10-Day Cairo, 7-Night Nile Cruise & Abu Simbel Holiday
Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum, seven nights aboard a Nile cruise ship from Luxor, a road trip to Abu Simbel and a day in old Cairo. Internal flights, hotels, your cabin and an Egyptologist are included.
The short answer
10-Day Cairo, 7-Night Nile Cruise & Abu Simbel Holiday is a 10-day, 9-night trip to Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and Abu Simbel: 2 nights in Cairo and 7 on a Nile cruise. Starts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays or Sundays. It includes domestic flights, an Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transfers. Prices start at £2,133 per person, two sharing (Essential, October–April).
02Overview
A first look
Most of this holiday is spent on the river, and Cairo is kept brief. You land on day 1 and go out on a Nile dinner cruise. Day 2 takes in the Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum, before a flight south to Luxor and your cruise ship.
You live on board for seven nights. Along the way you visit the West Bank, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae, spend a full day on the road to Abu Simbel, and end in Luxor at Karnak and Luxor Temple. An internal flight then returns you to Cairo for Islamic and Coptic Cairo. The last night is in Cairo deliberately, so a delayed internal flight does not put your journey home at risk. We organise both flights, every transfer, your hotels and your cabin. You choose the standard of hotel and ship when you book; the sightseeing does not change.
What lingers
- 01A Nile dinner cruise with a live show on your first evening in Cairo
- 02The Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum with an Egyptologist
- 03Seven nights aboard a Nile cruise ship, there and back from Luxor, full board
- 04The Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's temple, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae
- 05Abu Simbel, a full day by road from Aswan
- 06Karnak and Luxor Temple, then Islamic and Coptic Cairo on the final sightseeing day
Choose your comfort level
Prices are per person in GBP, from 2 people sharing a double room, including accommodation at the properties listed or similar.
| Comfort level | Where you stay or similar | Per personfrom, Oct–Apr | Choose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essentialfrom £2,1333★ hotels · well-priced Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 7 nightsNephtis · Magic I | £2,133May–Sep: from £1,903 | |
| Comfortfrom £2,3564★ hotels · 5★ Nile cruises | Cairo · 2 nightsJewel Sport City Nile Cruise · 7 nightsTower Prestige · Royal Elite | £2,356May–Sep: from £1,975 | |
| Classicfrom £2,5285★ hotels · 5★ Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 7 nightsSun Times · Stephanie | £2,528May–Sep: from £1,975 | |
| Prestigefrom £3,1765★ deluxe hotels · 5★ deluxe Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 7 nightsSonesta Moon Goddess · Nile Serenity | £3,176May–Sep: from £2,691 | |
| Luxuryfrom £4,9855★ luxury hotels · 5★ luxury Nile cruises | Cairo · 2 nightsSt. Regis Cairo Nile Cruise · 7 nightsSonesta St. George I · Cleopatra | £4,985May–Sep: from £3,500 | |
| Signature Collectionfrom £6,738Iconic heritage vessels · landmark hotels | Cairo · 2 nightsFour Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza Nile Cruise · 7 nightsHistoria | £6,738May–Sep: from £4,901 |
Hotels on bed & breakfast · Nile cruise on full board. You'll stay in these properties, or a similar choice of the same quality. Choose your date in the booking panel for the exact price.
Day by day
Detailed itinerary
10 Days / 9 Nights · Cairo · Giza · Saqqara · Luxor · Edfu · Aswan
- 1
Your driver is waiting in the arrivals hall at Cairo Airport with a name board, and drives you to your hotel. Use the afternoon to recover from the journey. That evening you are picked up for a Nile dinner cruise, with a buffet, live entertainment and the lit-up skyline passing on both banks. Allow about three hours in all, with the hotel return included.
- 2
A full day, led by an English-speaking Egyptologist, with entrance fees and transport covered. You begin on the Giza Plateau, where the pyramids of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure stand beside the Great Sphinx; plan on four to six hours. After lunch you go to the Grand Egyptian Museum.
You are then taken to Cairo Airport for the flight to Luxor, and a driver meets you there and brings you to your Nile cruise ship, where dinner is served. The airline decides the flight time, and the day is planned around it.
- 3
Your Egyptologist takes you across the river to Luxor's West Bank. You enter the Valley of the Kings, with three tombs on your ticket, then visit the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari and the Colossi of Memnon. Entrance fees and transport are included. You return to the ship for lunch, and dinner is served on board that evening.
- 4
While the ship moves south, you go ashore at two temples with your English-speaking Egyptologist: Edfu first, then Kom Ombo. Entrance fees and transport are included. The remaining hours are for relaxing on board, and every meal is served on the ship.
- 5
Today is spent around Aswan. Your Egyptologist leads you to the Unfinished Obelisk in its quarry, then you cross the water by boat to Philae Temple, and the High Dam comes last. Entrance fees and transport are included, and lunch and dinner are served back on the ship.
