Egypt Holidays · Style
A classic Egypt holiday is the itinerary British travellers have been booking for a century and still the right answer for a first visit: Cairo for the Pyramids of Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum, Luxor for Karnak and the Valley of the Kings, then a Nile cruise south to Aswan via the perfectly preserved temple of Edfu and the twin-deity sanctuary of Kom Ombo, finishing with Abu Simbel. Our classic Egypt holidays run at 4-star, with a private Egyptologist guide throughout, all internal flights, and all temple admissions included. The itinerary runs 7 to 10 days and is fully tailor-made from there.
14 matching holidays ·
The hallmarks
A classic Egypt holiday is the route British travellers have been booking for a century – and still the right answer for a first visit. Picture standing before the Great Pyramid of Giza at 7am before the coach groups arrive, listening to your Egyptologist explain how the limestone casing stones once shone in the Nile sun. Then flying south to Luxor for Karnak, the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut.
The Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan is the experience most clients remember most – temple visits in the morning, sundowner on deck in the afternoon, Edfu and Kom Ombo as you sail. Whether you want the standard 7-day shape or a longer 10-day version with a Red Sea decompression, every day on the classic circuit is built around private guiding, all admissions, and the rhythm Egypt rewards.
How to choose
Choosing the right classic Egypt holiday comes down to how long you have and which segments matter most. Three pillars usually decide the shape.
Seven days is the most-booked length – Cairo + a 3-night Nile cruise + Abu Simbel. Eight to ten days lets you slow the cruise pace, add Alexandria, or finish at the Red Sea. Twelve to fourteen days unlocks the White Desert or a longer cultural sweep. Most British clients land on 7 or 10 days for a first visit.
Classic runs from 4-star to 5-star. 4-star is the entry tier – Steigenberger Pyramids, Sonesta St. George Luxor, M.S. Concerto cruise. 5-star adds the Marriott Mena House, Sofitel Old Cataract, and a Sanctuary or Oberoi-class cruise. Suite tiers are covered under our luxury slice.
October through April is peak – comfortable daytime temperatures, dry, low humidity. October half-term and February half-term sell out six months ahead, as do Christmas and New Year. Easter lines up with one of the prettiest weather windows in Upper Egypt. We don't run 7-day southern itineraries in late July or August by default.
MidAswan
This nine-day land tour links Cairo, Alexandria, Aswan and Luxor, with private Egyptologist guiding at the major attractions named in the itinerary. In Cairo, visits include the Giza Plateau, the Grand Egyptian Museum, Old Cairo and Khan El-Khalili; Alexandria brings the Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa, Bibliotheca Alexandrina and Qaitbay Citadel. In Aswan, the itinerary includes Philae Temple, the Unfinished Obelisk and Aswan High Dam, followed by Luxor’s East and West Banks. We arrange the accommodation, transfers and transport between cities. Unlike fixed-seat group coach tours, sightseeing here is by private vehicle with an Egyptologist guide.
BudgetCairo
Spend four days exploring Cairo, from the Giza Plateau to the city’s historic quarters. The itinerary includes visits to the Egyptian Pyramids and Cairo’s Old Attractions, with an Egyptologist guide accompanying you throughout. Three nights’ accommodation at a five-star Cairo hotel, private air-conditioned transfers and entrance fees to the itinerary sites are included. Meals cover three breakfasts, two lunches and a dinner cruise on the Nile. Unlike a short stopover visit, this package allows time for both the Giza monuments and Cairo sightseeing. Discovery Tours Egypt is a licensed Egyptian tour operator and arranges the guiding, transport and accommodation with local suppliers.
BudgetAswan
This two-day arrangement connects your Aswan cruise disembarkation with an overnight stay in Cairo. We arrange transport from the disembarkation point to Aswan International Airport or another agreed departure point, followed by a domestic flight to Cairo. On arrival, a representative meets you at Cairo International Airport and coordinates your private transfer to the included hotel. Breakfast is provided the next morning. The stay offers a practical pause before onward travel, rather than a sightseeing programme: Cairo excursions, museum visits and attraction entrance fees are not included. Services are arranged by a licensed Egyptian tour operator, with flight and transfer timing subject to your cruise disembarkation schedule.
