AROUND THE WORLD · BALLOONS

Where to Go: the 15 Best Balloon Flights Worldwide

70 tours  ·  from $255 a head

Good balloon flights fill up weeks ahead and the great ones go first. Below: the 15 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.

4-Days Nile Cruise From Aswan To Luxor including Abu Simbel and Hot Air Balloon - Day two: Abu Simbel before breakfast
Aswan River Cruises, Balloons, Egypt River Cruises, Nile Cruises, Tour Reviews

4-Days Nile Cruise From Aswan To Luxor including Abu Simbel and Hot Air Balloon

1.4-Days Nile Cruise From Aswan To Luxor including Abu Simbel and Hot Air Balloon

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3,142 reviews · from $349Our pick

Sail from Aswan to Luxor aboard a five-star Nile cruise, with guided visits to Philae, Abu Simbel, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Luxor, Karnak, and the Valley of the Kings. Guide Mohamed Gobran is often assigned to groups, and the plan includes a sunrise balloon flight over Luxor.

“Our cruise was cancelled the day before the scheduled day which almost ruined our Egypt vacation. Luckily for us we had booked an extra day in Luxor so we were able to book on the cruise leaving the next day and still catch our plane home. TRead more”

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4-Day 3-Night Nile Cruise from Aswan to Luxor&Abu Simbel+Balloon - Day 2: Abu Simbel requires an early alarm
4-Day Experiences, Aswan River Cruises, Balloons, Egypt River Cruises, Nile Cruises, Tour Reviews

4-Day 3-Night Nile Cruise from Aswan to Luxor&Abu Simbel+Balloon

2.4-Day 3-Night Nile Cruise from Aswan to Luxor&Abu Simbel+Balloon

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,023 reviews · from $340

Sail from Aswan to Luxor aboard a three-night Nile cruise, with guided visits to Philae, Abu Simbel, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Karnak, Luxor Temple, and the Valley of the Kings. Guides such as Mohammed Abdo, Hady, Mido, and Mostafa lead the sightseeing. A sunrise balloon ride over Luxor is included, but confirm the exact flight time.

“I was feeling anxious picking a good option for Nile cruise but I am glad I picked this one. The ship was new and clean. The room was comfortable and clean. The food was varied and good. The cruise staff was amazing, very friendly and helpful. And our guides (Mostafa and Mohamed Abdo) were very knowledgeable, nice and simply amazing! I completely recommend it.”

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4-Day 3-Night Nile Cruise from Aswan to Luxor including Abu Simbel, Air Balloon - Day 2: The long road to Abu Simbel
4-Day Experiences, Aswan River Cruises, Balloons, Egypt River Cruises, Nile Cruises, Tour Reviews

4-Day 3-Night Nile Cruise from Aswan to Luxor including Abu Simbel, Air Balloon

3.4-Day 3-Night Nile Cruise from Aswan to Luxor including Abu Simbel, Air Balloon

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 612 reviews · from $329

Cruise from Aswan to Luxor for three nights aboard a Nile ship, with Abu Simbel, Philae, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Luxor, Karnak, and a sunrise balloon ride. Guides such as Mohamed Gobran, Mahmoud, Ahmed, and Ahmed Shawky Ali have led recent departures. Entrance fees and drinks cost extra.

“Everything was taken care of :) Our guide Mohamed Gobran was very helpful and explained everything clearly (from all the itineraries and money things to the Egyptian history). We felt super safe. The itinerary is packed with a lot of amazing places to see. Food on the boat is great (buffet style), but remember that the times can vary depending on the itinerary of the day. We had a lot of fun and would recommend this cruise!”

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4-Days Nile Cruise From Aswan To Luxor including Abu Simbel and Hot Air Balloon - Day two: Abu Simbel before breakfast
Aswan River Cruises, Balloons, Egypt River Cruises, Nile Cruises, Tour Reviews

4-Days Nile Cruise From Aswan To Luxor including Abu Simbel and Hot Air Balloon

4.4-Days Nile Cruise From Aswan To Luxor including Abu Simbel and Hot Air Balloon

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 509 reviews · from $320

Cruise from Aswan to Luxor aboard a full-board ship, with an Egyptologist guide such as Mahmoud or Mohamed Gobran. Visit Abu Simbel, Philae, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Luxor Temple, Hatshepsut, and the Valley of the Kings, then fly over Luxor by hot-air balloon.

“We really enjoyed our trip down the Nile, from Aswan to Luxor. Radamis boat was fine. Food was good also. We really enjoyed the travelling along the Nile. Mahmoud our guide was excellent,get us to where we needed to be. Highly recommend it to everyone.”

