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

Egypt packs a lot into six days. This private package links the Pyramids of Giza, Alexandria, Aswan, Abu Simbel, a three-night Nile cruise, and Luxor’s great temples without asking you to arrange every transfer yourself. I especially like the combination of Cairo’s ancient monuments and museum, followed by the slower rhythm of a Nile cruise. The hot air balloon flight over Luxor is another excellent touch.

The price is $1,599.54 per person, including Cairo hotel nights, cruise accommodation, domestic flights, transport, meals, and an English-speaking Egyptologist guide. The main caution is the pace. You have early starts, long sightseeing days, and several moving parts. Also, clarify entrance fees before paying, since the package details say they are not included even though some daily descriptions say admission is included.

Key things to know before booking

• Two very different Egyptian experiences: Cairo gives you crowded city energy and major museums, while the Nile cruise brings temples, river views, and a calmer daily routine.
• Abu Simbel begins around 5:00 AM: The temples are a major reward, but this is an early and demanding day.
• Luxor starts even earlier: The hot air balloon ride is scheduled for about 5:30 AM, followed by a full day on both sides of the Nile.
• Alexandria is a long day trip: You visit Kom El-Deka, the catacombs, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, and Qaitbay before returning to Cairo.
• The tour is private: Only your group participates, and private air-conditioned transport is included.
• Confirm what entrance fees cover: This is the most important practical question to settle before departure.

Why this six-day route works

Egypt is not a place where the headline sights sit neatly beside one another. Cairo, Aswan, and Luxor are far apart, and Alexandria lies in another direction entirely. This package handles that geography with domestic flights, private road transfers, and a Nile cruise.

I like the route because it gives you several ways to see the country. You get the famous royal tombs and temples, but also the Nile itself, Nubian culture in Aswan, Greco-Roman Alexandria, and modern Cairo. You are not limited to a single kind of Egyptian history.

The tradeoff is compression. The package covers a great deal in six days, but it leaves little free time. You will spend much of the trip sightseeing, transferring, checking in, or preparing for the next early departure. If you want long café stops or unplanned wandering, this is not the right format. If you want a strong first look at Egypt with the practical work handled for you, it makes more sense.

Day 1: Giza pyramids and the Egyptian Museum

Your arrival begins at Cairo International Airport, where a representative meets you and helps with airport paperwork before transferring you to your hotel. That welcome can be useful after a long flight, especially if this is your first visit to Egypt.

The first sightseeing stop is the Pyramids of Giza. The listed visit time is very short, so you should treat this as an introduction rather than a slow, detailed exploration. You will see the famous pyramid complex, but the exact time available for entering a pyramid, visiting the Sphinx, or taking extra photographs needs to be confirmed.

The pyramids are the obvious Cairo highlight, yet the experience is better when you leave room to simply look. Their scale is difficult to grasp from photographs. Your guide can also help place them in the wider story of ancient Egyptian burial practices and royal power.

Next comes the Egyptian Museum, with about an hour scheduled. That is enough for a guided overview, but not enough for every gallery. I would ask your guide early in the visit which objects and rooms matter most, then stay focused rather than trying to see the entire collection.

You spend two nights in a four-star Cairo hotel. Past feedback describes the hotel as comfortable, with a good breakfast and very large rooms. Those details matter here because the program becomes more demanding almost immediately.

Day 2: A full day in Alexandria

Alexandria provides a useful change of tone. Instead of pharaonic monuments, you see remains connected with the Greco-Roman period, Christian and Islamic history, and the city’s long relationship with the Mediterranean.

Kom El-Deka was once a residential area and urban center. It helps you picture Alexandria as a working city, not merely a name from ancient history books. The visit is scheduled for about an hour.

The Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa are more enclosed and atmospheric. This underground complex reflects a mix of Egyptian, Greek, and Roman influences. Steps and confined spaces may be a consideration for some people, though the supplied information does not specify accessibility details.

After lunch at a local restaurant, you visit the Bibliotheca Alexandrina. The modern library recalls Alexandria’s famous ancient library, but it is also a working cultural institution in its own right. The stop is listed at one hour, so expect a guided visit rather than an afternoon spent reading or exploring every exhibit.

Qaitbay Citadel is the final Alexandria stop. The 15th-century fortress sits beside the sea and gives the day a strong visual finish. Afterward, you drive back to Cairo.

This is a substantial day trip. The four Alexandria stops are worthwhile, but the road time between Cairo and Alexandria makes the day feel full. I would choose this addition if you value variety. If the pyramids and Nile temples are your only priorities, Alexandria is the first part of the route I would consider dropping in favor of more time elsewhere.

