Nile River Boat Cruise4 Day Nile Cruise Aswan to Luxor With Abu Simbel
This 4 day Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor with Abu Simbel is the most reviewed listing in the Nile river cruise catalog, with a 4.8 rating from 2,883 verified reviews. It is also the cheapest 3-night sailing on the site at $340 per person. The real entry cost is higher. Viator adds $110 in mandatory charges at checkout, giving a from-price of $450, and the listing does not say what that charge covers. Abu Simbel as a group trip and the Luxor hot air balloon are in the price. Temple entrance fees, drinks and even water are not. This page sets out the true total, the day by day plan and who should look elsewhere.
About This Tour
Imperialegypt runs this 4 day, 3 night sailing from Aswan to Luxor on a 5-star cruise ship, with departures on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The itinerary covers the Aswan High Dam and Philae, a group road trip to Abu Simbel, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Luxor Temple and Karnak, and finishes with a sunrise balloon flight and the West Bank. Meals, an English-speaking Egyptologist guide and air-conditioned minivan transfers are included.
The headline price of $340 per person is not the whole cost. The Viator listing adds $110 in mandatory charges at checkout, a from-price of $450, and it does not state what the $110 covers. Entrance fees to every temple named, all drinks including water, and tips are paid separately, so budget for tickets on top.
$340 per person. Viator adds $110 in mandatory charges at checkout, a from-price of $450. The listing does not say what the $110 covers.
4 days, 3 nights, sailing Aswan to Luxor with Monday, Wednesday and Friday departures.
Hotel pickup in Aswan. It ends in Luxor around 2 PM on day 4, with transfer to the train station, airport or a hotel. Final departure no later than 4 PM.
5-star cruise ship, named by sailing day and always listed as or similar. Up to 30 travelers. Cabin options are double, twin, triple and single.
Entrance fees to every sight are excluded, including Abu Simbel. Breakfast, lunch and dinner on board are included. Drinks, even water, are not.
Tips, drinks, all entrance fees and anything not listed are extra. A pickup from west bank hotels, Sonesta Nouba Aswan or Citymax Acua Park costs an extra $10 per person. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure.
Check Dates and Availability
Ships sail from Aswan on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The balloon does not operate from June 1 to August 31, and Aswan's average summer highs stay above 40 C, so check dates with that in mind.
You'll confirm the exact date and time on the secure booking page.
Quick answer Price, inclusions and the real total
This 4 day, 3 night cruise costs $340 per person before $110 in mandatory Viator checkout charges, giving a from-price of $450. Abu Simbel as a group trip, the Luxor balloon and full board are included. Every temple entrance fee, all drinks and even water are extra, and tips are not covered.
Key takeaways
- See exactly what is and is not covered in what the price actually covers.
- Want temple tickets in the price? Compare the 3-Night Cruise with Temple Tickets instead.
- Read the full day by day itinerary before you book.
- Browse all listings on the Nile river cruise homepage.
What the Price Actually Covers
This listing has one of the lowest headline prices on the site and one of the longest list of exclusions. Here is the honest split, based only on what the operator states.
Included in the $340
The inclusions list covers 3 nights in a 5-star Nile cruise cabin, meals as per the itinerary with breakfast, lunch and dinner, and afternoon tea on day 1. A qualified English-speaking Egyptologist guide is on the tours. Abu Simbel is included as a group trip, and the hot air balloon over Luxor is included after sunrise.
If the balloon is cancelled the operator refunds 800 LE per person. Air-conditioned minivan transport, meet and assist on arrival and departure, portage when needed and an evening disco party round out the list.
- 3 nights on a 5-star ship, cabin choice of double, twin, triple or single
- Full board meals plus afternoon tea on day 1
- Abu Simbel with the group, by air-conditioned minivan
- Hot air balloon after sunrise, 800 LE refunded if it is cancelled
- English-speaking Egyptologist guide and all transfers
What You Pay on Top
Entrance fees to every sight named in the itinerary are excluded. That means the Aswan High Dam, Philae, Abu Simbel, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Luxor Temple, Karnak, the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut. Using the ministry price list, Abu Simbel runs EGP 750 for a foreign adult, Philae EGP 550, Kom Ombo EGP 450 and the Valley of the Kings EGP 750.
Tickets for Karnak, Luxor Temple, Hatshepsut and the High Dam are not stated in the published sources, so carry cash for those too. Drinks, including water on the cruise, are not included, so buy bottled water before boarding. Tips for cruise staff, guides and drivers are extra.
