Amazing 2 Nights Cruise From Aswan to Luxor including Tours and Hot Air Balloon

The most memorable part of this three-day trip is the change of pace. You move from Aswan by river, watch the Nile shore slide past from the sundeck, then rise before dawn for a hot-air balloon flight over Luxor. It packs several major sights into a short, well-organized route.

I like two things in particular: the cruise links Kom Ombo and Edfu without extra hotel changes, and the English-speaking Egyptologist stays with you for the temple visits. The boat, according to the supplied details, is clean, well equipped, and staffed by a helpful crew. The main drawback is that entrance fees, drinks, Wi-Fi, tips, and several tempting add-on tours are not included in the $698 price.

Key points to know before booking

• Two nights on the Nile: Full-board accommodation begins with lunch on day one and ends with breakfast on day three.
• A sunrise view from the air: The balloon flight lasts about 30 to 40 minutes and looks across Luxor’s West Bank, temples, mountains, and fields.
• Two excellent temple stops: Kom Ombo is unusual for its twin sanctuaries, while Edfu has one of Egypt’s best-preserved temple buildings.
• A small group setting: The maximum group size is 20 people, with pickup by air-conditioned vehicle.
• Extra costs matter: Sightseeing entrance fees are paid separately by card, and optional Abu Simbel, Philae, Karnak, Luxor Temple, meals on day three, drinks, Wi-Fi, and tips add to the final bill.
• The schedule can shift: Nile sailing times may change, especially around Monday and Friday departures, but the listed visits are still planned.

What the $698 price really buys you

At $698 per person, this is not a bare transport package. You are paying for two nights aboard a five-star cruise, full-board meals, an English-speaking guide, road transfers, port transfers, and the Luxor balloon flight. For a short Upper Egypt trip, that combination can be good value because it joins transport and sightseeing in one booking.

You also avoid arranging separate transfers from an Aswan hotel, railway station, or airport. At the other end, you can be taken to a Luxor hotel, airport, or railway station. That is useful if you are building a longer Egypt trip around train travel or flights.

Still, you should budget beyond the headline figure. Temple admission is not included, and the price also excludes water, drinks, cruise Wi-Fi, and tips for the guide, driver, and crew. A local restaurant lunch on the final day is optional, and the East Bank visit to Karnak and Luxor Temple costs extra.

The included meals cover two breakfasts, two lunches, and two dinners aboard the boat. Day three begins with breakfast after the balloon flight, but lunch is not part of the included package. If you want Abu Simbel from Aswan or Philae and the High Dam, those are also optional paid additions.

Day one: joining the boat in Aswan

Pickup takes place before noon from your Aswan hotel, train station, or airport, since cruise check-in is scheduled for 12:00. You have lunch aboard the vessel and settle into the rhythm of the river before the first temple visit.

The morning is deliberately left open for an optional Aswan excursion. You can add Philae Temple and the High Dam, or choose an Abu Simbel trip in a small shared group. These are valuable additions, especially if Aswan is your only chance to see Abu Simbel, but they turn an already busy day into a very early start.

The cruise schedule depends on the departure day. For some Monday and Friday sailings, the boat begins toward Kom Ombo around 5:00 a.m. on day two, so the order of the visits may change. This is normal for Nile cruises. The important point is that the schedule is not fixed minute by minute, even though the planned sights remain the same.

After lunch, the boat is scheduled to sail toward Kom Ombo at about 2:00 p.m. The ride itself is part of the appeal. Instead of spending the afternoon in a vehicle, you can sit on deck and watch the riverbanks pass while the crew prepares dinner.

Kom Ombo and its double temple

Kom Ombo is unusual because its temple is arranged around two linked religious centers. One side honored Sobek, the crocodile god, while the other honored Horus, the falcon god. Your guide can help explain how the paired design worked, which makes this stop more rewarding than a quick photo visit.

Plan on about an hour and a half at the site, including the walk from the boat and the guided visit. The temple is especially interesting for its balance and symmetry, but the time can feel short if you want to examine every carved wall.

