4 Day 3 Night Nile Cruise from Aswan to Luxor &Abu Simbel Imperialegypt

20 reviews for 4 Day 3 Night Nile Cruise from Aswan to Luxor &Abu Simbel Imperialegypt

1. 

   Rated 4 out of 5

   Nathaly_R – February 28, 2024

   The tour guide Hady was amazing, he did an excellent job and we enjoyed and learned a lot from his guidance. The cruise was clean and the food was excellent. My only complain is the lack of organization with the other cruises, all of us arrive at the same time everywhere and it was a mess to enter to the temples.People fighting in the entrance and squeezing to get in. The cruises should make some changes in the schedules so they arrive at different times and make the tours more enjoyable.

2. 

   Rated 4 out of 5

   Fede_J – March 4, 2024

   It is a really great way to explore the most iconic temples in Egypt.
   I will rate the different services below:
   Cruise 7/10 : We got the Jaz Celebrity Cruise.
   It’s an average old cruise, with basic needs covered. Rooms are spacious, clean and very comfortable to have a great stay.
   The food was good, except for desserts. We think it can improve significantly.
   At breakfast, an extr chef for eggs and omelettes should be added as the queue got long and sometimes people couldn’t eat what they wanted just because the cruise is understaffed in that area.
   Service in board was fine. Our waiter Ali was outstanding and he did an amazing job helping us in every single detail.
   Housekeeping was also very good, and the room was very great after being done.
   The bar could improve as waiters do not take your orders and you need to walk to the bar in order to get some drinks. Prices on board are more than reasonable. (Same description applies for the top deck of the boat).
   The logistic (9/10) of the company is really great, and timing are being handled correctly, however the day we went to Abu Simbel, the bus was quite small and uncomfortable, which it would be ok for a short trip, but not ok for a long one as we had (4 hs each way).
   Our tour guide (7.5/10), Mostafa, was nice and easy going. But we would have appreciated more information in the temples themselves (in the ones where the tour guides were allowed to do so)
   Overall a great experience (8/10). Of course there are some things that could be improved, but for the amount of money the tour costs, I wouldn’t complain too much and would highly recommend it.

3. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   Wan_K – March 4, 2024

   Well arrangements and good experience with Imperial Egypt. Our tour guide Mido Mosa gave us clear explanation. Really enjoy Nile sailing cruise with Iberotal Crown Emperor ship

4. 

   Rated 3 out of 5

   Yunfeng_P – March 16, 2024

   Not the 2019 refurnished new Semiramis 3 promised in itinerary to board shown on photo but a very old one surely not 5 stars luckily food is not bed and staff are friendly, but the boat is way old in cabin

5. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   Brendan_W – March 28, 2024

   Great way to see some major temples and get excellent river views as you cruise down the Nile
   Hady (our guide) gave a great overview and was very attentive and informative. Helped make the experience great

6. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   lilimackintosh – April 3, 2024

