7-Day El Gouna & Nile Cruise Holiday
Fly into Hurghada, stay in El Gouna, then cruise the Nile from Luxor to Aswan for four nights. Transfers, entry fees and a guide are all included.
The short answer
7-Day El Gouna & Nile Cruise Holiday is a 7-day, 6-night trip to Luxor, Aswan and Hurghada: 2 nights in El Gouna and 4 on a Nile cruise. Starts on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays or Sundays. It includes an Egyptologist guide and transfers. Prices start at £1,203 per person, two sharing (Classic, May–September).
02Overview
A first look
Here is a week with two very different halves. It begins on the Red Sea, where you land at Hurghada and drive to El Gouna, a lagoon resort town about 25 km to the north. You sleep there once, then set off by road for Luxor and your Nile cruise ship.
Four nights on board take you from Luxor to Aswan. You see Karnak, Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae with an English-speaking Egyptologist, and your entry fees and transport are covered. At Aswan you leave the ship and travel back across to your El Gouna hotel for the last night. Hurghada airport is the next morning.
Be aware of the shape of it. The resort is for one night at each end, not for lazing, and the two journeys between coast and river are long. You choose your hotel and ship standard when you book, and the sightseeing is identical at every level.
What lingers
- 01Met at Hurghada airport and driven to El Gouna for your first night
- 02A private road journey to Luxor to join your Nile cruise ship
- 03Karnak and its Sacred Lake, then Luxor Temple
- 04The Valley of the Kings (three tombs), Hatshepsut's temple and the Colossi of Memnon
- 05Edfu and Kom Ombo, two riverside temples
- 06Philae Temple, the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk at Aswan
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 £1,2033★ hotels · well-priced Nile cruises | El Gouna · 2 nightsMovenpick Resort & Spa El Gouna Nile Cruise · 4 nightsNephtis · Magic I | £1,203May–Sep: from £965 | |
| Comfortfrom £1,3904★ hotels · 5★ Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 4 nightsTower Prestige | £1,390May–Sep: from £1,203 | |
| Classicfrom £1,5165★ hotels · 5★ Nile cruises | El Gouna · 2 nightsSheraton Miramar Resort El Gouna Nile Cruise · 4 nightsSun Times · Stephanie | £1,516May–Sep: from £1,203 | |
| Prestigefrom £1,9235★ deluxe hotels · 5★ deluxe Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 4 nightsSonesta Moon Goddess · Nile Serenity | £1,923May–Sep: from £1,570 | |
| Luxuryfrom £2,8345★ luxury hotels · 5★ luxury Nile cruises | El Gouna · 2 nightsCasa Cook El Gouna (Adults Only) Nile Cruise · 4 nightsSonesta St. George I · Esmeralda | £2,834May–Sep: from £1,808 |
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
7 Days / 6 Nights · Hurghada · El Gouna · Luxor · Karnak Temple · Luxor Temple · Valley of the Kings
- 1
Your representative meets you as you come into the arrivals hall at Hurghada and takes you to a private car. It is roughly an hour north to El Gouna, a lagoon resort town on the Red Sea about 25 km from Hurghada. Check in and rest. There is nothing planned for the rest of the day, which suits what comes next: a long drive in the morning.
- 2
This is the day you swap the sea for the river. A private car drives you from El Gouna to Luxor, a journey of five to six hours. In Luxor your Egyptologist takes you round the Karnak Temples, including the Sacred Lake, and Luxor Temple. The guide, entry fees and transport are all included. You then join your Nile cruise ship, where you sleep.
Timings for the visits and boarding are set around your arrival.
- 3
Today belongs to the west bank. Your Egyptologist starts at the Colossi of Memnon, the two giant seated figures standing beside the road. Next is the Valley of the Kings, where your ticket opens three tombs. The day finishes at the mortuary temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari, cut into the cliffs in broad terraces.
Guide, entry fees and transport are included, and you are back on the ship for the evening.
- 4
As the ship heads upstream you break the journey twice. Edfu is the temple of Horus, with its great gateway still standing. Kom Ombo has two sanctuaries side by side, for two different gods, on a bend of the Nile. Your Egyptologist guides you at both, and entry fees and transport are covered. The remaining hours are yours on board.
- 5
You are in Aswan, and this is the last sightseeing day of the cruise. The first stop is Philae, the temple of Isis, which was moved to its island when the water rose behind the High Dam. You then see the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk, still lying in its granite quarry. The guide, entry fees and transport are included. You have one more night on the ship.
