Amazing 2 Nights Nile Cruise From Aswan To Luxor including Tours and Abu Simbel

Abu Simbel is the bold opening act here. You leave Aswan around 4:30 a.m. for the long road south, then return in time to board a two-night Nile cruise. Over the next three days, the ship carries you to Kom Ombo, Edfu, and Luxor, while guides connect the carved stone to the pharaohs who built it.

I like the efficient route, which packs several major sights into one trip without requiring you to arrange separate hotels, drivers, and transfers. I also like the practical inclusions: full-board meals, air-conditioned transport, an English-speaking Egyptology guide, and pickup and drop-off at a hotel, airport, or train station.

The main drawback is the pace. Abu Simbel begins before dawn, entrance tickets cost extra, and the third day combines several West Bank sights before your departure from Luxor. This is a strong sightseeing trip, but not a slow, restful cruise.

Key points at a glance

• Abu Simbel before breakfast: Leave Aswan around 4:30 a.m. for the famous rock-cut temples, then return to board the ship after lunch.
• Two nights on a 5-star ship: Accommodation, breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included, starting with lunch on Day 1 and ending with breakfast on Day 3.
• A compact temple run: Visit Kom Ombo and Edfu while the ship sails north toward Luxor.
• Three Valley of the Kings tombs: Your guide recommends three open tombs, with entrance fees paid separately by card.
• Small shared group: The activity accepts a maximum of 20 people, including the shared Abu Simbel transfer.
• Useful end-to-end transport: Pickup and final transfer can be arranged from hotels, airports, or train stations, with extra charges for Aswan’s west bank and Luxor’s west bank.

Why this Aswan to Luxor route works

A Nile cruise is useful because the river links the sights in a logical order. Instead of unpacking every day and negotiating separate transport, you sleep on the same ship while moving from Aswan toward Luxor.

This trip is especially efficient if you have only a few days in southern Egypt. It covers the major stops between the two cities, then adds Abu Simbel, which sits about 285 kilometers south of Aswan and requires a separate road journey.

The advertised price is $550 per person. That includes two nights aboard a 5-star cruise, full-board meals, transfers, the shared Abu Simbel trip, and a guide. It does not include entrance fees, drinks, Wi-Fi, tips, or optional visits, so your final spending will be higher.

I would compare the price with the cost of arranging a ship, a private transfer to Abu Simbel, a guide, and transport around Luxor separately. The value is strongest if you want a ready-made route and do not want to handle those moving parts yourself.

The cruise may carry up to 20 people. That is small enough for a more manageable guided visit, though it is still a group experience rather than a private tour. An agent named Heba has been praised for quick replies and for finding an alternative ship when cruise schedules were affected by low passenger numbers, so it is worth confirming the actual vessel before departure.

Day 1: Abu Simbel demands an early start

The first morning starts around 4:30 a.m., when an Egyptology guide collects you from your Aswan hotel. The Abu Simbel drive is made in a shared bus or minibus, and the complete outing takes about nine hours.

The reward is one of Egypt’s most dramatic sights: the rock-cut temples built for Ramesses II and Queen Nefertari. The huge seated figures and the scale of the carved facades make this a different experience from the smaller temples along the river.

The early departure is not a small detail. You need to be comfortable leaving before sunrise, sitting through a long road transfer, and returning to Aswan around 1:30 p.m. This is the price of seeing Abu Simbel within a short Nile itinerary.

Admission is not included. You will need to pay entrance fees by card, so bring a valid payment method rather than assuming all sightseeing costs are covered by the cruise price.

After returning to Aswan, you collect your luggage and transfer to the ship. Lunch is served on board, and the cruise begins around 2 p.m. The timing leaves little room for delay, so keep your passport, room details, and day bag ready before departure.

The Abu Simbel permit process also requires passport copies, your hotel name, and your room number. A current passport is required on the day of the activity.

Kom Ombo: a temple beside the river

The ship sails toward Kom Ombo after lunch. You arrive around 2 p.m. and have about an hour and a half to visit the temple before returning for dinner.

