7-Day Marsa Alam & Nile Cruise Holiday
Fly into Marsa Alam, cross to Luxor and cruise to Aswan over four nights. An Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and every transfer are included.
The short answer
7-Day Marsa Alam & Nile Cruise Holiday is a 7-day, 6-night trip to Luxor, Aswan and Marsa Alam: 2 nights in Marsa Alam and 4 on a Nile cruise. Starts on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays or Sundays. It includes an Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transfers. Prices start at £1,131 per person, two sharing (Essential, October–April).
02Overview
A first look
Most Nile cruises start in a city. This one starts by the sea. You fly into Marsa Alam, on the quiet southern Red Sea coast, and rest for a night at your hotel. Next morning a private driver takes you across the country to Luxor to join your cruise ship.
The ship then spends four nights going upriver to Aswan. Along the way you visit Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae with an English-speaking Egyptologist. On day 6 you step off in Aswan and drive back to the coast for a last night before your flight home. The two drives are long days in themselves, and it is better to know that now.
What lingers
- 01Four nights aboard a Nile cruise ship from Luxor to Aswan, full board
- 02Karnak and Luxor Temple on your first afternoon on the river
- 03The Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's temple and the Colossi of Memnon
- 04Edfu and Kom Ombo, then Philae, the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk at Aswan
- 05An English-speaking Egyptologist, entrance fees and transport on each sightseeing day
- 06A hotel night at either end on the peaceful Marsa Alam coast, with private transfers
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 £1,1313★ hotels · well-priced Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 4 nightsNephtis · Magic I | £1,131May–Sep: from £1,033 | |
| Comfortfrom £1,3164★ hotels · 5★ Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 4 nightsTower Prestige | £1,316May–Sep: from £1,258 | |
| Classicfrom £1,5055★ hotels · 5★ Nile cruises | Marsa Alam · 2 nightsSENTIDO Reef Oasis Suakin Resort Nile Cruise · 4 nightsSun Times · Stephanie | £1,505May–Sep: from £1,258 | |
| Prestigefrom £1,8895★ deluxe hotels · 5★ deluxe Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 4 nightsSonesta Moon Goddess · Nile Serenity | £1,889May–Sep: from £1,585 | |
| Luxuryfrom £2,7275★ luxury hotels · 5★ luxury Nile cruises | Marsa Alam · 2 nightsSteigenberger Coraya Beach (Adults Friendly 16+) · Pickalbatros Vita Resort Portofino Nile Cruise · 4 nightsSonesta St. George I · Esmeralda | £2,727May–Sep: from £1,789 |
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 · Marsa Alam · Luxor · Karnak Temple · Luxor Temple · Valley of the Kings · Edfu
- 1
You touch down at Marsa Alam airport, on the southern Red Sea shore and a long way from the country's big cities. Someone from our team is waiting to meet you, and a private car or minibus drives you to the hotel. Nothing is planned for the rest of the day. Use it to unwind, because day 2 is a long journey.
- 2
The Red Sea gives way to the Nile today. Your private driver takes you from Marsa Alam to Luxor, a long journey that calls for an early start. In Luxor you board your Nile cruise ship and meet your English-speaking Egyptologist. First comes Karnak, the great temple city of Amun, with its Sacred Lake, followed by Luxor Temple.
Entrance fees and transport are included, and you spend the night on board.
- 3
Today your Egyptologist leads you across the river to the west bank. On the way you stop at the Colossi of Memnon, two huge seated statues, before going down into the Valley of the Kings, where the ticket opens three tombs. The last visit is Hatshepsut's terraced mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahari. Guide, entrance fees and transport are included. You return to the ship for the rest of the day.
- 4
The ship continues upriver, and your Egyptologist guides two visits on the way. The Temple of Edfu is one of the best-preserved in the country. Kom Ombo is a double temple that stands right above the water. Guide, entrance fees and transport are included. The hours between stops are yours, for the sun deck, a book or the view of palms and fields.
