6- Days Aswan , Abu Simbel , Cruise , Luxor & Round Sleeper Train

The clever part of this six-day Egypt trip is its route: you ride the sleeper train south, cruise north through the Nile Valley, then take another sleeper train from Luxor back to Cairo. It links the main ancient sites without asking you to arrange each transfer, hotel, ticket, and guide yourself.

I like the small maximum group of 15, which should make temple visits more manageable, and I like the way the cruise turns long transfers into part of the experience. The sun deck, passing villages, and changing river views give you time to slow down. The main catch is the pace: two overnight trains, early starts, and a full day of Luxor sights can leave you tired.

Key points before you book

• Two overnight sleeper trains: Cairo to Aswan and Luxor to Cairo, with dinner and breakfast on the first train.
• Three nights on a Nile cruise: Private cruise-room accommodation with breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.
• The major Aswan sights: High Dam, Unfinished Obelisk, and Philae Temple reached by motorboat.
• Two remarkable river temples: Guided visits to Kom Ombo and Edfu, with an included cart ride at Edfu.
• Optional Abu Simbel visit: Available in the early morning from Aswan, at an extra cost.
• A packed Luxor finale: Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut’s temple, Colossi of Memnon, Karnak, and Luxor Temple in one day.

Cairo to Aswan by sleeper train

Your trip begins with an evening pickup at your Cairo or Giza hotel. An air-conditioned vehicle takes you to Cairo train station, where you board the overnight sleeper train to Aswan.

The journey takes about 12 hours. Dinner and breakfast are included on this first train, and the sleeper cabin saves you the cost of a separate hotel night. Still, keep your expectations practical. A train berth is a useful way to cover distance, not a luxury hotel room. Pack a small overnight bag so you do not need to wrestle with your full luggage in the cabin.

This first night also sets the tone for the tour. You save time and get farther south, but sleep may be lighter than usual. If you need a quiet night before sightseeing, this is an important consideration.

The company requests photocopies of your passports before the trip for the sleeper train. Have those ready. Pickup and station transfers are included, so you are not left to work out Cairo’s station logistics alone.

Aswan’s dam, quarry, and island temple

After breakfast on the train, you arrive at Aswan. A pickup takes you to the Nile cruise boat, described as a five-star vessel, where you can refresh and rest before the sightseeing begins.

Your first Aswan stop is the Aswan High Dam, an enormous modern engineering project that changed the Nile’s flow and helped control flooding and electricity production. The visit is brief, about 30 minutes, but it gives you useful context for understanding why so many ancient sites had to be moved or protected.

Next comes the Unfinished Obelisk, which remains in the granite quarry where ancient workers began cutting it from the bedrock. You can see how the stone was shaped and where a flaw may have stopped the work. This is a short visit, yet it helps you picture the sheer labor behind Egypt’s monuments.

The afternoon centerpiece is Philae Temple, reached by motorboat. The boat ride is included, while the entrance ticket is not. Philae was relocated to higher ground after the construction of the High Dam threatened to submerge it, so the visit connects ancient worship with modern Egypt’s engineering choices.

Allow about two hours at Philae. The island setting gives the complex a different feel from the desert temples farther north, and the temple’s carvings reward a guide who can explain the gods, rulers, and ceremonies shown there.

Guide quality matters most at sites like this. Guides named Khaled, Magdy, Mostafa, Mustafa, and Dosa have been used on different departures. Their strongest reported qualities are clear English, strong Egyptology training, patience, and practical help with tipping, shopping, and local arrangements. Your exact guide is not guaranteed, but the operator assigns an English-speaking Egyptology guide.

Abu Simbel: the optional early morning choice

On Day 3, you have free time on the cruise, with an optional early morning trip to Abu Simbel. The excursion costs extra and is not part of the listed inclusions.

Abu Simbel is one of Egypt’s most famous sights, but the schedule matters. The tour gives you a busy six-day route already, and adding an early departure can make the following cruise and temple visits feel long. If Abu Simbel is a personal priority, the extra effort may be worthwhile. If you prefer a slower cruise morning, stay aboard and enjoy the river.

