9-Day Cairo, Nile Cruise, Abu Simbel & Fayoum Holiday
Giza's pyramids, four nights cruising from Luxor to Aswan, a drive to Abu Simbel and a day in the Fayoum oasis. Both internal flights, your hotels and your cruise cabin are included.
The short answer
9-Day Cairo, Nile Cruise, Abu Simbel & Fayoum Holiday is a 9-day, 8-night trip to Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel and Fayoum: 4 nights in Cairo and 4 on a Nile cruise. Starts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays or Saturdays. It includes domestic flights, an Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transfers. Prices start at £1,820 per person, two sharing (Essential, October–April).
02Overview
A first look
Nine days is long enough to see Egypt properly, without hurrying from one site to the next. The holiday opens in Cairo with the Giza Pyramids, an evening Sound & Light show and the Grand Egyptian Museum. You then fly to Luxor and join your Nile cruise ship for four nights, calling at Karnak, Luxor Temple, the West Bank, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae.
In Aswan you leave the ship early for the road to Abu Simbel, then visit Philae and the High Dam before your flight. A second flight returns you to Cairo, and your last full day is spent in the Fayoum oasis. We organise both internal flights, every transfer, your hotels and your cabin. You pick the standard of hotel and ship when you book; the sightseeing is the same whichever you choose.
What lingers
- 01The Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum with your Egyptologist
- 02The Pyramids Sound & Light Show on your first evening
- 03Four nights on a Nile cruise ship from Luxor to Aswan, full board
- 04Karnak, Luxor Temple and the Valley of the Kings, with three tombs included
- 05Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae temples, the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk
- 06An early-morning road trip to Abu Simbel from your moored ship, and a day in the Fayoum oasis and Wadi El Rayan
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 £1,8203★ hotels · well-priced Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 4 nightsNephtis · Magic I | £1,820May–Sep: from £1,649 | |
| Comfortfrom £1,9794★ hotels · 5★ Nile cruises | Cairo · 4 nightsJewel Sport City Nile Cruise · 4 nightsTower Prestige · Royal La Terrasse | £1,979May–Sep: from £1,784 | |
| Classicfrom £2,1295★ hotels · 5★ Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 4 nightsSun Times · Stephanie | £2,129May–Sep: from £1,784 | |
| Prestigefrom £2,6105★ deluxe hotels · 5★ deluxe Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 4 nightsSonesta Moon Goddess · Nile Excellence | £2,610May–Sep: from £2,243 | |
| Luxuryfrom £4,1625★ luxury hotels · 5★ luxury Nile cruises | Cairo · 4 nightsSt. Regis Cairo Nile Cruise · 4 nightsSonesta St. George I · Esmeralda | £4,162May–Sep: from £3,161 | |
| Signature Collectionfrom £5,554Iconic heritage vessels · landmark hotels | Cairo · 4 nightsFour Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza Nile Cruise · 4 nightsHistoria | £5,554May–Sep: from £4,378 |
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.
Day by day
Detailed itinerary
9 Days / 8 Nights · Cairo · Giza · Luxor · Edfu · Kom Ombo · Aswan
- 1
A driver is waiting in the arrivals hall at Cairo Airport to take you to your hotel, where you can rest after the flight. Later you are collected for the Sound & Light Show at the Giza Pyramids. The ticket and a private return journey from your hotel are arranged for you. No meals are included today.
- 2
Your Egyptologist is with you for about eight hours. The Giza visit takes 4 to 6 hours on its own, taking in the pyramids and the Great Sphinx. Lunch is at a restaurant with a view, followed by the Grand Egyptian Museum. Guide, entrance fees and an air-conditioned car are all included, and you are driven back to the hotel for a second night in Cairo.
- 3
You are transferred to Cairo Airport for the hour-long flight to Luxor, and a driver takes you to the river and your ship. The airline decides the flight time, and the sightseeing is planned around it. The afternoon's visits are Karnak, with its Sacred Lake, and Luxor Temple, led by an English-speaking Egyptologist, with entrance fees and transport covered.
You have dinner and spend your first night on board.
