4-Day Nile Cruise Aswan to Luxor: Abu Simbel & Temple Tour

Float downriver between colossal temples, stopping to walk inside each one with a guide.

A 4-day Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor with three nights aboard a 5-star ship, guided visits to Abu Simbel, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Karnak and Luxor temples, and all meals included. The cruise spaces out the major sites so you spend real time at each temple instead of rushing between them, and you sleep on the water instead of packing and unpacking a hotel room every night.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Aswan guided tour and Nile cruise

• Pick up from Aswan meeting point
• Visit Aswan High Dam
• Visit Philae Temple by motorboat
• Overnight on Nile Cruise

Day 2: Abu Simbel and Kom Ombo temple visit

• Explore Abu Simbel Temples
• Free time on cruise
• Cruise sails to Kom Ombo
• Visit Kom Ombo Temple
• Overnight on Nile Cruise

Day 3: Edfu Temple and sail to Luxor

• Free time while cruising Nile
• Visit Temple of Horus at Edfu
• Cruise sails to Luxor
• Overnight on Nile Cruise

Day 4: Luxor West and East Banks tour

• Breakfast and check out
• Visit Valley of the Kings
• Visit Temple of Hatshepsut
• See Colossi of Memnon
• Visit Karnak Temple
• Visit Luxor Temple and Obelisk of Ramses II
• Drop off in Luxor city or train station

The experience

The tour starts with a pickup from your Aswan hotel or the airport, then a guided walk through Aswan Market before heading to the Aswan High Dam. By afternoon you're on a motorboat to Philae Temple, and by evening you board the cruise ship for your first night. The boat becomes your base for the next three days. You wake, have breakfast on deck, disembark for a guided temple visit, return for lunch, sail to the next stop, and repeat. No packing between hotels. No negotiating with different drivers each day.

Day two takes you to Abu Simbel (if you booked that option) in the morning, then back to the cruise for the afternoon sail to Kom Ombo Temple, where your guide walks you through the ruins. Day three is similar: free time while the ship moves downriver, then a stop at Edfu to see the Temple of Horus with your guide, arriving in Luxor by late afternoon. The ship has a pool and sun deck if you want to rest between sites. Meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) are served on board each day.

On the final morning you cross to Luxor's West Bank to visit the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon, then return to the East Bank for Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple before a midafternoon drop-off in the city or at the train station. The hot air balloon over Luxor is optional and available as an add-on. If you book it, you fly at sunrise before the day's temple visits begin. A guide who speaks English (or Spanish, Italian, French or another language) stays with your group throughout.

What’s included

• Three nights' accommodation in a private cabin on a 5-star Nile cruise with private bathroom.
• all meals on board (breakfast, lunch, dinner for four days).
• guided tours to Aswan Market, Aswan High Dam, Philae, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Karnak and Luxor temples with an English-speaking Egyptologist.
• motorboat to Philae Temple.
• cart ride at Edfu temple.
• all transfers by air-conditioned vehicle with qualified drivers.
• meet-and-assist service at arrival and departure.
• hot air balloon in Luxor with pickup, drop-off and flight certificate (if booked as an option).
• small-group tour to Abu Simbel with English-speaking guide (if booked as an option).
• service, taxes, landing and parking fees.

Options for this experience

3 options

Tour without Abu Simbel and without balloonGuide in English · 12 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 12:30Pickup is included

Cruise with Abu Simbel, without balloonGuide in English or Arabic · 14 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 12:30Lasts 4 days; pickup is included

Cruise with Abu Simbel and hot air balloonGuide in English or Arabic · 14 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 12:30Hot air balloon ride lasting 3 hours; pickup is included

You pick the guide language when booking.

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

Before you book

Days and timesMonday, Wednesday and Friday14 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 12:30

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (11 to 85 years) · Child (3 to 10 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupUp to 50

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Arabic

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Hola Egipto

Is this one for you?Book the cruise with Abu Simbel and the hot air balloon if you want to see the most temples in four days and have time to rest between them. Choose the cruise without Abu Simbel if you prefer a slower pace and want to spend more time at the Luxor sites. The fixed itinerary and onboard meals mean you don't arrange transport or dining between stops. Everything is timed so the temples and the sailing fit together without gaps.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

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

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 10 years). Children under 3 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What temples do I actually visit on this 4-day cruise?

You visit Abu Simbel (if booked), Philae, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Karnak, Luxor and Hatshepsut temples, plus the Valley of the Kings and the Colossi of Memnon. Each stop includes a guided walk inside the temple with an English-speaking Egyptologist.

Do I have to book the Abu Simbel and hot air balloon options, or can I skip them?

Both are optional. You can book the cruise alone without Abu Simbel or the balloon, or add one or both at checkout. The base cruise includes Kom Ombo, Edfu, Karnak and Luxor temples.

Where do I sleep, and what's included in the cabin?

You sleep three nights in a private cabin on a 5-star Nile cruise ship with a private bathroom. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are provided each day on board, and the ship has a pool and sun deck.

How does the pickup work from Aswan?

Pickup is included from Aswan East Bank hotels or a central meeting point. Pickup from West Bank hotels or Aswan airport costs an extra $12 per person. Drop-off to Luxor West Bank hotels at the end costs an extra $10 per person.

Can I take photos on the hot air balloon?

You can use your cellphone to take pictures, but cameras are not allowed in the balloon basket.

What time does the tour end in Luxor?

The tour ends by 3 to 4 PM in Luxor, with drop-off at East Bank hotels, the city center or the train station included.