10-Day New Year Holiday: Nile Cruise & Red Sea
Ten days, 26 December 2026 to 4 January 2027. Cairo's old quarters, three nights on a Nile cruise, then New Year's Eve and four nights by the Red Sea in Hurghada.
The short answer
10-Day New Year Holiday: Nile Cruise & Red Sea is a 10-day, 9-night trip to Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and Hurghada. Starts on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Saturdays. It includes domestic flights, an Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transfers. Prices start at £2,000 per person, two sharing (Comfort, October–April).
02Overview
A first look
Start the New Year somewhere warm. This holiday begins in Cairo on Saturday 26 December 2026 and ends on Monday 4 January 2027, with nine nights in between. You spend two in Cairo, then fly to Aswan and join a Nile cruise ship for three nights, sailing north to Luxor. An English-speaking Egyptologist goes with you to every temple and tomb.
On day 6 you finish at the Valley of the Kings and head for the coast, a drive of around five hours to Hurghada. New Year's Eve is at your hotel there, followed by four nights by the Red Sea: a boat trip to Giftun Island, a quad bike outing and a look round the town. The hotel's gala dinner is not part of the price. You pay for it locally, at the hotel, on the night. Internal flights, transfers and entrance fees on sightseeing days are all arranged for you.
What lingers
- 01Cairo after dark, with the Cairo Tower and dinner, on your first evening
- 02The Egyptian Museum, Coptic Cairo, Islamic Cairo and Khan el-Khalili in a single guided day
- 03Three nights on a Nile cruise ship between Aswan and Luxor, full board
- 04Philae, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Karnak and the Valley of the Kings with an Egyptologist
- 05New Year's Eve on the Red Sea at Hurghada
- 06Snorkelling at Orange Bay on Giftun Island, a quad bike outing and a town tour
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 £2,0004★ hotels · 5★ Nile cruises | Cairo · 2 nightsJewel Sport City Nile Cruise · 3 nightsRoyal Elite · Emilio Hurghada · 4 nightsSwiss Inn Resort Hurghada | £2,000May–Sep: from £1,941 | |
| Classicfrom £2,1305★ hotels · 5★ Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 3 nightsRoyal Liberty · Stephanie Hurghada · 4 nightsAMC Royal Hotel & Spa | £2,130May–Sep: from £1,941 | |
| Prestigefrom £2,6255★ deluxe hotels · 5★ deluxe Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 3 nightsNile Serenity Hurghada · 4 nightsHilton Hurghada Plaza | £2,625May–Sep: from £2,634 | |
| Luxuryfrom £3,5625★ luxury hotels · 5★ luxury Nile cruises | Cairo · 2 nightsSt. Regis Cairo Nile Cruise · 3 nightsSonesta Star Goddess · Esmeralda | £3,562May–Sep: from £3,197 |
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 · Egyptian Museum · Islamic Cairo · Aswan · Philae Temple · Kom Ombo
- 1
A driver meets you in the arrivals hall at Cairo Airport and takes you to your hotel, around an hour away. Your first evening is Cairo after dark: a tour with a visit to the Cairo Tower and dinner. The timings are set around your flight, so you are not hurried after landing.
- 2
Today is a full guided day of about eight hours with your Egyptologist. After pick-up from the hotel you go to the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square, then on to Coptic Cairo, the city's oldest Christian quarter. Lunch is at a local restaurant. The afternoon is Islamic Cairo, the medieval heart of the city, and the lanes of the Khan el-Khalili bazaar.
Guide, entrance fees and air-conditioned vehicle are all included.
- 3
You are driven to Cairo Airport for the flight to Aswan, which takes about an hour. A private transfer brings you to your Nile cruise ship, where you board and settle into your cabin. Your first sightseeing, with an English-speaking Egyptologist, is around Aswan: Philae Temple, the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk. Entrance fees and transport are included.
As the sun goes down you take a felucca, one of the Nile's traditional sailing boats. The flight follows the airline's timetable and the sightseeing is arranged around it.
- 4
The temples of Kom Ombo and Edfu are on today's list, with your English-speaking Egyptologist; entrance fees and transport are included. There is also a private motorboat trip to Elephantine Island and the Aswan Botanical Garden. Your guide and the ship's timetable decide the order of the day. You sleep on board.
- 5
Your Egyptologist takes you round Luxor Temple and the vast Karnak complex, including the Sacred Lake. Entrance fees and transport are included. After dark you go back to Karnak for its Sound and Light show. Another night on board.
