5-Day Aswan, Abu Simbel & Luxor Tour from Marsa Alam
Already in Marsa Alam? Slip away for four nights of Nile temples. Private road transfers, two hotel stops and entrance fees are included.
The short answer
5-Day Aswan, Abu Simbel & Luxor Tour from Marsa Alam is a 5-day, 4-night trip to Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel and Marsa Alam: 2 nights in Aswan and 2 in Luxor. It includes an Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transfers. Prices start at $1,162 per person, two sharing (Essential, October–April).
02Overview
A first look
Marsa Alam is a quiet place for the reef, but Aswan and Luxor are only a long drive away. This five-day tour is built for guests who are already staying on the Red Sea coast and want the Nile temples without a flight. A driver collects you at your hotel, takes you to Aswan, and brings you back at the end.
You see the Unfinished Obelisk and the High Dam, spend a whole day at Abu Simbel, then travel to Luxor via Kom Ombo, Edfu and Esna. Luxor's West Bank fills day 4, and Karnak closes the tour before the drive home. There are two hotel stops, Aswan and Luxor, and you choose their standard when you book. Be ready for long days on the road.
What lingers
- 01The Unfinished Obelisk and the Aswan High Dam on your arrival afternoon
- 02A full day at Abu Simbel, reached by road from Aswan
- 03Kom Ombo, Edfu and Esna temples in one day, with lunch
- 04Valley of the Kings with three tombs, plus Hatshepsut's temple and the Colossi of Memnon
- 05Karnak Temple with a private Egyptologist
- 06No flights: private road transfers from and back to Marsa Alam
Choose your comfort level
Prices are per person in USD, from 2 people sharing a double room, including accommodation at the properties listed or similar.
| Comfort level | Where you stay or similar | Per personfrom, Oct–Apr | Choose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essentialfrom $1,1623★ hotels | Aswan · 2 nightsHapi Hotel Aswan Luxor · 2 nightsEl Mesala Hotel Luxor | $1,162May–Sep: from $1,126 | |
| Comfortfrom $1,3254★ hotels | Luxor · 2 nightsIberotel Luxor by JAZ | $1,325May–Sep: from $1,247 | |
| Classicfrom $1,3745★ hotels | $1,374May–Sep: from $1,288 | ||
| Prestigefrom $1,5205★ deluxe hotels | Aswan · 2 nightsTolip Aswan Luxor · 2 nightsSteigenberger Nile Palace Luxor | $1,520May–Sep: from $1,403 | |
| Luxuryfrom $1,7345★ luxury hotels | Aswan · 2 nightsThe Zen Wellness Resort Aswan Luxor · 2 nightsHilton Luxor Resort & Spa | $1,734May–Sep: from $1,708 |
Hotels on bed & breakfast. You'll stay in these properties, or a similar choice of the same quality. Choose your date in the booking panel for the exact price.
- New
Day by day
Detailed itinerary
5 Days / 4 Nights · Marsa Alam · Aswan · High Dam · Abu Simbel · Kom Ombo · Edfu
- 1
Your driver collects you at your Marsa Alam hotel for the private drive across to Aswan. It is a long road day, and the afternoon sightseeing is arranged around the time you arrive. You then see the northern granite quarries and the Unfinished Obelisk, the huge shaft that cracked before it was cut free, and the Aswan High Dam, with the Nile held back behind it.
The half-day tour is about 4 hours, with the entrance fees to both sites included. A licensed Egyptologist can be added if you ask when you book. You sleep in Aswan.
- 2
This whole day belongs to Abu Simbel, the two rock temples of Ramesses II near the Sudan border, reached by road from Aswan. It is a full day with a very early start and a lot of time in the vehicle, so it suits travelers who are happy to be on the move. The entrance fees to the Abu Simbel temples are included. Lunch is not part of this day, so bring a snack or buy something along the way.
You return to your Aswan hotel for the second night.
- 3
Today you move from Aswan to Luxor, with three temples on the way. Your private Egyptologist takes you through Kom Ombo, the double temple on the riverbank, the Temple of Horus at Edfu and the smaller temple at Esna. Entrance tickets, a lunch at a local restaurant and bottled water are included. The tour takes about 10 hours, so it is a full day. At the end you are dropped at your hotel in Luxor.
