- Duration8 Days / 7 Nights
- Tour typePrivate tour, shared Nile cruise ship
- StartsMeet and assist at Cairo International Airport
- PriceFrom $1,160 per person based on 6+ travellers
OverviewItineraryWhat’s includedPricesFAQ
Tour Overview
This 8 day Egypt tour covers the country’s great sights in one well-paced week. You begin in Cairo with the Pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx, then spend the afternoon in the Grand Egyptian Museum, where the complete Tutankhamun collection is displayed together in purpose-built galleries. A second day takes in the Citadel, Coptic Cairo, the royal mummies and the lanes of Khan el-Khalili. A short domestic flight then carries you south to Aswan, where you board your Nile cruise.
Three nights on a 5★ cruise ship take you downstream past palm groves, sugar cane fields and mud-brick villages, stopping at the riverside temples of Kom Ombo and Edfu before reaching Luxor. There you explore Karnak, Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings and the terraced temple of Queen Hatshepsut. A private Egyptologist guides every visit and explains what you are looking at in plain language, and all transfers are in private air-conditioned vehicles, so there is no queuing for taxis or haggling at the kerb.
The pace suits first-time visitors who want to see the famous names without rushing. Some mornings start early to beat the heat and the crowds, but most afternoons leave time to rest on the sun deck or by the hotel pool. Optional extras such as the trip to Abu Simbel or a sunrise balloon flight over Luxor can be added on request, and we will tell you honestly what fits around the cruise schedule.
Highlights
- Guided visit to the Giza Pyramids and the Great Sphinx
- Tutankhamun’s treasures at the Grand Egyptian Museum
- Royal mummies at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization
- Three nights on a 5★ Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor
- Philae, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Karnak and the Valley of the Kings
- Domestic flights, private transfers and your own Egyptologist guide
Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrive in Cairo
Our representative meets you in the arrivals hall at Cairo International Airport, helps with the visa and immigration formalities and walks you to your private air-conditioned vehicle. The drive to your 4★ hotel usually takes 45 minutes to an hour, depending on traffic and where you are staying. The rest of the day is free to settle in and recover from the journey. In the evening your guide calls to confirm the next morning’s pick-up time and answer any questions you have.
Meals: None
Day 2 – Pyramids of Giza, Sphinx & Grand Egyptian Museum
After breakfast your Egyptologist collects you for the Giza Plateau. You walk around the Great Pyramid of Khufu and the pyramids of Khafre and Menkaure, stop at the panoramic viewpoint for photographs, then visit the Great Sphinx and the Valley Temple beside it. Going inside a pyramid needs an extra ticket, which you can buy on the day. After lunch you continue to the Grand Egyptian Museum, a few minutes away, for the Tutankhamun galleries, the Grand Staircase lined with royal statues and the colossus of Ramesses II.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 3 – Citadel, Coptic Cairo, Royal Mummies & Khan el-Khalili
Today you explore Cairo’s medieval and Christian heart. Start at the Citadel of Saladin and the alabaster Mosque of Muhammad Ali, whose terraces look out over a skyline of minarets. In Coptic Cairo you see the Hanging Church and the Ben Ezra Synagogue, then visit the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization nearby, where the royal mummies rest in quiet, softly lit halls. The day ends in Khan el-Khalili, where your guide can point you to a traditional coffeehouse and fairly priced shops.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 4 – Fly to Aswan & Board Your Nile Cruise
An early transfer takes you to Cairo airport for the flight to Aswan, which takes about an hour and twenty minutes. Your guide meets you on arrival and you visit the High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk still lying in its granite quarry, and the island Temple of Philae, reached by a short motorboat ride. You then board your 5★ cruise ship, settle into your cabin and have lunch on board. Later in the afternoon you sail between the islands on a traditional felucca as the light softens.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5 – Optional Abu Simbel, Sail to Kom Ombo
The morning is free for an optional excursion to Abu Simbel. It means a pre-dawn start and roughly three and a half hours each way by road, and it depends on your ship’s sailing time, so we confirm it when you book. Otherwise, relax on board as the ship heads north to Kom Ombo. Its double temple, shared by the crocodile god Sobek and the falcon god Haroeris, stands right on the riverbank, and the small museum beside it displays mummified crocodiles. The ship then continues towards Edfu.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 – Edfu Temple & Arrival in Luxor
