8-Day Luxury Egypt Holiday: Cairo & Nile Cruise
The pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum, a balloon at dawn over Luxor and four nights on the river to Aswan. Guide and car are private throughout.
The short answer
8-Day Luxury Egypt Holiday: Cairo & Nile Cruise is an 8-day, 7-night trip to Cairo, Luxor and Aswan: 2 nights in Cairo, 1 in Luxor and 4 on a Nile cruise. Starts on Mondays, Wednesdays or Fridays. It includes domestic flights, an Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transfers. Prices start at £2,427 per person, two sharing (Prestige, October–April).
02Overview
A first look
This holiday is built for comfort and for time well spent. You arrive in Cairo and stay two nights. The first evening is a private look at the city after dark; the second day is given to the Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum. On day 3 you fly south to Luxor, spend the afternoon at the Luxor Museum and finish with a private boat to Banana Island as the sun goes down.
Day 4 begins in the dark, with a hot air balloon over the West Bank. Afterwards you board your Nile cruise ship and sail for four nights from Luxor to Aswan. On every sightseeing day your Egyptologist, the entrance fees and the transport are included, and the guide and car are yours alone. We arrange the flights, transfers, hotels and cabin at first-class or luxury standard.
What lingers
- 01An evening in Cairo with your own guide, taking in the Cairo Tower and Khan el-Khalili
- 02The Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum in a single guided day
- 03The Luxor Museum, then a private motorboat to Banana Island at sunset
- 04A hot air balloon at sunrise over Luxor, wind permitting
- 05Four nights on a Nile cruise ship from Luxor to Aswan, full board
- 06Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae with a private Egyptologist
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prestigefrom £2,4275★ deluxe hotels · 5★ deluxe Nile cruises | Luxor · 1 nightSteigenberger Nile Palace Luxor Nile Cruise · 4 nightsNile Excellence · Nile Serenity | £2,427May–Sep: from £2,254 | |
| Luxuryfrom £3,7905★ luxury hotels · 5★ luxury Nile cruises | Cairo · 2 nightsSt. Regis Cairo Luxor · 1 nightHilton Luxor Resort & Spa Nile Cruise · 4 nightsSonesta St. George I · Esmeralda | £3,790May–Sep: from £2,828 |
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
8 Days / 7 Nights · Cairo · Giza Plateau · Grand Egyptian Museum · Luxor · Banana Island · Karnak Temple
- 1
A driver is waiting in the arrivals hall at Cairo Airport and takes you to your hotel, where you can settle in after the flight. Later, your own guide and driver show you Cairo once the heat has gone out of the day. You go up the Cairo Tower for the view across the city, then walk through Khan el-Khalili, the medieval bazaar. No meal is included today, so you can choose where to have dinner.
- 2
Today is a full day of around eight hours, led by your private Egyptologist. After pick-up from your hotel you head to the Giza Plateau for the pyramids of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure and the Great Sphinx; allow 4 to 6 hours for Giza itself. Lunch is at a restaurant with a view. You then go on to the Grand Egyptian Museum.
Guide, entrance fees and air-conditioned car are all included, and you finish back at your hotel for a second night in Cairo.
- 3
Following breakfast you are driven to Cairo Airport for the flight to Luxor and met on arrival for the drive into town. Your guide takes you round the Luxor Museum, a small and uncrowded collection of objects found at Thebes. Towards evening a private motorboat carries you along the Nile to Banana Island, where fruit, mint tea and bottled water are served.
Tonight you stay in a Luxor hotel, as tomorrow begins very early.
- 4
You are collected in the dark for a hot air balloon flight over Luxor, drifting up as the sun rises behind the West Bank. Balloons fly only in suitable wind, and a flight can be called off that morning; if so we let you know early and help you make other plans. Once you are back on the ground you join your Nile cruise ship.
Your Egyptologist then takes you through Karnak, with its Sacred Lake, and on to Luxor Temple. Guide, entrance fees and transport are included, and tonight you sleep on board.
- 5
Today belongs to the West Bank, with your Egyptologist at your side. First come the Colossi of Memnon, then the Valley of the Kings, where your ticket takes you into three tombs, and last the mortuary temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari, set against the cliffs. Guide, entrance fees and transport are included. The evening and night are spent on board.
