11-Day Egypt Honeymoon Holiday: Dahabiya & El Gouna
Eleven days from Cairo to El Gouna: the Pyramids at sunset, four slow nights on a traditional Nile sailing boat, and the Red Sea to finish.
The short answer
11-Day Egypt Honeymoon Holiday: Dahabiya & El Gouna is an 11-day, 10-night trip to Cairo, Luxor and Aswan: 2 nights in Cairo, 1 in Luxor, 4 on a Nile cruise and 3 in El Gouna. Starts on Wednesdays, Fridays or Sundays. It includes domestic flights, an Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transfers. Prices start at £2,706 per person, two sharing (Comfort, October–April).
02Overview
A first look
A honeymoon in Egypt can feel like a lot of sightseeing and not much time together. This route is shaped to avoid that. The first days are busy and rewarding: Cairo, with a sunset camel ride at Giza and a private day taking in the Pyramids, Saqqara and Memphis, and then Luxor, for Karnak and the Valley of the Kings.
The pace then changes. At Esna you step aboard a dahabiya, a traditional Nile sailing boat, for four nights. You visit the temples at Esna, Edfu and Kom Ombo, take a private motorboat to Elephantine Island, and see Philae at Aswan. A guide is with you at each stop and the entrance tickets are paid. Two flights then carry you to the Red Sea for three nights at El Gouna, with a snorkelling day at Orange Bay and a trip on a semi-submarine.
You pick the standard of hotel and dahabiya when you book, and we confirm the properties for your dates. Flights, transfers and sightseeing are all arranged for you by Egypt Discovery.
What lingers
- 01A private sunset camel ride by the Giza Pyramids on your first evening
- 02A private day with an Egyptologist at the Pyramids, Saqqara and Memphis
- 03Karnak, Luxor Temple and three tombs in the Valley of the Kings
- 04Four nights aboard a dahabiya, a traditional Nile sailing boat, calling at Esna, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae
- 05A private motorboat to Elephantine Island and the Botanical Garden
- 06Three nights at El Gouna, with snorkelling at Orange Bay and a semi-submarine trip
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 £2,7064★ hotels · 5★ Nile cruises | Cairo · 2 nightsJewel Sport City Luxor · 1 nightIberotel Luxor by JAZ Dahabiya · 4 nightsBens Dahabiya · Amoura Dahabiya | £2,706May–Sep: from £2,536 | |
| Classicfrom £3,1475★ hotels · 5★ Nile cruises | Dahabiya · 4 nightsIris Luxury Dahabiya · Royal Cleopatra Dahabiya El Gouna · 3 nightsSheraton Miramar Resort El Gouna | £3,147May–Sep: from £2,556 | |
| Prestigefrom £4,0145★ deluxe hotels · 5★ deluxe Nile cruises | Luxor · 1 nightSteigenberger Nile Palace Luxor Dahabiya · 4 nightsAzhar Dahabiya | £4,014May–Sep: from £3,415 | |
| Luxuryfrom £5,9775★ luxury hotels · 5★ luxury Nile cruises | Cairo · 2 nightsSt. Regis Cairo Luxor · 1 nightHilton Luxor Resort & Spa Dahabiya · 4 nightsMinya Dahabiya El Gouna · 3 nightsCasa Cook El Gouna (Adults Only) | £5,977May–Sep: from £4,472 |
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.
- New
Day by day
Detailed itinerary
11 Days / 10 Nights · Cairo · Giza Plateau · Saqqara · Luxor · Karnak Temple · Valley of the Kings
- 1
A representative waits for you in arrivals at Cairo Airport and a driver takes you to your hotel, around an hour away. In the late afternoon you are picked up again for a private sunset ride by camel near the Giza Pyramids. The ride itself lasts about an hour, with one camel per person and a handler beside you, and the outing is around three hours in all. Tea and bottled water are provided.
An easy, memorable first evening for the two of you.
