- Duration5 Days / 4 Nights
- Tour typePrivate tour
- StartsMeet and assist at Cairo International Airport
- PriceFrom $720 per person based on 6+ travellers
OverviewItineraryWhat’s includedPricesFAQ
Tour Overview
This 5 day Cairo and Luxor tour is built for travellers who want both of Egypt’s great ancient capitals but only have a short holiday. Spend your first full day at the Pyramids of Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum, then fly south to Luxor, the ancient city of Thebes, where more of the pharaohs’ monuments survive than anywhere else in the country. Flying rather than driving or taking the train saves the best part of a day each way.
In Luxor you visit both banks of the Nile. On the East Bank, Karnak’s forest of giant columns and Luxor Temple show the city’s religious power. On the West Bank, the painted tombs in the Valley of the Kings, the terraced temple of Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon reveal how the pharaohs prepared for eternity. A private Egyptologist guides you in each city, and every transfer is in a private air-conditioned vehicle.
The schedule leaves room for an early-morning balloon flight over the West Bank, which you can add as an optional extra. Flights depend on the weather and the authorities’ permission on the day, so we never guarantee them, but when they go ahead they are a memorable way to see the temples and fields at sunrise. If you would rather sleep in, the afternoons in Luxor are relaxed, with time for the pool or a stroll along the Corniche.
Highlights
- Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum
- Return domestic flights between Cairo and Luxor
- Karnak’s Great Hypostyle Hall and Luxor Temple at dusk
- Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut’s temple and the Colossi of Memnon
- Two nights in Cairo and two nights in Luxor in 4★ hotels
- Optional sunrise hot air balloon flight over the West Bank
Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrive in Cairo
On arrival at Cairo International Airport, our representative meets you in the arrivals hall, helps with visa and passport control and takes you to your private air-conditioned vehicle for the drive to your 4★ hotel, usually 45 minutes to an hour. The rest of the day is yours to rest after the journey or take a stroll near the hotel. In the evening your guide confirms the next morning’s plan and pick-up time, and answers any questions about the days ahead.
Meals: None
Day 2 – Pyramids of Giza & Grand Egyptian Museum
Your Egyptologist collects you after breakfast for the Giza Plateau. Walk beside the Great Pyramid of Khufu, take photographs from the panoramic viewpoint and stand in front of the Great Sphinx and the Valley Temple. An extra ticket allows you inside one of the pyramids if you wish. After lunch nearby, explore the Grand Egyptian Museum, where the complete Tutankhamun collection, including his gold mask and chariots, is displayed in dedicated galleries alongside thousands of other pieces.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 3 – Fly to Luxor: Karnak & Luxor Temple
Take an early transfer to the airport for the one-hour flight to Luxor. Your Luxor guide meets you on arrival and, after checking in, takes you to the Karnak temple complex. Walk through the Great Hypostyle Hall, with its 134 towering columns, and past the obelisks of Hatshepsut and Thutmose I. After lunch and a rest during the hottest hours, visit Luxor Temple in the late afternoon, when the sandstone glows and the lights come on, and walk part of the Avenue of Sphinxes.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 4 – Valley of the Kings & West Bank
If you have booked the optional balloon flight, you are collected before dawn and returned to the hotel for breakfast. Then cross to the West Bank for the Valley of the Kings, where your standard ticket covers three tombs chosen from those open on the day; Tutankhamun’s tomb needs an extra ticket. Continue to the temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari and stop at the Colossi of Memnon. The afternoon is free to relax by the pool or wander along the Corniche.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 5 – Fly to Cairo & Depart
After breakfast, check out and transfer to Luxor airport for your flight to Cairo, timed to connect with your international departure. Our representative meets you in Cairo and assists you through the terminal. If your international flight leaves from Luxor or later in the day, we can adjust the schedule. Please share your flight details when you book so we can choose the best domestic connection, and allow plenty of time between flights to avoid any rush.
Meals: Breakfast
What’s Included
Included
- Meet and assist at Cairo and Luxor airports
- 2 nights in a 4★ hotel in Cairo with breakfast
- 2 nights in a 4★ hotel in Luxor with breakfast
- Domestic flights Cairo–Luxor and Luxor–Cairo
- Private Egyptologist guide in Cairo and Luxor
- Entry fees to all sites listed in the itinerary
- Lunch on days 2, 3 and 4
- Private air-conditioned transfers and touring
- Bottled water during tours
- Service charges and local taxes
Not included
- International flights
- Egypt entry visa
- Tips for guides and drivers
- Drinks with meals
- Optional hot air balloon flight in Luxor
- Extra tickets for pyramid interiors and Tutankhamun’s tomb
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses
Prices
| Group size | Price per person |
|---|---|
| Single traveller | $1,260 |
| 2 travellers | $840 |
| 3–5 travellers | $760 |
| 6+ travellers | $720 |
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 Luxor instead of taking the train?
The flight takes about an hour, while the train takes around ten hours and the drive even longer. On a five-day trip, flying gives you an extra half-day of sightseeing at each end. Domestic flight times change seasonally, so we confirm the exact schedule when you book and choose flights that suit your arrival and departure.
Is the Luxor balloon flight guaranteed?
No. Balloon flights depend on wind and visibility and need permission from the civil aviation authority each morning, so they are occasionally cancelled at short notice. If your flight is cancelled you receive a full refund for it. Because this tour has only one morning in Luxor, we cannot move the flight to another day.
Which tombs will we see in the Valley of the Kings?
The standard ticket covers three tombs, chosen from those open on the day. The authorities rotate tombs to protect their paintings, so the list changes. Tutankhamun’s, Seti I’s and Ramesses VI’s tombs need separate tickets, which you can buy on site. Your guide will recommend which to see based on what is open.
Can I extend this tour with a Nile cruise or beach stay?
Yes. Many guests add a three or four-night cruise between Luxor and Aswan, or a few days on the Red Sea in Hurghada, about four hours from Luxor by road. Tell us what you have in mind and we will send an adjusted itinerary and price. Extensions are easiest to arrange when booked together with the main tour.
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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.
