8-Day Honeymoon in Egypt: Cairo, Luxor & Aswan
Eight days just for the two of you, from a camel ride at Giza sunset to a dawn balloon over Luxor and a felucca at Aswan, with a private guide and car.
The short answer
8-Day Honeymoon in Egypt: Cairo, Luxor & Aswan is an 8-day, 7-night trip to Cairo, Luxor and Aswan: 2 nights in Cairo, 3 in Luxor and 2 in Aswan. It includes domestic flights, an Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transfers. Prices start at £1,434 per person, two sharing (Essential, October–April).
02Overview
A first look
Few places suit a honeymoon quite like Egypt. The monuments are enormous, the evenings are soft and the Nile runs through the whole trip. This holiday leaves room for the small, romantic moments that sit between the big sights. In Cairo you start with a dinner cruise on the river, and the next day you ride a camel at the Giza Pyramids as the sun goes down. Luxor brings a hot-air balloon at sunrise, a private motorboat to Banana Island and an evening drive in a horse carriage. At Aswan you take a felucca at sunset and call on a Nubian village.
You have a private guide and a private car throughout, so you set the speed. Both internal flights, every transfer and your hotels are arranged for you, and you pick the standard of hotel at the time of booking. Honeymoon touches such as a decorated room or a bottle of champagne are not included, but we are glad to arrange them if you ask.
What lingers
- 01A Nile dinner cruise and show on your first evening in Cairo
- 02The Giza Pyramids and the Sphinx, followed by a sunset camel ride
- 03A hot-air balloon over Luxor at sunrise (weather permitting)
- 04A private motorboat to Banana Island at sunset
- 05The Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's temple, Karnak and Luxor Temple with an Egyptologist
- 06A horse carriage ride through Luxor's market and past Luxor Temple by night
- 07A felucca at sunset in Aswan, then Philae Temple and a Nubian village
- 08A private guide and car, with flights, transfers and entrance fees included
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 £1,4343★ hotels | Luxor · 3 nightsEl Mesala Hotel Luxor Aswan · 2 nightsHapi Hotel Aswan | £1,434May–Sep: from £1,369 | |
| Comfortfrom £1,6034★ hotels | Cairo · 2 nightsJewel Sport City Luxor · 3 nightsIberotel Luxor by JAZ | £1,603May–Sep: from £1,525 | |
| Classicfrom £1,6825★ hotels | £1,682May–Sep: from £1,580 | ||
| Prestigefrom £1,8665★ deluxe hotels | Luxor · 3 nightsSteigenberger Nile Palace Luxor Aswan · 2 nightsTolip Aswan | £1,866May–Sep: from £1,798 | |
| Luxuryfrom £2,4645★ luxury hotels | Cairo · 2 nightsSt. Regis Cairo Luxor · 3 nightsHilton Luxor Resort & Spa Aswan · 2 nightsThe Zen Wellness Resort Aswan | £2,464May–Sep: from £2,405 |
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.
- New
Day by day
Detailed itinerary
8 Days / 7 Nights · Cairo · Giza Plateau · Great Sphinx · Luxor · Banana Island · Valley of the Kings
- 1
A driver greets you in the arrivals hall at Cairo Airport, deals with the luggage and drives you to your hotel, where you can unwind after the journey. Later you are picked up for a dinner cruise on the Nile. Around three hours on the water bring a buffet dinner, live entertainment and Cairo's skyline from the upper deck, before you are driven back to the hotel.
A relaxed first evening as newlyweds.
- 2
Your Egyptologist guide leads a half-day visit to the Giza Plateau and its three great pyramids, those of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure, as well as the Great Sphinx. The guide, entrance fees and transport are all covered. The afternoon is yours to rest. As the sun drops, your car returns you to the plateau for a private camel ride, when the stone turns gold and the day-trippers have mostly gone.
After that you head back to your hotel.
- 3
Once breakfast is over you are driven to Cairo Airport for the internal flight to Luxor, which takes about an hour. A driver meets you at Luxor and drops you at your hotel. In the late afternoon a private motorboat collects you for a three-hour trip to Banana Island, with the island entry fee paid and fresh fruit, mint tea and water served on board.
Timing it for sunset means the river glows as you head home.
- 4
You are up in the dark for a hot-air balloon flight over Luxor, as the temples and the strip of green beside the river appear in the first light. Balloons fly only when the weather allows, and we will tell you straight away if the wind says no.
Once you are down and have had breakfast, your Egyptologist takes you over the river for a full day on the West Bank, visiting the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's temple, the Colossi of Memnon and Medinet Habu. Guide, entrance fees and transport are included. It is a long day, so plan on an early night.
