10-Day Family Holiday: Nile Cruise & Hurghada
The pyramids and a camel ride, three nights on a Nile cruise ship between Aswan and Luxor, then three nights beside the Red Sea with two boat trips. We arrange the hotels, the cruise cabin, the internal flight, the entrance fees and the guides.
The short answer
10-Day Family Holiday: Nile Cruise & Hurghada is a 10-day, 9-night trip to Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and Hurghada: 3 nights in Cairo, 3 on a Nile cruise and 3 in Hurghada. Starts on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays or Sundays. It includes domestic flights, an Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transfers. Prices start at £1,760 per person, two sharing (Comfort, October–April).
02Overview
A first look
Egypt can be a lot for children, so this holiday mixes history with things they will remember for other reasons. In Cairo you start with a sunset felucca on the Nile, then the Giza Pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum. A second day takes in the Citadel and the Khan el-Khalili bazaar, and the children get a short camel ride at Giza.
You then fly to Aswan and join your Nile cruise ship. Over three nights it takes you north to Luxor, calling at Philae, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Karnak and the Valley of the Kings, so there is no packing and unpacking.
From Luxor a private car takes you to Hurghada, about five hours. You finish with three nights by the Red Sea: a snorkelling boat to Dolphin House one day, and a semi-submarine over the reef the next. The internal flight, transfers, hotels and cruise cabin are booked for you. You pick the standard of hotel and ship, from budget to luxury, and we name them for your dates.
What lingers
- 01A sunset felucca on the Nile on your first evening in Cairo
- 02The Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum in a single guided day
- 03A camel ride of about 20 minutes on the Giza Plateau
- 04Three nights on a Nile cruise ship from Aswan to Luxor, full board
- 05Philae, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Karnak and the Valley of the Kings with an Egyptologist
- 06A snorkelling trip to Dolphin House and a semi-submarine over the reef at Hurghada
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 £1,7604★ hotels · 5★ Nile cruises | Cairo · 3 nightsJewel Sport City Nile Cruise · 3 nightsEmilio · Tower Prestige Hurghada · 3 nightsSwiss Inn Resort Hurghada | £1,760May–Sep: from £1,729 | |
| Classicfrom £1,9075★ hotels · 5★ Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 3 nightsSun Times · Nile Dolphin Hurghada · 3 nightsAMC Royal Hotel & Spa | £1,907May–Sep: from £1,729 | |
| Prestigefrom £2,4735★ deluxe hotels · 5★ deluxe Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 3 nightsSonesta Moon Goddess Hurghada · 3 nightsHilton Hurghada Plaza | £2,473May–Sep: from £2,502 | |
| Luxuryfrom £3,7445★ luxury hotels · 5★ luxury Nile cruises | Cairo · 3 nightsSt. Regis Cairo Nile Cruise · 3 nightsSonesta St. George I · Esmeralda | £3,744May–Sep: from £3,073 |
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 · Grand Egyptian Museum · Islamic Cairo · Aswan · Philae Temple
- 1
A driver is waiting in the arrivals hall at Cairo Airport and takes you to your hotel, where you can rest after the journey. Later you are taken to the Nile for a sunset ride in a felucca, a traditional sailing boat. The city lights come on along the banks. It makes a quiet first evening for tired children.
- 2
Your Egyptologist collects you from the hotel in an air-conditioned vehicle for a full day. The morning belongs to the Giza Plateau, the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx; plan on four to six hours for the visit. Lunch is at a restaurant with a view. After it you visit the Grand Egyptian Museum, home to Tutankhamun's treasures. Entrance fees and bottled water are included.
- 3
You are collected in the afternoon and driven to the Citadel of Salah El Din and the Muhammad Ali Mosque. From there you stroll through Islamic Cairo to the Khan el-Khalili bazaar. Your Egyptologist guide, the vehicle and the entrance fees are all included. There is also a camel ride of around 20 minutes on the Giza Plateau, with a camel for each person and your guide on hand to help.
- 4
A private car takes you to Cairo Airport for the flight south to Aswan, where a driver takes you on to your Nile cruise ship. Sightseeing is fitted around the airline's schedule. With an Egyptologist you see Philae Temple, the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk; entrance fees and transport are included. You then spend the night on board, on full board.
- 5
The ship carries on north and you step ashore at the Temple of Kom Ombo, which sits right on the riverbank. Your guide can point out the crocodile carvings, which children often enjoy. The Egyptologist guide, entrance fee and transport are included. The rest of the day is yours for the sun deck, the view of the banks and meals on board.
