9-Day Cairo, Luxor & Hurghada Holiday
Giza's pyramids, Luxor's temples and tombs, then four nights beside the Red Sea with a jeep safari and a day's snorkelling. Both internal flights, hotels and an Egyptologist are included.
The short answer
9-Day Cairo, Luxor & Hurghada Holiday is a 9-day, 8-night trip to Cairo, Luxor and Hurghada: 2 nights in Cairo, 2 in Luxor and 4 in Hurghada. It includes an Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transfers. Prices start at £1,509 per person, two sharing (Classic, October–April).
02Overview
A first look
History comes first on this holiday, and the seaside comes after it. You land in Cairo on day 1, are met at the airport and have a free evening. Day 2 brings the Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum, ending with a flight to Luxor. Day 3 stays on the West Bank, with the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's temple and the Colossi of Memnon.
The morning of day 4 is for the East Bank, at Karnak and Luxor Temple. Then a private car drives you to Hurghada, about five hours away, for four nights on the Red Sea. There is a jeep safari into the hills behind the coast, a day snorkelling at Orange Bay and a day to yourself. On day 8 you fly to Cairo for a half-day in Coptic Cairo, and spend the last night there. We organise both flights, every transfer and your hotels. You choose the standard of hotel when you book; the sightseeing does not change.
What lingers
- 01The Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum with your Egyptologist
- 02A day on Luxor's West Bank: the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's temple and the Colossi of Memnon
- 03Karnak and Luxor Temple on the East Bank, before the road to the coast
- 04Four nights beside the Red Sea at Hurghada
- 05A jeep safari into the hills behind the coast
- 06A boat trip to Orange Bay on Giftun Island, with two snorkelling sessions
- 07Coptic Cairo, with the Hanging Church and the Ben Ezra Synagogue
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comfortfrom £1,5094★ hotels | Cairo · 2 nightsJewel Sport City Luxor · 2 nightsIberotel Luxor by JAZ Hurghada · 4 nightsSwiss Inn Resort Hurghada | £1,509May–Sep: from £1,517 | |
| Classicfrom £1,5095★ hotels | Hurghada · 4 nightsAMC Royal Hotel & Spa | £1,509May–Sep: from £1,519 | |
| Prestigefrom £1,8555★ deluxe hotels | Luxor · 2 nightsSteigenberger Nile Palace Luxor Hurghada · 4 nightsHilton Hurghada Plaza | £1,855May–Sep: from £2,009 | |
| Luxuryfrom £2,5145★ luxury hotels | Cairo · 2 nightsSt. Regis Cairo Luxor · 2 nightsHilton Luxor Resort & Spa | £2,514May–Sep: from £2,581 |
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.
Day by day
Detailed itinerary
9 Days / 8 Nights · Cairo · Giza · Saqqara · Luxor · Hurghada · Red Sea
- 1
Today you simply arrive. Our representative is waiting in the arrivals hall at Cairo Airport, deals with the luggage and drives you to your hotel, which takes around an hour. After that the evening belongs to you: settle in, find something to eat whenever suits and get a good night's sleep before the pyramids tomorrow.
- 2
Your English-speaking Egyptologist picks you up at the hotel after breakfast and drives you to Giza. You walk among the three pyramids and stand before the Great Sphinx, and the plateau alone takes four to six hours. You have lunch with a view over the site and then spend time in the Grand Egyptian Museum. Entrance fees, bottled water and an air-conditioned vehicle are all included.
In the late afternoon you are taken to Cairo Airport for the flight to Luxor, where a driver is waiting to take you to your hotel. The day is planned around the airline's timetable.
- 3
The sites of the western shore fill today. Your English-speaking Egyptologist takes you into the Valley of the Kings, where the ticket opens three tombs, and then up to the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, cut in terraces against the cliff. The Colossi of Memnon, two giant seated statues, are the last stop.
The outing lasts about six hours, and the entrance tickets and the air-conditioned transport are paid for. After that you can rest at the hotel or wander in Luxor.
- 4
Karnak and Luxor Temple wait on the east side of the Nile, and you see them before leaving Luxor. Your licensed Egyptologist leads the visit, and the entrance fees and the vehicle between the two temples are covered. When you have finished, a private air-conditioned car starts the journey to Hurghada, roughly five hours, which brings you to the Red Sea coast.
You are changing city today, so expect a long stretch in the car and an easy rest of the evening once you reach your hotel.
- 5
This is the Telescope Adventure, a jeep safari out of Hurghada. The jeep leaves the coast road and climbs into the hills behind the resort, along rough tracks with wide views. Expect bumps and dust, and dress for it. You are brought back to your hotel afterwards, with the evening free beside the sea.
