11-Day Cairo, Alexandria & Nile Cruise Holiday
The pyramids and Alexandria, three nights cruising from Aswan to Luxor with Abu Simbel, and an unhurried end in Cairo. Internal flights, hotels, your cruise cabin and guiding are included.
The short answer
11-Day Cairo, Alexandria & Nile Cruise Holiday is an 11-day, 10-night trip to Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor, Aswan and Abu Simbel: 6 nights in Cairo, 3 on a Nile cruise and 1 in Luxor. Starts on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays or Sundays. It includes domestic flights, an Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transfers. Prices start at £1,981 per person, two sharing (Essential, October–April).
02Overview
A first look
This holiday gives Egypt the time it deserves. It opens in Cairo with a day at the Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum, followed by a long day out to Alexandria on the Mediterranean. You then fly to Aswan and join your Nile cruise ship for three nights on the way to Luxor, calling at Philae, the High Dam, Abu Simbel, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Karnak and Luxor Temple.
One night in a Luxor hotel and a morning among the West Bank tombs lead to a flight back to Cairo, where you spend your last three nights: Islamic Cairo, a free day and a relaxed departure. We organise both internal flights, every transfer, your hotels, your cabin and all entrance tickets. You pick the standard of hotel and ship when you book.
What lingers
- 01The Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum in a single guided day
- 02A day in Alexandria: the catacombs, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the Qaitbay Citadel and lunch by the sea
- 03Three nights on a Nile cruise ship from Aswan to Luxor, full board
- 04Philae, the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk, then Abu Simbel early in the morning from the moored ship
- 05Kom Ombo and Edfu, then Karnak and Luxor Temple, with the cruise sightseeing included
- 06The Valley of the Kings with three tombs, Hatshepsut's temple and the Colossi of Memnon
- 07Islamic Cairo, the Citadel and Khan el-Khalili, a free day and three unhurried last nights in 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 £1,9813★ hotels · well-priced Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 3 nightsNephtis · Al Nabilatan Luxor · 1 nightEl Mesala Hotel Luxor | £1,981May–Sep: from £1,770 | |
| Comfortfrom £2,0864★ hotels · 5★ Nile cruises | Cairo · 6 nightsJewel Sport City Nile Cruise · 3 nightsEmilio · Tower Prestige Luxor · 1 nightIberotel Luxor by JAZ | £2,086May–Sep: from £2,000 | |
| Classicfrom £2,3315★ hotels · 5★ Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 3 nightsSun Times · Nile Dolphin | £2,331May–Sep: from £2,000 | |
| Prestigefrom £2,8075★ deluxe hotels · 5★ deluxe Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 3 nightsSonesta Moon Goddess Luxor · 1 nightSteigenberger Nile Palace Luxor | £2,807May–Sep: from £2,764 | |
| Luxuryfrom £4,5935★ luxury hotels · 5★ luxury Nile cruises | Cairo · 6 nightsSt. Regis Cairo Nile Cruise · 3 nightsSonesta St. George I · Esmeralda Luxor · 1 nightHilton Luxor Resort & Spa | £4,593May–Sep: from £3,783 |
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.
Day by day
Detailed itinerary
11 Days / 10 Nights · Cairo · Alexandria · Aswan · Abu Simbel · Kom Ombo · Edfu
- 1
Our representative is waiting in the arrivals hall at Cairo Airport and takes you to your hotel. There is nothing planned for the rest of the day, so you can recover from the journey and be ready for the pyramids tomorrow. The hotel will be happy to suggest somewhere nearby for dinner.
- 2
Your English-speaking Egyptologist spends about eight hours with you. The morning belongs to the Giza Plateau, with the pyramids and the Great Sphinx. After lunch you go on to the Grand Egyptian Museum, home to the Tutankhamun collection and the monumental statues of the Old and New Kingdoms. Guide, entrance fees and air-conditioned transport are included.
You then return to your hotel for a second night in Cairo.
- 3
Allow about 12 hours for this one, drives included, and wear comfortable shoes. Your Egyptologist collects you from your Cairo hotel and you drive to the coast. The stops are the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the modern library beside the site of the ancient one, and the Citadel of Qaitbay on the harbour.
You have lunch overlooking the Mediterranean and a walk through the Montaza Palace gardens before the drive back to Cairo. Guide, entrance fees to the listed sites and air-conditioned transport are included.