- 6
The last of your cruise sightseeing is on Luxor's West Bank, with your Egyptologist: the Valley of the Kings, where three tombs are included, Hatshepsut's mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahari and the Colossi of Memnon. Entrance fees and transport are included. You then leave the ship and travel by private, air-conditioned car for around five hours from Luxor to Hurghada on the Red Sea.
It is a full day. You see in the New Year at your Hurghada hotel. The hotel's gala dinner is not included in the price; you pay for it locally at the hotel on the night.
- 7
A day on and in the water. You are collected from your hotel and cross by motorboat to Orange Bay on Giftun Island. There are two guided snorkelling sessions, with snorkel gear and life jackets provided, and a sunbed on the beach between them. A hot lunch and bottled water are included, and you are taken back to your hotel afterwards.
- 8
About five hours out on quad bikes, collected from and returned to your hotel. Each rider has a quad, or two can share one if you ask. A safari guide leads and helmets are provided. There is a short camel ride, then a barbecue dinner with soft drinks, tea and water, and a folklore show.
- 9
A quieter day in town. The city tour covers the marina, a mosque, the old town and its market. The rest of the day is yours, by the pool or on the beach.
- 10
After breakfast you check out and are driven to Hurghada Airport for the flight to Cairo. The holiday ends when you land. Internal flight times follow the airline's timetable. If you have an international flight the same day, please read our flights question below before booking it.
Bundled in
- Domestic flights
The fine print
What's included – and what is left out
Included
- Two nights in a Cairo hotel with breakfast, three nights on a Nile cruise ship on full board, and four nights in a Hurghada hotel with breakfast
- Internal flights from Cairo to Aswan and from Hurghada to Cairo
- All airport, hotel and port transfers in an air-conditioned vehicle, including the private road transfer from Luxor to Hurghada
- Cairo by night with the Cairo Tower, and dinner
- A full day in Old Cairo with lunch at a local restaurant
- Three-night Nile cruise sightseeing with an English-speaking Egyptologist, entrance fees and transport, including three tombs in the Valley of the Kings
- The sunset felucca, the private motorboat trip to Elephantine Island and the Karnak Sound and Light show
- The Orange Bay snorkelling trip with lunch, the quad bike outing with barbecue dinner and the Hurghada city tour
- Meet-and-assist at the airport
- All service charges and taxes
Not included
- International flights to and from Egypt
- The New Year's Eve gala dinner, paid for locally at the hotel on the night
- 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
Take the early boat to Philae, when the water is calm and the temple reflects nicely; your guide can show you the best Isis carvings.
- 02
Pack a light jumper for the cruise sun deck after dark, as winter evenings on the Nile can feel cooler than you expect.
- 03
After the great hypostyle hall at Karnak, wander on to the Sacred Lake, which is usually far quieter than the main avenue.
- 04
If you own a snorkel mask that fits well, bring it to Giftun Island; the shallows by Orange Bay are lovely for a first swim.
Tailor it
Make it yours
You choose the standard of hotel and ship when you book. Ask us about an extra night in Cairo before your flight home, or other additions.
Your own specialist deals with each request before you book.
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- Travellers who want New Year away, with proper sightseeing first and a few quiet days by the sea after. Suits couples, friends and families who are happy with two flights and one long road day.
Maybe not, if
- Travellers who need step-free access to every site, or who want to stay in one place. Days 2, 3 and 6 are long.
Honest assessment
The honest pluses and minuses, as our own team sees them after running this trip.
