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

Egypt rewards a well-planned route. This six-day trip links Cairo, Aswan, the Nile Valley, and Luxor without making you arrange every transfer yourself. I especially like the combination of sleeper trains and a Nile cruise, plus the strong guiding reported from names such as Khaled, Magdy, and Mustafa. I also like that the group is limited to 15 people, which should make site visits more personal than a large coach tour.

The main catch is cost clarity. The advertised price is $645 per person, but entrance fees are not included, and Abu Simbel is optional, despite appearing in the tour title. You also need to accept several long days, two overnight train journeys, and a cruise schedule that leaves limited room for wandering alone.

Key Points Before You Book

• Two overnight sleeper trains: You travel from Cairo to Aswan and from Luxor back to Cairo, saving two hotel nights but giving you a less restful start and finish.
• Three nights on a Nile cruise: The boat includes full board, a private room, and access to the main temples between Aswan and Luxor.
• Excellent guide potential: Khaled, Magdy, and Mustafa are praised for clear English, Egyptology expertise, practical advice, and personal attention.
• Abu Simbel costs extra: The early morning visit is optional, so confirm the price and departure time before you go.
• Major temples are covered: Philae, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Karnak, Luxor Temple, Hatshepsut, the Valley of the Kings, and the Colossi of Memnon are all included in the sightseeing plan, but admission tickets are not.
• Maximum group size of 15: This is small enough for questions and easier coordination, while still keeping the price below a fully private tour.

Why This Route Works for a First Nile Trip

This tour gives you the classic southbound-to-northbound Nile experience in a compact package. You begin in Cairo, travel overnight to Aswan, spend three nights on the river, explore Luxor, then return to Cairo by train.

That route makes good geographic sense. Instead of repeatedly driving between cities, you use the Nile cruise as your moving base. Your room travels with you while the temples arrive in a fairly logical order.

The tour also mixes transport styles. The sleeper train is practical and distinctly Egyptian, while the cruise is slower and more comfortable. You get the contrast between railway travel, road transfers, river sailing, and short boat rides.

The pace is not gentle. The first night is spent on a train, the second day includes several Aswan sights, and the final full day packs six major stops into one schedule before another overnight train. I would choose this trip for its coverage, not for long lie-ins or unplanned afternoons.

Day 1: Cairo to Aswan by Sleeper Train

Your first evening begins with pickup from a hotel in Cairo or Giza. An air-conditioned vehicle takes you to Cairo train station, where you board the overnight sleeper train to Aswan.

The journey is scheduled to last about 12 hours. Dinner and breakfast are included, which removes two basic hassles from a late departure and early arrival. You need to provide passport photocopies before the trip, so this is one detail to handle early.

A sleeper train saves money on a hotel and gets you far south while you rest. Still, do not expect it to feel like a normal hotel night. Train movement, station stops, and shared rail surroundings can affect sleep, even though you have a sleeper berth.

Pack a small overnight bag rather than opening your main luggage on the train. Keep essential medication, a phone charger, toiletries, and a change of clothes close at hand. The next morning moves quickly from the station to the cruise boat.

Day 2: Aswan’s High Dam, Unfinished Obelisk and Philae

After breakfast on the train, you arrive at Aswan station and meet your transfer to the Nile cruise. The plan allows about an hour to reach the boat, refresh, and rest before sightseeing begins.

That pause matters. You have just completed a long rail journey, and the Aswan program includes three different places with separate admission arrangements.

Aswan High Dam

The High Dam is a modern engineering stop rather than an ancient monument. Your guide can explain its role in controlling the Nile and how it changed life along the river.

The visit is short, around 30 minutes. It works best as context for the rest of the day: Egypt’s ancient civilization depended on the Nile’s seasonal rhythm, while the modern state sought to control that rhythm more tightly.

Admission is not included, so budget for the entrance ticket.

The Unfinished Obelisk

At the Unfinished Obelisk, you see an ancient stone project left incomplete in its quarry. The value here is practical. Instead of viewing only a finished monument, you can see how a massive obelisk was cut from bedrock and where the work failed.

The stop lasts about 30 minutes. Wear shoes with a firm sole and bring water, since the site is open and exposed. Admission is extra.

Philae Temple by Motorboat

Philae is the visual highlight of the Aswan day. You reach the temple by motorboat, and that short ride gives the visit a special sense of arrival.

The temple complex is dedicated mainly to Isis and was moved to higher ground after the construction of the High Dam threatened its original island setting. The motorboat is included in the tour, but the temple entrance is not.

You have about two hours here. That is enough time for a guided explanation and some independent looking. The strongest part of this tour is the guide’s role at places like Philae. Khaled and Magdy are praised for bringing the symbols and stories to life, while still allowing time to explore without a constant stream of commentary.

After the visit, you return to the boat. The cruise is sold as a five-star vessel, with private rooms and full-board meals. Actual standards can vary by sailing, but the available details point to clean rooms, an updated boat, a comfortable sun deck, and attentive staff. Food is described as a mix of Egyptian and Western buffet dishes. It is convenient and serviceable, though not necessarily a culinary reason to book the trip.