Viator also adds $110 in mandatory charges at checkout, a from-price of $450, and the listing does not say what the $110 covers, so ask the operator before you pay.
| Line | In the price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cabin, 3 nights on a 5-star ship | Yes | Double, twin, triple or single |
| Meals | Yes | Breakfast, lunch, dinner, afternoon tea day 1 |
| Abu Simbel group trip | Yes | Entry ticket itself excluded, EGP 750 per the ministry list |
| Luxor balloon | Yes | Not offered June 1 to August 31, 800 LE refund if cancelled |
| Temple entrance fees | No | Philae EGP 550, Kom Ombo EGP 450, Valley of the Kings EGP 750, others not stated |
| Drinks and water | No | Not even water, buy it before boarding |
| Tips | No | Cruise staff, guides and drivers |
| Checkout charges | No | $110 added by Viator, coverage not stated |
Sources: Nile, Wikipedia, Aswan, Wikipedia
The Great Temple of Abu Simbel has four seated statues of Ramesses II cut into the cliff face. Photo: isawnyu, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
What the Day Is Really Like
The listing gives a four day plan from Aswan pickup to the Luxor West Bank. Here is the shape of it, with the stated timings.
Day 1, Aswan
Pickup in Aswan starts the trip. If you stay on an island or the far side of Aswan you are asked to make your way to the Aswan side, and the operator asks to be contacted directly before the tour. Day 1 covers the High Dam and Philae Temple, about 3 hours on site in total, plus afternoon tea on board.
Lunch and dinner are served on the ship, and the evening brings the on board disco party. Some departures sail the same day and others the next morning or afternoon.
Day 2, Abu Simbel and Kom Ombo
This is the early one. The pickup for the group trip to Abu Simbel is around 4:30 AM, you arrive at the temples about 8 AM, and you are back on board by noon. Abu Simbel sits on Lake Nasser south of Aswan, roughly 230 to 290 km from the city depending on the source, so it is a road trip in the air-conditioned minivan rather than a stop on the river.
The entry ticket, EGP 750 for a foreign adult on the ministry list, is paid separately. In the afternoon the ship sails to Kom Ombo, 50 km north of Aswan, for the double temple visit.
Day 3, Edfu, Karnak and Luxor Temple
Day 3 is the fullest sightseeing day. It covers Edfu and its Temple of Horus, then the sailing stretch north to Luxor, where the itinerary lists Luxor Temple and Karnak. Karnak's Great Hypostyle Hall alone covers 5,000 m2 with 134 columns, so expect a lot of walking.
Every entry fee on this day is yours to buy at the gate.
Day 4, Balloon and the West Bank
The trip ends with the hot air balloon after sunrise, weather permitting, and the West Bank sights: the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon. Children under 6 cannot fly. Day 4 finishes around 2 PM with transfer to your Luxor hotel, the train station or the airport, and the final departure should be no later than 4 PM.
The Best 4-Day Nile River Cruise for First Time Visitors To Egypt | Luxor To Aswan
Two travellers film a 4-day Nile cruise between Aswan and Luxor and show the ship, the temple stops and what the days look like. Third-party video by Maui and Trizzy . This site did not shoot it and has no relationship with the creator.
Who This Tour Rules Out
This is the cheapest 3-night listing on the site for a reason. Several groups of travellers should book a different one.
Anyone Who Wants Tickets Handled
Entrance fees to every temple are excluded, and there are nine ticketed sights on this route. If you would rather pay once and walk through, the 3-Night Cruise with Temple Tickets at $600 includes every entrance fee it lists and two bottles of water per person per day, though it leaves Abu Simbel out.
Travellers Who Dislike Early Starts
The Abu Simbel pickup is around 4:30 AM on day 2 and the balloon flies after sunrise on day 4. If you would rather start the trip rested and in Luxor, the 4-Night Luxor to Aswan Cruise sails the other way over 4 nights with a 6 day cancellation window.
Families with Small Children and Anyone with Mobility Limits
The balloon rule excludes children under 6, and the listing asks for at least a moderate level of fitness, with spinal injuries and poor cardiovascular health advised against. The ship is listed as wheelchair accessible, but the temples involve uneven ground and real walking. Infants 1 to 4 and children 5 to 11 are accepted with an adult.
Summer Travellers
The balloon does not operate from June 1 to August 31, and Aswan's average summer highs stay above 40 C. The cooler months from October to April are the cruise season. If you must travel in summer, expect the balloon to be dropped from this package and the 800 LE refund rule to apply.
Travellers Who Want Every Cost Up Front
The $110 in mandatory Viator checkout charges is not explained in the listing, drinks and water are extra, tips are extra, and a pickup from west bank hotels, Sonesta Nouba Aswan or Citymax Acua Park costs $10 more per person. If opaque fees bother you, the GetYourGuide 3-Night Cruise with Balloon Ride at $580 states no mandatory extras, though its tickets are also paid locally.
A cruise ship moves along the Nile near Luxor. Photo: Marc Ryckaert, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Getting There and What to Add
The cruise starts with Aswan hotel pickup and ends with a Luxor drop-off. Here is how to reach each end and what to add around the sailing.
Reaching Aswan and Leaving Luxor
Pickup in Aswan is included from city hotels. If you stay on an island or the west bank of Aswan, the operator asks you to reach the Aswan side first, and pickup from west bank hotels, Sonesta Nouba Aswan or Citymax Acua Park carries an extra $10 per person. Aswan has an airport.
Cairo to Aswan is about 753 km in a straight line and 848.4 km by road, with a flight of about 3h48m door to door or a 14h15m train per Rome2Rio. On the Luxor end, the tour transfers you to your hotel, the train station or the airport with the final departure no later than 4 PM on day 4. Luxor to Aswan is between 214 and 220 km depending on the source, roughly 3h30m by train.
