Three days, four big temples. This smart route strings together Aswan, Abu Simbel, and Luxor with door-to-door transfers, motorboat/felucca rides, and a Egyptologist-led pace that keeps you from getting lost in logistics. I like how the plan mixes guided time with the freedom to book your own hotel and meals. I also like that you’re not stuck bouncing between ticket counters, since the package handles the core transportation and includes an A/C first-class seated train Aswan to Luxor. The main thing to consider is that the big sites’ entrance fees are not included, so bring a credit card and expect extra costs.

You’ll spend Day 1 in Aswan between Philae Temple by motorboat and a Nubian village visit by felucca, then Day 2 is a long Abu Simbel day followed by an easy transfer into Luxor. Day 3 hits the west-bank icons first (Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut’s temple), then finishes on the east bank with Karnak and Luxor Temple. If you’re hoping for a perfectly relaxed pace with no long days, this might feel busy—but if you want maximum highlights with minimal hassle, it’s a strong fit.

Key Highlights You’ll Actually Feel

• Motorboat to Philae Temple: short water time, big payoff for temple views and mood.
• Felucca-style Nubian Village visit: a slower, river-based way to reach the community area.
• Early Abu Simbel group tour: one full day devoted to Egypt’s most dramatic temple complex.
• First-class A/C train Aswan to Luxor: you travel comfortably instead of wasting hours on a bus.
• Up to 15 travelers: small enough for a more personal tour feel, still easy logistics.
• Door-to-door pickups in Aswan and Luxor: less time hunting meeting points.

How the Aswan–Abu Simbel–Luxor Route Works

The best part of this style of trip is that it’s part guided, part DIY. You arrange your own accommodation and meals, but the tour handles the movement between key cities and the guided sightseeing blocks.

Practically, that means you’ll get:

• AC private transfers in Aswan, Abu Simbel, and Luxor (new model vehicles, per the listing details)
• A motorboat ride to Philae Temple
• A felucca trip for getting to the Nubian Village experience
• An A/C first-class seated train ticket from Aswan to Luxor
• Guided tour coverage across the top sites you’d normally plan days around

This is ideal if you want to reduce friction. Southern Egypt is gorgeous, but between distances and ticket lines, it’s easy to lose time. Here, most of the heavy lifting is done for you.

Day 1 in Aswan: Philae Temple by Motorboat + Nubian Village by Felucca

Day 1 is your Aswan “welcome” day, and it’s built around the Nile. You’ll start with pickup from your Aswan hotel, train station, or airport, then head to Philae Temple.

Philae Temple (Motorboat time first)

You travel by motorboat to the temple area. It’s a nice way to start because you get a change of pace early—less sitting, more Nile views, and the temple feels more like an experience than a stop.

What to know:

• Expect about 1 hour 30 minutes of time for this portion.
• Admission fees are not included, so plan for ticket cost onsite.
• Bring sunglasses; the light off the river can be intense.

Nubian Village (Felucca feel, then back to Aswan)

Next you transfer to the Nubian Village, with about 1 hour 30 minutes allocated for the visit. The included felucca trip is the highlight here if you like slow travel moments—moving by sailboat on the Nile gives you a calmer, local-feeling transition than a standard car ride.

After the village portion, you’ll get a comfortable transfer back to your Aswan hotel.

A quick practical note: this day is “classic southern Egypt mix”—temple first, then community visit. If you’re sensitive to sun or want frequent breaks, pack water and plan to take it slow during the village segment.

Day 2: Abu Simbel’s Temple Complex + the Train to Luxor

Day 2 is the long one. You start with an early group tour to Abu Simbel Temple Complex, then later you shift into Luxor with the comfort of train travel.

Abu Simbel Temple Complex (Full day focus)

You’ll join a guided sharing group tour early in the morning. The time block is listed as 8 hours, and admission fees are not included.

Abu Simbel is the kind of place where you’ll be glad the tour structure takes care of transport. Otherwise, it’s the sort of trip that can eat a whole day just getting there and back. Here, your guide handles the logistics and the storytelling, so you get the context you need to appreciate why the temples are so striking.

Practical considerations:

• Bring patience. This is an all-day outing.
• Entrance fees are separate.
• You’ll be back in Aswan by afternoon, then the train part begins later.

Luxor arrival and hotel pickup after the train

Once you’ve finished Abu Simbel, you’ll transfer to Aswan train station for the ride to Luxor. The train is listed as 3 hours, and it’s included as A/C first-class seated.

When you arrive, you’ll be picked up from the Luxor train station to your Luxor hotel.

This is a meaningful quality-of-life piece. Instead of arriving in a new city and immediately figuring out how to reach your lodging, you keep your energy for the next day.

Day 3 in Luxor: Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut, Karnak, and Luxor Temple

Day 3 is where you collect Luxor’s famous “greatest hits,” and the order matters. You start on the west bank with the royal necropolis vibe, then you finish on the east bank where temple life continues.

Valley of the Kings (West Bank)

You’ll be picked up from your Luxor hotel and head to the Valley of the Kings. Allotted time is 2 hours, and admission fees are not included.

If you go expecting it to feel like an open-air history museum, you’ll do fine. If you go expecting total ease and zero crowds, you might feel the pressure—this is a top site. The guide helps you keep focus so you’re not just walking from one doorway to another.

Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el Bahari

Next is Deir el Bahari, with 1 hour 30 minutes allocated. This is your chance to appreciate one of Egypt’s major female rulers through architecture. As always, admission fees are not included.

This stop can be mentally tiring in the sun, so take your time. I like pausing for the views and reading the shapes first, then letting details land.

Colossi of Memnon (Short stop, big mood)

You’ll also stop for the Colossi of Memnon. It’s only 30 minutes, and admission is listed as free.

