Overview
Tour Description
Three nights on a 5-star Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor, with the two experiences most travelers put at the top of their list already included: Abu Simbel and a sunrise hot air balloon flight over Luxor. It is a compact way to see Upper Egypt, and it fits easily after a few days in Cairo.
Highlights
- The High Dam and Philae Temple in Aswan
- The temples of Abu Simbel on Lake Nasser
- A horse-drawn carriage ride to the Temple of Horus at Edfu
- Luxor Temple at sunset
- Hot air balloon over the West Bank, then the Valley of the Kings
Itinerary
Day 1: Aswan: board the cruise, High Dam and Philae
Your guide meets you at Aswan Airport, the train station or your hotel and takes you to your 5-star Nile cruise to check in before lunch. In the afternoon you visit the High Dam, built in the 1960s, and take a boat to Philae Temple, the temple of Isis moved to Agilkia Island in the UNESCO rescue campaign.
Meals: Lunch, dinner. Overnight: Nile cruise, Aswan.
Day 2: Abu Simbel
An early start for Abu Simbel, about three and a half hours south by road. Ramses II had the two temples cut into the cliffs at the edge of his empire: the Great Temple for himself, guarded by four seated colossi, and a smaller one for Queen Nefertari. You are back on board around midday as the ship begins sailing north.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight: Nile cruise.
Day 3: Edfu and Luxor Temple
A horse-drawn carriage takes you through Edfu to the Temple of Horus, the most complete temple in Egypt. Then you relax on deck as the ship sails to Luxor. In the late afternoon you visit Luxor Temple, where pharaonic, Roman, Christian and Islamic layers sit side by side.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight: Nile cruise, Luxor.
Day 4: Hot air balloon and the Valley of the Kings
Before dawn you are driven to the launch site for a hot air balloon flight of 45 to 80 minutes over the West Bank. After breakfast and check-out, your Egyptologist takes you to the Valley of the Kings, where the pharaohs of the New Kingdom were buried in painted tombs. We then take you to Luxor Airport, the station or your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast.
Included and Excluded
- 3 nights on a 5-star Nile cruise, full board
- Abu Simbel excursion
- Hot air balloon flight over Luxor
- English-speaking Egyptologist guide
- Entrance fees to all sites in the itinerary
- All transfers by air-conditioned vehicle
- Flights or train to Aswan and from Luxor
- Drinks with meals
- Optional tours
- Tips for the guide, drivers and crew
- Personal expenses such as laundry
Prices:
What will it cost you?
Prices per person change with the season and how many of you travel. Set yours and see the real number — no email needed.
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Tour Attractions
FAQs
How much is the 3-night Nile cruise with Abu Simbel and the balloon?
It depends on group size: $3,000 per person for a solo traveler, $2,500 each for two, $2,250 for 3 to 4, $1,800 for 5 to 8 and $1,500 for 9 or more.
How do I get to Aswan to start the cruise?
Most guests fly from Cairo to Aswan, about 1 hour 20 minutes, or take the overnight sleeper train. We can book either.
Is the 3-night cruise long enough?
Yes. The 3-night Aswan to Luxor cruise visits the same main temples as the 4-night trip in the other direction, with less time sailing.
What time does the balloon flight start?
Pick-up is usually between 4:30 and 5:30 AM, depending on the season, so you are in the air for sunrise.
