11-Day Cairo, Nile Cruise & Abu Simbel Holiday
11 days / 10 nights: three days in Cairo, three nights on a Nile cruise, Abu Simbel, then Luxor, Dendera and Abydos. Internal flights, hotels, your cabin and an Egyptologist are included.
The short answer
11-Day Cairo, Nile Cruise & Abu Simbel Holiday is an 11-day, 10-night trip to Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and Abu Simbel: 4 nights in Cairo, 3 on a Nile cruise and 3 in Luxor. Starts on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays or Sundays. It includes domestic flights, an Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transfers. Prices start at £2,007 per person, two sharing (Essential, October–April).
02Overview
A first look
Many people want to see everything Egypt is famous for without rushing, and this holiday is built for that. It opens with three days in Cairo, taking in a Nile dinner cruise, the Pyramids, the Grand Egyptian Museum and the old Islamic and Coptic quarters. You then fly to Aswan and board a Nile cruise ship for three nights, visiting Philae, Kom Ombo and Edfu and making the early road journey to Abu Simbel.
At Luxor you leave the ship and settle into a hotel for three nights. There is time for Luxor Temple, Karnak and the Valley of the Kings, plus a full day out to Dendera and Abydos. You fly back to Cairo for Sakkara and Memphis and one last night in the city before your flight home. We arrange flights, transfers, hotels and the cruise cabin, and you choose 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 Nile dinner cruise with live entertainment on your first evening
- 03Three nights on a Nile cruise ship from Aswan to Luxor, on full board
- 04Abu Simbel, reached on an early road journey from your ship at Aswan
- 05Karnak, Luxor Temple and the Valley of the Kings with an Egyptologist
- 06A full day out to the temples of Dendera and Abydos
- 07A final night in Cairo, after Sakkara and Memphis, before you fly home
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 £2,0073★ hotels · well-priced Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 3 nightsNephtis · Al Nabilatan Luxor · 3 nightsEl Mesala Hotel Luxor | £2,007May–Sep: from £1,802 | |
| Comfortfrom £2,1444★ hotels · 5★ Nile cruises | Cairo · 4 nightsJewel Sport City Nile Cruise · 3 nightsEmilio · Tower Prestige Luxor · 3 nightsIberotel Luxor by JAZ | £2,144May–Sep: from £2,050 | |
| Classicfrom £2,3625★ hotels · 5★ Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 3 nightsSun Times · Nile Dolphin | £2,362May–Sep: from £2,050 | |
| Prestigefrom £2,7615★ deluxe hotels · 5★ deluxe Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 3 nightsSonesta Moon Goddess Luxor · 3 nightsSteigenberger Nile Palace Luxor | £2,761May–Sep: from £2,699 | |
| Luxuryfrom £4,3375★ luxury hotels · 5★ luxury Nile cruises | Cairo · 4 nightsSt. Regis Cairo Nile Cruise · 3 nightsSonesta St. George I · Esmeralda Luxor · 3 nightsHilton Luxor Resort & Spa | £4,337May–Sep: from £3,567 |
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 · Giza Plateau · Grand Egyptian Museum · Aswan · Philae Temple · Abu Simbel
- 1
Once you land at Cairo Airport, a driver meets you in the arrivals hall and takes you on to your hotel, so you can put your feet up after the journey. Come evening you are picked up for a two-hour cruise on the Nile with a buffet dinner and live entertainment, before being taken back to your room. Everything is timed around your arrival.
- 2
Your Egyptologist collects you from the hotel for a day lasting around eight hours. Giza is first: the three great pyramids and the Sphinx, which deserve four to six hours on their own. After a lunch with a view you move on to the Grand Egyptian Museum. An air-conditioned vehicle, bottled water and all entrance fees are part of the day.
- 3
Today is spent among Cairo's oldest streets, roughly six hours with an Egyptologist and a driver. Two mosques, Sultan Hassan and Al-Rifa'i, come first, followed by the climb to Saladin's Citadel and the Muhammad Ali Mosque. You then drive to Coptic Cairo to see the Hanging Church and Abu Serga, stopping for lunch in Old Cairo. Entrance fees are covered.
Mosques ask that shoulders and knees are covered.
- 4
This morning you catch a flight from Cairo to Aswan, with a driver taking you to the airport and another meeting you at the other end. The airline decides the departure time, and the sightseeing fits around it. In Aswan your Egyptologist guides you around the Unfinished Obelisk, the High Dam and Philae Temple. Fees and transport are included. Then you board your Nile cruise ship and dine on board.