- 6
With the ship still moored at Aswan, today is a road journey to Abu Simbel and back, with entrance to the temples included. It makes for a full day, so bring comfortable shoes, water and a hat. Dinner is waiting for you on board.
- 7
There are no visits today. The ship heads back toward Luxor, so the journey itself is the day. After the road to Abu Simbel, it is a good moment to sit on deck and watch the riverbank scenery go by. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are all served on the ship.
- 8
The final day of sightseeing on the ship is in Luxor, with your English-speaking Egyptologist. You explore the Karnak complex, including the Sacred Lake, and go on to Luxor Temple. Entrance fees and transport are included. Tonight is your last night aboard.
- 9
You say goodbye to the ship after breakfast and transfer to Luxor Airport for the flight back to Cairo, where a driver takes you to your hotel. The airline sets the flight time, so the sightseeing is arranged around it.
Your Egyptologist then covers the Sultan Hassan and Al-Rifa'i mosques, the Citadel of Saladin and the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, and Old Coptic Cairo, with the Hanging Church and the Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus. Lunch is taken in Old Cairo. Entrance fees and the vehicle are included, and it is a full day.
- 10
Breakfast at the hotel, then check out. Your private driver and a transfer representative take you to Cairo Airport for the international flight home. Last night was in Cairo deliberately, a safety window in case a domestic flight was delayed.
Bundled in
- Domestic flights
The fine print
What's included – and what is left out
Included
- Two nights in a Cairo hotel with breakfast and seven nights on a Nile cruise ship on full board
- Internal flights from Cairo to Luxor and Luxor to Cairo
- All airport, hotel and port transfers in an air-conditioned vehicle
- A Nile dinner cruise with a show in Cairo
- An English-speaking Egyptologist, entrance fees and transport on every sightseeing day, including three tombs in the Valley of the Kings
- Abu Simbel by road from Aswan, entrance fees included
- Lunch on the Giza and Islamic and Coptic Cairo days
- Meet and assist at the airport
Not included
- International flights to and from Egypt
- Egypt entry visa
- Tips for guides, drivers and ship staff
- Drinks on board and meals not listed
- The Khufu pyramid interior and premium tombs such as Tutankhamun and Seti I
- Travel insurance and personal expenses
Field notes
From our Egyptologists
- 01
Visit the Giza Plateau early, before the strongest midday heat and coach arrivals.
- 02
At Philae, morning light gives cleaner photos on the sandstone facades.
- 03
Carry small cash for restrooms and incidental purchases at Khan El Khalili.
- 04
The Valley of the Kings is cooler first thing, but the tomb interiors still feel warm.
- 05
Abu Simbel works best at sunrise, when the forecourt is quieter and temperatures are lower.
Tailor it
Make it yours
You choose the standard of hotel and ship when you book. Ask us about extra nights in Cairo or Luxor, or a hot-air balloon flight over Luxor.
Your own specialist deals with each request before you book.
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- Travellers who want most of their holiday on the Nile at an easy pace, with the pyramids first and old Cairo last. Suits couples, friends and solo travellers who are happy with two flights and several hours of walking on sightseeing days.
Maybe not, if
- Travellers who need step-free access to every site, or who want a long stay in Cairo. Days 2, 6 and 9 are long.
Honest assessment
The honest pluses and minuses, as our own team sees them after running this trip.
Highlights
- Seven nights on one ship, so no repacking along the Nile
- Abu Simbel, Philae, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Karnak and the Valley of the Kings are all covered
- A last night in Cairo protects your journey home
Things to Consider
- Day 2 is long, with Giza, the museum and a flight
- Abu Simbel is a full day on the road
- Uneven stone, steps and little shade at the big sites
Where it fits
A good fit for a first trip with the river at its heart. If you would like longer in Cairo, ask us about extra nights.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Many Nile itineraries run one way between Luxor and Aswan. This one goes there and back from Luxor on a single ship, with Abu Simbel on day 6 and a night in Cairo before the flight home. The standard of hotel and ship is your choice; the sightseeing does not change.
