4-Day 3-Night Nile Cruise from Aswan to Luxor&Abu Simbel+Balloon
5
4-Day 3-Night Nile Cruise from Aswan to Luxor&Abu Simbel+Balloon
By Imperial Egypt in Aswan
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About
Rather than arranging separate day trips to the Nile’s temples, let the sights come to you on a 4-day Aswan-to-Luxor cruise. After viewing Aswan’s sights, absorb the scenery as you sail aboard your well-equipped, 5-star ship. Visit Edfu and Kom Ombo temples on route, and in Luxor, explore Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, and more. Your cruise includes full board, guiding, and a choice of cabin options.
Lowest price guaranteeFree cancellation
Ages 1-90, max of 15 per group
Duration: 4 days
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
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Highlights
- Glide effortlessly to the Nile’s temples on a 4-day Aswan to Luxor cruise
- Skip the fuss of overland trips: relax as you cruise to the main sites
- Visit Philae Temple, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Karnak, and Valley of the Kings
- Hassle-free experience: meals, shore excursions, and guiding included
- Dinner
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Breakfast
- Breakfast
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Meet and Assist upon arrival & Departure
- 3 nights accommodation in 5 star Nile Cruise from Aswan to Luxor
- Qualified Egyptology guide (English speaking)
- Meals as per itinerary (B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner)
- Hot air balloon (if Balloon Cancelled will refund 800 LE )
- Assistance of our personal during the tour Portage when needed
- Transport by air-conditioned minivan Round-trip
- Abu Simbel with group
What's not included- Drinks even Water on the cruise.
- Tipping for, Cruise Staff, Guides, Drivers
- Entrance Fees to all the mentioned sightseeing
- Other attractions not listed
- A child less than 6 years is not allowed for the balloon trip.
- Entry/Admission - Aswan High Dam(100 LE)
- Admission - Temple of Philae (450LE)
- Admission - Abu Simbel Temple Complex (615LE)
- Admission - Temple of Kom Ombo(360LE)
- Admission - Temple of Horus(450LE)
- Admission - Luxor Temple(400LE)
- Admission - Valley of the Kings (620LE)
- Admission - Temple of Hatshepsut (380LE)
- Admission - Temple of Karnak(450LE)
- Entry/Admission - Aswan High Dam
- Entry/Admission - Abu Simbel Temple Complex
- Entry/Admission - Edfu
- Entry/Admission - Luxor
- Start:Multiple pickup locations offered.
- Aswan International Airport, Aswan, Aswan Governorate 1230801, Egypt
Pickup details- Please mentioned Pick up details? In Case you stay in Island or on the other side of Aswan we request from you to reach Aswan side for pick up. or We pick up from west bank hotels or Sonesta Nouba Aswan or Citymax Acua Park with extra 10 us dollars per person
Hotel pickup offeredDuring checkout you will be able to select from the list of included hotels.Airport pickup offeredDuring checkout you will be able to select from the list of included airports.- Aswan Airport, Aswan Egypt
End:- Luxor, Luxor City, Luxor, Luxor Governorate, Egypt
- Wheelchair accessible
- Pushchair accessible
- Near public transportation
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 29896P3- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Not recommended for travellers with back problems
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travellers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travellers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- What is the difference between the double room and the twin beds room?
- The double room has a single, larger bed, while the twin beds room will have two separate beds.Answered May 2023
- What time does the tour end?
- The tour ends at approximately 2 pm. Please be sure to confirm with the local tour operator to verify the exact time.Answered May 2023
The tour operator has provided the following answers to customers’ questions.- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 29896P3
From
AU$514.23
per adult
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Itinerary
Overview
Full Map
5 stops
Day 1
Departure from Aswan (Monday,...
Day 2
Aswan_ Kom Ombo – (Abu Simbel by...
Day 3
Edfu+Luxor East Bank
Day 4
Luxor+ West bank include Hot air...
