11-Day Cairo, Luxor, Aswan & Abu Simbel Land Holiday
Giza's pyramids, Karnak and the Valley of the Kings, Philae and a flight to Abu Simbel. Your hotels, three internal flights, guides and entrance fees are included.
The short answer
11-Day Cairo, Luxor, Aswan & Abu Simbel Land Holiday is an 11-day, 10-night trip to Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and Abu Simbel: 4 nights in Cairo, 3 in Luxor and 3 in Aswan. It includes domestic flights, an Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transfers. Prices start at £2,092 per person, two sharing (Essential, October–April).
02Overview
A first look
Here is the classic Egyptian route by hotel and private car, with no cruise. It begins in Cairo with a day among the Giza pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum, then Saqqara and Memphis. On day 4 you walk through Islamic Cairo in the morning and fly to Luxor for Karnak.
Three nights in Luxor cover the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's temple and Dendera. You then travel south to Aswan by road, calling at Edfu and Kom Ombo. Aswan brings the High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk and Philae, plus a day flying to Abu Simbel. A final flight returns you to Cairo for a last night before home. The standard of hotel is yours to choose; the sightseeing is the same whichever you pick.
What lingers
- 01The Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum, then Saqqara and Memphis
- 02Islamic Cairo on foot, then a flight to Luxor and Karnak on the same day
- 03The Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's temple, the Colossi of Memnon and Dendera
- 04The road from Luxor to Aswan, with Edfu and Kom Ombo on the way
- 05The High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk and Philae Temple at Aswan
- 06Abu Simbel in a day, with a short flight each way
- 07A last night in Cairo after the final internal flight
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 £2,0923★ hotels | Luxor · 3 nightsEl Mesala Hotel Luxor Aswan · 3 nightsHapi Hotel Aswan | £2,092May–Sep: from £1,998 | |
| Comfortfrom £2,3164★ hotels | Cairo · 4 nightsJewel Sport City Luxor · 3 nightsIberotel Luxor by JAZ | £2,316May–Sep: from £2,208 | |
| Classicfrom £2,4455★ hotels | £2,445May–Sep: from £2,273 | ||
| Prestigefrom £2,7615★ deluxe hotels | Luxor · 3 nightsSteigenberger Nile Palace Luxor Aswan · 3 nightsTolip Aswan | £2,761May–Sep: from £2,669 | |
| Luxuryfrom £3,7245★ luxury hotels | Cairo · 4 nightsSt. Regis Cairo Luxor · 3 nightsHilton Luxor Resort & Spa Aswan · 3 nightsThe Zen Wellness Resort Aswan | £3,724May–Sep: from £3,616 |
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.
- New
- Private
Day by day
Detailed itinerary
11 Days / 10 Nights · Cairo · Giza Plateau · Grand Egyptian Museum · Saqqara · Luxor · Karnak Temple
- 1
Your representative is waiting in the arrivals hall at Cairo Airport and takes you to your hotel. There is nothing else on the plan today, so you can rest after the journey. Your Egyptologist joins you in the morning.
- 2
Your private Egyptologist takes you to the Giza Plateau for the three pyramids and the Great Sphinx, which takes between four and six hours. Lunch looks over the plateau, and the afternoon is spent in the Grand Egyptian Museum. Guide, entrance fees and transport are included.
- 3
- 4
The morning is a guided walk of three to four hours along Al-Muizz Street and around the Khan el-Khalili bazaar. You then go to Cairo Airport for the flight to Luxor, where an Egyptologist takes you to Karnak and Luxor Temple. The visits are timed around the flight, and it is a full day. Guide, entrance fees and transport are included.
- 5
About six hours across the river on the West Bank. You enter three tombs in the Valley of the Kings, see Hatshepsut's terraced temple at Deir el-Bahari and stop at the Colossi of Memnon. Your Egyptologist guide, the entrance fees and the transport are included.
- 6
You spend about six hours on a day out to Dendera, the temple of the goddess Hathor, known for its carved columns and painted ceilings. Lunch is at a local restaurant. A private Egyptologist guide, the entrance ticket and the vehicle are all included, and you have the afternoon free.
- 7
An air-conditioned vehicle takes you from Luxor to Aswan, where you stay three nights. Two temples break the journey. Edfu's Temple of Horus is among the best preserved in Egypt, and Kom Ombo is shared by Sobek the crocodile god and Horus the falcon god. An Egyptologist goes with you, and entrance fees and transport are included.
- 8
A local Egyptologist takes you to the Aswan High Dam, then to the northern quarries and the Unfinished Obelisk, still lying in the rock. After a short motorboat crossing to Agilkia Island you reach the temple of Isis at Philae. Guide, entrance fees and transport are included.
