10-Day Egypt Holiday: White Desert Camp & Nile Cruise
Cairo's pyramids, a simple camp under the desert stars and a three-night Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor. Internal flights, hotels, your cabin and guides are all arranged.
The short answer
10-Day Egypt Holiday: White Desert Camp & Nile Cruise is a 10-day, 9-night trip to Cairo, Luxor and Aswan. Starts on Mondays, Thursdays, Saturdays or Sundays. It includes domestic flights, an Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transfers. Prices start at £1,889 per person, two sharing (Essential, October–April).
02Overview
A first look
This holiday has three parts. First comes Cairo: a dinner cruise on the Nile on arrival, then a day at Giza, Saqqara and Memphis with your own Egyptologist. Next is the desert. A 4x4 and a local guide take you through Bahariya Oasis, the Black Desert and Crystal Mountain to the White Desert, where you spend a night in a basic camp.
The third part is the river. You fly from Cairo to Aswan and board your Nile cruise ship for three nights, sailing north to Luxor past Kom Ombo and Edfu. Karnak, Luxor Temple and the Valley of the Kings follow. An internal flight returns you to Cairo for a last night. The desert trip is sold by request, so we confirm the camp arrangements and the final price for that part with you before you pay.
What lingers
- 01An evening Nile dinner cruise with a live show on your first night in Cairo
- 02The Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx, Saqqara and Memphis with a private Egyptologist
- 03A 4x4 journey through Bahariya Oasis, the Black Desert, Crystal Mountain and the White Desert
- 04One night in a simple desert camp, with a tent, mattress, sleeping bag and blankets
- 05Three nights on a Nile cruise ship from Aswan to Luxor, on full board
- 06Philae, Kom Ombo and Edfu, with an Egyptologist, entrance fees and transport included
- 07Karnak, Luxor Temple and the Valley of the Kings, plus a Nubian village and a horse carriage ride in Luxor
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 £1,8893★ hotels · well-priced Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 3 nightsNephtis · Magic I Luxor · 1 nightEl Mesala Hotel Luxor | £1,889May–Sep: from £1,750 | |
| Comfortfrom £2,0494★ hotels · 5★ Nile cruises | Cairo · 3 nightsJewel Sport City Nile Cruise · 3 nightsRoyal Princess Amira · Tower Prestige Luxor · 1 nightIberotel Luxor by JAZ | £2,049May–Sep: from £1,893 | |
| Classicfrom £2,2105★ hotels · 5★ Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 3 nightsGrand Sun · Stephanie | £2,210May–Sep: from £1,893 | |
| Prestigefrom £2,5135★ deluxe hotels · 5★ deluxe Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 3 nightsSonesta Moon Goddess · Nile Serenity Luxor · 1 nightSteigenberger Nile Palace Luxor | £2,513May–Sep: from £2,325 | |
| Luxuryfrom £3,7545★ luxury hotels · 5★ luxury Nile cruises | Cairo · 3 nightsSt. Regis Cairo Nile Cruise · 3 nightsSonesta St. George I · Esmeralda Luxor · 1 nightHilton Luxor Resort & Spa | £3,754May–Sep: from £3,003 |
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.
- New
Day by day
Detailed itinerary
10 Days / 9 Nights · Cairo · Giza Plateau · Saqqara · Bahariya Oasis · White Desert · Aswan
- 1
A driver is waiting in the arrivals hall at Cairo Airport and takes you straight to your hotel, so you can rest after the flight. Later you are collected for an evening on the Nile. The dinner cruise lasts about three hours, with a buffet, live entertainment and Cairo glowing along the banks, and a private transfer drops you back at your hotel.
- 2
Today is a full eight hours with your private Egyptologist. The morning begins on the Giza Plateau, at the Great Pyramids, the Valley Temple and the Great Sphinx. From there you drive south through green countryside for lunch, then on to Saqqara, where the first pyramid was built, and Memphis, the first capital. Your driver returns you to the hotel.
Guide, entrance fees and a private air-conditioned vehicle are all included.
- 3
Your private driver picks you up at the hotel and drives you to Bahariya Oasis, where a local desert driver-guide takes over in a 4x4. You pass through the Black Desert and Crystal Mountain before reaching the White Desert, with its chalk rocks shaped by the wind. Tonight you stay in a basic camp: a tent, a mattress, a sleeping bag and blankets, and shared facilities.
Lunch, dinner, bottled water and protected-area fees are included. This trip is sold by request, and we confirm the camp arrangements and the final price with you before you pay.
- 4
Breakfast is in camp, then you leave the desert and your private driver takes you back to Cairo and your hotel. Nothing is planned for the rest of the day. Use it to wash off the sand, rest and get your bags ready for tomorrow's flight. You spend your fourth night in a Cairo hotel.