About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- keikoi5340 contributionsFrom Aswan city to Aswan airport. Drive with Mr. Mustafa.Mr. Mustafa drove me from Aswan to the airport. He loves Aswan very much, and while driving, he told me about the attractions and spots of Aswan. He was a very kind person, and the nicest person I met during my trip to Egypt. Mr. Mustafa thank you.Written 30 April 2024
- 455akhtarh0 contributionsMr Mahmoud Sadi- the star of our journey to the beginning of civilizationFor weeks I kept researching the internet but could not come to trust any of the tour companies. Then I found Imperial Egypt from a review posted on YouTube. Got onto their website and was given a whattsapp number to carry on the conversation. Mr Hany gave me a lot of options- I only wanted the luxury boats and not the deluxe one and even at the short notice of 1 week Mr Hany found us a place on the Sun Goddess. Imperial Egypt picked us up from our resort in Hurghada in a clean , well maintained AC Van. Me and my sons, just the 3 of us - we had the whole van for ourselves. My little one said- this was business class. Our driver Arafa was very good- got us to Luxor via Qena in about 3.5 hrs. The boat was true 5 Star Luxury- glad we paid more and chose luxury. But the real star of the trip was our guide, friend and Egyptologist Mr Mahmoud Sadi. He has been in the business for 16 years and is truly an asset to the company. I say this because after our cruise- we flew to Cairo from Aswan and another guide from another company accompanied us for 2 days in Cairo and that is when we all realised how much we missed Mr Mahmoud. Mahmoud had immense knowledge and I was impressed when my children just out of curiosity asked him questions outside the topic but he had answers to them. He knew the history of ancient Egypt well that was a given but he had clear understanding on current affairs, charming command over the English language and its nuances and his pronunciation of the names of the Egyptian kings and queens was to die for.He explained and took a step back and let us explore the place, each one of them in our own time. Never rushed, Never got upset. On the contrary the guide in Cairo wanted us control us and once his speech was done- he wanted us to move to the next thing, never giving us time to enjoy anything. Again my little boy said- Dad How much I miss Mahmoud. The trip overall was fantastic - we saw the best of egypt and teh weather was fantastic but the whole thing was made so memorable by the excellent service provided by Mahmoud.On the last day he came back to check on us and to arrange a taxi to the airport and also got the cruise to pack a box of breakfast for us at 5.45 am next morning. He really did not have to do it. Thank you Mahmoud and Thank you Imperial Egypt for a wonderful journey to the beginning of civilizationWritten 28 February 2024
- Amylmci0 contributionsEchoes of EgyptI recently had the privilege of traveling to Egypt with Imperial Travel Group, and it exceeded my expectations thanks largely to our fantastic guides Tamer, Mustafa and Jasmine. When I decided to book this trip, everyone warned me against visiting Egypt - saying it was dangerous. Well over a million Americans can't be wrong, right? WRONG. Thanks to Imperial and their guides, we didn't just sight-see - we swirled through markets, temples and tombs hearing the Echoes of Egypt’s deep history. Traipsed through bazaars soaking up culture, laughed over shared meals, and stepped outside our comfort zone to gain life-changing perspectives. We would have seen only surfaces without these remarkable guides peeling back the complex, beautiful layers of Egyptian society for us. If you have any hesitation about the safety or viability of visiting Egypt, let me put those worries to rest. Go with Imperial Travel Group - their skill, dedication and friendship made Egypt the magical, mystical trip of a lifetime for me. #takethetriptoegyptWritten 18 February 2024
- skipaway0 contributionsWonderful experienceI was on booking.com trying to book a particular ship recommended in a blog post. I had a question which led me to ImperialEgypt, the tour operator for our dates. In retrospect, I was a total PITA, as Hany assured me our last minute change was an upgrade. So very happy we trusted him--I can't imagine a better experience. Our tour guide, Hady, not to be confused with Hany, was absolutely stellar and scrupulously honest, very accommodating to our varied group members' needs, and unbelievably knowledgeable re all things Egypt. I have a lot of miles under my belt and this trip, along with a Kruger safari, ranks right at the top so far. Put this on your bucket list.Written 23 October 2023
- cheetah20220 contributionsFantastic TourWe had a wonderful experience with Imperial Egypt's tour services. The pickup, the guide, and the entire arrangement were all truly delightful. We appreciate the fantastic tour!Written 8 October 2023
- U5056WFhakank0 contributionsOne of the best things to do in EgyptThe tour and the guide was really good. We took the MS Princess Sarah cruise for 3 nights/4 days. Room was clean and cozy, especially we loved the view of Nile from our room. Food was okay at the boat. I would like the mention our tour guide dear Mohammed Abdul was really nice man and professional at his job. He helped us and the others in tour and even for the things that are not included in tour, for example simcard, transportation, shopping etc. I love sharing my experience about ancient Egypt. I feel like, It was more than enough for a regular tourist. Do not forget to bring your sun protections. You may miss seeing clouds at tour. We haven't got any bad reviews but somethings may need an improvement. Like the food at ship and a bit professionalism for the crew can make this a dream voyage.Written 16 July 2023
- 757micam0 contributionsAwesome Tour!The trip was wonderful and we got to see so many incredible things. The views from our room were amazing. My favorite part was going to Luxor temple during sunset. Our guide Mohamed Abdo was so helpful with everything and made sure we were comfortable during the whole trip. He even helped us plan for our stay in the Red Sea.Written 10 July 2023
- Lizzie M0 contributionsGreat Trip Along the Nile!What a great way to enjoy the breathtaking beauty of the nile and see all of the main historical sites in a limited amount of time. Our guide Hady was very friendly, funny and made us feel very relaxed and comfortable. He is very knowledgeable and takes care of everyone's needs. I highly recommend this trip!Written 6 April 2023
