18-Day Grand Egypt Holiday
Giza, Alexandria, four nights sailing from Luxor to Aswan, Abu Simbel and four nights in Hurghada. Your hotels, the ship, the Cairo to Luxor flight and Egyptologist guides are all included.
The short answer
18-Day Grand Egypt Holiday is an 18-day, 17-night trip to Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor, Aswan and Fayoum: 5 nights in Cairo, 2 in Alexandria, 4 on a Nile cruise, 2 in Aswan and 4 in Hurghada. Starts on Mondays, Thursdays or Saturdays. It includes domestic flights, an Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transfers. Prices start at £3,979 per person, two sharing (Prestige, October–April).
02Overview
A first look
Most people have to choose between the pyramids, the Nile and the beach. On this holiday you do not. It opens with four nights in Cairo, long enough to give the pyramids, the Grand Egyptian Museum, a day in Fayoum and the mosques and churches of Islamic and Coptic Cairo a day each. Two nights in Alexandria follow, then a night back in Cairo for the Egyptian Museum.
You then fly to Luxor and join a Nile cruise ship for four nights, sailing to Aswan past Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae. Aswan has two hotel nights and Abu Simbel gets a day to itself. Afterwards a long drive takes you to Hurghada, where four nights by the Red Sea, with a day snorkelling at Orange Bay, let you unwind before the flight home. You choose the standard of hotels and ship when you book; the sightseeing does not change.
What lingers
- 01The Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum in a single guided day
- 02A day out to Fayoum and Wadi El Rayan, and a day in Islamic and Coptic Cairo
- 03Two nights in Alexandria taking in Qaitbay Citadel, Pompey's Pillar, the catacombs and the Bibliotheca Alexandrina
- 04A private half-day visit to the Egyptian Museum
- 05Four nights on a Nile cruise ship from Luxor to Aswan, full board, with the temples guided
- 06Abu Simbel on a day of its own from Aswan
- 07Four nights in Hurghada with a snorkelling day at Orange Bay, Giftun Island, and two free days
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prestigefrom £3,9795★ deluxe hotels · 5★ deluxe Nile cruises | Alexandria · 2 nightsHelnan Mamoura Nile Cruise · 4 nightsSonesta Moon Goddess · Nile Serenity Aswan · 2 nightsTolip Aswan Hurghada · 4 nightsHilton Hurghada Plaza | £3,979May–Sep: from £3,772 | |
| Luxuryfrom £5,8925★ luxury hotels · 5★ luxury Nile cruises | Cairo · 5 nightsSt. Regis Cairo Alexandria · 2 nightsSteigenberger Cecil Hotel Alexandria Nile Cruise · 4 nightsSonesta St. George I · Esmeralda Aswan · 2 nightsThe Zen Wellness Resort Aswan | £5,892May–Sep: from £4,974 |
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
18 Days / 17 Nights · Cairo · Giza Plateau · Fayoum · Islamic Cairo · Alexandria · Luxor
- 1
Your representative meets you in the arrivals hall at Cairo Airport and takes you to a private car for the one-hour journey to your hotel. There is nothing else on the programme today, so you can settle in and get some sleep ahead of four full days in the capital.
- 2
Your Egyptologist picks you up from the hotel for a full day. Entrance fees, the vehicle and bottled water are all covered. You start at the Giza Plateau with the three pyramids and the Great Sphinx, then break for lunch at a restaurant with a view. In the afternoon you go to the Grand Egyptian Museum to see the Tutankhamun collection, and return to the hotel afterwards.
- 3
Today is spent outside the city, in Fayoum and at Wadi El Rayan. A private car and driver collect you from the hotel, with an English-speaking guide alongside. Allow around 10 hours including the drives. Lunch is at a local restaurant, and you are back at the same Cairo hotel by evening.
- 4
A gentler day of around six hours with your private Egyptologist. First come the Sultan Hassan and Al-Rifa'i mosques, followed by the climb up to Saladin's Citadel and the alabaster Mosque of Muhammad Ali. You then drive to Old Coptic Cairo for the Hanging Church and the Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus.
There is a lunch break in Old Cairo, and the entrance fees to the mosques and the Citadel are included.
- 5
Today you travel from Cairo to Alexandria on the Mediterranean coast as part of a two-night package, which includes Wadi Natrun along the way. Breakfast and lunch come with the package. You reach your Alexandria hotel for the evening, and the city's main sights are left for the next day.
- 6
Alexandria's main day. You see the 15th-century Qaitbay Citadel by the harbour, Pompey's Pillar and the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, where Egyptian, Greek and Roman styles are blended. The day ends at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the modern library close to where the ancient one stood. It is a full day on foot that suits good walkers. You spend a second night in Alexandria.
- 7
Breakfast is followed by a visit to the Graeco-Roman Museum before the road back to Cairo. Later your private Egyptologist leads a four-hour, skip-the-line visit to the Egyptian Museum: masterpieces of the Old and Middle Kingdoms, royal linens, papyri and animal mummies, plus a coffee or tea break. The ticket does not cover the Mummies Room.