- 4
Cross to the West Bank with your private Egyptologist and driver. You enter the Valley of the Kings, with three tombs included, then visit Hatshepsut's mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahari, the Colossi of Memnon and the temple of Ramses III at Medinet Habu. Entrance tickets for all four sites are included. Expect open ground with little shade, so start early and carry water.
- 5
After checking out you spend the morning at Karnak with your Egyptologist, walking the hypostyle hall and the Sacred Lake. Entrance tickets are included. From Karnak your driver takes you on the long private road transfer back to Marsa Alam, to the hotel you started from. The journey is a long one, so do not book anything for that evening. The tour ends when you are dropped off.
The fine print
What's included – and what isn't
Included
- Two nights in an Aswan hotel and two nights in a Luxor hotel, with breakfast
- Private road transfers from Marsa Alam to Aswan, from Aswan to Luxor and from Luxor back to Marsa Alam
- Aswan half-day tour: Unfinished Obelisk and High Dam, with entrance fees
- Abu Simbel by road, with entrance fees
- Kom Ombo, Edfu and Esna with a private Egyptologist, entrance tickets, lunch and bottled water
- Luxor West Bank and Karnak with a private Egyptologist and entrance tickets, including three tombs in the Valley of the Kings
- Meet-and-assist transfer representative
- All service charges and taxes
Not included
- International flights and any flights in Egypt
- Your Marsa Alam hotel
- Egypt entry visa
- Tips for guides and drivers
- Meals and drinks other than those stated
- A guide on day 1 unless requested at booking
- Travel insurance and personal expenses
Field notes
From our Egyptologists
- 01
The Abu Simbel run starts well before sunrise, so pack water, a snack and a light jacket for the early drive.
- 02
Do the Kom Ombo, Edfu and Esna day with a hat and sun cream, as the temples have little shade.
- 03
At the Unfinished Obelisk, ask your guide to explain the quarry marks to see how stone was cut.
- 04
Save your energy on the West Bank day; start at the tombs early, and the Colossi of Memnon are a quick stop.
Tailor it
Make it yours
Choose your hotel standard when you book. Ask us to add an Egyptologist for the Aswan half day on day 1 or for Abu Simbel on day 2.
All requests handled by your dedicated specialist before booking.
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- Guests staying in Marsa Alam who want the great Nile temples without a flight. Suited to couples, friends and solo travelers who can cope with many hours in a vehicle.
Maybe not, if
- Travelers who need step-free access to every site, or who dislike long drives. Four of the five days include a long road journey.
Honest assessment
Real trade-offs from our experience managing this tour.
Highlights
- Abu Simbel, Aswan and Luxor from a Marsa Alam base in five days
- No flights to book and no airport queues
- Private vehicle and driver throughout, with entrance fees included
Things to Consider
- Very long days on the road, especially days 1, 2, 3 and 5
- Early starts and little time for rest
- Uneven stone, steps and little shade at the sites
Where it fits
A good add-on to a Marsa Alam beach stay. Be prepared for long drives.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Many Nile tours start in Cairo and rely on flights. This one starts at your Marsa Alam hotel and goes by road, so it suits guests already on the Red Sea coast. The cost is long hours in the vehicle.
Compare
Similar tours to compare
On the ground
Your route
Snapshot
Good to know
- Travel style
- Guided road tour from a Red Sea resort
- Accommodation
- Aswan and Luxor hotels, standard chosen at booking
- Destinations
- Marsa Alam · Aswan · High Dam · Abu Simbel · Kom Ombo · Edfu · Esna · Luxor · Valley of the Kings · Hatshepsut Temple · Karnak Temple
- Includes
- 2 nights in an Aswan hotel and 2 nights in a Luxor hotel, with breakfast · Private road transfers from and back to Marsa Alam · Entrance fees to every listed site · Egyptologist guide on days 3, 4 and 5 · Lunch on day 3 · No flights
- Best for
- Guests already staying in Marsa Alam · Travelers who want Abu Simbel, Aswan and Luxor without flying · History-focused travelers who accept long road days
The morning of
Meeting point & timing
- Where
- Your hotel in Marsa AlamMap
Before you go
What to pack & wear
What to bring
- Passport and any required travel documents
- Comfortable walking shoes with good grip
- Sunscreen, SPF 30 or higher
- Sun hat and sunglasses
- Refillable water bottle
- Snacks for the Abu Simbel day
- Any personal medication
- Small day bag
What to wear
- Lightweight, breathable clothing for sun and heat
- Closed shoes for temples and uneven ground
- Clothing that covers shoulders and knees at temples
- A hat and sunglasses
- A light layer for early mornings and air-conditioned vehicles
Children & families
Children are welcome, but the long road days are hard on young ones. Every child needs a seat in the private vehicle. Entrance rates for children depend on age and the site, and hotel prices depend on the room used, so we give you the exact figure when you tell us each child's age at booking.