- 6
You have breakfast on board, then say goodbye to the ship at Aswan. A private car carries you back to the Red Sea and your El Gouna hotel. It is a drive of about seven hours with no sightseeing, so pack drinks, snacks and something to occupy you. You arrive in time for a free evening.
- 7
After breakfast and checkout your driver takes you to Hurghada airport, about an hour away, and a representative helps you at the terminal. Your holiday ends there. International flights are not part of the price, so bear the long drive on day 6 in mind when you pick your flight time.
The fine print
What's included – and what is left out
Included
- Two nights in a hotel in El Gouna, with breakfast on day 7, and four nights on a Nile cruise ship, full board
- Private airport transfers at Hurghada on arrival and on departure, with meet-and-assist
- Private road journeys from El Gouna to Luxor and from Aswan back to El Gouna
- Nile cruise sightseeing package covering Karnak, Luxor Temple, the Colossi of Memnon, the Valley of the Kings (three tombs), Hatshepsut's temple, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Philae, the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk
- English-speaking Egyptologist guide on the cruise sightseeing days
- Entry fees to every site in the itinerary
- Transport for the sightseeing
- Breakfast on day 6, and lunch and dinner on the cruise days
- All service charges and taxes
Not included
- International flights to and from Egypt
- Egypt entry visa
- Tips for guides, drivers and ship staff
- Drinks on board and meals other than those stated
- Khufu's pyramid interior and premium tombs such as Tutankhamun and Seti I
- Travel insurance and personal spending
Field notes
From our Egyptologists
- 01
Check with your guide before taking photos in the Valley of the Kings, as the rules inside the tombs differ from the outside.
- 02
Take your time as you approach Philae, because the island temple is at its loveliest when seen from the water.
- 03
Pack a light scarf for the riverbank temples at Edfu and Kom Ombo, where the wind and sun can be fierce.
- 04
Keep your passport in your hand luggage on the El Gouna to Luxor road transfer, as the desert route has regular checkpoints.
Tailor it
Make it yours
Pick your hotel and ship standard when you book. Ask about extra nights in El Gouna, Luxor or Aswan, or about a plan that adds Abu Simbel.
Your own specialist deals with each request before you book.
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- Travellers who want a short Nile cruise and a Red Sea hotel in the same week and are happy with long drives to join them up. A good fit for couples, friends and solo travellers who can walk on uneven stone at the temples.
Maybe not, if
- Travellers who dislike long car journeys, need step-free access everywhere, or hope for several days of resort time in El Gouna. Days 2 and 6 are mostly spent on the road.
Honest assessment
The honest pluses and minuses, as our own team sees them after running this trip.
Highlights
- Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae in a single cruise
- Hurghada is the only airport you need, in and out
- Guide, entry fees and transport covered on sightseeing days
Things to Consider
- Two long drives: five to six hours on day 2, about seven on day 6
- Just one night at each end in El Gouna
- Abu Simbel is not included
Where it fits
A fit for a short trip that mixes the Nile's temples with time by the Red Sea. There is little resort time, so add nights in El Gouna if the coast matters as much as the river.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Most Nile cruises begin and end in Luxor or Aswan. This one puts a Red Sea hotel at each end so you fly in and out of Hurghada, and the cost of that is two long days by road. Your hotel and ship standard are your choice, and the sightseeing stays the same.
