- Duration10 Days / 9 Nights
- Tour typePrivate tour, shared cruise ship and balloon
- StartsVIP meet and assist at Cairo International Airport
- PriceFrom $3,600 per person based on 6+ travellers
OverviewItineraryWhat’s includedPricesFAQ
Tour Overview
This luxury Egypt tour combines the country’s most remarkable monuments with the comfort of 5★ hotels, an ultra deluxe Nile cruise and seamless private service. Over ten days you travel from the Pyramids of Giza to the temples of Abu Simbel, with a senior Egyptologist guide, fast-track assistance at airports and private air-conditioned vehicles throughout. The pace is unhurried, with early starts only where they make a real difference.
Four nights aboard an ultra deluxe cruise ship take you upriver from Luxor to Aswan in spacious, light-filled suites, with fine dining and a small number of guests. Before you sail, a sunrise balloon flight over the West Bank gives you a bird’s-eye view of the temples and fields. From Aswan, you fly to Abu Simbel to stand before Ramesses II’s great rock temples, avoiding the long road journey.
In Cairo, you explore the Grand Egyptian Museum, the pyramids of Giza, Saqqara and Dahshur, and the royal mummies at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization. Every detail, from tickets to luggage handling, is arranged for you, leaving you free to enjoy the experience. Your guide stays with you throughout and can adapt each day to your interests, whether that means more time with the hieroglyphs or a quiet afternoon by the pool.
Highlights
- Five-star hotels in Cairo and Aswan, with pyramid or Nile views where available
- Four nights on an ultra deluxe Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan
- Abu Simbel by air, with time at the temples before the crowds build
- Sunrise hot air balloon flight over Luxor’s West Bank (weather permitting)
- Grand Egyptian Museum, Saqqara, Dahshur and the royal mummies
- Senior Egyptologist guide, VIP airport service and private transfers
Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrive in Cairo
Our representative meets you at the aircraft door or air bridge, depending on airport arrangements, and escorts you through a fast-track visa and immigration service. Your luggage is collected for you and you are driven in a private luxury vehicle to your 5★ hotel, where a pyramid-view or Nile-view room is requested for you. The rest of the day is at leisure. In the evening, your senior Egyptologist meets you at the hotel to talk through the days ahead.
Meals: None
Day 2 – Pyramids of Giza & Grand Egyptian Museum
Begin early on the Giza Plateau, ahead of most visitors. Your Egyptologist explains the engineering and beliefs behind the pyramids of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure, then takes you to the panoramic viewpoint and the Great Sphinx. Entry inside the Great Pyramid is included. After lunch at a restaurant with pyramid views, spend the afternoon at the Grand Egyptian Museum, where the complete Tutankhamun collection is presented in purpose-built galleries, with time to explore at your own pace.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 3 – Saqqara, Dahshur & Royal Mummies
Drive south to Saqqara to see Djoser’s Step Pyramid and finely carved private tombs, then continue to Dahshur for the Bent Pyramid and the Red Pyramid, both quiet and impressive. After lunch, return to Cairo for the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization and its hall of royal mummies. End the day with a stroll through Khan el-Khalili and coffee at a historic café, or return to the hotel to rest before an optional dinner cruise.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 4 – Fly to Luxor, Board Your Ultra Deluxe Cruise
Fly from Cairo to Luxor, a journey of about an hour. You are met on arrival and taken to your ultra deluxe cruise ship to settle into your suite. After lunch on board, visit Karnak, the great temple complex of Amun, with its Hypostyle Hall of 134 columns. As the sun sets, continue to Luxor Temple and walk along part of the Avenue of Sphinxes. Return to the ship for dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5 – Sunrise Balloon Flight & West Bank
Before dawn, transfer to the West Bank for a hot air balloon flight over the Theban hills, the Valley of the Kings and the green fields along the Nile. Flights depend on weather and daily permission from the aviation authority, so they cannot be guaranteed; if cancelled, we refund the flight. After breakfast, visit the Valley of the Kings, including the tomb of Seti I or Tutankhamun, then the temple of Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon. The ship then sails south.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 – Esna & Edfu
