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

Abu Simbel is the headline here, but the real pleasure is the way this trip strings together Egypt’s great river sights in only three days. You leave Aswan before dawn for Ramesses II’s rock-cut temples, then return in time to board a 5-star ship and sail north toward Luxor.

I like the efficient route, which saves you from arranging separate transport between Aswan and Luxor. I also like the mix of grand monuments and quiet hours on deck, especially while the ship passes villages, fields, and the Nile’s changing scenery.

The main caution is cost planning. The $550 price includes the cruise, meals, transfers, guide, and Abu Simbel transport, but entrance fees, drinks, Wi-Fi, tips, and optional visits are extra. The schedule can also change with sailing conditions.

Key points to know before booking

• Abu Simbel starts around 4:30 a.m. from Aswan and takes about nine hours round trip.
• Two nights aboard a 5-star Nile cruise include breakfast, lunch, and dinner, beginning with lunch on day one and ending with breakfast on day three.
• Kom Ombo and Edfu are visited during the sailing portion, with Edfu reached by horse carriage.
• Luxor’s West Bank includes three Valley of the Kings tombs, Hatshepsut Temple, and the Colossi of Memnon.
• The group can reach 20 people, while the Abu Simbel journey is shared in a bus or minibus.
• Entrance fees are separate, and payment for sightseeing tickets is required by card.

Why this Aswan to Luxor cruise works so well

A Nile cruise is one of the simplest ways to connect southern Egypt’s major ancient sites. Instead of checking into several hotels and arranging long road transfers, you unpack once and let the ship move you between Aswan, Kom Ombo, Edfu, and Luxor.

This three-day plan is short, but it is not thin on sights. You see Abu Simbel far south of Aswan, two important temples along the river, and the essential monuments on Luxor’s West Bank. You also get time to watch the Nile from the upper deck, which gives the trip a welcome pause between early starts and temple visits.

The tour is priced at $550 per person. That is a substantial sum, but the value depends on how you use it. The price covers two nights aboard the cruise, six meals, air-conditioned transfers, an English-speaking Egyptology guide, the Abu Simbel excursion, and transport to your final hotel, airport, or train station in Luxor.

You will need to budget separately for entrance tickets to the monuments. Drinks, bottled water, Wi-Fi, laundry, tips, and optional visits are also outside the price. Since the cruise is sold on a full-board basis, the package makes the most sense if you want a ready-made route rather than the freedom to arrange each stop independently.

The early road to Abu Simbel

Your first morning begins very early, with pickup from your Aswan hotel at about 4:30 a.m. The Abu Simbel drive takes most of the morning, and the complete outing lasts about nine hours. It is a demanding start, but Abu Simbel is not a sight you can easily replace with something closer.

The temples were cut into the rock for King Ramesses II and Queen Nefertari. The approach to the complex reveals the enormous seated figures of Ramesses II, carved to project power on a scale that is hard to grasp from photographs. The smaller temple dedicated to Nefertari is notable for giving the queen an unusually prominent place beside the king.

A licensed Egyptology guide accompanies the shared excursion. Copies of your passport, hotel name, and room number are required in advance for the government permission connected with the visit, so have those details ready when booking.

The Abu Simbel outing uses a shared bus or minibus rather than a private vehicle. That keeps the price lower, though it also means you follow a fixed departure and return schedule. You return to Aswan around 1:30 p.m., collect your luggage, and transfer to the ship for check-in and lunch.

If bad weather cancels the Abu Simbel trip, the stated refund is $30 per person. That is worth noting because Abu Simbel is a major part of the appeal, yet the cruise itself continues under the separate sailing schedule.

Boarding the ship and sailing toward Kom Ombo

After returning from Abu Simbel, you board the cruise and have lunch. The ship is described as 5-star, with buffet breakfasts, lunches, and dinners included for the two-night stay. Exact ship assignments can vary, so do not book this expecting one named vessel unless that detail is confirmed before payment.

The ship begins sailing around 2 p.m. toward Kom Ombo. This first stretch gives you a chance to settle in after the early road journey. I would use the afternoon to organize your cabin, check the dining times, and keep your camera ready for the approach to the temple.

Kom Ombo is unusual because it is a double temple. One side is associated with Sobek, the crocodile god, and the other with Horus, the falcon god. The paired layout helps you see how different religious traditions could share one monumental site.

The visit lasts about an hour and a half. Expect a guided walk through a large temple complex rather than a long, unhurried archaeological study. Light fades quickly in the evening, so stay near your guide and keep your phone or camera charged.

