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From per person£1,023
Nile Cruise PackageCairo

8 Days Cairo and Nile Cruise Tour

Explore Giza, the Egyptian Museum, Karnak Temple, the Valley of the Kings, Edfu and Kom Ombo with accommodation and transfers arranged.

At a glance

Length
8 days · 7 nights
Departs
Daily

The short answer

The arranged Nile cruise is a 5-star Nile cruise vessel operating between Luxor and Aswan, arranged by Discovery Tours Egypt through a third-party cruise supplier.
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Snapshot

Good to know

Duration
8 Days / 7 Nights
Travel style
Guided Cairo and Nile Cruise Package
Accommodation
5-Star Cairo Hotel and 5-Star Nile Cruise Cabin
Operated by
Arranged by Discovery Tours Egypt; the Nile cruise vessel and hotels are operated by third-party suppliers.
Destinations
Cairo · Giza Plateau · Grand Egyptian Museum · Luxor · Edfu · Kom Ombo · Aswan · Abu Simbel
Includes
3 nights in a Cairo hotel with bed and breakfast · 4 nights in a 5-star Nile cruise cabin with full board · Private air-conditioned airport and city transfers · Professional Egyptologist guide · Entrance fees to named itinerary sites · Airport assistance · Stated service charges and local taxes
Best for
First-time Egypt visitors · History enthusiasts · Couples · Families with older children · Travelers combining Cairo with a Nile cruise · Visitors seeking guided sightseeing and arranged transfers
Guide languages
English

Best time to go

October through April generally offers the most comfortable sightseeing conditions, with daytime temperatures commonly around 20–30°C in Cairo and the Nile Valley. December through February has higher demand and cooler evenings; summer from June to August is hotter, especially at Abu Simbel and Luxor. Ramadan can affect opening hours and meal schedules, while Christmas, New Year, and Egyptian public holidays may bring heavier demand.

  • Discovery Tours Egypt is a licensed Egyptian tour operator that plans the itinerary and arranges hotels, transfers, guides, and the third-party Nile cruise vessel.
  • A professional Egyptologist guide accompanies the sightseeing program.
  • Private air-conditioned transfers and airport assistance are included as stated.
  • Standard entrance fees for the named itinerary sites are included.
  • The cruise vessel and hotels are supplied and operated by third-party providers; Discovery Tours Egypt arranges these services.
  • Pyramid interior tickets, premium tomb entries, international and domestic flights, visas, and gratuities are excluded unless separately arranged.

02Overview

A first look

Before Cairo’s morning traffic thickens, the Giza Plateau offers cool limestone underfoot and a clear view of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure. The Sphinx sits below them, while the Egyptian Museum shifts the day from open desert to quiet galleries and closely observed objects.

In Luxor, carved columns at Karnak Temple and the evening glow around Luxor Temple give way to the Valley of the Kings’ rough paths and steep entrances. Further south, your cabin becomes a calm vantage point for fields, villages and river life between visits ashore. Our licensed Egyptian tour operator arranges the hotel, cruise cabin, private vehicles and professional Egyptologist, with each changeover explained before you travel.

Background

The facts

This 8-day Egypt tour combines three nights in Cairo with four nights in a 5-star Nile cruise cabin arranged through a third-party cruise supplier. The itinerary begins with Cairo and Giza, continues by domestic flight to Luxor, follows the Nile south through Edfu and Kom Ombo, and ends in Aswan with an excursion to Abu Simbel. Domestic flights between Cairo, Luxor and Aswan are not included and must be booked separately.

Named in this entry

Giza Plateau·Great Pyramid of Khufu·Pyramid of Khafre·Pyramid of Menkaure·Great Sphinx of Giza·Grand Egyptian Museum·Karnak Temple·Luxor Temple·Valley of the Kings·Colossi of Memnon·Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut·Temple of Horus at Edfu·Kom Ombo Temple·Philae Temple·Aswan High Dam·Unfinished Obelisk·Abu Simbel·Temple of Ramesses II·Temple of Nefertari·Nile River

Suited to

Is this for you?

Yes, if

  • This itinerary suits first-time visitors, couples, families with older children, and history-focused travelers who want Cairo’s pyramids combined with the principal archaeological sites of the Nile Valley. Travelers should be comfortable with early starts, walking on uneven ground, stairs, heat exposure, and changing between hotel accommodation, airport transfers, and a cruise cabin.

What lingers

  • 01Visit Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure pyramids at the Giza Plateau and the Sphinx
  • 02Three nights in Cairo with a guided visit to the Egyptian Museum
  • 03Fly Cairo to Luxor then embark on a four-night full-board Nile cruise
  • 04Explore Luxor East Bank temples and the West Bank necropolis including Valley of the Kings
  • 05Sail to Edfu and Kom Ombo, with guided temple visits during cruise stops
  • 06Day trip from Aswan to the twin temples of Abu Simbel, timed to avoid midday crowds

Worth knowing

How this compares

Unlike a cruise-only itinerary, this package includes three nights in Cairo for the Giza Plateau, Sphinx, and Grand Egyptian Museum before the Nile portion begins. Compared with shorter Nile programs, it includes Luxor’s East and West Banks, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Aswan, and an Abu Simbel excursion, while domestic flights remain separate.