- 5
The final sightseeing day is in Aswan. With your guide you see Philae Temple, then the High Dam, and finish at the Unfinished Obelisk, which still lies half-cut in its granite quarry. Entrance fees and transport are included. You have one more night on board. As tomorrow's journey is long, get your packing done this evening.
- 6
You have breakfast, say goodbye to the ship in Aswan and set off with your private driver for the Red Sea. This is a long day on the road, and no sightseeing is arranged. By the time you reach Marsa Alam you can check in to your hotel for the final night of the holiday.
- 7
After breakfast at the hotel you check out. A private vehicle then drives you to Marsa Alam airport for your flight. Do send us your flight details in advance so that we can fix the time of your pick-up.
The fine print
What's included – and what is left out
Included
- Two nights in a Marsa Alam hotel with breakfast, and four nights on a Nile cruise ship on full board
- Private transfers from Marsa Alam airport, from Marsa Alam to Luxor, from Aswan to Marsa Alam and back to the airport
- Meet and assist at the airport
- Cruise sightseeing at Karnak, Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings (three tombs), Hatshepsut's temple, the Colossi of Memnon, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Philae, the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk
- English-speaking Egyptologist guide on the cruise sightseeing days
- Entrance fees and sightseeing transport on the cruise days
- All service charges and taxes
Not included
- International flights to and from Egypt
- Egyptian entry visa
- Gratuities for guides, drivers and ship staff
- Drinks on board and meals other than those stated
- Tombs beyond the three covered by the Valley of the Kings ticket
- Travel insurance and personal expenses
Field notes
From our Egyptologists
- 01
Pick a window seat for the road to Luxor; the shift from sea to desert to river valley is striking.
- 02
Bring a full water bottle for the inland drive, as stops between the Red Sea and the Nile are few.
- 03
Edfu's reliefs show up best in gentle morning light, so aim to be among the first through the gate.
- 04
Pack swimwear in your hand luggage for the return, so you can head straight to the beach.
Tailor it
Make it yours
You choose the standard of hotel and ship when you book. Ask us about extra nights on the coast or in Luxor, or about adding Abu Simbel.
Your own specialist deals with each request before you book.
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- Travellers who would like a short Nile cruise but prefer to arrive and leave via the southern Red Sea coast. Suits couples, friends and solo travellers who accept two long days on the road and several hours of walking on cruise sightseeing days.
Maybe not, if
- Travellers who find long car journeys difficult, who need step-free access to every site, or who want a beach holiday with a short Nile extra. Days 2 and 6 are long.
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 on a single cruise
- A calm Red Sea coast hotel at both ends
- Guide, entrance fees and every transfer arranged for you
Things to Consider
- Days 2 and 6 are long journeys by road
- Uneven stone, steps and little shade at the major sites
- No resort or beach programme is planned
Where it fits
A good fit for travellers who want the Nile highlights in a short trip and don't mind arriving by the Red Sea. Abu Simbel is not included, so add it if it is on your list.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Most Nile cruises begin in Cairo, Luxor or Aswan. This one starts and finishes at Marsa Alam, so two days go on the road. The standard of hotel and ship 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 Nile cruise with Red Sea coast stays
- Accommodation
- Marsa Alam hotel and a Nile cruise ship, standard chosen at booking
- Destinations
- Marsa Alam · Luxor · Karnak Temple · Luxor Temple · Valley of the Kings · Edfu · Kom Ombo · Aswan · Philae Temple · High Dam
- Includes
- 2 nights in a Marsa Alam hotel with breakfast · 4 nights on a Nile cruise ship, full board · Private transfers, including Marsa Alam to Luxor and Aswan to Marsa Alam · English-speaking Egyptologist on cruise sightseeing days · Entrance fees and sightseeing transport on the cruise days · Meet and assist at the airport
- Best for
- Travellers who want a Nile cruise without starting in a big city · Couples and friends content with two long road days · First-time visitors with limited time
The morning of
Meeting point & timing
- Where
- Marsa Alam International Airport (RMF), 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 hat, sunglasses and high-factor sun cream
- A refillable water bottle
- A book, music or a podcast for the long drives on days 2 and 6
- A light jacket or cardigan for the ship's air conditioning and cooler evenings on deck
- Small-denomination notes for tips
- Any personal medication, in your hand luggage
- A UK-to-Egypt plug adapter and a power bank
- A small day bag for the sightseeing days
What to wear
- Light, breathable clothing for sun and heat
- Closed shoes for temples and uneven ground
- Covered shoulders and knees at the temples show courtesy
- A light layer for evenings and the air-conditioned vehicle
- Swimwear if your hotel and ship have a pool
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 cabin prices depend on the child's age and the room or cabin used, so we give you the exact figure when you tell us the age at booking. The long drives on days 2 and 6, and the heat at the temples, can be wearing for very young children.