- 6
The ship carries you south, with stops at two temples on the river. The Temple of Horus at Edfu is among the best preserved in Egypt, and at Kom Ombo the temple is shared between Sobek the crocodile god and Horus. Guide, entrance fees and transport are included. As the day closes at Aswan you take a felucca, the traditional Nile sailing boat, for a ride at sunset.
- 7
This is your day in Aswan. With your Egyptologist you visit Philae Temple on its island, the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk, which was never freed from its quarry. After that comes a Nubian village, reached by boat and left by car, with a local English-speaking guide. Entrance fees and transport are included. You spend a final night on the ship.
- 8
After breakfast you say goodbye to the ship. A private transfer takes you to Aswan Airport for the flight to Cairo, followed by a second transfer to Cairo Airport and your flight home. Flight times are set by the airline schedule, so we build the day around your departure. It is a travelling day with no sightseeing, and we advise booking a flight home late in the evening.
Bundled in
- Domestic flights
The fine print
What's included – and what is left out
Included
- Two nights in a Cairo hotel and one in a Luxor hotel with breakfast, plus four nights on a Nile cruise ship on full board
- Internal flights from Cairo to Luxor and from Aswan to Cairo
- All airport, hotel and quayside transfers in an air-conditioned vehicle
- A private Egyptologist and a private car on the sightseeing days
- Entrance fees to every site in the itinerary, including three tombs in the Valley of the Kings
- A sunrise hot air balloon flight over Luxor (wind permitting)
- Cairo by night, the Luxor Museum, a private motorboat to Banana Island and a sunset felucca ride at Aswan
- Lunch on the day at Giza
- Meet and assist at the airport
- All service charges and taxes
Not included
- International flights to and from Egypt
- Egyptian entry visa
- Tips for guides, drivers and ship staff
- Drinks on board and meals other than those stated
- The inside of the Khufu pyramid and premium tombs such as Tutankhamun's and Seti I's
- Travel insurance and personal spending
Field notes
From our Egyptologists
- 01
Take a jumper for the balloon flight: it is chilly on the ground before sunrise and pleasantly warm once you are airborne.
- 02
At the Grand Egyptian Museum, start with the Tutankhamun galleries as your guide advises, then browse the rest at leisure.
- 03
Go to Banana Island at sunset, and keep a few small notes in your pocket for fresh fruit and juice on the island.
- 04
Wander the painted lanes of the Nubian village in the late afternoon, when the colours are richest and the day's heat has faded.
Tailor it
Make it yours
You choose the standard of hotel and ship (first-class or luxury) when you book. Ask us about adding Abu Simbel, an extra night in Cairo before your flight home, or more time in Luxor.
Your own specialist deals with each request before you book.
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- Travellers who want a first-class or luxury holiday in Egypt with a private guide: Cairo, Luxor and a Nile cruise to Aswan, with a balloon flight on the way. Suits couples, small groups of friends and anyone who would rather see the sites without a crowd.
Maybe not, if
- Travellers who need step-free access to every site, or who cannot manage an early balloon start. Days 4 and 8 are demanding.
Honest assessment
The honest pluses and minuses, as our own team sees them after running this trip.
Highlights
- A private guide and car on every sightseeing day
- The pyramids, the Grand Egyptian Museum, a dawn balloon and a four-night Nile cruise in eight days
- Both internal flights and all transfers arranged for you
Things to Consider
- A pre-dawn start on day 4, and the balloon can be cancelled for wind
- Day 8 is a travel day, with an internal and an international flight
- Abu Simbel is not included
Where it fits
A good fit for a special occasion, such as a honeymoon or anniversary. Abu Simbel is not included, so add it if it is on your list.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Many luxury Egypt holidays are sold as a Nile cruise alone. This one adds Cairo, the Grand Egyptian Museum and a balloon flight, with a private guide and car throughout and both flights booked for you. It is offered at first-class and luxury standard only.