- 2
You have a private Egyptologist and an air-conditioned vehicle for about eight hours. The day starts at the Giza plateau with the three great pyramids and the Sphinx beside its Valley Temple. You then follow country roads south to Saqqara, where the first pyramid was built, and finish at Memphis, once the royal capital.
A lunch in the countryside is included, and your guide is happy to slow down or speed up as you like.
- 3
Breakfast, then a transfer to Cairo Airport for your internal flight to Luxor. The airline sets the flight time, so we plan the rest of the day around it. A driver collects you on arrival. Your Egyptologist guide takes you first to Karnak, the vast temple complex on the east bank, and then to Luxor Temple in the town centre.
Entrance fees are paid, and an air-conditioned vehicle moves you between the two.
- 4
The morning belongs to Luxor's west bank. Your guide takes you into three tombs at the Valley of the Kings, then to the terraced temple of Hatshepsut and the two Colossi of Memnon. The excursion lasts about six hours and a vehicle goes with you. After that, a private driver takes you south from Luxor to Esna, where your dahabiya, a traditional Nile sailing boat, is waiting.
You spend the first night on the river.
- 5
Two temples fill today. At Esna you go down into a small temple whose ceiling still carries painted astronomical scenes. At Edfu you visit the great Temple of Horus, one of the best preserved in the country. Your guide is with you throughout and the tickets for both are included. Between the two there is time to rest on board and watch the river banks go past.
- 6
Kom Ombo is the one visit today. This riverside temple is built in two halves, one for the crocodile-headed Sobek and one for the falcon-headed Horus, with a double set of chambers. You tour it with your guide, and the ticket is already paid. The remaining hours are unscheduled, so you can read, sunbathe or simply watch the Nile from the deck.
- 7
A private motorboat collects you from the dahabiya for about four hours around Aswan, with an English-speaking Egyptologist as your guide. You step ashore on Elephantine Island and walk through its ancient ruins, then move on to the Botanical Garden, a green island of palms and shade. Both entrance tickets and bottled water are included. Tonight is your last night aboard.
- 8
This is the longest travel day of the holiday. You start with a boat crossing to Philae, the island temple of Isis, in the company of a guide. After that you are driven to Aswan Airport for an internal flight to Cairo and a second to Hurghada. Airline schedules decide the timings, and the temple visit is fitted around them.
A driver then takes you on to El Gouna, about an hour from the airport, where you stay for three nights.
- 9
Your hotel is the pick-up point for a boat trip to Orange Bay on Giftun Island. There are two guided snorkelling sessions, with mask, snorkel and life jackets supplied, and the time in between is spent on a sunbed on the beach. A hot lunch and bottled water are part of the day. You return to your hotel by the same arrangement.
- 10
Today's outing takes about three hours, from hotel pick-up to drop-off. The main event is a two-hour trip aboard a semi-submarine with other guests, where the windows sit below the waterline and the reef is on view. A stop for a swim with mask and snorkel is built in, and soft drinks and water are on board. Keep the rest of the day free for the pool, the lagoon or dinner in town.
- 11
Have breakfast, check out and meet your private driver for the air-conditioned run to Hurghada Airport, which takes about an hour. A representative helps you through with your bags. The holiday ends at the airport. Let us know your flight details beforehand and we will agree a collection time that suits your departure.