- 5
The alarm goes off early today. While the ship remains moored at Aswan, you travel south by road to Abu Simbel, where the temples of Ramesses II look out across Lake Nasser. A guide and the entrance fees are included. You are back in Aswan by the afternoon, and breakfast, lunch and dinner are all taken on the ship. It is a full day, so take water and a sun hat.
- 6
As the ship makes its way towards Luxor you go ashore twice with your Egyptologist. Kom Ombo is first, a temple split into two halves that stands right at the water's edge. Edfu follows later in the day. Entrance fees and transport are included. The time between stops is for relaxing on deck while the Nile Valley slips past. Meals are all served on board.
- 7
After a last breakfast on the ship, you disembark and meet your Egyptologist for a day at Luxor Temple and the vast Karnak complex, including the Sacred Lake. Entrance fees and transport are covered. Expect plenty of walking and little shade. In the afternoon you settle into your Luxor hotel, where you stay for three nights. Lunch and dinner are not included today.
- 8
Crossing to the West Bank, you and your Egyptologist enter three tombs in the Valley of the Kings, then visit the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari and the Colossi of Memnon. Entrance fees and transport are included. The tomb passages are tight and the valley is open ground, so leave early and carry water. Lunch and dinner are your own today.
- 9
You are collected from your hotel for a full day trip out of Luxor by air-conditioned vehicle. An Egyptologist takes you round the Temple of Dendera and the Temple of Abydos. Entrance fees, lunch at a local restaurant and a bottle of water each are all included. The drives between sites are fairly long, though both temples are noticeably calmer than the main Luxor attractions.
- 10
A driver takes you to Luxor Airport for the flight to Cairo, with timings set by the airline. Once you have landed, a guided half-day excursion of about five hours takes in Sakkara and Memphis with a private Egyptologist and vehicle. You spend the night in Cairo. It is a deliberate safety window in case a domestic flight runs late.
- 11
Breakfast at the hotel is followed by a driver taking you to Cairo Airport for your flight home, so allow around 90 minutes for the journey. Please tell us your flight time a few days beforehand so the pickup can be set. This is where the holiday ends.
Bundled in
- Domestic flights
The fine print
What's included – and what is left out
Included
- Four nights in Cairo hotels and three nights in a Luxor hotel, all with breakfast
- Three nights on a Nile cruise ship on full board
- Internal flights from Cairo to Aswan and from Luxor to Cairo
- All airport, hotel and quayside transfers
- A Nile dinner cruise with an evening show in Cairo
- English-speaking Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transport on sightseeing days, with three tombs at the Valley of the Kings
- Excursions to Abu Simbel, to Dendera and Abydos, and to Sakkara and Memphis
- Lunch on days 2, 3 and 9
Not included
- Flights to and from Egypt
- Egyptian entry visa
- Tips for guides, drivers and ship staff
- Drinks, and meals not listed (lunch and dinner on days 7 and 8)
- Tombs beyond the three included at the Valley of the Kings
- Travel insurance and personal spending
Field notes
From our Egyptologists
- 01
Sit by a window on the dawn drive to Abu Simbel and take a snack, as the departure is very early.
- 02
Reach the Grand Egyptian Museum early and ask your guide to open with the grand staircase.
- 03
Inside Dendera's great hall, tilt your head back to find the painted zodiac ceiling and the Hathor columns.
- 04
Keep a light jumper for the sun deck, since evening air on the river cools quickly.
Tailor it
Make it yours
You choose the standard of hotel and ship when you book. Ask us about extra nights in Cairo or Luxor, 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 full classic Egypt route in a single holiday: Cairo, a Nile cruise, Abu Simbel and Luxor. Suits couples, friends and solo travellers who are happy with two flights and several hours of walking on sightseeing days.
Maybe not, if
- Travellers who need step-free access to every site, or who prefer to stay put at a slow pace. Days 4, 5 and 9 are long.
Honest assessment
The honest pluses and minuses, as our own team sees them after running this trip.