MidAswan
This three-day land itinerary links Aswan, Cairo and Alexandria after a Nile cruise. We arrange two hotel nights and the intercity journey from Aswan to Cairo by scheduled domestic flight or overnight train, according to your selection. In Alexandria, an English-speaking Egyptologist guides a full-day visit that includes the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, Qaitbay Citadel and the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, with entrance fees as stated in the itinerary. A short Cairo orientation is also described in the product reference; access to the Egyptian Museum is not confirmed as included. Unlike a cruise excursion, this stay continues overland and includes hotel accommodation.
Cairo
This six-day tour combines Cairo sightseeing with a three-night Nile cruise between Aswan and Luxor. It includes visits to the Giza pyramids, the Grand Egyptian Museum, Aswan’s major monuments, temples along the Nile, and Luxor’s East and West Bank sites. The itinerary also includes domestic flights between Cairo, Aswan, and Luxor.
BudgetLuxor
This five-day itinerary follows the Nile from Luxor to Aswan, with visits to temples and archaeological sites along the way. In Luxor, the programme includes Karnak Temple and the West Bank, including the Valley of the Kings. Further south, Edfu is known for its Ptolemaic Temple of Horus, while Kom Ombo is dedicated to the gods Sobek and Horus. In Aswan, the itinerary includes Philae Temple, which stands on Agilkia Island, and the Aswan High Dam. We arrange the accommodation, transfers and guided visits, with an English-speaking Egyptologist for sightseeing. Unlike shorter three-night Nile itineraries, this programme includes visits to both Edfu and Kom Ombo.
BudgetCairo
Cairo and the Giza Plateau bring ancient monuments and a living capital into the same itinerary. At Giza, the pyramids of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure stand beside the Great Sphinx. Our Egyptologist guide provides context at the sites, while sightseeing in Cairo adds a wider view of the city’s heritage. Unlike a brief Cairo stopover, six days allow more time for guided visits and a measured pace between sights. The package includes five nights at a 5-star hotel in Cairo, private air-conditioned vehicle transfers and entrance fees to sites listed in the final itinerary. International flights, the Egypt entry visa, gratuities and personal expenses are not included.
Cairo
This 15-day Egypt itinerary connects Cairo, Alexandria, Aswan, Luxor and Hurghada, with sightseeing from the Giza Plateau to the Red Sea. Discovery Tours Egypt is a licensed Egyptian tour operator; we arrange private transfers, domestic flights and tours with Egyptologist guides. The route includes a three-night cruise between Aswan and Luxor, with visits to Kom Ombo and Edfu, followed by time on Luxor’s East and West Banks. In Hurghada, the programme includes a Red Sea snorkelling excursion and a quad safari. Unlike large coach-group tours, scheduled transfers and excursions are by private air-conditioned car. Abu Simbel is available as an optional excursion.
Cairo
This 10-day land tour links Cairo, Giza, Saqqara, Alexandria, Aswan, Abu Simbel and Luxor, with visits to major ancient sites and museums. In Cairo, see the Giza Plateau, the Egyptian Museum and Khan El Khalili; in Alexandria, visit the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Qaitbay Citadel and the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa. Aswan’s itinerary includes Philae Temple and the Unfinished Obelisk, while Luxor brings visits to Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple and the Valley of the Kings. Our Egyptologist guide accompanies the sightseeing. Unlike mass coach programmes, the supplied itinerary specifies limited daily group sizes and guided walking at sites. Expect early starts, particularly for temple visits.
BudgetNile (cruise route)
This eight-day Luxor round trip follows the Nile between Luxor and Aswan, with visits to major temples and river towns. In Luxor, the itinerary includes Karnak Temple and the West Bank, including the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut Temple. Further south, sightseeing includes Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae Temple. We arrange the accommodation, transfers and guided visits with an English-speaking Egyptologist. Unlike one-way Nile itineraries, a Luxor round trip begins and ends in Luxor; the listed route also includes stops at Edfu and Kom Ombo. Standard entrance fees for guided sights listed in the itinerary are included. The specific meal plan follows the itinerary.
BudgetCairo
Use Cairo as a two-night stop before continuing to a Nile cruise, with sightseeing at the Giza Plateau and the Great Sphinx of Giza. The Great Pyramid of Khufu was built during Egypt’s Fourth Dynasty, around 2560 BC, and is the largest of the three main pyramids at Giza. The Sphinx is a limestone monument near the Pyramid of Khafre. We arrange the Cairo accommodation, sightseeing and related transfers as a licensed Egyptian tour operator; cruise arrangements are separate unless confirmed. Unlike a brief airport visit, this stopover allows time for a fuller Giza visit. Expect uneven stone underfoot and limited shade at the plateau. Entry to pyramid interiors is not included.