- 9
You spend the day at Abu Simbel and fly there and back. A private transfer takes you to Aswan Airport, and at Abu Simbel your Egyptologist shows you Ramesses II's Great Temple and the smaller temple of Hathor and Queen Nefertari. Return flights, entrance fees and the guide are included.
- 10
After breakfast you are driven to Aswan Airport for the flight to Cairo and on to your hotel. Nothing is planned for the rest of the day. We end with a Cairo night deliberately, as a margin in case a domestic flight is late.
- 11
After breakfast your driver takes you to Cairo Airport for the flight home, and a representative can help you at the terminal. The last internal flight was on day 10, so you are not depending 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, Luxor and Aswan
- Internal flights from Cairo to Luxor, Aswan to Abu Simbel and back, and Aswan to Cairo
- All airport, hotel and intercity transfers in an air-conditioned vehicle, including Luxor to Aswan by road
- Entrance fees to every site in the itinerary, including three tombs in the Valley of the Kings
- Lunch on the Giza, West Bank, Dendera, Luxor to Aswan, Aswan and Abu Simbel days
- A licensed Egyptologist on all sightseeing days
- Airport handling and domestic flight taxes for the Abu Simbel day
- 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
Take your time on the Grand Staircase at the Grand Egyptian Museum, and let your guide lead you through the galleries gradually.
- 02
At Saqqara, spend a quiet few minutes by the Step Pyramid, the earliest big stone monument in Egypt, before moving on to Memphis.
- 03
Inside the hall at Dendera, look up: the ceiling carvings are the best feature, so use a steady setting for the low light.
- 04
Pack sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat for the Abu Simbel flight, as the temple front stands in open sun with almost no shade.
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
- First-time visitors who want the classic route of Egypt on land. Suits couples, friends and solo travellers who are happy with three flights 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. Day 4 is long.
Honest assessment
The honest pluses and minuses, as our own team sees them after running this trip.
Highlights
- Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and Abu Simbel in eleven days
- Abu Simbel by air, so no long road journey
- Hotels all the way, so no ship timetable
Things to Consider
- Day 4 is full: a walking tour, a flight and Karnak
- 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 trip to Egypt if you prefer hotels to a ship and want Abu Simbel without the long road journey.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Many operators put Luxor and Aswan on a Nile cruise. This holiday follows the same route by hotel and private road transfer, and flies to Abu Simbel rather than driving. The standard of hotel 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 land holiday, no cruise
- Accommodation
- Hotels in Cairo, Luxor and Aswan, standard chosen at booking
- Destinations
- Cairo · Giza Plateau · Grand Egyptian Museum · Saqqara · Luxor · Karnak Temple · Valley of the Kings · Dendera Temple · Edfu · Kom Ombo · Aswan · Abu Simbel
- Includes
- 10 hotel nights with breakfast · 3 internal flights, including Abu Simbel by air · Entrance fees to every listed site · Licensed Egyptologist on sightseeing days · Luxor to Aswan by private road transfer · All transfers in an air-conditioned vehicle
- Best for
- First-time visitors · Those who prefer hotels to a cruise · Anyone who would rather fly to Abu Simbel
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 temples
- 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, 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 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 day 4 includes a walking tour of Islamic Cairo. Abu Simbel is reached on a small internal flight. 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 three internal flights, including the short hop to Abu Simbel, 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, Luxor and Aswan, 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
01Which internal flights are included?
Three: Cairo to Luxor on day 4, the return flight from Aswan to Abu Simbel on day 9, and Aswan to Cairo on day 10. All are booked for you and included in the price. International flights are not.02Does this holiday include a Nile cruise?
No, it is a land holiday with hotels in Cairo, Luxor and Aswan. The journey from Luxor to Aswan is by road, calling at Edfu and Kom Ombo. Ask us if you would like to add a ship.03How do we reach Abu Simbel?
By air. On day 9 you fly from Aswan to Abu Simbel and back, with private transfers, a guide and the entrance fees included, which saves the long road journey.04Is day 4 too much?
It is a full day: a guided walk of three to four hours in Islamic Cairo, a flight to Luxor, then Karnak and Luxor Temple. Everything is timed around the flight. If you would prefer a gentler first day in Luxor, tell us and we will talk it through.05Which 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.06Will 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.07What 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.08When 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-613873
At a glance
- Length
- 11 days · 10 nights
- Starts
- Daily
- Route
- Cairo → Luxor → Aswan → Abu Simbel → Cairo
- Nights
- 4 Cairo · 3 Luxor · 3 Aswan
- Includes
- Domestic flights, Egyptologist guide, entrance fees, transfers