6-Day Egypt Package, Nile Cruise from Aswan to Luxor by Flights

The best part of this six-day Egypt package is its sweep: you go from the Pyramids of Giza and Alexandria to Abu Simbel, then drift down the Nile before finishing above Luxor in a hot-air balloon. Few short tours cover this much of Egypt without making you arrange every transfer yourself.

I like the smooth mix of private transport, domestic flights, and a three-night cruise. I also like the human touch: guides named Mohamed and Mohamed Eldahesh receive repeated praise for clear explanations and careful help, while the cruise ship Concerto 2 is noted for clean rooms and good food.

The tradeoff is pace. Alexandria is a long day from Cairo, Abu Simbel begins around 5:00 AM, the balloon ride starts around 5:30 AM, and entrance fees are not included. This is a strong highlights tour, not a slow, quiet look at Egypt.

Key points to know before booking

• A full Nile route in three cruise nights: Sail from Aswan toward Luxor with stops at Kom Ombo and Edfu.
• Abu Simbel is included: The early start is tiring, but this is one of the trip’s most important visits.
• Hot-air balloon over Luxor: You’ll see the west bank from above before touring its major monuments.
• Private tour format: Only your group participates, with private air-conditioned transport.
• Meals and flights are covered: Two Cairo hotel nights, three cruise nights, domestic flights, breakfasts, lunches, and dinners are included.
• Budget for entrance fees: The package price covers much of the framework, but sightseeing tickets and drinks are extra.

Why this six-day Egypt package works

At $1,599.54 per person, this is not a bare-bones sightseeing deal, but it bundles the costly pieces that can make Egypt difficult to arrange independently. You get two nights in a four-star Cairo hotel, three nights aboard a full-board Nile ship, domestic flights between Cairo and southern Egypt, private vehicle transfers, an English-speaking Egyptologist, and most meals.

The value comes from the logistics. Egypt’s major sights are spread across a long north-south route. Getting from Cairo to Aswan, then from Luxor back to Cairo, can take time and planning. Here, those domestic flights and transfers are built into the package.

Still, read the inclusions carefully. All-inclusive applies mainly to lodging, transport, meals, and the cruise structure. Entrance fees to the listed sights are not included, and personal expenses and drinks are extra. Set aside a separate sightseeing budget so the price does not surprise you later.

This is a private activity, so only your own group participates. That gives you more control than a large coach tour, though the itinerary itself remains tightly scheduled.

Day one: Cairo’s pyramids and the Egyptian Museum

Your arrival begins at Cairo International Airport, where a representative meets you and helps with airport paperwork before taking you to the hotel. That small service matters after a long flight, especially when you are arriving in a city that can feel confusing at first.

The first major sight is the Pyramids of Giza. These are not a quick photo stop in the usual sense, even though the listed time is brief. The pyramid complex is the clearest introduction to ancient Egypt, and seeing the scale of the stones in person gives the rest of the trip a useful starting point.

The itinerary then takes you to the Egyptian Museum for about an hour. That is enough for an introduction, but not enough to see every major room at an easy pace. If ancient objects are your main interest, you may find this visit short. If you prefer a broad first look before the temples and tombs farther south, the timing keeps the day moving.

You return to a Cairo hotel for a two-night stay. The hotel is listed as four-star, and the package includes breakfast during the Cairo portion. One detailed account praised the large room and substantial breakfast, though hotel quality can vary by booking date and property assignment.

Day two: Alexandria’s Greek, Roman, and coastal past

The second day is a long out-and-back trip from Cairo to Alexandria. You visit Kom El-Deka, an ancient residential area from the Greek and Roman period, then continue to the Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa.

Kom El-Deka helps you see Alexandria as more than a famous name from antiquity. The site points to ordinary urban life, not just rulers and grand monuments. The catacombs offer a different view, with underground burial spaces and a blend of Egyptian, Greek, and Roman influences.

After lunch at a local restaurant, you visit the Bibliotheca Alexandrina. The modern library recalls Alexandria’s ancient intellectual reputation, though you should understand that this is a contemporary institution, not the original ancient library. The visit adds variety after the archaeological sites.