- 4
You are driven to Cairo Airport for the flight to Aswan and met on arrival, then taken to the river to join your Nile cruise ship. Once you are settled in your cabin, your Egyptologist takes you to Philae Temple on its island, the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk.
Guide, entrance fees and transport are all part of the cruise sightseeing package, and the visits are timed around the airline's schedule. You spend the night on board, moored at Aswan.
- 5
You set off early from the moored ship for Abu Simbel, where Ramesses II had two temples cut into the rock beside Lake Nasser, guarded by colossal statues. The road journey and entrance fees are included, and you are back on board in time for lunch. In the afternoon the ship leaves Aswan heading north, and the evening is for the deck and dinner on board.
- 6
The ship carries on towards Luxor. With your Egyptologist you go ashore at Kom Ombo, a temple shared by the crocodile god Sobek and the falcon god Horus, and at the Temple of Horus at Edfu, one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt. Entrance fees, the guide and transport to the temples are included. The rest of the day is for the sun deck and the passing farmland.
You spend your last night on board.
- 7
After breakfast you say goodbye to the ship in Luxor. Your Egyptologist takes you to Karnak, Egypt's largest temple complex, including the Sacred Lake, and then to Luxor Temple beside the river. Guide, entrance fees and transport are included. You then check in to your Luxor hotel for the night. Lunch and dinner are not included today.
- 8
Your Egyptologist takes you across the river to the Valley of the Kings, where three tombs are included, then to Hatshepsut's temple at Deir el-Bahari and the Colossi of Memnon. Guide, entrance fees and air-conditioned transport are included. You are then driven to Luxor Airport for the flight to Cairo, and on to your hotel, with the sightseeing timed around the airline's schedule.
- 9
The morning is yours to take slowly. In the afternoon a licensed Egyptologist collects you for a half-day tour of the Citadel of Saladin and the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, a walk through Islamic Cairo and a visit to the Khan el-Khalili bazaar. Guide, entrance fees for the Citadel and the mosque, and a private air-conditioned vehicle are included.
- 10
There is nothing on the programme today. Browse the shops, return to a favourite site or rest at the hotel. If you would like a tour or an evening out, ask us and we will quote for it. We can also arrange a driver and vehicle for the time you need.
- 11
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and check out. A private transfer then takes you to Cairo Airport, with about 90 minutes allowed for the drive. Spending your last three nights in Cairo is deliberate: if an internal flight runs late, you still have plenty of margin before your international departure.
Bundled in
- Domestic flights
The fine print
What's included – and what is left out
Included
- Three nights on a Nile cruise ship on full board
- Seven hotel nights with breakfast: six in Cairo and one in Luxor
- Internal flights from Cairo to Aswan and from Luxor to Cairo
- All airport, hotel and quayside transfers in an air-conditioned vehicle
- The cruise sightseeing package: Egyptologist, entrance fees and transport
- Abu Simbel by road from the ship, with entrance fees
- The Giza and Grand Egyptian Museum day, the Alexandria day and the Islamic Cairo half day, with guide and entrance fees
- The Valley of the Kings with three tombs, Hatshepsut's temple and the Colossi of Memnon
- Lunch on days 2, 3 and 8, and bottled water on tours
- 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
- 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
Book Abu Simbel on the first departure slot, before the heat builds and coach traffic increases.
- 02
At the Giza Plateau, late afternoon gives softer light on Khufu’s pyramid faces.
- 03
Start the Valley of the Kings with the shorter tombs first, then move to the larger chambers.
- 04
Khan El Khalili is calmer just after opening hours, before tour groups arrive.
- 05
Carry small cash for restrooms and incidental purchases in Alexandria and Luxor.
Tailor it
Make it yours
You choose the standard of hotel and ship when you book. Ask us about extra nights in Luxor or Aswan, a longer cruise, 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
- Travellers who want Cairo, Alexandria and a Nile cruise in one holiday, with a calmer ending. Suits couples, friends and solo travellers who are happy with two flights and plenty of walking on sightseeing days.
Maybe not, if
- Travellers who need step-free access to every site, or who dislike early starts and long days. Days 3 and 5 are demanding.
Honest assessment
The honest pluses and minuses, as our own team sees them after running this trip.
