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

This tour is interesting because it stitches together two classic Egypt rhythms: night travel by sleeper train, then daytime temple visits from a Nile cruise. You get air-conditioned transfers and a small group setup capped at 15 people, so you are not stuck in chaos. I also like that the tour uses an English-speaking Egyptology guide, with real explanations that make the sites feel less random.

Two highlights I especially like: the included motorboat ride to Philae and the included cart ride at Edfu. Those are the kinds of extras that save time and cost you would otherwise pay separately. One drawback to plan for, though, is that entrance fees are not included, so your trip budget needs a second line item for tickets once you get the on-site prices.

Key things to know before you go

• Overnight sleeper trains reduce travel time and help you stack more sights
• Philae is reached by motorboat, and you do not have to arrange it
• Edfu includes a cart ride, a practical, local-style way to get around inside the temple area
• Abu Simbel can be optional, but it adds an early morning commitment
• Luxor is split East Bank and West Bank, with the classic royal necropolis day
• Meals are built in, including multiple breakfasts and dinners, so you are not hunting daily

Why this Cairo-to-Luxor Nile cruise-train mix makes sense

If your goal is to see the Nile highlights without spending your whole week on logistics, this format is smart. You start in Cairo, move to Aswan overnight by sleeper train, then sail upriver toward Luxor while a guide handles the “where do we go next” parts. On top of that, you go back to Cairo again overnight by sleeper train. That means more daylight for temples, fewer wasted hours in transit.

I also like the pacing implied by the schedule. You get multiple days where the morning or afternoon is focused, not a nonstop loop. You also get a private room on the cruise nights listed, which matters if you want actual rest between sightseeing.

Finally, the small group size matters more than it sounds. With up to 15 travelers, the guide can actually look out for your needs, explain details in English clearly, and keep you moving at a human speed.

The night train experience: Cairo to Aswan, then Luxor back to Cairo

Day 1 is built around the sleeper train from Cairo (from your hotel in Cairo or Giza to the train station, then overnight travel to Aswan). Dinner and breakfast are included on the sleeper train. That is a big value piece because it reduces meal scrambling after a long travel day.

On the way back, you do something similar on Day 5: after Luxor Temple and Luxor in the evening, you transfer to Luxor train station for an overnight sleeper train to Cairo. The schedule lists dinner and breakfast on the sleeper portion going out, and the tour includes the train tickets for the full Cairo-Aswan-Luxor-Cairo run.

Practical note: before the trip you need passport photocopies for the sleeper train. That is not the kind of thing you want to rush the week of departure. I suggest you scan or print copies as soon as your booking is confirmed, then keep digital backups too.

What you should expect from this kind of overnight travel is not luxury silence. But the trade-off is real: you sleep while moving long distance, and that keeps the sightseeing portion of the trip from feeling like a blur.

Aswan by day: High Dam, Unfinished Obelisk, and Philae by motorboat

Aswan is where the trip starts to feel like a story instead of a checklist. After arriving and breakfast, you are picked up and transferred to the 5-star Nile cruise to refresh and rest before the afternoon starts.

Then you hit three classic Aswan stops:

1) Aswan High Dam

You get a visit window listed at about 30 minutes. Even if you are not a power-and-engineering person, this site is a key point for understanding modern Egypt and why the Nile today looks the way it does.

2) Unfinished Obelisk

This stop is short but meaningful. It is the clue that Egyptology is not only about finished masterpieces, it is also about process. You see what was planned, not just what survived.

3) Temple of Philae by motorboat

This is one of the best included “experience” parts of the tour. The schedule includes a motorboat ride to Philae and a visit time around 2 hours. In plain terms, you arrive feeling like you are stepping into the setting, not just touring a building.

The guide component makes these stops more satisfying. Several guides are mentioned by name in the feedback, including Khaled, Mostafa, Magdy (Big Mac), and Mustafa. When your guide is strong in Egyptology, it helps you connect the dots across the day instead of collecting facts like postcards.

Abu Simbel option: worth it, but be ready for an early start

Abu Simbel is presented as an optional early morning tour. That means one thing for you: your day may start very early. One group notes waking up around 3:00 when pairing in a hot air balloon day, which is a helpful reality check for how early some optional add-ons can push you.

