This route strings together Egypt’s biggest hits with real logistics handled for you. What makes it interesting is the mix of guided stops (temples and key sites) plus your own plan for where to sleep and eat, so you get structure without feeling locked into one rigid package. Door-to-door transfers and a first-class train help you move between Aswan, Abu Simbel, and Luxor without wrestling with schedules. I also like that you get an Egyptologist guide who gives the background while you’re still looking at the stones. The one thing to watch is that entrance fees are not included, so you’ll want cash on standby or a credit card ready for payments at the sites.

The pacing is built for maximum sightseeing in minimum friction: boat to Philae, a Nubian village visit with a felucca feel, an early Abu Simbel day, then Luxor West and East Banks. You’ll be in a small group, up to 15 people, which usually makes it easier to ask questions and stay together. The main trade-off is time on the road on two of the days, so if you hate long transfers, this might feel like a lot.

Key points worth knowing

• AC door-to-door transfers in Aswan, Abu Simbel, and Luxor keep the day moving
• Motorboat to Philae Temple saves you time and adds a classic Nile approach
• Nubian Village visit with a felucca trip gives you a different lens on river culture
• Early Abu Simbel group tour fits the timing that works best for this distant site
• First-class train Aswan to Luxor handles the biggest travel link in comfort
• Luxor East and West Banks in one day hits Karnak, plus Valley of the Kings and the monuments around it

Price and logistics: what $177 actually buys you

At $177 per person for about three days, this is one of those deals that looks “reasonable” until you break down what’s included. You’re not just buying sightseeing. You’re buying transport planning, guided time at major temples, and the big intercity move by train.

Here’s what you get for that price:

• Pickup and transfers (including A/C vehicles) in Aswan, Abu Simbel, and Luxor
• An expert Egyptology guide
• Motorboat to Philae Temple
• Felucca trip during the Nubian Village portion
• A/C modern vehicle throughout the included driving parts
• First-class train from Aswan to Luxor
• Guided sightseeing for Philae and Nubian Village in Aswan, Abu Simbel in a shared group, and Luxor West and East Banks

What’s not included:

• Entrance fees for the sights
• Tipping (not obligatory)

That entrance-fee gap matters. Temples and tomb areas can add up fast. The good news is the plan states entrance fees should be paid by credit card at the sightseeing, which removes the guesswork of finding ATMs on the fly.

The real value: less friction across three cities

The practical win here is the chain of logistics. Southern Egypt is spread out, and if you plan it alone, you spend time chasing confirmations, transport, and timing. This format reduces that work: you provide your hotel and meals, but the route, guide, and key transfers are handled.

Day 1 in Aswan: Philae Temple by motorboat, then Nubian Village

Your first day is the “river culture plus sacred monuments” combo. Aswan is a smart start because you can feel the Nile atmosphere before you jump into Abu Simbel and the Luxor rush.

Philae Temple, reached by motorboat

You’ll start with pickup from your Aswan hotel, train station, or airport. Then you head to Philae Temple by motorboat. The time window listed is about 1 hour 30 minutes, and admission is not included.

Why this stop works:

• The boat approach feels like part of the experience, not just transport.
• You’ll get the Egyptologist background while you’re at the temple, which helps you recognize what you’re seeing rather than treating everything as a blur of carvings.

One practical note: Philae is outdoors. Bring sunglasses and keep water in mind, even if the schedule feels quick. The day starts early enough that the sun can still surprise you.

Nubian Village visit, plus a felucca-style feel

Next you proceed to the Nubian Village. The visit is also listed at about 1 hour 30 minutes, and admission is not included. You’ll also do a felucca trip to the Nubian Village, which is one of the more memorable additions for first-timers. Afterward, you return to your Aswan hotel via comfortable transfer.

What to expect here:

• This is less about a single monumental site and more about seeing daily life and culture along the Nile.
• Since it’s guided, you’ll likely understand the context behind what you see, rather than just looking at buildings and crafts.

A drawback to consider: with any cultural stop, you’ll want to move at the group’s pace. If you’re the type who hates stopping for small explanations, you may feel time tight. But in most cases, a guide helps you keep your questions focused.

Day 2: Abu Simbel early start, then first-class train into Luxor

This is the “long day, big payoff” day. Abu Simbel is far from Aswan, and the schedule reflects that. You start in the early morning with a guided group tour, then you return to Aswan in the afternoon and continue by train.

Abu Simbel Temple Complex (shared group tour)

The Abu Simbel portion is listed as 8 hours with early morning departure and a guided sharing group tour. Admission is not included.

Why Abu Simbel deserves its own chapter:

• It’s one of Egypt’s most famous statements of power carved into rock.
• The guide’s Egyptology background matters here because Abu Simbel can feel overwhelming if you only see it as a photo spot.

You also get practical time structure. The plan says you return to Aswan by the afternoon, which means you’re not stuck trying to manage transport into the evening.

Transfer to Luxor, with a first-class train ride

After the Abu Simbel day, you transfer to Aswan train station and take the train to Luxor. You’re told the train ticket is included, and specifically first-class seated is part of the package.

Then you get picked up from the Luxor train station and taken to your Luxor hotel. The itinerary lists about 3 hours for that Luxor arrival and pickup window, with admission noted as free for the transfer-related portion.

What I like about this setup:

• The train link is the hard-to-plan part when you travel independently.
• First class means you’re less likely to arrive into Luxor drained and cranky, which matters because Day 3 is packed.