This is a full day, so the museum visit is timed around your return to Cairo.
- 8
A private car takes you from the hotel to Cairo Airport for the flight to Luxor, which we book for you; the airline sets the time. You are met in Luxor and driven into town. With your Egyptologist you then explore Karnak, including its Sacred Lake, and Luxor Temple, with the sightseeing fitted around the flight. You spend tonight on board your cruise ship, on full board.
- 9
Today you cross to the West Bank. You stop at the Colossi of Memnon, then go into three tombs in the Valley of the Kings, which your ticket covers, and end at Queen Hatshepsut's terraced mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahari. The cruise sightseeing package includes your Egyptologist, the entrance fees and the transport. Meals are on the ship.
- 10
The ship carries you upriver while you visit two temples. The Temple of Horus at Edfu is one of the best-preserved in the country. At Kom Ombo, the double temple sits right on the bank of the Nile. Between stops, relax on deck and watch the palms and fields of the valley go by.
- 11
Aswan is the setting for today's visits to Philae Temple, the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk, the huge piece of stone abandoned in its granite quarry. The guide, entrance tickets and transport are covered. You reach Philae by boat. This is your last night aboard.
- 12
You have breakfast on board, check out of the ship and move on to your hotel in Aswan. The cruise sightseeing is over and nothing is planned for the remainder of the day, so spend it beside the river as you like. Abu Simbel is tomorrow.
- 13
One site fills the whole day: the great temples of Ramesses II and Queen Nefertari at Abu Simbel, reached by road from Aswan. Entrance fees to the temples are included. There is little shade, so take a hat. You return to your Aswan hotel for a second night.
- 14
Today is for travelling. A private vehicle collects you from your Aswan hotel and takes you to Hurghada on the Red Sea, a drive of around 7 hours. Your luggage is looked after. No sightseeing is planned, so you simply check in at your hotel and enjoy the evening.
- 15
There is nothing on the programme today. After two weeks of sightseeing, go for a swim, find a quiet spot with a book or stroll along the seafront. Tell us if you would like an activity added.
- 16
A driver collects you from the hotel and takes you to the boat, which crosses to Orange Bay on Giftun Island. You get two guided snorkelling sessions, with equipment and a life jacket supplied, and a sunbed on the beach between them. A hot lunch and bottled water are included, and the boat returns you to Hurghada.
- 17
The last full day is yours. Do plenty or do nothing, and pack in the evening, because the airport transfer is tomorrow. If you would like a restaurant booked or a short activity added, let us know beforehand.
- 18
Following breakfast, you check out and a driver takes you to Hurghada Airport, around an hour away. The holiday ends with this transfer. Your international flight is not included, so choose a departure that leaves you plenty of time to get to the airport.
Bundled in
- Domestic flights
The fine print
What's included – and what is left out
Included
- Seventeen nights: four in Cairo, two in Alexandria, one more in Cairo, four on a Nile cruise ship, two in Aswan and four in Hurghada
- Breakfast at the hotels, full board on the ship and the lunches shown in the itinerary
- Internal flight from Cairo to Luxor on Day 8, with baggage allowance and taxes
- Airport arrival and departure transfers, and the private road transfer from Aswan to Hurghada
- A licensed Egyptologist, entrance fees and transport on the Giza, Islamic and Coptic Cairo, Egyptian Museum, Nile cruise sightseeing and Abu Simbel days
- Private car, driver and English-speaking guide for the Fayoum day
- The Orange Bay snorkelling day, with boat crossing, equipment, sunbed, hot lunch and water
- Meet and assist at Cairo 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, and meals other than those stated
- The Mummies Room at the Egyptian Museum and tombs beyond the three on your Valley of the Kings ticket
- Optional activities on the free days
- Travel insurance and personal spending
Field notes
From our Egyptologists
- 01
Treat the two free Hurghada days as proper recovery after weeks of sightseeing, with nothing planned but the sea.
- 02
Do your laundry during the two Alexandria nights and carry only a light day bag for the Fayoum trip.
- 03
Leave Aswan very early for Abu Simbel, as the temple looks best soon after it opens.
- 04
Take a hat and lots of water to Wadi El Rayan; the shoreline is exposed and shade is scarce.
Tailor it
Make it yours
You choose the standard of hotel and ship when you book. Ask us about adding activities on the free days in Hurghada, or extra nights in Cairo before your flight home.
Your own specialist deals with each request before you book.
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- Travellers with two and a half weeks who want the pyramids, the Nile temples, Alexandria, Abu Simbel and some seaside time in one plan. Suits couples, friends and solo travellers who are content with a flight, a ship and long drives.
Maybe not, if
- Travellers who need step-free access to every site, or who dislike long days on the road. Day 13 is a full day at Abu Simbel and Day 14 is a seven-hour transfer.
Honest assessment
The honest pluses and minuses, as our own team sees them after running this trip.