Day 3: The Optional Abu Simbel Morning and Kom Ombo

Day three begins with a major decision. Abu Simbel is offered as an optional early morning tour. It is not part of the listed inclusions, and the extra price is not given, so ask for the exact cost and departure arrangements before the trip starts.

Abu Simbel is far from Aswan and is famous for the colossal temples of Ramses II and Nefertari. The visit can be a powerful addition, but the early start makes an already active tour more demanding. If you choose it, plan for a tiring day and protect your rest afterward.

If you skip Abu Simbel, you have free time on the cruise before it sails in the afternoon. This is one of the better chances to slow down. Use it for the sun deck, river views, or a quiet meal rather than trying to add another paid excursion.

The cruise later stops at Kom Ombo. The temple sits beside the Nile and is unusual because it honors two gods, Sobek and Horus the Elder. Its dual design gives your guide plenty to explain, including the temple’s religious symbolism and its connection with crocodiles.

The visit takes about two hours. The boat then continues toward Edfu, and you spend the night in a private cruise room.

Kom Ombo is best seen near the end of the day, when the changing light gives the stone a different feel from the bright Aswan sites. The drawback is timing. Cruise stops are fixed, and the temple can feel busy when several boats reach the same landing area. Your small group should help with coordination, but it cannot control the river schedule.

Day 4: Edfu’s Temple of Horus and Sailing Toward Luxor

Day four gives you time to rest while the boat sails along the Nile. This is the part of the tour many people remember most clearly because you can watch ordinary river life and agricultural land pass by from the deck.

The cruise later stops at Edfu, where you visit the Temple of Horus. A horse-drawn cart ride to the temple is included, adding a traditional local transport element and reducing the walk from the river landing.

Edfu is one of Egypt’s best-preserved ancient temples. Its scale, gateways, columns, and wall carvings are easier to appreciate because the structure remains remarkably complete. Your guide’s explanations help you read the scenes rather than simply photograph them.

The Edfu visit lasts about two hours. The cart ride is useful, but it also means you should be ready for an informal, sometimes uneven transport experience. Keep small cash available for tipping, and follow the guide’s advice about local customs.

The boat continues toward Luxor and arrives in the late afternoon. You spend another night in a private cabin. Cruise staff tipping is not included, so set aside money for the boat crew. Wi-Fi is also extra, and water and other drinks are not provided.

Day 5: Luxor’s West Bank in the Morning

After breakfast, you check out and cross to Luxor’s West Bank. This is the busiest sightseeing day, so a good guide and efficient drivers matter greatly.

Valley of the Kings

The Valley of the Kings receives about two hours. You walk among the royal tombs cut into the dry hills, with admission handled separately from the tour price.

The ticket usually controls which tombs you may enter, while special tombs can cost extra. Since the supplied information does not state the exact ticket arrangement, ask your guide which tombs are included on the day.

The heat can be strong, and the ground may be uneven. Bring a hat, water, and shoes suited to walking. The valley is not a place to rush through, but the packed schedule means your time will be limited.

Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari

The tour allows about 90 minutes at Hatshepsut’s temple. Its terraces rise against the cliffs, creating one of Luxor’s most memorable settings.

Hatshepsut ruled as pharaoh and used the temple’s reliefs and architecture to present her authority. Your guide can help connect the building’s design with the political story behind it.

Colossi of Memnon

The Colossi of Memnon take only about 30 minutes. These giant seated figures are a quick roadside stop, but they provide an impressive scale marker before you cross to the East Bank.

There is no separate admission charge listed for this stop. Use the short visit for photographs and a brief explanation rather than expecting a full temple exploration.

Day 5 Afternoon: Karnak, Luxor Temple and the Return Train

The East Bank portion begins with Karnak Temple, where you have about two hours. Karnak is vast, so the visit needs a clear route. The hypostyle hall, with its forest of towering columns, is the area most likely to stay with you.

Do not try to see every corner. Listen to the guide’s main explanation, then use your free moments to study the carvings and columns at your own pace. This is where Magdy, Khaled, and Mustafa receive the strongest praise: clear English, strong Egyptology training, patience with questions, and useful help with practical matters such as tipping and shopping.

Luxor Temple follows, with about 90 minutes. Compared with Karnak, it feels more compact and easier to take in. Its position in the modern city also gives you a direct sense of how ancient monuments and present-day Luxor share the same space.

All major entrance fees on the day are extra. That is the single most important budget warning. The $645 price covers a great deal, including transport, meals, accommodation, and guiding, but you should not mistake it for an all-inclusive sightseeing cost.

In the evening, you transfer to Luxor train station for the overnight journey back to Cairo. The listed train time is about 10 hours. Dinner is included in the tour’s five dinners, and you spend the night on the sleeper train.