If you dislike early mornings, this might be the day that tests you. Abu Simbel is not a “sleep in” kind of outing.

Day 3 in Luxor: Valley of the Kings plus Hatshepsut, Karnak, and Luxor Temple

Day 3 is where you collect your Luxor memories. It’s built to cover both sides of the Nile: the West Bank monuments and the East Bank temples.

The itinerary sequence is:

• Valley of the Kings
• Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el Bahari
• Colossi of Memnon
• Karnak Temple (East Bank)
• Luxor Temple

Most entries list times and note admission is not included.

Valley of the Kings: tombs, not just ruins

You’ll be picked up from your Luxor hotel to start with the Valley of the Kings (about 2 hours). Admission is not included.

A useful mindset: decide in advance how many tombs you want to focus on, even if you do not know the exact one you’ll choose yet. This area is famous, and the guide context helps you understand why certain tombs are prioritized.

Deir el Bahari: Temple of Hatshepsut

Next is the Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el Bahari for about 1 hour 30 minutes. Admission is not included.

Why this stop sits well after the Valley of the Kings:

• You shift from tomb interiors (more compressed and quiet) to a temple complex with dramatic sight lines.
• It’s a natural change of pace that keeps the day from feeling like one long line of stone doors.

Colossi of Memnon: quick, iconic stops

The Colossi of Memnon are listed for 30 minutes, with admission marked as free for this stop.

Even though it’s short, don’t treat it as filler. These statues are part of how Luxor “reads” as a whole. You’ll understand the scale when you see them close up.

Karnak Temple: the East Bank big one

You continue to Karnak Temple for about 2 hours. Admission is not included.

This is the kind of site where a guide’s storytelling pays off. Karnak can look like a wall of carvings until you learn what the different areas and alignments were meant to communicate. If you’ve ever felt lost at huge temples, you’ll appreciate the guidance here.

Luxor Temple: wrap-up at the end of the day

Finally, you visit Luxor Temple for about 1 hour 30 minutes. Then you get a comfortable transfer back to your Luxor hotel or train station.

This last stop is ideal for de-compression. After a full day, being able to see the temple layout and walk out at a calmer pace helps the sights land.

Comfort and pacing: what your day feels like

This itinerary is structured around major distances, so expect two types of time: “active sightseeing” and “transfer blocks.” The transfer blocks are softened by the included A/C vehicles and door-to-door pickup.

A few practical observations based on what’s included:

• You’ll do motorboat time on Day 1 for Philae, which can be cooler and more scenic than a direct drive.
• You’ll do a felucca trip as part of the Nubian Village experience, which adds variety without turning the day into a full-day cruise.
• Your longest single sightseeing block is Abu Simbel at 8 hours, and that’s the day to plan around.

Group size matters too. The tour mentions a maximum of 15 travelers. Smaller groups tend to mean fewer slowdowns and more chances to ask the guide questions without feeling rushed.

One small thing I’d plan for: because entrance fees are separate, you might feel a brief pause at each sight while you handle payment. Since credit card payment is mentioned, that should be smoother than hunting for cash.

Who this trip is perfect for, and who should rethink

You’ll love it if you want structure, not a car rental

This is a strong pick if you:

• Want Egyptologist guidance at key monuments
• Prefer not to coordinate transport across Aswan, Abu Simbel, and Luxor yourself
• Like the idea of staying independent for meals and lodging, but outsourcing the heavy logistics

You might want to skip it if you hate early starts

The Abu Simbel day is early and long. If your travel style is slow mornings and long lingering lunches, this schedule may feel too packed.

It also fits solo travelers who dislike planning headaches

Even though it’s a group-based guided format, you’ll have enough control because your accommodation and meals are yours to choose. The tour handles the big moves and the guided blocks.

One more note from the human side: the only name mentioned in the feedback is Peter, and he’s described as responsive and accommodating. That kind of communication usually helps when you’re sending hotel or train details for pickup.

Should you book this Aswan, Nubian Village, Abu Simbel, and Luxor train tour?

I’d book this if your goal is to see a lot of southern Egypt highlights without becoming a part-time travel planner. The combination of guided temple time, boat trips, and a first-class train is the heart of the value, especially if you’re traveling between multiple cities.

I would hesitate only if:

• You want to pay for as little as possible upfront, since entrance fees are extra
• You dislike early mornings and long days, especially the Abu Simbel outing

If you’re comfortable paying site fees on arrival and you can handle two bigger transfer-heavy days, this is a practical, high-satisfaction way to connect Aswan and Luxor while still getting the story behind what you’re seeing.

FAQ

Is the price $177 per person?

Yes. The price is listed as $177 per person.

What is included in the tour package?

Included are pick-ups and transfers in Aswan, Abu Simbel, and Luxor in A/C vehicles, an expert Egyptology guide, a motorboat to Philae Temple, a felucca trip to the Nubian Village, guided tours for Philae and Nubian Village, a guided group tour to Abu Simbel, guided tours for Luxor West and East Banks, and an A/C first-class seated train ticket from Aswan to Luxor.

Are entrance fees included?

No. Entrance fees to the sightseeing are not included, and they should be paid by credit card at the sightseeing.

What travel is arranged between Aswan and Luxor?

You take a first-class seated train from Aswan to Luxor. After you arrive, you are picked up from the train station and taken to your Luxor hotel.

How large is the group?

The tour has a maximum of 15 travelers.

Do I need to tip?

Tipping is listed as not obligatory.