Highlights
- Cairo, the main Nile temples, Abu Simbel and Luxor with Dendera and Abydos in eleven days
- Both internal flights and all transfers arranged for you
- Three nights in Luxor after the ship make for a calmer pace
- A final night in Cairo gives you a buffer before the flight home
Things to Consider
- Early starts and long road days on days 4, 5 and 9
- Uneven stone, steps and little shade at the major sites
- Lunch and dinner on days 7 and 8 are not included
Where it fits
A good fit for a first long visit to Egypt that covers the headline sites without a rush. It finishes with a night in Cairo, so a delayed internal flight will not threaten your journey home.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Many operators sell Cairo, a Nile cruise and Luxor as separate trips. This holiday package joins them over eleven days, adds Abu Simbel and a separate day for Dendera and Abydos, and books both flights and every transfer. The standard of hotel and ship 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 holiday with a Nile cruise
- Accommodation
- Cairo and Luxor hotels and a Nile cruise ship, standard chosen at booking
- Destinations
- Cairo · Giza Plateau · Grand Egyptian Museum · Aswan · Philae Temple · Abu Simbel · Kom Ombo · Edfu · Luxor · Karnak Temple · Valley of the Kings · Dendera
- Includes
- 4 nights in Cairo and 3 in Luxor hotels with breakfast · 3 nights on a Nile cruise ship, full board · Flights from Cairo to Aswan and Luxor to Cairo · Entrance fees to every listed site · English-speaking Egyptologist guide on sightseeing days · All transfers
- Best for
- First-time visitors · Travellers interested in history · Those wanting Cairo, a Nile cruise, Abu Simbel and Luxor in one holiday
- Guide languages
- Arabic · English · French · German · Italian · Spanish
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 personal medication
- Small day bag
- A light layer for the ship, the vehicle and 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 churches
- A hat and sunglasses
- A light jacket for evenings on the river and early starts 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. Flight, cabin and hotel 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. Abu Simbel and the Dendera and Abydos trip involve long drives, so consider how your child copes in the car.
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. Karnak and the Valley of the Kings have long, open stretches with little shade, and the Citadel in Cairo means a climb. Boarding the ship involves steps and a gangway. Abu Simbel and the trip to Dendera and Abydos are long days on the road. The 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 frankly 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 suppliers in Cairo, Aswan and Luxor, so most of what you spend stays in the places you visit. Please bring a refillable water bottle and avoid touching the painted walls of tombs and temples.
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. Both are booked for you: Cairo to Aswan on day 4 and Luxor to Cairo on day 10. The airline decides the times. Flights to and from Egypt are not part of the holiday.02How long do we spend on the Nile?
Three nights on board a Nile cruise ship on full board, with breakfast, lunch and dinner. You join the ship at Aswan on day 4 and leave it at Luxor on day 7. All other nights are in hotels, with breakfast.03What ship and hotels should we expect?
The standard is your choice at booking, from budget to luxury. Once you have picked one, we confirm the exact ship and hotels for your dates. The itinerary is the same whichever you choose.04How tiring is the Abu Simbel day?
It is a full day with an early start. You travel from the ship at Aswan to Abu Simbel by road and return in the afternoon. There is little shade at the temples, so take water and a hat.05How long is the trip to Dendera and Abydos?
It takes the whole day. You go by road from Luxor, see both temples with an Egyptologist and have lunch on the way. There are fairly long drives between the sites.06Could a delayed flight make me miss my flight home?
It could. Internal and international flights are separate bookings, so a late domestic flight may cost you the connection. For that reason the holiday finishes with a night in Cairo before you leave. If you rearrange things to connect on the same day, book a late-evening or overnight flight home. Do take insurance that covers missed connections.07What does the price not cover?
Flights to and from Egypt, the visa, tips for guides, drivers and ship staff, drinks and any meals not listed, and tombs beyond the three at the Valley of the Kings. Lunch and dinner on days 7 and 8 are also your own.08Will a guide be with us?
Yes. An English-speaking Egyptologist guides the sightseeing in Cairo, on the cruise and in Luxor. Entrance fees and transport for every listed site are included.09When is the best time of year to travel?
October to April is best, as the days are cooler for walking around temples. Summers are very hot in Aswan and Luxor, so visits begin early in the morning.
Last updated Product ID: TOU-CAI-107659
At a glance
- Length
- 11 days · 10 nights
- Starts
- Mon, Tue, Fri or Sun
- Route
- Cairo → Aswan → Abu Simbel → Kom Ombo → Edfu → Luxor → Cairo
- Nights
- 4 Cairo · 3 Nile cruise · 3 Luxor
- Includes
- Domestic flights, Egyptologist guide, entrance fees, transfers