What to Add Before or After
The cruise leaves Aswan's calmer sights out, so add a felucca ride on Elephantine Island or browse things to do in Aswan for an extra day. If you fly in via Cairo, the Nile Cruise from Cairo with Flights at $1,300 bundles both domestic flights with the same 3-night sailing, Abu Simbel and the balloon. In Luxor, Karnak is 2.5 km north of the city and Egypt's second most visited historic site after Giza.
The preferred cruise season runs from October to April, with Luxor in January averaging a high of 22.8 C, while khamsin sandstorms can arrive between March and May.
Itinerary Step by Step
The listing's own four day plan, with the times it states.
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Day 1, Morning
Pickup in Aswan
Meet and assist on arrival, then pickup at your Aswan hotel. Island and west bank guests head to the Aswan side first, and the operator asks to be contacted before the tour. Afternoon tea is served on board.
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Day 1, Afternoon
High Dam and Philae
About 3 hours across the two sights. Lunch and dinner on board, then the evening disco party. Some departures sail today and others the next morning or afternoon.
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Day 2, 4:30 AM
Abu Simbel group trip
Early minivan departure from Aswan, arriving at the temples about 8 AM. Entry ticket not included, EGP 750 for a foreign adult. Back on board by noon, then an afternoon stop at Kom Ombo.
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Day 3, Morning
Edfu
Visit the Temple of Horus at Edfu. Entry paid at the gate.
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Day 3, Afternoon
Sail to Luxor, Karnak and Luxor Temple
Sailing on to Luxor, then guided visits to Karnak and Luxor Temple on the east bank. Tickets excluded.
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Day 4, Sunrise
Balloon and West Bank
Hot air balloon after sunrise, weather permitting, with an 800 LE refund if cancelled and no children under 6. Then the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon.
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Day 4, Around 2 PM
Disembark in Luxor
Transfer to your Luxor hotel, the train station or the airport. Final departure no later than 4 PM.
Pros and Cons
The honest ledger for this listing, based on what the operator and the listing state.
What we genuinely like
- Lowest 3-night headline price on the site at $340 per person
- Most reviewed listing in the catalog, 4.8 from 2,883 verified reviews
- Abu Simbel as a group trip and the Luxor balloon are both in the price
- Full board on a 5-star ship with a qualified English-speaking Egyptologist
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure
The honest downsides
- Viator adds $110 in mandatory checkout charges and never says what they cover
- Entrance fees to all nine ticketed sights are extra, including Abu Simbel itself
- No drinks and not even water on board, so bring your own
- A 4:30 AM start on day 2 and a sunrise balloon on day 4
- Balloon does not run June 1 to August 31
- Ships are named by sailing day and always as or similar, so you cannot pick your boat
- Tips for staff, guides and drivers are extra, and some pickups cost $10 more
Who it's NOT for: Not for travellers who want temple tickets, water and clear checkout pricing bundled into one number, since this listing splits every one of them out.
Questions About This Cruise
How much does this 4 day Nile cruise really cost?
The catalog price is $340 per person, and Viator adds $110 in mandatory charges at checkout for a from-price of $450. Temple tickets, drinks, water and tips come on top. See the breakdown of Nile river cruises for how other listings compare.
Is Abu Simbel included?
Yes, as a group road trip on day 2 with a pickup around 4:30 AM and a return on board by noon, but the Abu Simbel entry ticket of EGP 750 per foreign adult is excluded and paid separately. The Philae Temple guide covers the other Aswan-area sight on day 1.
What happens if the balloon is cancelled?
The listing refunds 800 LE per person if the balloon is cancelled, and the balloon does not operate from June 1 to August 31 at all. The GetYourGuide 3-Night Cruise with Balloon Ride is the alternative package if the balloon is the reason you are booking.
Can children come on this cruise?
Infants 1 to 4 and children 5 to 11 are accepted with an adult, but children under 6 are not allowed on the balloon. Travellers should have a moderate level of fitness. The 2-Night Small-Group Cruise limits groups to 18 if you want a smaller boat.
Which ship will I sail on?
It depends on your sailing day. Monday departures use the M/S Alyssa, Semiramis, Nile Style, Al Hambra or Suntimes, Wednesday the Princess Sarah, Emilio, Blue Shadow or Concerto, and Friday the Solaris 2 or Dolphin. All are listed as or similar, so the operator does not promise a specific boat. See Nile cruises before you book.
What is the cancellation policy?
You get a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure. The 5-Day Nile Cruise Luxor to Aswan instead offers a 6 day free cancellation window if you want more slack.
Where does the cruise start and end?
It starts with hotel pickup in Aswan and ends in Luxor around 2 PM on day 4, with a transfer to your hotel, the train station or the airport. Pickup from west bank hotels, Sonesta Nouba Aswan or Citymax Acua Park carries an extra $10 per person.
Prices, availability and terms are set by the operator and confirmed at checkout.
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