- Samantha_Lampard0 contributionsA little underwhelmingI echo what has been said previously about this not really being a tour. It was a very expensive day out but the tour guide wasn’t able to actually come into the temples so spent some time prior to this going through some photos and explaining what we were about to see. As for the transportation, I don’t remember the last time I was this uncomfortable- the driver and passenger seat was right back and reclined so myself and my husband had very little leg space, and there wasn’t any air conditioning so in 28 degree heat, we were extremely hot so could hardly stay awake! There was also a beeping noise too which possibly was coming from the driver not wearing his seat belt so we endured this for the full 6 hour drive!! The guide and the driver were both very pleasant and answered questions which we asked.Written 21 February 2023
- Lansdowne30 contributionsRecommend this Tour OperatorWe had a fantastic experience dealing with Imperial Egypt in the purchase of our Nile cruise. Right from the start they answered my many questions by email promptly and made my decision very easy. Great value for the money. Excellent!Written 23 February 2022
- SantulChandra0 contributionsExcellent and very well coordinated tripThe best part of our trip was our Guide Moataz. He is very knowledgable, friendly and helpful. He helped us through out the tour with explaning the history and details about all the temples we visited, though he was with us throughout but in certain temples / places govt does not allow guides to go along with the guests, so he would explain us everything and then ask us to take photos inside if we wanted to ask any follow up questions about the temple. He also helped us do our personal shopping by taking us to the genuine shops where we could see the process of making Papyrus, Alabaster and experience the different fragrances in a perfume shop. During the cruise, unfortunately our kids fell sick, Moataz got us the medication and made necessary changes in the itinerary so that it could suit the kids. Overall it was a great experience, as our guide was doing all the coordination with cruise, drivers etc. Staff on the cruise ship was super nice. PS: Imperial Egypt also have meet & assist service at the Cairo airport, I am glad that I took it. Ahmed met us as soon as we came into arrival hall (before immigration) and helped us in clearing immigration and buying duty free items. I would recommed to book this service.Written 30 October 2021
- Christianreyomega0 contributionsExcellent.The whole trip was excellent and meet our expectation. Our tour guide Mr. Ahmed Aziz was very professional and has very good knowledge in Egyptian history. Our cruise from Aswan to Luxor was great and we have a relaxing experience, the food was good and the staff was very accommodating. Overall we had a great time. I would recommend this to my friends.👍Written 29 October 2021
- jaysano9510 contributionsAmazing cruise with an extraordinary guide!We had a great time at the cruise with Imperial Egypt. The ship was in good condition, the rooms where cosy and comfortable. The food quite good as well. Our guide Mustafa Ragab was a really helpful and kind man, he helped us with so many things, like getting a simcard, getting around to ATMs or shops we would like to see. He also has a great knowledge about the egyptian history and could answer every question, that we had. So we are really grateful for the time with him! We heartly recommend the cruise and guide!Written 21 October 2021
- Lindsay K0 contributionsDisappointed - Don't bother getting a guided tourWe were very disappointed with this "guided" tour, especially as we paid a considerable amount more to get a guide. Our guide provided a very basic summary which we already knew from reading webpages prior to our trip. When we asked questions, he changed the topic or simply didn't answer. At the site, he flipped through some pictures. We felt very rushed and weren't able to take in the museum portion. As for the transportation, an airplane seat would have been more comfortable.Written 25 October 2019
- Carol M0 contributionsExcellentThe tour was amazing! The cruise was incredible. Our tour guide Mahmoud Hasan was excellent and very knowledgeable. Highly recommend the tour!Written 6 September 2019
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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5.0
1,526 reviews
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126
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26
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9
Danc2324
Marlborough, UK20 contributions
We had an absolutely amazing trip with Imperial tours and our awesome guide Hady. Communication before the trip was excellent and we organised to be met in Aswan city by a driver (as we stayed the night before on the other side of the Nile). Upon meeting the driver by the only KFC sign in the City, we drove a short distance to the boat where we met Hady. From our very first meeting with him, he made us feel so welcome and really excited for the trip, using a combination of exceptional knowledge and wonderful humour which remained throughout our time. We really could not have asked for anyone better. The boat itself was also fantastic, and meant that a fairly intense itinerary at times never felt too much. All the staff were lovely and very attentive, the rooms large and cleaned daily and the restaurant food and variety also fabulous (a real plus as vegetarians). We met our group on the first evening and Hady took us through the itinerary for the trip and gave us the opportunity to get to know each other. The sights throughout the trip were just stunning, from Philae and Abu Simbel, to Kom Ombo, Edfu and Luxor, the pictures of which really speak for themselves (although do none of them the justice of their wonder) with multiple companies following very similar itineraries. I think entry prices have increased of late so would recommend around $150 for entrances and tips per person, and also worth noting that all entrances, and ideally all tips, are paid in Egyptian pounds (not USD/EUR etc) with ATMs widely available. Also try and keep some small notes free at all times for tips and to give exact amounts for entrances as it really helps. That said, I still think the tour is great value for everything that we got to experience. We got the opportunity to visit a perfumery and alabaster shop as nice additions to the tour which enhanced the experience. Overall, we had an incredible time on this tour and would absolutely recommend it, and our magnificent guide, to anyone that asks. Thank you Hady and Imperial for a once in a lifetime experience!
