hurghada 3 day tour to luxor and Aswan including hot air balloon

The best part of this three-day Egypt trip is the range packed into a short route: you leave Hurghada for Luxor’s temples, rise above the city in a hot-air balloon, visit royal tombs, then continue to Aswan and the High Dam. It gives you famous ancient sights and a glimpse of modern Egypt’s engineering story.

I like the private format, since your group can shape parts of the day instead of following a large coach at every stop. I also like the human touch from guides such as Ramzy and Abdelrhman, who are specifically praised for clear English, useful recommendations, and adjusting the schedule to suit the group.

The main caution is cost clarity. The advertised price is $250 per person, but entrance fees, lunches, language services, and optional visits are extra. The stated entrance-fee charge of $300 per person deserves careful confirmation before you pay, since it is higher than the tour price itself.

Key points to know before booking

• Hot-air balloon over Luxor: You fly early on the second morning, then continue with the West Bank sights.
• Three major ancient stops: Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, and the Valley of the Kings anchor the first two days.
• Two hotel nights included: You sleep in a five-star hotel in Luxor, then another five-star hotel in Aswan.
• Private air-conditioned transport: The vehicle covers Hurghada, Luxor, Aswan, and the return journey.
• Flexible sightseeing: The operator says the itinerary can be adjusted around your interests.
• Extra charges matter: Admission tickets, lunches, other languages, and Tutankhamen’s tomb are not included.

Leaving Hurghada for Luxor’s ancient temples

The trip begins with pickup anywhere in Hurghada at about 8 a.m. You travel by air-conditioned car toward Luxor, the city that gives you the strongest concentration of monumental ancient Egypt on this route.

Your first major stop is Karnak Temple. This is not a single small shrine but a large temple complex built and expanded by successive pharaohs. Even with limited time, you get a sense of the scale of ancient religious life through its columns, courts, and stone avenues.

The schedule allows about four hours for the Karnak and Luxor Temple portion, though the exact division between the two sites is not stated. That matters because both deserve time, and a tight schedule can turn grand monuments into a quick photo stop. Ask your guide at the start of the day how long you will have at each temple.

Luxor Temple gives you a different mood from Karnak. It sits within the modern city, so the contrast between active streets and ancient stone is part of the experience. After sightseeing, you eat at an oriental restaurant, then take a one-hour city tour before heading to your Luxor hotel.

The city tour is a useful addition if you want more than isolated monuments. It gives you a short look at present-day Luxor, though the schedule does not specify exactly which neighborhoods or stops are included. If you have a particular interest, tell the guide early. The operator presents the trip as flexible, and guides such as Abdelrhman are described as willing to make recommendations and customize the day.

The balloon flight and Luxor’s West Bank

Day two begins very early with the hot-air balloon ride. The early start is necessary for the flight schedule, but it also makes this the most demanding morning of the tour. You see Luxor from above before breakfast, then continue with a breakfast box and the West Bank program.

The balloon is the trip’s most unusual feature. Temples and tombs show you ancient Egypt from ground level, while the flight gives you a wider view of the city and surrounding countryside. The experience depends on weather, and poor conditions can lead to a new date or a full refund rather than a flight.

After landing, you visit the Valley of the Kings. This dry valley contains the tombs of pharaohs who were buried on Luxor’s West Bank. The included description does not name specific tombs, and admission is not included, so ask which tombs your ticket covers and what extra payment is needed for special tombs.

Tutankhamen’s tomb has a separate listed fee of $25 per person. It is a small tomb compared with some others, but its fame makes it a popular add-on. I would decide before the day begins, since the additional charge is clearly separate from the general entrance fees.

Next comes Hatshepsut Temple, a striking monument connected with one of ancient Egypt’s most important female rulers. Its terraces and setting make it different from the enclosed temple spaces you see at Karnak and Luxor. The program also includes the two Colossi of Memnon, which are a short but worthwhile stop because they give you a strong sense of the size of royal monuments.

The West Bank portion also includes a visit to an alabaster house. This is described as a place to see artisan handmade crafts. It adds a modern, local production stop to a morning otherwise focused on tombs and temples. If shopping is not your priority, ask how much time is planned there. The operator says the itinerary is customizable, so you may be able to keep the stop brief.

Lunch is at an oriental restaurant, with lunch listed separately at $10 per person per day. Breakfast is included for both mornings, but the wording does not make clear whether the balloon morning’s breakfast box is supplied by the hotel, the tour company, or both. Confirm this when booking, especially because the flight begins very early.

Taking the train from Luxor to Aswan

After the West Bank tour and lunch, you are scheduled to take a train to Aswan. This changes the pace from private road transport to public rail travel, and it lets you cover the long distance without spending the whole afternoon in the car.

The exact train class, departure time, and ticket arrangements are not supplied. Ask who buys the ticket, where you meet the guide, and whether your bags remain with the vehicle or travel with you. Those details make a big difference after a long morning of sightseeing.

You spend the second night at a five-star hotel in Aswan. Hotel names are not provided, so you should request the property name and confirm what is included in the room arrangement. The tour includes two nights of accommodation, one in Luxor and one in Aswan.

Aswan’s High Dam and Isis Island Temple

After breakfast, your guide meets you for the Aswan sightseeing day. The first named stop is the High Dam, an enormous project completed in 1971. Construction began in 1960, and the reservoir behind it, Lake Nasser, finished filling in 1979.

