9-Day Abu Simbel Sun Festival & Nile Cruise
A single departure, 19 to 27 February 2027. See the sun reach the inner sanctuary of Abu Simbel on 22 February, then cruise from Aswan to Luxor. Flights, hotels, cruise cabin and guiding are included.
The short answer
9-Day Abu Simbel Sun Festival & Nile Cruise is a 9-day, 8-night trip to Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and Abu Simbel: 2 nights in Cairo, 3 in Aswan and 3 on a Nile cruise. It includes domestic flights, an Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transfers. Prices start at $2,500 per person, two sharing (Classic).
02Overview
A first look
Twice a year the rising sun travels the full length of the Abu Simbel temple and lights the statues in the inner sanctuary. One of those mornings is 22 February. This tour is built around it. It is a fixed departure: day 1 is Friday 19 February 2027 and day 9 is Saturday 27 February 2027, with no other start dates.
You begin with two nights in Cairo, the Giza Pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum. You then fly to Aswan, ride a felucca at sunset and make the early drive to Abu Simbel on festival morning. A free day in Aswan with a Nubian village visit follows. Then you board a Nile cruise ship for three nights to Luxor, and on the last day you see the West Bank and fly back to Cairo. We book the domestic flights, transfers, hotels and cabin. You choose the hotel and ship standard when you book, and the sightseeing stays the same.
What lingers
- 01The Abu Simbel Sun Festival on Monday 22 February 2027, when the sun lights the inner sanctuary at sunrise
- 02Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum in one guided day
- 03A sunset felucca ride around Elephantine Island on your first evening in Aswan
- 04A free day in Aswan with a visit to a Nubian village
- 05Three nights on a Nile cruise ship from Aswan to Luxor, full board
- 06Philae, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Karnak and Luxor temples, then the Valley of the Kings on the West Bank
Choose your comfort level
Prices are per person in USD, from 2 people sharing a double room, including accommodation.
| Comfort level | Per person | Choose |
|---|---|---|
| Classicfrom $2,5005★ hotels | $2,500 |
Choose your date in the booking panel for the exact price.
- New
Day by day
Detailed itinerary
9 Days / 8 Nights · Cairo · Giza Plateau · Grand Egyptian Museum · Aswan · Abu Simbel · Philae Temple
- 1
Friday 19 February 2027 is the first day of the departure. A representative is waiting in the arrivals hall at Cairo Airport, helps with your bags and drives you to your hotel, about an hour away. Nothing else is planned, so you can rest, eat when you like and be fresh for the pyramids tomorrow.
- 2
Your Egyptologist collects you at the hotel for a full day, about eight hours. First comes the Giza Plateau: the pyramids of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure and the Great Sphinx. Lunch is included at a restaurant with a view. The afternoon is at the Grand Egyptian Museum, home of the Tutankhamun collection. The guide, entrance fees, water and air-conditioned transport are all included.
You return to the same Cairo hotel for a second night.
- 3
After breakfast you are driven to Cairo Airport for the domestic flight to Aswan; the flight time is set by the airline schedule. A driver meets you in Aswan and takes you to your hotel.
Late in the afternoon you board a felucca, the traditional sailing boat of the Nile, and glide around Elephantine Island and Kitchener's Island, with the Aga Khan mausoleum on the bank and the sun going down over the first cataract. The ride takes about three hours with transfers and the entrance fees are included.
- 4
This is the day the whole tour is built around. The festival is fixed on Monday 22 February, and you leave Aswan very early by road so that you are at Abu Simbel for sunrise. At that hour the sun reaches deep into the Great Temple of Ramesses II and lights the statues in the inner sanctuary. The same alignment happens again on 22 October each year.
Weather can affect the view, and we cannot guarantee the sunrise. The rest of the morning is for the two temples themselves, and then you drive back to Aswan. Road transport and entrance fees are included. The rest of the day is free.
- 5
After the early start yesterday, today is yours to spend as you like, with a rest at the hotel or a walk along the Corniche if you want. One outing is arranged: a visit to a Nubian village on the Nile. You cross by boat and are driven where needed, and an English-speaking guide takes you through the village, with the colorful houses and the local way of life. Bottled water is included.
Everything else on this day is your choice.
- 6
You check out of your Aswan hotel and join your Nile cruise ship. The sightseeing for the day comes in the cruise bundle, with an Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transport all included. You visit Philae, the temple of Isis that was moved to Agilkia Island, then the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk in the granite quarries.
Lunch and dinner are served on board, and you spend the first of three nights on the ship.