Written 8 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Harrison F
19 contributions
This cruise was the absolute pinnacle of my trip to Egypt! When I first booked the trip Imperial Egypt had incredible customer service reaching out Via WhatsApp as soon as I booked to answer any questions I had and made the process as smooth as possible. After arriving in Aswan I was met by my incredible tour guide Hady who ensured everything went as smoothly as possible. He picked me up from my hotel and the trip began right away! I was in a group of 7 people (3 couples am me solo) and everything was setup for us to have an incredibly smooth sail and outstanding temple tour experiences. Hady the guide being proficient in hieroglyphics and knowing every story about ancient Egypt and the Greek and Roman influence made every temple an unforgettable experience. He made sure we were always in the front of the line entering the busy temples ensuring we got the best pictures and uninterrupted explanations and interactive stories! Any questions our group had he gave an outstanding and extremely knowledgeable answers making the experience even better. We did have very early mornings which Hady encouraged and it did not disappoint because it was much better to have more time at the temples to explore ourselves after his fantastic explanations and stories. He was also very clear and up front about the tipping culture in Egypt and gave tons of insider info and tips to make sure we had the best experience possible. As for the accommodations I was on the boat A Sarah which although not 5 stars compared to American, Asian, or European standards was still very well outfitted and the rooms and relaxation areas were very nice, clean, and well maintained. The staff on the boat was also amazing and made sure every need was met and expectations blown away. The food was good (nothing to brag about) but the service was great and did not disappoint. Drinks are all at an extra charge on the boat (including water) but this is typical in Egypt because you do not want to drink the tap water but there was no shortage of availability or access. The sun deck on the boat was also very nice with comfortable kings chairs to soak up the Egyptian sun and a nice clean pool to cool off after an amazing day of amazing temple exploring. Wifi on the boat is an extra charge but I highly recommend buying an Egyptian SIM card for internet anyway and you can use your hotspot which worked very well even while sailing. Overall this was an amazing experience and I would highly recommend it for anyone visiting Egypt!
Written 19 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Honza Š
3 contributions
We took the tour based on the recommendations on the spot (like 10 minutes before the start) and I must say it was worth every penny.
We got a personal guide that took care of us (and one more couple). Ours was very pleasant, if you can ask for Mostafa Molattam you won’t regret, he made the trip very enjoyable and made sure we get as much as possible from the trip.
Optional tours can easily double the price of those 4 days, so we opted out and found same trips on the street that fit our budget. That comes with a risk of missing the departure (it happened to us, but we caught up with the boat in next harbor).
Most of the tours are scheduled for early mornings / evenings, which is probably good for summer due to very hot days, but it stays all year. You get plenty of time to catch up on sleep deprivation during cruising.
Cruising from Aswan to Luxor in terms of sights seems perfect. The sights you see are paced and you get new knowledge with every stop, so that you can understand and enjoy Luxor beauty on the final day.
We got a personal guide that took care of us (and one more couple). Ours was very pleasant, if you can ask for Mostafa Molattam you won’t regret, he made the trip very enjoyable and made sure we get as much as possible from the trip.
Optional tours can easily double the price of those 4 days, so we opted out and found same trips on the street that fit our budget. That comes with a risk of missing the departure (it happened to us, but we caught up with the boat in next harbor).
Most of the tours are scheduled for early mornings / evenings, which is probably good for summer due to very hot days, but it stays all year. You get plenty of time to catch up on sleep deprivation during cruising.
Cruising from Aswan to Luxor in terms of sights seems perfect. The sights you see are paced and you get new knowledge with every stop, so that you can understand and enjoy Luxor beauty on the final day.
Written 4 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Emerald_Green
4 contributions
Pros:
Trip was amazing! The cruise is great - food is fantastic, rooms clean, atmosphere very relaxing. We loved spending time on the sun deck.
Our tour guide was HADY - you HAVE to request him if you want a great time. (Not to be confused with Hany who is the manager) He studied to be an egyptologist and is very knowledgeable about all topics. He gave great explanations and made the program fun with his jokes. Everything was very organized and any changes we wanted to make to the itinerary he went above and beyond to do. He was flexible and helped us enjoy our trip to the fullest!
We also LOVED the optional hot air balloon ride - it was incredible!! Definitely something to spend money on.
Abu Simbel is also incredible to see and a must do.
Cons: the company needs to include the entrance fees in the cost of the trip. It was very annoying to constantly carry around so much cash and pay for every temple and tomb we went to! It would be much more enjoyable if everything was paid for and taken care of from the beginning.
I hope the company can do this in the future.
Tipping: bring a LOT and I mean a LOT of small 1$ bills or exchange for Egyptian 5's and 10's. The culture of the country is that you literally tip anyone who even breathes in your direction. Every driver (even the tour car), every single bathroom, every server, every one who holds your door, etc etc. You will probably tip about 100 people by the end.
