My Honest Review of a 4-Day Aswan to Luxor Nile Cruise (with Abu Simbel & the Balloon Ride)

My Honest Review of a 4-Day Aswan to Luxor Nile Cruise (with Abu Simbel & the Balloon Ride)

Traditional felucca boat sailing on the Nile river at sunset

So, you are thinking about a Nile cruise, right? It’s basically one of those trips that so many people have on their list. I mean, I had it on mine for a very long time. The whole idea of, you know, just drifting down the same river as the pharaohs is just a little bit magical. I just recently did the 4-day, 3-night trip that starts in Aswan and ends up in Luxor, and honestly, it included the big ticket items: the temples at Abu Simbel and that sunrise hot air balloon flight over Luxor. It’s almost too good to be true, you know? At the end of the day, I wanted to put together my thoughts on it, so you can sort of decide if it’s the right move for your own big Egypt adventure.

Frankly, picking the right cruise is a bit overwhelming. You see, like, hundreds of boats and dozens of itineraries. The reason I picked this specific one is that it seemed to pack the most punch in a pretty short time. So, starting in Aswan is often a bit more relaxed than starting in the more hectic city of Luxor. In other words, you get a softer landing into the whole ancient Egypt experience. This review, anyway, is me just laying it all out there, the good stuff, the amazing stuff, and the things you should probably know before you go. Obviously, it’s my personal take, but I really hope it helps you figure out your plan.

Day 1: Arriving in Aswan and Soaking It All In

Philae Temple on Agilkia Island in Aswan Egypt

Okay, so Day 1 really begins with you getting to Aswan, and honestly, the vibe there is just different. It’s pretty much southern Egypt’s most beautiful city, you know, and it just feels slower and more peaceful than Cairo. So, once we got all our stuff, we headed straight to the cruise ship, which would be our home for the next few nights. First impressions are really a big deal, and walking onto the ship for the first time was kind of awesome. Most of the ships have, like, a grand lobby and the staff are seriously welcoming with a cool drink. You can get fantastic information on Nile cruise boats to help pick the best one for your style.

After we settled into our cabin, which actually had a big window looking right out onto the Nile, the exploring started. That first day in Aswan is more or less packed. We went to see the High Dam, which is just massive and you sort of can’t believe how big it is until you’re standing on it. Then it was on to the Unfinished Obelisk, and really, seeing it just gives you so much respect for the ancient stonemasons. But you know, the real highlight was definitely the Philae Temple. You have to take a little motorboat to get to it since it’s on an island, and seriously, the whole approach is just incredibly beautiful. To be honest, it’s one of those moments that makes you feel like you are truly in a special place.

Day 2: The Very Early Start for Abu Simbel

The great temple of Abu Simbel in Egypt at sunrise

Right, so you have to be ready for Day 2 because it starts ridiculously early, like, 3 or 4 AM early. This is for the trip to Abu Simbel, and at the end of the day, you just have to do it. It’s a very long drive through the desert in a convoy, but you know what? It’s completely worth it. Watching the sun come up over the empty desert landscape is sort of an experience in itself. And then you arrive. Honestly, no picture you’ve ever seen can prepare you for seeing the Great Temple of Ramesses II for the first time. The four statues are just so enormous, they basically make you feel tiny.

You get a good amount of time to wander around, to go inside the temples and see the incredibly preserved carvings. To think they moved this entire complex, stone by stone, to save it from the rising waters of Lake Nasser is just mind-boggling, you know? After getting our minds properly blown, we made the long drive back to our ship in Aswan just in time for lunch. For example, some people wonder if the trip is worth the effort, and you really want to see the detailed options before deciding. In the afternoon, the boat finally set sail, and honestly, this was a moment I was really waiting for. We just chilled on the sun deck, watching the green banks of the Nile slide by. Later that day, as a matter of fact, we docked at Kom Ombo to visit the temple shared by two gods, Sobek the crocodile god and Horus the falcon god, which is pretty unique.

