6 Days Nile Cruise:Luxor,Aswan,Abu Simbel with Train Tickets from Cairo

The real prize here is the stretch of river between Aswan and Luxor. You see temples, villages, feluccas, farms, and desert cliffs from the sun deck, then step ashore at some of Egypt’s greatest monuments. I especially like the Abu Simbel visit and the fact that Cairo transport, hotel transfers, meals, and guiding are tied together in one package. The trip gives you a lot of ancient Egypt in six days.

I also like the human side of the operation. Coordinators such as Bassant and Mona are praised for staying in touch, while guides including Mohamed Shakour, Osama Ghazaly, Ahmed, Ismail Haroun, and Zakarya Saad are singled out for clear explanations and warm care. The catch is the pace: the overnight trains take about 10 hours, Abu Simbel starts around 5 am, and entrance fees, drinks, tips, Wi-Fi, and Philae’s motorboat are extra.

Key points at a glance

• Abu Simbel at dawn: Leave around 5 am for one of Egypt’s most powerful temple visits, then return to the ship for sailing.
• Three nights on the Nile: Your cruise includes a cabin, buffet meals, afternoon tea, a pool, and evening entertainment.
• A strong temple route: See Philae, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Karnak, Hatshepsut, the Valley of the Kings, and the Colossi of Memnon.
• Cairo transfers included: Hotel pickup takes you to Giza station, and a driver meets you after the return train.
• A guide makes the difference: Mohamed Shakour, Osama Ghazaly, Ahmed, Ismail Haroun, and Zakarya Saad have all been praised for their history talks and personal care.
• Budget beyond the headline price: The $780 price covers a lot, but admission tickets and several daily extras are not included.

Why this Nile route works so well

This is a classic first-time Egypt route, but it is not just a checklist of monuments. The ship gives you a moving view of the Nile valley, where cultivated land, small boats, villages, and desert meet within a short distance of one another.

I like the direction from Aswan to Luxor because the river becomes your travel corridor. Instead of changing hotels every night, you unpack once and let the ship carry you onward. You still have early mornings and long sightseeing days, but the cruise breaks up the road travel.

The package costs $780 per person. That is a serious sum, yet it includes the Cairo to Aswan train, the Luxor to Cairo train, three cruise nights, cruise meals, private transfers listed in the schedule, an Egyptologist guide, Abu Simbel, Edfu’s horse carriage, and the major sightseeing program.

You should not treat $780 as the final cost. Entrance fees are excluded, as are water and drinks on the ship, Wi-Fi, tips, and the motorboat needed to reach Philae Temple. A sleeping train or flight can replace the seated train for an additional $170 per person. Ask for the full extra-cost list before departure.

Night train from Cairo to Aswan

Your first evening begins with hotel pickup around 7 pm, depending on where you stay in Cairo or Giza. A representative takes you to Giza train station, then you board the overnight train to Aswan.

The included ticket is described as first-class, air-conditioned seating. That is not the same as a sleeping berth. The journey is long, and comfort will vary depending on your ability to rest in a seated carriage. If you value sleep or want to arrive fresher, the sleeping train or a flight is available for the additional fee.

This is also the point where timing matters most. One delayed pickup reportedly created a near miss with the train, so I would keep your phone on, confirm the pickup time, and allow extra margin at the station. The operator provides transfers, but Egypt’s transport schedule can be less tidy than the printed plan.

Aswan, the High Dam, and Philae

After arriving in Aswan, you meet your local guide and begin with the High Dam and Philae Temple. The dam is a major modern engineering work, while Philae offers the more memorable ancient setting.

Philae sits on an island, so the motorboat is required and is not included in the price. That extra charge is easy to overlook. Once you reach the temple, the setting helps explain why this sanctuary feels different from the monuments on the mainland. Water surrounds the site, and the approach by boat forms part of the visit.

Your first cruise day includes lunch, afternoon tea, dinner, and an evening disco party. You stay aboard in Aswan, with time to disembark if you wish. The wording of the program allows some flexibility, especially if the train arrives very early. Since cruise check-in is at noon, the sightseeing may begin soon after arrival.

Abu Simbel before sunrise

The alarm comes early on the third day. The Abu Simbel trip begins around 5 am, making it the most demanding morning of the cruise. Still, this is the stop I would protect at all costs.

The two temples were built by Ramses II and are known for their huge seated figures cut into the rock. The scale is hard to grasp from photographs. Your guide can add the political and religious context, while you have time to look closely at the carvings and the setting.

