All Aswan Tours & Excursions in 2026

Overall, our experience with the Nile Cruise tour company was very positive. From the beginning, they were professional, punctual, reliable, and very well organized. We felt worry-free from the moment we booked, which made a huge difference while traveling in Egypt. Communication was excellent. We received information and updates shortly after making our booking, and the company also offered additional services, including a private Cairo tour, which we accepted. We were very happy with that experience as well. One thing that was disappointing was the payment method (additional tours) . We had agreed that payment would be made by Visa, but at the last minute we were told that we had to pay in cash. This was inconvenient and frustrating, especially when traveling and planning expenses. We also appreciated the complimentary airport-to-hotel transfer in Aswan. That was a very nice touch and made our arrival much easier. Day 1 – Aswan We were picked up from our hotel and visited the High Dam and Philae Temple, both of which were interesting and well organized. Afterward, our guide told us that we couldn't go to the boat yet, so we were taken to a perfume shop. This was honestly one of the parts of the trip we didn't enjoy. It felt more like a sales stop than part of the tour, and we ended up purchasing something we probably wouldn't have bought otherwise. In my opinion, these types of shopping stops should be optional, rather than something travelers are brought to without being given a choice. The Nile cruise itself was wonderful. We stayed on a 5-star Nile cruise ship, and the ship was beautiful and comfortable. Day 2 – Abu Simbel We woke up around 3:00 AM and were picked up at approximately 3:50 AM for the drive to Abu Simbel. Around 4:20 AM, we arrived at a police checkpoint and waited until approximately 5:00 AM for the road to open. We weren't really sure why we needed to arrive so early at the checkpoint, especially since we spent about 40 minutes sitting in the vehicle without air conditioning. The drive was about 3.5 hours each way, but is Abu Simbel worth it? Absolutely — 100%! It was one of the highlights of our trip and something I would definitely recommend. Unfortunately, we didn't enjoy the guiding experience as much. Our guide seemed to be very busy with another group and was rushing between groups, while also dealing with other matters during our visit. The good thing is that we returned to the cruise in time for lunch and had the afternoon to relax. Day 3 – Karnak Temple We left around 7:00 AM to visit Karnak Temple. The tour was well organized, and we returned to the ship afterward. Day 4 – Luxor Luxor was a very busy but incredible day, with several major sites to visit. We visited the Valley of the Kings, where we were told that three tombs were included with the entrance ticket. However, the tombs open to visitors rotate in order to help preserve them, so some of the more famous tombs require an additional fee. We chose to visit Tutankhamun, Seti I, and Ramses IV, which meant paying extra for each. There are also some small additional expenses to keep in mind. For example, the golf cart at the Valley of the Kings costs 25 Egyptian pounds and is cash only. The golf cart at Hatshepsut Temple was also 25 Egyptian (per person) pounds cash only. These aren't major costs, but it's good to know ahead of time so you have cash available. Hatshepsut Temple was absolutely breathtaking and was one of my favorite stops. We then visited Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple. There is quite a bit of walking, but being able to see these incredible historical sites in person makes it completely worthwhile. Unfortunately, the day ended with another shopping stop, this time at a stone shop. Again, this was frustrating because we weren't interested in buying anything. I would strongly recommend that the company make these shopping stops completely optional. Travelers should be able to choose whether they want to visit shops rather than feeling obligated to go. Overall Despite a few issues, we had a great overall experience. The company did an excellent job organizing the transportation, tours, timing, and cruise. The guides and drivers were generally professional, punctual, and reliable, and we always felt that the logistics of the trip were well taken care of. Our biggest recommendation would be to eliminate or make the perfume and stone shop stops optional. These stops took away from an otherwise excellent experience and can leave travelers feeling pressured to purchase something. Also, make sure you clarify the payment method in advance, as our agreed-upon Visa payment was changed to cash at the last minute. Overall, we would recommend this tour company and the Nile cruise experience. The organization and reliability were excellent, Abu Simbel was absolutely worth the long journey, the temples were incredible, and cruising the Nile was an unforgettable experience. With a few improvements to the shopping stops and guiding experience, this could easily be a 5-star experience.