Accessibility
Who can join this
This tour has long drives and a lot of walking at large archaeological sites, with uneven stone, steps, sand and narrow tomb passages. The West Bank and Karnak have little shade. The vehicles are private and air-conditioned, but we cannot promise wheelchair access at every site, and the long road days are tiring for anyone with limited mobility. Tell us your needs when you book and we will say honestly which parts suit you.
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
Every transfer is a private road journey and the vehicle type can vary, so we make no claim about carbon savings. The tour uses no flights. Sightseeing is arranged through local suppliers in Aswan and Luxor, so much of what you spend stays in the places you visit. We ask guests to carry a refillable water bottle and not to touch painted walls in tombs.
Licensed Egyptologist guides
State-licensed, and people we have worked with for years
Fair wages on the ground
Drivers + guides paid above market
Site preservation
We follow the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities' site rules: marked paths, no touching reliefs
Local teams, real help
Our own offices in Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Hurghada, Marsa Alam and Sharm El Sheikh
If plans change
Cancellation and refunds
If you cancel, your refund depends on how early you tell us and on the type of trip. Read our current cancellation and refund policy
Asked & answered
Frequent questions
01Does this tour include flights?
No. Every move is by private road transfer, from Marsa Alam to Aswan on day 1, from Aswan to Luxor on day 3 and from Luxor back to Marsa Alam on day 5. International flights are not included either.02How long are the drives?
They are long. Day 1 is the drive from Marsa Alam to Aswan, day 2 is a full day on the road to Abu Simbel and back, day 3 is about 10 hours including three temples, and day 5 ends with the drive back to Marsa Alam. We do not promise exact times, as they depend on traffic and checkpoints.03When do we see Abu Simbel?
On day 2, as a full day trip by road from Aswan. The entrance fees are included. Start early and expect many hours in the vehicle.04Which hotels will we stay in?
You choose a standard when you book, from budget to luxury, and we name the hotels in Aswan and Luxor for your dates. Two nights in each city. The sightseeing is the same at every standard.05Is a guide included every day?
A private licensed Egyptologist is included on day 3 (Kom Ombo, Edfu and Esna), day 4 (West Bank) and day 5 (Karnak). On day 1 you can add an Egyptologist if you ask when you book. Day 2 is an entrance-fee day, so ask us about guiding at Abu Simbel.06Which meals are included?
Breakfast is included on days 2 to 5, and lunch on day 3. Day 1 has no meals included. Lunch on the Abu Simbel day is not included, so take a snack with you.07Will I make my flight home?
This tour has no flights, so there is no domestic delay to worry about. But day 5 ends with a long drive back to Marsa Alam and we cannot give an exact arrival time. We advise against a flight that evening. Choose a departure the next day or later, and take travel insurance that covers missed connections.08What is not included?
International flights, the Egypt visa, tips for guides and drivers, meals other than those stated, drinks, optional extras and travel insurance. Your Marsa Alam hotel is not part of this tour.09When is the best time to go?
October to April is cooler and the most comfortable for temples. Summer is very hot in Aswan and Luxor, so days start early.
Last updated Product ID: TOU-MRS-573728
At a glance
- Length
- 5 days · 4 nights
- Starts
- Daily
- Route
- Marsa Alam → Aswan → Abu Simbel → Kom Ombo → Edfu → Esna → Luxor
- Nights
- 2 Aswan · 2 Luxor
- Includes
- Egyptologist guide, entrance fees, transfers