- 4
Your Egyptologist takes you across to the West Bank for the Colossi of Memnon, the Valley of the Kings, where three tombs are included, and Hatshepsut's mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahari. Entrance fees and transport are covered. The remainder of the day and the evening are spent on board.
- 5
The ship heads south towards Aswan. Your Egyptologist goes ashore with you at the Temple of Edfu and then at Kom Ombo, a temple right beside the river. Entrance fees and transport are covered. Between visits you can relax on deck and watch the Nile Valley pass.
- 6
The ship is moored at Aswan, and an early start takes you by road to Abu Simbel, where Ramesses II had his two rock temples carved. An English-speaking Egyptologist goes with you, and entrance fees and transport are covered. You are back on the ship afterwards and the afternoon is free. It is your final night aboard.
- 7
You have breakfast and leave the ship. Your Egyptologist shows you Philae Temple, the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk, with entrance fees and transport covered. You are then driven to Aswan Airport for the hour-long flight to Cairo and on to your hotel. The airline fixes the flight time and the morning is planned around it.
- 8
A private day out of about ten hours from Cairo to the Fayoum Oasis and Wadi El Rayan, in an air-conditioned vehicle with a driver and an English-speaking guide, with lunch at a local restaurant. You return to your Cairo hotel. Spending the last night in Cairo is deliberate: it is a safety window in case an internal flight ran late, so you get to your flight home without worry.
- 9
Breakfast, then check-out. A transfer representative meets you with the luggage and your private driver heads for Cairo Airport. We allow about ninety minutes for the drive, so give yourself plenty of time before check-in for your flight home.
Bundled in
- Domestic flights
The fine print
What's included – and what is left out
Included
- Four nights in Cairo hotels with breakfast, and four nights on a Nile cruise ship on full board
- Internal flights from Cairo to Luxor and from Aswan to Cairo, with 23 kg of luggage
- All airport, hotel and ship transfers in an air-conditioned vehicle
- Pyramids Sound & Light Show ticket with a private return journey
- Entrance fees to the Giza Plateau, the Grand Egyptian Museum, Abu Simbel and the cruise sightseeing sites, including three tombs in the Valley of the Kings
- Lunch on the Giza and Fayoum days
- An English-speaking Egyptologist on every sightseeing day, including the cruise sightseeing and Abu Simbel, with transport, and a private English-speaking guide in the Fayoum
- 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
- Dinner on days 1 and 8
- Travel insurance and personal spending
Field notes
From our Egyptologists
- 01
Aim for Abu Simbel at sunrise, before the coach arrivals build.
- 02
The Valley of the Kings is cooler before 9am, and shade is limited later.
- 03
At Philae, the boat crossing is usually calmer earlier in the day.
- 04
Fayoum roads are smoother in the morning, with less dust and fewer local stops.
Tailor it
Make it yours
You choose the standard of hotel and ship when you book. Ask us about extra nights in Cairo, Luxor or Aswan.
Your own specialist deals with each request before you book.
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- Travellers who want the classic Egypt route, with Abu Simbel and one lesser-visited day in the Fayoum added. Suits couples, friends and solo travellers who are happy with two flights and several hours of walking on sightseeing days.
Maybe not, if
- Travellers who need step-free access to every site, or who dislike long days in a vehicle. Days 3, 6 and 8 are long, and day 7 combines sightseeing with a flight.
Honest assessment
The honest pluses and minuses, as our own team sees them after running this trip.