The supplied details do not give the Abu Simbel departure time, transport method, duration, or price. Ask for those specifics before paying for the optional trip. Also ask how it fits with the cruise schedule.

Kom Ombo at sunset and a moving Nile view

The cruise sails during the afternoon before stopping at Kom Ombo Temple. You visit with your guide for about two hours, then return to the boat as it continues toward Edfu.

Kom Ombo is unusual because its design honors two gods, Sobek and Horus, in one temple complex. Its position beside the Nile makes the arrival memorable, especially as the light changes late in the day. Your guide can point out the temple’s reliefs and explain why this shared layout matters.

This is one of the tour’s better uses of cruise travel. Instead of spending the afternoon in a road vehicle, you watch the riverbanks pass and arrive near the monument itself. A cruise boat also gives you a private room for the night, with meals included on a full-board basis.

The boat experience sounds comfortable rather than extravagant. The vessel is described as clean, updated, and equipped with a pleasant sun deck. Food is a mix of Egyptian dishes and Western-style buffet items. It is convenient and adequate, though you should not book this trip expecting a gourmet food program.

Wi-Fi costs extra, and water and other drinks are not included. Bring some Egyptian pounds or another accepted payment method for onboard extras and tips. Boat staff tipping is also excluded.

Edfu and the Temple of Horus

Day 4 is mostly a sailing day, followed by the visit to Edfu Temple. The boat stops at Edfu, and an included cart ride takes you from the dock area to the temple entrance.

Edfu is dedicated to Horus and is among the best-preserved large temples in Egypt. Its broad entrance, towering pylons, columns, and carved walls give you a clear sense of how an ancient temple complex was organized.

Plan on about two hours with the guide. One useful feature of the tour style is that your guide explains the main meaning of the reliefs, then leaves time for you to look around on your own. That balance matters. Egypt’s temples can blur together when every wall is delivered as a lecture, so personal time helps you notice details at your own pace.

After Edfu, the cruise continues toward Luxor and arrives in the late afternoon. You spend another night in a private cruise room. The sequence is simple: sail, visit, return to the boat, and sleep aboard. It removes much of the packing and unpacking that can wear you down on a short Egypt trip.

Luxor’s west bank from the Valley of the Kings to Memnon

After breakfast, you check out of the cruise and cross to Luxor’s West Bank. This is the tour’s busiest sightseeing day, and you should treat it as a long day in the heat, especially outside the cooler months.

The first major stop is the Valley of the Kings, where royal tombs were cut into the Theban hills. The listed visit lasts about two hours, but the exact tombs open to you depend on the entrance arrangement. Entrance fees are not included, so confirm which ticket options are covered by the amount you pay locally.

Tomb visits involve uneven ground, steps, and enclosed spaces. The Valley can feel intense, but it is also one of the most important stops on the route. You see how royal burial customs shifted from visible pyramids to hidden chambers, and the painted walls bring the beliefs of the pharaohs close.

Next is the Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari, with about 90 minutes scheduled. The temple’s terraces rise against the cliffs, and its design differs sharply from the tombs nearby. Hatshepsut’s reign also gives your guide a chance to explain the role of one of ancient Egypt’s most powerful women rulers.

The short stop at the Colossi of Memnon lasts about 30 minutes and is free of charge. These huge seated statues once guarded the entrance to a temple complex that has largely disappeared. Do not expect a long visit, but the scale makes this a useful photo and orientation stop.

Karnak and Luxor Temple after the West Bank

You then cross to Luxor’s East Bank for Karnak Temple, with about two hours planned. Karnak is vast, so a guide helps you focus on the great hypostyle hall, major gateways, and the long development of the complex under many rulers.

The final sightseeing stop is Luxor Temple, scheduled for about 90 minutes. Unlike Karnak, Luxor Temple feels more compact and direct. Its columns, statues, and processional axis show how royal power and religious ceremony were presented in the city center.

