11-Day Cairo, Alexandria, Aswan & Luxor Holiday
Giza's pyramids, Alexandria, Philae, Abu Simbel and the temples and tombs of Luxor. Your hotels, both internal flights, guides and entrance fees are included.
The short answer
11-Day Cairo, Alexandria, Aswan & Luxor Holiday is an 11-day, 10-night trip to Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor, Aswan and Abu Simbel: 4 nights in Cairo, 2 in Aswan and 4 in Luxor. It includes domestic flights, an Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transfers. Prices start at £2,111 per person, two sharing (Essential, October–April).
02Overview
A first look
If you want to see the history of Egypt properly, this land holiday gives you the time. It opens in Cairo with a Nile dinner cruise and a full day among the Giza pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum. The following day is spent on the Mediterranean, in Alexandria.
You then fly to Aswan for the High Dam and Philae, and spend the next day at Abu Simbel. A drive via Kom Ombo and Edfu brings you to Luxor for four nights, which cover Karnak, the West Bank, Dendera and Abydos. A flight takes you back to Cairo for the Egyptian Museum, Coptic Cairo and Islamic Cairo. You choose the standard of hotel at booking, and the sightseeing never changes.
What lingers
- 01The Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum in a single guided day
- 02A day in Alexandria, taking in the catacombs, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina and the Qaitbay Citadel
- 03Philae Temple, the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk at Aswan
- 04A full day at Abu Simbel, reached by road
- 05Kom Ombo and Edfu on the way from Aswan to Luxor
- 06Karnak, Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings, Medinet Habu and the Valley of the Queens
- 07Dendera and Abydos, then the Egyptian Museum, Coptic Cairo and Islamic Cairo
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 £2,1113★ hotels | Aswan · 2 nightsHapi Hotel Aswan Luxor · 4 nightsEl Mesala Hotel Luxor | £2,111May–Sep: from £2,007 | |
| Comfortfrom £2,3284★ hotels | Cairo · 4 nightsJewel Sport City Luxor · 4 nightsIberotel Luxor by JAZ | £2,328May–Sep: from £2,228 | |
| Classicfrom £2,4485★ hotels | £2,448May–Sep: from £2,308 | ||
| Prestigefrom £2,7095★ deluxe hotels | Aswan · 2 nightsTolip Aswan Luxor · 4 nightsSteigenberger Nile Palace Luxor | £2,709May–Sep: from £2,661 | |
| Luxuryfrom £3,7475★ luxury hotels | Cairo · 4 nightsSt. Regis Cairo Aswan · 2 nightsThe Zen Wellness Resort Aswan Luxor · 4 nightsHilton Luxor Resort & Spa | £3,747May–Sep: from £3,649 |
Hotels on bed & breakfast. 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
11 Days / 10 Nights · Cairo · Alexandria · Aswan · Abu Simbel · Luxor · Dendera
- 1
Your first Egyptian evening starts in the arrivals hall at Cairo Airport, where a driver is on hand to take you to your hotel. After checking in you are collected again for a dinner cruise on the Nile: a buffet, live entertainment and the glow of Cairo on either bank, all in about two hours. A private transfer then returns you to the hotel.
- 2
A private Egyptologist who speaks English leads this whole day, beginning at the Giza Plateau with the Pyramids and the Great Sphinx; allow 4 to 6 hours there. After lunch the Grand Egyptian Museum is next. Guide, entrance fees and transport are covered.
- 3
The Mediterranean coast is the destination today, and with the drives the outing comes to about 12 hours, so it is best for people who walk well. The stops are the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the Citadel of Qaitbay and the Montaza Palace gardens, plus a pause for lunch with a view of the sea.
A licensed Egyptologist leads the day, and entrance fees and transport are included. Back in Cairo you return to the same hotel.
- 4
Your driver takes you to Cairo Airport for the flight to Aswan, whose time is fixed by the airline, and another driver greets you on landing. The rest of the day is fitted around that flight. A local Egyptologist shows you the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk, and a short motorboat crossing to Agilkia Island brings you to Philae's Temple of Isis. Guide, entrance fees and transport are included.