You are also expected to tip the boat staff.
Overall trip is amazing but just be prepared so you aren't running around to the ATM every day.
Trip was amazing! The cruise is great - food is fantastic, rooms clean, atmosphere very relaxing. We loved spending time on the sun deck.
Our tour guide was HADY - you HAVE to request him if you want a great time. (Not to be confused with Hany who is the manager) He studied to be an egyptologist and is very knowledgeable about all topics. He gave great explanations and made the program fun with his jokes. Everything was very organized and any changes we wanted to make to the itinerary he went above and beyond to do. He was flexible and helped us enjoy our trip to the fullest!
We also LOVED the optional hot air balloon ride - it was incredible!! Definitely something to spend money on.
Abu Simbel is also incredible to see and a must do.
Cons: the company needs to include the entrance fees in the cost of the trip. It was very annoying to constantly carry around so much cash and pay for every temple and tomb we went to! It would be much more enjoyable if everything was paid for and taken care of from the beginning.
I hope the company can do this in the future.
Tipping: bring a LOT and I mean a LOT of small 1$ bills or exchange for Egyptian 5's and 10's. The culture of the country is that you literally tip anyone who even breathes in your direction. Every driver (even the tour car), every single bathroom, every server, every one who holds your door, etc etc. You will probably tip about 100 people by the end.
You are also expected to tip the boat staff.
Overall trip is amazing but just be prepared so you aren't running around to the ATM every day.
Written 18 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Art K
6 contributions
June 2021 • Couples
We just finished our trip with our amazing guide Hady through Imperial Egypt this week.
The trip itself is great. We saw amazing highlights and the perfect amount of temples and tombs throughout. It was a great way to travel to see the sites while spending time on the Nile. The rooms and all of the boat were air conditioned and comfortable.
Our communication with Imperial Egypt was excellent and timely.
I cannot say enough good things about our guide Hady. If you get the opportunity I would absolutely request to have him as a guide. He is extremely knowledgeable. He is easy to get along with and very personable. As we went about our days he was respectful to us as well as others we encountered along the way (not necessarily easy to do so without succumbing to haggling).
Hady took great lengths to attention the detail in helping us to arrange and go to get Covid pcr testing prior to departure (and Imperial Egypt spotted us the $$ for testing that we paid back later). We also needed to cancel a flight and he took us to the Egypt Air office to help us with this. He even arranged transport to the airport the day following the tour to include picking up our required stamped printed Covid results (which was required for our next destination, Jordan (not necessarily required for other destinations at the time of this writing)).
10/10
I have no reservations to fully recommend Hady and Imperial Egypt
The trip itself is great. We saw amazing highlights and the perfect amount of temples and tombs throughout. It was a great way to travel to see the sites while spending time on the Nile. The rooms and all of the boat were air conditioned and comfortable.
Our communication with Imperial Egypt was excellent and timely.
I cannot say enough good things about our guide Hady. If you get the opportunity I would absolutely request to have him as a guide. He is extremely knowledgeable. He is easy to get along with and very personable. As we went about our days he was respectful to us as well as others we encountered along the way (not necessarily easy to do so without succumbing to haggling).
Hady took great lengths to attention the detail in helping us to arrange and go to get Covid pcr testing prior to departure (and Imperial Egypt spotted us the $$ for testing that we paid back later). We also needed to cancel a flight and he took us to the Egypt Air office to help us with this. He even arranged transport to the airport the day following the tour to include picking up our required stamped printed Covid results (which was required for our next destination, Jordan (not necessarily required for other destinations at the time of this writing)).
10/10
I have no reservations to fully recommend Hady and Imperial Egypt
Written 3 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vaivia
United States1 contribution
Dec 2021
Just completed the 4 day 3 night cruise from Aswan to Luxor. Overall, it was a memorable and enjoyable experience. Given that this was a last minute trip having the accommodations, itinerary, meals, and tours all included made for a stress free trip.
We sailed on the MS Amwaj, a boat classified as a 5 star deluxe cruise. The accommodations were comfortable with nice views from the windows. Meals were buffet style and always provided for a lot of variety. The staff on board were accommodating, attentive, and friendly. Wifi was not included but available for a charge.
Our tour guide was Hady, a certified Egyptologist. He was very knowledgeable, friendly, and truly passionate about Egyptian history. In addition to being wowed by his vast knowledge of ancient Egyptian history and ability to read hieroglyphics I truly enjoyed hearing his anecdotes on modern day Egyptian life. Hany had a great sense of humor and always started and ended the day with a smile. He truly made the trip special and I am very thankful. When booking this tour you won’t go wrong by requesting Hady as your guide as he truly goes above and beyond! I'm sure that if I had left my sunglasses behind in Abu Simbel he would have traveled back there by camel to retrieve them ;) Shukran Jazilan Hady!
