9-Day Cairo, Nile Cruise & Sharm El Sheikh Holiday
Giza's pyramids, Abu Simbel, three nights afloat from Aswan to Luxor and a day snorkelling at Ras Mohammed. Internal flights, hotels, your cabin and guiding are included.
The short answer
9-Day Cairo, Nile Cruise & Sharm El Sheikh Holiday is a 9-day, 8-night trip to Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel and Sharm El Sheikh: 2 nights in Cairo, 3 on a Nile cruise, 1 in Luxor and 2 in Sharm El Sheikh. Starts on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Saturdays. It includes domestic flights, an Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transfers. Prices start at £1,818 per person, two sharing (Essential, October–April).
02Overview
A first look
If you want temples and sea on the same holiday, this one does the job. It begins in Cairo with a dinner cruise on the river and a full day among the Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum. You then fly to Aswan and join your Nile cruise ship for three nights, heading north to Luxor. Abu Simbel, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Karnak and the Valley of the Kings are all visited along the way.
You spend a night in a Luxor hotel, and the next day two flights take you to Sharm El Sheikh on the Red Sea. There is a day at Ras Mohammed National Park, then departure from Sharm. We organise the internal flights, every transfer, your hotels and your cabin. You choose the standard of hotel and ship when you book, from budget to luxury; the sightseeing is the same whichever you pick.
What lingers
- 01A Nile dinner cruise with a show on your first evening in Cairo
- 02The Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum in a single guided day
- 03Three nights on a Nile cruise ship from Aswan to Luxor, full board
- 04Abu Simbel by road from Aswan, with lunch waiting back on the ship
- 05Philae, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Karnak and the Valley of the Kings, with guide and entrance fees included
- 06A day at Ras Mohammed National Park by Sharm El Sheikh, snorkelling and the Magic Lake
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 £1,8183★ hotels · well-priced Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 3 nightsMagic I Luxor · 1 nightEl Mesala Hotel Luxor Sharm El Sheikh · 2 nightsFalcon Naama Star Hotel | £1,818May–Sep: from £1,733 | |
| Comfortfrom £1,9854★ hotels · 5★ Nile cruises | Cairo · 2 nightsJewel Sport City Nile Cruise · 3 nightsRoyal Elite · Emilio Luxor · 1 nightIberotel Luxor by JAZ Sharm El Sheikh · 2 nightsJaz NEO Naama Bay | £1,985May–Sep: from £1,901 | |
| Classicfrom £2,1785★ hotels · 5★ Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 3 nightsRoyal Liberty · Stephanie Sharm El Sheikh · 2 nightsParrotel Lagoon Waterpark Resort | £2,178May–Sep: from £1,901 | |
| Prestigefrom £2,4465★ deluxe hotels · 5★ deluxe Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 3 nightsNile Serenity Luxor · 1 nightSteigenberger Nile Palace Luxor Sharm El Sheikh · 2 nightsNaama Bay Suites & Spa | £2,446May–Sep: from £2,358 | |
| Luxuryfrom £3,3665★ luxury hotels · 5★ luxury Nile cruises | Cairo · 2 nightsSt. Regis Cairo Nile Cruise · 3 nightsSonesta Star Goddess · Esmeralda Luxor · 1 nightHilton Luxor Resort & Spa | £3,366May–Sep: from £3,091 |
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
9 Days / 8 Nights · Cairo · Giza Plateau · Grand Egyptian Museum · Aswan · Philae Temple · Abu Simbel
- 1
Your driver is waiting in the arrivals hall at Cairo Airport and takes you to your hotel, where you can rest after the flight. In the evening you are collected for a dinner cruise on the Nile: around two hours afloat with a buffet and a live show, and Cairo lit up along both banks. You are driven back to your hotel afterwards.
- 2
A full day with your English-speaking Egyptologist, collected from your hotel. You begin on the Giza Plateau with the pyramids of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure and the Great Sphinx, and should allow 4 to 6 hours there. After lunch you go to the Grand Egyptian Museum for the Tutankhamun collection and the monumental statues of the Old and New Kingdoms.
Guide, entrance fees and an air-conditioned vehicle are included. You return to the hotel for a second night in Cairo.
- 3
You are driven from your hotel to Cairo Airport for the flight to Aswan, where a driver meets you. Sightseeing is fitted around the flight. Your Egyptologist shows you Philae Temple on its island, reached by motor boat, then the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk. Guide, entrance fees and transport are all included.