- 6
This is a full day of sightseeing with your Egyptologist. You see the Temple of Edfu, followed by Luxor Temple and the Karnak Temples, including the Sacred Lake. Entrance fees and transport are included. There is a good deal to take in, so ask your guide for pauses and carry hats and water. Another night on board follows.
- 7
Once you have breakfasted and left the ship, you spend the morning on Luxor's West Bank: the Valley of the Kings (three tombs), Hatshepsut's Mortuary Temple at Deir el-Bahari and the Colossi of Memnon. The Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transport are included. A private air-conditioned car then drives you to Hurghada, about five hours.
It is a long day, and your sea-side hotel is yours for three nights.
- 8
Today is an eight-hour day on the water. A driver collects you from the hotel and you board a boat, shared with other guests, bound for the Dolphin House reef. A snorkelling guide looks after the group, and a mask, snorkel and fins are provided. The dolphins are wild, so we cannot promise you will see them. Lunch, soft drinks and water are served on board, and marine park fees are paid.
- 9
This is a lighter day of about three hours. After hotel pickup you board a semi-submarine for a two-hour trip, shared with other guests, and watch the reef through its windows while staying dry. There is a stop for a swim with mask and snorkel, and a soft drink and water on board. The remainder of the day is free at the hotel.
- 10
Have breakfast, check out and a private car takes you to Hurghada Airport for your flight onward. The transfer is timed to your flight, so send us the departure time when you book. The holiday ends at the airport, and the whole of the last day is yours to travel.
Bundled in
- Domestic flights
The fine print
What's included – and what is left out
Included
- Three nights in a Cairo hotel and three in a Hurghada hotel, with breakfast, and three nights on a Nile cruise ship on full board
- Internal flight from Cairo to Aswan
- All airport, hotel and port transfers in an air-conditioned vehicle, including the private drive from Luxor to Hurghada
- A sunset felucca ride on the Nile in Cairo
- A camel ride of about 20 minutes on the Giza Plateau
- A licensed Egyptologist guide on all Cairo and Nile sightseeing days
- Entrance fees to every site in the itinerary, including three tombs in the Valley of the Kings
- The Dolphin House snorkelling trip with guide, mask, snorkel and fins, lunch and marine park fees
- The semi-submarine and glass-bottom boat trip with a swim stop
- Lunch on the Giza day and on the Dolphin House day
- Meet-and-assist at the airport
- All service charges and taxes
Not included
- International flights to and from Egypt
- The Egyptian entry visa
- Tips for guides, drivers and ship staff
- Drinks on board and meals other than those stated
- The interior of the Great Pyramid of Khufu and premium tombs such as Tutankhamun and Seti I
- Abu Simbel
- Travel insurance and personal spending
Field notes
From our Egyptologists
- 01
Do the felucca sail on your arrival evening, as the slow, quiet ride on the river settles tired children after the flight.
- 02
Keep the Giza day light and let the youngsters enjoy the camel ride, which breaks up the history nicely.
- 03
Take a pocket torch into the Valley of the Kings, as children love picking out the colourful painted figures on the tomb walls.
- 04
Wear sea shoes for the Dolphin House boat day, because stepping off the boat onto the reef is far easier with a good grip.
Tailor it
Make it yours
You choose the standard of hotel and ship when you book. Ask us about adding Abu Simbel, extra nights in Luxor or Cairo, or a last night in Cairo before a flight home.
Your own specialist deals with each request before you book.
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- Families wanting a varied first look at Egypt: Cairo, a Nile cruise and the Red Sea. Suits school-age children and parents who are happy with one flight and several hours of walking on sightseeing days.
Maybe not, if
- Travellers who need step-free access to every site, or families with toddlers who would find the flight on day 4 and the five-hour drive on day 7 hard going.
Honest assessment
The honest pluses and minuses, as our own team sees them after running this trip.