After returning to the boat, you have dinner and continue toward Edfu for the overnight stop. The first evening is fairly structured, with little need to arrange anything yourself.

Day two: Edfu, open water, and Esna Lock

After breakfast, you travel by horse carriage with your guide to the Temple of Horus. This is one of the most complete and best-preserved temples in Egypt, so the visit gives you a strong sense of what a major ancient sanctuary looked like before time and weather took their toll.

The horse carriage is practical as well as atmospheric, since the temple is reached from the cruise area by local transport. It also adds a traditional part to the morning, though you should expect the experience to feel more rustic than a standard air-conditioned transfer.

You have about two hours for the Edfu visit. That is enough for a guided look at the major parts of the temple, with some time for pictures, but not an unlimited amount of time to study every inscription.

Back aboard, the trip settles into its most relaxing stretch. The Nile cruise is the main experience here, not just a way to get between monuments. You can rest on the sundeck, watch the banks, and enjoy afternoon tea while the boat heads toward Luxor.

Lunch is served aboard, followed by the crossing of Esna Lock. Lock crossings can be a slow, practical part of river travel rather than a grand spectacle, but they give you a glimpse of how the cruise route works. The changing views are a welcome contrast to the heat and stone at the temples.

Late in the afternoon, you reach the cruise dock in Luxor. Dinner is served on board, followed by a belly dancing show. You spend the night in Luxor, ready for an early morning that begins before most sightseeing days normally do.

The balloon flight requires an early alarm

Pickup for the balloon ride begins around 5:30 to 6:00 a.m. The early start is the price of the view. The flight lasts about 30 to 40 minutes, usually timed for sunrise over the West Bank.

From above, you can see Luxor’s open-air museum setting, the surrounding mountains, major temples, and the agricultural land along the Nile. The balloon is not a substitute for visiting the monuments on foot, but it gives you a useful sense of how the sites relate to the river and the desert.

You may use a cellphone for photographs, but a camera is not allowed during the balloon trip. Children under six cannot take part, and pregnant women are not permitted to fly. The flight also depends on weather conditions. If poor weather cancels it, the stated refund is $30 per person.

The balloon flight is one of the strongest reasons to choose this package instead of a basic Aswan to Luxor cruise. It adds a special perspective without requiring another full day. On the other hand, you should be comfortable with the early departure and the fact that weather can change the plan.

The West Bank after breakfast

After the balloon ride, you return for breakfast and check out. The road portion of the final day takes you to Luxor’s West Bank, where the monuments are spread among desert hills and farmland.

Valley of the Kings

The Valley of the Kings served as a burial area for pharaohs of the New Kingdom. The tombs were cut into the mountains to hide royal burials and protect their contents. Inside, you can expect decorated passages and chambers rather than grand temple courtyards.

The standard visit lasts about an hour and a half. Entrance fees are separate, and the tour information specifically advises you to pay sightseeing admissions by card. Since individual tomb access can vary, ask your guide which entries are covered by the current ticket you purchase.

The valley can be hot and exposed, while the tomb interiors may feel close and steep in places. Wear practical shoes, carry water for the road portions, and keep in mind that water is not included on the cruise.

Hatshepsut’s temple and the Colossi of Memnon

Next comes the mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir El Bahari. Its broad terraces rise against the cliffs, creating one of Luxor’s most recognizable settings. Your guide will explain Hatshepsut’s rule and her complicated connection with her nephew, a story that adds human detail to the stonework.

The final West Bank stop is a photo pause at the Colossi of Memnon, two enormous seated statues. This is a short stop rather than a full guided site visit, but it breaks up the morning and gives you a clear look at the scale of ancient royal monuments.

Lunch at a local restaurant is optional. If you plan to continue with a full day of sightseeing, it is worth deciding in advance how much time and money you want to spend on lunch, since it is not included in the cruise package.

The optional East Bank extension

You can add Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple for an extra charge. This is a sensible option if you have not scheduled another Luxor day, because the West Bank and East Bank present different sides of the city.

