Egypt Holidays · Style
5-Day Egypt Holidays
Five days is the short Egypt holiday for travellers who can't commit a full week. The most-booked 5-day shape is Cairo + Alexandria: three nights in Cairo for the Pyramids of Giza, the Grand Egyptian Museum, Old Cairo and the Khan El Khalili bazaar, then two nights in Alexandria for the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Pompey's Pillar, the Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa, and a slow Mediterranean lunch on the corniche. No Nile cruise, no domestic flights, no rushing. Suits first-time visitors with limited time, returning Egypt visitors who want to add Alexandria, and anyone combining Egypt with another Middle East itinerary.
7 matching holidays ·
BudgetNile Cruise Luxor to Aswan, 5 days 4 nights
Luxor
This five-day itinerary follows the Nile from Luxor to Aswan, with visits to temples and archaeological sites along the way. In Luxor, the programme includes Karnak Temple and the West Bank, including the Valley of the Kings. Further south, Edfu is known for its Ptolemaic Temple of Horus, while Kom Ombo is dedicated to the gods Sobek and Horus. In Aswan, the itinerary includes Philae Temple, which stands on Agilkia Island, and the Aswan High Dam. We arrange the accommodation, transfers and guided visits, with an English-speaking Egyptologist for sightseeing. Unlike shorter three-night Nile itineraries, this programme includes visits to both Edfu and Kom Ombo.
5 Days Nile Cruise from Luxor to Aswan
Nile (cruise route)
Travel from Luxor to Aswan aboard the dahabiya Nefertari, visiting Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae. Each day combines guided shore visits with relaxed sailing on the Nile, letting you see temples at quieter hours. Our Egyptologists meet you in Luxor and lead the scheduled excursions. We don't run group bus tours; shore visits are led by an Egyptologist rather than a coach guide. Unlike many three-night cruises, this five-day passage includes both Edfu and Kom Ombo with time to explore each temple properly. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator and we arrange your transfers, guided visits and onboard bookings in Egypt.
Budget5-day Abu Simbel and Lake Nasser cruise from Aswan
Lake Nasser
This five-day cruise from Aswan visits Nubian monuments along Lake Nasser and ends at Abu Simbel. Four nights are arranged aboard a 5-star cruise ship with full-board meals. An Egyptologist guides the included sightseeing, which covers Kalabsha Temple, Wadi El Seboua, Amada, Derr and the Tomb of Pennut. At Kasr Ibrim, the programme includes a photo stop from the sundeck. Transfers are by modern air-conditioned deluxe vehicle. Unlike a direct excursion to Abu Simbel, this route includes several temple sites along Lake Nasser. Discovery Tours Egypt, a licensed Egyptian tour operator, arranges the cruise and ground services through suppliers.
Premium5-Day Luxor to Aswan Nile Cruise for the 2027 Solar Eclipse
Luxor
Sail from Luxor to Aswan during the total solar eclipse on 2 August 2027, with reserved viewing from the vessel’s sun deck on Day 3. The route connects ancient sites including the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, Karnak Temple, the Temple of Horus at Edfu, Kom Ombo Temple and Philae Temple. We arrange the cruise programme, shore transport and an Egyptologist guide for the included shore programme. Four nights of full-board accommodation in a cruise cabin are included, with meals from lunch on embarkation day to breakfast on disembarkation day. The reserved eclipse viewing distinguishes this sailing from a standard Luxor to Aswan cruise. Monument entrance and sightseeing fees are not included.
PremiumDeluxe 5-Star 4 Nights Nile Cruise
A four-night cruise from Luxor to Aswan, visiting Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Abu Simbel and Philae. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator and our Egyptologists lead the guided visits throughout. You embark in Luxor after a morning visit to Karnak, dine onboard as the boat sails, then continue with guided walks and short drives to major sites. We use Egyptologist-led guiding throughout rather than audio guides or unaccompanied site visits. Unlike fly-in Abu Simbel options, this programme includes an early road transfer from the cruise for a full guided visit to the temples. Accommodation is full board on a five-star deluxe Nile cruise, with meals served onboard and local transfers organised by us.