Whether Abu Simbel is worth the effort depends on your priorities. If you want one of Egypt’s most famous temple complexes, this is the moment to choose it. If you prefer a slower Aswan rhythm, you might treat Abu Simbel as a future trip, because you will still see a lot on the main Aswan day.

Also remember entrance fees are not included. So for Abu Simbel, plan for additional ticket costs on site.

Sailing to Kom Ombo and Edfu: a gentler pace with two temple hits

After Aswan, the cruise sails in the direction of the next temple days. Day 3 is where you start stacking sites from the ship while still having time to move at a cruise tempo.

You have:

• Kom Ombo Temple with a guided visit

This stop is listed as a temple visit with the guide and then sailing continues toward Edfu.

• Edfu Temple with a key included feature: a cart ride

Edfu is visited after the cruise continues sailing. The tour includes a cart ride at the temple, which is a practical help inside the temple area.

Kom Ombo and Edfu are both major names, but what makes them special is how they complement each other. If you go in thinking you are just “seeing more temples,” they can blur together. If you go in with your guide’s explanations, you start noticing patterns in how these places were built and used.

One practical perk you should care about: your cruise time gives you a break between active site visits. Reviews mention a sun deck with comfortable chairs and a clean, updated feel to the boat. Food gets described as a mix of Egyptian and western items, generally decent but not always described as a standout.

Luxor Temple, Karnak, and the East Bank feel

Luxor is split in a way that helps your brain. You do the East Bank with Karnak and Luxor Temple, then you save the West Bank royal necropolis day for the next morning.

On the East Bank day, you visit:

• Temple of Karnak (about 2 hours listed)

You spend enough time to actually walk, look up, and take in scale.

• Luxor Temple (about 1.5 hours listed)

This is a strong closer for the East Bank day, and it sets you up for the West Bank intensity.

You also get cruise sailing time in between stops. That matters because Luxor temples are impressive, but they are not painless in the heat. Having down time on the boat keeps you from turning the whole trip into a sweat contest.

Guide quality is a big factor here too. Many feedback comments highlight guides like Khaled and Khaled again for being exceptionally clear in English and good at leaving room for questions. If language clarity is a high priority for you, this is where that pays off the most.

The West Bank day: Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut, and Colossi of Memnon

This is the heavy hitter day. After breakfast and checkout, you cross to the West Bank.

Your West Bank stops are the classic trio plus two add-ons:

• Valley of the Kings (about 2 hours)

This is where you see the scale of royal burial planning. Even if you do not go inside every tomb, the setting alone is unforgettable.

• Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari (about 1.5 hours)

This visit is a reminder that monumental Egypt was not only about power, it was also about artistry and statement-making.

• Colossi of Memnon (30 minutes)

Short stop, but it helps you reframe the story from temple interiors to massive stand-alone figures.

• Then you also have Temple of Karnak and Luxor Temple later in the same broad Day 5 pattern. So the day is packed and time management matters.

Two things to plan for. First, West Bank days tend to come with more walking and more sun exposure. Second, entrance fees are not included, so tomb access or site tickets could add costs.

The upside is you cover the famous sites in one organized block instead of trying to piece it together with separate drivers. For most visitors, that alone makes the tour worth considering.

Meals, cruise comfort, and what included really means

Included meals are a major reason this package feels efficient. The tour lists:

• Breakfast (5)
• Lunch (3)
• Dinner (5)

That means you have solid coverage across the train night(s) and cruise days, not just token breakfasts. You still should plan for your personal snacks and water needs because the tour notes water or drinks are not included on the cruise.

Cruise comfort is described in positive terms in feedback, including clean rooms, updated boat feel, and caring staff. Food is described as okay, with a buffet style mix of Egyptian and western options. So do not expect Michelin, do expect you will be able to eat reliably and not fall off your energy plan.

If Wi-Fi matters for you, you should know Wi-Fi on the cruise costs extra. That is normal, but it does mean you cannot rely on constant connectivity for maps or messaging.