   TLDR; an amazing experience, beautiful boat, excellent tours, incredible temples and fantastic guide – couldn’t recommend enough!
   Wow! What a trip. If you’re thinking about doing this, I cannot recommend it enough.
   The communication was seamless – we were picked up promptly and collected other members of our group. We struck gold as we had such a fantastic group of people from all over Europe & two from India – who we are now lucky enough to call friends.
   After dropping our bags to the boat we started our tour at Aswan high dam with our guide Mohamed (Mimo). Mohamed was a great guide, friendly, informative and with good spoken and written English. He was funny and sincere and was happy to explain things further if we had questions. We spent the rest of the day at Philae temple which was so beautiful and really fun to get to by boat, and then visited an Essence/Aromatherapy outlet to sample different essences with no pressure to purchase. It was an interesting session and we didn’t buy anything – which wasn’t a problem. This was our last stop before returning to check in to our cruise.
   We read mixed reviews about the cruise boat, but struck gold with ours “Al Sarah” which was so beautiful, clean and felt like something out of “death on the Nile” or the Titanic. We were filled with excitement for the cruise and kept pinching ourselves at how lucky we felt. We had sliding doors which opened up onto a Juliette-style balcony (great when sailing – we loved it!). There are two chairs and a table which you can sit at to admire the views out of your window – which are just beautiful. The bed is large and comfortable and bathroom is clean. Our shower leaked a little, but it wasn’t really an issue for us. There’s a safe in the wardrobe and plenty of hanging space.
   After a wonderful lunch with our new group, we sat with a drink on the top deck taking in the views and then took a nap before meeting with the group to discuss the itinerary for day 2. The food was great – such a good selection and great quality. We were always the first to get there and last to leave due to the food being delicious and the company even better. We had dinner and then took an early night for ready for our early wake up ahead of Abu Simbel temples.
   It’s around 4-5 hours to Abu Simbel, and a very early start, but totally worth it! Although it was extremely busy when we got there, the temples were so impressive. We then headed back to the boat for lunch, and spent the afternoon on the top deck sunbathing and in the pool as we sailed to Kom Ombo. We then visited Kom Ombo temple just after sunset which was beautiful. Mohamed then took us to the Crocodile mummy museum underneath the temple.
   We had dinner and went to bed as we sailed overnight to Edfu. We woke up at 5am to leave at 6am for Edfu temple. Again, another beautiful temple and Mohamed explained everything to us and what to look for. We had to take a horse and cart which we didn’t enjoy purely because we don’t like how animals are treated – but we also understand this is how many Egyptians living in Edfu make their living and it’s a cultural difference. I think if we’d opted for a tuktuk or taxi instead we could have done that.
   After Edfu, it was back to the boat for lunch as we sailed to Luxor via Esna locks. This was a really cool experience to witness from the top deck – and some of our group also watched from their rooms. We arrived in Luxor and then visited both Karnak temples and Luxor temples. Wow wow wow! It just kept getting better. Mohamed was building on information he told us previously, so we felt like we were learning a lot and becoming familiar with the Gods, Kings and their stories. After our final dinner as a group, we stayed in the lounge bar to enjoy a few drinks together. There is a lounge bar inside and a bar on the top deck serving alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, including cocktails.
   On our final day, we checked out and visited Hatshepsut temple and Valley of the Kings. You get entrance to 3 tombs included which were all so mesmerising. We paid 300EGP each to enter the Tomb of King Tutankhamen where you can see his mummy along with the crypt he was buried in – very surreal! We also visited an Alabaster museum which was interesting. Unfortunately this concluded our cruise/tour, where we were then transferred to our Luxor hotel. It was honestly our best experience in Egypt and we are so grateful to Mohamed, our group and the team for making it so memorable.
   Mohamed (Mimo) was a fantastic guide and we really recommend him if you are booking. He was very friendly and helpful. He would tell us each day what to tip drivers etc – I know this can seem strange, but it was actually very helpful and all of the amounts were very reasonable in our opinion. I’m sure if you didn’t agree with the amount it would not be forced as tipping is optional. To give a guide, for us it was 50EGP per person per day for a driver (who is with you all day) and 450 EGP to tip the cruise staff. We tipped Mohamed at the end of the trip too an amount we felt was right – he did such an awesome job!
   Entrance fees as at March 2024:
   – Aswan high dam 100EGP each
   – Philae Temple 200EGP each
   – Abu Simbel 275EGP each
   – Kom Ombo, Edfu, Luxor, Karnak, Hatshepsut temple & Valley of the Kings 1200EGP each
   – Tutankhamen tomb 300EGP each

7. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   WEIJEN_L – April 4, 2024

   It’s a wonderful itinerary. We saw a lot of Egypt and totally enjoyed the experience. Our tour guide Mido did a great job taking good care of us. He is very knowledgeable, very professional, and has obvious passion for his job. Thanks, Mido!!
   Highly recommend this tour to everyone.

8. 

   Rated 2 out of 5

   LUIS_P – April 6, 2024

   Disappointing boat interiors with poor room quality. Very poor food preparation.
   The crew was always nice and helpful.
   The photo of the boat is deceiving. It doesn’t match what we’ve booked.

9. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   Marta_S – April 8, 2024

   We had an amazing time with our guide Mohamed abdo. He is very knowledgeable and passionate about Egyptian culture. We paid extra to get an upgraded boat and it was the best decision. The rest of the people from our group were disappointed about the standard boat. The food was great and the service was amazing. Friendly and helpful staff, clean room and a nice swimming pool to relax. It’s the best way to visit the most iconic temples and sail down the Nile. Mohamed Abdo took really good care of us and helped with everything we needed. He was really on top of everything! The boat we took is called Alhambra. Highly recommended!

10. 

    Rated 5 out of 5

    Lucas_M – April 15, 2024

    I loved this experience! The boat itself was solid…definitely not the fanciest and definitely not in bad condition either. Beds were cozy and each room had a slider that opened to the Nile with newer beach chairs on the top deck. It was a good fit for my needs and budget and I found something I liked in the buffet at every meal.
    The real highlight was our guide, Hady. He was such an expert not only on the history and the sights, but also on the logistics of the trip, which take on added importance in such a complex place as Egypt. He was an expert at managing the group’s energy and emotions, managing the many tips and entrance fees that had to be collected, advising us on how to interact with local vendors, and keeping us at the front of the lines which can get oppressively long for these world heritage sites.
    I’m quite glad I worked with Hady and Imperial Egypt–am definitely sending more friends in their direction

11. 

    Rated 4 out of 5

    Dharam_C – April 18, 2024

    All is well but tipping was horrible please include all in the itinerary. Had to pay to taxi, cruise staff, sea men, and others according to their demands

12. 

    Rated 5 out of 5

    Hemanta_C – April 20, 2024

    I wanted to give it a rating of 4.5 but there was no option and hence given a 5*. So I will describe what went well and what could have been better.
    What went well –
    1) Viator booking experience. Booked almost 45 days ahead of the trip and immediately the actual tour coordinator from Egypt connected with me on WhatApp. Needed to make some booking adjustments which was smooth and tension free.
    2) All the pickups, starting from the first one from Aswan train station and all subsequent ones remained as planned and very smooth.
    3) The quality of all the vehicles for sight seeing trips were very good.
    4) Sam (Hosam), our tour guide is very knowledgeable, passionate, friendly and helpful. He has been amazing.
    5) The cruise boat was good, check-in and check-out has been smooth.
    4) Rooms were reasonably spacious, clean, good AC & bathroom.
    5) Top deck was amazing with good pool, bar and lounging area.
    6) Cruise staff were friendly and helpful.
    Which Could have been different –
    1) The name of the boat (Renaissance) did not match with anyone mentioned at the time of booking. This perhaps created a doubt in our mind that other boats are better than ours. They should be more transparent on this.
    2) Lunch and Dinner are good but repetitive.
    3) Wine/ other alc beverages available at the bar are limited and local brands only.

13. 

    Rated 5 out of 5

    Jolanda_v – April 21, 2024

    Excellent guide Saleh! Really enjoyed all excursions. Early rises every day so enjoy your time of when sailing 😉. All the staff so welcoming & helpfully. Would definitely recommend this cruise.

14. 

    Rated 5 out of 5

    SATDEO_S – April 26, 2024

    My wife and I planned this trip for a long time. We arrived in Aswan, uncertain of what to expect but Hedi our tour guy was very special with our group of 11. His knowledge, humor, and experience made our trip the best. Hedy was always on time. He made us feel like we were part of Egypt.
    Thank you Hedy and boat crew.

15. 

    Rated 5 out of 5

    Bari_S – May 8, 2024

    Fantastic stay – our tour guides Mahmoud and Fatma were excellent – patient, kind and informative. The cruise was an amazing experience and staff fantastic. Highly recommend

16. 

