11-Day Cairo, Hurghada, Nile Cruise & Abu Simbel Holiday
Giza's pyramids, a boat day with snorkelling at Giftun Island, four nights cruising from Luxor to Aswan and Abu Simbel. Internal flights, hotels, your cabin, guides and entry tickets are included.
The short answer
11-Day Cairo, Hurghada, Nile Cruise & Abu Simbel Holiday is an 11-day, 10-night trip to Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel and Hurghada: 4 nights in Cairo, 2 in Hurghada and 4 on a Nile cruise. Starts on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays or Sundays. It includes domestic flights, an Egyptologist guide and transfers. Prices start at £2,296 per person, two sharing (Comfort, October–April).
02Overview
A first look
Eleven days is enough for history with a little sea. The holiday opens in Cairo with a dinner cruise on the Nile, then a day at the Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum. A short flight brings you to Hurghada on the Red Sea for two nights, including a boat day to Orange Bay for snorkelling.
You travel by road to Luxor to join your Nile cruise ship for four nights, calling at Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, Edfu and Kom Ombo. On day 8, from the ship in Aswan, you make the long road journey to Abu Simbel, and on day 9 you see Philae and the High Dam before flying to Cairo. The final days take in Islamic and Coptic Cairo and the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation. The standard of hotel and ship is up to you, and 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 Nile dinner cruise with a live show on your first evening in Cairo
- 03A boat day to Orange Bay for snorkelling and the beach from Hurghada
- 04Four nights on a Nile cruise ship from Luxor to Aswan, full board
- 05Karnak, Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae with an Egyptologist
- 06Abu Simbel by road from the ship in Aswan, with a free afternoon afterwards
- 07Islamic and Coptic Cairo and the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation
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 £2,2964★ hotels · 5★ Nile cruises | Cairo · 4 nightsJewel Sport City Hurghada · 2 nightsSwiss Inn Resort Hurghada Nile Cruise · 4 nightsRuby 1 · Royal Elite | £2,296May–Sep: from £2,081 | |
| Classicfrom £2,4215★ hotels · 5★ Nile cruises | Hurghada · 2 nightsAMC Royal Hotel & Spa Nile Cruise · 4 nightsSun Times · Stephanie | £2,421May–Sep: from £2,081 | |
| Prestigefrom £3,0395★ deluxe hotels · 5★ deluxe Nile cruises | Hurghada · 2 nightsHilton Hurghada Plaza Nile Cruise · 4 nightsSonesta Moon Goddess · Nile Serenity | £3,039May–Sep: from £2,856 | |
| Luxuryfrom £4,6625★ luxury hotels · 5★ luxury Nile cruises | Cairo · 4 nightsSt. Regis Cairo Nile Cruise · 4 nightsSonesta St. George I · Cleopatra | £4,662May–Sep: from £3,810 |
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 · Hurghada · Luxor · Edfu · Kom Ombo
- 1
A driver is waiting in the arrivals hall at Cairo Airport to meet you and see you to your hotel. Once you have unpacked, you are collected in the evening for a two-hour dinner cruise on the Nile. Expect a buffet dinner, a live show with a seat set aside for you, and a private transfer back to the hotel.
- 2
This is your day at Giza, with a licensed English-speaking Egyptologist beside you. You give the Pyramids and the Great Sphinx 4 to 6 hours, stop for lunch, then walk through the Grand Egyptian Museum. Guide, entry tickets and vehicle are included, and you return to the same Cairo hotel for the night.
- 3
After breakfast a private car takes you to Cairo Airport and the one-hour flight to Hurghada, at a time set by the airline. You are met on landing and driven to your hotel by the Red Sea. The remainder of the day is free for the pool, the sand or a stroll along the front.
- 4
You are collected from your hotel in Hurghada and taken to the boat for Orange Bay, off Giftun Island. There are two guided snorkelling sessions, with mask, snorkel and life jacket provided, and a sunbed on the beach. A hot lunch and bottled water come with the day, and the boat brings you back to Hurghada in the afternoon.
- 5
The morning begins with a private five-hour drive from Hurghada to Luxor. Your Egyptologist then shows you Karnak, including the Sacred Lake, and Luxor Temple, with the guide, entry tickets and transport all included. In the evening you go aboard your Nile cruise ship, see your cabin and have dinner. It is the first of four nights on full board, and the visits are paced around the road journey.