Domestic flights and the move to Aswan

The package includes flights from Cairo to Aswan and from Luxor back to Cairo. That is a major convenience. Traveling overland between these cities would consume much more of a six-day trip.

The supplied schedule places the Aswan visit on Day 3, after the Cairo portion, but it does not show the exact flight time or airport procedure. Confirm how the Cairo to Aswan flight fits around hotel checkout and sightseeing. This is especially important after the Alexandria day and before the cruise begins.

A representative picks you up in Aswan from your hotel, train station, or airport. The arrangement gives you a clear handoff at a place where transport details can otherwise feel confusing.

Day 3: Philae Temple, the High Dam, and your first night aboard ship

Aswan feels different from Cairo. The program introduces you to Nubian culture and the southern stretch of the Nile, beginning with a motorboat ride to Philae Temple.

Philae is set on an island, so arriving by boat is part of the appeal rather than just a transfer. The temple honors Isis and was moved to higher ground after the construction of the High Dam. Your guide can explain both the ancient site and the modern engineering project that changed the river’s flow.

You also visit the Aswan High Dam. It is a practical stop with major consequences for modern Egypt, including power generation and flood control. The contrast between the ancient temple and the 20th-century dam gives the day more range than a string of old monuments alone.

After the sightseeing, you check into the cruise ship for three nights of full-board accommodation. Lunch is included, and the cruise staff plans an evening Nubian party. This is one of the more relaxed portions of the trip, although the cruise schedule can vary according to sailing times.

The ship is an important part of the value. It gives you a settled base while you visit several temples, instead of packing and unpacking each night. One ship named in the available feedback is Concerto 2, where passengers praised clean rooms and good food. The exact ship should be confirmed for your departure, since cruise assignments can change.

Day 4: Abu Simbel, Kom Ombo, and a long sailing day

The day begins around 5:00 AM for Abu Simbel. That early departure is not a minor detail. You should be ready for a very long day, but the reward is one of Egypt’s most memorable temple complexes.

Abu Simbel was built by Ramses II and is known for its huge seated figures carved into the rock face. The temples were relocated in the 20th century to protect them from the rising waters created by the High Dam. Your guide can connect the monument’s ancient purpose with that modern rescue effort.

You return to Aswan around 1:00 PM, then the ship sails toward Kom Ombo. The river portion gives you time to rest, photograph the banks, and notice the shift from road travel to boat travel. The package description points to views connected with both Egyptian and Nubian culture.

At Kom Ombo, you visit the unusual double temple dedicated to Sobek and Horus. Its paired design reflects the worship of two gods in one complex. Crocodile imagery and the temple’s position beside the river make this stop especially distinctive.

The ship then continues toward Edfu. With about seven hours of activity, plus the early start, this is probably the hardest day physically. I would keep your expectations realistic: Abu Simbel is the centerpiece, while Kom Ombo is a well-timed second visit during the cruise.

Day 5: Edfu and a slower Nile morning

Day 5 begins with breakfast on board, followed by a horse-drawn carriage ride to the Temple of Horus. The carriage is the traditional transport described for this stop, and it avoids a long walk from the ship.

The Temple of Horus is one of the best-preserved large temples in Egypt. Its reliefs, columns, and massive entrance help you see what a complete temple complex looked like, rather than imagining it from scattered ruins.

The guided visit lasts about five hours, including the carriage transfer and touring time. You return to the ship for a buffet lunch as it continues toward the next destination.

This is the closest thing to a breathing space in the schedule. You still have an organized visit, but the cruise provides a more settled rhythm. I would use the sailing time to rest, take photographs, and listen to your guide’s explanations without rushing from one road transfer to another.

Day 6: A hot air balloon and Luxor’s greatest monuments

Luxor’s final day begins around 5:30 AM with a hot air balloon ride. Weather matters, and balloon flights can be canceled if conditions are unsuitable. The stated policy offers another date or a full refund if poor weather cancels the experience, but your full-day sightseeing schedule may still need adjusting.

From the air, you get a different view of Luxor and the Nile than you would from a road or boat. The flight is likely to be the trip’s most unusual activity, but it also makes the early start worthwhile.

After the balloon ride, you visit the West Bank. The Valley of the Kings contains royal tombs cut into the desert hills, and your guide will help explain how the burial sites differ from the earlier pyramid tradition. The included sightseeing also lists Queen Hatshepsut’s temple and the Colossi of Memnon.

Hatshepsut’s temple is built against a dramatic rock setting and reflects the reign of one of Egypt’s most important female rulers. The Colossi of Memnon are giant seated statues, a quick stop that works well for photographs and orientation.

You then cross to the East Bank for Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple. Karnak is vast, so a guided route is valuable. Rather than trying to take in every corner, focus on the great columns, processional spaces, and the way the complex grew over many generations.