Compare
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On the ground
Your route
Snapshot
Good to know
- Travel style
- Guided multi-day holiday with a Nile cruise and Red Sea hotel nights
- Accommodation
- El Gouna hotel and a Nile cruise ship, standard chosen at booking
- Destinations
- Hurghada · El Gouna · Luxor · Karnak Temple · Luxor Temple · Valley of the Kings · Hatshepsut Temple · Edfu · Kom Ombo · Aswan · Philae Temple · High Dam
- Includes
- 2 nights in a hotel in El Gouna · 4 nights on a Nile cruise ship, full board · Private transfers at Hurghada airport and by road to and from Luxor and Aswan · Entry fees to every listed site · English-speaking Egyptologist on sightseeing days · All service charges and taxes
- Best for
- Travellers who want the Nile temples plus a Red Sea hotel · Couples and friends · Those who accept long road days
The morning of
Meeting point & timing
- Where
- Hurghada International Airport (HRG), Arrivals HallMap
Before you go
What to pack & wear
What to bring
- Passport and any travel documents you need
- Comfortable walking shoes with a good grip
- Sun cream, SPF 30 or higher
- Sun hat and sunglasses
- Reusable water bottle
- Any personal medication
- Books, music or downloads for the long drives
- Swimwear for the hotel pools
What to wear
- Light, airy clothes for the sun and heat
- Closed shoes for temples and rough ground
- Tops and trousers or skirts that cover shoulders and knees at the temples
- A sun hat and sunglasses
- A warm layer for evenings on the river in winter
Children & families
Children are welcome. Each child has a seat in the vehicle, so transport and guiding are charged at the adult rate whatever the age. Entry tickets are free under 6 and full price from 6. Hotel and cabin costs depend on the child's age and the room used, and we confirm the exact amount once we know the age at booking. Two days involve long drives, so consider how well your child copes in a car.
Accessibility
Who can join this
The sightseeing days mean a lot of walking over big archaeological sites, with uneven stone, steps and a few narrow tomb passages, and little shade at Karnak and the Valley of the Kings. Getting on the ship and the boat to Philae involves a gangway and steps. Days 2 and 6 each include a long drive, five to seven hours, in a private air-conditioned vehicle, and that can be hard on a bad back or limited mobility. We cannot promise wheelchair access at every site. Tell us what you need when you book and we will be frank about which parts will work.
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
The tour relies on a Nile cruise ship and long private road transfers, and the vehicles vary, so we make no claim of a carbon saving. Guiding is by local Egyptologists and the sightseeing is run through suppliers in Luxor and Aswan, so a good share of your spending stays with the people who live there. Please bring a reusable water bottle and avoid touching the painted tomb walls.
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
01Why are there two long drives?
The holiday links a Red Sea hotel with the Nile cruise, and you fly in and out of Hurghada. So a private car takes you to Luxor on day 2, a journey of five to six hours, and from Aswan back to the coast on day 6, about seven hours. Both are comfortable but long.02How many nights will we spend on the Nile?
Four, sailing from Luxor to Aswan, on full board with breakfast, lunch and dinner. The other two nights are in an El Gouna hotel, with breakfast included on day 7.03Which ship and hotels will we stay in?
You choose the standard, from budget to luxury, when you book. Once your dates are fixed we tell you the exact hotel and ship. The sightseeing programme is the same at every level.04Does the holiday include Abu Simbel?
No. Abu Simbel is not in this itinerary. The Aswan sights on day 5 are Philae, the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk. If Abu Simbel is on your wish list, ask us about a longer plan.05Are the guide and entry fees included?
Yes. On the cruise sightseeing days you have an English-speaking Egyptologist guide, your entry fees and the transport. That covers Karnak, Luxor Temple, the Colossi of Memnon, the Valley of the Kings (three tombs), Hatshepsut's temple, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Philae, the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk.06How much time do we get in El Gouna?
Not much. You sleep there on night 1 and night 6, and day 6 ends with a free evening. The rest of the week is spent on the Nile. To have longer on the coast, ask us to add nights.07Will I make my flight home?
Your international flight is a separate booking from this holiday, and the road to the airport on day 7 can only be as quick as the traffic. Your last night is in El Gouna, around an hour from the airport, which gives you some margin. We recommend a flight later in the day, or an extra night at the resort. Take travel insurance that covers missed connections.08What is not included?
International flights, the Egypt visa, tips, drinks on board and meals beyond those listed, the interior of Khufu's pyramid and premium tombs, and travel insurance. There is no lunch or dinner included on days 1 and 7, so plan those yourself.09Is the holiday private?
The road journeys, airport meetings and hotel transfers are private. Cruise sightseeing is organised with your Egyptologist for your party. Cabins are on a ship that carries other guests too.10When is the best time of year?
October to April is cooler and kinder for walking round the temples. In summer Luxor and Aswan can top 40 C, so sightseeing starts early. Christmas, New Year and Eid are busier.
Last updated Product ID: TOU-HRG-130479
At a glance
- Length
- 7 days · 6 nights
- Starts
- Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat or Sun
- Route
- Hurghada → El Gouna → Luxor → Edfu → Kom Ombo → Aswan
- Nights
- 2 El Gouna · 4 Nile cruise
- Includes
- Egyptologist guide, transfers