6-Day Nile Cruise & Cairo Holiday from Sharm El Sheikh
Leave the sun lounger behind for six days of pyramids, temples and the River Nile. We arrange the flights, transfers, entry fees and an Egyptologist, and bring you back to your Sharm hotel.
The short answer
6-Day Nile Cruise & Cairo Holiday from Sharm El Sheikh is a 6-day, 5-night trip to Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel and Sharm El Sheikh: 2 nights in Cairo and 3 on a Nile cruise. Starts on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Saturdays. It includes an Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transfers. Prices start at £1,849 per person, two sharing (Essential, October–April).
02Overview
A first look
If you are on a beach holiday in Sharm El Sheikh, ancient Egypt is closer than you think. This trip collects you from your hotel and flies you to Cairo for two nights. On the first evening you ride a camel past the Giza Pyramids as the light fades, and the next day you spend a full day at Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum.
You then fly to Aswan and board a Nile cruise ship for three nights, heading north to Luxor. Abu Simbel, Philae, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Karnak and the Valley of the Kings are all part of the plan. The final day is a very long one, finishing in Luxor and flying home to Sharm through Cairo. We book the flights and transfers, and you pick the standard of hotel and ship when you book. Your own resort stay and your international flights sit outside the trip.
What lingers
- 01A camel ride at the Giza Pyramids as the sun goes down on your first evening
- 02One full day at the Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum
- 03Three nights on a Nile cruise ship between Aswan and Luxor, full board
- 04Abu Simbel by road on the second cruise day, setting off from your moored ship
- 05Philae, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Karnak and the Valley of the Kings with an Egyptologist
- 06Every flight from and back to Sharm El Sheikh, and each transfer, booked 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 £1,8493★ hotels · well-priced Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 3 nightsMagic I | £1,849May–Sep: from £1,763 | |
| Comfortfrom £1,9284★ hotels · 5★ Nile cruises | Cairo · 2 nightsJewel Sport City Nile Cruise · 3 nightsRoyal Elite · Emilio | £1,928May–Sep: from £1,830 | |
| Classicfrom £2,1095★ hotels · 5★ Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 3 nightsRoyal Liberty · Stephanie | £2,109May–Sep: from £1,830 | |
| Prestigefrom £2,3495★ deluxe hotels · 5★ deluxe Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 3 nightsNile Serenity | £2,349May–Sep: from £2,205 | |
| Luxuryfrom £3,1255★ luxury hotels · 5★ luxury Nile cruises | Cairo · 2 nightsSt. Regis Cairo Nile Cruise · 3 nightsSonesta Star Goddess · Esmeralda | £3,125May–Sep: from £2,653 | |
| Signature Collectionfrom £4,291Iconic heritage vessels · landmark hotels | Cairo · 2 nightsFour Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza Nile Cruise · 3 nightsHistoria | £4,291May–Sep: from £3,454 |
Hotels on bed & breakfast · 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
6 Days / 5 Nights · Sharm El Sheikh · Cairo · Giza Plateau · Grand Egyptian Museum · Aswan · Philae Temple
- 1
Your private driver picks you up from your Sharm El Sheikh hotel and drives you to the airport, where a representative helps with your luggage. The flight to Cairo is booked and carries a 23 kg bag, and times depend on the airline. On landing you are met and taken to your Cairo hotel. In the late afternoon you are collected again for a private camel ride at the Giza Pyramids as the sun sets.
Allow about three hours, of which around one is on the camel, with one camel per adult, tea, bottled water and an English-speaking escort. You return to the hotel for the night.
- 2
Expect a full day of around eight hours with a licensed, English-speaking Egyptologist. You are picked up at the hotel and taken by air-conditioned vehicle to the Giza Plateau for the pyramids and the Great Sphinx. Lunch is at a restaurant with a view. After lunch you visit the Grand Egyptian Museum, not far from the plateau. Entrance fees for both are covered, along with bottled water.
Then it is back to the hotel for your second night in Cairo.
- 3
You head to Cairo airport early, where a representative helps you through check-in, and fly south to Aswan. A private car takes you from the airport to your Nile cruise ship, and you join it for three nights. Cruise sightseeing begins straight away, and an Egyptologist, entrance fees and transport are all included. You see Philae Temple, the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk.
Meals on the ship are full board, and you spend the night on board in Aswan.