A horse-drawn carriage or minibus takes you to the Temple of Horus at Edfu, the best-preserved temple in Egypt, with its towering pylon, roof and inner sanctuary still intact. Back on board, the ship passes through the lock at Esna and continues to Luxor. Once you dock, your guide takes you to Karnak, the vast temple complex of the god Amun, and to Luxor Temple, which is beautifully lit after dark. The exact order depends on when the ship arrives.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7 – Valley of the Kings & Fly to Cairo
After breakfast you disembark and cross to the West Bank. In the Valley of the Kings your standard ticket covers three tombs, chosen on the day from those open; the tomb of Tutankhamun needs a separate ticket. You then visit the terraced Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari and stop at the Colossi of Memnon, two seated giants standing alone in the fields. In the late afternoon you transfer to Luxor airport for the one-hour flight to Cairo and a final night at your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 8 – Departure from Cairo
Depending on your flight time, enjoy a final breakfast and some free time before checking out of the hotel. Our representative then transfers you to Cairo International Airport in a private vehicle and helps you through to check-in. If your flight leaves late in the day, we can arrange a late check-out or a short extra visit, such as the old Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square, at additional cost and subject to availability. We hope you leave with plenty of stories to tell.
Meals: Breakfast
Good to know: Nile cruise ships set their own sailing and docking times, so the order of visits between Aswan and Luxor can change; every listed site is still included.
What’s Included
Included
- Meet and assist at all airports
- 4 nights in a 4★ hotel in Cairo with breakfast
- 3 nights on a 5★ Nile cruise ship with all meals
- Domestic flights Cairo–Aswan and Luxor–Cairo
- Private Egyptologist guide for all sightseeing
- Entry fees to all sites listed in the itinerary
- Lunch on sightseeing days in Cairo and Luxor
- All transfers and tours in a private air-conditioned vehicle
- Felucca sail in Aswan
- Bottled water during tours
- Service charges and local taxes
Not included
- International flights
- Egypt entry visa
- Tips for guides, drivers and cruise staff
- Drinks with meals and on board the ship
- Optional excursions such as Abu Simbel and the Luxor balloon flight
- Extra tickets for pyramid interiors and Tutankhamun’s tomb
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses
Prices
| Group size | Price per person |
|---|---|
| Single traveller | $2,170 |
| 2 travellers | $1,390 |
| 3–5 travellers | $1,250 |
| 6+ travellers | $1,160 |
Per person in USD. Child prices depend on age and the services included – ask us for a child price before you book. Prices can be higher over Christmas, New Year and Easter; we confirm the exact price in writing before you pay.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Grand Egyptian Museum included?
Yes. The Grand Egyptian Museum is fully open, including the Tutankhamun galleries, and your ticket is included on day two. It stands close to the Giza Plateau, so we pair it with the pyramids to cut down on time in traffic. Allow at least three hours there; your guide covers the highlights and leaves you time to explore at your own pace.
Can I add Abu Simbel to this tour?
Yes, as an optional extra. The usual option is a road trip from Aswan with a pre-dawn start, about three and a half hours each way. Flights from Aswan exist but run on a limited schedule. Because cruise ships set their own sailing times, we confirm what is possible when you book rather than promise it in advance.
When is the best time of year to go?
October to April is the most comfortable period, with warm days and cool evenings, and it is also the busiest. From May to September Aswan and Luxor are very hot, often above 40°C, but the sites are quieter. Whatever the season, we start sightseeing early to avoid the strongest midday heat.
Could the order of the itinerary change?
All the sites listed are included, but the order of visits can change. Cruise ships follow their own timetables, and docking times or queues at the Esna lock can shift your arrival in Luxor. Your guide rearranges visits so nothing included is missed, and we keep you informed if anything moves.
What should I wear and pack?
Light, breathable clothing that covers shoulders and knees works best, especially for mosques and churches, where women will also need a scarf. Bring comfortable walking shoes, a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. Evenings on the Nile can be cool between December and February, so pack a light jacket or jumper as well.
You May Also Like
Want to combine tours or change anything? Contact us or message us on WhatsApp and we will tailor it for you.