- 5
The East Bank is the focus of the morning. A licensed Egyptologist guides you around Karnak Temple and then Luxor Temple, with an air-conditioned vehicle between the two. Your hotel pickup, entrance fees and bottled water are included. You have the rest of the afternoon free. When it is dark, a private horse carriage drives you through the local market and on to Luxor Temple, floodlit and quiet.
After two full days, it is a gentle way to end the evening.
- 6
Following breakfast, a private car drives you from your Luxor hotel to your hotel in Aswan. It is a long road journey, so settle in and enjoy the scenery. No sightseeing stops are planned on this day, but if you would like to break the drive, just ask us. Later, as the light softens, you step aboard a felucca, the classic Nile sailing boat, for a ride on the river at sunset.
The breeze sets the pace and the glow on the water is the main event.
- 7
This morning you go to Philae Temple, dedicated to the goddess Isis, on a half-day tour with your guide, with the entrance fee and transport included. After that you travel to a Nubian village by boat and air-conditioned vehicle, accompanied by an English-speaking guide. Bottled water is provided and a licensed Egyptian operator looks after the arrangements on the ground.
You then return to your Aswan hotel for the last night of the trip in the south.
- 8
After breakfast you check out and are taken to Aswan Airport for the internal flight to Cairo, which lasts about an hour. A driver meets you at Cairo and drives you on to the airport for your international flight home. The holiday finishes there, with no hotel night in Cairo, so do read our answer about connecting flights before you buy your own tickets. The airline sets the flight times.
Bundled in
- Domestic flights
The fine print
What's included – and what is left out
Included
- Seven hotel nights with breakfast: two in Cairo, three in Luxor and two in Aswan
- Internal flights from Cairo to Luxor and from Aswan to Cairo, with 23 kg of luggage
- All airport, hotel and intercity transfers in a private, air-conditioned car
- Nile dinner cruise and evening show in Cairo, with hotel transfers
- A private camel ride at sunset at the Giza Pyramids
- A sunrise hot-air balloon flight over Luxor (weather permitting)
- Banana Island by private motorboat, with fruit, mint tea and water
- A private evening horse carriage ride in Luxor
- A sunset felucca on the Nile at Aswan
- An English-speaking Egyptologist guide on sightseeing days
- Entrance fees to the sites in the itinerary
- Meet-and-assist at the airport
Not included
- International flights to and from Egypt
- Egyptian entry visa
- Tips for guides, drivers and boat crews
- Meals and drinks other than those stated
- Honeymoon extras such as room decoration or champagne (available on request)
- Optional extras such as Abu Simbel or entry inside Khufu's pyramid
- Travel insurance and personal spending
Field notes
From our Egyptologists
- 01
Choose the late-afternoon camel ride at Giza; the low sun flatters the Pyramids and the heat has eased.
- 02
Wrap up for the pre-dawn balloon flight over Luxor, as it is properly chilly before sunrise.
- 03
Save the Luxor horse carriage for the evening, with Luxor Temple floodlit and the market less hectic.
- 04
Have the boatman loop Philae once before landing, which gives you the best photograph of the temple from the water.
Tailor it
Make it yours
You choose the standard of hotel when you book. Ask us about a decorated room or champagne, a final night in Cairo, extra nights in Luxor or a day trip to Abu Simbel.
Your own specialist deals with each request before you book.
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- Couples on a honeymoon or anniversary who want Egypt's great sights and a few romantic evenings, at their own pace, with a private guide and car.
Maybe not, if
- Travellers who need step-free access to every site, or who prefer a slow holiday from a single base. Days 4 and 6 are long.
Honest assessment
The honest pluses and minuses, as our own team sees them after running this trip.
Highlights
- Romantic moments built in: Nile dinner cruise, sunset camel ride, dawn balloon, felucca
- The pyramids, Valley of the Kings, Karnak and Philae in eight days
- A private guide and car, with both flights and every transfer arranged for you
Things to Consider
- The balloon means a very early start and depends on the weather
- A long road journey from Luxor to Aswan on day 6
- The holiday ends at Cairo Airport with no last night in Cairo; Abu Simbel is not included
Where it fits
A good choice for a honeymoon or anniversary in Egypt. Abu Simbel and a last night in Cairo are not included, so ask us to add them if they matter to you.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Many Egypt itineraries are group sightseeing with a romantic extra added on. This one is built around the evenings: you have your own guide and car, and each major site is matched with a quiet moment. You choose the hotel standard; the plan stays the same.