After the visit, you return to the ship and begin sailing. This creates a useful contrast: an intense morning at one of Egypt’s grandest monuments, followed by a quieter afternoon on the river.

The ship’s sun deck is the place to be during this part of the journey. You can watch Nubian and Egyptian villages, small boats, riverbank farms, and changing views along both sides of the Nile. The schedule includes Egyptian tea during sailing, and this is one of the few parts of the trip with no temple clock to chase.

Kom Ombo and the crocodile god

The ship stops at Kom Ombo after sailing from Aswan. This temple is unusual because it is dedicated to two gods, Sobek, the crocodile-headed god, and Horus the Elder, shown with a falcon’s head.

The divided design gives the site its character. Two sets of courts, halls, and sanctuaries share one temple complex. You will hear about the medical instruments carved on the walls and the role of crocodiles in the religious life of ancient Egypt.

Kom Ombo is visited in the late day according to the schedule, which can bring softer light and cooler conditions. Afterward, the ship continues toward Edfu. Dinner is served aboard, and you spend another night on the river.

Edfu by horse carriage

Edfu Temple is dedicated to Horus and is described as the best-preserved temple in Egypt. Its large entrance pylons and long processional route make it easier to picture how a functioning temple complex once looked.

The horse carriage from the cruise to Edfu is included. That removes some of the usual transport hassle, though you should still expect a busy transfer area and a short ride rather than a long sightseeing excursion. Keep your belongings close and agree clearly on where and when you will meet your guide again.

Your guide’s role matters here. The carvings can look repetitive without explanation, but the stories about Horus, the temple rituals, and the meaning of the reliefs give the walls a purpose. The strongest guides on this trip are described as patient, clear, and good at telling the story rather than simply naming dates.

After Edfu, you sail toward Luxor through Esna. The ship passes through the famous Esna Lock, an example of the practical side of Nile travel. You may spend a fair amount of time waiting, but that pause is part of the river journey and gives you another chance to watch daily life along the bank.

Three nights on the cruise

The cruise ship is advertised as five-star and includes a cabin with standard facilities, a swimming pool, buffet meals, and evening entertainment. The cruise includes three breakfasts, three lunches, and three dinners, beginning with lunch on the first cruise day and ending with breakfast on disembarkation day.

Cabin size can be modest. One account describes the room as small but clean and functional, while another praises an upper room with a wide view. I would book this for the river access and convenience, not for a resort-style cabin.

Food received positive attention, including salads and buffet meals. Still, water and drinks are not included. Bring your daily drink budget, and remember that Wi-Fi costs extra on the ship. Evening programs include a disco party, though the atmosphere may vary with the group and the ship’s schedule.

The most valuable feature is not the pool or the entertainment. It is the chance to sit on deck while the river moves past. You get a slow look at Egypt that is easy to miss from a road transfer.

Luxor’s West Bank: tombs and temples

Disembarkation takes place after breakfast on the fifth day. The morning focuses on Luxor’s West Bank, beginning with the Valley of the Kings.

More than 60 royal tombs were cut into the mountain cliffs, though not all are open at the same time. Your included sightseeing covers the valley, but entrance arrangements can vary, and the general admission fee is not included. Ask which tombs are available on the day and what extra tickets may apply.

The tombs reward patience. Their value lies inside, where painted scenes and funerary texts cover the walls. The heat, exposed paths, and early start make a hat, water, and sensible shoes useful, though water itself is your responsibility because cruise drinks are extra.

Next comes the Temple of Hatshepsut, built against the cliffs. Its terraces and strong lines make it a visual change from the underground tombs. The site also gives your guide a chance to explain Hatshepsut’s unusual position as a powerful female ruler in ancient Egypt.

You then stop at the Colossi of Memnon for photographs. These giant seated statues are the remaining pieces of the funerary temple of Amenophis III. The visit is brief, but the scale of the statues makes it worthwhile.

Luxor’s East Bank: Karnak before the train

The last major monument is Karnak Temple on Luxor’s East Bank. This is the largest temple complex in Egypt and needs time, good guiding, and a willingness to walk.

The columns, courtyards, pylons, obelisks, and carved walls can blur together after several days of monuments. A strong guide helps you separate the main periods and rulers. Mohamed Shakour, Osama Ghazaly, Ahmed, Ismail Haroun, and Zakarya Saad are all praised for giving clear historical explanations, being patient, and helping with photographs and practical needs.

