11-Day Cairo, Alexandria, Nile Cruise & Hurghada Holiday
Giza's pyramids, Alexandria, three nights cruising from Aswan to Luxor, then Hurghada. Flights, hotels, your cruise cabin and guides are included.
The short answer
11-Day Cairo, Alexandria, Nile Cruise & Hurghada Holiday is an 11-day, 10-night trip to Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel and Hurghada: 4 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 £1,928 per person, two sharing (Comfort, October–April).
02Overview
A first look
Here a Nile cruise sits in the middle of a wider holiday. You begin in Cairo with a day at the Giza pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum, followed by a long day in Alexandria. You then fly to Aswan to see Philae and join your ship for three nights, sailing north to Luxor.
On board, you call at Kom Ombo and Edfu, then see Luxor Temple, Karnak, the Valley of the Kings and the Colossi of Memnon. From Luxor you drive to Hurghada for three nights by the Red Sea, with a snorkelling day on Giftun Island and a jeep safari. A flight takes you back to Cairo for the last night. The standard of hotel and ship is your choice at booking; the sightseeing is the same whichever you pick.
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
- 03Three nights on a Nile cruise ship from Aswan to Luxor, full board
- 04Philae and the High Dam, then the temples of Kom Ombo and Edfu as the ship heads north
- 05Luxor Temple, Karnak and the Valley of the Kings with an Egyptologist
- 06A snorkelling day at Orange Bay on Giftun Island and a jeep safari from 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 £1,9284★ hotels · 5★ Nile cruises | Cairo · 4 nightsJewel Sport City Nile Cruise · 3 nightsEmilio · Tower Prestige Hurghada · 3 nightsSwiss Inn Resort Hurghada | £1,928May–Sep: from £1,892 | |
| Classicfrom £2,0945★ hotels · 5★ Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 3 nightsSun Times · Nile Dolphin Hurghada · 3 nightsAMC Royal Hotel & Spa | £2,094May–Sep: from £1,892 | |
| Prestigefrom £2,6985★ deluxe hotels · 5★ deluxe Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 3 nightsSonesta Moon Goddess Hurghada · 3 nightsHilton Hurghada Plaza | £2,698May–Sep: from £2,736 | |
| Luxuryfrom £4,1505★ luxury hotels · 5★ luxury Nile cruises | Cairo · 4 nightsSt. Regis Cairo Nile Cruise · 3 nightsSonesta St. George I · Esmeralda | £4,150May–Sep: from £3,460 |
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 · Giza · Alexandria · Aswan · Abu Simbel · Kom Ombo
- 1
On arrival at Cairo Airport you will find your representative waiting in the arrivals hall, ready to take you to your hotel. The evening is left clear so you can rest after the journey. You meet your Egyptologist in the morning.
- 2
Morning takes you to the Giza Plateau with your private Egyptologist, for the three pyramids and the Great Sphinx; plan on four to six hours there. Lunch has a view of the plateau, and after it you go into the Grand Egyptian Museum. The guide, entrance fees and transport are all covered.
- 3
Today you drive to the Mediterranean coast and back, about 12 hours with the drives, so it is a day for people who enjoy walking. The stops are the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, a seafront lunch, the Citadel of Qaitbay and the Montaza Palace gardens. A licensed Egyptologist leads, and entrance fees and the vehicle are included.
- 4
Breakfast is followed by a transfer to Cairo Airport and the flight south. At Aswan a driver meets you, and the sightseeing is timed around your flight. With your Egyptologist you see Philae Temple, the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk, and then you board and unpack in your cabin. Meals on the ship are full board from here.
The sightseeing bundle covers an English-speaking guide, entrance fees and transport.
- 5
The ship casts off from Aswan and heads north. Along the way you go ashore at Kom Ombo, where one temple is shared by Sobek and Horus, and at Edfu, for the Temple of Horus. Time on board between the two is yours to enjoy, with all three meals served. Your Egyptologist, the entrance fees and the transport are included.
- 6
By morning the ship has reached Luxor. Your Egyptologist leads you round Luxor Temple on the riverbank and then Karnak, the largest temple complex in Egypt, where the Sacred Lake is part of the visit. It is your final night on board. Guide, entrance fees and transport are included.
- 7
You say goodbye to the ship after breakfast and cross the Nile to the West Bank. There are three tombs in the Valley of the Kings, then Hatshepsut's temple at Deir el-Bahari and the Colossi of Memnon. A private vehicle then makes the drive from Luxor to Hurghada, roughly five hours, which makes this a long day. Guide, entrance fees and transport are included.
- 8
Your hotel pickup leads to the marina and a motorboat across to Orange Bay on Giftun Island. A guide takes you snorkelling twice, with equipment and life jackets provided, and there is a sunbed waiting on the beach. A hot lunch and bottled water are included.
- 9
Known as the Telescope Adventure, this jeep safari leaves from Hurghada and heads into the hills behind the coast. Route and pickup time are confirmed with you when you book. Once you are back, the pool or the beach is yours for the rest of the day.
- 10
After breakfast you are driven to Hurghada Airport for the flight to Cairo, then on to your hotel by car. There is no sightseeing today. Ending with a night in Cairo is a choice, not an accident: it is a buffer in case an internal flight runs late.
- 11
Your driver collects you from the hotel after breakfast for the run to Cairo Airport and your flight home, and a representative can help at the terminal. The final internal flight was yesterday, so your departure does not rely on one.