- 6
A driver collects you from the hotel and delivers you to the boat, which crosses by motor to Orange Bay on Giftun Island. Two guided snorkelling sessions are planned, and masks, snorkels and life jackets are provided. Between swims you can rest on a sunbed on the beach, and a hot lunch and bottled water are included. The boat returns to Hurghada later and you are taken back to your hotel.
- 7
We have left this day empty on purpose. Lie by the pool, swim in the sea, stroll along the front or browse the shops in Hurghada. If you would like a driver for a few hours or a further trip, just ask and we will set it up. Pack in the evening, because tomorrow you fly to Cairo.
- 8
You are driven to Hurghada Airport for the internal flight to Cairo, and another transfer takes you from the airport to your hotel there. The timing of the afternoon follows the airline's schedule. Your Egyptologist then guides a half-day in Coptic Cairo of around four hours.
It takes in the Babylon Fortress, the Hanging Church, the Greek Orthodox Church of St George, the Church of Abu Serga with its crypt, and the Ben Ezra Synagogue, with a pause for mint tea and pastry. The vehicle and guide are included.
- 9
After breakfast you check out, and a private driver and transfer representative take you to Cairo Airport for your international flight. We kept the previous night in Cairo deliberately. It is a safety window, so that a late internal flight cannot put your journey home at risk.
Bundled in
- Domestic flights
The fine print
What's included – and what is left out
Included
- Two nights in Cairo hotels, two in Luxor and four in Hurghada, all with breakfast
- Internal flights Cairo to Luxor and Hurghada to Cairo, with 23 kg of luggage and taxes
- Private road transfer from Luxor to Hurghada
- All airport and hotel transfers in an air-conditioned vehicle, with meet-and-assist on arrival in Cairo
- An English-speaking Egyptologist, the entrance fees and the transport on every sightseeing day, including three tombs in the Valley of the Kings
- Lunch on the Giza and Orange Bay days
- Jeep safari from Hurghada
- Orange Bay boat trip with snorkelling equipment, life jackets, a sunbed and a hot lunch
- Half-day Coptic Cairo tour with a break for mint tea and pastry
Not included
- International flights to and from Egypt
- Egyptian entry visa
- Tips for guides and drivers
- Drinks and meals other than those stated
- The inside of the Khufu pyramid and premium tombs such as Tutankhamun and Seti I
- Travel insurance and personal spending
Field notes
From our Egyptologists
- 01
Go to Giza early, before the limestone glare gets harsh at midday.
- 02
Carry small cash for bottled water and restroom stops in Luxor and Hurghada.
- 03
At Karnak Temple, early light is better inside the hypostyle hall.
- 04
Morning snorkelling in Hurghada usually has calmer water than late afternoon.
- 05
Wear shoes with grip, because tomb paths and temple stones can be uneven and dusty.
Tailor it
Make it yours
You choose the standard of hotel when you book. Ask us about extra nights in Luxor or Hurghada, or a hot-air balloon flight over Luxor.
Your own specialist deals with each request before you book.
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- Travellers who want to see the big sites and then rest beside the Red Sea. Suits couples, friends and active travellers who are happy with two flights, a long drive and several hours of walking on sightseeing days.
Maybe not, if
- Travellers who need step-free access to every site, or who want a Nile cruise or Abu Simbel. Days 2, 3 and 4 are full days.
Honest assessment
The honest pluses and minuses, as our own team sees them after running this trip.
Highlights
- The pyramids, the Grand Egyptian Museum, both banks of Luxor and the Red Sea in nine days
- Four nights in one resort, with a free day to rest
- A last night in Cairo protects your journey home
Things to Consider
- Days 2, 3 and 4 are full of sightseeing, and day 4 finishes with a five-hour drive
- Day 1 is just an arrival, so Cairo gets one full day
- No Nile cruise and no Abu Simbel
Where it fits
A good first trip to Egypt that mixes history with rest beside the sea. If you want a Nile cruise or Abu Simbel, ask about a longer holiday.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Many operators sell the sights and the seaside as separate trips. This holiday joins them in nine days, with both flights, the road transfer and every other transfer booked for you. You choose the hotel standard; the sightseeing does not change.
