10-Day Cairo, Luxor & Hurghada Holiday by Sleeper Train
The Giza Pyramids, a private cabin on the sleeper to Luxor, and four days of boat trips and snorkelling at Hurghada. Your Egyptologist and entrance fees are included.
The short answer
10-Day Cairo, Luxor & Hurghada Holiday by Sleeper Train is a 10-day, 9-night trip to Cairo, Luxor and Hurghada: 2 nights in Cairo, 1 on sleeper trains, 2 in Luxor and 4 in Hurghada. It includes domestic flights, an Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transfers. Prices start at £1,526 per person, two sharing (Classic, October–April).
02Overview
A first look
Temples first, sea last: that is the shape of this holiday. You begin with two nights in Cairo, taking in the Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx, the Grand Egyptian Museum and an afternoon in Islamic Cairo. Then comes the sleeper train. You have a private cabin and dinner and breakfast are served on board, so you wake up in Luxor close to the temples.
Two nights in Luxor give you the Valley of the Kings and Karnak with an Egyptologist at your side. A private car then carries you to the Red Sea, where four nights in Hurghada include three boat outings: snorkelling at Dolphin House, a beach day on an island and a semi-submarine over the reef. Two of the nine nights are on the train and seven are in hotels, at a standard you choose when you book.
What lingers
- 01The Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum in a single guided day
- 02A Nile dinner cruise with a show on your first evening in Cairo
- 03The Citadel, Islamic Cairo and the Khan el-Khalili bazaar before you board the train
- 04The overnight sleeper from Cairo to Luxor in a private cabin, with dinner and breakfast served on board
- 05The Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's temple, Karnak and Luxor Temple with your Egyptologist
- 06Four nights in Hurghada, with Dolphin House snorkelling, Paradise Island and a semi-submarine over the reef
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comfortfrom £1,5264★ hotels | Cairo · 2 nightsJewel Sport City Luxor · 2 nightsIberotel Luxor by JAZ Hurghada · 4 nightsSwiss Inn Resort Hurghada | £1,526May–Sep: from £1,534 | |
| Classicfrom £1,5265★ hotels | Hurghada · 4 nightsAMC Royal Hotel & Spa | £1,526May–Sep: from £1,535 | |
| Prestigefrom £1,8715★ deluxe hotels | Luxor · 2 nightsSteigenberger Nile Palace Luxor Hurghada · 4 nightsHilton Hurghada Plaza | £1,871May–Sep: from £2,025 | |
| Luxuryfrom £2,5305★ luxury hotels | Cairo · 2 nightsSt. Regis Cairo Luxor · 2 nightsHilton Luxor Resort & Spa | £2,530May–Sep: from £2,597 |
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.
- New
Day by day
Detailed itinerary
10 Days / 9 Nights · Cairo · Giza Plateau · Grand Egyptian Museum · Citadel of Saladin · Luxor · Valley of the Kings
- 1
A driver is waiting in the arrivals hall at Cairo Airport and takes you to your hotel, around an hour's drive. You can rest after the flight. Later you are picked up for a dinner cruise on the Nile: three hours in all, with an open buffet, live entertainment and views of the lit-up city from the top deck. A private transfer then returns you to the hotel.
- 2
Your Egyptologist picks you up at the hotel for a full day. Allow 4 to 6 hours at Giza and in the museum, besides the drives. First come the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx, then lunch with a view, and in the afternoon the Grand Egyptian Museum.
The guide, the entrance fees for the Giza Plateau outdoor sites and the museum, and an air-conditioned vehicle are all included, with bottled water as you go. You are driven back to the hotel for a second night in Cairo.
- 3
Your morning is free. Your Egyptologist comes for you in the afternoon for a half day in historic Cairo: the Citadel and the Muhammad Ali Mosque, a stroll through Islamic Cairo and some time among the stalls of Khan el-Khalili. The guide, the Citadel and mosque entry fees and the vehicle are included.
You are then driven to Giza station, about 45 minutes away, and board the overnight sleeper to Luxor. The private cabin is yours for the night, with dinner and breakfast served on board. The journey takes around 12 hours.
- 4
The train reaches Luxor and you are taken from the station to your hotel. Your Egyptologist then leads a full day on the West Bank, visiting the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's temple at Deir el-Bahari, the Colossi of Memnon and Medinet Habu. The guide, entrance fees and transport are all included.
We arrange the day around your arrival from the train, so let us know if you would like to freshen up at the hotel first.
- 5
The East Bank is on the plan today, with your Egyptologist. You explore Karnak, Egypt's biggest temple complex and its forest of columns, then Luxor Temple by the river. Hotel pickup, the guide, entry to both temples, the vehicle between sites and bottled water are all included. Your afternoon is free, and you sleep a second night in Luxor.