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4-Days Nile Cruise From Aswan To Luxor including Abu Simbel and Hot Air Balloon - Day two: Abu Simbel before breakfast
4-Day Experiences, Aswan River Cruises, Balloons, Egypt River Cruises, Nile Cruises, Tour Reviews

4 Days Nile Cruise from Aswan to Luxor including Abu Simbel and Hot Air Balloon

5.4 Days Nile Cruise from Aswan to Luxor including Abu Simbel and Hot Air Balloon

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 356 reviews · from $329

Travel from Aswan to Luxor aboard a 5-star Nile cruise boat, with Philae, Abu Simbel, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Luxor, Karnak, and the Valley of the Kings. Guides such as Khaled, Mina, and Talaat Abdo have earned strong praise. The balloon flight depends on weather.

“Charming and welcoming staff from the moment one arrives. Beautiful view of the Nile at a leisurely pace. A full day of sightseeing with - in my honest opinion - the best guide ever: Meena (he has a Masters & Ph.D in Egyptology) and weaved a story/showed us things no other guide did. The cruise company accommodated our every need and went out of their way to set us up with transportation and a stay at a downtown 5 star hotel when some complications arose with another company. All in all, highly recommended.”

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4-Day 3-Night Nile Cruise from Aswan to Luxor With Balloon and Abu Simbel - Day 1: High Dam, Philae, and your first night on the river
4-Day Experiences, Aswan River Cruises, Balloons, Egypt River Cruises, Nile Cruises, Tour Reviews

4-Day 3-Night Nile Cruise from Aswan to Luxor With Balloon and Abu Simbel

6.4-Day 3-Night Nile Cruise from Aswan to Luxor With Balloon and Abu Simbel

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 327 reviews · from $311

Cruise from Aswan to Luxor aboard a 5-star Nile ship, with Egyptologist guides such as Ahmed Shawky Ali or Mohamed Gobran. You’ll visit Philae, Abu Simbel, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Karnak, and the Valley of the Kings, plus take a hot-air balloon flight over Luxor.

“Ahmed Shawky Ali was impeccable as a guide. Excelent explanations, something surprisingly rare in Egypt as many of the guides gave contradictory explanations to the museum in Cairo and any good sourced documentation. The plan was pacRead more”

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4-Days Nile Cruise Aswan&Luxor,Hot Air Balloon&Abu Simbel.Hot deal - Day two: Abu Simbel before the heat
Aswan River Cruises, Balloons, Egypt River Cruises, Nile Cruises, Tour Reviews

4-Days Nile Cruise Aswan&Luxor,Hot Air Balloon&Abu Simbel.Hot deal

7.4-Days Nile Cruise Aswan&Luxor,Hot Air Balloon&Abu Simbel.Hot deal

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 322 reviews · from $524

Spend four busy days moving from Aswan to Luxor by Nile cruise, with Abu Simbel, Philae, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Karnak, and the Valley of the Kings. A guide such as Zakaria, Mohamed Wafa, or Tarek may lead your visits. The hot-air balloon flight is the memorable extra, but expect very early mornings and separate entrance fees.

“The cruise itself was wonderful. Our tour guide (Muhammad) was always attentive, listened to the needs of the group while keeping up with all the sightseeing program. There was big variety of food to choose for - worth mentioning it was Read more”

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From Aswan:4 Days Nile Cruise Luxor Abu Simbel & Air Balloon - Day One: Aswan, the High Dam, and Philae
4-Day Experiences, Aswan River Cruises, Balloons, Egypt River Cruises, Nile Cruises, Tour Reviews

From Aswan:4 Days Nile Cruise Luxor Abu Simbel & Air Balloon

8.4 Days Nile Cruise Luxor Abu Simbel & Air Balloon

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 310 reviews · 4 days · from $450

Cruise from Aswan to Luxor aboard a 5-star Nile ship, with guides such as Mohamed Gobran, Mahmoud, and Ahmed Shawky Ali. You will visit Abu Simbel, Philae, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Luxor, Karnak, and the Valley of the Kings, plus take a hot air balloon ride over Luxor.

“excellent service specially our guide Mohamed Gobran and very knowledgeable with Egyptian history.”