Enjoy a leisurely morning on board as the ship passes through the Esna lock. Depending on the sailing schedule, you may visit the Temple of Khnum at Esna, whose restored ceiling now shows its original bright colours. Later, a horse-drawn carriage takes you to the Temple of Horus at Edfu, the most complete temple in Egypt. Spend the evening on deck watching the riverbank pass, before dinner on board.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7 – Kom Ombo & Sail to Aswan
Visit the double temple at Kom Ombo, sacred to Sobek and Haroeris, and the Crocodile Museum beside it. The ship then continues to Aswan, where the river narrows between granite boulders and golden desert. In the afternoon, sail on a private felucca around Elephantine Island and the Aswan Botanical Garden, with time to watch the light change over the river. Dinner is served on board.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8 – Philae Temple & Aswan Highlights
After breakfast, visit the island temple of Philae by motorboat, followed by the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk. Disembark and check in to your 5★ hotel in Aswan, overlooking the Nile. The afternoon is free to relax by the pool or enjoy afternoon tea on the terrace. In the evening, you can explore the souk or simply enjoy dinner at the hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 9 – Abu Simbel by Air & Fly to Cairo
Take the morning flight from Aswan to Abu Simbel, about 45 minutes. A shuttle takes you to the temples, where your guide shows you around the Great Temple of Ramesses II and the smaller temple of Queen Nefertari, carved into the cliffs and moved to higher ground in the 1960s. Fly back to Aswan, then continue by air to Cairo for your final night at a 5★ hotel. Flight times vary, so we may adjust the order of the day.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 10 – Departure from Cairo
Enjoy a final breakfast at your hotel. If time allows before your flight, we can arrange an optional visit to the old Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square or some time to shop for jewellery, cotton or perfume. At the agreed time, our representative accompanies you to Cairo International Airport and assists with check-in and fast-track departure formalities, completing your journey.
Meals: Breakfast
Good to know: Balloon flights depend on the weather and aviation permission on the morning and cannot be guaranteed; a cancelled flight is refunded.
What’s Included
Included
- VIP meet and assist with fast-track service at all airports
- 4 nights in 5★ hotels in Cairo with breakfast
- 1 night in a 5★ hotel in Aswan with breakfast
- 4 nights on an ultra deluxe Nile cruise ship with all meals
- Domestic flights Cairo–Luxor, Aswan–Abu Simbel–Aswan and Aswan–Cairo
- Sunrise hot air balloon flight in Luxor (weather permitting)
- Senior private Egyptologist guide throughout
- Entry fees to all sites listed, including the Great Pyramid interior and one premium tomb in the Valley of the Kings
- Lunch on sightseeing days
- Private felucca sail in Aswan
- Private luxury air-conditioned transfers
- Bottled water and cold towels during tours
Not included
- International flights
- Egypt entry visa
- Tips for guides, drivers and cruise staff
- Drinks with meals and on board
- Optional dinner cruise and shopping excursions
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses
Prices
| Group size | Price per person |
|---|---|
| Single traveller | $5,900 |
| 2 travellers | $4,200 |
| 3–5 travellers | $3,850 |
| 6+ travellers | $3,600 |
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
Why fly to Abu Simbel instead of driving?
The road trip from Aswan takes about three and a half hours each way and usually means a very early start. The flight takes around 45 minutes, so you arrive rested and spend your energy on the temples rather than the journey. Flight schedules can change seasonally, so we confirm timings when you book.
What happens if the balloon flight is cancelled?
Balloon flights depend on wind and visibility, and the aviation authority decides each morning whether flights can go ahead. If yours is cancelled, we refund the cost of the flight. Because the cruise sails south that day, we cannot move it to another morning, so we are honest that it is never guaranteed.
What makes an ultra deluxe cruise different?
Ultra deluxe ships usually carry fewer guests, with larger suites, bigger windows or balconies and more space on deck. Dining tends to be à la carte rather than buffet, and service is more personal. Guided visits are private with your own Egyptologist rather than in a large group from the ship.
Can I customise this luxury itinerary?
Yes. Many guests add extra nights in Cairo or Aswan, a private dinner at the pyramids, or a few days at a Red Sea resort. We can also upgrade to a suite or a dahabiya, a traditional sailing boat. Tell us what you would like, and we will tailor the plan and price for you.
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Want to combine tours or change anything? Contact us or message us on WhatsApp and we will tailor it for you.
