9-Day Abu Simbel Sun Festival & Nile Cruise Holiday
One set departure, 19 to 27 February 2027. Watch the sunrise reach the inner sanctuary at Abu Simbel on 22 February, then cruise from Aswan to Luxor. Flights, hotels, cabin and guiding are all arranged.
The short answer
9-Day Abu Simbel Sun Festival & Nile Cruise Holiday is a 9-day, 8-night trip to Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and Abu Simbel: 2 nights in Cairo, 3 in Aswan and 3 on a Nile cruise. It includes an Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transfers. Prices start at £1,848 per person, two sharing (Classic).
02Overview
A first look
On two mornings a year the sun rises straight down the temple at Abu Simbel and touches the carved figures at the back. 22 February is one of them, and this holiday is planned around it. The dates are fixed. Day 1 is Friday 19 February 2027, day 9 is Saturday 27 February 2027, and there is no other departure.
The first two nights are in Cairo, with the Giza Pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum. Then you fly south to Aswan, take a felucca at sunset and set out before dawn on festival day for Abu Simbel. The next day in Aswan is free, with a Nubian village visit if you want it. After that comes three nights on a Nile cruise ship to Luxor and a last morning on Luxor's West Bank before a flight to Cairo. We book every flight within Egypt, every transfer, the hotels and your cabin. Pick the standard of hotel and ship when you book; the sightseeing does not change.
What lingers
- 01Sunrise at Abu Simbel on festival day, Monday 22 February 2027, as the sun lights the inner sanctuary
- 02The Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum with an Egyptologist
- 03A felucca ride at sunset around Elephantine Island in Aswan
- 04A free day in Aswan, with a Nubian village visit
- 05Three nights aboard a Nile cruise ship from Aswan to Luxor on full board
- 06Philae, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Karnak and Luxor Temple, and the Valley of the Kings on the final day
Choose your comfort level
Prices are per person in GBP, from 2 people sharing a double room, including accommodation.
| Comfort level | Per person | Choose |
|---|---|---|
| Classicfrom £1,8485★ hotels | £1,848 |
Choose your date in the booking panel for the exact price.
- New
Day by day
Detailed itinerary
9 Days / 8 Nights · Cairo · Giza Plateau · Grand Egyptian Museum · Aswan · Abu Simbel · Philae Temple
- 1
Your holiday starts on Friday 19 February 2027. Once you land at Cairo Airport, our representative meets you in arrivals, looks after the formalities and the luggage, and takes you by private car to your hotel, roughly an hour's journey. The evening is your own. Eat when you like and get some sleep before the pyramids.
- 2
A day of around eight hours with your Egyptologist, who picks you up at the hotel. The morning is on the Giza Plateau, among the pyramids of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure and beside the Great Sphinx. You have lunch, which is included, at a restaurant overlooking the site. After it you move on to the Grand Egyptian Museum and the Tutankhamun collection.
The guide, tickets, bottled water and air-conditioned car are all covered, and you finish back at your Cairo hotel for a second night.
- 3
You are driven to Cairo Airport after breakfast for the flight south to Aswan, which leaves at a time the airline sets. In Aswan a driver takes you on to your hotel. As the afternoon cools you go down to the river for a felucca ride, drifting past Elephantine Island and Kitchener's Island and the Aga Khan mausoleum while the sun sets near the first cataract.
Allow about three hours for the outing including the transfers. Entrance fees are paid.
- 4
Everything on this holiday leads to today. The Sun Festival is fixed for Monday 22 February, so you set off from Aswan by road in the early hours to reach Abu Simbel by sunrise. As the sun comes up it travels through the Great Temple of Ramesses II and lights the figures in the innermost chamber. The alignment is repeated on 22 October every year.
Cloud or haze can affect the view and we cannot promise it. You then have time for both temples before the drive back to Aswan. Road transport and entrance fees are included, and the remainder of the day is free.
- 5
After yesterday's very early start, you can take the day gently. Stroll the Corniche or stay at the hotel as you prefer. We have set up one visit: a Nubian village beside the Nile. A boat and a car take you there, and an English-speaking guide shows you round the painted houses and explains how people live there today. Bottled water is provided. The rest of the day is up to you.
- 6
Today you leave your Aswan hotel and go aboard your Nile cruise ship. The day's sightseeing is part of the cruise package, so an Egyptologist, tickets and transport are all included. You see Philae, the temple of Isis now standing on Agilkia Island, followed by the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk in the old granite quarries.