Your final stop is Fort Qaitbay, a 15th-century fortress beside the sea. Its setting gives the day a change of mood, with open coastal views after the enclosed catacombs. You then drive back to Cairo.

The main concern is time on the road. Alexandria makes the package more varied, but it also makes the second day demanding. If you want a relaxed Cairo visit, this schedule leaves little spare time. If you want to see more of Egypt in one booking, the day earns its place.

Day three: Aswan, Philae, and the start of the cruise

The southern section begins in Aswan, where pickup is available from your hotel, train station, or airport. The first visit is Philae Temple, reached by motorboat across the Nile. The boat ride is part of the appeal, giving you a first close look at the river from water level.

Philae is known for its island setting and carefully carved temple spaces. The tour allows about five hours for the temple visit and Aswan High Dam, followed by cruise check-in. You have lunch aboard the ship, time to rest, and an evening Nubian party organized by the cruise staff.

This is the point where the trip’s rhythm changes. Cairo and Alexandria are road-based sightseeing days. On the cruise, your hotel moves with you. You unpack once, eat aboard, and watch the riverbank pass by between visits.

The cruise includes three nights of full-board accommodation. Specific ship assignments can vary, but Concerto 2 is named in one account, with clean rooms and good food receiving particular praise. Do not assume the same vessel for every departure, yet the ship-based format remains one of the package’s main strengths.

Day four: Abu Simbel, Kom Ombo, and a very early start

The Abu Simbel day begins at about 5:00 AM. That is a serious wake-up call, but the reward is a visit to one of southern Egypt’s most remarkable temple complexes. The package includes the excursion, and you return to Aswan around 1:00 PM.

The temples are famous for their monumental carved figures and dramatic setting. Even without adding extra detail to the schedule, the visit is clearly one of the day’s main reasons to accept the early departure. You should plan for a long morning and keep the afternoon light.

After returning to Aswan, the ship sails toward Kom Ombo. This is where the cruise earns its keep. Instead of spending the entire day inside a vehicle, you can rest, eat, and watch the Nile while the ship carries you onward.

At Kom Ombo, you visit the riverside temple before sailing toward Edfu. The combination of sailing time and shore visits gives the day a welcome balance, but the schedule is still full. Abu Simbel is not a casual add-on. It is a major excursion placed inside an already active cruise itinerary.

Day five: Edfu’s Temple of Horus by horse-drawn carriage

After breakfast aboard ship, you take a horse-drawn carriage to the Temple of Horus. The carriage ride is a memorable part of the transfer, though it also means you should be ready for a less polished form of local transport.

The Temple of Horus is one of the major ancient sites on the river route. A guided visit helps you make sense of its scale, layout, and religious purpose rather than simply walking through a large stone complex without context.

You return to the ship for a buffet lunch as the cruise continues. This is a lighter day than Abu Simbel, but it still includes about five hours of activity. The pattern is simple and effective: breakfast, shore visit, lunch, and more sailing.

I like this part of the schedule because it leaves you with time to enjoy the ship. A Nile cruise should not feel like a series of bus departures. Here, the river itself becomes part of the sightseeing.

Day six: Luxor from the sky, tombs, and great temples

The final morning begins around 5:30 AM with a hot-air balloon ride over Luxor. Weather matters, and the flight can be canceled or moved if conditions are poor. When it operates, this is a memorable way to see the west bank before the heat and crowds build.

After the balloon ride, you visit the Valley of the Kings, Queen Hatshepsut’s Temple, and the Colossi of Memnon. These sites form a strong west-bank sequence. The Valley of the Kings brings you into the world of royal burial chambers, while Hatshepsut’s temple offers broad terraces and a very different architectural style. The Colossi provide a quick but striking stop on the route.

You then cross to the east bank for Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple. Karnak is the larger and more sprawling complex, while Luxor Temple is especially rewarding as a final stop because it sits within the modern city and connects ancient grandeur with daily life around it.

The full day lasts about seven hours, after which you are transferred to your Luxor hotel, train station, or airport. If you are catching onward transport, confirm the timing carefully. The itinerary gives a general finish, not a precise departure guarantee.