Kom Ombo is unusual because it is a double temple dedicated to two gods: Sobek, the crocodile god, and Horus, the falcon god. The shared structure gives your guide a good chance to explain how different religious traditions could occupy the same sacred site.

The visit also breaks up the first day nicely. After the long Abu Simbel transfer, you can walk through the temple, return to the ship, and continue sailing toward Edfu for the night.

Again, admission is extra. The experience includes the guide and transportation connected with the cruise program, but not the ticket itself. That distinction matters when you work out the real budget.

One pleasure of this route is seeing the river from the ship between stops. The program includes time on the deck, and the changing view is a welcome contrast to temple courtyards and road transfers.

Day 2: Edfu and a quiet stretch of Nile

After breakfast, you take a horse-carriage ride with your guide to the Temple of Horus at Edfu. The ride is part of the planned visit, and the temple stop lasts about two hours.

Edfu is described as the best-preserved and most complete of the Egyptian temples. Its condition lets you make out the strong lines of the pylons, columns, and carved walls more easily than at sites where time and weather have taken a heavier toll.

Your guide helps give the carvings a purpose instead of leaving you to stare at a wall of symbols. This is where an Egyptology guide adds real value, especially if you want to understand the roles of Horus and the scenes shown on the temple walls.

After the visit, you return to the ship for lunch and sail toward Luxor. The rest of the day is less about collecting monuments and more about river time. You can relax on the deck, watch the Nile scenery, and have afternoon tea.

The ship also crosses the Esna lock. Sailing conditions can change the exact timetable or the order of visits, so you should treat the schedule as a working plan rather than a minute-by-minute promise. The provider says the listed sights will still be covered if the order changes.

You arrive in Luxor late in the afternoon and spend the second night on board. This is the most relaxed part of the trip, though the overall schedule remains active.

Day 3: the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut

After breakfast, you check out and drive to Luxor’s West Bank. The first major stop is the Valley of the Kings, where New Kingdom pharaohs cut tombs into the hills to protect their burials and treasures.

The visit lasts about an hour and a half. You can enter three open tombs, with your guide recommending the best choices available that day.

That arrangement is practical because the open tombs can vary. It also keeps the visit focused, although anyone hoping to see a particular tomb should ask about current access before arrival. Entrance fees are separate and paid by card.

The tombs are not simply empty rooms. Their painted corridors and chambers show how the pharaohs prepared for the afterlife, and the enclosed spaces offer a sharp contrast to the open river and temple courtyards from the first two days.

Next comes the mortuary temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari. The temple’s broad terraces and cliff setting make it one of Luxor’s most memorable stops, while the story of Hatshepsut and her nephew gives the guide a chance to explain the political side of royal power.

The West Bank visit ends with a photo stop at the Colossi of Memnon, the enormous statues associated with the ancient entrance to a temple complex. You then have the option of lunch at a local restaurant for an extra charge.

An optional East Bank visit to Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple is also available at additional cost. This can be worthwhile if you are leaving Luxor soon and would otherwise miss the city’s two major East Bank monuments. It will also make an already full final day even busier.

At the end, you are transferred to your Luxor hotel, airport, or train station. Drop-off at a hotel on Luxor’s West Bank costs an additional $10 per person, just as pickup from a hotel on Aswan’s West Bank costs an extra $10 per person.

What life on the ship is really like

The ship provides two nights of accommodation on a 5-star Nile cruise with breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Meals begin with lunch on Day 1 and finish with breakfast on Day 3, so you should plan for any food or drinks you want outside those services.

Buffet meals are included, which makes the schedule easier. You do not need to search for a restaurant after each temple visit, though water, other beverages, Wi-Fi, and personal expenses are not covered.

The deck is an important part of the experience. The program includes time to watch the Nile scenery while sailing, afternoon tea, and a chance to rest between guided visits. If you view the cruise only as a floating hotel, you will miss much of its appeal.

At the same time, do not mistake a sightseeing cruise for a quiet luxury break. The Abu Simbel day begins very early, the ship follows a set route, and the final Luxor day includes several major stops. Your schedule is built around monuments, not long mornings in bed.