Day 3: A Carriage Ride and Cruising Through the Lock

Temple of Horus at Edfu, Egypt

So, the next morning we woke up in Edfu, and getting to the temple here is half the fun, seriously. You take a horse-drawn carriage through the busy streets of the town, which is really a lively and, well, kind of chaotic experience. It’s a little bit of a sensory overload but in a really good way. The Temple of Horus at Edfu is, you know, one of the best-preserved temples in all of Egypt. It’s almost intact, so you can really get a sense of what these places might have looked like thousands of years ago. It’s pretty much breathtaking when you first walk through the massive pylon entrance.

After we returned to the boat, the rest of the day was basically just pure relaxation as we sailed towards Luxor. This part of the trip is so scenic, with farmers working in the fields and children waving from the riverbanks. It feels like you’ve sort of gone back in time. The most interesting part of the day, frankly, was passing through the Esna Lock. The ship goes into this huge chamber, the water level changes, and then you continue on your way. You get to see the everyday life along the Nile in such a direct way. It’s also where you see lots of sellers in little boats, trying to sell their goods by throwing them up to the sundeck. It’s a spectacle, for sure. We arrived in Luxor that evening, with the lights of the city and the beautifully illuminated Luxor Temple welcoming us.

Day 4: Floating at Sunrise & Exploring the Afterlife

Hot air balloons over the Valley of the Kings in Luxor

Okay, so this was the other super-early morning, but like the Abu Simbel trip, it was so worth it. This was for the hot air balloon ride over Luxor’s West Bank. Honestly, I mean, waking up at 4 AM again was tough, but that feeling just vanished as soon as we started to lift off the ground. It was still dark, and you are just floating silently up with, like, a hundred other balloons. Then, the sun starts to peek over the horizon, lighting up the sky and revealing the incredible landscape below. You see the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut’s Temple, and the green fields all from this amazing bird’s-eye view. It’s just utterly serene and magical, you know?

Once we were back on solid ground, buzzing from the flight, the day’s touring began. We went straight to the Valley of the Kings. Walking down into the tombs of pharaohs like Ramesses II and Tutankhamun is a really powerful feeling. The colors of the paintings on the walls are still so bright after all these thousands of years, it’s almost unbelievable. Next up was the massive Temple of Hatshepsut, which is just an architectural marvel built into the side of a cliff. Finally, we made a quick stop at the two giant Colossi of Memnon statues before heading back. This day is incredibly packed, so you definitely want a plan for the West Bank to make the most of it. This day more or less marked the end of the cruise itinerary itself, leaving us with some seriously amazing memories.

So, What Was Life on the Boat Actually Like?

Sun deck and swimming pool on a Nile cruise ship

I mean, the sites are the main event, right, but you spend a lot of time on the ship. So what’s it like? Well, the cabins are pretty much like a decent hotel room, just a bit smaller. The most important feature is that big window, so you can just lie in bed and watch the world go by. The food on our boat was actually surprisingly good. It was usually a buffet with a ton of options, so you could always find something you liked, from Egyptian dishes to more familiar international food. Getting to sample different local dishes was a really fun part of the experience.

The best part of the boat, in my opinion, was the sundeck. It usually has a small swimming pool, plenty of lounge chairs, and a bar. This is where you really get that classic Nile cruise feeling. You can just relax in the sun, read a book, and watch the timeless scenery. It’s incredibly peaceful. In the evenings, there was often some light entertainment, like a belly dancing show or a “Galabeya Party” where everyone dresses up in traditional Egyptian garments. It’s a little bit cheesy, but honestly, it was pretty fun.

At the end of the day, my biggest piece of advice is to just embrace the pace of the river. You can’t rush the Nile, you know? Just sit back, watch the scenery, and let the history sort of wash over you. That’s where the real magic happens, basically.