3 Nights Cruise Aswan to Luxor including Abu Simbel, Nubian Village&Air Balloon

Nile days, dawn flights, major temples. This Aswan to Luxor 3-night cruise packs Abu Simbel, the Nubian Village on Soheil Island, and a Luxor hot air balloon ride into one smooth circuit. You also get an Egyptologist guide on the key stops, plus full-board meals on your 5-star cruise ship.

I really like the small-group Abu Simbel visit, since it’s the kind of place you want time with, not just a quick look from a distance. I also like the full-board cruise structure, because breakfast, lunch, and dinner are handled while your guide runs the sight-seeing plan.

My one caution is the pacing. You’ll face early mornings (especially for the balloon and the West Bank sites), so plan to rest on the ship when you can and don’t schedule anything stressful right before or after.

Key things to know before you go

• Luxor hot air balloon included (30 to 40 minutes) with pickup around 5:30 to 6 am
• Small-group tour to Abu Simbel on a sharing group bus or minibus, so you can still move efficiently
• Nubian Village visit with a family welcome drink on Soheil Island
• Major East and West Bank hits: Luxor Temple, Karnak, Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut, Colossi of Memnon
• Your guide matters a lot, and the experience reviews repeatedly name guides like Mohamed el Khady, Hany Soliman, Mohammed Wafa, Ahmed, and Sabry
• Entrance fees are not included for most sites, so you’ll want to budget for them

From Aswan Airport to a 5-star Nile Cruise: The day-1 rhythm

The trip starts with a real, human handoff. An Egypt Gift Tours licensed guide meets you at Aswan Airport, a railway station, or your hotel, then transfers you by air-conditioned car to your Nile cruise for check-in before lunch.

One smart detail in the timing: cruise check-in is at 12:00. If you arrive much earlier, the tour can begin right away so you are not stuck waiting in the lobby. That matters more than it sounds, because Aswan days can feel long if you have nothing to do but sit.

High Dam and Philae Temple by motorboat: what you’re really seeing

After you settle in, day 1 begins with two classic Aswan stops.

First comes the Aswan High Dam. Even if you’ve seen photos, it lands differently in person. This is the engineering that helped control the Nile floods and also supports Egypt’s electricity generation, and your guide will connect it to how modern life and ancient history share the same river.

Next is Temple of Philae, dedicated to Isis. You reach it by small motorboat, then explore the Greco-Roman temple complex. The day is a good match for jet lag too: it’s substantial, but you’re not walking miles in the heat right away.

Practical note: entrance tickets for these sights are not included in the package price (the tour notes that you pay entrance fees, with some exceptions handled differently).

Soheil Island Nubian Village: a family visit, not a souvenir stop

After lunch, you slow down. You head to the Nile, take a motorboat to Soheil Island, and then you visit a local Nubian family. The welcome includes a drink in a family house, time to chat about customs, and a guided walk through the village.

This is one of the best parts of the whole itinerary for me, because it’s not just a temple checklist. It’s a peek into daily life along the Nile, where hospitality and community are the point. When a trip like this is done well, it reminds you that Egypt is not only monuments, it’s people.

You’ll want to bring your best manners, ask questions through your guide, and keep your expectations grounded. You’re visiting homes and a working community, so being respectful and flexible goes a long way.

Abu Simbel in a small-group format, then Kom Ombo and Edfu

Day 2 is the big commitment day, and it starts early. Around 4:30 am, your guide picks you up for Abu Simbel as a sharing group outing. It’s a long drive, but it’s worth it because Abu Simbel is one of those “wait, this is real?” places.

You see the rock-cut temples built for King Ramesses II and Queen Nefertari. The small-group style helps because Abu Simbel rewards attention. The plan gives you time to understand what you’re looking at, not just move past it.

Then you head back to the cruise by noon for lunch, and the ship begins navigating south toward Kom Ombo.

Kom Ombo’s temple visit is shorter, about an hour. It’s focused on the dual temple of Sobek (crocodile god) and Horus (falcon god). It’s a good contrast after Abu Simbel: the scale is different, and the subject matter feels more specific and symbolic.