After the visit, you return to the ship for dinner. The cruise continues to Edfu, where the ship spends the night. This is a practical arrangement: you wake near the next major temple instead of losing the morning to another road transfer.

Edfu and the Temple of Horus

After breakfast, you leave the ship for the Temple of Horus. The transfer includes a horse carriage ride with your guide, a memorable change from the larger vehicle used for Abu Simbel.

Edfu’s Temple of Horus is described as the most complete and best-preserved of the Egyptian temples included on this route. Its scale and condition make it easier to picture how a functioning temple complex was organized, with monumental gateways, courtyards, and carved surfaces.

The visit lasts about two hours. Your guide’s explanations matter here because the carvings and rooms can look similar at first glance. An Egyptology guide can point out the temple’s religious themes and help you make sense of what you are seeing rather than leaving you to photograph one wall after another.

The horse carriage is included as part of the visit, but the tour information does not specify the exact carriage arrangements or waiting time. Keep your expectations practical. It is transport connected with the temple visit, not a separate countryside excursion.

Back on board, lunch is served while the ship sails toward Luxor. This is one of the better parts of the trip. After several hours of guided sightseeing, you can sit on the sundeck, watch the Nile scenery pass, and recover without packing another day bag.

The ship crosses the Esna lock on the way to Luxor. You may also have afternoon tea on the sundeck before arriving in Luxor late in the afternoon. Sailing times can change because of river conditions, and the operator may reverse the order of stops while still covering the listed sights.

A full morning on Luxor’s West Bank

Day three begins with breakfast and checkout. You then drive to Luxor’s West Bank, where the focus shifts from temples built for public worship to tombs and memorial monuments connected with Egypt’s rulers.

The Valley of the Kings is the first major stop. Pharaohs of the New Kingdom carved their tombs into the surrounding hills in an effort to protect their burials and treasures. The tour includes entry to three of the open tombs, with the guide recommending which three are best on the day.

That flexibility is useful because the open tombs can change. You should not assume that a particular famous tomb will be included every time. The practical benefit is that your guide can direct you toward the strongest available combination rather than locking you into three choices that may not suit the conditions.

The Valley can be hot and exposed, and the visit follows an early cruise checkout. Wear light clothing, bring sun protection, and keep water money available. Water is not included on the ship or in the tour package, so you will need to buy drinks yourself.

The next stop is the mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari. Its broad terraces and cliff-side setting give it a different character from the enclosed tombs. Your guide will also explain Hatshepsut’s story, including her relationship with her nephew, which adds useful political context to the monument.

The West Bank visit ends with a photo stop at the Colossi of Memnon, two gigantic statues that once marked the entrance to a much larger memorial temple. The stop is brief, but it gives you a classic Luxor photograph without adding a long walk at the end of an already busy morning.

Lunch at a local restaurant is optional. Since the cruise includes breakfast but ends its included meal service with that morning meal, plan ahead if you want lunch before your final transfer.

What is missing from the standard schedule

The standard program finishes on the West Bank and then transfers you to your Luxor hotel, airport, or train station. An East Bank visit to Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple is available for an extra charge, but it is not part of the basic price.

That distinction matters. Karnak is one of Luxor’s major sights, and Luxor Temple is especially important for anyone wanting a fuller picture of the city’s monuments. If you have only one night in Luxor or are leaving immediately after the cruise, ask about adding the East Bank before you book.

The extra visit may also affect your final transfer time. Confirm the order of sightseeing, lunch, and drop-off so you are not trying to reach a train or flight with an overpacked schedule.

Meals, cabins, and time on board

The cruise includes two breakfasts, two lunches, and two dinners. The first included meal is lunch after you board in Aswan, and the final included meal is breakfast on the third morning.

Buffet service is convenient for a short cruise because you can eat without waiting for a long set menu. It also gives you flexibility after early temple visits. Drinks are not included, and neither are Wi-Fi or bottled water, so set aside extra money for those basics.

The ship is marketed as a 5-star cruise, but the information provided does not name the vessel or specify cabin size, pool facilities, entertainment, or exact onboard services. If those details matter to you, ask for the ship name and current photographs before booking.

The best onboard feature may be the movement itself. You are not simply using the ship as a hotel. The hours between Edfu and Luxor let you see the Nile from the deck, with the river providing a calmer rhythm after the early Abu Simbel departure and the guided temple walks.