You eat lunch and dinner on the ship, where you stay for the first of three nights.
- 7
The ship travels north while you have breakfast, and two temples are on the plan. Kom Ombo sits on a bend of the river and is shared by two gods, Sobek and Horus. Edfu is the temple of Horus, among the best preserved in Egypt. Your Egyptologist is with you at both, and tickets and transport are included. Between visits you can sit on deck and watch village life pass by. Every meal is on the ship.
- 8
By now the ship has reached Luxor, and you spend the day at the two big temples of the east bank. Karnak is the biggest temple complex in Egypt, and your ticket includes the Sacred Lake. Luxor Temple stands by the river in the heart of the town. Your Egyptologist takes you round both, with tickets and transport included. You spend your third and last night on board.
- 9
Once you have had breakfast and left the ship, you cross the river to the West Bank. The morning takes in the Valley of the Kings, where your ticket covers three tombs, Hatshepsut's mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahari and the Colossi of Memnon. Your Egyptologist guides, with tickets and transport included, and the visits are timed around your flight.
You are then driven to Luxor Airport for the flight to Cairo, at a time the airline decides. No hotel is booked in Cairo, so the holiday ends there, ready for your onward flight home.
Bundled in
- Domestic flights
The fine print
What's included – and what is left out
Included
- Two nights in a Cairo hotel and three in an Aswan hotel, with breakfast
- Three nights on a Nile cruise ship from Aswan to Luxor on full board
- Flights within Egypt: Cairo to Aswan and Luxor to Cairo
- The Abu Simbel Sun Festival journey on Monday 22 February 2027, with road transport and entrance fees
- Every airport, hotel and port transfer in an air-conditioned vehicle
- A sunset felucca ride in Aswan and a Nubian village visit
- Entrance fees to every site in the itinerary, including three tombs in the Valley of the Kings
- Lunch on the Giza day, and Egyptologist guiding on the Cairo, Nubian village and cruise sightseeing days
- Meet and assist at the airport
- 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 pyramid interior and premium tombs such as Tutankhamun and Seti I
- Travel insurance and personal spending
Field notes
From our Egyptologists
- 01
On Sun Festival morning, check with your guide about the best spot before sunrise, because the sunlight on the sanctuary is brief and the crowds gather quickly.
- 02
Charge your camera and free up memory the evening before Abu Simbel; the dim interior and the short moment will tempt you to shoot plenty.
- 03
In the Grand Egyptian Museum, make for the Grand Staircase before the tour parties, then work back through the galleries at your leisure.
- 04
Use the unscheduled Aswan day for a gentle walk by the Corniche and a glass of karkadeh; it is a wonderfully slow change of pace.
Tailor it
Make it yours
Choose your hotel and ship standard when you book. The dates, and the festival day, are fixed because this is a single departure. Ask us about extra nights in Cairo or Luxor.
Your own specialist deals with each request before you book.
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- Guests who want to stand at Abu Simbel on the Sun Festival and then see the temples of the Nile from a ship. It suits couples, friends and solo guests who can work with set dates and a start before dawn.
Maybe not, if
- Guests who need flexible dates or step-free access to every site. Day 4 starts in the small hours.
Honest assessment
The honest pluses and minuses, as our own team sees them after running this trip.
Highlights
- Planned so day 4 is the Abu Simbel Sun Festival, 22 February 2027
- Pyramids, Grand Egyptian Museum, Aswan, a Nile cruise and Luxor's West Bank in nine days
- Flights within Egypt and all transfers arranged for you
Things to Consider
- One departure only, so the dates cannot be moved
- Very early start on day 4, and the weather can affect the sunrise
- Uneven stone, steps and little shade at the big sites
Where it fits
A good choice if the Sun Festival matters to you. As it is a single departure, check the dates before you book your international flights.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Abu Simbel is usually a short excursion from Aswan. Here the date is fixed to the festival morning, with Cairo, a Nile cruise and Luxor's West Bank added and the flights and transfers booked for you. You choose the standard of hotel and ship.
