3-Day Egypt Short Break Holiday: Cairo & Luxor
The Pyramids and the Sphinx, a boat on the Nile at sunset and Karnak Temple. Two nights, both internal flights and a private Egyptologist are all included.
The short answer
3-Day Egypt Short Break Holiday: Cairo & Luxor is a 3-day, 2-night trip to Cairo and Luxor: 1 night in Cairo and 1 in Luxor. It includes an Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transfers. Prices start at £763 per person, two sharing (Essential, October–April).
02Overview
A first look
If you only have a few days, Egypt is still within reach. This short break holiday packs the famous sights into three days, and we will be straight with you: it moves quickly.
You arrive in Cairo and see the city by night. Day 2 is a long one. The Pyramids and the Sphinx come first, then a flight to Luxor and a private boat out on the Nile as the sun sets. On day 3 you walk through Karnak Temple and fly back to Cairo to head home.
That means three days and two flights, with no room for the Egyptian Museum or the Valley of the Kings. If you want those, have a look at our longer Cairo and Luxor holidays. We arrange the flights, transfers, two hotel nights and the guiding, and you pick the standard of hotel when you book.
What lingers
- 01Cairo after dark: Cairo Tower and the alleys of Khan el-Khalili
- 02The Giza Pyramids and the Sphinx on a private half-day visit
- 03A private motorboat out to Banana Island as the sun sets on the Nile
- 04Karnak Temple with your own licensed Egyptologist
- 05Both internal flights, Cairo to Luxor and back, booked for you
- 06Two hotel nights with breakfast and every transfer arranged
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 £7633★ hotels | Luxor · 1 nightEl Mesala Hotel Luxor | £763May–Sep: from £738 | |
| Comfortfrom £8004★ hotels | Cairo · 1 nightJewel Sport City Luxor · 1 nightIberotel Luxor by JAZ | £800May–Sep: from £785 | |
| Classicfrom £8235★ hotels | £823May–Sep: from £805 | ||
| Prestigefrom £8625★ deluxe hotels | Luxor · 1 nightSteigenberger Nile Palace Luxor | £862May–Sep: from £871 | |
| Luxuryfrom £1,1205★ luxury hotels | Cairo · 1 nightSt. Regis Cairo Luxor · 1 nightHilton Luxor Resort & Spa | £1,120May–Sep: from £1,101 |
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
Day by day
Detailed itinerary
3 Days / 2 Nights · Cairo · Cairo Tower · Khan el-Khalili · Giza Plateau · Great Sphinx · Luxor
- 1
Our representative greets you in the arrivals hall at Cairo Airport, and a private driver takes you on to your hotel. After you have freshened up, you are picked up for a private tour of Cairo once the sun has gone down. From the top of Cairo Tower you look out over the city and the river, and then you wander the narrow lanes of Khan el-Khalili, the old bazaar.
No dinner is arranged, so you are free to eat where you fancy.
- 2
Expect a long, full day. Once you have had breakfast, your Egyptologist takes you to Giza for the morning, where you see the Pyramids and the Sphinx up close. The guide, entrance fees and private vehicle are all included. You are then driven to Cairo Airport to catch the flight to Luxor, and the sightseeing is planned around your departure time.
A driver meets you in Luxor and takes you to your hotel. Later in the afternoon a private motorboat takes you out to Banana Island, with fruit, mint tea and water on board, as the sun sets over the river.
- 3
Breakfast is followed by a half-day visit to Karnak, the biggest temple complex in Luxor, with a private licensed Egyptologist at your side. The Sacred Lake is part of the visit, and the guide, tickets and vehicle are included. Afterwards you are driven to Luxor Airport for the flight to Cairo, and a private transfer then takes you to the airport for your journey home.
As this is the last leg, a late-evening or night flight home is the safest choice, because it leaves room for any delay.
Bundled in
- Domestic flights
The fine print
What's included – and what is left out
Included
- Two hotel nights, one in Cairo and one in Luxor, with breakfast on days 2 and 3
- Internal flights Cairo to Luxor and Luxor to Cairo
- All airport and hotel transfers in a private air-conditioned vehicle
- Private evening tour of Cairo after dark, taking in Cairo Tower and Khan el-Khalili
- Half-day visit to the Giza Pyramids and the Sphinx, with transport
- Private motorboat to Banana Island at sunset, with fruit, mint tea and water
- Half-day Karnak Temple visit with a private licensed Egyptologist and entrance tickets, including the Sacred Lake
- Entrance fees for the sites listed in the itinerary
- Meet and assist at Cairo Airport
- All service charges and taxes
Not included
- International flights to and from Egypt
- Egypt entry visa
- Tips for guides and drivers
- Meals and drinks apart from the breakfasts stated
- Entry inside the Great Pyramid and any extra tickets at the sites
- Travel insurance and personal spending
Field notes
From our Egyptologists
- 01
Take the Cairo Tower lift while there is still daylight, then watch the Nile and the Giza skyline switch to lights.
- 02
Wander Khan el-Khalili at your own pace; a polite smile and no thanks is all you need to move on from a stall.
- 03
Pack a thin jumper for the Banana Island boat ride, as the air over the river cools quickly at sunset.
- 04
Bring a sunhat and a bottle of water for Karnak, which has little cover across its open courts and gateways.
