My Movenpick Nile Cruise Review (4-Day & Hot Air Balloon)

So, you are thinking about seeing Egypt from the water, right? The idea of gliding down the Nile, with ancient history just on the riverbanks, is sort of magical, you know. I had been looking at different ways to do this, and honestly, the M/S Movenpick four-day trip from Aswan, which also includes that amazing hot air balloon flight in Luxor, really stood out. This is basically my honest take on the whole experience, so you can get a better picture of what it’s really like. At the end of the day, a trip like this is about the feelings and moments, not just a list of places you go to. It’s almost about time-traveling, in a way, without leaving your very comfortable floating hotel. This is really what my 2025 experience felt like, from start to finish.

All Aboard the M/S Movenpick in Aswan

Okay, so showing up in Aswan and first seeing the M/S Movenpick ship is a pretty cool moment. It’s clearly a classic river cruise boat, a little bigger than you might expect, but still, it has a very welcoming look. As I was saying, getting on board was more or less a smooth process, with the staff there to greet you with a cool hibiscus drink, which is just what you need. My cabin was, to be honest, a very pleasant surprise. It had a big window, pretty much from the floor to the ceiling, that you could actually slide open to a small balcony rail. This means you could, like, stand there and just watch the Nile flow by, which is frankly a huge part of the appeal. The room itself was clearly kept very clean, and the bed was honestly comfortable enough for a good night’s sleep after long days of seeing things.

The main part of the boat, like the sun deck, is obviously where a lot of people hang out. There is a small swimming pool up there, which, you know, is a bit of a lifesaver in the afternoon heat. Finding a sun lounger was usually pretty easy, and the staff would, like, come around to see if you wanted a drink or something. It’s pretty much the best spot to be as the ship pulls away from the dock in Aswan. That first evening, just sitting up there and watching the city lights of Aswan get smaller and smaller, with the quiet sounds of the river around you, is definitely a core memory. In other words, it sets the whole mood for the days ahead.

Sailing to Kom Ombo and Edfu

Waking up on your first full day is actually a different kind of experience. You sort of look out the window and you’re not in a city anymore; you are just surrounded by green riverbanks and the odd small village. After breakfast, our first stop was the Temple of Kom Ombo, which is, like, right on the water’s edge. What is really unique about this place, apparently, is that it is dedicated to two different gods, Sobek the crocodile god and Horus the falcon-headed god. So, you can see how everything inside is sort of split perfectly down the middle, which is pretty neat. The guide explained some of the carvings, and it’s just wild to see what are basically ancient medical instruments carved into the stone walls thousands of years ago.

Later in the day, as we kept sailing, we reached Edfu, which is just a little different. Here, you actually take a horse-drawn carriage from the boat to the Temple of Horus. At the end of the day, it’s a fun and slightly bumpy way to see a bit of the local town. The temple itself is, well, huge and almost perfectly preserved, because it was buried in sand for a long, long time. Walking into the main hall, with all its massive columns, makes you feel, you know, really small. You can just spend a lot of time in there looking up and around, spotting all the little details in the shadows. The food on the boat during these days was always a buffet, with a pretty good mix of Egyptian dishes and other international stuff, so you could typically find something you liked.

The Hot Air Balloon Over Luxor’s West Bank

Seriously, the hot air balloon morning is an event you will not forget. You get a wake-up call when it is still completely dark outside, maybe around 4 AM, which is a bit tough, I mean. They give you a little box with some coffee and a pastry, and then you’re on a small boat crossing the Nile over to the West Bank. Even that part is actually really cool, seeing the river in the dark. Once you’re on the West Bank, you see all the balloons laid out on the ground, and it’s a scene of very organized activity. The sound of the burners firing up, lighting up the whole area, is pretty intense and exciting.

Then, you are in the basket, and the feeling of lifting off the ground is, well, so incredibly smooth. It’s not scary at all; it’s just this very gentle rise. And then, you’re up there. The sun is just starting to come up over the horizon, and you are looking down at the Valley of the Kings and Queen Hatshepsut’s Temple. From that high up, you get a real sense of the scale of everything, how these massive structures are kind of hidden away in the cliffs. The quiet up there, apart from the occasional roar of the burner, is just amazing. It’s arguably the single best part of the whole trip and gives you a completely different view of these famous places. To be honest, it’s worth the early start, a hundred percent.

Exploring Luxor: The World’s Biggest Open-Air Museum

After you are back on solid ground from the balloon ride, the day of exploring is actually far from over. Luxor is pretty much just packed with mind-blowing history. First, we went to the Valley of the Kings, where you can actually go inside some of the ancient pharaohs’ tombs. Seeing the colorful paintings still on the walls after thousands of years is, frankly, unbelievable. You aren’t allowed to take pictures inside the tombs, so you kind of have to just soak it all in. Then there’s the Temple of Hatshepsut, which is built right into the side of a cliff and looks so modern, in a way, for something so ancient.

On the East Bank, you have the two giants: Karnak and Luxor Temples. Karnak is just, I mean, it is massive. The great hypostyle hall, with its 134 giant columns, is a place where you can easily get lost. It’s almost too much to take in at once; you just wander around with your head pointed up the whole time. Luxor Temple, especially at sunset, is a little different and has a very magical feeling as all the lights come on. It was a really good way to cap off all the sightseeing. That last dinner on the Movenpick felt like a nice, relaxed celebration of everything you have just seen and done.

What You Really Should Know (Tips & Things)

So, there are just a few things that are good to know before you go. The guides on the Movenpick were, you know, really good, full of information and very organized. They basically handle everything from tickets to timing, so you don’t have to worry about the logistics, which is a relief. Still, a lot of the tour happens in groups, so if you are someone who likes to explore on your own, you might feel a little rushed sometimes. That is just the nature of these kinds of tours, I guess. Food, as I was saying, was plentiful and generally pretty good. The evening meals were sometimes a set menu and sometimes a buffet, offering a nice variety. Drinks on the boat are not included in the price, so you should basically budget for that.

You are floating through a history book, but you can also just sit on the deck with a cool drink and watch the world go by. That’s a very unique combination, you know.

Packing is sort of important. You really, really need a good sun hat, sunglasses, and strong sunscreen. The sun in Upper Egypt is no joke, even in the cooler months. Comfortable walking shoes are also a must; you are on your feet a lot. Here’s a quick list of things I was glad I had:

• Light, loose-fitting clothes (linen or cotton is great).
• A light jacket or sweater for the cool evenings or early mornings.
• A reusable water bottle to stay hydrated.
• Some local currency (Egyptian Pounds) for small purchases and tipping.
• A portable power bank for your phone, because you will be taking a lot of photos.

A final thought on tipping. In Egypt, tipping, or ‘baksheesh’, is more or less a part of daily life. At the end of the cruise, it’s customary to leave a tip for the boat staff and another for your guide. They will usually give you a suggested amount in an envelope, which actually makes the whole thing a lot easier to manage. Just be prepared for it, right.

Read our full review: M/S Movenpick Nile Cruise Review 2025 Full Review and Details
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