- 5
You are driven to Cairo Airport for the internal flight to Aswan. The airline sets the flight time, and we plan the day around it. At Aswan you are met, join your Nile cruise ship and set off with your Egyptologist for Philae Temple, the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk. A visit to a Nubian village is part of the day too. Guide, entrance fees and transport are included.
It is a full day, and you sleep on the ship tonight.
- 6
On day two of the cruise your Egyptologist guides you around the Temple of Kom Ombo and the Temple of Edfu, with entrance fees and transport included. You also take a private motorboat trip around Elephantine Island and the Aswan Botanical Garden. All meals are served on board while the ship moves north towards Luxor.
- 7
With the ship in Luxor, your Egyptologist takes you to Luxor Temple and the Karnak Temples, including the Sacred Lake. Guide, entrance fees and transport are included. As evening comes, a private horse carriage rides you through Luxor, past the local market and to Luxor Temple lit up after dark. You return to the ship for a final night on board.
- 8
This morning is on Luxor's West Bank with your Egyptologist. You visit the Valley of the Kings, with three tombs included, the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari and the Colossi of Memnon. Guide, entrance fees and transport are included. When you have finished, you leave the ship and are driven to your hotel in Luxor for the night.
- 9
You are driven from Luxor to the airport for the internal flight to Cairo, with a 23 kg luggage allowance and taxes included. The airline sets the time. A transfer then takes you to your Cairo hotel. There is no sightseeing today. This last night in Cairo is there on purpose: it gives a safety window if a domestic flight runs late, before you head home.
- 10
Have breakfast and check out of your hotel. A private transfer, with a representative to help with your bags, takes you to Cairo Airport for your flight home. Leave yourself plenty of time for check-in and security. The holiday ends at the airport.
Bundled in
- Domestic flights
The fine print
What's included – and what is left out
Included
- Four hotel nights with breakfast: three in Cairo and one in Luxor
- Three nights on a Nile cruise ship from Aswan to Luxor, on full board
- One night in a basic White Desert camp, with a tent, mattress, sleeping bag and blankets
- Internal flights from Cairo to Aswan and from Luxor to Cairo
- All airport, hotel and port transfers in an air-conditioned vehicle
- A Nile dinner cruise with a live show in Cairo
- Entrance fees for every site in the itinerary, including three tombs in the Valley of the Kings
- An Egyptologist guide on Cairo and cruise sightseeing days, and a local desert driver-guide with a 4x4 in the desert
- Lunch and dinner on the first desert day, breakfast on the second, bottled water and protected-area fees
- A Nubian village visit, a motorboat trip around Elephantine Island and an evening horse carriage ride in Luxor
- Meet-and-assist at the airport
Not included
- International flights to and from Egypt
- Egyptian entry visa
- Tips for guides, drivers and ship staff
- Drinks on board and meals other than those stated
- Travel insurance and personal spending
Field notes
From our Egyptologists
- 01
Pack layers for the White Desert, where daytime warmth gives way to a sharp drop after dark.
- 02
On the Elephantine Island boat ride, ask the boatman to idle by the granite boulders for your photographs.
- 03
When invited for tea in the Nubian village, say yes; it turns a quick visit into a proper welcome.
- 04
Before the Luxor carriage ride, agree a route with your guide so you pass the souk and finish by the floodlit temple.
Tailor it
Make it yours
You choose the standard of hotel and ship when you book. Ask about adding Abu Simbel or extra nights in Cairo or Luxor.
Your own specialist deals with each request before you book.
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- Travellers who want the classic route with a night in the desert added. Suits couples, friends and active solo travellers who are fine with a basic tented camp, two flights and plenty of walking on sightseeing days.
Maybe not, if
- Travellers who need step-free access everywhere, their own bathroom every night or a slower pace. Days 2, 3 and 5 are full ones.
Honest assessment
The honest pluses and minuses, as our own team sees them after running this trip.
Highlights
- The pyramids, the White Desert and the main Nile temples in ten days
- Both internal flights and all transfers arranged for you
- Three nights on a ship, so no repacking between Aswan and Luxor
- A last night in Cairo that protects your flight home
Things to Consider
- The camp is basic: a tent, shared facilities and a long 4x4 journey
- Day 5 is busy, with a flight and sightseeing in Aswan on the same day
- Uneven stone, steps and little shade at the big sites
- Abu Simbel is not included
Where it fits
A good choice for a second look at Egypt, or a first trip for the adventurous. Abu Simbel is not included, so ask if it is on your list.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Many Egypt holidays leave out the desert, and many desert trips leave out the Nile. This one links them, with both internal flights and every transfer booked for you. You pick the standard of hotel and ship; the desert camp is basic at every standard.
