4-Night Nile Cruise from Luxor to Aswan with Abu Simbel

Day 1: Arrival in Luxor & East Bank Exploration

1. 1h
   If your flight reaches Luxor in the morning, your guide will greet you at the airport and take you directly to begin exploring the East Bank. After finishing your visits, you’ll continue to your Nile Cruise ship for check-in around midday, followed by lunch and dinner on board.
   
   If your flight lands in the afternoon, you’ll first head to the cruise ship for check-in and lunch before starting your guided exploration of Luxor’s East Bank.
2. The Karnak Temple
   2h · Admission ticket included
   Your tour begins at the awe-inspiring Karnak Temple Complex, the grandest religious monument ever created, with its main sanctuary dedicated to Amun-Ra. Walk among its colossal columns, sacred lake, and intricate hieroglyphs as your guide reveals the stories of ancient kings. With over 3,000 years of history carved in stone, the temple offers an unforgettable glimpse into the spiritual world of the pharaohs.
3. Luxor Temple
   1h · Admission ticket included
   Afterward, continue to the elegant Luxor Temple, begun by a 12th-Dynasty ruler and expanded by Ramses II. Once the centerpiece of the Opet Festival, it is a striking example of Egypt’s layered history, blending Pharaonic, Greco-Roman, and Islamic influences. Stroll through the colonnades, admire the statues and reliefs, and witness its magical atmosphere as the evening lights glow across the temple walls. After your tour, return to the ship for dinner, relax on deck, and watch the Nile shimmer under Luxor’s night sky.
   
   Optional: In the evening, attend the Karnak Temple Sound & Light Show ($40 per person). With music, narration, and dramatic lighting, the show brings to life the myths and legends of Thebes.

Day 2: Hot Air Balloon Ride & West Bank Tour - Sail to Edfu

1. 30m · Admission ticket included
   Start your morning with a breakfast box on board before heading out for an unforgettable adventure. A representative from the balloon company will collect you early and transfer you to the launch site. As dawn colors the sky, watch the crew prepare the vibrant balloons. Once airborne, drift quietly above Luxor’s West Bank — temples, green fields, and the Nile below. From this rare perspective, even the Valley of the Kings appears as a secret hidden in the cliffs, while the sunrise casts golden light across the desert and riverbanks.
   
   After landing, you won’t return to the ship right away. Instead, the company will drop you at the Colossi of Memnon, where your guide will be waiting to begin your West Bank exploration.
2. Colossi of Memnon
   30m
   Your tour begins with these two towering statues of Amenhotep III, guardians of the necropolis for more than 3,000 years. At 18 meters high, they have inspired myths and legends, including the mysterious “singing” sound heard at sunrise in antiquity. Take time to capture stunning photos and hear your guide explain their historical role in royal mortuary rituals.
3. Valley of the Kings
   2h · Admission ticket included
   Next, continue to the legendary Valley of the Kings, the burial site of Egypt’s New Kingdom pharaohs. With over 60 decorated tombs carved into the limestone, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is a treasure trove of ancient art and beliefs about the afterlife.
   
   Admission (included):
   • Standard admission (includes access to three tombs of your choice)
   • Tutankhamun's Tomb (included)
   • Ramesses VI Tomb (included)
4. Temple of Hatshepsut
   1h · Admission ticket included
   Afterward, visit the remarkable Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, carved into the cliffs of Deir el-Bahari. This unique terraced structure honors Egypt’s most successful female pharaoh. As you walk its colonnades, admire the reliefs showing her divine birth and trade missions, while your guide shares stories of her reign.
   
   Before returning to the ship, enjoy a short stop at a traditional alabaster workshop, where local craftsmen demonstrate how they shape stone with ancient tools. No obligation to buy — just a chance to see timeless skills in action.
   
   Back on board, enjoy lunch and relax on the sundeck as the cruise sails south. Soak in the views of palm groves, riverside villages, and timeless landscapes before dinner is served, as the ship continues toward Edfu.

Day 3: Temples of Edfu & Kom Ombo - Sail to Aswan

1. Edfu Temple
   1h · Admission ticket included
   After breakfast on board, meet your guide for a visit to the spectacular Temple of Horus at Edfu, one of Egypt’s best-preserved shrines. Built in the Ptolemaic era, it honors the falcon god Horus and offers an extraordinary look into ancient rituals and mythology. Pass through towering pylons, explore vast courtyards, and study the detailed reliefs depicting Horus’s battles with his rival Seth. Your guide will reveal the temple’s symbolic meanings and the impressive engineering that kept it standing through centuries.
   
   Return to the ship and enjoy a leisurely lunch while sailing along the Nile’s picturesque banks, passing palm groves, fishermen in small boats, and timeless riverside villages.
2. Kom Ombo Temple
   1h · Admission ticket included
   In the afternoon, disembark at Kom Ombo Temple, a unique structure dedicated to two deities: the crocodile god Sobek and the falcon god Haroeris (Horus the Elder). The temple’s perfect symmetry, with twin halls and sanctuaries, reflects its dual purpose. As you walk through its chambers, notice carvings of surgical tools, ancient calendars, and divine rituals — vivid reminders of Egypt’s advanced civilization.
   
