13-Day Cairo, Alexandria, Nile & White Desert Holiday
Giza, Alexandria, four nights aboard a Nile cruise ship from Luxor to Aswan, Abu Simbel and a night in a simple White Desert camp. Internal flights, hotels and guiding are all included.
The short answer
13-Day Cairo, Alexandria, Nile & White Desert Holiday is a 13-day, 12-night trip to Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor, Aswan and Abu Simbel. Starts on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays or Fridays. It includes domestic flights, an Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transfers. Prices start at £2,427 per person, two sharing (Essential, October–April).
02Overview
A first look
Thirteen days gives Egypt room to breathe, from the Mediterranean coast to the edge of the Sahara. The holiday opens in Cairo with a Nile dinner cruise and a day among the Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum. A long day out then takes you north to Alexandria.
Next you fly to Luxor and join your Nile cruise ship for four nights, heading upriver to Aswan. Along the way you see Karnak, Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae, and Abu Simbel by road from Aswan. Back in Cairo you visit the Citadel, Saqqara, Memphis and Dahshur. Near the end there is a two-day 4x4 trip to the White Desert, with one night in a simple camp. We organise the flights, transfers, hotels and cruise. You pick the standard of hotel and ship when you book.
What lingers
- 01A Nile dinner cruise with a live show on your first evening in Cairo
- 02The Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum in a single guided day
- 03A long day out to Alexandria on the Mediterranean coast
- 04Four nights on a Nile cruise ship from Luxor to Aswan, full board, taking in Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae
- 05The Valley of the Queens on Luxor's West Bank
- 06Abu Simbel by road from Aswan, then Philae and the High Dam
- 07The Step, Bent and Red Pyramids, with Saqqara and Memphis, on a day out from Cairo
- 08A two-day 4x4 trip to the White Desert with a night in a simple camp
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 £2,4273★ hotels · well-priced Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 4 nightsNephtis · Magic I | £2,427May–Sep: from £2,214 | |
| Comfortfrom £2,5794★ hotels · 5★ Nile cruises | Cairo · 7 nightsJewel Sport City Nile Cruise · 4 nightsLady Mary · Tower Prestige | £2,579May–Sep: from £2,425 | |
| Classicfrom £2,8625★ hotels · 5★ Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 4 nightsJaz Crown Jubilee · Stephanie | £2,862May–Sep: from £2,425 | |
| Prestigefrom £3,3235★ deluxe hotels · 5★ deluxe Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 4 nightsNile Excellence · Nile Serenity | £3,323May–Sep: from £3,198 | |
| Luxuryfrom £5,5165★ luxury hotels · 5★ luxury Nile cruises | Cairo · 7 nightsSt. Regis Cairo Nile Cruise · 4 nightsSonesta St. George I · Esmeralda | £5,516May–Sep: from £4,456 | |
| Signature Collectionfrom £7,317Iconic heritage vessels · landmark hotels | Cairo · 7 nightsFour Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza Nile Cruise · 4 nightsHistoria | £7,317May–Sep: from £6,009 |
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
13 Days / 12 Nights · Cairo · Giza · Saqqara · Alexandria · Luxor · Edfu
- 1
Your driver meets you in the arrivals hall at Cairo Airport and takes you to your hotel, where you can rest after the flight. In the evening you are collected for a Nile dinner cruise. The outing lasts about three hours including the transfers, with views from the top deck, a buffet dinner and a live show, and you are driven back to your hotel afterwards.
- 2
A full day of around eight hours with your English-speaking Egyptologist. You begin on the Giza Plateau with the pyramids and the Great Sphinx, then stop for lunch at a restaurant with a view. In the afternoon you go to the Grand Egyptian Museum. Entrance fees, the guide, bottled water and the air-conditioned vehicle are all included, and you return to your hotel for a second night in Cairo.
- 3
You set off early for a long day in Alexandria, Egypt's port on the Mediterranean. Allow about 12 hours including the drives there and back, so this day suits keen walkers. An English-speaking Egyptologist guide and a private vehicle stay with you all day. Lunch is not included, so you are free to choose where you eat. You return to Cairo to sleep.
- 4
After breakfast you are taken to Cairo Airport for your flight to Luxor. The airline sets the time of the flight, and the sightseeing is planned around it. A driver meets you and you join your Nile cruise ship. With your English-speaking Egyptologist you explore Karnak, Egypt's largest temple complex, including the Sacred Lake, and Luxor Temple.
On the cruise days the guide, the entrance fees and the transport are all included. You spend the night on board.