Afterwards you join your Nile cruise ship, find your cabin and have dinner on board.
- 4
Expect an early start. From the ship, still moored at Aswan, you travel by road to Abu Simbel to see the temples of Ramesses II; entrance fees are included. You are back on board in time for lunch, after which the ship heads north. In the afternoon you go ashore at Kom Ombo, the double temple of the crocodile god Sobek and the falcon god Horus, right on the riverbank.
It is a full day, and dinner is on board.
- 5
With your Egyptologist you go ashore at Edfu to visit the Temple of Horus, among the best-preserved temples in Egypt. The ship carries on to Luxor, where you see Luxor Temple and Karnak, Egypt's largest temple complex, with its forest of columns and the Sacred Lake. Guide, entrance fees and transport are included. It is a busy day of sightseeing, and you spend a last night aboard.
- 6
After breakfast you leave the ship and cross to the West Bank with your Egyptologist to see the Valley of the Kings, with three tombs included, Hatshepsut's mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahari and the Colossi of Memnon. Guide, entrance fees and transport are included. You are then taken into Luxor and to your hotel, where you stay the night. The rest of the day is free.
- 7
This is a travelling day. After breakfast you are driven to Luxor Airport for the flight to Cairo, and from Cairo you fly on to Sharm El Sheikh. Both flights are booked for you, with 23 kg of luggage, and the times follow the airline schedule. At Sharm El Sheikh Airport a driver takes you to your hotel by the Red Sea. No sightseeing is planned, so the evening is your own.
- 8
You are collected from your hotel for a day at Ras Mohammed National Park, around 6 hours altogether. The trip is by air-conditioned minibus, shared with other guests, with an English-speaking guide. You snorkel in the Red Sea, with mask and snorkel provided, and visit the Magic Lake. A picnic lunch with water and the park fee are included. The minibus brings you back to your hotel.
- 9
Check out after breakfast. A private transfer takes you from the hotel to Sharm El Sheikh Airport for your flight home, and a representative helps with your luggage. Please book your international flight from Sharm El Sheikh and send us the time so that we can arrange your pick-up.
Bundled in
- Domestic flights
The fine print
What's included – and what is left out
Included
- Two nights in a Cairo hotel, one in a Luxor hotel and two in a Sharm El Sheikh hotel, all with breakfast
- Three nights on a Nile cruise ship from Aswan to Luxor on full board
- Internal flights from Cairo to Aswan, Luxor to Cairo and Cairo to Sharm El Sheikh
- All airport, hotel and quayside transfers
- A Nile dinner cruise with a show in Cairo
- An English-speaking Egyptologist, entrance fees and transport on the Cairo and Nile sightseeing days
- Abu Simbel by road from Aswan, with entrance fees
- A Ras Mohammed National Park day with guide, snorkel gear, picnic lunch and park fee
- Lunch on the Giza day
- 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
Visit the pyramids in the morning and the museum later, when the plateau heat starts to build.
- 02
Pack a small day bag for the cruise, as you head out to a temple most mornings.
- 03
Edfu is among the best-kept temples in Egypt; ask your guide to read out the Horus scenes on its walls.
- 04
Leave your last day in Sharm unhurried and pack the night before, as the airport run follows a busy coast road.
Tailor it
Make it yours
You choose the standard of hotel and ship when you book. Ask us about extra nights in Sharm El Sheikh, Luxor or Cairo.
Your own specialist deals with each request before you book.
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- Travellers who want Egypt's big sights and a little time by the sea on one holiday. Suits couples, friends and solo travellers who are happy with three flights and several hours of walking on sightseeing days.
Maybe not, if
- Travellers who need step-free access to every site, or who prefer a slow pace in one place. Days 2 to 6 are full and day 7 is a travelling day.
Honest assessment
The honest pluses and minuses, as our own team sees them after running this trip.
