- Duration9 Days / 8 Nights
- Tour typePrivate tour, shared Nile cruise ship
- StartsMeet and assist at Cairo International Airport
- PriceFrom $1,190 per person based on 6+ travellers
OverviewItineraryWhat’s includedPricesFAQ
Tour Overview
This 9 day Egypt tour with Nile cruise gives you the best of both worlds: a week of ancient wonders followed by proper time to unwind on the Red Sea. You begin in Cairo with the Pyramids of Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum, then fly to Aswan to board a 5★ cruise ship. Over three nights you sail north to Luxor, visiting the temples of Philae, Kom Ombo and Edfu along the way, with Karnak and the Valley of the Kings waiting at the end.
From Luxor, a private vehicle takes you east across the desert to Hurghada, a drive of about four hours. Three nights at an all-inclusive 4★ beach resort follow, with nothing scheduled. Swim, snorkel the house reef if your resort has one, or book an optional boat trip to the coral reefs around Giftun Island. The water stays warm enough for swimming most of the year, and winter days are usually sunny.
Throughout the touring days you have your own Egyptologist guide and private air-conditioned transport, with entry fees, meals on board and domestic flights taken care of. On the beach days you are simply left to enjoy yourself, with our local team on hand if you want to book an excursion. It is a well-balanced first trip to Egypt for couples and friends who want history and rest in the same holiday, without the stress of arranging it all themselves.
Highlights
- Pyramids of Giza and the Tutankhamun galleries at the Grand Egyptian Museum
- Flight to Aswan and three nights on a 5★ Nile cruise to Luxor
- Philae, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Karnak and the Valley of the Kings
- Felucca sail among the islands of Aswan
- Three nights at an all-inclusive 4★ beach resort in Hurghada
- Private Egyptologist guide and private transfers throughout
Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrive in Cairo
Our representative meets you in the arrivals hall at Cairo International Airport, helps you through visa and passport control and escorts you to your private air-conditioned vehicle. The drive to your 4★ hotel usually takes between 45 minutes and an hour, depending on traffic. After check-in, the rest of the day is free to rest and adjust to the time difference. Your guide calls in the evening to confirm the next morning’s pick-up time and run through the plan for the trip.
Meals: None
Day 2 – Pyramids of Giza & Grand Egyptian Museum
Spend the morning on the Giza Plateau with your Egyptologist. See the three great pyramids up close, take in the view from the panoramic viewpoint and visit the Great Sphinx and the Valley Temple of Khafre. Entry inside a pyramid is possible with an extra ticket. After lunch, continue to the Grand Egyptian Museum, where the Tutankhamun galleries display the young king’s burial treasures together, and the Grand Staircase leads past dozens of royal statues to views of the pyramids.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 3 – Fly to Aswan & Board Your Nile Cruise
Transfer early to Cairo airport for the flight to Aswan, around an hour and twenty minutes. Your guide meets you and you visit the High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk and the Temple of Philae, reached by motorboat to its island setting. Board your 5★ cruise ship in time for lunch and settle into your cabin. In the late afternoon, sail around Elephantine and Kitchener’s Island on a felucca, the traditional wooden sailing boat of the Nile, as the sun drops behind the desert hills.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4 – Kom Ombo & Edfu
Early risers can book an optional trip to Abu Simbel, subject to the ship’s timetable. Otherwise, enjoy a relaxed morning as the ship sails north to Kom Ombo, where an unusual double temple honours the crocodile god Sobek and the falcon god Haroeris. A small museum next to it displays mummified crocodiles. The ship continues to Edfu, where you visit the Temple of Horus, the most complete temple in Egypt. Timings depend on the ship’s schedule, so the two visits may fall on different days.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5 – Sail to Luxor: Karnak & Luxor Temple
Watch the riverbank slide past from the sun deck as the ship passes through the lock at Esna and continues to Luxor. Once you dock, your guide takes you to Karnak, the largest religious complex of the ancient world, with its Great Hypostyle Hall and sacred lake. Later visit Luxor Temple, which is especially atmospheric when floodlit in the evening. Dinner and your final night are on board, moored on the Luxor waterfront.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 – Valley of the Kings & Drive to Hurghada