Dinner happens back on board, and the sailing continues toward Edfu for overnight.

Edfu Temple, Esna Lock, and Luxor Temple at dusk

Day 3 balances walking with onboard downtime. After breakfast, you ride to Temple of Horus in Edfu. The tour includes a horse carriage ride with your guide, then you visit what’s often described as the best preserved of the Egyptian temples. It’s not the same “huge and sudden” effect you get at Abu Simbel, but Horus Temple rewards steady focus.

When you return to the cruise, you relax as you sail again. There’s also a mention of crossing the Esna Lock, which is one of those behind-the-scenes river moments you don’t think about until you’re watching boats move through the system.

Afternoon brings Luxor Temple on the East Bank. This is timed for late afternoon so you get the temple in a softer light, and the site also shows layered eras: ancient Egyptian, Christian, and Islamic features.

Dinner and a belly dancing show are on the ship that night. I’m not saying you have to love the show part, but it’s a nice way to spend the evening without scrambling for plans. It also gives you a breather after the temple circuit.

Sunrise hot air balloon over Luxor: the one rule is be ready

Day 4 is where the trip becomes very memorable. You start around 5:30 to 6:00 am with pickup for a hot air balloon flight.

A few details matter here:

• The flight is over the west bank of Luxor.
• It’s 30 to 40 minutes, and the tour says you’ll enjoy an aerial view of landmarks and temples with the sun lighting up the sky.
• You can use your cellphone for photos, but a camera is not allowed on the balloon.
• If the balloon gets canceled due to bad weather, you get a refund of $30 per person.

This is exactly the kind of activity that turns a “temples trip” into a “life trip.” From up high, the West Bank layout makes more sense: temples, hills, and the river’s bend stop feeling like random sites and start reading like a connected world.

Valley of the Kings and Deir el Bahari: the West Bank in full context

After breakfast and check-out, you switch to the West Bank drive. The plan includes three major stops.

First: Valley of the Kings. This is where New Kingdom pharaohs carved tombs into the mountains, aiming to hide their treasures and protect mummies. The setting is dramatic, but the key is what your guide will help you understand about royal power and burial logic.

Then: Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el Bahari. This mortuary temple belongs to Queen Hatshepsut, and you’ll hear her story tied to her nephew. Even if you’ve read about her, the place often makes it feel personal.

You also get a photo stop in front of the Colossi of Memnon statues to wrap up the West Bank day. These are famous for a reason, and they provide a natural “visual bookmark” for your morning.

Lunch is mentioned as a local restaurant option (optional), so you can decide whether you want a scheduled meal or keep your timing flexible.

Karnak Temple back on the East Bank: 2,000 years of building

The day finishes with Karnak Temple, the largest temple complex ever built and developed over 2000 years. The scale is a little unreal once you’re inside. You move among huge pillars and obelisks, with time for photos between sights.

This stop is a strong closer because Karnak puts a lot of the earlier talk into focus. You start seeing how Egyptian religion and state power expressed themselves through building programs that stretched across generations.

Then it’s time to transfer out. The tour ends in Luxor around 4:00 pm, and an evening departure is recommended. Drop-off options include Luxor Airport, railway station, or hotels in Luxor East Bank. If you want a Luxor West Bank hotel, there’s an extra $10 per person.

Price and value: what $750 really buys, and what you’ll still pay

At $750 per person, you are paying for a lot of coordination, not just a bed on a ship. The included elements cover:

• 3 nights on a 5-star Nile cruise with full board (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
• Professional English-speaking Egyptology guide
• All A/C transfers and pickup/drop-off
• Hot air balloon ride (30 to 40 minutes)
• Abu Simbel included as a sharing group tour
• Luxor Temple stop, Karnak, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut, and other major sightseeing with guide commentary
• Nubian Village on Soheil Island visit

The main “budget surprise” is entrance fees. The tour notes entrance tickets are not included for the mentioned sightseeing, with the exception that the High Dam and motorboat to Philae are handled in a specific way (you pay them in cash, while other entrance fees are paid by card). So your true trip cost will be $750 plus whatever entrance fees total for your specific schedule.