Karnak is the larger temple complex, while Luxor Temple is closely tied to the city itself. Adding both makes the last day longer, but it also gives you a fuller visit to Luxor than the included West Bank program provides.

I would add this extension if Luxor is your final stop and you have enough energy after the balloon and West Bank visits. If you are catching a train or flight the same day, keep the included plan and allow plenty of transfer time.

Comfort, meals, and group size

The cruise is described as a five-star vessel with full board. The supplied details also note that the boat was clean, well equipped, and staffed by a helpful crew. That matters on a compact schedule, since the boat is your hotel, dining room, transport, and resting place all at once.

Meals included are two dinners, two breakfasts, and two lunches. Drinks are not included, and neither is Wi-Fi, so bring a little extra money for onboard purchases. Tipping is also separate and is expected for the guide, driver, and cruise crew.

The maximum group size is 20 people. That is large enough to keep the price below a private tour while still allowing the guide to manage the temple visits. Pickup and transfers use an air-conditioned vehicle, which is particularly useful during the hot road sections.

The tour has received five-star ratings across the supplied feedback, with particular praise for easy communication, the boat’s cleanliness and equipment, helpful staff, and visits matching the planned program. Those strengths point to the tour’s real advantage: someone else handles the moving parts while you focus on the monuments.

Who should book this cruise

This trip suits you if you want a compact first look at Upper Egypt and prefer a single package over arranging boats, guides, and transfers separately. It is especially useful for people who want both a Nile cruise and a Luxor balloon flight without spending a full week on the river.

It also works well for independent visitors who are comfortable with an organized schedule. You get free time on the boat, but the sightseeing days begin early and follow a set route. The optional additions make the plan flexible, though each one raises the cost and can reduce your rest time.

Families should note that children aged five to 11 traveling with one adult are charged as adults. Children under six cannot take the balloon flight. Everyone needs a valid passport on the day of the tour, and passport copies, hotel details, and room numbers are required for cruise company arrangements and Abu Simbel permissions.

Pickup from Aswan’s west bank hotels costs an extra $10 per person. Drop-off at hotels on Luxor’s west bank also costs an extra $10 per person. Other languages can be arranged for an additional charge.

Should you book the Aswan to Luxor cruise?

Book it if you want efficient sightseeing with real time on the Nile, and if the balloon flight is high on your Luxor wish list. The strongest elements are the two-night boat stay, the well-chosen temples at Kom Ombo and Edfu, the organized West Bank tour, and transfers that connect the whole route.

Skip it if you want a slow cruise with long unscheduled afternoons, or if you dislike paying entrance fees and optional extras after booking. Before you commit, price the admission tickets, tips, drinks, Wi-Fi, and any Abu Simbel or East Bank additions. With those costs in mind, this is a practical and memorable short Nile program, not an all-inclusive Egypt holiday.

The cancellation terms are straightforward: you can receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Cancellations or changes within 24 hours are not refunded, unless the operator cancels because of weather or failure to reach the minimum group size.

FAQ

How long is the cruise from Aswan to Luxor?

The experience lasts about three days and includes two nights aboard a Nile cruise, traveling from Aswan to Luxor.

What meals are included?

The package includes two breakfasts, two lunches, and two dinners aboard the cruise. It starts with lunch on day one and ends with breakfast on day three.

Is the hot-air balloon flight included?

Yes. A 30 to 40 minute hot-air balloon ride over Luxor is included. The flight depends on weather, and a weather cancellation provides a refund of $30 per person.

Are temple entrance fees included?

No. Entrance fees for the listed sightseeing stops are paid separately. The tour information states that you will need to pay these fees by card.

Can I add Abu Simbel or Karnak Temple?

Yes. Abu Simbel and the Aswan highlights, including Philae Temple and the High Dam, are available as optional paid tours. Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple can also be added in Luxor for an extra charge.

What happens if the cruise schedule changes?

Nile sailing times and the order of visits can change because of river conditions and cruise scheduling. The planned sightseeing stops are still intended to be covered, even if they happen in a different order.