Bundled in
- Airport transfer
- Private transfer
- Private Egyptologist
- All entry tickets
- Domestic flights
- Abu Simbel extension
- Red Sea extension
The fine print
What's included – and what is left out
Included
- Seven hotel nights with breakfast, plus three nights on a Nile cruise ship on full board
- Internal flights from Cairo to Aswan and from Hurghada to Cairo
- All airport, hotel, port and intercity transfers in an air-conditioned vehicle, including Luxor to Hurghada
- Nile cruise sightseeing with an English-speaking Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transport, including three tombs in the Valley of the Kings
- The Giza and Grand Egyptian Museum day and the Alexandria day, with guide, entrance fees and transport
- An Orange Bay snorkelling day with boat, equipment, sunbed, hot lunch and water
- A jeep safari from Hurghada
- Lunch on the Giza and Alexandria days
- 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
Tailor it
Make it yours
You choose the standard of hotel and ship when you book. Ask us about extra nights in Luxor, Cairo or Hurghada, 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 the sights, a Nile cruise and some Red Sea time in one holiday. Suits couples, friends and solo travellers who are happy with two flights, an early start and several hours of walking on sightseeing days.
Maybe not, if
- Travellers who need step-free access to every site, or who prefer a slow pace. Days 3 and 7 are long.
Honest assessment
The honest pluses and minuses, as our own team sees them after running this trip.
Highlights
- The pyramids, Alexandria, a Nile cruise and the Red Sea in eleven days
- Three nights on one ship, so no repacking between Aswan and Luxor
- Both internal flights and every transfer arranged for you
Things to Consider
- Two long days: Alexandria, and the West Bank followed by the drive to Hurghada
- Uneven stone, steps and little shade at the major sites
- Two flights and several transfers, so bags are moved often
Where it fits
A good first trip to Egypt if you want a cruise, Alexandria and some time by the sea without a second booking.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Many operators sell a Nile cruise and a Red Sea stay as separate trips. This holiday joins them with Cairo and Alexandria in eleven days, with both flights 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 multi-day holiday with a Nile cruise and the Red Sea
- Accommodation
- Cairo and Hurghada hotels and a Nile cruise ship, standard chosen at booking
- Destinations
- Cairo · Giza · Alexandria · Aswan · Abu Simbel · Kom Ombo · Edfu · Luxor · Hurghada · Giftun Island · Red Sea
- Includes
- 7 hotel nights with breakfast · 3 nights on a Nile cruise ship, full board · Flights from Cairo to Aswan and Hurghada to Cairo · Entrance fees to every listed site · Licensed Egyptologist on sightseeing days · All transfers in an air-conditioned vehicle
- Best for
- First-time visitors · Those who want a cruise and a beach stay in one holiday · Anyone wanting Alexandria included
- Guide languages
- English
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
- Swimming costume and towel for Hurghada
- A light layer for the ship and for flights
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 temples
- A hat and sunglasses
- A light jacket for evenings on the river in winter
Children & families
Children are welcome. Every 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 children under 6 and full price from 6. Cabin, hotel and flight 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 drive from Luxor to Hurghada are long, which is worth bearing in mind with younger children.
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 Valley of the Kings have long, open stretches with little shade. Boarding the ship and the boat to Philae involve steps and a gangway, and the Orange Bay day means a motorboat and a beach landing. Day 3 takes about 12 hours with the drives to Alexandria, and day 7 finishes with about five hours in a vehicle. 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, a Nile cruise ship, a boat to Giftun Island 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, Luxor and Hurghada, so much of what you spend stays in the places you visit. We ask guests to bring a refillable water bottle, to leave coral and marine life untouched while snorkelling 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 Hurghada to Cairo on day 10 are booked for you and included in the price. Getting from Luxor to Hurghada on day 7 is a private road transfer of about five hours. International flights are not.02How many nights are spent 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.03Which sights does the cruise cover?
In Aswan on day 4 you see Philae, the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk. Day 5 is the ship heading north, with Kom Ombo and Edfu on the way. Day 6 is Luxor Temple and Karnak, and day 7 the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's temple and the Colossi of Memnon.04Is sightseeing included on the ship?
Yes. The cruise sightseeing covers an English-speaking Egyptologist guide, the entrance fees and the transport for Philae, the High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Luxor Temple, Karnak and the Valley of the Kings, with three tombs.05Which ship and hotels will we stay in?
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 the same at every standard.06Is the Alexandria day too long?
It is a long day, around 12 hours with the drives, and suits people who walk well. An Egyptologist is with you all day and lunch is by the sea.07Will 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 final internal flight on day 10. 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.08What does the price leave out?
International flights, the Egyptian visa, tips for guides, drivers and ship staff, drinks and any meals not listed, the inside of the Khufu pyramid and premium tombs such as Tutankhamun's.09When 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. The Red Sea is warm for much of the year.
Last updated Product ID: TOU-CAI-632969
At a glance
- Length
- 11 days · 10 nights
- Starts
- Mon, Tue, Fri or Sun
- Route
- Cairo → Alexandria → Aswan → Kom Ombo → Edfu → Luxor → Hurghada → Cairo
- Nights
- 4 Cairo · 3 Nile cruise · 3 Hurghada
- Includes
- Domestic flights, Egyptologist guide, entrance fees, transfers