We sailed on the MS Amwaj, a boat classified as a 5 star deluxe cruise. The accommodations were comfortable with nice views from the windows. Meals were buffet style and always provided for a lot of variety. The staff on board were accommodating, attentive, and friendly. Wifi was not included but available for a charge.
Our tour guide was Hady, a certified Egyptologist. He was very knowledgeable, friendly, and truly passionate about Egyptian history. In addition to being wowed by his vast knowledge of ancient Egyptian history and ability to read hieroglyphics I truly enjoyed hearing his anecdotes on modern day Egyptian life. Hany had a great sense of humor and always started and ended the day with a smile. He truly made the trip special and I am very thankful. When booking this tour you won’t go wrong by requesting Hady as your guide as he truly goes above and beyond! I'm sure that if I had left my sunglasses behind in Abu Simbel he would have traveled back there by camel to retrieve them ;) Shukran Jazilan Hady!
Written 2 January 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Beatriz
7 contributions
Dec 2022 • Couples
We had a great time visiting the historic sites, which are fantastic and much more impressive than anything else we've ever seen.
Our tour guide was Mido Mosa and he really made this trip worth it. He is a qualified egyptologist, he could answer every single question we had, and added interesting information, bringing the temples to life. He understood that some of the members of our group didn't speak English very well, so he spoke slowly and clearly, and took pauses for us to translate.
If you are booking a tour with Imperial Egypt, make sure to request Mido as your guide!
Mido gets 5 stars, but there are some reasons why this tour is 4 stars overall:
1) The 3-night excursion has a very tight itinerary, with early wake up calls (3:30, 5:30 AM) on most days, visiting up to 4 different sites in the same day. On one excursion (Abu Simbel), we had to drive 4 hours each way to get to the temple. This left us very tired.
They also scheduled an excursion at 5:30 AM on January 1st, which we ended up missing as we didn't want to get up that early after New Year's Eve. I understand it's not part of the local custom to celebrate New Year, but I felt that the boat could have accommodated the schedule to better suit the guests, as there were many westerners aboard who would like to celebrate and shared the frustration with us. Anyway, even if you disconsider the New Year's eve, beware that this is not a relaxing trip, but rather a quite intense one.
2) The boat that was booked for us (Semiramis I) is a quite outdated. The whole thing feels very 90's and not what I expect when booking a "5-star deluxe Nile Cruise". From what we could see, most cruises were similar to ours, so if you're looking for more standard "21st century" accomodations, make sure to do your research on the boat. To be fair, it was quite reasonable price point, but if I had the chance to go again, I would definitely prefer to pay more to get a better experience. This probably applies to all of Egypt: when booking an accommodation, count with one star less than advertised (5 stars is 4 stars, 4 stars is 3 stars, and so on). In other words: never expect to be positively surprised by an accomodation, but rather the other way around.
For a reference point in case you want to haggle for the price: we paid 560 dollars per person for the whole itinerary (excl. attraction entrance fees and tipping).
Our tour guide was Mido Mosa and he really made this trip worth it. He is a qualified egyptologist, he could answer every single question we had, and added interesting information, bringing the temples to life. He understood that some of the members of our group didn't speak English very well, so he spoke slowly and clearly, and took pauses for us to translate.
If you are booking a tour with Imperial Egypt, make sure to request Mido as your guide!
Mido gets 5 stars, but there are some reasons why this tour is 4 stars overall:
1) The 3-night excursion has a very tight itinerary, with early wake up calls (3:30, 5:30 AM) on most days, visiting up to 4 different sites in the same day. On one excursion (Abu Simbel), we had to drive 4 hours each way to get to the temple. This left us very tired.
They also scheduled an excursion at 5:30 AM on January 1st, which we ended up missing as we didn't want to get up that early after New Year's Eve. I understand it's not part of the local custom to celebrate New Year, but I felt that the boat could have accommodated the schedule to better suit the guests, as there were many westerners aboard who would like to celebrate and shared the frustration with us. Anyway, even if you disconsider the New Year's eve, beware that this is not a relaxing trip, but rather a quite intense one.
2) The boat that was booked for us (Semiramis I) is a quite outdated. The whole thing feels very 90's and not what I expect when booking a "5-star deluxe Nile Cruise". From what we could see, most cruises were similar to ours, so if you're looking for more standard "21st century" accomodations, make sure to do your research on the boat. To be fair, it was quite reasonable price point, but if I had the chance to go again, I would definitely prefer to pay more to get a better experience. This probably applies to all of Egypt: when booking an accommodation, count with one star less than advertised (5 stars is 4 stars, 4 stars is 3 stars, and so on). In other words: never expect to be positively surprised by an accomodation, but rather the other way around.
For a reference point in case you want to haggle for the price: we paid 560 dollars per person for the whole itinerary (excl. attraction entrance fees and tipping).