Highlights
- The pyramids, the Grand Egyptian Museum, the main Nile temples and the Red Sea in ten days
- Camels, a felucca and two boat days keep children interested
- Three nights on a ship, so no repacking between Aswan and Luxor
Things to Consider
- A flight on day 4 and a five-hour drive from Luxor to Hurghada on day 7
- Uneven stone, steps and little shade at the major sites
- Abu Simbel is not included
Where it fits
A good fit for a family holiday that mixes history with fun, and for a first visit to Egypt. Abu Simbel is not included, so add it if it is on your list.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Many family holidays are all temples or all beach. This one joins Cairo, a Nile cruise and Hurghada in ten days, with the flight and every transfer booked for you. 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 family holiday with a Nile cruise and Red Sea days
- Accommodation
- Cairo and Hurghada hotels and a Nile cruise ship, standard chosen at booking
- Destinations
- Cairo · Giza Plateau · Grand Egyptian Museum · Islamic Cairo · Aswan · Philae Temple · Kom Ombo · Edfu · Luxor · Karnak Temple · Valley of the Kings · Hurghada
- Includes
- 3 nights in a Cairo hotel and 3 nights in a Hurghada hotel with breakfast · 3 nights on a Nile cruise ship, full board · Flight from Cairo to Aswan · Entrance fees to every listed site · Licensed Egyptologist on sightseeing days · Dolphin House boat trip and semi-submarine trip
- Best for
- Families with school-age children · First-time visitors · Those wanting history and a few days by the sea in one trip
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
- Swimming costumes and towels for the boat days
- Reef-friendly suncream, SPF 30 or higher
- Sun hats and sunglasses
- A refillable water bottle
- Any medicines, and a small first-aid kit for the children
- A small day bag
- Snacks and small games for the car and the plane
What to wear
- Light, breathable clothes for sun and heat
- Closed shoes for temples and uneven ground
- Clothes that cover shoulders and knees at the Citadel mosque and at temples
- Swimwear and a cover-up for the boats
- A hat and sunglasses
- A light jacket for evenings on the river and on the boats in winter
Children & families
Children are welcome, and the camel ride, felucca and boat trips tend to be favourites. 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 6. Hotel and cabin prices depend on the child's age and the room or cabin used, so we give you the exact figure once you tell us the age when booking. The Hurghada boats are shared with other guests and have their own rules for young swimmers, so please tell us the ages when you book.
Accessibility
Who can join this
Much of this holiday is spent walking around large archaeological sites, over uneven stone and sand, with steps and some narrow tomb passages. Karnak and the Valley of the Kings have long open stretches with little shade. Getting aboard the Nile ship, the felucca and the Hurghada boats means steps and a gangway or ramp. Our vehicles are private and air-conditioned, but we cannot promise wheelchair access at every site or on every boat. Tell us what you need when you book and we will say honestly what is suitable.
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
The holiday uses one internal flight, a Nile cruise ship, private road transfers and boat trips, and vehicle types vary, so we make no claim about carbon savings. Guiding is done by local Egyptologists and the services are bought from local suppliers in Cairo, Aswan, Luxor and Hurghada, so much of what you spend stays in those places. On the reef boats, please keep off the coral and do not feed the fish. Bring a refillable water bottle, and do not touch 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
01Is the internal flight included?
Yes. We book the flight from Cairo to Aswan on day 4 and it is included in the price. International flights are not.02How many nights do we spend on the Nile?
Three, from Aswan to Luxor, on full board with breakfast, lunch and dinner each day. The other six nights are in hotels with breakfast: three in Cairo and three in Hurghada.03Which ship and hotels will we stay in?
You choose a standard when you book, from budget to luxury, and we name the ship and hotels for your dates. The route and sightseeing stay the same at every standard.04Is this holiday suitable for children?
Yes. It was put together with families in mind, with a felucca, camels, a ship to live on and two days on boats. Days 4 and 7 are long, with a flight and then a five-hour drive, so it suits school-age children better than toddlers.05Will we definitely see dolphins at Dolphin House?
No. The dolphins are wild and may or may not appear, so we never promise a sighting. The guided snorkelling and the reef itself are the reliable part of the day.06Does the holiday include Abu Simbel?
No. Abu Simbel is not part of this itinerary. If you would like it added, ask us; it means a very early start and a long day.07Will I make my flight home?
The holiday ends at Hurghada Airport, so no internal flight stands between it and your flight home; just leave a sensible margin for the transfer and check-in. If your flight leaves from Cairo, tell us. Internal and international tickets are separate bookings, and a delayed internal flight can cost you the connection, so we would suggest a last night in Cairo. Please take travel insurance that covers missed connections.08What does the price not cover?
International flights, the Egyptian visa, tips for guides and drivers, drinks other than those stated, the interior of the Great Pyramid of Khufu and premium tombs such as Tutankhamun's.09What is the best time of year to go?
October to April, when it is cooler and easier to walk around the temples. Summer is hot in Luxor and Aswan, so days start early. The Red Sea is warm enough for swimming for much of the year.
Last updated Product ID: TOU-CAI-134815
At a glance
- Length
- 10 days · 9 nights
- Starts
- Mon, Tue, Fri or Sun
- Route
- Cairo → Aswan → Kom Ombo → Edfu → Luxor → Hurghada
- Nights
- 3 Cairo · 3 Nile cruise · 3 Hurghada
- Includes
- Domestic flights, Egyptologist guide, entrance fees, transfers