Cruise times can change because of sailing conditions. The provider may alter the order or timing, but says the listed visits will be covered. Keep some flexibility in your plans, especially if you have a train or flight immediately after the final transfer.

Costs, group size, and practical planning

The $550 price includes a good number of costly pieces, but you need to budget beyond it. Add entrance fees for Abu Simbel, Kom Ombo, Edfu, the Valley of the Kings, and other included sightseeing stops, plus tips for the guide, driver, and cruise crew.

Drinks, water, Wi-Fi, laundry, and other personal expenses are also separate. Lunch at a local restaurant on Day 3 is optional, and the Karnak and Luxor Temple visit costs extra.

Children aged 5 to 11 who travel with one adult are charged as adults. The activity requires a minimum number of participants and may be canceled if that number is not reached. If bad weather cancels the Abu Simbel trip, the stated refund is $30 per person.

The booking can be canceled up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted, and the local time controls the cutoff.

The tour is available in languages other than English for an extra charge. Most people can participate, and the activity is near public transportation, but the provided details do not specify ship accessibility or exact mobility arrangements. If that matters to you, ask before paying.

Who should book this Nile cruise?

I would choose this trip if you want the main Aswan to Luxor sights in a compact package. It suits first-time visitors who value organized transfers, a guide, and a fixed route more than free time.

It is also a good fit if Abu Simbel is high on your list. Adding that distant temple to a short cruise saves you from arranging a separate trip, though the early morning and long drive require stamina.

You may prefer a longer cruise or private tour if you want more time at each site, control over the schedule, or a quieter pace. A private arrangement could also make sense if you want to choose specific tombs or spend more time on Luxor’s East Bank.

The current score is 4.9 out of 5 from 18 ratings, with all listed recommendations positive. The strongest practical signal is the attention to organization and the agent’s quick communication, including help finding a replacement ship when cruise operations were affected by low demand.

Should you book it?

Book this Nile cruise if you want maximum sightseeing in three days and are comfortable with early starts, shared transport, extra entrance fees, and a firm schedule. The route is smart, the included meals and transfers reduce hassle, and Abu Simbel adds real value to a standard Aswan to Luxor sailing.

Skip it if your idea of a cruise is mostly rest. This is a busy sightseeing package with a hotel on the river, not a slow holiday. Confirm the ship, the entrance-fee total, pickup location, and any optional visits before booking, then keep your final Luxor departure time flexible.

FAQ

How long is the Aswan to Luxor cruise?

The experience lasts approximately three days and includes two nights on a 5-star Nile cruise.

Is Abu Simbel included?

The shared Abu Simbel trip and transport are included, but the entrance ticket is not included.

What time does the Abu Simbel trip begin?

Pickup from your Aswan hotel is around 4:30 a.m. on Day 1.

How many people can join the activity?

The maximum group size is 20 people.

Are meals included on the cruise?

Yes. The package includes two breakfasts, two lunches, and two dinners. It starts with lunch on Day 1 and ends with breakfast on Day 3.

Are entrance fees included?

No. Entrance fees to the listed sights are paid separately by card.

Which temples are visited during the cruise?

The route includes Abu Simbel, Kom Ombo Temple, the Temple of Horus at Edfu, the Valley of the Kings, and Hatshepsut Temple. An East Bank visit to Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple is optional and costs extra.

Can I be picked up or dropped off at an airport or train station?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off can be arranged at hotels, airports, or train stations in Aswan and Luxor.

Is there an extra fee for West Bank hotels?

Yes. Pickup from an Aswan West Bank hotel costs an extra $10 per person. Drop-off at a Luxor West Bank hotel also costs an extra $10 per person.

What happens if Abu Simbel is canceled because of bad weather?

You will be offered a different date or a full refund. If the Abu Simbel trip is canceled because of bad weather, the stated refund is $30 per person.

Can I cancel the tour?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the experience starts for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted.

What documents are needed?

You need a current valid passport on the day of the activity. Passport copies, your hotel name, and your room number are required for the Abu Simbel government permission.