3 NIGHTS NILE CRUISE including ABUSIMBEL, HotAir Balloons

Abu Simbel and a hot-air balloon over Luxor make this more than a standard Nile cruise. In four days, you move from Aswan’s broad river views to some of Egypt’s greatest temples, with your ship serving as a comfortable base between stops.

I like the full-board format, which removes much of the daily planning, and I like the mix of famous sights and river time. The $626.67 price also covers three nights on a 5-star ship, transport, a guide, meals, and the balloon flight. The main caution is that entrance fees are not included, and the early Abu Simbel departure makes Day 2 a long one.

Key points to know before booking

• Abu Simbel starts around 4:30 a.m. and involves about eight hours of transport and sightseeing.
• The hot-air balloon ride is included and lasts about 45 minutes, followed by breakfast.
• Three nights are spent on a 5-star Nile cruise, with breakfast, lunch, and dinner included each day.
• Entrance fees are extra, including admission to the major temples and archaeological sites.
• The cruise schedule can shift, with some ships sailing later in the day or early the next morning.
• The tour ends around 2 p.m. in Luxor, with departure transfers planned by about 4 p.m.

From Aswan High Dam to Philae Temple

Your first day begins in Aswan at about noon, when a local representative meets you and helps get the trip moving. The first stop is the Aswan High Dam, a huge modern structure that reshaped the river and created Lake Nasser.

Allow about two hours here. The admission fee is not included, so keep some money ready for site entries. The stop is more about understanding modern Egypt and the Nile’s controlled flow than admiring ancient ruins, but it gives useful context for the rest of the trip.

Next comes Philae Temple, reached as part of the Aswan sightseeing program. This sanctuary was dedicated to the goddess Isis and is one of the area’s most memorable ancient sites. Its setting on an island gives the visit a special sense of separation from the city.

You have about three hours for Philae. Again, admission is extra. The first day includes lunch aboard the ship, afternoon tea, and dinner, so you can settle into the cruise without searching for restaurants after every visit.

The schedule also allows for an optional night in Aswan before sailing. That wording matters because the exact ship movement can vary. Some cruises leave on the first day, while others begin sailing later or early the next morning. Ask for the precise departure time before you go, especially if you are arranging a separate Aswan hotel or train connection.

Why Abu Simbel changes the rhythm of the cruise

Day 2 begins early. Pickup for Abu Simbel is scheduled for approximately 4:30 a.m., with arrival around 8 a.m. The drive and visit take roughly eight hours in total, and the transport is described as a small shared group with a designated driver.

This is the trip’s hardest day physically, but Abu Simbel is also one of its biggest rewards. The rock-cut temples were built for Ramesses II and Queen Nefertari, with enormous seated figures guarding the entrance. Inside, the scale becomes more intimate, with carved chambers and images tied to royal power and worship.

The early start helps you reach the complex before the day becomes too hot, but it leaves little room for a relaxed morning. If you prefer slow starts and long meals, this outing may feel demanding. If Abu Simbel is high on your Egypt wish list, the early alarm is a reasonable trade.

One point deserves careful attention: the wider experience is described as a private tour for your group, but the Abu Simbel transfer is described as a small shared group. That does not necessarily create a problem, but you should confirm how many people will be in the vehicle for this particular excursion.

After Abu Simbel, you return to the ship around midday for lunch. The boat then continues toward Kom Ombo, with the night planned around Edfu. This return to the ship is useful because you get a proper meal and a chance to rest after the early departure.

Kom Ombo and the relaxed pace of river travel

Kom Ombo is visited after the Abu Simbel outing, with about two hours set aside for the temple. The site is unusual because it honors two divine groups, including the crocodile god Sobek and the falcon god Horus the Elder.

The temple sits beside the Nile, so the visit pairs ancient stonework with open river views. Its reliefs and layout are easier to appreciate with a guide, especially if you want help understanding why the temple has a double design.

The ship then continues toward Edfu. This is where the cruise format earns its keep. Instead of packing and unpacking between each Egyptian city, you return to the same cabin, eat aboard, and watch the banks change from the deck.