Compare
Similar tours to compare
On the ground
Your route
Snapshot
Good to know
- Travel style
- Guided multi-day holiday with a Red Sea beach stay
- Accommodation
- Hotels in Cairo, Luxor and Hurghada, standard chosen at booking
- Destinations
- Cairo · Giza · Saqqara · Luxor · Hurghada · Red Sea
- Includes
- 8 nights in hotels with breakfast · Flights from Cairo to Luxor and Hurghada to Cairo · Private transfer from Luxor to Hurghada · English-speaking Egyptologist, entrance fees and transport on sightseeing days · Jeep safari and Orange Bay snorkelling trip · All transfers in an air-conditioned vehicle
- Best for
- First-time visitors · Those who want history and a seaside stay · Active travellers who enjoy a jeep safari and snorkelling
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 required travel documents
- Comfortable walking shoes with good grip
- Sun cream, SPF 30 or higher
- Sun hat and sunglasses
- Reusable water bottle
- Swimwear and a towel for Hurghada
- Any personal medication
- A scarf or buff to keep dust out on the jeep safari
What to wear
- Light, breathable clothes for sun and heat
- Closed shoes for tombs, temples and uneven ground
- Clothes that cover shoulders and knees at temples and churches
- Old clothes that can take a bit of dust for the jeep safari
- A light layer for cool mornings and the boat ride
Children & families
Children are welcome. Each child has a seat in the vehicle, so transport and guiding are charged at the adult rate at any age. Entry tickets are free for under-6s and full price from 6. The jeep safari and the boat trip may have their own age and size rules, so give us the child's age when you book and we will say what is possible. Hotel costs depend on the child's age and the room used, so we confirm the exact figure then.
Accessibility
Who can join this
There is a great deal of walking on large archaeological sites, over uneven stone and sand, up steps and through some narrow tomb passages. The Valley of the Kings and Karnak have long stretches in the open with little shade, and the old churches of Coptic Cairo bring cobbles and more steps. The jeep safari is a bumpy ride on rough ground, and the Orange Bay day means a boat crossing and getting in and out of the water. 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 be honest about which parts will work.
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
This holiday includes two internal flights, a five-hour road transfer, a motorboat crossing and a jeep safari, and vehicles vary, so we make no claim about carbon savings. Guiding is by local Egyptologists and everything is arranged with suppliers in Cairo, Luxor and Hurghada, which keeps most of your spending in the places you visit. At sea we ask guests to take their rubbish back to the boat and to keep clear of the coral.
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
01Are the internal flights included?
Yes. The flight from Cairo to Luxor on day 2 and the flight from Hurghada to Cairo on day 8 are booked for you and included, with 23 kg of luggage and taxes. International flights are not.02How far is Luxor from Hurghada by road?
The drive is about five hours in a private, air-conditioned car on day 4. It comes after the morning at Karnak and Luxor Temple, so you arrive at the coast in the evening.03Will I make my international flight?
Internal and international tickets are separate bookings, so a delayed internal flight can cost you the connection. That is why we end the holiday with a night in Cairo. If you change the plan to fly to Cairo and connect on the same day, choose a late-evening or night international flight, and buy travel insurance that covers missed connections.04Which hotels will we stay in?
You choose a standard when you book, from budget to luxury, and we name the hotels for your dates. The itinerary and the sightseeing are the same at every standard. Breakfast is included at all of them.05What is the jeep safari like?
A jeep takes you from Hurghada into the hills behind the coast on rough tracks. It is bumpy and dusty, so bring a scarf and wear old clothes. Ask us for the pickup time and the length when you book and we will confirm them.06Is snorkelling equipment provided?
Yes. On the Orange Bay day you have snorkelling gear and life jackets, two guided sessions in the water, a sunbed on the beach, a hot lunch and water.07What can I do on the free day?
Nothing is booked. You could swim, rest at the hotel or look round the shops in Hurghada. If you would like a driver or another trip, ask us and we will organise it.08Are the guide, entrance fees and transport included?
Yes. On the sightseeing days in Cairo, Luxor and Coptic Cairo, an English-speaking Egyptologist, the entrance fees and the transport are included.09What is not included?
International flights, the Egyptian visa, tips for guides and drivers, drinks and meals other than those stated, the inside of the Khufu pyramid and premium tombs such as Tutankhamun's.10When is the best time to go?
October to April is cooler and the most comfortable time for walking round temples and tombs. Summers are very hot in Luxor, so days start early, though the Red Sea is warm enough to swim in for much of the year.
Last updated Product ID: TOU-CAI-311540
At a glance
- Length
- 9 days · 8 nights
- Starts
- Daily
- Route
- Cairo → Luxor → Hurghada → Cairo
- Nights
- 2 Cairo · 2 Luxor · 4 Hurghada
- Includes
- Egyptologist guide, entrance fees, transfers