Seeing Karnak and Luxor Temple on the same day makes sense, since they are linked by ancient ceremonial routes. The drawback is simple: after the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut, and Memnon, your attention may be running low. Take water, wear practical shoes, and use the guide’s explanations to decide which details deserve your energy.

Entrance fees for all listed sights are excluded. This is the biggest cost issue to clarify before booking. The advertised $645 price covers a great deal: transport, two sleeper train journeys, three cruise nights, meals, guides, station pickups, the Philae motorboat, and the Edfu cart ride. But the final amount rises once you add temple tickets, drinks, boat staff tips, and perhaps Abu Simbel.

The return sleeper train to Cairo

After Luxor Temple, you transfer to Luxor train station for the overnight sleeper train back to Cairo. The listed journey takes about 10 hours, followed by pickup at Giza train station and transfer to your Cairo or Giza hotel.

This return train is efficient, but it comes after the tour’s fullest sightseeing day. You may be glad not to arrange another hotel, though you may also wish for one quiet night in Luxor. If your Egypt visit continues beyond this experience, consider leaving a rest day afterward rather than scheduling an early flight or demanding activity.

The included station transfers are especially useful at both ends. You do not need to navigate from Cairo to Aswan or from Luxor station to your hotel with luggage and limited sleep.

What the $645 price really buys

At $645 per person, the value is strongest for someone who wants the major Nile route handled in one booking. Three nights of full-board cruising, two overnight train tickets, multiple vehicle transfers, meals, a private cruise room, and an English-speaking Egyptology guide add up quickly when arranged separately.

The price does not include entrance fees. It also excludes cruise Wi-Fi, water and drinks, boat staff tipping, and the optional Abu Simbel excursion. Ask for a current estimate of entrance tickets before deciding that the price is final.

Group discounts are available, and the maximum group size is 15. That is small enough for guide interaction without turning every stop into a private tour. Confirmation is provided when you book, and free cancellation is available until 24 hours before the local start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

Who will enjoy this six-day route

I would choose this tour if you want to see Aswan and Luxor without managing Egyptian trains, cruise schedules, station pickups, and site transport on your own. It is also a good fit if you value explanation at monuments, since the guide is central to the experience.

The route suits first-time visitors who want a strong ancient Egypt overview in a short period. Families and mixed-age groups may appreciate the included transfers and the option to rest aboard the boat between visits.

I would hesitate if you need guaranteed long sleep, dislike fixed schedules, or want time for Cairo itself. The route starts and ends in Cairo but does not include Cairo’s pyramids, museums, or other city sights. It also asks you to handle extra entrance costs and a number of early or late transfers.

Should you book it?

Book this Nile tour if your priority is efficient access to Aswan, the major river temples, and Luxor, with a guide and transport already arranged. The sleeper trains are practical, the cruise breaks up the long route, and the small group size gives the plan a personal feel.

Before booking, get three figures in writing: the total entrance fees, the price and schedule of Abu Simbel, and the expected boat staff tip. If you can accept two imperfect nights on trains and one very full Luxor day, the $645 base price offers solid value. If comfort and free time matter more than coverage, spend longer in Aswan and Luxor instead.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts approximately six days, beginning with an evening transfer from Cairo or Giza and ending with arrival at Giza train station and a hotel transfer on Day 6.

Where does the tour begin?

Pickup is offered from hotels in Cairo or Giza. You are taken to Cairo train station for the overnight sleeper train to Aswan.

How many nights are spent on the Nile cruise?

The package includes three nights aboard a five-star Nile cruise boat in a private room, with breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

Are entrance fees included?

No. Entrance fees for the listed sightseeing stops are not included in the tour price.

Is Abu Simbel included?

No. Abu Simbel is an optional early morning excursion from Aswan and costs extra.

Are meals included?

Five breakfasts, three lunches, and five dinners are included. Dinner and breakfast are provided on the Cairo to Aswan sleeper train, and meals are included during the cruise.

What is the cancellation policy?

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