The tour includes three breakfasts, three lunches, and three dinners. That is a meaningful part of the price because food is handled for you during the cruise. Still, full board does not mean every expense is covered. Entrance fees, tips, and any personal purchases remain your responsibility.

Edfu Temple and the falcon god Horus

Edfu comes on the third morning, with about three hours for the visit. The temple is dedicated to Horus, the falcon-headed god, and is known for its unusually complete condition.

For many people, Edfu is one of the clearest places to picture how an ancient Egyptian temple once worked. Large courts, columns, carved walls, and religious scenes remain easy to read. The guide can help connect the reliefs to the myths of Horus and the temple’s role in worship.

The timing is sensible. A morning visit avoids the worst heat, and the ship then continues toward Luxor through Esna. Sailing between stops gives you a needed pause after several major archaeological sites in a row.

A Nile cruise is not nonstop sightseeing. That is part of its value. You get stretches when your only job is to sit on deck, watch the river, and let the schedule carry you onward. For some people, those quiet hours are the heart of the trip. For others, the fixed pace may feel restrictive.

Luxor Temple after dark or in the late day

The third day continues with Luxor Temple, planned for about two hours. This large complex honors the Theban Triad of Amun, Mut, and Chons. Its columns, statues, and carved walls show how royal ceremonies and religious life shaped ancient Luxor.

Luxor Temple is especially well suited to a guided visit because its layers are easier to understand when someone explains what you are seeing. You can expect monumental statues, tall columns, and inscriptions that link different rulers and building periods.

Admission is not included. That applies to this temple as well as the other archaeological stops, so factor site fees into the advertised price before comparing this cruise with another package.

Karnak’s vast courtyards and towering columns

Karnak follows Luxor Temple, with about two hours planned for the complex. This is not one compact building but a large group of sanctuaries, courts, halls, and sacred spaces devoted mainly to Amun-Ra.

The Hypostyle Hall is the showpiece. Its forest of towering columns gives you a strong sense of the ambition behind the complex. The Great Court, Sacred Lake, and various sanctuaries add variety, though two hours can pass quickly.

I would pay close attention to the guide here. Karnak can become a blur of columns if you do not have a clear route and a simple explanation of what each section was used for. The supplied details promise a qualified Egyptology guide, but no guide’s name is provided, so you cannot select a particular guide in advance.

After Karnak, you spend the night in Luxor. This is a useful break before the final morning, although the balloon flight means Day 4 still begins early.

Seeing Luxor from a hot-air balloon

The hot-air balloon flight is the most distinctive feature in the package. You take off from Luxor’s West Bank at sunrise, with the flight lasting about 45 minutes. Breakfast follows the ride.

From above, you get a different view of the Nile corridor, the fields, the desert edge, and the ancient sites below. The experience is short, but it adds a calm visual counterpoint to the close-up work of temple visits.

The balloon ride is included, unlike the archaeological admissions. That helps the overall value, particularly if you had planned to book a balloon flight separately. The schedule is weather-sensitive in practical terms, but the supplied information does not give a backup plan, so ask what happens if the flight cannot operate.

You will need to be ready for an early morning and a quick transition afterward. This is not a leisurely final breakfast in bed. It is a strong choice for people who like memorable outings and do not mind starting before sunrise.

Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut, and the Colossi

After the balloon flight and breakfast, the morning continues at the Valley of the Kings. About two hours are scheduled for the site, which contains more than 60 royal tombs carved into the hills on Luxor’s West Bank.

The ticket arrangement matters here. Admission is not included, and access to individual tombs can follow separate ticket rules. The information provided does not specify which tombs are included, so ask before arrival if a particular tomb, such as Tutankhamun’s, is important to you.

The Valley is less about grand exterior buildings and more about corridors, chambers, painted walls, and the practical story of royal burial. Some visitors find the enclosed tombs more affecting than the huge temples. Others prefer the open courtyards and columns of Karnak or Philae.

The final major stop is the Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el Bahari, paired with the Colossi of Memnon. Hatshepsut’s temple is built against the cliffs and uses broad terraces to create a bold, orderly design. The Colossi are the surviving figures from the funerary temple of Amenophis III.

You have about two hours for this section. The stops fit well together because they show different sides of the West Bank: royal tombs, a cliff-backed temple, and massive statues in an open setting.