Written 3 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Viv
Dubai, United Arab Emirates40 contributions
Mar 2021 • Friends
Our trip to Egypt was made so very special thanks to Hady (our tour guide) and Hany (who was my first point of contact).
Hady helped inspire our love and curiosity of Egypt. Whether he was up at 4am waiting to take us on a day trip, organising our Covid tests, or being asked endless questions by us inquisitive travellers, he was always full of enthusiasm, positivity and incredibly organised. He always put our needs first, and modified the tour to suit our requests (including extra snack and bathroom stops!!)
Hady answered every question we had, his knowledge of Egypt is incredible and we learnt so much from him over the four wonderful days! Hady is super experienced and a qualified Egyptologist, has been a tour guide for 16+ years, and has done some really exciting research on archaeological sites - he shared so many stories and intricate details of the Egyptian history, super engaging. Plus, his English was perfect.
Hany (who I booked the tour through) was so patient and answered every single tiny question I had. Travelling during Covid can be stressful, but he made me feel so comfortable and confident in my decision to book through him. The itinerary was detailed and well explained, and followed accurately - we chose to do all the optional activities too, managing to fit everything in with ease.
The cruise itself, including all amenities and facilities, was a fantastic experience. It was my first cruise, and I am so glad I did it. The entire trip was amazing, it truly felt like a dream - I wish we were still there.
Please please request Hady as your guide, he is now like family to us, and deserves recognition! I hope to see him when I return to Egypt! Thank you again for such a fantastic trip! Can’t recommend the experience enough!
Hady helped inspire our love and curiosity of Egypt. Whether he was up at 4am waiting to take us on a day trip, organising our Covid tests, or being asked endless questions by us inquisitive travellers, he was always full of enthusiasm, positivity and incredibly organised. He always put our needs first, and modified the tour to suit our requests (including extra snack and bathroom stops!!)
Hady answered every question we had, his knowledge of Egypt is incredible and we learnt so much from him over the four wonderful days! Hady is super experienced and a qualified Egyptologist, has been a tour guide for 16+ years, and has done some really exciting research on archaeological sites - he shared so many stories and intricate details of the Egyptian history, super engaging. Plus, his English was perfect.
Hany (who I booked the tour through) was so patient and answered every single tiny question I had. Travelling during Covid can be stressful, but he made me feel so comfortable and confident in my decision to book through him. The itinerary was detailed and well explained, and followed accurately - we chose to do all the optional activities too, managing to fit everything in with ease.
The cruise itself, including all amenities and facilities, was a fantastic experience. It was my first cruise, and I am so glad I did it. The entire trip was amazing, it truly felt like a dream - I wish we were still there.
Please please request Hady as your guide, he is now like family to us, and deserves recognition! I hope to see him when I return to Egypt! Thank you again for such a fantastic trip! Can’t recommend the experience enough!
Written 4 April 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sam G
2 contributions
Nov 2021 • Friends
Having recently wrapped up my trip the 4 day cruise from Aswan to Luxor, I would highly recommend this package to anyone looking to explore ancient Egypt. With food, accomodations, itineraries and guides taken care of, we were free to truly enjoy our vacation without the stress of planning each day.
We were on the Farrah cruise which was modern, clean, provided great good and excellent service. The staff was friendly and went above and beyond to accommodate specific requests. It was a great place to spend time in between our visits to the site and gave us ample time to explore each stop.
Our guide was one of the highlights of our trip. Mostafa was not just a guide but felt like a friend who joined us for the trip. He was friendly, generous with his time and knowledgeable. His passion for ancient Egypt and his storytelling ability really brought the history to life - by the end of the tour we were surprised to find we were reading hieroglyphics on our own! He also gave us excellent recommendations if we were looking to explore the city beyond the basic tour offering his time and making arrangements for special trips like hot air ballooning (highly recommend) and local restaurants.
Overall if there was one thing I could change, I would have extended this package all the way to Cairo. While we made our own accomodations for the last part of the trip, we would have much rather have completed the journey with the cruise and Mostafa!
We were on the Farrah cruise which was modern, clean, provided great good and excellent service. The staff was friendly and went above and beyond to accommodate specific requests. It was a great place to spend time in between our visits to the site and gave us ample time to explore each stop.
Our guide was one of the highlights of our trip. Mostafa was not just a guide but felt like a friend who joined us for the trip. He was friendly, generous with his time and knowledgeable. His passion for ancient Egypt and his storytelling ability really brought the history to life - by the end of the tour we were surprised to find we were reading hieroglyphics on our own! He also gave us excellent recommendations if we were looking to explore the city beyond the basic tour offering his time and making arrangements for special trips like hot air ballooning (highly recommend) and local restaurants.
Overall if there was one thing I could change, I would have extended this package all the way to Cairo. While we made our own accomodations for the last part of the trip, we would have much rather have completed the journey with the cruise and Mostafa!
Written 29 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Al S
5 contributions
May 2022 • Couples
We had an amazing time cruising down the Nile on the Solaris II. The boat and staff were fantastic and I doubt there is a better way to see so much of Egypt in such a short amount of time. The only thing I'd like to see changed is for more Egyptian food to be served on board rather than Western food.
