4-Day Nile Cruise: Aswan To Luxor With Abu Simbel Temple & Hot Air Balloon Tour

4-Day Nile Cruise: Aswan to Luxor with Abu Simbel & Hot Air Balloon

Sail the Nile in comfort on a 4-day, 3-night itinerary that blends expert-guided tours with relaxed cruising and unforgettable moments like a sunrise hot air balloon over Luxor. This highly rated route covers Upper Egypt’s most iconic sites—perfect for travelers seeking depth, efficiency, and value.

From the temples of Philae, Kom Ombo and Edfu to Abu Simbel, the Valley of the Kings and Karnak, this compact program delivers a complete cultural experience with seamless logistics, full-board cruise accommodation, and an Egyptologist guide throughout.

Tour Overview

• Duration: 4 Days / 3 Nights
• Route: Aswan → Kom Ombo → Edfu → Luxor
• Accommodation: 3 nights aboard a 5-star Nile cruise (full board)
• Highlights:
  • Ancient Temples: Philae, High Dam, Abu Simbel, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Luxor Temple, Karnak.
  • Royal Necropolis: Valley of the Kings and Queen Hatshepsut’s Temple.
  • Unique Experiences: Hot air balloon flight over Luxor, horse-drawn carriage to Edfu Temple, motorboat to Philae, evening show on board.
  • Expert Guidance: Egyptologist tour guide accompanies you throughout.

Detailed Daily Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and Transfer to Cruise Boat

• Morning/Afternoon: Arrive in Aswan, where you will be met by your guide. You will be transferred to your 5-star Nile cruise boat for check-in and lunch.
• Afternoon Tours:
  • Philae Temple: You will take a small motorboat to Agilkia Island to visit the Philae Temple, dedicated to the goddess Isis. This temple was moved to its current location as part of a UNESCO project to save it from the rising waters of the Aswan High Dam.
  • Aswan High Dam: You will visit the modern Aswan High Dam, an impressive engineering marvel completed in the 1960s to control the Nile’s flooding and generate electricity.
• Evening: Return to the cruise boat for dinner and your first overnight stay on board in Aswan.

Day 2: Abu Simbel Temple & Navigation to Kom Ombo

• Early Morning: This is an early start. Your guide will pick you up around 4:00-4:30 AM to travel by a shared bus or minivan to Abu Simbel (approximately a 3-hour drive each way).
• Morning Tour:
  • Abu Simbel Temples: Arrive around 8:00 AM to explore the magnificent rock-cut temples built by King Ramses II and his beloved Queen Nefertari. These temples, also relocated by UNESCO, are famous for their colossal statues and stunning interior reliefs.
• Afternoon: Return to the cruise boat by noon for lunch. The cruise will then begin sailing north towards Kom Ombo.
• Late Afternoon Tour:
  • Kom Ombo Temple: Upon arrival in Kom Ombo, you will visit the unique double temple dedicated to two gods: Sobek, the crocodile god, and Horus, the falcon god.
• Evening: Return to the cruise for dinner as the ship continues sailing to Edfu for the overnight stay.

Day 3: Edfu Temple & Arrival in Luxor (Visit of Luxor Temple)

• Morning Tour:
  • Edfu Temple: After breakfast, you will take a memorable horse-drawn carriage ride with your guide to the Temple of Horus. This is considered the best-preserved Egyptian temple, with its walls providing a detailed account of ancient religious rituals and myths.
• Afternoon: Return to the cruise and sail to Luxor. You will have time to relax on the sundeck and enjoy the scenery of the Nile, including passing through the Esna Lock. Lunch and afternoon tea will be served on board.
• Late Afternoon Tour:
  • Luxor Temple: The cruise will dock in Luxor, and you will be transferred to the East Bank to visit Luxor Temple. This temple is unique for showcasing a blend of ancient Egyptian, Christian, and Islamic features throughout its long history.
• Evening: Return to the cruise for dinner and an entertaining belly dancing show. Overnight in Luxor.
• Note: The tour plan mentions a possibility of visiting both Karnak and Luxor temples on this day if the cruise arrives in Luxor by 3:00 or 3:30 PM.

Day 4: Hot Air Balloon, Luxor Tour & Departure

• Very Early Morning: Another early start for a spectacular experience. You will be picked up around 5:00 AM for a 30-to-45-minute hot air balloon flight over the West Bank of Luxor. This offers a breathtaking aerial view of the ancient city, the temples, and the desert landscape at sunrise. You will receive a flying certificate.
• Morning Tours: After breakfast and check-out from the cruise, you will begin your final day of sightseeing on the West Bank.
  • Valley of the Kings: Your guide will take you to this famous burial ground where pharaohs of the New Kingdom were entombed in rock-cut tombs.
  • Temple of Queen Hatshepsut: Visit the Mortuary Temple of the famous female pharaoh, Hatshepsut, a stunning example of ancient Egyptian architecture.
  • Colossi of Memnon: End your West Bank tour with a photo stop at the two gigantic statues of Amenhotep III.
• Afternoon Tour:
  • Karnak Temple: You will be transferred back to the East Bank to explore the largest temple complex in the world, Karnak. This vast site was built over two millennia and features huge pillars, obelisks, and statues.
• Departure: The tour concludes around 3:00-4:00 PM with a transfer to your hotel, the Luxor Airport, or the railway station.

This comprehensive itinerary provides a fantastic overview of the most significant sites in Aswan and Luxor, offering a blend of ancient history, cultural immersion, and unforgettable experiences.

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