Luxor Temple has a different feel from Karnak. It is closely tied to the city and ancient ceremonies, and its location makes it a fitting final monument. The entire day is listed at seven hours, so you should expect a full schedule after the balloon flight.

At the end, you are transferred to a Luxor hotel, train station, or airport. The package includes a Luxor to Cairo flight, but the exact timing should be checked against your onward plans.

What the $1,599.54 price really buys

At $1,599.54 per person, the price is strong for the amount of transport and sightseeing involved. Two Cairo hotel nights, three nights of full-board cruising, two domestic flights, private air-conditioned transport, meals, and an English-speaking Egyptologist guide are all included.

The savings come from combining many services in one booking. You are not separately arranging airport pickups, a Cairo hotel, a cruise, an Aswan guide, an Abu Simbel transfer, and a Luxor sightseeing day. That can be worth a lot when time is short.

The price is not truly all-inclusive in the broadest sense. Personal expenses and drinks are excluded, and the package information says entrance fees to all mentioned sights are not included. Yet the daily descriptions mark several admissions as included. Ask for a written list of included entrance tickets before booking. This could materially change the final cost.

The tour also offers group discounts, although the exact discount is not provided. Since the activity is private, you should ask how group pricing changes for two, four, or more people.

Guides, coordination, and the private format

The package includes an English-speaking Egyptologist guide, and the available information names Mohamed Eldahesh as a highly praised guide. One Spanish-speaking passenger specifically valued Mohamed’s communication, while other comments describe his explanations of temples and help throughout the trip.

Marina is also named as a trip coordinator. One practical point comes through clearly: because several local operators handle different sections, exact details may arrive close to departure. That does not automatically mean poor organization, but it does mean you should keep your phone available and ask for flight, hotel, ship, and pickup details in writing.

Private transport is a benefit here. You avoid being folded into a large sightseeing group, and only your own party participates. That should make it easier to ask questions and manage the pace, though the fixed sailing and flight schedules still limit flexibility.

Who should book this Egypt package?

I would recommend it to a first-time visitor who wants the major sights with a guide and does not want to coordinate Egypt’s long distances alone. It suits couples, families, and small groups who value private transport and a clear plan.

It also works well if you want both Cairo and Upper Egypt. Many short Egypt trips focus only on Cairo or only on a Nile cruise. This route gives you the pyramids, Alexandria, Abu Simbel, Edfu, Kom Ombo, and Luxor in one sweep.

I would hesitate if you need a relaxed holiday. The 5:00 AM Abu Simbel departure and 5:30 AM balloon start are demanding, and Day 6 remains busy after the balloon ride. Anyone with mobility concerns should ask about the catacombs, temple walking, boats, carriages, and early morning transfers before booking.

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the experience begins. Changes made within 24 hours are not accepted, and the provider may reschedule or refund the tour if minimum numbers are not met or weather cancels a required activity.

Should you book it?

Book this package if your goal is maximum sightseeing in six days, especially if you value the Nile cruise, Abu Simbel, and the Luxor balloon ride. The strongest features are the route, private coordination, included transport, and the mix of ancient and modern Egypt.

Before you commit, get three points confirmed: the exact domestic flight schedule, the name and standard of the cruise ship, and the full entrance-fee list. If those details are clear, the package offers unusually broad coverage for the price.

FAQ

How long is the Egypt package?

The package lasts approximately six days.

Where does the tour begin?

The experience begins in Cairo, with airport arrival assistance at Cairo International Airport and hotel pickup offered in Cairo.

Is the tour private?

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

Are domestic flights included?

Yes. The package includes domestic flights from Cairo to Aswan and from Luxor to Cairo.

How many nights are spent in Cairo?

You receive two nights of accommodation at a four-star hotel in Cairo.

How many nights are spent on the Nile cruise?

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

Is a guide included?

Yes. An English-speaking Egyptologist guide is included during the trip.

Is Abu Simbel part of the itinerary?

Yes. Abu Simbel Temple Complex is scheduled on Day 4, with pickup around 5:00 AM.

Is the hot air balloon ride included?

Yes. A hot air balloon ride over Luxor is scheduled on Day 6 at about 5:30 AM.

Are entrance fees included?

The package information says entrance fees to mentioned sightseeing are not included, while some daily descriptions mark admission as included. Confirm the exact coverage with Roxana Travel before booking.

What meals are included?

The package lists three lunches, five breakfasts, and three dinners. Cruise accommodation is described as full board.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations made less than 24 hours in advance are not refunded.

What happens if bad weather cancels the experience?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you are offered a different date or a full refund.