6-Day Cairo, Luxor, Aswan & Abu Simbel Holiday
Five hotel nights, two internal flights and your own Egyptologist, from the Giza pyramids to Abu Simbel. No ship, and no cabin to unpack.
The short answer
6-Day Cairo, Luxor, Aswan & Abu Simbel Holiday is a 6-day, 5-night trip to Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and Abu Simbel: 2 nights in Cairo, 1 in Luxor and 2 in Aswan. It includes domestic flights, an Egyptologist guide and transfers. Prices start at £1,411 per person, two sharing (Essential, October–April).
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 £1,4113★ hotels | Luxor · 1 nightEl Mesala Hotel Luxor Aswan · 2 nightsHapi Hotel Aswan | £1,411May–Sep: from £1,368 | |
| Comfortfrom £1,5264★ hotels | Cairo · 2 nightsJewel Sport City Luxor · 1 nightIberotel Luxor by JAZ | £1,526May–Sep: from £1,467 | |
| Classicfrom £1,5955★ hotels | £1,595May–Sep: from £1,492 | ||
| Prestigefrom £1,7995★ deluxe hotels | Luxor · 1 nightSteigenberger Nile Palace Luxor Aswan · 2 nightsTolip Aswan | £1,799May–Sep: from £1,713 |
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.
Day by day
Detailed itinerary
6 Days / 5 Nights · Cairo · Giza · Luxor · Edfu · Kom Ombo · Aswan
- 1
A driver greets you in the arrivals hall at Cairo Airport and drives you to your hotel. The remainder of the day is free for a rest, and your Egyptologist will confirm the pickup time for the following morning.
- 2
A full day in the company of your Egyptologist. You begin on the Giza plateau with the pyramids of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure and the Great Sphinx, before going on to the Grand Egyptian Museum, where the Tutankhamun galleries and the colossal royal statues await. Lunch is provided. You then return to your Cairo hotel for a second night.
- 3
You are taken from your Cairo hotel to the airport for the flight to Luxor, where your guide is waiting. On the West Bank you see the Valley of the Kings, the terraced mortuary temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari and the Colossi of Memnon. Back on the East Bank you walk through Karnak and Luxor Temple. It is a long day, so comfortable shoes are a good idea. You spend the night in Luxor.
- 4
You leave Luxor by private car and follow the Nile southwards. The first halt is Edfu, home to the Temple of Horus, one of the best-preserved temples in the country. Next comes Kom Ombo, a double temple dedicated to Sobek and Haroeris, where your Egyptologist talks you through the carved scenes. You reach Aswan in the afternoon and check in to your hotel.
- 5
An early start takes you by road through the desert to Abu Simbel, where the Great Temple of Ramesses II and the little temple of Queen Nefertari stand on the higher ground to which they were moved before the High Dam flooded the valley. You are back in Aswan around midday. In the afternoon a short boat ride brings you to Philae, the island sanctuary of Isis. A second night in Aswan follows.
- 6
After breakfast you visit the Aswan High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk, the enormous granite shaft abandoned in the quarry when it cracked. A transfer then takes you to Aswan airport for the flight to Cairo. The tour ends when you land in the afternoon; your onward international flight from Cairo Airport is not included.
A note on timing: this tour suits guests whose flight home leaves Cairo late on the evening of day 6, from about 8 pm. If your flight departs earlier, please speak to us before you book.
02Overview
A first look
Egypt rewards a longer stay, but six days can still take in the great sites if the days are planned carefully. This holiday is built around hotels alone: two nights in Cairo, one in Luxor and two in Aswan, with internal flights covering the long stretches so that the time goes on seeing things rather than sitting in a car. The second day is given to the pyramids at Giza, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum. On the third you fly to Luxor and see both banks of the Nile in a single day: Karnak and Luxor Temple, then the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's temple and the Colossi of Memnon. The fourth is a private drive south, calling at Edfu and Kom Ombo on the way to Aswan. On the fifth you rise early for Abu Simbel and spend the afternoon at Philae. The last morning takes in the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk before you fly back to Cairo. Prefer to sleep afloat? Our Nile cruises follow the same river; this holiday keeps to hotels throughout.
What lingers
- 01The pyramids at Giza, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum, all in a single guided day
- 02Both banks of Luxor in a day: the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's temple, Karnak and Luxor Temple
- 03A private drive from Luxor to Aswan, stopping at the temples of Edfu and Kom Ombo
- 04Abu Simbel by road from Aswan, with Philae Temple in the afternoon
- 05The High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk before the flight back to Cairo
- 06Hotels for all five nights, with no cruise ship involved
Bundled in
- Domestic flights
- Airport transfer
- Private transfer
- Private Egyptologist
- All entry tickets
- Breakfast
The fine print
What's included – and what is left out
Included
- Five nights in hotels with breakfast: two in Cairo, one in Luxor, two in Aswan
- Internal flights from Cairo to Luxor and from Aswan back to Cairo
- Private transfers to and from the airports and hotels named in the itinerary
- Day 2 at Giza: the pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum, lunch included
- Day 3 in Luxor: Karnak, Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's temple and the Colossi of Memnon
- Day 4 by private car from Luxor to Aswan, calling at the temples of Edfu and Kom Ombo
- Day 5 at Abu Simbel by road, then Philae Temple
- Day 6 at the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk
- A licensed Egyptologist for each day of sightseeing
- Entry fees for every site on the itinerary
Not included
- Flights between the UK and Egypt
- Your Egyptian visa
- Tips for guides and drivers
- Meals other than those listed
- Entry inside the pyramids and to special tombs such as Tutankhamun's and Seti I's
- Travel insurance and spending money
Field notes
From our Egyptologists
- 01
At Giza, ask your guide which hour gives the best light on the pyramid faces for photographs.