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From Luxor: 3-Night Nile Cruise to Aswan and Hot Air Balloon - Day one: Karnak, a felucca, and Luxor Temple
Balloons, Egypt River Cruises, Luxor River Cruises, Nile Cruises, Tour Reviews

From Luxor: 3-Night Nile Cruise to Aswan and Hot Air Balloon

9.3-Night Nile Cruise to Aswan and Hot Air Balloon

★★★★★★★★★★3.7 · 297 reviews · 4 days · from $1,100

Spend three nights aboard a 5-star Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan, with private guides, a felucca ride, sunrise hot air balloon flight, Valley of the Kings, Edfu, Kom Ombo, and Abu Simbel. Tour managers such as Arwa and Suzanna are available by WhatsApp, while guide quality can vary.

“It was an amazing experience visiting all the main sites of lower Egypt. A well organised trip made possible thanks to Mohra of Nice tours.”

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Hot-Air Balloon Ride over the Loire Valley, from Amboise or Chenonceau - Watching Kevin and Tom prepare the balloon
Balloons, France River Cruises, Loire Valley Tours, Tour Reviews

Hot-Air Balloon Ride over the Loire Valley, from Amboise or Chenonceau

10.Hot-Air Balloon Ride over the Loire Valley, from Amboise or Chenonceau

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 260 reviews · 3 to 4 hours (approx.) · from $308

Fly for about an hour over the Loire, Indre, or Cher valleys from Amboise or Chenonceau. Balloon Revolution provides hotel pickup within 15 kilometers of Amboise, a safety briefing, bilingual guidance, Champagne or sparkling grape juice, and a return transfer. Flights are led by pilots such as Kevin and Tom.

“We happened to pick a perfect day. Warm for October, clear skies, and very little breeze. What wind there was floated us over two chateaus - something the pilot told us only happens 10 percent of the time. Beautiful flight, gorgeous views, on a perfect day.”

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Egypt: Private 5-Day Tour, Nile Cruise, Flights & Balloon - Edfu and Kom Ombo make the cruise worthwhile
5-Day Experiences, Balloons, Cairo River Cruises, Egypt River Cruises, Nile Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours

Egypt: Private 5-Day Tour, Nile Cruise, Flights & Balloon

11.Egypt: Private 5-Day Tour, Nile Cruise, Flights & Balloon

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 248 reviews · 5 days · from $1,400

This private Egypt tour links Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, and Abu Simbel with domestic flights, a two-night 5-star Nile cruise, and a Luxor balloon ride. Expect changing guides, early starts, and busy days. Guides such as Jasmine, Nada, Muhammad, and Merna have earned especially strong praise for clear help and local insight.

“Manal is my guide, she has many knowledge and answered every questions. And also she is a good photographer!”

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4-Day Nile Cruise sails Aswan to Luxor&Abu Simbel.Hot air Balloon - Boarding in Aswan and visiting Philae
4-Day Experiences, Aswan River Cruises, Balloons, Egypt River Cruises, Nile Cruises, Tour Reviews

4-Day Nile Cruise sails Aswan to Luxor&Abu Simbel.Hot air Balloon

12.4-Day Nile Cruise sails Aswan to Luxor&Abu Simbel.Hot air Balloon

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 247 reviews · from $306

Spend three nights aboard a 5-star Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor, with guided visits to Philae, Abu Simbel, Kom Ombo, Edfu, and Luxor’s major temples. English-speaking guides such as Khaled, Michael, and Talaat Abdo lead the sightseeing. Meals are included, but entry fees, drinks, Wi-Fi, and tips cost extra.

“Talaat Abdo is a very friendly guide and explained us a lot about the places we visited. I recommend him to anyone who is interested in cruise tours.”

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4 Day Nile Cruise Aswan and Luxor Hot Air Balloon with Abu Simbel - Day 2: Abu Simbel before breakfast, then Kom Ombo
4-Day Experiences, Aswan River Cruises, Balloons, Egypt River Cruises, Nile Cruises, Tour Reviews

4-Day Nile Cruise Aswan and Luxor Hot Air Balloon with Abu Simbel

13.4-Day Nile Cruise Aswan and Luxor Hot Air Balloon with Abu Simbel

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 234 reviews · from $715

Travel from Aswan to Luxor aboard a five-star Nile cruise, with Abu Simbel at sunrise, Philae, Kom Ombo, Edfu, and Luxor’s great temples. You’ll also take a hot-air balloon over the West Bank. Guides have included Ahmed, Ali, Mahmoud, and Mansour. Pickup and air-conditioned transfers are included.

“Good list of sites to visit. The crew on the boat was very nice to us. We has a private guide and driver. The guide didn't speak very well and was often late. We Heard Many guides giving far more details. Our own juste gave a few informations about the site and 3 or 4 walls. Boat was clean. Boat meets expectations. Guide didn't.”