What the $626.67 price really covers

At $626.67 per person, this is not a bare-bones transport package. You receive three nights on a 5-star Nile cruise, round-trip air-conditioned minivan transport, a qualified Egyptology guide, arrival and departure assistance, portage when needed, three breakfasts, three lunches, three dinners, and the hot-air balloon flight.

The strongest value comes from combining Abu Simbel with the cruise. Many Nile itineraries stop at Aswan and Luxor but treat Abu Simbel as an extra outing. Here, it is built into the four-day plan.

The weak point is that entrance fees are excluded. You need to add those costs when comparing the total with other cruises. Tips are also not included, and the package does not spell out other personal expenses.

The 5-star label tells you the intended level of accommodation, but it does not identify the ship or cabin type. Several cabin options are available, yet the exact vessel and room category are not specified in the supplied information. Ask for the ship name, cabin location, and sailing schedule before paying if room comfort matters to you.

Timing, transport, and the small details that matter

The official start time is noon, but the Abu Simbel pickup is around 4:30 a.m. on Day 2. You should treat those as two very different kinds of day and pack accordingly.

Transport is by air-conditioned minivan, with round-trip transport included. Pickup is offered, and the experience includes arrival assistance and a departure transfer. The final tour activity ends around 2 p.m., and the transfer to Luxor Train Station, Luxor Airport, or a Luxor hotel should be completed no later than about 4 p.m.

That departure window is useful, but do not book a very early onward connection. The cruise schedule may change, and the final timing depends on the ship and the day’s road movements.

The activity is described as suitable for most people, with public transportation nearby. It is also described as private for your group, while the Abu Simbel portion uses a small shared group. Confirm those arrangements if group size is important to you.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the local start time. Changes or cancellations made inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

Who should book this Nile cruise?

I would choose this trip if you want to see the major Aswan and Luxor sights without arranging every transfer yourself. It suits first-time visitors who value a guide, included meals, ship accommodation, and a clear route more than total flexibility.

It also works well for couples and families. The hot-air balloon gives the trip a memorable shared moment, while the cruise provides a steady base between long sightseeing days. The positive comments about smooth assistance, friendly treatment, family enjoyment, and easy dealings with Egypt VIP Tours fit the practical strengths of the package.

I would hesitate if you want a slow, flexible Egypt trip. The Abu Simbel day begins before dawn, the site fees add to the price, and the cruise timing can change. You also need to be comfortable with a schedule that packs several major sites into a short period.

Final verdict

Book this cruise if Abu Simbel and a Luxor balloon flight are high on your list, and you want meals, transport, guiding, and three nights aboard ship bundled together. At $626.67, the package offers solid value for a busy four-day route, provided you budget for entrance fees and tips.

Before booking, ask for the ship name, cabin details, exact sailing time, Abu Simbel group arrangement, and total expected entrance costs. If those answers suit you, this is an efficient and memorable way to travel from Aswan to Luxor without losing the pleasure of moving along the Nile.

FAQ

How long is the Nile cruise experience?

The experience lasts about four days and includes three nights of accommodation aboard a 5-star Nile cruise traveling from Aswan to Luxor.

What time does the tour begin?

The stated start time is 12:00 p.m. on the first day. The Abu Simbel excursion begins much earlier, at approximately 4:30 a.m. on Day 2.

Is Abu Simbel included?

Yes. Abu Simbel is part of the itinerary, with transport by designated driver and a small shared group. The visit takes about eight hours, but the entrance fee is not included.

Is the hot-air balloon ride included?

Yes. The Luxor hot-air balloon flight is included and lasts about 45 minutes. Breakfast is provided afterward.

Are meals included?

Yes. The package includes three breakfasts, three lunches, and three dinners, served according to the schedule.

Are entrance fees included?

No. Entrance fees for the High Dam, Philae Temple, Abu Simbel, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Luxor Temple, Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, and other archaeological sites are not included.

Where does the tour end?

The tour ends in Luxor at about 2 p.m. Transfers are provided to Luxor Train Station, Luxor Airport, or a Luxor hotel, with departure planned no later than 4 p.m.