- 6
After breakfast your private air-conditioned car sets off from Luxor for the Red Sea coast, a drive of around five hours. Ask your driver if you want a stop on the way. You check in at your Hurghada hotel and the rest of the day is yours. Four nights here let the pace drop after the temples.
- 7
You head out by boat from Hurghada to the Dolphin House reef and have time to snorkel in the Red Sea. The dolphins are wild, so a sighting cannot be promised. Take your swimming costume, a towel and reef-safe sun cream. The remainder of the day is at your leisure.
- 8
A boat carries you out to Paradise Island for a day by the water. You can swim and snorkel, and lunch is included. It is the laziest day of the holiday, so take a book, a hat and plenty of sun cream. You are back at your hotel by the afternoon.
- 9
This is a trip of around three hours that shows you the reef, and you need not get wet if you would rather not. You are collected from your hotel for a two-hour semi-submarine outing shared with other guests, with a glass-bottom boat and a swim stop. A mask and snorkel are provided, with a soft drink and water on board. Afterwards the day is yours for the pool or a last bit of shopping.
- 10
After breakfast you are driven from your hotel to Hurghada Airport for the internal flight to Cairo, which is included. The airline sets the flight time. In Cairo you pick up your flight home, so we suggest an evening or night departure. Please read the question below about making your international flight.
Bundled in
- Domestic flights
The fine print
What's included – and what is left out
Included
- Two nights in a Cairo hotel, two in Luxor and four in Hurghada, with breakfast
- The overnight sleeper from Cairo to Luxor in a private cabin, with dinner and breakfast on board
- Internal flight from Hurghada to Cairo
- Private transfers in an air-conditioned vehicle, including Luxor to Hurghada
- A Nile dinner cruise with a show in Cairo
- English-speaking Egyptologist, entrance fees and transport on the Cairo and Luxor sightseeing days
- Lunch on days 2 and 8
- Dolphin House snorkelling trip, Paradise Island beach day and semi-submarine reef trip
- Meet and assist at the airport, plus all service charges and taxes
Not included
- International flights to and from Egypt
- Egyptian entry visa
- Tips for guides and drivers
- Drinks and meals other than those stated
- The inside of the Khufu pyramid and premium tombs such as Tutankhamun's and Seti I's
- Travel insurance and personal spending
Field notes
From our Egyptologists
- 01
Take a small overnight case for the sleeper train and keep it by you; the rest of your luggage rides in the transfer vehicle.
- 02
Visit the Citadel before the train night; the terrace there gives a long view over Cairo's minarets that you will remember on the journey south.
- 03
Treat the Nile dinner cruise as a gentle first evening: you sit, eat and watch the show once the flight is behind you.
- 04
The drive from Luxor to Hurghada crosses the Eastern Desert, so carry water and a charged phone for the scenery.
Tailor it
Make it yours
You choose the standard of hotel when you book. Ask us about an extra night in Cairo before you fly home, more nights in Hurghada, 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
- First-time visitors who want Egypt's great sights plus some time by the sea. Suits couples, friends and solo travellers who are happy with one night train and a few long sightseeing days.
Maybe not, if
- Travellers who need step-free access to every site, the train or the boats, or who want a spare night in Cairo before flying home.
Honest assessment
The honest pluses and minuses, as our own team sees them after running this trip.
Highlights
- The pyramids, the museum, Luxor's temples and a Red Sea finish in ten days
- A private cabin on the sleeper saves a hotel night and a day of travelling
- Four easy days at the end, with three boat trips
Things to Consider
- The holiday ends with an internal flight and no spare night in Cairo
- Cabins on the sleeper are compact
- Uneven stone, steps and little shade at the temples
Where it fits
A good fit for a first visit that mixes history with beach time. If you would like a spare night in Cairo before flying home, ask and we will add it.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Most Egypt itineraries finish with a Nile cruise or a last night in Cairo. This one finishes on the Red Sea, and the sleeper train stands in for a flight and a hotel night between Cairo and Luxor. The hotel standard is your choice; the sightseeing stays the same.