The dam measures more than 360 feet high and about 12,500 feet across. Those figures help explain why the site matters. It is not an ancient monument, but it shaped modern Egypt by controlling the Nile and creating a huge reservoir. The stop is brief, listed at about ten minutes, so treat it as a focused photo and explanation stop rather than a long visit.

The itinerary then takes you to Isis Island Temple. The supplied information does not give the temple’s exact name or explain the boat arrangements, so confirm the details before departure. The phrase Isis Island suggests the Philae temple complex, but you should ask the operator to verify the site and transport. This is one of the places where a direct question prevents confusion.

You eat lunch at an Egyptian-style restaurant in Aswan. Lunch is not included, and the stated price is $10 per person per day. Afterward, you go to Aswan railway station for a train to Qena, where a driver meets you for the road journey back to Hurghada.

That final transfer is the least simple part of the plan. You are combining a train journey with a pickup and a long drive on the same day. The timetable is not provided, so ask how many hours the return normally takes, when the train leaves, and where exactly the Qena driver will meet you.

What the $250 price really covers

At $250 per person, the tour offers a lot of transport and sightseeing in three days. The price includes the air-conditioned vehicle for the Hurghada, Luxor, Aswan, and return route, bottled water, two hotel nights, the hot-air balloon ride, and two breakfasts.

It does not include entrance tickets. The published extra charge says entrance fees are $300 per person, which is an unusually important point to verify because it exceeds the advertised tour price. This may reflect a broad estimate, a currency error, or a package of several fees, but the information provided does not clarify it.

You should ask for a written breakdown of every admission charge before booking. Confirm the general temple and tomb tickets, the $25 Tutankhamen fee, lunch costs, train tickets, and any optional tours. The stated price for another language is $60 per day, while English guiding is the standard arrangement described here.

The value is strongest if you want one company handling the major transport links and hotel nights. It is less attractive if you prefer to buy each ticket yourself or spend several hours at every monument. The trip is fast, and its strength is coverage rather than long, quiet visits.

Private guiding and the flexibility factor

This is a private activity for your group, not a shared coach tour. That gives you more control over breaks, photography, shopping time, and the balance between ancient sites and city touring.

The operator says it can customize the daily plan. That promise is useful, but you should turn it into specific requests before departure. Ask for the exact amount of time at Karnak, Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, the alabaster house, and Isis Island Temple.

The guides named in the supplied information are Ramzy, Abdul, and Abdelrhman. Ramzy is praised for making the visits special through detailed explanations, while Abdelrhman is noted for strong English and practical suggestions. These personal qualities matter in Egypt, where a good guide can explain how the monuments connect instead of simply pointing out names and dates.

Still, do not assume that every named guide will lead every departure. Ask who your guide will be and whether the guide stays with you through the train sections. Also confirm whether the language surcharge applies only to languages other than English.

Timing, comfort, and the physical demands

Most people can take part, but the schedule asks a lot of you. Day two begins before sunrise for the balloon and continues through the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, Memnon, crafts, lunch, and a train ride.

The air-conditioned vehicle and bottled water are welcome on the long road sections. Bring practical clothing, comfortable shoes, and sun protection. The information does not specify luggage limits, vehicle size, or rest stops, so ask before setting out with large bags.

The balloon flight is weather-dependent. If poor weather forces cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. The experience also requires a minimum number of participants, and failure to reach that number can lead to another date, another experience, or a full refund.

For cancellation, you can receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that 24-hour window are not accepted for a refund.

Who should book this three-day route?

I would choose this tour if you are staying in Hurghada and want to see Luxor and Aswan without arranging several separate transfers. It suits you especially well if the hot-air balloon is a priority, since that experience is built into the second morning rather than offered as an uncertain add-on.

It also fits you if you value a private guide and want room to adjust the schedule. Families, couples, and small groups who prefer direct transport may find the format easier than joining a large bus.

I would hesitate if you dislike early starts, train changes, or long transfer days. I would also pause if your budget is strict until the entrance fees and train costs are fully explained. Three days is enough to sample both cities, but it is not enough for a slow, restful exploration.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want maximum coverage from Hurghada, a hot-air balloon over Luxor, two hotel nights, private transport, and a guide who can adjust the sightseeing. The mix of Karnak, Luxor Temple, the royal tombs, Hatshepsut Temple, Aswan’s High Dam, and Isis Island Temple gives you a strong first look at both ancient and modern Egypt.

Before paying, get the total cost in writing. The $300 entrance-fee figure, lunch charges, train arrangements, hotel names, exact balloon logistics, and return timetable all need confirmation. If those details are clear and the fast pace suits you, this is a practical way to connect Hurghada, Luxor, and Aswan in one compact trip.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

Pickup is offered anywhere in Hurghada, with a stated start time of about 8 a.m.

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts approximately three days and includes two nights of accommodation.

Is the hot-air balloon ride included?

Yes. A hot-air balloon ride over Luxor is included, subject to suitable weather.

Which hotels are included?

Two nights in five-star hotels are included, one night in Luxor and one night in Aswan. The hotel names are not provided.

Are entrance tickets included?

No. Entrance fees are listed as an extra charge. The stated amount is $300 per person, so confirm the exact breakdown before booking.

Is Tutankhamen’s tomb included?

No. Tutankhamen’s tomb has a separate listed fee of $25 per person.

Are meals included?

Two breakfasts are included. Lunch is not included and is listed at $10 per person per day.

Can the tour be canceled for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Poor weather or failure to meet the minimum number of participants can also lead to another date or a full refund.