- 6
With your Egyptologist you cross to Luxor's West Bank. You visit the Colossi of Memnon, the Valley of the Kings, where the ticket covers three tombs, and Hatshepsut's mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahari. Guide, entry tickets and transport are included. Later you are back aboard, with all meals served on the ship.
- 7
Today the ship carries you south to Aswan. Twice you go ashore with your Egyptologist, first to the Temple of Edfu, one of Egypt's best-preserved temples, then to the Temple of Kom Ombo on the water's edge. Entry tickets and transport are included, and the time in between is spent relaxing on deck.
- 8
Your ship is tied up at Aswan, which leaves this day free for a single big outing. An early road journey takes you to the temples at Abu Simbel, where you spend the day, with entry tickets and transport included. You are back on board that afternoon with the evening to yourself. It is your last night afloat.
- 9
Check out of the ship, then see Philae Temple on its island, the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk with your Egyptologist, with guide, entry tickets and transport included. Afterwards a private transfer runs you to Aswan Airport for the one-hour flight to Cairo, and a driver meets you there for the hotel. The airline sets the flight time, so the sightseeing fits around it.
- 10
Two guided outings share today, each with a private English-speaking Egyptologist. About six hours go on Islamic and Coptic Cairo: the Sultan Hassan and Al-Rifa'i mosques, Saladin's Citadel and the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, then the Hanging Church and Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus in Old Cairo, with a break for lunch.
About four hours then follow at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, including the Royal Mummies Hall. Entry tickets and the vehicle are included, so expect a full day.
- 11
Nothing is planned today except getting you home. After breakfast you check out and a private driver takes you to Cairo Airport, helping with luggage on the way. Allow around two hours for the transfer slot, and let us have your flight time in advance so the pickup can be set.
Bundled in
- Domestic flights
The fine print
What's included – and what is left out
Included
- Two nights in a Cairo hotel, two in a Hurghada hotel, four on a Nile cruise ship and two more in a Cairo hotel
- Breakfast at the hotels and full board on the ship, plus the lunches and dinner listed in the itinerary
- Internal flights from Cairo to Hurghada and from Aswan to Cairo
- A private transfer from Hurghada to Luxor and every airport and hotel transfer
- A Nile dinner cruise with a live show in Cairo
- Nile cruise sightseeing with an English-speaking Egyptologist, entry tickets and transport: Karnak, Luxor Temple, the West Bank, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Philae, the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk
- A road trip from Aswan to Abu Simbel, with entry tickets
- The Orange Bay snorkelling day with boat, two guided sessions, equipment, sunbed and lunch
- A licensed Egyptologist and entry tickets on the Giza, Islamic and Coptic Cairo and museum days
- Meeting and assistance at Cairo 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 Giza for early morning light and cooler temperatures.
- 02
At the Valley of the Kings, carry small notes for lockers and extra water.
- 03
Philae is usually calmer before midday boat traffic builds.
- 04
For mosque visits in Cairo, wear long trousers or a long skirt and cover shoulders.
- 05
Abu Simbel departures are very early, so pack snacks and a light layer.
Tailor it
Make it yours
You choose the standard of hotel and ship when you book. Ask us about extra nights in Hurghada, Luxor or Cairo.
Your own specialist deals with each request before you book.
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- First-time visitors who want Cairo, a few days by the sea and a Nile cruise in one holiday. Suits couples, friends and solo travellers who are happy with two flights, a long drive 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 5, 8 and 10 are long.
Honest assessment
The honest pluses and minuses, as our own team sees them after running this trip.