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Egypt 8 nights:Cairo,Luxor,Aswan,Abu Simbel,Nile cruise,Balloon - Cairo and Giza: pyramids before the overnight train
Balloons, Egypt River Cruises, Giza River Cruises, Nile Cruises, Tour Reviews

Egypt 8 nights:Cairo,Luxor,Aswan,Abu Simbel,Nile cruise,Balloon

14.Egypt 8 nights:Cairo,Luxor,Aswan,Abu Simbel,Nile cruise,Balloon

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 227 reviews · from $1,096

You’ll visit Egypt’s major ancient sites with local guides, including the Pyramids, Karnak, Valley of the Kings, Abu Simbel, and Philae. The trip uses trains, a five-star Nile cruise, and a Luxor balloon ride. Guides such as Farouk, Mohamed, Ahmed, and Mona’s coordination add a personal touch.

“The personalized guides! They really made the experience extra special for my family. The Pyramids Oasis hotel rooms were clean and spacious, with friendly and accommodating staff. The river cruise also offered clean and spacious rooms with a fantastic view along the Nile river. The staff were exceptional and tended to us as family. Definitely would recommend the sleep cars for the overnight train. It was a blast!”

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From Luxor: 5-Day Nile Cruise to Aswan with Balloon Ride - Day 1: Karnak, Luxor Temple, and a felucca at sunset
5-Day Experiences, Balloons, Egypt River Cruises, Luxor River Cruises, Nile Cruises, Tour Reviews

From Luxor: 5-Day Nile Cruise to Aswan with Balloon Ride

15.5-Day Nile Cruise to Aswan with Balloon Ride

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 168 reviews · 5 days · from $1,200

Cruise from Luxor to Aswan aboard a five-star Nile boat, with private guided visits to Karnak, Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut, Philae, and more. You also get a sunrise balloon flight and Abu Simbel. Guides such as Amr, Heba, Ahmed, and Mustafa have earned especially warm praise.

“Visiting Luxor and Aswan was a dream, and this trip had both wonderful moments and frustrating issues. 🌟 Positives: - Martina in Luxor, Samir in Abu Simbel and Mostafa in Aswan were excellent guides. -Casa Sol cruise was comfortable, -Nice Tours customer service was responsive, -Transportation was professional, clean and comfortable ⚠️ Negatives: -The first cruise (Coral 2) was terrible and had to be changed. - The package excluded attraction tickets, costing us $120–150 extra. - No internet on the Nile cruise (better to buy a local SIM/global eSIM). internet on the cruise is very expensive - The balloon ride was booked last, causing a 2‑hour wait and missing the…”

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New in Balloons

★ 4.5From Cairo 4-Day Nile Cruise to Aswan by Flights& Hot Air BalloonFrom $1,00044 reviews
★ 4.54 Days Nile cruise luxor, Aswan,Hot air balloon&abu simbel with Train from CairoFrom $75012 reviews
★ 5.03 Night Luxor and Aswan Nile Cruise with Hot Air Balloon, Abu Simbel from LuxorFrom $54676 reviews
★ 4.03 nights Luxor&Aswan Nile cruise with hot air balloon and Abu Simbel from Luxor.From $56013 reviews
★ 5.03-Day Nile Cruise with Hot Air Balloon from Cairo by FlightsFrom $64253 reviews
★ 4.54-Day Nile Cruise: Aswan to Luxor & Abu Simbel + Hot Air BalloonFrom $28935 reviews
★ 4.58 Nights Egypt Tour,Cairo,Luxor,Aswan&Abu Simbel,Nile Cruise,Hot Air BalloonFrom $99011 reviews
★ 4.5(Wonderful 3-Nights Nile Cruise from Aswan to Luxor & Balloon)From $59417 reviews
★ 4.5Nile Cruise 2 Nights from Aswan to Luxor with Hot air BalloonFrom $29023 reviews
★ 5.02 Night-3 Day Nile Cruise & Hot Air Balloon RideFrom $31119 reviews
★ 5.0Nile Cruise Dream 4 Days Aswan to Luxor & Abu Simbel. Air BalloonFrom $25744 reviews
★ 5.0Nile Cruise Magic 4 Days Aswan to Luxor & Abu Simbel. BalloonFrom $25729 reviews
★ 5.0Nile Cruise Story 4 days Aswan To Luxor &Abu Simbel. BalloonFrom $25517 reviews
★ 5.04-Days Nile Cruise sails Aswan to Luxor &Abu Simbel. Air BalloonFrom $25726 reviews
★ 5.04 Days Nile Cruise from Aswan to Luxor – Abu simble & balloonFrom $37522 reviews

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