Pharaohs, balloon rides, and Isis by boat. This Aswan-to-Luxor Nile cruise with Abu Simbel is built for people who want a lot of iconic sites in a short time, with a real Egyptology guide and door-to-door transfers. I also like that lunch, dinner, and breakfast are included on board, so you’re not hunting meals between temples.

One consideration: entrance fees and tipping are not included, and you’ll want to plan for both. Also, cabin quality can vary, so if you’re picky about room condition, do a quick check before you fall in love with a photo.

Quick highlights to look forward to

• Pickup in Aswan from airport, train station, or your hotel, then straight to check-in and lunch
• Philae Temple by small motorboat—easy, scenic, and part of the experience, not a side note
• Abu Simbel day trip with an early shared departure (about 4:30) and a guided visit by morning
• Edfu Horus Temple by horse carriage (a traditional ride that saves walking time)
• Luxor East and West Bank mix with Luxor Temple plus a sunrise-style West Bank day
• Hot air balloon flight included around 5:00 am (about 20 minutes)

Nile Cruise Value: What $715.87 Covers, and What You’ll Pay Extra

At $715.87 per person, the core value here is convenience: you get 3 nights on a 5-star Nile cruise (with breakfast, lunch, and dinner on board), plus an English-speaking Egyptology guide and air-conditioned vehicle transfers between each key stop.

What’s not included is just as important:

• Site entrance fees (government-set). A published total for the visited sites is 3,935 EGP, roughly $81 at current exchange rates.
• Tipping for guide, driver, and cruise staff.
• Water or drinks on the cruise.

If you’re comparing prices, don’t just look at the sticker. A cruise like this is essentially buying you: time saved, logistics handled, and guided context. For many people, that matters more than negotiating a cheaper ticket and then managing buses, lines, and timing yourself.

Aswan High Dam and Philae Temple: Starting With Engineering and Isis

Your day begins with an Egypt 24 Tours representative meeting you at Aswan Airport, railway station, or your hotel. From there it’s an A/C van transfer to the cruise for check-in and lunch on board.

Aswan High Dam

Next comes the Aswan High Dam. Expect a couple hours here, focused on how it was built (1960–1970) to manage flooding and generate electricity. This is one of those stops that turns a “scenic river trip” into a “how the Nile shaped modern life” moment.

Practical note: admission isn’t included, so factor that into your budget.

Temple of Philae (with a motorboat crossing)

Then you head to Philae Temple, dedicated to the goddess Isis. The itinerary includes a small motorboat ride to reach the temple, then time to explore before returning to the ship for dinner and an evening folkloric show.

This is a great first-night temple because it feels both historical and approachable. You’re not starting the trip with a maze of hours—yet you still get an iconic religious site.

Abu Simbel at 8:00 am: Ramesses II’s Mega-Statement in Rock

Abu Simbel is the big draw, and it’s handled in a way that respects the timing. Around 4:30 you’re picked up for the Abu Simbel trip as a shared small-group outing, reaching the site around 8:00 am for the guided visit.

You’ll see the rock-cut temples commissioned for King Ramesses II and his beloved Queen Nefertari, with the temples designed to communicate power and divine legitimacy through stone and scale. This is one of those places where the guide’s explanations really matter—otherwise it can become “huge statues, cool carvings” (still fun, just less meaningful).

After the visit, you return to the cruise by noon, have lunch, then sail toward Kom Ombo.

The main drawback risk on this day

Early start fatigue is real. If you’re prone to morning misery, plan to go to sleep early the night before. The trip length is long (about 7 hours total), and you’ll be using your energy before lunch.

Kom Ombo and the Edfu Overnight: A Breather Between Big Days

After sailing and settling in, Kom Ombo is your next scheduled temple visit. It’s built around the dual nature of the site—two gods, two directions of meaning—focused on Sobek (crocodile god) and Horus (falcon god). Expect about one hour for the guided stop.

Why this works: Kom Ombo is often the “less exhausting” temple day of the trip. It keeps momentum without crushing you with a full-day march. Then you’re back on board for dinner and sailing to Edfu for overnight.

If you like the idea of mixing temple time with real sailing time (not just nonstop driving), this is where the cruise format earns its keep.

Edfu Horus Temple by Horse Carriage, Then Luxor Temple on the East Bank

Day 3 is where the trip starts feeling like a greatest-hits album, but it still moves with a rhythm.

Edfu: Temple of Horus, best-preserved energy

After breakfast, you’ll do a horse carriage ride with your guide to reach the Temple of Horus at Edfu. This temple is often considered the most complete and best preserved among the Egyptian temples you’ll see on this route, which helps the guide explanations land.

Plan on about 3 hours for this stop. Then you’re back on board to relax on deck and watch the river pass by—plus you’ll sail onward toward Luxor. The itinerary notes a crossing of the Esna Lock, which is exactly the kind of “small technical moment” that makes a cruise feel like more than just transportation.

Lunch is on board, and there’s afternoon tea on the sundeck, which is a nice reset between temples.

Luxor Temple (plus belly dancing)

Late afternoon you dock and head to Luxor Temple on the East Bank, with a stop that includes a mix of ancient Egyptian, Christian, and Islamic features. Then you return for dinner and a belly dancing show, with overnight in Luxor.

Timing matters here: if your arrival at Luxor dock is by 3:00–3:30 pm, the day can allow time to visit both Karnak and Luxor Temples. If not, Karnak becomes part of the Day 4 plan.