Compare
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On the ground
Your route
Snapshot
Good to know
- Travel style
- Guided Fixed-Departure Holiday with Nile Cruise
- Accommodation
- Hotels in Cairo and Aswan and a Nile cruise ship, standard chosen when you book
- Destinations
- Cairo · Giza Plateau · Grand Egyptian Museum · Aswan · Abu Simbel · Philae Temple · Kom Ombo · Edfu · Luxor · Karnak Temple · Valley of the Kings
- Includes
- Two nights in Cairo and three in Aswan, with breakfast · Three nights on a Nile cruise ship, full board · Flights Cairo to Aswan and Luxor to Cairo · The Abu Simbel trip on festival day, 22 February 2027 · Entrance fees to every listed site · All transfers in air-conditioned vehicles
- Best for
- Guests who want to see the Abu Simbel Sun Festival · First-time visitors · History lovers who like a ship for part of the trip
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 travel documents you need
- Comfortable walking shoes with good grip
- A warm layer for the pre-dawn journey and the wait at Abu Simbel
- Sun cream, SPF 30 or higher
- Sun hat and sunglasses
- Refillable water bottle
- Any medication you take
- Small day bag and a camera with a charged battery
What to wear
- Light, breathable clothes for the sun in the daytime
- A fleece or jacket for early morning at Abu Simbel and for evenings on the river
- Closed shoes for temples and rough ground
- Clothes that cover shoulders and knees at mosques and temples
- A hat and sunglasses
Children & families
Children are welcome. Each child has a seat in the vehicle, so transport, guiding and meals are charged at the adult rate whatever their age. Entrance tickets are free for under-6s and full price from age 6. Hotel and cabin costs depend on the child's age and the room or cabin, so we give you the exact figure once you tell us the age when booking. The festival morning at Abu Simbel starts in the middle of the night, which is hard going for very small children.
Accessibility
Who can join this
Expect plenty of walking on archaeological sites, over uneven stone and sand, with steps and some narrow tomb passages. On day 4 you leave the hotel in the small hours and stand outside the temple at Abu Simbel while the light comes up. Karnak and the Valley of the Kings have long open stretches with little shade. Getting on the felucca, the boat to Philae and the cruise ship means steps or a gangway. Our 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 will work for you.
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
This holiday relies on two flights within Egypt, a Nile cruise ship and road transfers, including the long drive to Abu Simbel, and vehicles vary, so we make no claim about carbon savings. Guiding is by local Egyptologists and the arrangements are with suppliers in Cairo, Aswan and Luxor, and the Nubian village visit supports a local community directly. Please bring a refillable water bottle and keep your hands off painted walls in tombs and temples.
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
01Is this a set departure?
Yes, there is just the one. Day 1 is Friday 19 February 2027 and day 9 is Saturday 27 February 2027. The Abu Simbel Sun Festival is on day 4, Monday 22 February, so the dates cannot be shifted.02What happens at the Abu Simbel Sun Festival?
At sunrise the sun's light runs the full length of the temple and falls on the figures in the innermost chamber. It happens again on 22 October each year. You leave Aswan by road in the early hours to be there. Weather can affect the view, so we cannot promise it.03Are the flights within Egypt included?
Yes. Cairo to Aswan on day 3 and Luxor to Cairo on day 9 are booked for you and included in the holiday. The airline sets the times. Your international flights are not included.04How long are we on the Nile cruise ship?
Three nights, from Aswan to Luxor, on full board. The other five nights are in hotels, two in Cairo and three in Aswan, with breakfast.05What ship and hotels will we stay in?
You pick a standard when you book, from budget to luxury, and we tell you the exact ship and hotels for your dates. The route and the sightseeing are the same at every level.06Will I make my flight home?
Your flight within Egypt and your international flight are separate bookings, so a delay on the first could make you miss the second. Day 9 ends in Cairo with no hotel night, so if you connect the same day, book a late-evening or night departure. Make sure your travel insurance covers missed connections.07How early do we leave on festival day?
Very early, in the dark, because the road from Aswan to Abu Simbel must be driven before sunrise. Have an early night on day 3 and pack a warm layer. You are back in Aswan afterwards.08What is covered on the Abu Simbel day?
Road transport from Aswan to Abu Simbel and back, and tickets for the temples. Breakfast is at your hotel.09What does the price not cover?
International flights, the Egypt visa, tips for guides and drivers, drinks beyond those stated, meals not listed in the itinerary, and premium tombs such as Tutankhamun's.10Why late February?
The festival date, 22 February, sets the dates. It is also a pleasant time to see the sites, mild by day but chilly in the mornings in Aswan.
Last updated Product ID: TOU-CAI-907486
At a glance
- Length
- 9 days · 8 nights
- Starts
- Daily
- Route
- Cairo → Aswan → Abu Simbel → Kom Ombo → Edfu → Luxor → Cairo
- Nights
- 2 Cairo · 3 Aswan · 3 Nile cruise
- Includes
- Egyptologist guide, entrance fees, transfers