Guides, transport, and the feel of the trip

An English-speaking Egyptologist guide is included during the trip. Mohamed and Mohamed Eldahesh are names associated with especially strong service, and Spanish-language guiding is also mentioned for Mohamed. If language matters to you, confirm the assigned guide before departure rather than assuming a particular person.

Private air-conditioned transportation is included for the road portions. That is useful in Cairo, on the Alexandria drive, and during the Luxor visits. You are not left to arrange airport transfers, hotel pickups, or the movement between monuments.

The support network is a real part of the package. The airport representative helps with arrival paperwork and luggage, and the tour coordinator may connect you with different local staff as you move through the country. The benefit is practical help. The possible drawback is that details such as exact vehicles, guides, and ship assignments may come together close to the travel date.

The schedule is best for someone who values coverage over free time. You will see more in six days than you could easily arrange alone, but you will wake early and change settings often.

Food, hotels, and what the price really covers

The package includes five breakfasts, three lunches, and three dinners according to the stated meal breakdown, with meals also described as included aboard the cruise. The cruise food receives positive attention, and the Cairo hotel breakfast is described as a strong point.

You should still budget for drinks and personal purchases. Those are not included. Entrance fees are also excluded, even though the itinerary lists many sites. This is the single most important financial detail to clarify before booking.

The hotel portion covers two nights in Cairo at a four-star property. The cruise covers three nights on a full-board basis. Since the package lasts about six days, the final night arrangement depends on your onward plan in Luxor, and you should confirm whether a Luxor hotel night is part of your specific booking or simply a transfer destination.

At the stated price, the package is good value if you want a guide, flights, meals, and transfers handled together. It is less compelling if you plan to travel slowly, choose your own hotels, or skip several included excursions.

Who should book this Egypt itinerary?

I would choose this tour if you are visiting Egypt for the first time and want the major sights in one organized trip. It suits couples, families, and small private groups that prefer a guide and vehicle rather than negotiating every transfer alone.

It also works well if Abu Simbel and the Nile cruise are priorities. Those two elements can be awkward to arrange separately, and here they fit into one route.

I would think twice if you dislike early mornings or long touring days. Alexandria, Abu Simbel, and the Luxor balloon morning all demand energy. The tour also leaves little room for spontaneous Cairo time, extra museum visits, or unplanned wandering.

The 100 percent recommendation rate and 4.9 rating indicate very strong satisfaction, but the detailed comments point to the same practical truth: the experience depends heavily on coordination. Marina, Mohamed, and Mohamed Eldahesh are praised for helping keep the moving parts together. Confirm your guide, cruise ship, flight times, entrance fees, and final Luxor arrangements before paying the balance.

Should you book it?

Book this six-day Egypt package if you want a high-value first look at Egypt with the pyramids, Alexandria, a Nile cruise, Abu Simbel, and Luxor all covered. The hot-air balloon ride adds a memorable finish, and the private format should feel more personal than a large group departure.

Skip it if you want long afternoons, flexible meal plans, or time to linger at each monument. This is a brisk highlights tour, but it is an unusually complete one. For many first visits, that trade is worthwhile.

FAQ

How long is the Egypt package?

The package lasts approximately six days.

What cities and regions does the tour visit?

The itinerary includes Cairo, Alexandria, Aswan, Kom Ombo, Edfu, and Luxor, with an excursion to Abu Simbel.

Is the tour private?

Yes. Only your group participates in the private tour or activity.

Are domestic flights included?

Yes. Domestic flights between Cairo and Aswan, and between Luxor and Cairo, are included.

How many nights are included on the Nile cruise?

The package includes three nights of full-board accommodation aboard a cruise ship.

How many nights are included in Cairo?

Two nights at a four-star Cairo hotel are included.

Are meals included?

Yes. The package includes five breakfasts, three lunches, and three dinners. Drinks are not included.

Are entrance fees included?

No. Entrance fees to the listed sightseeing locations are not included.

What time does the Abu Simbel trip begin?

Pickup for Abu Simbel is scheduled for around 5:00 AM.

What happens if the hot-air balloon ride is canceled because of weather?

If poor weather causes the experience to be canceled, you are offered a different date or a full refund.