Highlights
- Cairo, a Nile cruise and the Red Sea in ten days, with New Year's Eve at the coast
- Internal flights and the Luxor to Hurghada transfer arranged for you
- Four easy nights in Hurghada after the sightseeing
Things to Consider
- Day 6 pairs the Valley of the Kings with a five-hour drive
- Fixed dates: 26 December 2026 to 4 January 2027
- The New Year gala dinner is not included and is paid for locally
Where it fits
A good fit for a New Year break that mixes history with time on the beach. The gala dinner is optional and paid for locally.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Many New Year trips choose either the Nile or the coast. This holiday puts a Nile cruise and the Red Sea into one ten-day plan, with the flights and the Luxor to Hurghada transfer booked for you. The standard of hotel and ship 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 dated holiday: Nile cruise plus Red Sea
- Accommodation
- Cairo and Hurghada hotels and a Nile cruise ship, standard chosen at booking
- Destinations
- Cairo · Egyptian Museum · Islamic Cairo · Aswan · Philae Temple · Kom Ombo · Edfu · Luxor · Karnak Temple · Valley of the Kings · Hurghada · Giftun Island
- Includes
- 2 nights in a Cairo hotel with breakfast · 3 nights on a Nile cruise ship, full board · 4 nights in a Hurghada hotel with breakfast · Flights from Cairo to Aswan and Hurghada to Cairo · Entrance fees and an Egyptologist on cruise sightseeing days · Orange Bay snorkelling, quad bike outing and Hurghada city tour
- Best for
- Travellers who want to see in the New Year in Egypt · First-time visitors who want temples and a beach · Couples and friends who enjoy a mix of sightseeing and sea time
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 costume and a towel for the beach day
- Sun cream, SPF 30 or higher
- Sun hat and sunglasses
- A refillable water bottle
- Any medication you take
- A warm layer for winter evenings and flights
What to wear
- Light, breathable clothes for the sun
- Closed shoes for temples, tombs and the quad bikes
- Clothes that cover shoulders and knees at mosques and temples
- A scarf or buff against dust on the quad bike outing
- A jumper or jacket for winter evenings on the river and the coast
Children & families
Children are welcome. Each child has a seat in the vehicle, so transport, guiding and meals are charged at the adult rate whatever their 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 at booking. If children will join the quad bike outing, let us know so we can check the arrangements.
Accessibility
Who can join this
There is plenty of walking on big archaeological sites here, over uneven stone, sand and steps, and through some narrow tomb passages. Karnak and the Valley of the Kings have long open stretches with little shade. Boarding the ship, the felucca and the motorboats means steps and gangways, and the quad bike outing is physically active. Vehicles are private and air-conditioned, but we cannot promise wheelchair access everywhere. Tell us what you need when you book and we will say honestly which parts will work for you.
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
This holiday uses two internal flights, a Nile cruise ship, a long road transfer and a motorboat, and the vehicles vary, so we make no carbon-saving claim. Local Egyptologists guide the sightseeing and local suppliers run it in Cairo, Aswan, Luxor and Hurghada, which keeps most of your spending in those places. At the reef, please do not stand on or touch the coral, and bring a refillable water bottle.
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 will I be on New Year's Eve?
At your Hurghada hotel on the Red Sea, on 31 December, which is day 6. Your cruise sightseeing finishes that day and you arrive after the road transfer. We do not plan any other event for the evening.02Is the gala dinner included?
No, it is not included in the price. If you would like to join it, you pay locally at the hotel on the night. We can explain how it works at your hotel before you travel.03What dates does this holiday run?
It is a set departure. It begins on Saturday 26 December 2026 and ends on Monday 4 January 2027: 10 days and 9 nights.04Are the internal flights included?
Yes. The flights from Cairo to Aswan on day 3 and from Hurghada to Cairo on day 10 are booked and included. Times follow the airline's timetable. International flights are not included.05How long is the Nile cruise?
Three nights on board between Aswan and Luxor, on full board with breakfast, lunch and dinner each day. The other six nights are in hotels with breakfast: two in Cairo and four in Hurghada.06Which hotels and ship will we stay in?
You choose a standard when you book, from budget to luxury, and we name the hotels and ship for your dates. The route and sightseeing are the same whichever you pick.07How long is the road journey from Luxor to Hurghada?
Around five hours by private, air-conditioned car on day 6. It follows your morning on the West Bank, so it is a long day.08Will I make my flight home?
Internal and international tickets are separate bookings, so a late internal flight can cost you the connection. This holiday ends with a flight into Cairo on day 10 and has no further night there. If you must connect the same day, book a late-evening or night flight home, and have travel insurance that covers missed connections. We would rather you had a last night in Cairo, and we can add one.09What is not included?
International flights, the Egyptian visa, tips for guides and drivers, drinks beyond those stated, the New Year's Eve gala dinner, and any optional extras not in the itinerary.10Is the quad bike outing suitable for everyone?
It is an active outing. Each rider has a quad, or two can share one by request. Helmets are provided and a guide leads the group. Tell us about any health concerns, or children in your party, when you book.
Last updated Product ID: TOU-CAI-610061
At a glance
- Length
- 10 days · 9 nights
- Starts
- Mon, Tue, Wed or Sat
- Route
- Cairo → Aswan → Kom Ombo → Edfu → Luxor → Hurghada → Cairo
- Includes
- Domestic flights, Egyptologist guide, entrance fees, transfers