Bundled in
- Domestic flights
The fine print
What's included – and what is left out
Included
- Six hotel nights with breakfast: two in Cairo, one in Luxor and three at El Gouna
- Four nights aboard a dahabiya on the Nile
- Internal flights from Cairo to Luxor, Aswan to Cairo and Cairo to Hurghada
- Airport, hotel and boat transfers by air-conditioned vehicle
- Private sunset camel ride near the Giza Pyramids, with tea and water
- Private day taking in the Pyramids, Sphinx, Saqqara and Memphis, with lunch
- English-speaking Egyptologist guide on every sightseeing day
- Entrance fees to each site listed, including three tombs in the Valley of the Kings
- Private motorboat to Elephantine Island and the Botanical Garden
- Orange Bay snorkelling day with equipment, sunbed and hot lunch
- Semi-submarine and glass-bottom boat trip with a swim stop
- Meet-and-assist at the airports
- All service charges and taxes
Not included
- International flights to and from Egypt
- Egypt entry visa
- Tips for guides, drivers and crew
- Drinks and meals other than those stated
- Khufu pyramid interior and premium tombs such as Tutankhamun and Seti I
- Travel insurance and personal spending
Field notes
From our Egyptologists
- 01
Arrange the Giza camel ride for your first sunset, as the Pyramids turn golden and the plateau feels peaceful.
- 02
Rise early on the dahabiya and take your tea on deck, as mornings on the river are still and beautiful.
- 03
Linger at Kom Ombo with your guide, whose reliefs of crocodile gods and medical tools are a romantic highlight by the river.
- 04
Keep El Gouna for lying on the beach, with Orange Bay Island as your single outing, so the end of the honeymoon stays restful.
Tailor it
Make it yours
You choose the standard of hotel and dahabiya when you book. Ask us about adding Abu Simbel, an extra night in Cairo before your flight home, or more days at El Gouna.
Your own specialist deals with each request before you book.
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- Couples on honeymoon who want Egypt's great sites and a rest by the sea. Suits people who are happy with three flights, a boat reached by gangway and several hours of walking on sightseeing days.
Maybe not, if
- Travellers who need step-free access to every site, or who want a large ship with many facilities. Day 8 is a long day of travel.
Honest assessment
The honest pluses and minuses, as our own team sees them after running this trip.
Highlights
- The Pyramids, Luxor, four nights on the Nile and the Red Sea in eleven days
- Internal flights, transfers and entrance fees arranged for you
- A restful seaside finish after the sightseeing
Things to Consider
- Day 8 is long, with a temple, two flights and a drive
- Uneven stone, steps and little shade at the major sites
- Abu Simbel is not included
Where it fits
A good choice for couples who want the main sites and a beach to end on. Abu Simbel is not included, so add it if it is on your list.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Many honeymoon holidays offer either the Nile or the beach. This one pairs a four-night dahabiya journey, a quiet way to reach the Nile temples, with a Red Sea finish. Flights and transfers are booked for you and the standard of hotel and boat is your choice.
Compare
Similar tours to compare
On the ground
Your route
Snapshot
Good to know
- Travel style
- Guided honeymoon holiday with a Nile dahabiya
- Accommodation
- Hotels in Cairo, Luxor and El Gouna and a Nile dahabiya, standard chosen at booking
- Destinations
- Cairo · Giza Plateau · Saqqara · Luxor · Karnak Temple · Valley of the Kings · Esna · Edfu · Kom Ombo · Aswan · Philae Temple · El Gouna
- Includes
- 6 hotel nights with breakfast (Cairo 2, Luxor 1, El Gouna 3) · 4 nights aboard a Nile dahabiya · Flights from Cairo to Luxor, Aswan to Cairo and Cairo to Hurghada · Entrance fees for every site listed · Egyptologist guide on sightseeing days · All transfers by air-conditioned vehicle
- Best for
- Honeymooners · Couples wanting history and a beach in one trip · Those who enjoy a slow journey on the river
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, ideally reef-safe
- Sun hat and sunglasses
- Swimming costumes and a light towel for the Red Sea days
- Refillable water bottle
- Any personal medication
- A small day bag for boat trips
- A warm layer for river evenings and for flights
What to wear
- Light, breathable clothes for sun and heat
- Closed shoes for temples and uneven ground
- Clothes covering shoulders and knees at mosques and temples
- Sandals or water shoes for boats and the beach
- A light jacket or wrap for winter evenings on the water
Children & families
Children are welcome, although this holiday is designed for couples and some days are long. Each 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 under 6 and full price from 6. Hotel and dahabiya costs depend on the child's age and the room or cabin used; give us the age when you book and we will quote exactly. Because the dahabiya has a gangway and steps, we discuss its suitability for small children with you first.