- 7
The ship moves north while you have breakfast. Two temples are on the program today. Kom Ombo stands right on the riverbank and is dedicated to two gods, Sobek and Horus. Edfu is the temple of Horus and one of the best-preserved in Egypt. Your Egyptologist guides both visits, and entrance fees and transport are included. In between, you have time on deck watching village life on the banks.
All meals are on board.
- 8
Your ship reaches Luxor, and today is for the two great temples on the east bank. Karnak is the largest temple complex in Egypt, and the visit includes the Sacred Lake. Luxor Temple stands beside the river in the middle of the city and is beautiful when lit in the evening. Your Egyptologist leads both visits and the entrance fees and transport are included. You sleep on the ship for a last night.
- 9
After breakfast you leave the ship and cross to the West Bank. You visit the Valley of the Kings, with entry to three tombs, the mortuary temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari and the Colossi of Memnon. Your Egyptologist guides, and fees and transport are included. The timing is arranged around your flight.
You are then taken to Luxor Airport for the domestic flight to Cairo; its time is set by the airline schedule. There is no hotel night in Cairo, so this is where the tour ends, in time for your onward international flight.
Bundled in
- Domestic flights
The fine print
What's included – and what isn't
Included
- Two nights in a Cairo hotel and three nights in an Aswan hotel, with breakfast
- Three nights on a Nile cruise ship from Aswan to Luxor, full board
- Domestic flights Cairo to Aswan and Luxor to Cairo
- The Abu Simbel Sun Festival trip on Monday 22 February 2027, with road transport and entrance fees
- All airport, hotel and port transfers by air-conditioned vehicle
- Sunset felucca ride in Aswan and a Nubian village visit
- Entrance fees to every site in the itinerary, including three tombs in the Valley of the Kings
- Lunch on the Giza day, and Egyptologist guiding on the Cairo, Nubian village and cruise sightseeing days
- Meet-and-assist at the airport
- All service charges and taxes
Not included
- International flights to and from Egypt
- Egypt entry visa
- Gratuities for guides, drivers and ship staff
- Drinks on board and meals other than those stated
- Khufu pyramid interior and premium tombs such as Tutankhamun and Seti I
- Travel insurance and personal expenses
Field notes
From our Egyptologists
- 01
For the Sun Festival, ask your guide where to stand before sunrise, as the sun's beam reaches the inner sanctuary only briefly and crowds build fast.
- 02
Charge your phone and clear storage the night before Abu Simbel; low light inside the temple and a short window mean you will shoot a lot.
- 03
At the Grand Egyptian Museum, head straight to the Grand Staircase with your guide before the groups arrive, then circle back through the galleries.
- 04
Take your free Aswan day for a slow stroll along the Corniche and a cup of hibiscus tea; the pace is the opposite of Cairo.
Tailor it
Make it yours
Choose your hotel and ship standard when you book. The dates and the festival day are fixed, since this is a single departure. Ask us about extra nights in Cairo or Luxor.
All requests handled by your dedicated specialist before booking.
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- Travelers who want to be at Abu Simbel on the Sun Festival and then see the Nile temples by ship. It suits couples, friends and solo travelers who can accept fixed dates and a pre-dawn start.
Maybe not, if
- Travelers who need flexible dates or step-free access to every site. Day 4 begins before dawn.
Honest assessment
Real trade-offs from our experience managing this tour.
Highlights
- Timed so day 4 falls on the Abu Simbel Sun Festival, 22 February 2027
- Pyramids, Grand Egyptian Museum, Aswan, a Nile cruise and Luxor's West Bank in nine days
- Domestic flights and all transfers handled for you
Things to Consider
- A single departure, so the dates cannot be changed
- A very early start on day 4, and weather can affect the sunrise view
- Uneven stone, steps and little shade at the major sites
Where it fits
A good fit if the Sun Festival matters to you. Because it is a single departure, check the dates before you book your international flights.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Most Abu Simbel trips are a quick day out from Aswan. This one fixes the date to the festival morning, and adds Cairo, a Nile cruise and Luxor's West Bank with flights and transfers booked for you. Hotel and ship standard is your choice.