Tailor it
Make it yours
Pick the standard of hotel when you book. Ask us about a final night in Cairo, extra nights in Luxor, or one of our longer Cairo and Luxor holidays that add the Egyptian Museum and the Valley of the Kings.
Your own specialist deals with each request before you book.
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- Travellers with just a few days who want the Pyramids and a Nile temple in a single trip. Suits couples, friends and solo travellers who are happy with a packed schedule and some walking on uneven ground.
Maybe not, if
- Travellers hoping for the Egyptian Museum or the Valley of the Kings, who need step-free access to every site, or who like a slow pace. Day 2 is a long one.
Honest assessment
The honest pluses and minuses, as our own team sees them after running this trip.
Highlights
- The Pyramids, the Sphinx and Karnak in just three days
- Both internal flights and all transfers taken care of
- A private boat on the Nile at sunset
Things to Consider
- A brisk pace with two flights and a long day 2
- No Egyptian Museum or Valley of the Kings
- The last-day departure calls for a late-evening or night flight home
Where it fits
A good first taste of Egypt when time is tight. If you want the Egyptian Museum, the Valley of the Kings or a Nile cruise, look at one of our longer Cairo and Luxor holidays.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Plenty of short Egypt breaks stay in Cairo with one day out. This one flies on to Luxor so you see the Pyramids and a Nile temple within three days. It is fast, which is why the Egyptian Museum and the Valley of the Kings are left out.
Compare
Similar tours to compare
On the ground
Your route
Snapshot
Good to know
- Travel style
- Short guided break with two internal flights
- Accommodation
- Cairo and Luxor hotels, standard chosen at booking
- Destinations
- Cairo · Cairo Tower · Khan el-Khalili · Giza Plateau · Great Sphinx · Luxor · Banana Island · Karnak Temple
- Includes
- 2 hotel nights with breakfast · Flights Cairo to Luxor and back · Cairo after dark, Giza Pyramids and Sphinx · Sunset motorboat to Banana Island · Karnak Temple with a private Egyptologist · All transfers in a private vehicle
- Best for
- Travellers short of time · First-timers wanting a quick introduction · A few extra days added to a trip nearby
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 a good grip
- Sun cream, SPF 30 or higher
- Sun hat and sunglasses
- Reusable water bottle
- Any regular medication
- Small day bag for the flights and sightseeing
- A light layer for the river in the evening
What to wear
- Light, breathable clothes for sun and heat
- Closed shoes for temples and uneven ground
- Clothes that cover shoulders and knees at temples and mosques
- A hat and sunglasses
- A light jacket for the Nile at sunset and Cairo's winter evenings
Children & families
Children are welcome, although three days with two flights and a long day 2 can wear out young ones. Each 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 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
This is a short break with a great deal packed in. Giza and Karnak mean walking on uneven stone and sand, with some steps and little shade. Day 2 begins early and includes a flight and a boat trip, and getting into the motorboat means stepping across from the bank. The 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 will work.
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
The holiday uses two internal flights 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 and Luxor, so much of what you spend stays in the communities you visit. We ask guests to carry a refillable water bottle and to stay on the marked paths at the sites.
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
01Can I really see Egypt in three days?
You can get a taste of it. This break covers Cairo by night, the Pyramids and the Sphinx, a sunset on the Nile and Karnak Temple. The Egyptian Museum and the Valley of the Kings are not included. For those, one of our longer Cairo and Luxor holidays is the better fit.02Will I make my international flight?
Domestic and international tickets are separate bookings, so a late flight from Luxor could cost you your onward connection. On this break you land in Cairo on the last day and go straight to the airport. We recommend a late-evening or night flight home, and travel insurance that covers missed connections. If you would like more peace of mind, we can add a final night in Cairo.03Are the internal flights included?
Yes. The flights from Cairo to Luxor on day 2 and Luxor to Cairo on day 3 are booked for you and are in the price. Times are set by the airline, and we plan the sightseeing around them. International flights are not included.04How hard is day 2?
It is the busiest day: Giza in the morning, a flight to Luxor, then a sunset boat trip. It is long, so wear comfortable shoes and keep water to hand. Most fit travellers cope well.05What hotels will we stay in?
You pick a standard when you book, from budget to luxury, and we name the hotels for your dates. There is one night in Cairo and one in Luxor. The sightseeing is the same whichever standard you choose.06Is this holiday private?
Yes. Transfers, the Giza visit, the evening tour of Cairo, the boat to Banana Island and the Karnak visit are all private to your party, and a licensed Egyptologist guides the sightseeing.07What is left out of the price?
International flights, the Egypt entry visa, tips, travel insurance, drinks, personal spending and any meal except the two breakfasts. No dinner is included on either night.08When should I go?
October to April is the most comfortable time, with cooler days for walking round Giza and Karnak. Summer in Luxor can top 40 C, so days start early. Christmas, New Year and Easter are busier.
Last updated Product ID: TOU-CAI-933865
At a glance
- Length
- 3 days · 2 nights
- Starts
- Daily
- Route
- Cairo → Luxor → Cairo
- Nights
- 1 Cairo · 1 Luxor
- Includes
- Egyptologist guide, entrance fees, transfers