Luxor West Bank at Dawn: Balloon, Valley of Kings, and Hatshepsut

Day 4 is an early-morning power move—starting around 5:00 am. You’re picked up for a hot air balloon flight over the West Bank of Luxor, with about a 20-minute flight noted as included/free. Even if you don’t care about ballooning, this is a high-satisfaction add-on because you get a bird’s-eye view before the heat and crowds pick up.

Valley of the Kings

After breakfast and check-out, you drive to the West Bank to visit the Valley of the Kings, where New Kingdom pharaohs carved tombs into the mountains to hide treasures and protect mummies. You’ll have about 2 hours here.

This stop is especially worth doing with a guide mindset, not just photo mode. The place becomes easier to understand when you know what you’re looking for.

Deir el Bahari: Temple of Hatshepsut

Next comes the Temple of Hatshepsut at El Deir El Bahari. The itinerary frames it around Hatshepsut’s story with her nephew, and you’ll spend about one hour.

This is one of the best “read between the lines” stops on the route: you’ll see a monumental temple, but the guide’s context helps you understand why it mattered politically and culturally.

Then there’s a photo stop in front of the giant statues of Memnon. (The text links this to the West Bank wrap-up, so you’ll see it as part of the morning flow.)

Lunch time is optional at a local restaurant.

Karnak Temple: Final Pillars, Big-Time Scale

On the East Bank, you finish with Karnak Temple, described as the largest temple site, built through about 2,000 years, covering roughly 63 acres.

You get about 1.5 hours here. Real talk: Karnak can feel overwhelming if you try to see everything. The guide approach (and a reasonable time limit) helps you focus on the main highlights—huge pillars, obelisks, and the famous “stand back and realize this is enormous” moments.

After Karnak, you’re transferred to your Luxor hotel, airport, or railway station, with pickup/drop-off time roughly 3:00–4:00 pm depending on your schedule.

Tipping, Cabin Condition, and Food: What to Watch So You Enjoy the Trip

Two practical things can make or break the experience, even when the itinerary is solid.

Entrance fees and tips

Entrance fees are not included, and tipping is also not included. The “tip fatigue” risk is real when you’re moving from van to boat to guide. I recommend bringing small bills and tipping with a calm, predictable plan rather than reacting mid-day.

Cabin expectations (verify before you judge)

One negative theme is cabin condition not matching the “five star” label or booking photos. The cruise category is stated as 5-star, but past feedback points to cabins that felt older and more worn than expected (especially on the Dolphin boat, based on the concern raised).

If you care about comfort, ask the provider ahead of time:

• whether your cabin has been renovated recently
• what to expect in terms of room size and bathroom condition

Even a great itinerary feels disappointing if the room is a letdown.

Food quality: usually fine, not always exciting

Food is included (breakfast, lunch, dinner on board). Still, one complaint mentions bland meals and limited variety. That doesn’t mean the food is bad, but it does mean you shouldn’t book expecting Michelin-level creativity. Bring an open mind and treat meals as fuel between sights.

Who This Cruise Fits Best (and Who Might Want a Different Option)

This itinerary is ideal if you:

• want to cover Aswan to Luxor with major monuments without juggling transport
• like guided temple visits with explanations built in
• don’t mind early mornings (Abu Simbel and the balloon require it)

It may be less ideal if you:

• are very sensitive about cabin condition and want a guaranteed “fresh” room
• strongly prefer free-choice dining rather than onboard meals
• hate surprise costs from entrance fees and tipping

Also, it’s listed as a private tour/activity (your group participates), but Abu Simbel includes a shared small-group element. In other words: your experience is structured, not random.

Should You Book This Aswan to Luxor Nile Cruise With Abu Simbel?

Yes, if you want a high-efficiency route with guided context and you’re okay planning a little extra for entrance fees and tipping. The included meals, transfers, and the two standout “wow” days—Abu Simbel and the Luxor balloon + West Bank temples—are hard to replicate on your own without serious time and logistics.

Hold off or ask more questions if you’re picky about rooms. Confirm cabin condition and don’t assume that every “5-star Nile cruise” assignment feels new. If you budget for fees and keep a small “tip plan,” this trip can feel like serious value for the number of iconic sites you’ll see.

FAQ

What time does the tour start?

The meeting/start time is listed as 12:00 pm.

Is pickup included?

Yes. You can be picked up in Aswan from the airport, railway station, or your hotel.

How many nights does the cruise include?

It includes 3 nights on board.

What meals are included?

You get breakfast (3), lunch (3), and dinner (3) based on the FB basis (full board).

Are entrance fees included for the temples?

No. Entrance tickets for stops like the High Dam, Philae Temple, Abu Simbel, Kom Ombo, Valley of the Kings, and Karnak are listed as not included.

Is the hot air balloon flight included?

Yes. A hot air balloon flight over the West Bank of Luxor is scheduled around 5:00 am, with the flight time listed as 20 minutes and marked admission ticket free.

Do I need to pay for tipping?

Tipping is not included for the tour guide, driver, cruise staff, etc.

Are water or drinks included on the cruise?

No. Water or drinks on the cruise are listed as not included.

Is this tour private or shared?

It’s described as a private tour/activity for your group, but the Abu Simbel trip is described as a sharing small group outing.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, as long as you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.