The Luxor sightseeing day ends around 4 or 5 pm. You then transfer to Luxor train station for the overnight journey to Cairo, which takes about 10 hours. Plan nothing demanding for the following morning. The schedule says a driver will meet you at Cairo station and take you back to your Cairo or Giza hotel.

Guides and organization

The guide can make or break this experience. The monuments are extraordinary, but a rushed or flat explanation would turn the days into a parade of stone walls. The best-known guides connected with this program are praised for storytelling, clear English, patience, and flexibility.

The tour coordinator also plays a major role. Bassant and Mona are specifically praised for frequent communication and for checking on arrangements during the trip. That support is useful because the plan includes trains, ship boarding, early pickups, multiple vehicles, and several different sightseeing areas.

Do expect some organized chaos. The itinerary can change direction if river sailing conditions require the cruise to run from Luxor to Aswan instead. The operator says you will receive the same stops in reverse order. That flexibility is normal for Nile cruises, but I would confirm the current order before you leave Cairo.

The experience is described as a private tour for your own group. That does not mean every part of the cruise is private, since the ship has other people aboard, but your guiding and transfers are arranged for your group.

Who should book this six-day Nile cruise

I would choose this trip if you want the main Nile sights arranged for you and prefer not to manage local trains, taxis, cruise schedules, and temple transport on your own. It suits first-time visitors who want a strong overview of Aswan and Luxor in a short period.

It also works well for solo visitors and families. The operator says children from six to 11 sharing with parents can be accommodated, with a maximum of two children in one room. A child aged six to 11 traveling with one adult is treated as an adult for pricing.

I would think twice if you dislike early mornings, seated overnight trains, or repeated temple visits. One day begins around 5 am for Abu Simbel, and another ends with a 10-hour overnight train. The itinerary is full, not restful.

I would also compare the train option with a flight if your Egypt schedule is short. One person who loved the cruise still advised taking flights between locations to save time. The train adds a more local travel experience, but it costs you sleep and usable sightseeing time.

The $780 value, with the extra costs counted

At $780, the package covers the parts that are hardest to arrange independently: Cairo hotel transfers, train tickets, three cruise nights, meals, guiding, Abu Simbel transport, the major monuments, Edfu’s horse carriage, and the return transfer to your Cairo or Giza hotel.

The value is strongest if you want convenience. You can move through a complicated part of Egypt with one coordinator and one main sightseeing plan. The price is less attractive if you already have transport, hotels, or a guide arranged.

Build a separate allowance for:

• Entrance fees at the listed monuments
• The motorboat to Philae
• Water and other drinks aboard the ship
• Cruise Wi-Fi
• Tips for guides, drivers, and cruise staff
• A sleeping train or flight, if you choose that option
• Any extra excursions offered during the trip

The operator offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start time. Within 24 hours, the amount paid is not refunded. Bad weather can also affect the Abu Simbel trip or the cruise, so keep the policy in mind when fixing a tight onward schedule.

Should you book it?

Book this Nile cruise if you want a broad, guided introduction to ancient Egypt with the major transport pieces handled for you. The best reasons are Abu Simbel, the steady river journey, strong guide options, and the number of major sights packed into six days.

Do not book it expecting long sleep-ins, a fully all-inclusive price, or a quiet luxury holiday. You will pay extra for key items, wake early, ride overnight trains, and follow a busy schedule.

My practical choice would be to keep the cruise, Abu Simbel, and guided temple visits, but ask about replacing the seated trains with flights if your budget allows. If you accept the pace and budget for the add-ons, this is an efficient way to see the Nile valley without spending your whole Egypt trip arranging transport.

FAQ

How long is the experience?

The experience lasts approximately six days. It includes overnight train journeys between Cairo and Aswan, then Luxor and Cairo, plus three nights aboard a Nile cruise.

Are the Cairo train tickets included?

Yes. First-class, air-conditioned seated train tickets are included. A sleeping train with a bed and dinner, or flights, are available for an additional $170 per person.

Is Abu Simbel included?

Yes. The Abu Simbel trip is included and begins around 5 am. If the trip is canceled because of bad weather, the stated refund is $30 per person.

Are entrance fees included?

No. Entrance fees are not included in the listed price. The motorboat to Philae Temple is also an additional cost.

What meals are included?

The cruise includes three breakfasts, three lunches, and three dinners. Meals begin with lunch on the first cruise day and end with breakfast on the final cruise day aboard the ship. Drinks and water cost extra.

Can the cruise direction change?

Yes. Sailing conditions may require the itinerary to begin in Luxor and end in Aswan instead. The operator says the same visits will be provided in reverse order.