Also note what is not included: water and beverages during meals, and Wi-Fi on the cruise (extra charge). Tipping for guide, drivers, cruise crew, and more is also not included, so you should plan for it.

Finally, one review theme is worth paying attention to: some people felt the ship itself is a bit dated. That doesn’t automatically mean it’s uncomfortable, but if you care a lot about modern interior design, you may want to temper expectations and focus on the itinerary and the guides.

The guide effect: when the history becomes clear fast

A Nile cruise can feel like a “move from stop to stop” trip, unless your guide has real command of the story. This one has repeatedly been praised for guide quality, and actual names show up in reviews: Hany Soliman, Mohamed el Khady, Mohammed Wafa, Ahmed, and Sabry.

What I take from that pattern is simple: you’ll likely spend more time understanding what you’re seeing. When a guide can explain why Ramesses II built, what Isis meant at Philae, or how Luxor Temple relates to its setting, the sites feel less like photo backgrounds and more like a coherent world.

So if you can, choose this package with the expectation that your guide will do the heavy lifting on meaning. And if you have a preference, consider requesting a guide style that matches how you like to learn (some people want faster pacing, others want more detail).

Who should book this Aswan to Luxor cruise package

This itinerary fits best if you:

• Want to check off the big Nile highlights without doing individual logistics yourself
• Like guided visits with Egyptology commentary
• Enjoy early mornings if it means balloon and West Bank sites in the right light
• Want more than monuments, including a Nubian family village visit on Soheil Island

It may be less ideal if you:

• Hate early starts and prefer slow travel
• Expect a brand-new cruise ship experience (some ships can feel older)
• Want total freedom to linger longer in one temple than another (group timing exists, even with great guides)

One more practical note: the group size is capped at 20 travelers, which helps keep things from turning into a huge herd.

Should you book this tour?

If your dream trip is Aswan to Luxor with Abu Simbel, Luxor’s temples, and a hot air balloon, this is a strong value way to bundle it all. The biggest reasons are the included balloon ride, the guided West Bank and East Bank hit list, and the fact that the story quality seems consistently high thanks to guides like Mohamed el Khady and Mohammed Wafa.

Book it if you’re comfortable with early mornings and you’ll budget for entrance fees on top of the $750 price. Skip it only if the early schedule and group pacing would stress you more than the sites would excite you.

FAQ

What is included in the $750 per person price?

The price includes 3 nights on a 5-star Nile cruise on a full board basis, the hot air balloon ride (30 to 40 minutes), A/C transfers with pickup and drop-off, a professional English speaking Egyptology guide, meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner), and included guided visits such as Abu Simbel (small sharing group), Nubian Village on Soheil Island, Luxor Temple, and other major stops.

Are entrance fees included for the temples and attractions?

No. Entrance fees to the mentioned sightseeing are not included. The tour also notes you pay entrance fees by card except the High Dam and the motorboat to Philae Temple, which are handled with cash.

How long is the hot air balloon ride and when do you get picked up?

The balloon ride is 30 to 40 minutes, and pickup is described as beginning around 5:30 to 6:00 am.

Can I take photos during the balloon flight?

You cannot bring a camera for the balloon trip, but you can use your cellphone to take pictures.

What refund do I get if weather cancels the balloon or one of the day trips?

If the balloon is canceled due to bad weather, you are refunded $30 per person. The same $30 per person refund is also listed if Abu Simbel or the Nubian Village visit is canceled due to bad weather.

Where does the tour start and where does it end?

It starts in Aswan with pickup at Aswan Airport, railway station, or your hotel. It ends in Luxor around 4:00 pm, with transfers available to Luxor Hotel (with options) or Luxor Airport and railway station.

Is the balloon trip suitable for children?

Children under 6 years are not allowed for the balloon trip. Children aged 5 to 11 are treated as adults when accompanied by one adult (full payment).