   Nearby, visit the Crocodile Museum, housing dozens of mummified crocodiles and artifacts that tell the story of Sobek’s cult. After exploring, return to the ship to relax on the sundeck as the Nile flows quietly past. Dinner will be served as you continue sailing toward Aswan, arriving later under a canopy of stars.

Day 4: Aswan Highlights

1. Aswan High Dam
   1h · Admission ticket included
   After breakfast, meet your guide to discover the treasures of Aswan, starting with the modern engineering marvel of the High Dam. Built in the 1960s under President Nasser, it tamed the Nile’s floods, generated electricity, and created the vast Lake Nasser. Standing on top, you’ll enjoy sweeping views of the desert meeting the water, while your guide explains the dam’s impact on Egypt’s economy and the massive UNESCO effort to save ancient temples from submersion.
2. Temple of Philae
   1h · Admission ticket included
   Continue with a short motorboat ride across the Nile to Agilika Island, home to the graceful Philae Temple, dedicated to Isis, goddess of magic and motherhood. Relocated stone by stone to escape the waters of Lake Nasser, Philae is famed for its romantic island setting, elegant colonnades, and exquisite carvings. Wander its courtyards and learn how its mythology inspired generations of travelers.
   
   Back on the mainland, stop at a traditional perfume workshop, where locals share the art of fragrance-making with essential oils — a craft rooted in ancient Egypt. Sampling scents is free, though any purchases are at your own expense.
3. Unfinished Obelisk
   1h · Admission ticket included
   Next, explore the Unfinished Obelisk in Aswan’s granite quarries. Still attached to the bedrock due to a deep crack, it would have been the largest obelisk ever erected. Your guide will explain how such massive monuments were carved and transported using primitive tools and ingenuity.
   
   Afterward, return to the cruise for a freshly prepared lunch. Spend the afternoon unwinding on deck as feluccas glide across the Nile and the desert breeze cools the air. Dinner is served on board as you enjoy your final evening in Aswan.
   
   Optional: Visit a colorful Nubian Village in the afternoon ($40 per person). Meet locals, admire painted houses, and learn about Nubian traditions and crafts.

Day 5: Departure & Abu Simbel Tour

1. Abu Simbel Temple
   8h · Admission ticket included
   After breakfast, check out from your cruise and set off on a guided excursion to the world-famous Abu Simbel Temples. Carved directly into the mountainside by Ramses II, these colossal monuments are masterpieces of ancient engineering and artistry. Standing before the giant statues of the pharaoh, you’ll feel the sheer power and ambition of Egypt’s golden age. Inside, the temples are adorned with intricate reliefs celebrating military victories and devotion to the gods. Your tour includes transportation, entry fees, and the insight of your expert guide, ensuring a smooth and unforgettable visit.
   
   At the end of your journey, you’ll be transferred to Aswan Airport for your flight back to Cairo. As you ascend, enjoy one last sweeping view of the Nile winding through desert landscapes — a fitting farewell to the timeless beauty of Egypt.

Pickup details

Please provide your flight arrival details (airline, flight number, and arrival time) or your hotel name and address in Luxor to arrange your pickup accordingly. Our team will be waiting for you at the airport arrival hall or at your hotel lobby with a sign bearing your name. If there are any last-minute changes to your travel plans, kindly inform us in advance to ensure a smooth start to your journey.

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
• Booking is available for adults only — children and infants cannot be added.
• Each cabin includes a private bathroom and full onboard facilities for your comfort.
• Single Cabin (king bed): Maximum 1 adult only (children and infants not permitted), with private bathroom and standard amenities.
• Double Cabin (twin beds): Maximum 2 adults only (children and infants not permitted), with private bathroom and standard amenities.
• Triple Cabin (three beds): Maximum 3 adults only (children and infants not permitted), with private bathroom and standard amenities.
• If you are traveling alone, you will enjoy one single cabin.
• If you are traveling in a group of 2 people, you will enjoy one double cabin.
• If you are traveling in a group of 3 people, you will enjoy one triple cabin.
• If you are traveling in a group and want your own room, make a separate booking for a single cabin.
• Early arrival may mean tours start before cruise check-in (12:00 PM).
• Meals start with lunch on Day 1 and end with breakfast on the last day.
• Nile cruise ends around 8:00 AM on Day 4 — morning departure is advised.
• If the trip to Abu Simbel is canceled due to bad weather, you will receive a refund of USD 30 per person.
• Hot Air Balloon Ride: Phones only for photos; cameras not permitted.
• If hot air balloon ride is canceled due to weather, a $30 refund per person applies.
• If Abu Simbel tour is canceled due to weather, a $100 refund per person applies.
• Due to sailing conditions on the Nile, the itinerary schedule and sailing times may be updated.
• All listed sites will still be visited, but the order may change.
• Sleeping train or domestic flights are available at extra cost.
• Seamless return vehicle pickup from Aswan to Luxor (available at an additional cost).