Day by day

Detailed itinerary

8 Days / 7 Nights · Cairo · Giza Plateau · Grand Egyptian Museum · Luxor · Edfu · Kom Ombo

  1. 1

  2. 2

  3. 3

  4. 4

  5. 5

  6. 6

  7. 7

  8. 8

Choose your comfort level

Prices are per person in GBP, from 2 people sharing a double room, including accommodation. Prefer to arrange your own hotels? See the land-only option below.

Comfort

from £1,023 pp
Current price from £1,023
Cairo
Barcelo Pyramids · AZAL Pyramids · Pyramids Park · Pyramisa
Aswan
Aswan Plaza · Obelisk Nile Towers
Nile Cruise
MS Tower Prestige · MS Royal Signature · MS Royal Beau Rivage · MS Esmeralda · MS Royal Elite

You'll stay in these properties, or a similar choice of the same quality.

Classic

from £1,186 pp
Current price from £1,186
Cairo
Novotel 6 October · Helnan Dream · Steigenberger Pyramids · Concorde El Salam
Aswan
Obelisk Nile Towers · Pyramisa Isis · Tolip
Nile Cruise
MS Lady Mary · MS Kontiki · MS Jamila · MS Royal Beau Rivage · MS Royal Elite

You'll stay in these properties, or a similar choice of the same quality.

Prestige

from £1,800 pp
Current price from £1,800
Cairo
Sofitel El Gezirah · Hyatt Regency · Triumph Luxury · Hilton 6 October
Aswan
Sonesta Nouba · Movenpick · The Zen Wellness
Nile Cruise
MS Sonesta Moon Goddess · MS Movenpick Lily · MS Serenity · MS Steigenberger Regency

You'll stay in these properties, or a similar choice of the same quality.

Luxury

from £4,310 pp
Current price from £4,310
Cairo
Fairmont Nile · Four Seasons Nile Plaza · St Regis · Marriott Mena House
Aswan
Sofitel Old Cataract
Nile Cruise
MS Historia · MS Sonesta Sun Goddess · MS Le Fayan

You'll stay in these properties, or a similar choice of the same quality.

Bundled in

  • Private transfer
  • Breakfast
  • Private Egyptologist
  • All entry tickets
  • Airport transfer
  • Full board
  • Cairo extension

The fine print

What's included – and what isn't

Included

  • Three nights’ accommodation in a 5-star Cairo hotel, including breakfast
  • Four nights’ accommodation in a 5-star Nile cruise cabin, including full board
  • Private, air-conditioned transfers with airport assistance
  • A professional Egyptologist guide for the itinerary
  • Entrance fees for the named sites included in the itinerary
  • All stated service charges and local taxes

Not included

  • International flights to and from Egypt
  • Domestic flights between Cairo, Luxor and Aswan
  • Egypt entry visa
  • Tips and gratuities for guides, drivers and cruise staff
  • Tickets for entry inside Khufu and Khafre pyramids
  • Premium tomb entry in Luxor, including Tutankhamun’s or Seti I’s tomb, unless requested

Tailor it

Make it yours

Discovery Tours Egypt can arrange the itinerary as a private or shared experience where available, subject to cruise scheduling and availability. Travelers may request additional pyramid interiors, premium tombs such as Tutankhamun or Seti I, extra Cairo sightseeing, upgraded accommodation, or additional nights before or after the cruise. Domestic flights, international airfare, visa arrangements, and gratuities can be discussed separately.

All requests handled by your dedicated specialist before booking.

Accessibility

Who can join this

This tour involves substantial walking across sand, cobblestones, uneven ancient stone, steps and sloped paths. The Giza Plateau, Egyptian Museum, Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, Valley of the Kings, Edfu Temple, Kom Ombo Temple and Abu Simbel have limited shade, and accessible routes may not reach every chamber or viewpoint. Vehicles can usually accommodate reasonable mobility needs, but wheelchair storage and boarding assistance must be confirmed before arrival. Manual wheelchair users may need help at several sites, and a companion is recommended. Tell us about mobility requirements when booking so our team can review the route and transport arrangements.