Compare
Similar tours to compare
On the ground
Your route
Snapshot
Good to know
- Travel style
- Guided multi-day holiday with a 7-night Nile cruise
- Accommodation
- Cairo hotels and a Nile cruise ship, standard chosen at booking
- Destinations
- Cairo · Giza · Saqqara · Luxor · Edfu · Aswan · Abu Simbel
- Includes
- 2 nights in Cairo hotels with breakfast · 7 nights on a Nile cruise ship, full board · Flights from Cairo to Luxor and Luxor to Cairo · Abu Simbel by road from Aswan · English-speaking Egyptologist, entrance fees and transport on sightseeing days · All transfers in an air-conditioned vehicle
- Best for
- First-time visitors who want to spend time on the river · Travellers interested in history · Those who want Abu Simbel without changing hotels
The morning of
Meeting point & timing
- Where
- Cairo International Airport (CAI), Arrivals HallMap
Before you go
What to pack & wear
What to bring
- Passport and any entry documents you need
- Comfortable walking shoes with good grip
- High-factor sun cream, SPF 30 or above
- Sun hat and sunglasses
- Refillable water bottle
- Any regular medication
- A small day bag for the long road day to Abu Simbel
- A light layer for the ship, the flights and early starts
What to wear
- Light, breathable clothes for the sun and heat
- Closed shoes for temples and uneven ground
- Clothes covering shoulders and knees for mosques, churches and temples
- A hat and sunglasses
- A light jacket for winter evenings on the river
Children & families
Children are welcome. Each child has a seat in the vehicle, so transport, guiding and meals are charged at the adult rate at any age. Entry tickets are free for under-6s and full price from 6. The road to Abu Simbel makes for a long day that younger children may find tiring. Hotel and cabin prices depend on the child's age and the room or cabin used, so we confirm the exact figure once you give us the age at booking.
Accessibility
Who can join this
There is a great deal of walking on large archaeological sites, over uneven stone and sand, up steps and through some narrow tomb passages. The Valley of the Kings and Karnak have long, shadeless stretches. Boarding the ship and the boat to Philae means steps and a gangway, and Abu Simbel is a long day by road. In Cairo the Citadel and the old churches add more steps and cobbles. Our vehicles are private and air-conditioned, but we cannot promise wheelchair access at every site. Tell us what you need when you book and we will say honestly which parts will work.
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
This holiday includes two internal flights, a long road day to Abu Simbel and seven nights on a cruise ship, and vehicles and vessels vary, so we make no claim about carbon savings. Guiding is by local Egyptologists and everything is arranged with suppliers in Cairo, Luxor and Aswan, which keeps most of your spending in the places you visit. We ask guests to bring a refillable water bottle and to keep their hands off the painted walls in tombs.
Licensed Egyptologist guides
State-licensed, and people we have worked with for years
Fair wages on the ground
Drivers + guides paid above market
Site preservation
We follow the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities' site rules: marked paths, no touching reliefs
Local teams, real help
Our own offices in Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Hurghada, Marsa Alam and Sharm El Sheikh
If plans change
Cancellation and refunds
If you cancel, your refund depends on how soon you let us know and on the kind of holiday. See our current cancellation and refund terms
Asked & answered
Frequent questions
01Are the internal flights included?
Yes. The flights from Cairo to Luxor on day 2 and Luxor to Cairo on day 9 are booked for you and included. International flights are not.02How many nights are spent on the Nile?
Seven nights on board, leaving from Luxor, going to Aswan and returning, on full board with breakfast, lunch and dinner every day. The other two nights are in Cairo hotels with breakfast.03Is day 2 a lot?
It is a full day: Giza takes four to six hours, then lunch, the Grand Egyptian Museum and a flight to Luxor. We plan around the airline's flight time. Send us your arrival time and we will talk it through. An extra night in Cairo can be added.04Will I make my international flight?
Internal and international tickets are separate bookings, so a late internal flight can cost you the connection. That is why this holiday finishes with a night in Cairo before you leave. If you change the plan and fly to Cairo to connect on the same day, pick a late-evening or night international flight and take travel insurance that covers missed connections.05Which ship and hotels will we have?
You choose a standard when you book, from budget to luxury, and we name the ship and hotels for your dates. The sightseeing is the same at every standard.06Is Abu Simbel part of the holiday?
Yes. It is a full day by road from Aswan on day 6, with entrance fees paid.07Is there a day without sightseeing?
Yes, day 7. With seven nights on the ship there are more days than visits, so that day is spent on board.08Do the guide, entrance fees and transport cost extra?
No. On sightseeing days, including those on the cruise, an English-speaking Egyptologist, entrance fees and transport are all included.09What is not included?
International flights, the Egypt visa, tips for guides, drivers and ship staff, drinks other than those stated, the inside of the Khufu pyramid and premium tombs such as Tutankhamun's.10When is the best time to go?
October to April is cooler and the most comfortable for walking around the sites. Summers are very hot, especially in Luxor and Aswan, so days begin early.
Last updated Product ID: TOU-CAI-047901
At a glance
- Length
- 10 days · 9 nights
- Starts
- Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat or Sun
- Route
- Cairo → Luxor → Edfu → Kom Ombo → Abu Simbel → Aswan → Cairo
- Nights
- 2 Cairo · 7 Nile cruise
- Includes
- Domestic flights, Egyptologist guide, entrance fees, transfers