Accessibility
Who can join this
Expect plenty of walking at temples and in tombs, over uneven stone and sand, with steps and long stretches in the sun. The dahabiya is reached by a gangway, and several visits use boats (Elephantine Island, Philae, Orange Bay and the semi-submarine), each with steps to manage. Day 8 combines a temple visit, two flights and a drive, so it is tiring. Our vehicles are private and air-conditioned, but we cannot promise wheelchair access at every site or aboard the dahabiya. Tell us what you need when you book and we will be frank about which parts will work for you.
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
The holiday includes three internal flights, a dahabiya, boats on the Red Sea and private road transfers, and vehicles vary, so we make no claim of a carbon saving. Guides and services come from local suppliers in Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and along the Red Sea coast, so a good share of your spending stays in the communities you visit. At Orange Bay and on the semi-submarine we ask guests not to stand on or touch coral and to wear reef-safe sun cream. Please bring a refillable water bottle.
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
01How long do we spend on the dahabiya?
Four nights, running from day 4 to day 7. You join the boat at Esna once the Luxor West Bank visits are done, and your last night aboard comes before the flights on day 8. The remaining six nights are in hotels: two in Cairo, one in Luxor and three at El Gouna.02What exactly is a dahabiya?
A traditional Nile sailing boat, smaller and simpler than a large cruise ship, so life on board is quiet and unhurried. We do not call it private, and the facilities depend on the standard you choose.03Is the holiday for couples only?
It is designed for couples, but we do not promise adults-only hotels or room upgrades. Tell us at booking that it is your honeymoon and we will say what is possible at the standard you choose.04Are the internal flights included?
Yes. Cairo to Luxor on day 3, then Aswan to Cairo and Cairo to Hurghada on day 8, are all booked for you. The airlines set the times. Flights to and from Egypt are not included.05Will I make my international flight?
Your holiday finishes at Hurghada Airport on day 11 with no internal flight that day, so flying home from Hurghada is straightforward. The pinch point is day 8, with two internal flights. Internal and international tickets are separate bookings, so a delay could cost you a connection. If you plan to fly home via Cairo, we would suggest an extra night there; if you must connect the same day, pick a late-evening or overnight flight. Travel insurance that covers missed connections is wise.06How demanding is day 8?
It is the longest day: Philae in the morning, the drive to Aswan Airport, two flights and an hour's drive to El Gouna. Timings follow the airlines. Most couples feel the beach days afterwards make up for it.07Is a guide with us on the river?
Yes. An English-speaking Egyptologist guides each visit, at Esna, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Elephantine Island and Philae, and the entrance tickets are included.08I am not a strong swimmer. Can I still snorkel?
You can. Snorkelling kit and life jackets come with the Orange Bay trip, and the semi-submarine shows the reef from inside the boat. Just tell your guide how comfortable you feel in the water.09What does the price not cover?
Flights to and from Egypt, the Egypt visa, tips for guides, drivers and crew, drinks and meals beyond those stated, the Khufu pyramid interior, premium tombs such as Tutankhamun's, and travel insurance.10When should we go?
October to April is the cooler spell and best for temples and tombs. The Red Sea stays pleasant in spring and autumn. Luxor and Aswan are very hot in summer, so sightseeing begins early.
Last updated Product ID: TOU-CAI-870023
At a glance
- Length
- 11 days · 10 nights
- Starts
- Wed, Fri or Sun
- Route
- Cairo → Luxor → Esna → Edfu → Kom Ombo → El Gouna → Hurghada
- Nights
- 2 Cairo · 1 Luxor · 4 Nile cruise · 3 El Gouna
- Includes
- Domestic flights, Egyptologist guide, entrance fees, transfers