Compare
Similar tours to compare
On the ground
Your route
Snapshot
Good to know
- Travel style
- Private guided honeymoon holiday
- Accommodation
- Hotels in Cairo, Luxor and Aswan, standard chosen at booking
- Destinations
- Cairo · Giza Plateau · Great Sphinx · Luxor · Banana Island · Valley of the Kings · Hatshepsut Temple · Karnak Temple · Luxor Temple · Aswan · Philae Temple · Nubian Village
- Includes
- 2 nights in Cairo, 3 in Luxor and 2 in Aswan, with breakfast · Flights from Cairo to Luxor and from Aswan to Cairo · Nile dinner cruise, sunset camel ride and Luxor balloon flight · Private Egyptologist guide and car · Entrance fees to every listed site · All transfers
- Best for
- Honeymooners · Couples marking an anniversary · Travellers who want a private guide and car
The morning of
Meeting point & timing
- Where
- Cairo International Airport (CAI), 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 cream, SPF 30 or higher
- Sun hat and sunglasses
- A reusable water bottle
- A warm layer for the early balloon morning
- A camera or phone with plenty of storage
- Any medication you take
What to wear
- Light, breathable clothes for sun and heat
- Closed shoes for temples and rough ground
- Clothes that cover shoulders and knees at temples and mosques
- A fleece or jacket for the dawn balloon and for evenings by the river
- Trousers or a long skirt that work for a camel ride
Children & families
Children are welcome, although the route is planned with couples in mind. Each child has a seat in the vehicle, so transport and guiding are charged at the adult rate at any age. Entrance tickets are free for under-6s and full price from 6. The camel ride, balloon and boat trips have their own age and safety rules, so give us your children's ages when you book and we will confirm what they can do.
Accessibility
Who can join this
This holiday involves a fair amount of walking around big archaeological sites, over uneven stone and sand, with steps to climb. The Valley of the Kings, Karnak and the Giza plateau all have long outdoor stretches with little shade. The balloon means stepping into and out of a basket, and the felucca, motorboat and camel each call for a little balance. Your car is private and air-conditioned, but we cannot promise wheelchair access everywhere. Let us know what you need when you book and we will tell you plainly what will work.
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
The holiday uses two internal flights, private cars and boats, and vehicle types differ, so we make no claim about carbon savings. Guides, drivers and boatmen are local, and the sightseeing is arranged with suppliers in Cairo, Luxor and Aswan, so much of what you spend stays in the places you visit. Please bring a refillable water bottle, keep to marked paths and leave painted tomb walls untouched.
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
01Will I make my international flight home?
Your holiday ends on day 8 with an internal flight from Aswan to Cairo and a drive to the airport. Internal and international tickets are separate bookings, so if the first flight is late you could miss the second. We would rather you had one last night in Cairo, and we can add it. If you do need to connect on the same day, pick a late-evening or night departure, and take travel insurance that covers missed connections.02What makes this a honeymoon rather than an ordinary tour?
The pace and the evenings. You have your own guide and car, a Nile dinner cruise, a camel ride at Giza at sunset, a balloon at dawn in Luxor, a motorboat to Banana Island, a horse carriage and a felucca at sunset in Aswan. A decorated room or champagne is not included, but we can arrange it if you ask.03Is the balloon flight certain to go ahead?
No. It is included, but balloons only fly when the wind and weather are right, and that is decided on the morning. If it is called off, tell your guide and we will look at alternatives for you.04Are the internal flights part of the holiday?
Yes. Cairo to Luxor on day 3 and Aswan to Cairo on day 8 are booked and included, with 23 kg of luggage. International flights are not. The airline sets the times.05Do we really have our own guide and car?
Yes. On sightseeing days the Egyptologist guide and car are for the two of you. Entrance fees and transport are included on all sightseeing days.06What standard of hotel will we have?
You pick a standard when you book, from budget to luxury, and we name the hotels once we know your dates. The plan and sightseeing are identical whichever you choose. You spend two nights in Cairo, three in Luxor and two in Aswan.07Does the holiday include Abu Simbel?
No, Abu Simbel is not part of this itinerary. It makes a long extra day from Aswan; ask us if you would like to add it.08What should we wear for the balloon?
Bring a warm layer, since the hour before sunrise is cool even in warmer months. Closed shoes and comfortable clothes are best, plus a camera. It warms quickly afterwards, so layers work well.
Last updated Product ID: TOU-CAI-973635
At a glance
- Length
- 8 days · 7 nights
- Starts
- Daily
- Route
- Cairo → Luxor → Aswan → Cairo
- Nights
- 2 Cairo · 3 Luxor · 2 Aswan
- Includes
- Domestic flights, Egyptologist guide, entrance fees, transfers