Accessibility
Who can join this
The cruise sightseeing involves plenty of walking on uneven stone and sand, with steps and a few narrow tomb passages. The Valley of the Kings and Karnak have long, open stretches with little shade. Getting aboard the ship and the boat to Philae means a gangway and steps. The two transfers between Marsa Alam and the Nile are long road journeys in a private vehicle, so do tell us beforehand if sitting for many hours is a difficulty. Vehicles are private and air-conditioned. We cannot promise step-free access to temples or tombs, but let us know about any mobility need and we will shape the days around it.
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
The holiday uses private road transfers, a Nile cruise ship and sightseeing vehicles, and vehicle types vary, so we make no claim about carbon savings. The long drives between Marsa Alam and the Nile add road miles, and we would rather say so. Sightseeing is led by local Egyptologists and arranged through local suppliers in Luxor and Aswan, so much of what you spend stays in Egypt. We ask guests to stay on the marked paths at the sites and to cut down on single-use plastic where possible.
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
01How long are the journeys between Marsa Alam and the Nile?
Both are long days on the road: Marsa Alam to Luxor on day 2, and Aswan to Marsa Alam on day 6. We cannot give a fixed time, as traffic and checkpoints vary. Expect to spend most of the day on each, and bring snacks, water and something to read.02Is this also a Red Sea beach holiday?
Not as it stands. There is one hotel night at each end, on a quiet part of the southern Red Sea coast. The days are built around the Nile cruise and the road, so no beach or diving time is planned.03How many nights do we spend on the Nile?
Four nights on board, from Luxor to Aswan, on full board. The other two nights are in a Marsa Alam hotel with breakfast.04Are the guide, entrance fees and transport included?
Yes. On the cruise sightseeing days an English-speaking Egyptologist, the entrance fees and the transport are all included. The Valley of the Kings ticket covers three tombs.05Does the holiday include Abu Simbel?
No, Abu Simbel is not part of this itinerary. At Aswan you see Philae, the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk.06Will I make my international flight?
Transfers in Egypt and international flights are booked separately, so a delay on the road could put a connection at risk. You depart from Marsa Alam, where you have also spent the night before, which helps. If your onward journey connects the same day elsewhere, choose a late-evening flight and make sure your travel insurance covers missed connections. An additional night on the coast is another option.07Can I pick the hotel and the ship?
You choose a standard when you book, from budget to luxury. We then confirm the actual hotel and Nile cruise ship for your dates.08When is the best time to travel?
October to April is cooler and kinder for temples and long journeys. Summer is very hot in Luxor and Aswan, so sightseeing starts early.
Last updated Product ID: TOU-MRS-290125
At a glance
- Length
- 7 days · 6 nights
- Starts
- Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat or Sun
- Route
- Marsa Alam → Luxor → Edfu → Kom Ombo → Aswan → Marsa Alam
- Nights
- 2 Marsa Alam · 4 Nile cruise
- Includes
- Egyptologist guide, entrance fees, transfers