Highlights
- The pyramids, the Red Sea, a Nile cruise and Abu Simbel in eleven days
- Both internal flights, the long drive and every other transfer arranged for you
- Four nights on a ship, so no repacking between Luxor and Aswan
Things to Consider
- Several long days: five hours on the road on day 5, Abu Simbel on day 8 and two guided visits on day 10
- Uneven stone, steps and little shade at the major sites
- Only two nights on the Red Sea
Where it fits
A good first long holiday in Egypt for people who want both history and a few days by the sea. Days 5, 8 and 10 are the longest, so it suits travellers who are happy with a full schedule.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Many operators sell Cairo, the Red Sea and the Nile as separate trips. This holiday joins them in eleven days, with the 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 Red Sea stay and a Nile cruise
- Accommodation
- Hotels in Cairo and Hurghada and a Nile cruise ship, standard chosen at booking
- Destinations
- Cairo · Giza · Hurghada · Luxor · Edfu · Kom Ombo · Aswan · Abu Simbel
- Includes
- 4 nights in Cairo hotels and 2 nights in Hurghada, with breakfast · 4 nights on a Nile cruise ship, full board · Flights from Cairo to Hurghada and Aswan to Cairo · Orange Bay snorkelling day by boat · Egyptologist and entry tickets on sightseeing days, including Abu Simbel · All transfers in an air-conditioned vehicle
- Best for
- First-time visitors · Travellers who want history with some time by the sea · Those wanting the pyramids, a Nile cruise and Abu Simbel in one holiday
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
- Sun cream, SPF 30 or higher
- Sun hat and sunglasses
- Refillable water bottle
- Any regular medication
- Small day bag
- A light layer for the ship 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 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. 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. Let us know your child's age and how well they swim and we will advise on the snorkelling day.
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 and Karnak have long, open stretches with little shade. Boarding the ship and the boats to Orange Bay and Philae involve steps and a gangway, and the Orange Bay day is spent on a beach. Abu Simbel means a long day on the road. 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 long road transfer, a Nile cruise ship and a boat to Giftun Island, and vehicle and vessel types vary, so we make no claim about carbon savings. Sightseeing is led by local Egyptologists and arranged through local suppliers in Cairo, Hurghada, Luxor and Aswan, so much of what you spend stays in the places you visit. We ask guests to bring a refillable water bottle, to follow the crew's advice on sun cream at Orange Bay to protect the reef, 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 flights from Cairo to Hurghada on day 3 and from Aswan to Cairo on day 9 are booked for you and included. International flights are not. Hurghada to Luxor on day 5 is a private road journey of about five hours. The airline sets the flight times.02Are guides and entry tickets included?
Yes. An English-speaking Egyptologist, the entry tickets and the transport are covered on the Cairo and Nile cruise sightseeing days, including Abu Simbel. The snorkelling day is run by the boat crew.03How many nights do we spend on the Nile?
Four nights on board, from Luxor to Aswan, on full board with breakfast, lunch and dinner. The other six nights are in hotels with breakfast: two in Cairo, two in Hurghada and two more in Cairo.04Which hotels and which ship will we have?
You choose a standard when you book, from budget to luxury, and we confirm the hotels and the ship for your dates. The itinerary and sightseeing are identical at every standard.05How does Abu Simbel fit in?
On day 8 you leave the ship in Aswan early for the full-day road journey to Abu Simbel, with a free afternoon when you return. On day 9 you leave the ship, see Philae, the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk, then fly to Cairo.06Do I need to be a swimmer for the snorkelling day?
Life jackets are provided and the sessions are guided. Tell us how well you swim, and the ages of any children, and we will advise before you book.07Will I make my international flight home?
Domestic and international tickets are separate bookings, so a late internal flight could cost you your connection. Your last internal flight, Aswan to Cairo, is on day 9, with a night and a full day in Cairo before you leave on day 11. That is a deliberate safety margin. Take travel insurance that covers missed connections.08What is not included?
International flights, the Egyptian visa, tips for guides, drivers and ship staff, drinks and meals other than those stated, travel insurance and personal spending.09When is the best time to go?
October to April is cooler and best for the temples. Summers are very hot, particularly in Luxor, Aswan and Abu Simbel, so sightseeing starts early. The Red Sea is warm enough for swimming for most of the year.
Last updated Product ID: TOU-CAI-139342
At a glance
- Length
- 11 days · 10 nights
- Starts
- Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu or Sun
- Route
- Cairo → Hurghada → Luxor → Edfu → Kom Ombo → Abu Simbel → Aswan → Cairo
- Nights
- 4 Cairo · 2 Hurghada · 4 Nile cruise
- Includes
- Domestic flights, Egyptologist guide, transfers