Highlights
- Cairo, Alexandria, the Nile, Abu Simbel and the Red Sea in a single plan
- Four nights in Cairo, with the sights spread over several lighter days
- Two free days in Hurghada at the end to recover
Things to Consider
- A long holiday with several full days and a 7-hour road transfer
- Uneven stone, steps and little shade at the major sites
- International flights are not included
Where it fits
A good fit for a first big trip to Egypt when you have more than a fortnight. Add nights in Cairo before your flight home if your connection is tight.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Many itineraries stop at Cairo and the Nile. This holiday adds Alexandria, a separate day at Abu Simbel and a Red Sea finish in Hurghada, with the single internal flight 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 Red Sea stay
- Accommodation
- Hotels in Cairo, Alexandria, Aswan and Hurghada plus a Nile cruise ship, standard chosen at booking
- Destinations
- Cairo · Giza Plateau · Fayoum · Islamic Cairo · Alexandria · Luxor · Karnak Temple · Valley of the Kings · Edfu · Kom Ombo · Aswan · Philae Temple
- Includes
- 13 hotel nights with breakfast and 4 nights on a Nile cruise ship, full board · Flight from Cairo to Luxor · Egyptologist, entrance fees and transport on the guided sightseeing days · Abu Simbel by road on a day of its own · Orange Bay snorkelling day with hot lunch · All listed transfers
- Best for
- Travellers who want to see all of Egypt on one holiday · History lovers who also want time by the sea · Anyone planning a big trip with a fortnight and a bit more to spare
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
- Swimming costume and a towel for the Red Sea days
- Any regular medication
- Small day bag and a light layer for the ship and the flights
What to wear
- Light, breathable clothing for sun and heat
- Closed shoes for temples, tombs and uneven ground
- Clothes that cover shoulders and knees at mosques, churches and temples
- A hat and sunglasses
- Swimwear and a cover-up for Orange Bay and the hotel beach
- A light jacket for evenings on the river in winter
Children & families
Children are welcome. 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 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. Do think about the long road days, the sun at Abu Simbel and the 18-day length before bringing young children.
Accessibility
Who can join this
This holiday involves a good deal of walking around large archaeological sites, over uneven stone and sand, with steps and narrow tomb passages, and long drives on Days 3, 13 and 14. Boarding the cruise ship, the boat to Orange Bay and the climb up to the Citadel in Cairo all involve steps or a gangway. 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 one internal flight, a Nile cruise ship, a motorboat at Orange Bay and long private 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, Alexandria, Luxor, Aswan and Hurghada, so a good share of what you spend stays in the places you visit. We ask guests to bring a refillable water bottle, to keep their hands off painted tomb walls and not to stand on or touch the coral while snorkelling.
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 flights does the holiday include?
One internal flight is included: Cairo to Luxor on Day 8. We book it and the airline decides the time. International flights are not included, and you fly home from Hurghada on Day 18.02How many nights do we spend on the Nile?
Four nights on board, from Luxor to Aswan, on full board. The other 13 nights are in hotels: four in Cairo, two in Alexandria, one more in Cairo, two in Aswan and four in Hurghada.03Does the holiday include Abu Simbel?
Yes. Day 13 is a full day at Abu Simbel by road from Aswan, with the temple entrance fees included. It has a day to itself, separate from the cruise.04What happens on Day 12?
After breakfast you leave the ship and move to your Aswan hotel. Nothing is planned for the rest of that day, which gives you a rest after four days on the ship.05How far is the drive from Aswan to Hurghada?
It takes around 7 hours in a private vehicle on Day 14. No sightseeing is planned, and your luggage is carried between hotels.06What is there to do in Hurghada?
Day 16 is a snorkelling day at Orange Bay on Giftun Island, with a hot lunch. Days 15 and 17 are free, and we can add other activities if you ask.07Will I catch my flight home?
You fly home from Hurghada, after a transfer-only Day 18. Should you plan to continue via Cairo, bear in mind that internal and international tickets are separate bookings, so a delayed internal flight could cost you the connection. We prefer a final night in Cairo. If you have to connect on the same day, pick a late-evening or night international flight and buy travel insurance that covers missed connections.08Which hotels and ship will we stay in?
You pick a standard when you book, from budget to luxury, and we confirm the hotels and the ship for your dates. The route and sightseeing are the same at every standard.09Is it a tiring holiday?
It has several full days: Giza, Fayoum, Alexandria, Abu Simbel and the 7-hour drive to Hurghada. The free days at the end by the Red Sea give you time to recover before the flight home.10What is not included?
International flights, the Egyptian visa, tips for guides, drivers and ship staff, drinks and meals other than those stated, the Mummies Room at the Egyptian Museum and any tombs beyond the three on your Valley of the Kings ticket.
Last updated Product ID: TOU-CAI-719254
At a glance
- Length
- 18 days · 17 nights
- Starts
- Mon, Thu or Sat
- Route
- Cairo → Fayoum → Alexandria → Luxor → Edfu → Kom Ombo → Aswan → Abu Simbel → Hurghada
- Nights
- 5 Cairo · 2 Alexandria · 4 Nile cruise · 2 Aswan · 4 Hurghada
- Includes
- Domestic flights, Egyptologist guide, entrance fees, transfers