This return train is efficient, but it comes after a full day in the sun. If you value comfort above coverage, this is the point where the schedule may test you. If you want to see the major Nile sites in six days, it is the trade-off that makes the route possible.

Day 6: Giza Arrival and Hotel Transfer

You arrive at Giza train station and are transferred to your hotel in Cairo or Giza. No sightseeing is scheduled for this day.

That makes the final morning simple, but you should avoid booking a tight onward flight unless you have confirmed the train and transfer times directly. The program provides a hotel transfer, not airport service, so any airport connection needs separate planning.

What the $645 Price Really Buys

At $645 per person, the tour offers strong practical value if you want a guided Nile route rather than arranging each part separately. The price includes:

• Three nights on a full-board Nile cruise
• Two overnight sleeper train journeys
• Cairo, Aswan, and Luxor station transfers
• Air-conditioned road transport
• An English-speaking Egyptology guide
• Five breakfasts, three lunches, and five dinners
• The motorboat to Philae
• The cart ride at Edfu
• Local taxes and services

You still pay for entrance fees, cruise Wi-Fi, drinks, water, boat staff tips, and the optional Abu Simbel trip. Those extras can change the final cost considerably.

I see the best value in the coordination. You do not have to negotiate station pickups, find a boat, arrange a motorboat at Philae, or organize transport between the West and East Banks of Luxor.

The weakest value appears if you want a luxury cruise in the strict international sense. The boat may be clean and comfortable, with a good sun deck and caring staff, but the food is described as ordinary rather than memorable. Think practical full board, not a floating fine-dining experience.

Guides, Group Size and Daily Comfort

The guide can make or break a history-heavy trip. Names associated with especially strong service include Khaled, also called Khalid in some accounts, Magdy, and Mustafa. Their praised qualities are specific: clear English, enthusiasm for Egyptology, patience, help with local arrangements, and enough confidence to give you time alone at the monuments.

One guide, Magdy, is known by the nickname Big Mac. That small detail gives you an idea of the personal tone some groups experience. Khaled is also praised for helping with practical matters such as tipping, buying supplies, and negotiating with craftsmen.

The maximum group size is 15. That is not private touring, but it is small enough for questions and easier movement through crowded temple areas.

You should expect early starts, warm outdoor sites, long walks, and several changes of transport. Take a day bag, sun protection, water money, and a small amount of local cash. The tour does not provide water or drinks on the cruise.

Meals are included, but the schedule sometimes requires takeaway food. One account points to early departures and simple boxed meals, often heavy on bread when eating on the move. If you have strict dietary needs, contact the provider before departure rather than assuming the buffet or packed meals will suit you.

Who Should Book This Nile Tour?

I would recommend it to a first-time Egypt visitor who wants the major southern sights with minimal planning. It suits you if you value a strong guide, want a taste of sleeper-train travel, and prefer the convenience of a cruise room that moves between destinations.

It also works for families and small groups who want help with transport, temple visits, tipping customs, and local logistics. Most people can participate, and group discounts are available.

I would hesitate if you need a slow schedule, dislike overnight trains, or want full control over every stop. The route is packed, and entrance fees are not built into the headline price.

I would also confirm Abu Simbel before paying. The title includes it, but the day-by-day plan calls it optional. You need to know if the price, transport, and guide arrangements are separate.

Should You Book It?

Book this tour if your priority is maximum Nile coverage in six days and you are comfortable trading sleep and flexibility for convenience. The combination of Aswan, a three-night cruise, Luxor’s major temples, and station transfers is hard to beat at this price before extra fees.

Skip it if you want a relaxed holiday or a clearly luxury-focused cruise. For everyone else, the deciding factor is the guide. Ask which guide is assigned, confirm all entrance and Abu Simbel costs, and prepare for the long final day. With those points settled, this is a practical, well-packed introduction to Egypt’s Nile Valley.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts six days, approximately, beginning with an evening pickup in Cairo and ending with a transfer from Giza train station to a hotel in Cairo or Giza.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Pickup is offered from hotels in Cairo or Giza for the transfer to Cairo train station. Transfers are also provided from the Aswan and Luxor train stations.

Does the tour include Abu Simbel?

Abu Simbel is offered as an optional early morning tour on day three. It is not included among the listed tour inclusions, so ask the provider about the additional price and arrangements.

Are entrance fees included?

No. Entrance fees to the listed sightseeing stops are not included in the tour price.

How many nights are spent on the Nile cruise?

You spend three nights aboard the Nile cruise in a private room, with full-board meals.

Are sleeper train tickets included?

Yes. Sleeper train tickets are included for Cairo to Aswan and Luxor to Cairo. Passport photocopies are required before the trip.

Are meals included?

Yes. The package includes five breakfasts, three lunches, and five dinners. Water and drinks on the cruise are not included.

What is the maximum group size?

The tour has a maximum of 15 participants. It is a small group rather than a private tour.

Is cruise Wi-Fi included?

No. Wi-Fi on the cruise costs extra.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours in advance are not accepted for a refund.