Highlights
- The pyramids, the Grand Egyptian Museum, Abu Simbel, the main Nile temples and the Red Sea in nine days
- All three internal flights and every transfer arranged for you
- Three nights on a ship, so no repacking between Aswan and Luxor
Things to Consider
- An early start for Abu Simbel and several full sightseeing days running
- Day 7 is mostly flights and transfers
- The Ras Mohammed trip uses a minibus shared with other guests
Where it fits
A good fit if you want temples and a few days by the sea without arranging the flights yourself. You fly home from Sharm El Sheikh, so book your international flight from there.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Many operators sell Cairo, the Nile and the Red Sea as separate trips. This holiday joins them in nine days, with all three internal 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 and a Red Sea finish
- Accommodation
- Hotels in Cairo, Luxor and Sharm El Sheikh plus a Nile cruise ship, standard chosen at booking
- Destinations
- Cairo · Giza Plateau · Grand Egyptian Museum · Aswan · Philae Temple · Abu Simbel · Edfu · Luxor · Karnak Temple · Valley of the Kings · Sharm El Sheikh · Ras Mohammed National Park
- Includes
- 5 hotel nights with breakfast: 2 in Cairo, 1 in Luxor, 2 in Sharm El Sheikh · 3 nights on a Nile cruise ship, full board · Flights from Cairo to Aswan, Luxor to Cairo and Cairo to Sharm El Sheikh · Entrance fees to every listed site, Abu Simbel included · English-speaking Egyptologist on Cairo and Nile sightseeing days · Ras Mohammed day with snorkel gear and a picnic lunch
- Best for
- First-time visitors · Those wanting temples and sea in one holiday · Keen sightseers 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 visa or travel documents
- Comfortable walking shoes with good grip
- Sun cream, SPF 30 or higher, ideally reef-safe for Ras Mohammed
- Sun hat and sunglasses
- Swimming costume and a towel for the Red Sea day
- Refillable water bottle
- Any regular medication
- Small day bag
- A light layer for the ship, early mornings and the flights
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 and the early Abu Simbel start in winter
- Swimwear under light clothes for the Ras Mohammed day
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 Ras Mohammed day includes snorkelling, so let us know if your child is a confident swimmer.
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, the boat to Philae and climbing into the shared minibus at Ras Mohammed all involve steps. Vehicles are 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 three internal flights, a Nile cruise ship and 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, Aswan, Luxor and Sharm El Sheikh, so much of what you spend stays in the places you visit. At Ras Mohammed we ask guests to follow the guide, stay off the coral and take their litter away. Please bring a refillable water bottle.
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 Sharm El Sheikh part of this holiday?
Yes. Days 7 to 9 are in Sharm El Sheikh, on the Red Sea. You arrive on two flights on day 7, spend day 8 at Ras Mohammed National Park and leave from Sharm El Sheikh Airport on day 9.02Are the internal flights included?
Yes. Cairo to Aswan on day 3, then Luxor to Cairo and Cairo to Sharm El Sheikh on day 7, with 23 kg of luggage where the booking states it. International flights are not included.03Will I make my international flight?
Internal and international tickets are separate bookings, so a delayed internal flight can cost you a connection. Here you fly home from Sharm El Sheikh on day 9, after a night in the resort, with only a road transfer that morning. Day 7 has a connection in Cairo, but no flight leaves Egypt that day. Take travel insurance that covers missed connections and send us your flight time.04How many nights do we spend on the Nile?
Three nights on board, from Aswan to Luxor, on full board with breakfast, lunch and dinner. The other five nights are in hotels with breakfast: two in Cairo, one in Luxor and two in Sharm El Sheikh.05Which 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.06Does the holiday include Abu Simbel?
Yes. On day 4 you travel to Abu Simbel by road from the ship moored at Aswan, with entrance fees included, and are back on board for lunch before the ship moves north. It is an early start and a long morning.07Is the Ras Mohammed trip private?
No, it is shared: an air-conditioned minibus with other guests and an English-speaking guide. Mask, snorkel, a picnic lunch with water and the park fee are included.08What is not included?
International flights, the Egyptian visa, tips for guides, drivers and ship staff, drinks other than those stated, meals not listed for each day, the inside of the Khufu pyramid and premium tombs such as Tutankhamun's.09When is the best time to go?
October to April is cooler and the most comfortable for walking around the sites. Summers are very hot, especially in Luxor and Aswan, so days start early. Sharm El Sheikh is warm for much of the year.
Last updated Product ID: TOU-CAI-464018
At a glance
- Length
- 9 days · 8 nights
- Starts
- Mon, Tue, Wed or Sat
- Route
- Cairo → Aswan → Abu Simbel → Kom Ombo → Edfu → Luxor → Sharm El Sheikh
- Nights
- 2 Cairo · 3 Nile cruise · 1 Luxor · 2 Sharm El Sheikh
- Includes
- Domestic flights, Egyptologist guide, entrance fees, transfers