Compare
Similar tours to compare
On the ground
Your route
Snapshot
Good to know
- Travel style
- Guided multi-day holiday with a White Desert camp and a Nile cruise
- Accommodation
- Cairo and Luxor hotels, a Nile cruise ship (standard chosen at booking) and one night in a basic desert camp
- Destinations
- Cairo · Giza Plateau · Saqqara · Bahariya Oasis · White Desert · Aswan · Philae Temple · Kom Ombo · Edfu · Luxor · Karnak Temple · Valley of the Kings
- Includes
- 4 hotel nights with breakfast, 3 nights on a Nile cruise ship (full board) · 1 night in a basic White Desert camp · Internal flights Cairo to Aswan and Luxor to Cairo · Entrance fees for every listed site · Egyptologist on sightseeing days, desert driver-guide in the White Desert · All transfers in an air-conditioned vehicle
- Best for
- First-timers who want something beyond the usual route · Adventurous travellers happy with a basic desert camp · Those wanting the pyramids, the desert and a Nile cruise on one holiday
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 travel documents you need
- Comfortable walking shoes with good grip
- A warm layer for the desert night, as it gets cold once the sun goes down
- A torch or head torch for the camp
- Sun cream, SPF 30 or higher
- Sun hat and sunglasses
- Refillable water bottle
- Any regular medication
- A day bag, and a small bag for the desert night
What to wear
- Light, breathable clothes for sun and heat
- Closed shoes for temples, tombs and desert sand
- Warm clothes for the camp, including long trousers and a fleece or jacket
- Clothes that cover shoulders and knees at mosques 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. Entrance tickets are free for under-6s and full price from age 6. Cabin and hotel costs depend on the child's age and the room or cabin used, and we give you the exact figure once you tell us their age. The White Desert night is in a basic tent with shared facilities, so tell us how old your child is and we will confirm what suits them before you pay.
Accessibility
Who can join this
Expect plenty of walking at archaeological sites, on uneven stone, sand and steps, and inside some narrow tombs. The Valley of the Kings and Karnak have long open stretches with little shade. Day 3 is a long journey by road and 4x4, and the desert camp is basic: a tent, a mattress on the ground and shared facilities. Boarding the ship and the boat to Philae means steps and a gangway. Vehicles are private and air-conditioned, but we cannot promise wheelchair access at every site or at the camp. Tell us what you need when you book and we will be straight about which parts will work for you.
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
This holiday uses two internal flights, a Nile cruise ship, private road transfers and a 4x4 in the desert, so we make no carbon-saving claim. The desert trip follows set routes inside a protected area, and the protected-area fees are included. Guiding is by local Egyptologists and suppliers in Cairo, Bahariya, Aswan and Luxor, so much of what you spend stays in those places. We ask guests to take all rubbish out of the desert with them, carry a refillable water bottle and keep their hands off painted tomb walls.
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. Cairo to Aswan on day 5 and Luxor to Cairo on day 9 are booked for you. International flights are not included. The airline sets the flight times.02What is the White Desert camp like?
Basic. You sleep in a tent on a mattress, with a sleeping bag and blankets, and the facilities are shared. A local desert driver-guide drives the 4x4. You get lunch and dinner on the first desert day and breakfast on the second, plus bottled water and the protected-area fees. The trip is sold by request, and we confirm the camp arrangements and the final price for the desert part with you before you pay.03Will I make my international flight?
Internal and international flights are booked separately, so a late internal flight could make you miss your connection. This holiday therefore ends with a last night in Cairo on day 9. If you rearrange things and have to fly into Cairo and connect on the same day, pick a late-evening or night flight home. Do take travel insurance that covers missed connections.04How long are we on the Nile?
Three nights on board, from Aswan to Luxor. The rest of the trip is four hotel nights, three in Cairo and one in Luxor after the cruise, plus the night in the desert camp.05Can I choose the hotels and the ship?
You pick a standard when you book, from budget to luxury, and we tell you the hotels and ship for your dates. Sightseeing is identical at every standard. The desert camp stays simple whichever standard you choose.06Does the holiday include Abu Simbel?
No, Abu Simbel is not on this itinerary. Get in touch if you would like to add it.07Is day 5 a lot to fit in?
It is a busy one. You fly in the morning, board the ship, then see Philae, the High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk and a Nubian village. We plan the sightseeing around the airline's flight time, and you sleep on the ship afterwards.08Are guides and entrance fees included?
Yes. An English-speaking Egyptologist, the entrance fees and the transport are included on the Cairo and cruise sightseeing days. In the desert a local driver-guide looks after you, and the protected-area fees are paid.09When should I travel?
October to April is cooler and best for temples. The desert gets cold at night in winter, so bring a warm layer. Summer heat is fierce in Luxor and Aswan, so sightseeing starts early.
Last updated Product ID: TOU-CAI-331842
At a glance
- Length
- 10 days · 9 nights
- Starts
- Mon, Thu, Sat or Sun
- Route
- Cairo → White Desert → Aswan → Kom Ombo → Edfu → Luxor → Cairo
- Includes
- Domestic flights, Egyptologist guide, entrance fees, transfers