    Rated 5 out of 5

    Maree_S – May 19, 2024

    This was an amazing experience; the communication with the Tour operator was always prompt and professional, and our private tour guide, Mahmoud Sadi was the greatest companion we could have asked for. Nothing was too much trouble for him, and we saw extra places and history with him.
    Having a private guide meant we didn’t have to wait in queues for tickets, we could visit sites for long as we chose, rather than waiting for other people, or bring hurried up. Mahmoud was absolutely priceless, and I would have him as my guide any time! Thank you for making this trip unforgettable

17. 

    Rated 2 out of 5

    Igne_A – May 23, 2024

    I will start from something positive – our boat was better than expected (I must say, expectations were low) and the group traveling with us were all super friendly & fun. The temples were simply beautiful. I mean it’s for sure worth doing a cruise!
    On our first day we were picked up from our hotel, just driver, no guide yet, he was late. Well might happen, we didn’t think a lot of it.
    Then we left for our first Temple. For the next few hours we learned more about the tipping, than the Temple. Mustafa was not so into the egyptology, the questions asked were barely answer.
    When we arrived to the cruise, we were informed that we have to tip the driver 50egp per person (also children). Then I asked if it’s a tip or a payment, because I’m big enough to decide by myself who I tip, what service I tip, how much I tip and so on. Mustafa got very annoyed and started to discuss, that 50egp is nothing for us and they know it. Well that „nothing „ I still have to earn and with that attitude of his, entire group didn’t tip at all. Only the driver for Abu Simbel and the cruise crew.
    After this incident, Mustafa wasn’t attentive at all. People from our group started writing complaints to Hady (the manager), then the situation was a bit better. But our guide Mustafa was always late (we were always the last group to leave).
    Also the waiter we got, was thinking of us like atm machines, we were feeling very uncomfortable.
    I mean I understand they live mostly from tips, but it could be done in nice and polite way. I guarantee people would tip with pleasure and even more than asked.
    As you can probably understand from my review, be ready for money hungry people to „attack „ you. If you don’t set boundaries on you arrival, you will be bothered for the rest of your days.

18. 

    Rated 5 out of 5

    Gaurav_T – May 29, 2024

    Hany and Hossam were incredible. Really enjoyed the trip, was very easygoing, everything was sorted … there was absolutely no discomfort. On the contrary, Hossam was one of the best guides I’ve encountered and the places we visited were mind-blowing

19. 

    Rated 4 out of 5

    Anders_M – May 31, 2024

    The itinerary is great and the tour company is very caring and professional. My only concern (through no fault of theirs) is that the itinerary feels too jam-packed; its just a bit too much to take in in just four days, and if at all possible, I recommend that you book a longer Nile cruise (e.g. 7D/6N) with the same company.
    Its noteworthy that there are many other tour companies that uses the exact same itinerary with the cruise ships, which means that the destinations you stop at are absolutely jam-packed. Again, this is definitely not the fault of the tour company, as they have done their best to give you an unforgettable experience in Upper Egypt with the available time. It is just another reason why I recommend longer cruises/itineraries than this one.
    My party of three were part of a larger group of around 10 persons in total. This was not an issue at all as the guide they provided us is extremely experienced and talented. In fact, our guide was by far the best guide I had anywhere in Egypt.
    One final note: please be extremely careful with what you buy if they take you to the stone craft workshop on the West Bank of Luxor. The guide will likely tell you that the items are overpriced by 30 or 40%, but in reality they are overpriced by more like 70%. They are genuine goods, but many – probably the vast majority – of the items on display are not actually made at that workshop (which specializes in sandstone tablets) but in other workshops around Luxor.

20. 

    Rated 3 out of 5

    Nemanja_P – June 1, 2024

    While the guide was super knowledgeable, helpful and more than accommodating and we loved the optional boat tour to the Nubian village – which I would highly recommend, the boat was just average. The room was alright, but looks very old and not maintained too well, much like the rest of the boat. It’s not a 5 star luxury boat for sure. It’s just alright. On our way to Abu Simbel we were given a breakfast bag and this was 3 buns of bread with 1 slice of cheese and 1 slice of meat 😔 The food quality and selection varied – much like the boat it was just alright. The tour + the guide (Haidy) deserve 5-stars while the boat is not more than 3!