Transportation and guide support: where the value hides

This tour repeatedly uses the same principle: drivers and transfers are handled. That includes pick-ups and transfers in Cairo, Aswan, and Luxor train stations, plus all transfers by A-C vehicles with qualified drivers.

To you, that means you spend less time dealing with uncertainty like which taxi line to use, what time you should show up, and how to keep your group together. It also means you can trust that someone is tracking the timing between sleeper train arrivals and the next day’s visits.

The guide is the second value engine. Feedback repeatedly praises guides by name, including Khaled, Mostafa, Magdy (Big Mac), Mustafa, Dosa, Peter, and Sheriff. I cannot promise any specific guide for your departure, but I can say the trip’s quality leans heavily on that Egyptology explanation piece. If you want context, choose this tour type over a do-it-yourself approach.

Price and logistics: what $645 gets you, and what you still pay for

At $645 per person, this is not a cheap Nile trip, but it is also not trying to be a separate-ticket theme park. The value comes from stacking expensive logistics together:

• Overnight sleeper train tickets for the Cairo-Aswan and Luxor-Cairo legs
• Three nights on board a 5-star Nile cruise on a full-board basis
• Hotel pickup and transfers in key cities
• An English-speaking Egyptology guide
• Included experience extras like motorboat to Philae and cart ride at Edfu
• Multiple meals already handled

What is not included is the biggest surprise cost category for first-timers: entrance fees. The tour specifically lists that entrance fees to all the mentioned sightseeing are not included, and it separately notes that ticket admissions are not included for most temple stops. Also, water or drinks are not included on the cruise, and boat staff tipping is an extra.

So the fair way to think about the price is: you are paying for organization, travel comfort, and the experiences that reduce friction. You are not paying for every ticket cost. If you want a total “all in” budget, you need to estimate entrance fees on top.

One more small practical detail: mobile tickets are included, and confirmation comes at booking time. That is helpful if you want fewer steps right before departure.

Who this tour fits best, and who might change the plan

This tour is a great fit if you want:

• Major Nile highlights in a short timeframe
• Less planning and fewer transportation headaches
• A guide to explain what you are seeing in English
• The convenience of overnight train travel

It may be less ideal if you:

• Hate early mornings and long temple days
• Need every cost included upfront, because entrance fees and some cruise extras are not covered
• Want total freedom to choose which tombs or sites to go inside, because the tour is guided and timed

If you love temple hopping but also want recovery time on a boat deck in between, this is a solid balance.

Should you book this Nile cruise and sleeper-train tour?

I would book this if your top priority is efficiency without giving up context. The combination of Cairo to Aswan by sleeper train, a 5-star cruise upward toward Luxor, and then another overnight train back is exactly the kind of planning that saves real energy. The included motorboat to Philae and the cart ride at Edfu are also smart inclusions that add local flavor without extra hassle.

Before you commit, do two things. First, budget for entrance fees and any optional add-ons like Abu Simbel or a hot air balloon tour. Second, be honest about your tolerance for early starts and a packed West Bank day.

If those trade-offs sound fair, this tour is a strong way to see the Nile highlights with a guide, comfortable travel, and most of your meals taken care of.

FAQ

What is the price of the tour?

The price is $645.00 per person.

Does the tour include hotel pickup and station transfers?

Yes. It includes pickup offered and all pick-ups and transfers in Cairo, Aswan, and Luxor train stations, with transfers done in air-conditioned vehicles.

Is the overnight train from Cairo to Aswan included?

Yes. You take an overnight sleeper train from Cairo to Aswan, and another overnight sleeper train from Luxor back to Cairo.

Are temple entrance fees included?

No. Entrance fees to the mentioned sightseeing are not included.

Is Abu Simbel included?

Abu Simbel is listed as an optional early morning tour.

What meals are included during the trip?

Breakfast is included 5 times, lunch is included 3 times, and dinner is included 5 times.

Do I need passport copies before traveling?

Yes. Passport photocopies are required before the sleeper train trip.

Is Wi-Fi included on the cruise?

Wi-Fi is not included. It is available with an extra charge on the cruise.

Can I get a full refund if I cancel?

Yes, you can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.