The options at a glance
Luxor and Aswan are both on the Nile, with the river and the road running side by side between them. Most travellers go by private car, by train or on a Nile cruise, which spends several days on the same stretch of river.
| Private car | Train | Nile cruise | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time | About 3.5 hours without stops, door to door | A few hours, plus getting to and from the stations | Several days on the river |
| Pickup and drop-off | Your hotel or Nile cruise boat | Railway stations in each city | The boat’s docks in each city |
| Timing | You choose the day and time | Fixed timetable | Fixed cruise itinerary |
| Luggage | Travels with you in the same vehicle | You carry it on board | Stays in your cabin |
| Stops on the way | Yes: Esna, Edfu, Kom Ombo or a lunch break | No | Set visits in the cruise programme |
| Price | Quoted for your trip on WhatsApp before you book | Check with the railway | Check with the cruise company |
By private car: the road from Luxor to Aswan
The drive is about 240 km and takes about 3.5 hours without stops, depending on traffic and where you are picked up. From Luxor the road heads south through the Nile Valley, with fields, palm groves and villages along the river. It passes the towns of Esna, Edfu and Kom Ombo before it reaches Aswan.
With a private transfer the driver picks you up at your hotel on the East or West Bank of Luxor, or at your Nile cruise boat, and drops you at your hotel in Aswan, on the Corniche or at your boat. Your luggage stays in the same vehicle the whole way.
The same transfer runs from Aswan to Luxor, so you can request both directions together. See the Luxor to Aswan transfer page for the route, the vehicles and how to book.
Stops on the way: Esna, Edfu and Kom Ombo
Three temple towns lie on the road, in this order from Luxor:
- Esna: the first town south of Luxor, on the Nile, with Esna Temple in the town centre.
- Edfu: home of the Temple of Horus, one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt.
- Kom Ombo: the double temple on the riverbank, the last stop before Aswan.
Planning the stops
You can stop at one, two or all three temples, and add a lunch break on the way. Each stop adds time to the 3.5-hour drive, so a trip with Edfu and Kom Ombo becomes a full day rather than a morning. Leave Luxor early if you want to see the temples before the midday heat.
Tell us which stops you want in the notes of your request so they are included in the quote.
If you are going on to a Nile cruise in Aswan, check the boarding time with the cruise company and plan the stops around it.
By train
Trains run between Luxor and Aswan along the Nile, from the railway station in each city. The ride is comfortable, but it runs on a timetable, you need a transfer between your hotel or boat and the station at both ends, and it does not stop at the temples. Check current times and tickets with the railway before you travel.
If you only want to see Aswan and come back the same day, the day trip to Aswan from Luxor uses the first-class train both ways, with hotel and station transfers, a private guide, the High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk and Philae Temple.
By Nile cruise
Many Nile cruises sail between Luxor and Aswan, in either direction, over several days, with visits to Esna, Edfu and Kom Ombo in their programme. A cruise is a holiday in itself rather than a way to get from one city to the other, so it suits travellers who want to spend those days on the river.
If your cruise starts or ends in one city and your hotel or flight is in the other, a private car fills the gap: give the boat’s name as your pickup or drop-off, the same way you would a hotel.
Which option should you choose?
- Seeing the temples on the way: a private car, with Edfu and Kom Ombo (and Esna if you like) added as stops.
- Families and travellers with luggage: a private car or SUV, so the bags travel with you and nobody changes vehicle.
- Groups: a minivan takes up to 7 passengers and 7 bags, and the Coaster bus up to 22 and 22, so the whole group travels together.
- A day in Aswan from Luxor: the day trip by train, with the sights and a guide included.
- Several slow days on the Nile: a cruise, with a private car to or from the boat if you need it.
Tips for the trip
- West Bank hotels in Luxor are across the river, so allow a little more time for the start of the drive.
- Flying out of Aswan? Ask for the drop-off at Aswan Airport instead of your hotel, and leave enough time for the stops you want.
- Landing at Luxor Airport and going straight to Aswan? Request it as one transfer from the Luxor Airport transfer page instead of two separate rides.
- Coming back to Luxor? Book the return trip at the same time, from your Aswan hotel or boat.