Highlights
- Giza, Alexandria, a Nile cruise with Abu Simbel and Luxor in eleven days
- Cruise sightseeing, both internal flights and all transfers arranged for you
- A free day and three Cairo nights at the end protect your flight home
Things to Consider
- An early start for Abu Simbel and a long Alexandria day
- Uneven stone, steps and little shade at the major sites
- Not a private cruise: you share the ship with other guests
Where it fits
A good fit if you want a full Egypt holiday with a Nile cruise, Abu Simbel and time to unwind in Cairo.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Many operators sell Cairo, Alexandria and a Nile cruise as separate trips. This holiday joins them in eleven days with both flights, cruise sightseeing and every transfer arranged for you, and finishes with three nights in Cairo so a late internal flight does not put your flight home at risk.
Compare
Similar tours to compare
On the ground
Your route
Snapshot
Good to know
- Travel style
- Guided multi-day holiday with Nile cruise
- Accommodation
- Cairo and Luxor hotels and a Nile cruise ship, standard chosen at booking
- Destinations
- Cairo · Alexandria · Aswan · Abu Simbel · Kom Ombo · Edfu · Luxor
- Includes
- 7 hotel nights with breakfast · 3 nights on a Nile cruise ship, full board · Flights from Cairo to Aswan and Luxor to Cairo · Cruise sightseeing: Egyptologist, entrance fees and transport · Abu Simbel from the moored ship · All transfers in an air-conditioned vehicle
- Best for
- First-time visitors who want a full Egypt holiday · Travellers who want a Nile cruise with Abu Simbel and time to spare in Cairo · History lovers who prefer a steadier pace
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
- Sun cream, SPF 30 or higher
- Sun hat and sunglasses
- Refillable water bottle
- Any regular medication
- A small day bag that works as hand luggage on the flights
- A light layer for the ship, early mornings and the flights
What to wear
- Light, breathable clothing for sun and heat
- Closed shoes for temples and uneven ground
- Clothing that covers shoulders and knees at temples and mosques
- A hat and sunglasses
- A light jacket for early mornings and evenings on the river in winter
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 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. The Alexandria day and the early Abu Simbel start are long for small children.
Accessibility
Who can join this
This holiday involves 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, Karnak and Abu Simbel have long, open stretches with little shade. Boarding the ship and the boat to Philae involve steps and a gangway, and the Alexandria day is long. Vehicles are 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, a Nile cruise ship and 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 flight from Luxor to Cairo on day 8 are booked for you and are included in the price. International flights are not.02Will I make my flight home?
Internal and international tickets are separate bookings, so a delayed internal flight could cost you the connection. For that reason the holiday finishes with three nights in Cairo. If you ever need to fly to Cairo and connect the same day, choose a late-evening or night departure home, and make sure your travel insurance covers missed connections.03How many nights do we spend on the Nile?
Three nights on board, from Aswan to Luxor, on full board with breakfast, lunch and dinner. The other seven nights are in hotels with breakfast: six in Cairo and one in Luxor.04Are the guide and entrance fees included on the cruise?
Yes. The cruise sightseeing package includes an English-speaking Egyptologist, the entrance fees and the transport to the sites. The cruise days cover Philae, the High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk, Abu Simbel, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Karnak and Luxor Temple.05When do we see Abu Simbel?
Early on the morning of day 5, from the ship while it is moored at Aswan. You are back on board for lunch and the ship then heads north. Philae and the High Dam fall on the afternoon of day 4.06Which ship and which hotels will we have?
You choose a standard when you book, from budget to luxury, and we confirm the ship and hotels for your dates. The itinerary and sightseeing are identical at every standard.07Is the Alexandria day too much?
It is a long outing, around 12 hours including the drives, so it suits keen walkers. You have an Egyptologist, lunch by the sea and several stops.08What is not included?
International flights, the Egyptian visa, tips for guides, drivers and ship staff, drinks on board and dinners other than those stated, the inside of the Khufu pyramid, premium tombs such as Tutankhamun's, and travel insurance.
Last updated Product ID: TOU-CAI-113769
At a glance
- Length
- 11 days · 10 nights
- Starts
- Mon, Tue, Fri or Sun
- Route
- Cairo → Alexandria → Aswan → Abu Simbel → Kom Ombo → Edfu → Luxor → Cairo
- Nights
- 6 Cairo · 3 Nile cruise · 1 Luxor
- Includes
- Domestic flights, Egyptologist guide, entrance fees, transfers