Compare
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On the ground
Your route
Snapshot
Good to know
- Travel style
- Guided Fixed-Departure Tour with Nile Cruise
- Accommodation
- Cairo and Aswan hotels and a Nile cruise ship, standard chosen at booking
- Destinations
- Cairo · Giza Plateau · Grand Egyptian Museum · Aswan · Abu Simbel · Philae Temple · Kom Ombo · Edfu · Luxor · Karnak Temple · Valley of the Kings
- Includes
- 2 nights in a Cairo hotel and 3 nights in an Aswan hotel, with breakfast · 3 nights on a Nile cruise ship, full board · Flights Cairo to Aswan and Luxor to Cairo · Abu Simbel trip on festival day, 22 February 2027 · Entrance fees to every listed site · All transfers by air-conditioned vehicle
- Best for
- Travelers who want to see the Abu Simbel Sun Festival · First-time visitors · History-focused travelers who like a ship for part of the trip
The morning of
Meeting point & timing
- Where
- Cairo International Airport (CAI), Arrivals HallMap
Before you go
What to pack & wear
What to bring
- Passport and any required travel documents
- Comfortable walking shoes with good grip
- A warm layer for the pre-dawn drive and the wait at Abu Simbel
- Sunscreen, SPF 30 or higher
- Sun hat and sunglasses
- Refillable water bottle
- Any personal medication
- Small day bag and a camera with a charged battery
What to wear
- Lightweight, breathable clothing for the daytime sun
- A jacket or fleece for the early morning at Abu Simbel and for evenings on the river
- Closed shoes for temples and uneven ground
- Clothing that covers shoulders and knees at mosques and temples
- A hat and sunglasses
Children & families
Children are welcome. Every child takes a seat in the vehicle, so transport, guiding and meals are charged at the adult rate at any age. Entrance tickets are free for children under 6 and full price from 6. Cabin and hotel prices depend on the child's age and the room or cabin used, so we give you the exact figure when you tell us the age at booking. The festival morning at Abu Simbel begins in the middle of the night, which is hard on very young children.
Accessibility
Who can join this
This tour involves a lot of walking on archaeological sites, with uneven stone, sand, steps and some narrow tomb passages. Day 4 starts well before dawn, and you stand outside the temple at Abu Simbel while the light changes. The Valley of the Kings and Karnak have long outdoor stretches with little shade. Boarding the felucca, the boat to Philae and the Nile cruise ship involves steps or a gangway. The vehicles are private and air-conditioned, but we cannot promise wheelchair access at every site. Tell us your needs when you book and we will tell you honestly which parts are suitable.
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
The itinerary uses two domestic flights, a Nile cruise ship and road transfers, including the drive to Abu Simbel, and the vehicle type can vary, so we do not claim a carbon saving. Sightseeing is guided by local Egyptologists and arranged through local suppliers in Cairo, Aswan and Luxor, and the Nubian village visit puts money straight into a local community. We ask guests to bring refillable water bottles and not to touch painted walls in tombs and temples.
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
01Is this a fixed departure?
Yes. It is a single departure: day 1 is Friday 19 February 2027 and day 9 is Saturday 27 February 2027. The Abu Simbel Sun Festival falls on day 4, Monday 22 February, and the dates cannot be moved.02What happens at the Abu Simbel Sun Festival?
At sunrise the sun shines along the whole temple and lights the inner sanctuary. The same thing happens on 22 October each year. You leave Aswan very early by road to be there in time. Weather can affect the view, so we cannot guarantee it.03Are the domestic flights included?
Yes. The flights from Cairo to Aswan on day 3 and from Luxor to Cairo on day 9 are booked for you and included. Times are set by the airline schedule. International flights are not included.04How many nights are on the Nile cruise?
Three nights on board, from Aswan to Luxor, on full board. The other five nights are in hotels, two in Cairo and three in Aswan, with breakfast.05Which cruise ship and hotels will we have?
You choose a standard when you book, from budget to luxury, and we name the ship and hotels for your dates. The itinerary and sightseeing are the same at every level.06Will I make my international flight?
Domestic and international tickets are separate bookings, so a delayed domestic flight can cost you the connection. There is no Cairo hotel night on day 9, so if you fly to Cairo and connect on the same day, choose a late-evening or night international flight. Take travel insurance that covers missed connections.07How early is the start on festival day?
Very early, well before dawn, because the road from Aswan to Abu Simbel has to be driven before sunrise. Go to bed early on day 3 and bring a warm layer. You are back in Aswan for the rest of the day.08What is included on the Abu Simbel day?
Road transport from Aswan to Abu Simbel and back, and entrance fees to the temples. Your breakfast is at the hotel.09What is not included?
International flights, the Egypt visa, tips for guides and drivers, drinks other than those stated, meals not listed in the itinerary, and premium tombs such as Tutankhamun's.10When is the best time to go?
This departure runs in late February, which is mild and comfortable for walking at the sites, with cold mornings in Aswan. The festival date of 22 February is the reason for the timing.
Last updated Product ID: TOU-CAI-907486
At a glance
- Length
- 9 days · 8 nights
- Starts
- Daily
- Route
- Cairo → Aswan → Abu Simbel → Kom Ombo → Edfu → Luxor → Cairo
- Nights
- 2 Cairo · 3 Aswan · 3 Nile cruise
- Includes
- Domestic flights, Egyptologist guide, entrance fees, transfers