Compare
Similar tours to compare
On the ground
Your route
Snapshot
Good to know
- Travel style
- Guided multi-day holiday with a sleeper train and Red Sea stay
- Accommodation
- Cairo, Luxor and Hurghada hotels plus a private sleeper cabin, standard chosen at booking
- Destinations
- Cairo · Giza Plateau · Grand Egyptian Museum · Citadel of Saladin · Luxor · Valley of the Kings · Karnak Temple · Luxor Temple · Hurghada · Dolphin House · Paradise Island
- Includes
- 7 hotel nights with breakfast: 2 in Cairo, 2 in Luxor, 4 in Hurghada, with the train night separate · Overnight sleeper from Cairo to Luxor in a private cabin, dinner and breakfast on board · Internal flight from Hurghada to Cairo · Egyptologist, entrance fees and transport on Cairo and Luxor sightseeing days · Dolphin House, Paradise Island and semi-submarine boat trips · Private transfers including Luxor to Hurghada
- Best for
- First-time visitors · Travellers wanting temples and a beach in one trip · Anyone keen to try a sleeper train in Egypt
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 visa or travel documents
- Comfortable walking shoes with good grip
- Swimming costume and a towel for the boat days
- Reef-safe sun cream, SPF 30 or higher
- Sun hat and sunglasses
- Refillable water bottle
- Any regular medication
- A small overnight bag for the train, with a light layer and toiletries
What to wear
- Light, breathable clothing for sun and heat
- Closed shoes for temples and uneven ground
- Clothing that covers shoulders and knees at mosques and temples
- Swimwear and a cover-up for the boats
- Comfortable things to sleep in on the train
- A light jacket for cooler evenings and the air-conditioned train
Children & families
Children are welcome. Every child has a seat in the vehicle, so transport and guiding are charged at the adult rate whatever the age. Entrance tickets are free for children under 6 and full price from 6. Hotel and train cabin arrangements depend on the child's age and how many are sharing, so we give you the exact figure once you tell us the age at booking. The 12-hour train journey and several long sightseeing days suit older children better than toddlers, and children should be happy wearing a life jacket on the boat days.
Accessibility
Who can join this
This holiday means a good deal of walking around large archaeological sites, on uneven stone and sand, with steps and some narrow tomb passages. The Valley of the Kings and Karnak have long, open stretches with little shade. Getting onto the train involves a step up from the platform and a narrow corridor to your cabin, and cabins are compact. On the Hurghada days you use boats with steps and gangways, and there is a ladder to get in and out of the water. Vehicles are private and air-conditioned, but we cannot promise wheelchair access at every site, on the train or on the boats. Tell us what you need when you book and we will say honestly which parts suit you.
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
The holiday uses a sleeper train, private road transfers, one internal flight and day boats, and vehicle types vary, so we make no claim about carbon savings. Sightseeing is led by local Egyptologists and arranged through local suppliers in Cairo, Luxor and Hurghada, so much of what you spend stays in the places you visit. On the reef, please keep off the coral and do not touch it. Bring a refillable water bottle and reef-safe sun cream, and keep your 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
01Where do we sleep on this holiday?
Two of the nine nights are spent on the sleeper train in a private cabin, travelling from Cairo to Luxor on day 3. The other seven nights are in hotels: two in Cairo, two in Luxor and four in Hurghada. We confirm the hotels for your dates once you have chosen a standard.02Will I make my international flight?
Domestic and international tickets are booked separately, so a late internal flight could cost you your connection. This holiday finishes with the Hurghada to Cairo flight on day 10, with no spare night in Cairo. We would rather you had one last night there, and we can quote for it. If you do connect on the same day, pick a late-evening or night flight home, and make sure your travel insurance covers missed connections.03What is the sleeper train like?
You have a private cabin for the night, and dinner and breakfast are served on board. Cairo to Luxor takes about 12 hours. Cabins are compact, so bring a small overnight bag and leave your main case with the driver.04Are the guide, entry fees and transport included?
Yes, on the sightseeing days in Cairo and Luxor. You have an English-speaking Egyptologist, entrance fees to the listed sites and air-conditioned transport. Premium tombs and the inside of the Khufu pyramid are extra.05Is the flight included?
The internal flight from Hurghada to Cairo on day 10 is booked for you and included. The train takes you from Cairo to Luxor and a private car from Luxor to Hurghada. International flights are not included.06Can I snorkel if I am a weak swimmer?
Yes. Mask and snorkel are provided on the semi-submarine trip, which also lets you see the reef from inside the boat. Tell the crew how confident you are in the water, and use a life jacket if in doubt.07Which meals are included?
You have breakfast every hotel morning, dinner on day 1 on the Nile cruise, lunch on days 2 and 8, and dinner and breakfast on the sleeper train. Other meals you pay for yourself.08Is the sightseeing private?
On the Cairo and Luxor days your Egyptologist and driver are yours alone. The Hurghada boat trips, including the semi-submarine, are shared with other guests.09When is the best time to go?
October to April is cooler and best for the temples. Luxor is very hot in summer, so days begin early, but the Red Sea is warm enough for swimming for much of the year.
Last updated Product ID: TOU-CAI-156235
At a glance
- Length
- 10 days · 9 nights
- Starts
- Daily
- Route
- Cairo → Luxor → Cairo to Luxor → Hurghada → Cairo
- Nights
- 2 Cairo · 1 sleeper train · 2 Luxor · 4 Hurghada
- Includes
- Domestic flights, Egyptologist guide, entrance fees, transfers