- 5
A full day across the river on Luxor's West Bank with your Egyptologist. You visit the Colossi of Memnon, the Valley of the Kings, where three tombs are included, and the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari. The Valley of the Queens half-day tour is added to the day.
The guide, the entrance fees and the transport for the cruise sightseeing are included, and you go back to the ship for the night.
- 6
The ship carries on upriver. With your Egyptologist you go ashore at the Temple of Edfu, among the best-preserved temples in Egypt, and at the Temple of Kom Ombo, which sits right on the bank of the Nile. The guide, entrance fees and transport are included. Between visits you can relax on deck, enjoy your meals on board and watch the river go by.
- 7
You leave the ship in Aswan in the small hours, at about 04:00, and drive to Abu Simbel. Your English-speaking Egyptologist leads the visit, with entrance fees and transport included. You are back on board around lunchtime and the afternoon is yours, to relax on deck or wander through Aswan. You spend the night on the ship.
- 8
After breakfast you check out of the ship in Aswan. Your Egyptologist shows you Philae Temple and the High Dam, around three to four hours of sightseeing. The airline sets the time of the flight, and the visits are planned around it. You are driven to Aswan Airport for the flight to Cairo, and a driver takes you on to your hotel to sleep.
- 9
This is a half-day tour to the Salah El Din Citadel, the fortress on the hill above the city. The remainder of the day is yours, to rest, shop or wander as you like. You stay in the same Cairo hotel as the night before.
- 10
- 11
You are collected early from your hotel in a private air-conditioned vehicle and driven to Bahariya Oasis. From there a local desert driver-guide takes you by 4x4 through the Black Desert and past Crystal Mountain to the White Desert and its chalk rock formations. Lunch and dinner are included.
You sleep in a simple camp, in a tent with a mattress, sleeping bag and blankets, using shared facilities. We confirm the camp arrangements and the final price for the desert part with you before any payment.
- 12
Rise to see the sun come up over the White Desert, with breakfast at the camp. You then drive back to Cairo in the morning and have the afternoon free. Protected-area fees and bottled water are included. Tonight you sleep in a Cairo hotel again, a comfortable cushion before your flight home.
- 13
You have breakfast and check out. A private driver takes you to Cairo Airport for your flight home, and a representative helps with your luggage. The airport transfer is included.
Bundled in
- Domestic flights
The fine print
What's included – and what is left out
Included
- Eleven hotel nights with breakfast (all in Cairo: three before the cruise, three after it and one before departure), four nights on a Nile cruise ship on full board, and one night in a simple desert camp
- Internal flights from Cairo to Luxor and from Aswan to Cairo
- All airport, hotel and quayside transfers in an air-conditioned vehicle
- A Nile dinner cruise with a live show in Cairo
- An English-speaking Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transport on the cruise sightseeing days and on the Giza, Abu Simbel and other listed tours
- Lunch on the Giza day
- The White Desert trip: 4x4 with a local desert driver-guide, a tent camp with mattress, sleeping bag and blankets, lunch and dinner on the first day, breakfast on the second, protected-area fees and bottled water
- Meet and assist at the airport
- All service charges and taxes
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 early for softer light and fewer coach arrivals.
- 02
Karnak’s first courtyard is quieter before midmorning group entries.
- 03
Philae boat crossings are usually calmer before 9am.
- 04
Carry a scarf for mosque visits in Cairo, with shoulders and knees covered.
- 05
Bahariya can turn cold after sunset, even outside winter.
Tailor it
Make it yours
You choose the standard of hotel and ship when you book. Ask us about 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
- Travellers who want a full Egypt holiday: Cairo, a Nile cruise, Abu Simbel and a night in the White Desert. Suits couples, friends and solo travellers who are happy with two flights, several long days and a simple desert camp.
Maybe not, if
- Travellers who need step-free access to every site, an en-suite room every night, or a slow pace in one place.
Honest assessment
The honest pluses and minuses, as our own team sees them after running this trip.