But enough about the cruising because this review is really about our tour guide and Egyptologist, Hady. Hady is downright the most passionate and knowledgeable Egyptian tour guide out there and we learnt so much over the four days we spent with him.
Hady is extremely clear and concise with his explanations of the temples and ancient Egyptian culture and civilisation. He has a way of making you want to learn more about what you are experiencing and every question we had was answered very enthusiastically.
Not only does Hady have exceptional knowledge of ancient Egypt, his guidance around fair tipping and dealing with the local street merchants whilst remaining respectful was invaluable and took all of the anxiety and awkwardness out of these situations.
Hady also went out of his way to take us to buy water at cheaper prices than sold at many of the temples as well as ducking past an ATM whenever anyone in the group required.
Overall the cruise was fantastic, but Hady was the gentleman who made it amazing. I would recommend joining the cruise solely for his tours and I look forward to learning more from him when we make it back in Egypt in the future!
Thank you Hady!!
But enough about the cruising because this review is really about our tour guide and Egyptologist, Hady. Hady is downright the most passionate and knowledgeable Egyptian tour guide out there and we learnt so much over the four days we spent with him.
Hady is extremely clear and concise with his explanations of the temples and ancient Egyptian culture and civilisation. He has a way of making you want to learn more about what you are experiencing and every question we had was answered very enthusiastically.
Not only does Hady have exceptional knowledge of ancient Egypt, his guidance around fair tipping and dealing with the local street merchants whilst remaining respectful was invaluable and took all of the anxiety and awkwardness out of these situations.
Hady also went out of his way to take us to buy water at cheaper prices than sold at many of the temples as well as ducking past an ATM whenever anyone in the group required.
Overall the cruise was fantastic, but Hady was the gentleman who made it amazing. I would recommend joining the cruise solely for his tours and I look forward to learning more from him when we make it back in Egypt in the future!
Thank you Hady!!
Written 30 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
boram M
Seoul, South Korea
Hello~
I would like to make a reservation for 2 adults on Friday, October 11th
If I make a reservation, can I know what kind of cruise it is?
I want to know the name of the cruise.
Can I choose the cruise?
And what is the difference between "Twin beds room group tour" and "Cabin for two person" ?
Please reply.
Thanks. :)
Written 2 October 2024
Hi - what’s roughly the start time on the first day? I would like to fly in the morning and find the best times. Thank you.
Written 22 September 2024
Hello, we are a group of 3 interested in this cruise - if we select a group of 3 through TripAdvisor what will the room arrangement be? Ideally we'd have 3 single beds in the room.
Written 11 September 2024
Why are cruises departing on Monday more expensive than those departing on Wednesday or Friday?
Written 9 February 2024
After we get picked up from the hotel, we are going to be dropped off at the cruise first then join the excursion ? Or we do excursion first, then go to the cruise?
Written 16 January 2024
I think it depends on pickup-time and group size. The two of us were picked up at Aswan airport around 10 AM and were mer by our guide, whom we had to ourselves for the entire trip. From the airport We went straight to see the unfinished obelisk and then continued to the ship, where we checked in and had lunch. After that we went sightseeing again, this time to the Isis temple. Beautiful! I wish Nile Cruisers had been better at informing passengers about such itinerary details.
Written 18 January 2024
What time does the cruise leave Luxor? What time do I have to arrive in Luxor to catch the cruise?
Written 27 September 2023
This cruise starts in Aswan, not Luxor. Our first day in Aswan began around 9 am. There were some guests that came directly from the airport that morning and some that came later in the afternoon, but the latter missed the morning excursion. We came the night before to Aswan, which worked very well for us. So, my suggestion is that get to Aswan before 9:00 am.
Written 28 September 2023
Hello, I’d like to know what time is the cruise departure time on day 1?
If I arrive Aswan a bit late says 7pm, still able to onboard and start trip on next day? Thanks
Written 23 August 2023
Kris
New York City, New York
Why is there a wide range of pick up time from 8am to 9pm, how is that affecting the first day of the itinerary? For those who've been on the tour what time do you recommend to be picked up? Thank you!
Written 13 August 2023
Hi, per your other responder it depends where you are the night before. We took an early flight from Cairo and booked on a late morning trip. As it happened we had a delay, we just did the same thing but 2 hours later. When we travelled day 1 was Arrival; Philae Temple; Aswan Dam; dinner ... bed (this because we chose to do Abu Simbel on Day 2 which requires a 3:30am alarm). I don't know how they cater for late arrivals but the Temple was closing at about 5pm (I guess you can do this trip on day 2 (am) if you are not going to Abu Simbel - worth asking the operator in advance if this applies to you). If you go to Abu Simbel timing is tight - you return to the boat around lunchtime and pretty soon afterwards it sets sail.
Written 15 August 2023
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