- 02
There is little shade at Abu Simbel, so take a hat, sun cream and water.
- 03
Wear shoes with a good grip for the stone paths at Karnak and the Valley of the Kings.
- 04
Ask your guide to talk you through the carved scenes at Kom Ombo, which are easy to walk past.
Tailor it
Make it yours
Ask about hotel upgrades, tickets for special tombs such as Tutankhamun's, or a gentler pace, for example a second night in Luxor. This is a private tour, so tell us what you would like and we will confirm what is possible on your dates.
Your own specialist deals with each request before you book.
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- Made for adults and teenagers from about 13 who want a private, history-led holiday and do not mind early mornings, long days of sightseeing, a road journey and walking on rough stone at places like Karnak and the Valley of the Kings.
Maybe not, if
- Not ideal for anyone who needs step-free access, an unhurried pace or little time in vehicles. Families with small children may find a shorter, gentler route easier.
Honest assessment
The honest pluses and minuses, as our own team sees them after running this trip.
Highlights
- A private Egyptologist links the main sites across four destinations
- Edfu and Kom Ombo break up the road between Luxor and Aswan
- Abu Simbel's two temples, those of Ramesses II and Nefertari, are on the route
- Entry fees and hotel breakfasts are covered
- The Grand Egyptian Museum is paired with the pyramids on one day
Things to Consider
- Abu Simbel means a pre-dawn start and a long drive
- Several days involve a lot of walking over uneven ground
- You change city almost every day
- Entry to the inside of the pyramids and to special tombs is extra
Where it fits
Six days is enough to see Egypt's headline sites in one sweep. The route runs south from Cairo to Aswan and Abu Simbel and replaces a cruise with hotels and flights, which suits a short break or the first leg of a longer visit.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Group tours usually move between sites by shared coach. Here the sightseeing and road journeys are private, and the route runs on from Cairo through Luxor and Aswan to Abu Simbel, which means long days and one very early start.
Compare
Similar tours to compare
On the ground
Your route
Snapshot
Good to know
- Travel style
- Private guided holiday
- Accommodation
- Hotels
- Destinations
- Cairo · Giza · Luxor · Edfu · Kom Ombo · Aswan · Abu Simbel
- Includes
- Five nights in hotels, breakfast included · Internal flight Cairo to Luxor · Internal flight Aswan to Cairo · Private transfers at the airports and hotels · Private drive from Luxor to Aswan by way of Edfu and Kom Ombo · Private road trip to Abu Simbel · A licensed Egyptologist for every sightseeing day · Entry fees for listed sites
- Best for
- First visit to Egypt · Private touring · Ancient history · Short on time
- Guide languages
- English
Before you go
What to pack & wear
What to bring
- Passport and a photocopy
- Hat and sunglasses
- Sun cream
- A water bottle you can top up
- Small daypack
- Some Egyptian pounds in small notes for tips
- Camera and a spare battery
What to wear
- Light, loose clothing for the heat
- Shoulders and knees covered at temples
- A thin layer for cool winter evenings
- Closed shoes with a firm grip
- A wide-brimmed hat
Children & families
We recommend a minimum age of five because of the early start and the long road to Abu Simbel. Reduced child rates depend on age and the hotel, so ask us for a quote for your family. Anyone aged 12 or over pays the adult rate.
Accessibility
Who can join this
Most sites involve walking over rough ancient paving, loose sand and flights of steps, notably at Giza, Karnak, the Valley of the Kings and Philae. Expect walks of 20 to 45 minutes at a time with pauses to rest. The Abu Simbel road is long and the day starts early. Tell us about mobility needs when you book and we will say what is realistic.
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
Private cars and minibuses are shared between guests wherever the timings allow, which cuts empty journeys. Our guides and drivers live in Egypt and are paid fairly for each day. We ask guests to carry a refillable water bottle and to keep to 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
01Does this six-day tour include a Nile cruise?
It does not. Every night is spent in a hotel, two in Cairo, one in Luxor and two in Aswan. The journey from Luxor to Aswan is made by private car rather than by boat, which allows time at the temples of Edfu and Kom Ombo. Should you wish to sleep on the river, our Nile cruise holidays are the better choice.02How do you get from one city to the next?
Two internal flights cover the long distances: Cairo to Luxor on the third day and Aswan to Cairo on the sixth. From Luxor to Aswan on the fourth day you go by private car with your guide, stopping at Edfu and Kom Ombo.03Is one day enough for Luxor?
It is enough for the principal sights: Karnak, Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's temple and the Colossi of Memnon. The day is full and begins with a flight from Cairo. If you would like a gentler pace, we can add a second night in Luxor.04What time do we set off for Abu Simbel?
The road from Aswan takes about three and a half hours each way, so the start is early, normally before sunrise, and you are back in Aswan around lunchtime. Philae Temple fills the afternoon.05How does the final day work?
In the morning you see the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk, then go to Aswan airport for the flight to Cairo. The tour finishes when you land, so book your flight home for the evening or later.06What kind of hotel will we stay in?
You pick the standard at the time of booking, anywhere from comfortable to luxury, and we choose hotels to suit your dates. The sightseeing is the same whichever standard you take.
Last updated Product ID: TOU-CAI-429253
At a glance
- Length
- 6 days · 5 nights
- Starts
- Daily
- Route
- Cairo → Luxor → Aswan → Edfu → Kom Ombo → Abu Simbel
- Nights
- 2 Cairo · 1 Luxor · 2 Aswan
- Includes
- Domestic flights, Egyptologist guide, transfers