Highlights
- The pyramids, Alexandria, the main Nile temples, Abu Simbel and the White Desert in one holiday
- Internal flights and all transfers arranged for you
- Four nights on a ship, so no repacking between Luxor and Aswan
Things to Consider
- Long days: Alexandria on day 3, the 04:00 Abu Simbel start on day 7 and the desert trip on days 11 and 12
- Uneven stone, steps and little shade at the major sites
- One night in a simple tent camp with shared facilities
Where it fits
A good fit for travellers who want more than the classic route and are happy to spend a night in a simple desert camp.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Many operators sell Cairo, the Nile and the White Desert as separate trips. This holiday joins them in thirteen 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 a desert camp
- Accommodation
- Hotels, a Nile cruise ship and one simple desert camp night; standard of hotel and ship chosen at booking
- Destinations
- Cairo · Giza · Saqqara · Alexandria · Luxor · Edfu · Kom Ombo · Abu Simbel · Aswan · Bahariya Oasis · White Desert
- Includes
- 11 hotel nights with breakfast · 4 nights on a Nile cruise ship, full board · 1 night in a simple White Desert camp · Flights from Cairo to Luxor and Aswan to Cairo · Entrance fees on the listed tours · English-speaking Egyptologist on sightseeing days · All transfers in an air-conditioned vehicle
- Best for
- Active travellers · Travellers interested in history · Those wanting the pyramids, Abu Simbel and a night in the desert in one trip
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
- A warm layer for the desert night and a torch
- Any regular medication
- A small day bag and a soft overnight bag for the desert trip
What to wear
- Light, breathable clothing for sun and heat
- Closed shoes for temples, tombs and sand
- Clothing that covers shoulders and knees at mosques and temples
- A hat and sunglasses
- Warm clothes for the desert night, which turns cold, and a light jacket for evenings on the river in winter
Children & families
Children are welcome on the sightseeing days. 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. Hotel and cabin prices depend on the child's age and the room or cabin used. The desert night is in a simple tent camp with shared facilities and a long drive either side, so tell us your child's age when you book and we will confirm what suits your family before any payment.
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, the Valley of the Kings and Abu Simbel have long, open stretches with little shade, and the Abu Simbel road trip starts at about 04:00. Boarding the ship and the 4x4 in the desert all involve steps or a high climb up. The desert night is spent in a simple tent camp with shared facilities, so it does not suit anyone who needs an en-suite room or step-free access. 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 Nile cruise ship, private road transfers and a 4x4 in the desert, 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, Luxor and Aswan, and the desert trip runs with local desert driver-guides, so much of what you spend stays in the places you visit. In the White Desert we ask guests to take all rubbish away with them, keep to the tracks and leave the rock formations as they find them.
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 Luxor on day 4 and from Aswan to Cairo on day 8 are booked for you and included. The airline schedule sets the times. International flights are not included.02How many nights do we spend on the Nile?
Four nights aboard, travelling from Luxor to Aswan on full board. Cruise sightseeing includes an English-speaking Egyptologist, the entrance fees and the transport. The seven other hotel nights are in Cairo with breakfast.03Where do we sleep in the White Desert?
In a simple camp: a tent with a mattress, sleeping bag and blankets, and shared facilities. Lunch and dinner are included on the first desert day and breakfast on the second. We confirm the camp arrangements and the final price for the desert part with you before you pay.04How cold does the desert get at night?
Very cold, even after a warm day. Pack a warm layer and a torch. A sleeping bag and blankets are provided at the camp.05Does the holiday include Abu Simbel?
Yes. On day 7 you leave the ship in Aswan in the small hours, at about 04:00, and drive to Abu Simbel. Entrance fees are included. You are back on board around lunchtime and the afternoon is free.06How early is the Abu Simbel start?
Around 04:00 on day 7, so plan an early night on day 6. You are back on board around lunchtime and have the afternoon to yourself.07Is the Alexandria day too much?
It is a long day, around 12 hours including the drives each way, and best for keen walkers. You come back to Cairo to sleep.08Will I make my international flight?
Domestic and international tickets are separate bookings, so a delayed internal flight can cost you the connection. Here your last internal flight is on day 8 and you spend the final two nights in Cairo after the desert, so you are in the city well before you leave. If you add a same-day connection, choose a late-evening or night flight home. Take travel insurance that covers missed connections.09What is not included?
International flights, the Egyptian visa, tips for guides, drivers and ship staff, drinks other than those stated, meals not listed, the inside of the Khufu pyramid and premium tombs such as Tutankhamun's.10Which hotels and ship will we have?
You choose a standard when you book, from budget to luxury, and we confirm the hotels and ship for your dates. The sightseeing is identical at every standard.
Last updated Product ID: TOU-CAI-459373
At a glance
- Length
- 13 days · 12 nights
- Starts
- Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu or Fri
- Route
- Cairo → Alexandria → Luxor → Edfu → Kom Ombo → Abu Simbel → Cairo
- Includes
- Domestic flights, Egyptologist guide, entrance fees, transfers