How to Travel Between Cairo, Luxor and Aswan

Fly between Cairo and Upper Egypt (about an hour to Luxor, about 90 minutes to Aswan), and use a Nile cruise or a road transfer for the stretch between Luxor and Aswan. The sleeper train is the main alternative to flying; driving the full distance from Cairo to Luxor takes eight to nine hours and is rarely worth it.

Egypt's classic route is essentially a straight line along the Nile: Cairo in the north, Luxor about 650 kilometers to the south, and Aswan a little over 200 kilometers beyond that. Because the geography is so simple, each leg of the journey has a clear best option, and once you know them you can plan the whole trip around a few sensible decisions. This guide covers each leg, compares the options side by side, and explains the sequence we usually suggest.

Cairo to Luxor or Aswan

Flying

Domestic flights are the quickest way south. Egypt's national carrier and other domestic airlines operate several flights a day between Cairo and both Luxor and Aswan. Cairo to Luxor takes about 65 minutes in the air, and Cairo to Aswan about 85 to 90 minutes. Allow around two hours at Cairo Airport for a domestic departure; the domestic areas are efficient, but security lines can be slow at peak times.

Door to door, including the drive to the airport, check-in, and the transfer at the other end, a flight south takes up roughly half a day. That still leaves an afternoon for sightseeing if you choose a morning flight.

The sleeper train

The sleeper train, operated by Watania, leaves Cairo in the evening and arrives in Luxor around 5 to 6 a.m. and in Aswan around 9 a.m. the following morning. Cabins are compact two-berth compartments, and dinner and breakfast are usually served on board. It saves a hotel night and suits travelers who enjoy rail travel, but the ride can be noisy and arrival times can slip.

Day trains

Ordinary day trains also run between Cairo, Luxor and Aswan. They are inexpensive and give you a long look at the Nile Valley, but the journey takes roughly 10 hours or more to Luxor and longer to Aswan, which uses a full sightseeing day.

Driving

Driving from Cairo to Luxor takes eight to nine hours, and longer to Aswan. It is not a good use of time on a typical itinerary, and we only suggest it for travelers with a specific reason, such as a stop at Abydos or Dendera on the way, broken into more than one day.

Luxor to Aswan

This is the shortest leg, and you have three good options.

By Nile cruise

The Nile cruise covers the distance while visiting the temples of Edfu and Kom Ombo along the way, which is why it is the default for most travelers. A typical cruise runs three nights from Aswan to Luxor or four nights from Luxor to Aswan, with meals, guided visits and your bed all moving with you. Traditional sailing boats known as dahabiyas also make the journey more slowly, usually over four or five nights, for travelers who want a quieter, more intimate trip.

By road

A private road transfer takes about three and a half hours on the highway, and stops at Edfu and Kom Ombo can be built in. This suits travelers who skip the cruise, prefer hotels, or are short of time.

By train

Trains take about three hours between the two cities and are a reasonable budget option, though stations are a taxi ride from most hotels and seats on popular trains can sell out.

The options side by side

The sequence we usually suggest

Fly from Cairo to Aswan, see Aswan and Abu Simbel, cruise north to Luxor over three nights, spend an extra day in Luxor, then fly from Luxor back to Cairo. This way you finish the cruise in Luxor, which has a great deal to see, and you have time for the West Bank and Karnak without rushing.

The reverse works equally well: fly from Cairo to Luxor, take the four-night cruise south to Aswan, then fly from Aswan back to Cairo. Which direction suits you often depends on which cruise departure days line up with your arrival in Egypt, so it is worth staying flexible until the cruise is chosen.

If you are continuing to the Red Sea, ending in Luxor is usually better, since Hurghada is a road transfer from Luxor rather than another flight.

Who should choose which

Choose flights if

your itinerary is 10 days or less, you are traveling with children or older travelers, or your cruise embarkation or a key sightseeing day falls on the same day as the journey south.

Choose the sleeper train if

you enjoy trains, have at least 10 days, and would rather spend a night moving than in a hotel. Many travelers take it one way and fly the other.

Choose road transfers if

you are traveling between Luxor and Aswan without a cruise, or want to stop at Edfu and Kom Ombo on your own schedule.

Practical tips

• Check baggage allowances on domestic flights, which may be lower than your international ticket, especially if you are carrying souvenirs.
• Do not schedule a same-day connection between a domestic flight and your international departure without a generous buffer. If you can, return to Cairo the day before you fly home.
• Keep your passport handy for domestic flights and for some train bookings.
• Book trains in advance in high season if you want sleeper berths or seats on popular day trains.
• Plan around early starts. Abu Simbel is usually visited with a very early departure from Aswan, so avoid scheduling a long journey the same day.

Sample routings by trip length

Seven days

Fly from Cairo to Aswan, take the three-night cruise north to Luxor, then fly back to Cairo. With only a week, keep the transport simple and avoid the sleeper train, which uses an evening you could spend in Cairo.

10 days

Add a night in Luxor after the cruise for the West Bank sites the cruise may not cover, or a night in Aswan before boarding to fit Abu Simbel comfortably. The sleeper train becomes an option in one direction if you want the experience.

14 days

You have room for everything: a sleeper south, a cruise, extra nights in Luxor, and possibly a road trip north from Luxor to the temples of Dendera and Abydos before flying back. You can also add the Red Sea, reached by road from Luxor.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the flight from Cairo to Luxor?

About 65 minutes in the air, with roughly two hours needed at Cairo Airport before departure. Cairo to Aswan is about 85 to 90 minutes in the air.

Is the sleeper train worth it?

It is a genuine experience and saves a hotel night, but it is not luxurious. Choose it for the novelty and the scenery at dawn, not for comfort, and consider flying in the other direction.

Can I drive from Luxor to Aswan?

Yes, it takes about three and a half hours by private car with a driver, and stops at Edfu and Kom Ombo can be included. It is a good option if you are not taking a cruise.

Which direction should my Nile cruise go?

Either works. A three-night cruise from Aswan to Luxor is shorter, while a four-night cruise from Luxor to Aswan gives an extra night on board. The right choice often depends on departure days and where you want to finish.

Should I drive from Cairo to Luxor to save money?

Usually not. Eight to nine hours on the road uses a full day you could spend sightseeing, and the flight or sleeper train is far more comfortable.

Plan it with Nourbelle

See our Nile cruises or Egypt tours, or tell us about your trip, and a specialist will work out the transport between each city for you.