Highlights
- The pyramids, the Grand Egyptian Museum, a full Nile cruise, Abu Simbel and the Fayoum in nine days
- Both internal flights and all transfers arranged for you
- Four nights on a ship, so no repacking between Luxor and Aswan
Things to Consider
- An early start for Abu Simbel on day 6, then Aswan sightseeing and a flight on day 7
- Uneven stone, steps and little shade at the major sites
- Two long road days: Abu Simbel and the Fayoum
Where it fits
A good choice for a first trip to Egypt if you want Abu Simbel and a full cruise, plus one day away from the main tourist route.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Many operators sell the Nile cruise, Abu Simbel and the Fayoum as separate trips. This holiday joins them in nine days, with both flights and every transfer booked for you. The standard of hotel and ship is your choice; 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 Nile cruise
- Accommodation
- Cairo hotels and a Nile cruise ship, standard chosen at booking
- Destinations
- Cairo · Giza · Luxor · Edfu · Kom Ombo · Aswan · Abu Simbel · Fayoum
- Includes
- 4 nights in Cairo hotels with breakfast · 4 nights on a Nile cruise ship, full board · Flights from Cairo to Luxor and Aswan to Cairo · Entrance fees to every listed site, including Abu Simbel · Egyptologist at Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum, guide in the Fayoum · All transfers in an air-conditioned vehicle
- Best for
- First-time visitors wanting more than the basics · Travellers interested in history · Those wanting a Nile cruise, Abu Simbel and the Fayoum on one holiday
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 light layer for the ship, the flights and early starts
What to wear
- Light, breathable clothing for sun and heat
- Closed shoes for temples and uneven ground
- Clothing that covers shoulders and knees at mosques and temples
- A hat and sunglasses
- A light jacket for evenings on the river in winter
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. Abu Simbel and the Fayoum mean several hours in a car, so consider whether your child will be comfortable with that.
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. The Valley of the Kings, Karnak and Abu Simbel have long, open stretches with little shade. Boarding the ship and the boat to Philae involve steps and a gangway. Abu Simbel and the Fayoum mean long drives. 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 and long private road days, and vehicle types vary, so we make no claim about carbon savings. Sightseeing is led by local guides and arranged through local suppliers in Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and the Fayoum, 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
01Are the internal flights included?
Yes. The flight from Cairo to Luxor on day 3 and the flight from Aswan to Cairo on day 7 are booked for you and are included in the price, each with a 23 kg luggage allowance. The airline sets the flight times. International flights are not.02How many nights do we spend on the Nile?
Four nights on board, from Luxor to Aswan, on full board with breakfast, lunch and dinner. The other four nights are in Cairo hotels with breakfast.03Which ship and which hotels will we have?
You choose a standard when you book, from budget to luxury, and we confirm the ship and hotels for your dates. The itinerary and sightseeing are identical at every standard.04Does the holiday include Abu Simbel?
Yes. On day 6 you leave the ship moored at Aswan early for Abu Simbel by road, with an English-speaking Egyptologist, entrance fees and transport included, and the afternoon is free. On some departures the order is swapped: Aswan sights on day 6, Abu Simbel on day 7 and a flight after 4 pm. We confirm which applies to your dates.05What happens on the Fayoum day?
Day 8 is a private trip of about ten hours from Cairo to the Fayoum Oasis and Wadi El Rayan, with a driver, an English-speaking guide and lunch at a local restaurant.06What is not included?
International flights, the Egypt visa, tips for guides, drivers and ship staff, drinks other than those stated, dinner on days 1 and 8 and any meal not listed in the itinerary.07Is the pace too quick?
Days 3, 6 and 7 are the busiest: a flight and sightseeing on day 3, an early start for Abu Simbel on day 6, and Aswan sights before the flight on day 7. Day 1 is lighter and lets you rest.08When is the best time to go?
October to April is cooler and the most comfortable for exploring the sites. Summers are very hot, especially in Luxor, Aswan and Abu Simbel, so days start early.09Will I get my flight home?
Your internal and international flights are separate bookings, so a late internal flight can mean a missed connection. For that reason the holiday finishes with a night in Cairo, which we prefer. Should you connect on the same day, book a late-evening or night departure, and travel with insurance that covers missed connections.
Last updated Product ID: TOU-CAI-523638
At a glance
- Length
- 9 days · 8 nights
- Starts
- Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri or Sat
- Route
- Cairo → Luxor → Edfu → Kom Ombo → Abu Simbel → Aswan → Fayoum → Cairo
- Nights
- 4 Cairo · 4 Nile cruise
- Includes
- Domestic flights, Egyptologist guide, entrance fees, transfers