- 5
Abu Simbel is reached by road from Aswan, and you drive there and back in a single day. Ramesses II had his Great Temple carved into the cliff, and your guide leads you through it and the smaller temple beside it. Guide, entrance fees and transport are included, and you spend the night in Aswan again.
- 6
An air-conditioned vehicle carries you north to Luxor, stopping at two temples on the way. At Kom Ombo, Sobek the crocodile god and Horus the falcon god share one building. At Edfu, the Temple of Horus is among the best preserved in Egypt. An Egyptologist goes with you, and entrance fees and transport are included. You then settle into your Luxor hotel for four nights.
- 7
Your Egyptologist takes you through Karnak, the biggest temple complex in Egypt, and then on to Luxor Temple by the river. Nothing else is planned, so the rest of the day is free for you to spend as you wish. Guide, entrance fees and transport are included.
- 8
Today is spent on the west side of the Nile. You enter three tombs in the Valley of the Kings, see Hatshepsut's temple at Deir el-Bahari and the Colossi of Memnon, and visit Ramesses III's temple at Medinet Habu. The programme also includes a stop at the Valley of the Queens. A private Egyptologist guide, the entrance fees and the transport are all included.
- 9
You drive out of Luxor to two of Upper Egypt's finest temples. Dendera belongs to the goddess Hathor, and Abydos is among Egypt's oldest sacred sites. Lunch is taken at a local restaurant. Your Egyptologist guide, the entrance fees and the transport are included.
- 10
A transfer takes you to Luxor Airport for the flight to Cairo, and the sightseeing is planned around the airline's schedule. A private Egyptologist then leads you through the Egyptian Museum at Tahrir Square, Coptic Cairo, Islamic Cairo and the Khan el-Khalili bazaar, with lunch at a local restaurant. That adds up to about eight hours of sightseeing.
We end on a Cairo night deliberately, as a safety window should a domestic flight run late.
- 11
After breakfast your driver takes you to Cairo Airport for the journey home, and a representative can help you at the terminal. The internal flights finished on day 10, so you are not relying on one to reach your departure.
Bundled in
- Domestic flights
The fine print
What's included – and what is left out
Included
- Ten hotel nights with breakfast in Cairo, Aswan and Luxor
- Internal flights from Cairo to Aswan and from Luxor to Cairo
- All airport, hotel and intercity transfers in an air-conditioned vehicle
- A Nile dinner cruise with a live show in Cairo on your first evening
- Entrance fees to every site in the itinerary, including three tombs in the Valley of the Kings
- Lunch on days 2, 9 and 10, as listed in the itinerary
- A licensed English-speaking Egyptologist on all sightseeing days
- Meet and assist at the airport
Not included
- International flights to and from Egypt
- Egyptian entry visa
- Tips for guides and drivers
- Meals and drinks 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
Visit Giza early, before midday haze builds over the plateau.
- 02
At Philae, the first boats usually mean quieter photos on the approach.
- 03
Karnak is best for long-shadow shots near opening time.
- 04
Abu Simbel works best as an early start from Aswan, with minimal roadside stops.
- 05
Carry small notes for tips and toilet stops on longer road days.
Tailor it
Make it yours
You choose the standard of hotel when you book. Ask us about adding a Nile cruise, extra nights in Luxor or Cairo, 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
- History lovers who want depth on land: Giza, Alexandria, Abu Simbel and a full set of Luxor sites. Suits couples, friends and solo travellers who are happy with two flights and busy sightseeing days.
Maybe not, if
- Travellers who need step-free access to every site, or who prefer a slow pace. Days 2, 3, 5 and 10 are full days.
Honest assessment
The honest pluses and minuses, as our own team sees them after running this trip.
Highlights
- Cairo, Alexandria, Aswan, Abu Simbel and four nights in Luxor in eleven days
- Hotels all the way, so no ship timetable
- Both internal flights and every transfer arranged for you
Things to Consider
- Full days at Giza, Alexandria and Abu Simbel, and again in Cairo on day 10
- Uneven stone, steps and little shade at the major sites
- No Nile cruise on this itinerary
Where it fits
A good fit for a first full trip to Egypt if you want depth, would rather stay in hotels than on a ship and want Alexandria and Abu Simbel in the same trip.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Many Egypt itineraries leave out Alexandria or treat Abu Simbel as an optional extra. This holiday includes both and gives Luxor four nights, using hotels, two internal flights and private road transfers. The standard of hotel is your choice; the sightseeing does not change.