After breakfast, disembark and cross to the West Bank. In the Valley of the Kings, your standard ticket covers three of the open tombs; Tutankhamun’s tomb needs an extra ticket. Continue to the temple of Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon. In the early afternoon your private vehicle sets off for Hurghada on the Red Sea coast, a drive of about four hours through the Eastern Desert with a rest stop on the way. Check in to your all-inclusive beach resort in time for dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7 – Free Day in Hurghada
Wake up by the Red Sea with a full day free to do as you please. Your all-inclusive resort provides meals and local drinks, so you can simply move between the beach, the pool and the restaurant. If you would like to get out on the water, our local team can book an optional snorkelling boat trip to Giftun Island, a glass-bottom boat, a diving session or a desert quad-bike safari. Let us know a day ahead and we will arrange the pick-up from your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8 – Free Day in Hurghada
Another unhurried day on the coast. Many guests use it to try the activity they missed the day before, or to visit the El Gouna lagoon town or the marina in Hurghada for an evening stroll and dinner out. The sea is usually calm in the mornings, which is the best time for snorkelling. Remember that the sun is strong even in winter, so use reef-safe sunscreen and take shade around midday. Pack your bags in the evening ready for the next day.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9 – Departure from Hurghada
Enjoy a final breakfast and some time on the beach before check-out. At the agreed time, our driver takes you to Hurghada International Airport, around 20 to 30 minutes from most resorts, for your flight home. Many airlines fly directly from Hurghada to Europe. If your international flight leaves from Cairo, we can book a domestic flight from Hurghada to Cairo at an extra cost and arrange meet and assist for the connection.
Meals: Breakfast
Good to know: Cruise sailing times and the Esna lock can shift the order of visits. The tour ends in Hurghada; a flight to Cairo can be added.
What’s Included
Included
- Meet and assist at all airports
- 2 nights in a 4★ hotel in Cairo with breakfast
- 3 nights on a 5★ Nile cruise ship with all meals
- 3 nights at a 4★ beach resort in Hurghada on an all-inclusive basis
- Domestic flight Cairo–Aswan
- Private road transfer from Luxor to Hurghada
- Private Egyptologist guide for all sightseeing
- Entry fees to all sites listed in the itinerary
- Lunch on sightseeing day in Cairo
- Felucca sail in Aswan
- Private air-conditioned transfers and touring
- Bottled water during tours
Not included
- International flights
- Egypt entry visa
- Tips for guides, drivers and cruise staff
- Drinks on the Nile cruise and in Cairo
- Optional excursions such as Abu Simbel and Red Sea boat trips
- Domestic flight from Hurghada to Cairo, if needed
- Extra tickets for pyramid interiors and Tutankhamun’s tomb
- Travel insurance and personal expenses
Prices
| Group size | Price per person |
|---|---|
| Single traveller | $2,090 |
| 2 travellers | $1,450 |
| 3–5 travellers | $1,290 |
| 6+ travellers | $1,190 |
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 drive from Luxor to Hurghada safe and comfortable?
Yes. It is a well-used main road of about 290 km, and the drive takes around four hours in a private air-conditioned vehicle with a professional driver. There is a rest stop on the way for refreshments and toilets. Most tour operators and resort guests travel this route every day.
Can I fly home directly from Hurghada?
Usually, yes. Hurghada International Airport has direct and charter flights to many European cities, especially in winter. Check flights from Hurghada before booking your international tickets, as an open-jaw ticket into Cairo and out of Hurghada is often the simplest option. If you need to return via Cairo, we can add a domestic flight.
What does all-inclusive mean at the Hurghada resort?
It normally covers breakfast, lunch and dinner, snacks and local soft and alcoholic drinks during set hours. Imported drinks, à la carte restaurants, spa treatments and water sports usually cost extra. Each resort’s rules differ slightly, so we send you the exact details for your hotel with your confirmation.
When is the sea warm enough for swimming?
The Red Sea at Hurghada is warm from around May to November, when the water is roughly 25–29°C. In winter it drops to about 21–23°C, which many visitors still find fine for swimming and snorkelling, though some prefer a wetsuit. Air temperatures in winter are pleasant in the daytime but cooler in the evening.
Will we definitely visit Kom Ombo and Edfu?
Both temples are included. Cruise ships set their own timetables, and docking times or delays at the Esna lock can change when and in what order you visit. Your guide adjusts the plan so that every included site is covered, and we tell you about any changes in good time.
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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.