Before you go

What to pack & wear

What to bring

  • Valid passport and required visa documents
  • Printed or digital booking confirmation
  • Comfortable walking shoes with firm soles
  • Refillable water bottle
  • Sunscreen SPF50+ and lip balm
  • Sun hat and sunglasses
  • Small day bag for personal items
  • Prescription medication, if required

What to wear

  • Lightweight, loose-fitting clothing for hot weather
  • Breathable layers for early mornings and air-conditioned vehicles
  • Firm, comfortable shoes for sand, stone and uneven ground
  • Covered shoulders and knees at temples and religious sites
  • Light scarf or shawl for sun protection
  • Swimwear with a modest cover-up for cruise facilities

Children & families

Children are welcome, but this itinerary has no universal minimum age. Child pricing is calculated individually according to age, room or cabin occupancy and the confirmed services. Strollers are difficult to use on sand, steps, cobblestones and uneven temple surfaces, although a compact folding model may travel in the vehicle if space permits. High chairs depend on availability from the selected dining providers. Please provide every child's age when booking.

The morning of

Meeting point & timing

Where
Cairo International Airport (CAI), Arrivals HallMap

On the ground

Your route

1Cairo2Luxor3Kom Ombo4Aswan5Giza6Edfu7Abu Simbel

Responsible travel

How we travel here

We arrange private, air-conditioned road transfers and work with locally based Egyptologists, drivers, cruise providers and sightseeing suppliers. The itinerary directs spending to businesses in Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and communities along the Nile. Where practical, carry a refillable water bottle to reduce single-use plastic, although refill facilities vary by vehicle and cruise provider. Visits follow official visitor routes and site operating rules. We do not describe the transport or Nile cruise as carbon-neutral. Vehicle and cruise details depend on the confirmed local suppliers, and you may request the final arrangements before departure.

  • Licensed local Egyptologists

    ETAA-credentialed, on payroll

  • Fair wages on the ground

    Drivers + guides paid above market

  • Site preservation

    We follow MoTA visitor caps and no-touch protocols

  • Carbon-aware itineraries

    Domestic flights only when train/road is impractical

·In summary

This 8-day tour includes three nights in a Cairo hotel, four nights in a 5-star Nile cruise cabin with full board, private airport and hotel transfers, a professional Egyptologist, and entrance fees to the listed sites. Sightseeing covers the Giza Plateau, Sphinx, Grand Egyptian Museum, Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, Valley of the Kings, Edfu Temple, Kom Ombo Temple, Aswan, and Abu Simbel.

Asked & answered

Frequent questions

  1. 01What is the total duration of the 8 Days Cairo and Nile Cruise Tour?
    This holiday spans 8 days and 7 nights, featuring three nights in a Cairo hotel and four nights aboard a Nile River cruise. It offers a balanced exploration of Egypt's capital and the ancient sites along the Nile Valley.
  2. 02What type of accommodation is provided during this tour?
    You will have three nights in a 5-star hotel in Cairo, including bed and breakfast. The four-night Nile cruise provides a 5-star cabin with full board, ensuring comfortable stays throughout your journey.
  3. 03Are domestic flights within Egypt included in the tour price?
    No, domestic flights between Cairo, Luxor, and Aswan are not part of the tour package. Travellers are responsible for booking these flights separately, ensuring they fit the itinerary's transfer schedule.
  4. 04How are transfers and pick-ups organised for this tour?
    Private, air-conditioned transfers are included for all airport arrivals and departures, as well as transport to and from all sightseeing locations. Our representatives will meet you at airports and hotels to facilitate smooth transitions.
  5. 05Are the entrance fees for all historical sites covered?
    Yes, entrance fees for all sites specifically mentioned in the itinerary, such as the Giza Pyramids, the Egyptian Museum, Karnak Temple, and the Valley of the Kings, are included. Specific exclusions, like interior pyramid tickets, are detailed separately.
  6. 06What level of physical activity is involved in this tour?
    This tour involves moderate physical activity, including walking on uneven ancient surfaces, navigating stairs at temples, and some early morning starts. A reasonable level of fitness will allow you to comfortably enjoy all planned excursions.
  7. 07Is this holiday suitable for families with children?
    This tour can be suitable for families, although some days involve extensive sightseeing and early starts. We recommend it for children who are comfortable with walking and engaging with historical sites. Please contact us for specific age guidance.
  8. 08What clothing and items should I bring for this trip?
    We advise bringing light, breathable clothing, comfortable walking shoes, a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, and high-factor sunscreen. Modest clothing, covering shoulders and knees, is recommended for visits to religious sites.
  9. 09When is the best time of year to book this Cairo and Nile Cruise tour?
    The ideal time to visit is typically from October to April, offering cooler and more pleasant weather for sightseeing. The summer months, from May to September, can be very hot, particularly in Upper Egypt.
  10. 10How does this 8-day tour compare to shorter Nile cruise options?
    Unlike shorter 4-night cruise programmes that often condense sightseeing, this 8-day itinerary provides ample time for both Cairo's main attractions and a more thorough exploration of the Nile Valley, including Abu Simbel, without feeling rushed.

If plans change

Cancellation

More than 30 days
Full refund less a £50 admin fee
15–30 days
50% refund
Within 14 days
No refund – date changes considered case by case

Editorial review

Khaled Mansour

Product ID: TOU-CAI-272050

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