Private car transfer from Luxor to Aswan

This road trip is a great complement to your Nile River cruise, whether you have already done the river route from Aswan to Luxor, or if you plan to drive to Aswan and take a cruise back north.

When you ride with Daytrip, you'll transfer between cities in comfort, and can easily add on excursions to turn your travel day into an archaeological adventure!

Due to its location where the Nile River meets Lake Nasseris, Aswan has become the starting or ending point of Nile River cruises that travel from cities like Cairo or Luxor. This artificial lake was created by the Aswan High Dam for hydroelectricity and to be more resilient to droughts (but not without controversy).

Be cautious with your camera

Egypt is strict about when and where you can take photos and videos due to the heightened security risks. While out and about, be conservative with your camera use, even at major tourist spots.

Luxor to Aswan by train

Egyptian Railways operates multiple trains per day from Luxor to Aswan. Tickets start at 39 USD and the trip is supposed to take 3 hours and 15 minutes but is often delayed. To avoid arriving in Aswan at night, pick a train earlier in the day to account for delays. Considering the risk of delays, price, and inability to stop for sightseeing, it's usually better to just hire a driver. If you're traveling in a group, a private car comes out at almost the same price!

Luxor to Aswan by river cruise

A typical cruise from Luxor to Aswan will be about 4 days and 3 nights and will take you to important sites between these cities. This option makes sense if you're on a longer vacation that you've planned around the river cruise already. Prices vary greatly by cruise provider; some boats have very basic amenities while others have spas, restaurants, gyms, and private tours.

The Philae Temple

The Philae Temple is one of the many sites that were impacted multiple times by the creation of Lake Nasser. The temple in its current state was dismantled piece-by-piece and placed on a new “Philae Island,” after the first one was submerged entirely by the dam. This relocation is a modern feat and we can thank the countless research and labor it took to preserve this temple to the goddess Isis.

To get to the Philae Temple, you need to purchase a ticket on the mainland, then take a boat about ten minutes to the island to start your tour. Try to time this for early in the morning to avoid the crowds and the strongest sun.

The Unfinished Obelisk

The Unfinished Obelisk is exactly what it sounds like, but don’t let the name fool you into thinking it will be boring. This archaeological site is located in a quarry and tells us a lot about ancient Egyptian stone-cutting and construction methods before cranes and power tools. If completed, this obelisk would have been 137 feet (42 meters) tall---the tallest in the world at that time.