Guides, transfers, and group size

An English-speaking Egyptology guide is included, along with pickup, drop-off, and transfers in an air-conditioned vehicle. Pickup is available from a hotel, airport, or train station in Aswan, and the final transfer can end at a hotel, airport, or train station in Luxor.

The maximum group size is 20. That is small enough for a workable guided visit, though it is not a private tour. Abu Simbel is specifically arranged as a shared excursion, using a bus or minibus.

One useful service detail is the responsiveness of the contact person, Heba. She handled questions promptly and helped arrange a replacement cruise when cruise cancellations created problems during the period of reduced passenger numbers. That suggests you should keep communication open if the assigned ship changes.

The operator may update sailing times or change the sightseeing order because of river conditions. This is normal for a river cruise, but it means you should avoid scheduling a tight, nonrefundable connection immediately after a planned stop.

Pickup from hotels on Aswan’s west bank costs an additional $10 per person. Drop-off at a west-bank hotel in Luxor also costs an extra $10 per person.

Who will get the most from this trip

I would choose this cruise if you want the main southern Egypt sights arranged in one package and do not want to coordinate long-distance transport yourself. It suits first-time visitors who value a guide, included meals, and a clear route from Aswan to Luxor.

It also works well if Abu Simbel is high on your list. The early departure is tiring, but arranging Abu Simbel as part of the first day avoids giving up a separate night in Aswan.

The trip is less suitable if you want slow, independent visits. The schedule is fixed, Abu Simbel is shared, and the three-day format leaves little room for extra time at each monument. You should also think twice if you dislike early mornings, group transport, or additional costs at every major archaeological site.

Families can join, but a child aged 5 to 11 accompanied by one adult is charged as an adult. The tour is open to most people, and the information states that most participants can take part, but the long first day and repeated walking should still be considered when planning with children.

Price, practical costs, and booking terms

At $550 per person, the package offers a useful bundle: two nights on a 5-star ship, six included meals, air-conditioned transfers, an English-speaking guide, the Abu Simbel road trip, and sightseeing transport between Aswan and Luxor.

The price is less attractive if you already have a hotel, private car, and guide arranged. It becomes more reasonable when you compare it with booking the cruise and Abu Simbel separately, especially since the route covers both ends of the Nile journey.

Entrance fees are not included and must be paid by card. Tips for the guide, driver, and cruise crew are also separate. Personal expenses such as laundry, drinks, water, and Wi-Fi add to the final bill.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations inside that period are not accepted for a refund. The trip can also be moved or refunded if poor weather cancels it or if the minimum number of participants is not reached.

You need a valid passport on the day of the trip. Prices are quoted in U.S. dollars per person and do not apply unchanged during Christmas, New Year, and Easter holiday periods.

Should you book this Nile cruise?

Book it if you want a short, organized Nile route with Abu Simbel included and you value having transport, meals, and an Egyptology guide handled in one booking. The strongest points are the well-planned sequence, the comfortable ship-based travel, and the chance to see both Edfu and Kom Ombo without changing hotels.

Think carefully before booking if your main goal is a slow cruise, a private guide, or a luxury experience with every cost included. Ask for the ship name, confirm which entrance tickets are needed, and decide in advance if you want to add Karnak and Luxor Temple.

For many first visits to southern Egypt, this is a sensible three-day framework. Just arrive ready for a 4:30 a.m. start, keep some extra money on your card, and allow flexibility around the sailing schedule.

FAQ

How long is the Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor?

The experience lasts about three days and includes two nights aboard the Nile cruise.

What time does the Abu Simbel trip begin?

Pickup from your Aswan hotel is scheduled for around 4:30 a.m. You return to Aswan at about 1:30 p.m. before boarding the cruise.

Is Abu Simbel included in the experience?

Yes. The Abu Simbel trip and shared transport in a bus or minibus are included, but the entrance ticket is not included.

Which meals are included?

The cruise includes two breakfasts, two lunches, and two dinners. Meal service begins with lunch on the first day and ends with breakfast on the third day.

Which sights are visited between Aswan and Luxor?

The route includes Abu Simbel, Kom Ombo Temple, the Temple of Horus at Edfu, the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, and the Colossi of Memnon.

Are entrance fees included?

No. Entrance fees to the listed sightseeing locations are separate and must be paid by card.

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

Yes. Pickup is available from an Aswan hotel, airport, or train station. Final drop-off is available at a Luxor hotel, airport, or train station.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

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 start time are not accepted for a refund.