Luxor and Aswan in 2 Days on a Budget
Luxor and Aswan in 2 days: the fastest budget loop
Two days is enough for one splurge and one real day trip out of Luxor: a pre-dawn hot air balloon over the West Bank, then a full day in Aswan by train for Philae, the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk. Skip Dendera and Abydos this trip; that 9 to 10 hour day needs a third day to earn its place. For a slower version that fits it in, see the 3 day or 4 day plan.
Book these before you go
- The hot air balloon : pre-dawn flights sell out first, especially December through February.
- An Aswan day trip tour if you would rather not sort train times yourself.
Day 1: hot air balloon and East Bank settle-in
Book the balloon for your first morning if the flight schedule allows it; pickup is well before sunrise, a motorboat crossing to the West Bank airfield, then 45 to 60 minutes over the Valley of the Kings and the green Nile-side fields for $40 to $100. It is worth an honest word on safety: a 2013 crash here killed 19 people, still the deadliest hot air ballooning disaster on record, and regulation tightened hard afterward, a dedicated airfield, caps on simultaneous flights and extra mandatory pilot training. Flights are grounded in wind rather than flown regardless of schedule.
You are back at the hotel by 8am with most of the day still ahead. Use it for a light look at the East Bank, Karnak’s pylons or Luxor Temple lit at night, rather than trying to rush both banks properly; the Luxor budget guide covers that depth if a third day gets added later. Sleep early: tomorrow starts before dawn again for the train.
Day 2: Aswan by train, out and back
Catch an early train south, three to four hours each way over roughly 215 to 230 km, with fares from EGP 55 in third class up to EGP 500 for first class air conditioned, call it $1 to $10 at current rates (third-party booking sites often quote $17 to $35 for the same ticket). In Aswan, Philae Temple (a short motorboat ride to Agilkia Island), the Aswan High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk fill the hours between trains; it is a long day, so a packaged day tour that bundles the transport is a fair trade for the extra cost if two dawn starts in a row sound rough.
| Day | Focus | Distance/time from Luxor | Approx cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hot air balloon + East Bank light | West Bank airfield, 15-20 min transfer | $40-100 balloon |
| 2 | Aswan: Philae, High Dam, Unfinished Obelisk | 215-230 km, 3-4h each way by train | EGP 55-500 train (~$1-10) + EGP 300-500 Aswan tickets |
Is 2 days enough to see Luxor’s day trips properly?
No, and it should not try to be. Two days covers one splurge and one real day trip well; trying to squeeze in Dendera and Abydos too turns every day into a pre-dawn start with no slack for delays. Treat this as the highlight version and come back for a third or fourth day if Dendera and Abydos matter to you.
Should you book the balloon or the Aswan train first?
Book the balloon first. Flights are weather-dependent and the pre-dawn slots sell out well ahead in peak season, while an Aswan train ticket can usually be bought the day before at Luxor station without trouble.
Buy the train ticket in person at the station the afternoon before; it is the same EGP 55 to 500 fare a resale site marks up to $17 to $35 online. Check current timetables on seat61.com before picking a departure.