5-Day Cairo, Aswan & Abu Simbel Holiday
Five days and four nights: a Nile dinner cruise, Philae Temple, a full day at Abu Simbel, a private boat around Elephantine Island and a last day at Giza. Both internal flights are included.
The short answer
5-Day Cairo, Aswan & Abu Simbel Holiday is a 5-day, 4-night trip to Cairo, Aswan and Abu Simbel: 2 nights in Cairo and 2 in Aswan. It includes domestic flights, an Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transfers. Prices start at £1,101 per person, two sharing (Essential, October–April).
02Overview
A first look
Not everyone has two weeks for Egypt. This holiday package fits Cairo and Aswan into five days and four nights, and it does so without a Nile cruise. You arrive in Cairo and spend your first evening on a dinner cruise on the river. The next day you fly south to Aswan and, once there, take a boat across to Philae, the island temple of Isis.
The third day goes to Abu Simbel, a full day by road to the colossal temples of Ramesses II. On day four you glide round Elephantine Island and the Botanical Garden in a private motorboat, then fly back to Cairo. Day five belongs to the Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum. You pick the standard of hotel when you book; the sightseeing is the same whichever you choose.
What lingers
- 01A dinner cruise with a show on the Nile on your first evening in Cairo
- 02Philae Temple, reached by boat across to its island at Aswan
- 03A full day at the Abu Simbel temples of Ramesses II
- 04A private motorboat around Elephantine Island and the Aswan Botanical Garden
- 05The Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum on the final day
- 06Both internal flights, Cairo to Aswan and back, arranged for you
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 £1,1013★ hotels | Aswan · 2 nightsHapi Hotel Aswan | £1,101May–Sep: from £1,069 | |
| Comfortfrom £1,1894★ hotels | Cairo · 2 nightsJewel Sport City | £1,189May–Sep: from £1,140 | |
| Classicfrom £1,2535★ hotels | £1,253May–Sep: from £1,149 | ||
| Prestigefrom £1,4385★ deluxe hotels | Aswan · 2 nightsTolip Aswan | £1,438May–Sep: from £1,370 | |
| Luxuryfrom £1,8065★ luxury hotels | Cairo · 2 nightsSt. Regis Cairo Aswan · 2 nightsThe Zen Wellness Resort Aswan | £1,806May–Sep: from £1,747 |
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
5 Days / 4 Nights · Cairo · Aswan · Philae Temple · Abu Simbel · Elephantine Island · Aswan Botanical Garden
- 1
You land at Cairo Airport and find your driver in the arrivals hall, where meet-and-assist is part of the service. He takes you straight to your hotel for a rest. Come the evening, you are collected again for a dinner cruise on the Nile: two hours afloat with a buffet, a live show and Cairo's lights reflected in the water. Once the boat docks, you are driven back to your room.
- 2
After breakfast you are taken to Cairo Airport and fly to Aswan, around an hour. Someone is waiting at the airport to take you to your hotel. Later you visit Philae Temple, a half-day outing of roughly four hours that fits around your flight. You cross the river by boat to Agilkia Island, the new home of Isis's temple since the High Dam flooded Philae's original island.
Your Egyptologist leads you along the Great Colonnade, into the inner sanctuaries and out to Trajan's Kiosk. Entrance fee and transport are included.
- 3
Today belongs to Abu Simbel, and the road from Aswan means an early departure. Ramesses II had two temples carved into the rock face here. The Great Temple has four colossal seated figures at its entrance, and next to it stands the smaller temple he built for Queen Nefertari. Entrance fees are included. You return to Aswan afterwards with the evening free.
Breakfast is included but lunch is not listed for this day, so pack something to eat on the way.
- 4
Your morning is spent on the water in a private motorboat, with a boatman and an English-speaking Egyptologist, for about four hours. You land on Elephantine Island to see its ancient ruins, then walk through the Aswan Botanical Garden. Tickets and bottled water are included.
A transfer then takes you to Aswan Airport for the flight to Cairo, which lasts about an hour, followed by a drive to your hotel. The airline sets the timings. Sleeping in Cairo gives you some slack before your final day.
- 5
A guide collects you from the hotel and drives you to the Giza Plateau to see the three great pyramids and the Great Sphinx. After lunch you move on to the Grand Egyptian Museum. A licensed Egyptologist, entrance fees for the Giza outdoor sites and the museum, an air-conditioned vehicle and bottled water are all included. You then go by transfer to Cairo Airport for the flight home.
We suggest an evening departure or later, so that you can enjoy the day without watching the time.
Bundled in
- Domestic flights
The fine print
What's included – and what is left out
Included
- Four nights in hotels in Cairo and Aswan with breakfast
- Internal flights from Cairo to Aswan and from Aswan to Cairo
- All airport and hotel transfers in an air-conditioned vehicle
- A Nile dinner cruise with a show in Cairo
- A half-day visit to Philae Temple, with the boat crossing and entrance fee
- A full-day road trip to Abu Simbel, with entrance fees (lunch not listed)
- A private motorboat trip to Elephantine Island and the Aswan Botanical Garden, with tickets and bottled water
- The Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum, with entrance fees, lunch and bottled water
- An English-speaking Egyptologist on the Philae, Elephantine and Giza days
- Meet and assist at the airport
Not included
- International flights to and from Egypt
- Egyptian entry visa
- Tips for guides and drivers
- Drinks and meals other than those stated
- The inside of the Khufu pyramid and other optional extras
- Travel insurance and personal spending
Field notes
From our Egyptologists
- 01
Abu Simbel means a pre-dawn departure, so take a snack for the road and plenty of water; the temple stop itself is brief and glaring.
