Deluxe or Luxury cabin options at checkout.