MidCairo
This eight-day Egypt itinerary links Cairo’s Giza Plateau and Grand Egyptian Museum with ancient sites along the Nile and at Abu Simbel. In Luxor, visit Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple and the West Bank monuments, including the Valley of the Kings and the Temple of Hatshepsut. The Nile cruise segment includes stops at Edfu and Kom Ombo before sightseeing in Aswan and an early morning visit to Abu Simbel. Unlike shorter cruise itineraries that allow little time at river temples, this programme includes visits to both Edfu and Kom Ombo. We arrange the trip on the ground as a licensed Egyptian tour operator, with English-speaking Egyptologists for guided visits.
BudgetAlexandria
This 6-day Cairo and Alexandria holiday combines Cairo’s pharaonic and medieval sites with a full-day visit to Alexandria. You travel with an expert Egyptologist and private air-conditioned transfers. Highlights include the Giza Pyramids Complex and Great Sphinx, the new Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), Saqqara’s Step Pyramid and a day in Alexandria to see Qaitbay Citadel and the Bibliotheca Alexandrina. We run departures daily and use private vehicles rather than coach-style group transfers, which gives flexibility on pickup times and pacing. Entrance fees listed in the itinerary are included; international flights, the Egypt entry visa and tipping are not included in the price.
MidSeven days split between Egypt's capital and the Red Sea. The first part is spent in Cairo with a professional Egyptologist: the pyramids and Sphinx at Giza, the Step Pyramid at Saqqara, the Grand Egyptian Museum, then a stroll along Al Muizz Street ending in the lanes of Khan El Khalili. Afterwards a domestic flight takes you to Hurghada for three nights by the sea, with a snorkelling trip and a desert quad safari included. Every transfer, local guide and on-the-ground arrangement is handled by our team, and the whole trip is private rather than a coach-group departure.
Practical questions
A classic Egypt holiday covers three regions: Cairo (Pyramids of Giza, Sphinx, Grand Egyptian Museum, Khan el-Khalili bazaar), Luxor (Karnak Temple, Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's temple, Colossi of Memnon), and a Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan (Edfu, Kom Ombo, Philae Temple) with Abu Simbel as a day trip. Included: private Egyptologist guide, all internal flights, all admissions, hotel transfers and accommodation.
Seven to ten days is the standard range. Seven days covers Cairo + a 3-night Nile cruise + Abu Simbel – the most-booked first-trip length. Eight to ten days lets you slow the cruise pace, add Alexandria, or insert a Red Sea decompression at the end. 'Classic' refers to the temple-and-cruise circuit, not the duration – we run it at lengths from 5 to 15 days depending on what you'd like to fit in.
Classic Egypt holidays start around £1,075 per person for 7 days at 5-star with the Nile cruise included. Mid-range (4-star hotels, 5-star ship) runs £1,800–£2,800 per person. Premium classic (suite hotels, Sanctuary or Oberoi ships) is £3,200–£5,200. Add 25–35% for Christmas, New Year and the school half-terms. UK flights £450–£700 from London or the regional hubs are separate.
Classic is the broadest umbrella – most first-time British visitors book classic at 5-star with a standard 5-star Nile cruise ship. Pick 'luxury' if you specifically want suite-only ships (Oberoi, Sanctuary) or sunrise Pyramids access; pick 'family' if you're travelling with children under 16 and need pace-adjustment and family rooms. For a couple or solo client doing Egypt for the first time at 4–5 star, classic is the right entry shape.
On 7-day and longer classic Egypt holidays, yes – the Nile cruise is the defining southern segment. We offer two cruise lengths: a 3-night sailing Aswan → Luxor (matches the 7-day shape) or a 4-night sailing Luxor → Aswan (matches the 8-day shape and longer). Land-only classic variants exist (Cairo + Luxor + Aswan in hotels, no ship) – see our /egypt-tours/land-only/ slice for those. The cruise is the default for first-time visitors.
From the Cairo desk
Every Egypt holiday we sell is tailor-made – your dates, your party, your pace. Send a short brief or talk to the Cairo desk direct. Replies inside one working day.
– Suhaila & the Cairo team · 38 years · 6 offices · IATA #90255546
We use cookies to understand how the site is used so we can improve it. Analytics only — we don’t advertise to you or sell anything on. You can decline and the site works exactly the same.What we set and why.