Compare
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On the ground
Your route
Snapshot
Good to know
- Travel style
- Guided multi-day land holiday
- Accommodation
- Hotels in Cairo, Aswan and Luxor, standard chosen at booking
- Destinations
- Cairo · Alexandria · Aswan · Abu Simbel · Luxor · Dendera · Abydos · Cairo
- Includes
- 10 hotel nights with breakfast · Flights from Cairo to Aswan and Luxor to Cairo · Entrance fees to every listed site · English-speaking Egyptologist on sightseeing days · Nile dinner cruise on your first evening · All transfers in an air-conditioned vehicle
- Best for
- Travellers interested in history · Those who prefer hotels to a cruise · Anyone wanting Alexandria and Abu Simbel 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 required travel documents
- Comfortable walking shoes with good grip
- Sunscreen, SPF 30 or higher
- Sun hat and sunglasses
- Refillable water bottle
- Any personal medication
- Small day bag
- A light layer for flights and evenings
What to wear
- Lightweight, breathable clothes for sun and heat
- Closed shoes for temples and uneven ground
- Clothes that cover shoulders and knees at mosques and churches
- A hat and sunglasses
- A light jacket for winter evenings
Children & families
Children are welcome. Every child has a seat in the vehicle, so transport and guiding are charged at the adult rate at any age. Entrance tickets are free for children under 6 and full price from 6. Hotel and flight prices depend on the child's age and the room used, so we give you the exact figure once you tell us the age at booking.
Accessibility
Who can join this
Expect a good deal of walking around large archaeological sites, on uneven stone and sand, with steps and some narrow tomb passages. Karnak and the West Bank have long, open stretches with little shade, and the Alexandria day runs to about 12 hours with the drives. 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 suit you.
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
The holiday uses two internal flights and private road transfers, 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, Alexandria, Aswan and Luxor, so much of what you spend stays 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 flight from Cairo to Aswan on day 4 and the one from Luxor to Cairo on day 10 are booked for you and included in the price, with times set by the airline. International flights are not.02Does this holiday include a Nile cruise?
Just the Nile dinner cruise on your first evening in Cairo. Otherwise it is a land holiday with hotels in Cairo, Aswan and Luxor, and the journey from Aswan to Luxor is by road, calling at Kom Ombo and Edfu. Ask us if you would like to add a ship.03How do we visit Abu Simbel?
Day 5 is a full day there and back by road from Aswan, with a guide, the entrance fees and the transport included.04Is the Alexandria day too long?
It takes around 12 hours with the drives, and suits people who walk well. An Egyptologist is with you all day, and there is a lunch stop by the sea.05What meals do we get?
Breakfast at your hotel each morning after the first night, dinner on the Nile cruise on day 1, and lunch on days 2, 9 and 10. Other meals and drinks are for you to choose and pay for.06How long do we spend in Luxor?
Four nights. Day 7 is Karnak and Luxor Temple, day 8 the West Bank, and day 9 Dendera and Abydos.07Which hotels will we stay in?
You choose a standard when you book, from budget to luxury, and we confirm the hotels for your dates. The itinerary and sightseeing are the same at every standard.08Will I make my international flight home?
Domestic and international tickets are separate bookings, so a delayed internal flight could cost you a connection. That is why the holiday ends with a night in Cairo after the last internal flight. If you add flights of your own and have to connect the same day, pick a late-evening or night international flight, and buy travel insurance that covers missed connections.09What does the price leave out?
International flights, the Egyptian 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.10When is the best time to travel?
October to April is cooler and the easiest for walking around the sites. Summers are very hot, particularly in Luxor and Aswan, so days begin early.
Last updated Product ID: TOU-CAI-650342
At a glance
- Length
- 11 days · 10 nights
- Starts
- Daily
- Route
- Cairo → Alexandria → Aswan → Abu Simbel → Luxor → Cairo
- Nights
- 4 Cairo · 2 Aswan · 4 Luxor
- Includes
- Domestic flights, Egyptologist guide, entrance fees, transfers