- 4
The day begins very early. While the ship is still moored, you drive by road to the temples of Abu Simbel and return in time for lunch on board. Entrance fees to Abu Simbel are included. In the afternoon the ship sets off again, and the cruise sightseeing carries on with the Temple of Kom Ombo. Dinner and the night are on the ship. It is a busy day, so rest when you can.
- 5
Your Egyptologist leads you ashore to the Temple of Horus at Edfu. The ship then continues to Luxor, where cruise sightseeing takes in Luxor Temple and the Karnak Temples, including the Sacred Lake. Entrance fees and transport are covered. Karnak is vast and exposed, so bring a hat and water. You spend the night on board in Luxor.
- 6
After breakfast you leave the ship and cross to the West Bank with your Egyptologist. You visit the Valley of the Kings, with three tombs included, the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari and the Colossi of Memnon. Entrance fees and transport are covered.
A car then takes you to Luxor airport for the flight to Cairo, and straight on to Sharm El Sheikh, where a private driver takes you to your hotel. This is a very long day of sightseeing, two flights and a change of plane, with times set by the airline. Expect to reach your resort late.
Bundled in
- Domestic flights
The fine print
What's included – and what is left out
Included
- Two nights in a Cairo hotel with breakfast, and three nights on a Nile cruise ship, full board
- Four internal flights: Sharm El Sheikh to Cairo, Cairo to Aswan, Luxor to Cairo and Cairo to Sharm El Sheikh, each with a 23 kg bag
- Private transfers from and back to your Sharm El Sheikh hotel, and at each airport, hotel and port along the way
- A camel ride at the Giza Pyramids at sunset, with tea and bottled water
- The Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum, with lunch
- Nile cruise sightseeing with an English-speaking Egyptologist, entrance fees and transport
- Abu Simbel by road on the second cruise day, entrance fees included
- Entry to three tombs in the Valley of the Kings
- All service charges and taxes
Not included
- International flights to and from Egypt
- Your Sharm El Sheikh resort hotel and stay
- Egyptian entry visa
- Tips for guides, drivers and ship staff
- Drinks on board and meals other than those listed
- Travel insurance and personal spending
Field notes
From our Egyptologists
- 01
Trousers rather than shorts are best for the Giza camel ride at dusk, as saddles rub and the desert air chills once the sun sets.
- 02
Abu Simbel means a very early start, so take a jumper for the pre-dawn drive and try to doze on the way.
- 03
Sit facing the temple on the short boat to Philae; the approach across the water gives the best view of the island.
- 04
Reach Karnak's hypostyle hall ahead of the coaches, then wander round to the Sacred Lake once the early light is gentle.
Tailor it
Make it yours
You choose the standard of hotel and ship when you book. Ask about extra nights in Cairo or Luxor, which also ease the long final day.
Your own specialist deals with each request before you book.
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- Holidaymakers in Sharm El Sheikh who would like to add the pyramids, a Nile cruise and Abu Simbel without booking flights themselves. Suits couples, friends and solo travellers who are happy with flights and long days on foot.
Maybe not, if
- Travellers who need step-free access to every site, or who prefer an unhurried pace. Days 3, 4 and 6 are long.
Honest assessment
The honest pluses and minuses, as our own team sees them after running this trip.
Highlights
- The pyramids, the Grand Egyptian Museum, Abu Simbel and the main Nile temples in six days
- All four flights and every transfer arranged for you
- You set off from and return to your own Sharm El Sheikh hotel
Things to Consider
- Day 6 is very long, with sightseeing and two flights
- Early starts on days 3 and 4
- Uneven stone, steps and little shade at the big sites
Where it fits
A good way to add ancient Egypt to a Red Sea holiday. Expect a late return on day 6, and if you fly home soon after, leave a generous margin.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Many Nile cruises start in Cairo or Luxor and assume you have already flown in. This one is designed for guests already in Sharm El Sheikh, with the flights out and back included. The standard of hotel and ship is your choice; the sightseeing stays the same.