Short as it is, it works well as a breather between major sites. You’ll get the scale without committing your whole afternoon.

Karnak Temple (East Bank masterpiece time)

Then you continue to the east bank for Karnak Temple, with about 2 hours allocated. Admission fees are not included.

Karnak is the kind of place where guidance matters. Without context, it can turn into “lots of columns.” With context, it becomes a story about power, religion, and time.

Luxor Temple (Finish the day close to your base)

End the tour at Luxor Temple, with about 1 hour 30 minutes and admission fees not included. Afterward you’ll get a comfortable transfer back to your Luxor hotel or train station.

This final stretch is good for people who don’t want their vacation to vanish into transit. You end with a temple setting that’s easier to absorb than a full day of moving between far-flung sites.

Price and Logistics: Is $177 Per Person Good Value?

At $177 per person for 3 days, the deal only makes sense when you look at what’s actually covered. The biggest-ticket items in a trip like this are distance and guided access—transport, Egyptologist narration, and a proper train ride.

Here’s what you do get included:

• AC pickups and transfers in Aswan, Abu Simbel, and Luxor
• Egyptology tour guide
• Motorboat to Philae Temple
• Felucca trip to Nubian Village
• Sharing group tour for Abu Simbel
• Guided Luxor east and west bank tour
• First-class A/C seated train from Aswan to Luxor
• Taxes and charges
• Mobile ticket and pickup coordination once you share hotel/train/flight details

What’s not included:

• Entrance fees to sightseeing
• Tipping (not obligatory, per the listing)

So the value proposition is clear: you’re paying for the frictionless part—transport and guided coverage—while you handle entrance costs and your own hotel/food.

A smart budgeting move: set aside extra funds for ticket fees at Philae, Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut, Karnak, and Luxor Temple. Those line-item costs can meaningfully change your total trip price, even when the tour itself feels affordable.

And because the listing says entrance fees should be paid by credit card at the sightseeing, it helps to travel with one.

What the Egyptologist Guide Adds (And Where You’ll Notice It)

This trip leans on a guide for the “why,” not just the “where.” You’ll get in-depth background while you’re seeing the highlights, including context around temples and the broader southern Egypt story.

That’s not a small detail. Egypt’s scale can make you feel like you’re just looking at stone. A good Egyptologist turns that into understanding—why certain sites were built, how they relate to rulers, and what to pay attention to while you’re there.

Also, I appreciated the human side of the booking process from a previous booking note: the agent named Peter was described as responsive and accommodating. That matters because the tour needs your Aswan hotel/train/flight info to arrange pickup smoothly.

If you like structured explanations, you’ll get more from the day than if you prefer total independence.

The Real-World Tradeoffs: Timing, Entrance Fees, and Your Own Meals

Every multi-stop Egypt itinerary has pressure points. Here are the ones you’ll likely feel most on this tour:

• Long Day 2: Abu Simbel is an 8-hour guided outing, then you still shift into Luxor by train.
• Entrance fees add up: the tour doesn’t include site admissions, and several major stops are ticketed.
• You manage accommodation and meals: your hotel and food are not handled, so you’ll want to plan where you’ll eat on travel-heavy days.
• Group format: Abu Simbel and Luxor are sharing group experiences, which can mean slower walking pace than a private guide.

None of these are deal-breakers. They’re just the usual compromises for packing in big highlights.

Who This Trip Suits Best (And Who Might Skip It)

This tour is best for you if:

• You want to cover Aswan + Abu Simbel + Luxor without building the route yourself.
• You enjoy guided history and want an Egyptologist to help you see meaning in what you’re looking at.
• You prefer comfortable travel between cities, especially the A/C first-class train piece.
• You’re okay paying entrance fees separately and bringing your own spending plan for admissions.

You might look elsewhere if:

• You want more free time in each city to wander without a schedule.
• You don’t want an early morning start on Day 2.
• You’d rather have a fully private tour with no sharing group segments.

Should You Book This Aswan–Abu Simbel–Luxor Tour?

I’d book it if your goal is simple: see the big south-Egypt hits with guide-led context and low-stress transport. The mix of motorboat + felucca in Aswan, a full Abu Simbel day, and a comfortable train link to Luxor is exactly the kind of itinerary that saves you time and headaches.

I’d hesitate only if you hate “busy days” or if you’re hoping entrance fees are all wrapped into that $177 number. If you’re comfortable budgeting for admissions and you want structure, this is a solid way to knock out multiple high-impact stops without turning your trip into a logistics project.

FAQ

Is entrance fees included in the $177 per person price?

No. Entrance fees for the sightseeing are not included. The tour notes that entrance fees should be paid by credit card at the sightseeing.

What parts of the trip include guided tours?

You get guided time for Philae Temple and Nubian Village in Aswan, a guided sharing group tour to Abu Simbel, and a guided day tour covering Luxor west and east bank sights.

Are transportation and pickups included?

Yes. The package includes all pickups and transfers in Aswan, Abu Simbel, and Luxor in air-conditioned modern vehicles, plus the train ticket from Aswan to Luxor and station-to-hotel transfers.

Do I travel by train as part of this package?

Yes. You receive an A/C first-class seated train ticket from Aswan to Luxor.

How long is the overall experience?

It’s listed as approximately 3 days.

Is there a limit on group size?

Yes. The maximum group size is 15 travelers.

Do I need to bring a passport?

Yes. You should bring your passport, along with sunglasses.

Where do pickups happen in Aswan and Luxor?

In Aswan, pickup is offered from your hotel, the train station, or the airport. In Luxor, you’re picked up from your hotel and you also receive transfers back to your hotel or train station.

Are tips required?

No. Tipping is listed as not obligatory.

How flexible is cancellation?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. If you cancel less than 24 hours before the start time, the amount paid is not refunded.