Compare
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On the ground
Your route
Snapshot
Good to know
- Travel style
- Private-guided luxury holiday with a Nile cruise and balloon flight
- Accommodation
- First-class or luxury hotels and Nile cruise ship, standard chosen at booking
- Destinations
- Cairo · Giza Plateau · Grand Egyptian Museum · Luxor · Banana Island · Karnak Temple · Valley of the Kings · Edfu · Kom Ombo · Aswan · Philae Temple
- Includes
- 2 nights in a Cairo hotel and 1 in Luxor with breakfast · 4 nights on a Nile cruise ship, full board · Flights from Cairo to Luxor and Aswan to Cairo · Sunrise hot air balloon flight (wind permitting) · Private Egyptologist and car, entrance fees included · All transfers in an air-conditioned vehicle
- Best for
- Couples and honeymooners · Those who want comfort and a private guide · First-time visitors wanting the pyramids, a balloon and a Nile cruise
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
- Refillable water bottle
- Any regular medication
- Small day bag
- A warm layer for the dark, chilly start of the balloon ride, and for the ship and flights
What to wear
- Light, breathable clothing for sun and heat
- Flat, closed shoes for temples, tombs and the balloon basket
- Clothing that covers shoulders and knees at mosques and temples
- A hat and sunglasses
- A jacket or fleece for the cold before sunrise and for winter evenings on the river
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 once you tell us the age at booking. The balloon company has its own rules for young children, so give us the ages when you book and we will confirm what is possible.
Accessibility
Who can join this
This holiday involves a good deal of walking around large archaeological sites, on uneven stone and sand, with steps and some narrow tomb passages. Karnak, the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut's temple have long, open stretches with little shade. Getting into the balloon basket means a short climb, and boarding the ship, the Banana Island motorboat and the boat to Philae involve steps and a gangway. Vehicles are private and air-conditioned, but we cannot promise wheelchair access at every site. Tell us what you need when you book and we will say honestly which parts suit you.
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
The holiday uses two internal flights, a Nile cruise ship, a hot air balloon, a motorboat 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 local suppliers in Cairo, Luxor and Aswan, so much of what you spend stays in the places you visit. We ask guests to bring a refillable water bottle and to keep their hands off the painted walls in 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
01Which standards of hotel and ship are available?
This holiday is offered at first-class and luxury standard only. We confirm the hotels and the ship for your dates, and the sightseeing is the same at both.02Are the internal flights included?
Yes. The flights from Cairo to Luxor on day 3 and from Aswan to Cairo on day 8 are booked for you. International flights are not included, and flight times follow the airline schedule.03Is the balloon flight included, and might it be cancelled?
It is included, on the morning of day 4. Balloons fly only when the wind is safe, so a flight can be cancelled at short notice. If so, we tell you at once and help you re-plan; we cannot promise the flight.04Is the guide really private?
Yes. Your Egyptologist and car are yours alone on the sightseeing days in Cairo, Luxor and Aswan. On the ship you are with the other guests, and the balloon is shared with other passengers.05How long do we spend on the Nile?
Four nights on board, from Luxor to Aswan, on full board. The other three nights are two in Cairo and one in Luxor, with breakfast.06Will I catch my flight home on day 8?
Internal and international tickets are separate bookings, so a late Aswan to Cairo flight can mean a missed connection. Our preference is an extra night in Cairo, which we can add. If you fly home the same day, pick a late-evening or night departure and buy travel insurance that covers missed connections.07Does the holiday include Abu Simbel?
No. Abu Simbel is not part of this itinerary. If you would like it, ask us and we will explain the options.08What does the price leave out?
International flights, the Egyptian visa, tips for guides, drivers and ship staff, drinks other than those stated, the inside of the Khufu pyramid and premium tombs such as Tutankhamun's.09What is the best season?
October to April is cooler and the most comfortable for exploring the sites. Summers are very hot in Luxor and Aswan, though the dawn balloon flight is cool whatever the season.
Last updated Product ID: TOU-CAI-139920
At a glance
- Length
- 8 days · 7 nights
- Starts
- Mon, Wed or Fri
- Route
- Cairo → Luxor → Edfu → Kom Ombo → Aswan → Cairo
- Nights
- 2 Cairo · 1 Luxor · 4 Nile cruise
- Includes
- Domestic flights, Egyptologist guide, entrance fees, transfers