PremiumDahabiya Nile Cruise, 4 Nights, 2 August 2027 Solar Eclipse
Esna
This deluxe 5-star dahabiya is an intimate, sail-powered way to travel on the Nile, with a slower rhythm than larger motor cruisers. Your shared-boat booking is priced per person sharing a cabin, with the vessel assigned at booking. The four-night sailing embarks on 2 August 2027, timed for the total solar eclipse visible in Egypt. Lateen sails, quiet riverbanks and smaller landing points define the experience, while a chef-prepared full-board menu covers lunch on embarkation day through breakfast on disembarkation day. Drinks beyond water with meals are generally extra. Unlike large Nile cruisers, a dahabiya can usually reach quieter stretches and smaller archaeological sites, although sailing is more dependent on wind conditions.
4 Nights Nile Cruise with Sightseeing from Luxor to Aswan
Nile (cruise route)
We operate this 4-night Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan with on-the-ground support from our licensed Egyptian team. You spend four nights on board with full board meals, guided shore excursions led by our English-speaking, licensed Egyptologists, and transfers by air-conditioned coach. Highlights include Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple in Luxor (part of the Ancient Thebes World Heritage Site), the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut's Temple on the West Bank, the temple of Horus at Edfu and the twin temple of Kom Ombo, and Philae Temple and the Unfinished Obelisk in Aswan. Standard site entrance fees are included for the sites listed below. We are licensed by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism (ETAA) and operate as your local destination management company in Egypt.
Practical questions
What clients ask about this style of holiday.
01Is 5 days enough for Egypt from the UK?
Enough to see Cairo and Alexandria well – Pyramids, Grand Egyptian Museum, Khan El Khalili, Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Pompey's Pillar, the Catacombs, and the Mediterranean corniche. Not enough for Luxor, Aswan, the Valley of the Kings, a Nile cruise, or Abu Simbel – those need 7 days minimum. If you want the temples and the Nile cruise on a first trip, plan for 7.
02Can I add Luxor to a 5-day Egypt holiday?
Yes, but at 5 days it becomes a stretch. The realistic 5-day Cairo + Luxor shape is 2 nights Cairo, fly Luxor, 2 nights Luxor (Karnak + Valley of the Kings), fly back. You skip Alexandria, the cruise, and Aswan entirely. We typically recommend extending to 7 days if Luxor is the goal.
03How much does a 5-day Egypt holiday cost from the UK?
Private 5-day Egypt holidays (Cairo + Alexandria) start around £825 per person at 5-star, twin share, all transfers and admissions included. Mid-range (4-star) runs £620–£780 per person. Premium tier (suite hotels at the Marriott Mena House and the Steigenberger Cecil) is £1,200–£1,800 per person. UK flights £450–£700 from London or the regional hubs are separate. Add 25–35% for Christmas, New Year and the school half-terms.
04When is the best time for a 5-day Egypt holiday?
October to April for the most comfortable weather – Cairo daytime temperatures sit in the high-teens to mid-20s°C, dry, low humidity. October half-term and February half-term are peak UK weeks. Alexandria is at its best between April and October when the Mediterranean is warm enough for a corniche dinner outside; the city is genuinely chilly and grey from December to February.
05Do UK passport holders need a visa for a 5-day Egypt holiday?
Yes. British passport holders need an Egypt visa – the US$30 e-Visa, applied for online at visa2egypt.gov.eg (single entry, 3–5 working days to issue), or the US$36 visa bought on arrival at the digital consoles in the immigration hall. Passport must be valid 6+ months beyond your arrival date. Full visa guidance is sent with every confirmed booking.
From the Cairo desk
Found the shape. Now make it yours.
Every Egypt holiday we sell is tailor-made – your dates, your party, your pace. Send a short brief or talk to the Cairo desk direct. Replies inside one working day.
– Suhaila & the Cairo team · 38 years · 6 offices · IATA #90255546