- 02
Explore the Nubian lanes behind the museum on Elephantine Island, where painted houses and quiet paths feel a world away from the corniche.
- 03
On the flight to Aswan, ask for a window seat on the Nile side to watch the green valley cut through the desert below.
- 04
Do the Pyramids in the morning of the last day; an early start beats the midday heat on the Giza plateau.
Tailor it
Make it yours
You choose the standard of hotel when you book. Ask us about extra nights in Aswan or Cairo, or adding a Nile cruise or Luxor to lengthen the trip.
Your own specialist deals with each request before you book.
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- First-time visitors with around five days who want the south of Egypt as well as the pyramids. Suits couples, friends and solo travellers who are happy with two flights and a long road day to Abu Simbel.
Maybe not, if
- Travellers who need step-free access to every site, or who prefer a slow pace. Days 2, 3 and 5 are busy and day 3 begins early.
Honest assessment
The honest pluses and minuses, as our own team sees them after running this trip.
Highlights
- Philae, Abu Simbel and Elephantine Island over two nights in Aswan
- Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum on the final day
- Both internal flights and all transfers arranged for you
Things to Consider
- Day 3 is a full day with an early start
- Uneven stone, steps and little shade at the main sites
- There is no Nile cruise on this itinerary
Where it fits
A good fit for a first trip of about five days, or a short stop before a longer stay. There is no Nile cruise, so add one if a river trip is on your list.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Short breaks often choose either Cairo or Abu Simbel. This holiday package adds Philae and a private boat around Elephantine Island, with two nights in Aswan, and still finishes at Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum. The hotel standard 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 by air and road
- Accommodation
- Cairo and Aswan hotels with breakfast, standard chosen at booking
- Destinations
- Cairo · Aswan · Philae Temple · Abu Simbel · Elephantine Island · Aswan Botanical Garden · Giza Plateau · Great Sphinx · Grand Egyptian Museum
- Includes
- 4 hotel nights in Cairo and Aswan with breakfast · Flights from Cairo to Aswan and Aswan to Cairo · Nile dinner cruise with a show · Entrance fees to the listed sites · Egyptologist on the Philae, Elephantine and Giza days · All transfers in an air-conditioned vehicle
- Best for
- First-time visitors with limited time · Those who want Abu Simbel and Philae without a cruise · Travellers interested in history
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 regular medication
- Small day bag
- A snack and a light layer for the long Abu Simbel day
What to wear
- Light, breathable clothing for sun and heat
- Closed shoes for temples and uneven ground
- Clothing that covers shoulders and knees at temples and mosques
- A hat and sunglasses
- A light jacket for early starts and winter evenings by the river
Children & families
Children are welcome. Every 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 flight prices depend on the child's age, so we give you the exact figure once you tell us the age at booking. Day 3 means many hours in a vehicle, so consider whether your child will manage that.
Accessibility
Who can join this
This holiday involves a good deal of walking over uneven ancient stone, steps and sand, with little shade at Abu Simbel, Philae and Giza. The boats at Philae and Elephantine Island mean stepping down to a landing and into the boat. Day 3 is a long journey by road, and the Grand Egyptian Museum is very large. 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 and private road and boat transfers, and vehicle types vary, so we make no claim about carbon savings. Sightseeing is led by local Egyptologists and organised through local suppliers in Cairo and Aswan, so a good share of what you spend stays where you travel. The Elephantine trip is by motorboat with a local boatman. We ask guests to bring a refillable water bottle and to keep their hands off painted walls in the 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. The flights from Cairo to Aswan on day 2 and from Aswan to Cairo on day 4 are booked for you and included in the price, with a 23 kg bag allowance on the return. International flights are not.02Will I make my flight home?
Internal and international tickets are separate bookings, so a late domestic flight could cost you your connection. For that reason this holiday brings you back to Cairo on day 4 and gives you a night there before you leave. If you have to fly into Cairo and connect on the same day, book a late-evening or night international flight. Do take travel insurance that covers missed connections.03How tiring is the Abu Simbel day?
It is the longest day, with an early start and many hours by road to Abu Simbel and back. Breakfast is included, but lunch is not listed for that day, so pack a snack. There is nothing else planned.04How does this differ from your 4-day Cairo and Abu Simbel holiday?
It adds Philae Temple on day 2 and a private boat trip around Elephantine Island and the Botanical Garden on day 4, with two nights in Aswan.05Which hotels will we stay in?
You choose a standard when you book, from budget to luxury, and we confirm the hotels for your dates. The sightseeing is identical at every standard. Hotel nights include breakfast.06Is there a guide?
Yes. An English-speaking Egyptologist guides the Philae, Elephantine Island and Giza days. Entrance fees to the listed sites and transport are covered too. We confirm the guiding arrangement for the Abu Simbel day before you pay.07What is not included?
International flights, the Egyptian visa, tips for guides and drivers, drinks other than those stated, the inside of the Khufu pyramid and any meals not listed in the itinerary.08When is the best time to go?
October to April is cooler and the most comfortable for walking around the sites. Summers are very hot in Aswan and at Abu Simbel, so days start early.
Last updated Product ID: TOU-CAI-701343
At a glance
- Length
- 5 days · 4 nights
- Starts
- Daily
- Route
- Cairo → Aswan → Abu Simbel → Cairo
- Nights
- 2 Cairo · 2 Aswan
- Includes
- Domestic flights, Egyptologist guide, entrance fees, transfers