Compare
Similar tours to compare
On the ground
Your route
Snapshot
Good to know
- Travel style
- Guided multi-day holiday from a Red Sea resort, with a Nile cruise
- Accommodation
- Cairo hotel and a Nile cruise ship, standard chosen at booking
- Destinations
- Sharm El Sheikh · Cairo · Giza Plateau · Grand Egyptian Museum · Aswan · Philae Temple · Abu Simbel · Kom Ombo · Edfu · Luxor · Karnak Temple · Valley of the Kings
- Includes
- 2 nights in a Cairo hotel with breakfast · 3 nights on a Nile cruise ship, full board · 4 internal flights from and back to Sharm El Sheikh · Entrance fees to every listed site · English-speaking Egyptologist on sightseeing days · All transfers, including to and from your Sharm hotel
- Best for
- Guests already staying in Sharm El Sheikh · First-time visitors wanting the pyramids and the Nile · Those who can cope with long days
The morning of
Meeting point & timing
- Where
- Your hotel in Sharm El SheikhMap
Before you go
What to pack & wear
What to bring
- Passport and any papers needed to travel inside Egypt
- Comfortable walking shoes with good grip
- Sun cream, SPF 30 or higher
- Sun hat and sunglasses
- Refillable water bottle
- Any regular medication, in your hand luggage
- Small day bag for the flights and sightseeing
- A light layer for early mornings and evenings on the river
- A small overnight bag for the ship, so your main case can stay in the hotel
What to wear
- Light, breathable clothes for sun and heat
- Closed shoes for temples, tombs and uneven ground
- Clothes that cover shoulders and knees for mosques and temples
- Long trousers for the camel ride
- A hat and sunglasses
- A light jacket or wrap for the river at night
Children & families
Children are welcome. Each child has a seat in the vehicles, so transport, guiding and meals are charged at the adult rate at any age. Entrance tickets are free for under-6s and full price from 6. The cost of flights, hotel rooms and cabins depends on the child's age and the room or cabin used, so tell us the age when you book and we will give you the exact figure. Days 3, 4 and 6 are long, and the camel ride only suits children who are happy on a camel.
Accessibility
Who can join this
This holiday means a good deal of walking around large archaeological sites, over uneven stone and sand, with steps and a few narrow tomb passages. Karnak and the Valley of the Kings have long, open stretches with little shade. Getting on the ship, the boat to Philae and the camel ride all call for steady footing. The vehicles are private and air-conditioned, but we cannot promise wheelchair access everywhere. Day 6 involves a long journey through three airports. Tell us what you need when you book, and we will be honest about which parts will work for you.
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
The holiday uses four internal flights, a Nile cruise ship 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 suppliers in Cairo, Aswan and Luxor, so a fair share of your spending stays there. Please bring a refillable bottle, be gentle with the camels and keep your hands off the painted walls in the tombs.
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
01Do I start and finish at my own hotel in Sharm El Sheikh?
Yes. A driver picks you up at your hotel on day 1 and drops you back there at the end of day 6. Your resort stay is separate and not part of this trip.02Are the internal flights included?
Yes, all four are booked for you: Sharm El Sheikh to Cairo, Cairo to Aswan, Luxor to Cairo and Cairo to Sharm El Sheikh. Each comes with a 23 kg bag and times follow the airline schedule. International flights are not included.03How long is the Nile cruise?
Three nights on board, going from Aswan to Luxor, with breakfast, lunch and dinner each day. The two nights before that are in a Cairo hotel with breakfast.04Do we see Abu Simbel?
Yes. On day 4 you set off very early from the moored ship and drive to Abu Simbel by road. You are back on board for lunch before the cruise moves on. Entrance fees are included.05How tiring is the last day?
Very. You see the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's temple and the Colossi of Memnon, then take two flights to Sharm El Sheikh. You will reach your hotel late, so keep that evening free.06Will I make my international flight?
The trip ends back at your resort, so no flight home is tied to it. If you fly home on the day you get back, choose a late-evening or night departure and leave a generous margin. Internal and international tickets are separate bookings, and a delay inside Egypt can cost you the connection. Make sure your travel insurance covers missed connections.07Which hotels and ship will I be on?
You pick a standard when you book, from budget to luxury, and we name the hotel and ship for your dates. The route and the sightseeing do not change.08Will I have a guide, and are entry fees covered?
An English-speaking Egyptologist leads the sightseeing in Cairo and on the cruise. Entrance fees for every site on the list and the transport between them are covered.09What is left out?
International flights, your resort hotel and stay, the Egyptian visa, tips for guides, drivers and ship staff, drinks and meals other than those listed, and travel insurance.
Last updated Product ID: TOU-SHM-603673
At a glance
- Length
- 6 days · 5 nights
- Starts
- Mon, Tue, Wed or Sat
- Route
- Sharm El Sheikh → Cairo → Aswan → Abu Simbel → Kom Ombo → Edfu → Luxor → Sharm El Sheikh
- Nights
- 2 Cairo · 3 Nile cruise
- Includes
- Egyptologist guide, entrance fees, transfers