10-Day Luxury Cairo and Nile Cruise
Travel from Cairo to Luxor and Aswan with a private Egyptologist guide, combining the capital’s historic sites with four full-board nights aboard a Nile cruise.
10-Day Luxury Cairo and Nile Cruise is a privately guided journey through Egypt’s capital and the ancient cities of the Nile Valley. Begin in Cairo, where your Egyptologist introduces the Giza Plateau, the Egyptian Museum and the city’s Coptic and Islamic heritage.
Fly south to Luxor and settle into your full-board cruise cabin for four nights. Guided visits cover the temples of the east bank, the royal tombs and monuments of the west bank, Edfu and Kom Ombo. In Aswan, visit the High Dam, Unfinished Obelisk and Philae Temple before returning to Cairo. An optional Abu Simbel trip can be arranged at extra cost.
The price covers your Egyptologist guide, private transfers, every sight in the itinerary and your full-board cabin on the cruise — flights and hotels are booked separately so you choose your own standard. Entrance fees and optional excursions are also paid separately. Arrival and departure assistance, unhurried private touring and a free day in Cairo give you room to shape the trip around your interests.
What you will see
- Giza Plateau — the pyramids and Sphinx with your guide
- Egyptian Museum — Tutankhamun-era treasures and antiquities
- Karnak Temple Complex — monumental halls on Luxor’s east bank
- Valley of the Kings — royal tombs with your Egyptologist
- Temple of Horus — Ptolemaic architecture at Edfu
- Kom Ombo Temple — riverside sanctuary for two gods
- Philae Temple — island temple dedicated to Isis
- Old Cairo — Coptic, Jewish and Islamic landmarks
Day by day
Day 1Arrival in Cairo
Meet our representative at Cairo International Airport after passport control and baggage collection. Assistance with the arrival formalities is followed by a private, air-conditioned transfer to the Cairo hotel you have selected. The drive usually takes about 45–60 minutes, depending on traffic and your hotel’s location.
Your hotel room and any meals today are not part of the tour price, leaving you free to choose the category and neighbourhood that suit you. The rest of the day is at leisure after check-in. Overnight at your hotel in Cairo (hotel not included; we can book a 4-star or 5-star hotel for you).
Day 2Pyramids, Sphinx & Egyptian Museum
Meet your private Egyptologist at your hotel for a full day of sightseeing, normally lasting about seven to eight hours. At the Giza Plateau, view the pyramids of Cheops, Chephren and Menkaure and walk with your guide to the Sphinx. Your guide explains the royal complex and helps you use your time efficiently; entrance tickets are paid separately.
Continue by private vehicle to the Egyptian Museum for a guided look at its pharaonic collections, including objects associated with Tutankhamun. Lunch can be arranged locally at your own expense before the return transfer. Overnight at your hotel in Cairo (hotel not included; we can book a 4-star or 5-star hotel for you).
Day 3Fly to Luxor & Embark on Nile Cruise
Transfer to Cairo Airport for the morning flight to Luxor (flight not included — we book it for you on request). On arrival, meet your guide and driver, then continue to the quay to embark and have lunch. Cabin access follows the vessel’s check-in schedule.
In the afternoon, tour the vast Karnak Temple Complex, allowing around two hours for its courts, pylons and columned halls. Continue to Luxor Temple, where the later light gives the riverside stonework a different character. Entrance fees are not included and are paid at the sites. Return to the vessel after the visits. Dinner and overnight on board.
Day 4Valley of the Kings & Hatshepsut Temple
After breakfast, cross to Luxor’s west bank with your private Egyptologist for a morning among the Theban necropolis sites. Spend about two hours at the Valley of the Kings, where the standard ticket usually gives access to three open royal tombs; special tomb tickets are separate.
Continue to the terraced Temple of Queen Hatshepsut beneath the cliffs of Deir el-Bahari, then pause at the roadside Colossi of Memnon. The guided circuit generally takes four to five hours before you rejoin the ship. Lunch is served as the cruise begins sailing toward Edfu, with time to relax on deck during the afternoon. Dinner and overnight on board.
Day 5Edfu & Kom Ombo
Leave the vessel after breakfast for the short journey through Edfu to the Temple of Horus. Allow about 90 minutes with your guide to examine its monumental gateway, open courts and inscriptions before returning to the cruise. The ship then sails south, and lunch is served on board.
Later, walk from the riverside landing to the Twin Temple dedicated to Sobek and Haroeris at Kom Ombo. Its paired layout reflects the worship of two deities, a feature your Egyptologist will trace through the surviving reliefs. The visit takes roughly an hour before sailing continues toward Aswan. Dinner and overnight on board.
Day 6Aswan Sightseeing
Set out after breakfast for a guided Aswan circuit by private vehicle. Begin at the High Dam for views over Lake Nasser, then spend around 45 minutes at the granite quarries beside the Unfinished Obelisk, where ancient stone-working methods remain visible.
Continue by motorboat to Agilkia Island for the Temple of Philae, allowing about 90 minutes to explore the sanctuary dedicated to Isis. Entrance and boat tickets are paid separately. Return to the ship for lunch and a free afternoon. An optional Sound and Light Show at Philae Temple can be arranged in the evening at additional cost, subject to the performance schedule. Dinner and overnight on board.
Day 7Optional Abu Simbel Excursion / Fly to Cairo
After breakfast, disembark in Aswan. If selected, depart before dawn for the optional Abu Simbel Temples, about 3.5 hours by road each way. Your private guide explains the two rock-cut temples before the return journey; this excursion and its entrance ticket cost extra.
Transfer to Aswan Airport for the flight to Cairo (flight not included — we book it for you on request). A representative meets you after landing for the private drive to the hotel you have chosen. The exact airport timing is coordinated around your flight or the optional excursion. Overnight at your hotel in Cairo (hotel not included; we can book a 4-star or 5-star hotel for you).
Day 8Islamic & Coptic Cairo
Meet your private guide for a day tracing several layers of the capital’s history. In Old Cairo, visit the Hanging Church and nearby Ben Ezra Synagogue, with around two hours for the Coptic and Jewish quarter. Modest dress is appropriate at religious sites.
Drive to the Citadel of Salah El-Din and enter the Mosque of Muhammad Ali for city views and an introduction to Ottoman Cairo. Finish among the lanes of Khan El Khalili Bazaar, where you can browse independently after your guide explains the meeting point. The day normally lasts seven to eight hours. Overnight at your hotel in Cairo (hotel not included; we can book a 4-star or 5-star hotel for you).
Day 9Leisure Day in Cairo
Keep today free for rest, shopping or spa time at your own pace. No guide, transport, meals or activities are included, so you can plan the day around your interests and your hotel location.
On request, we can arrange an optional dinner cruise or a private excursion to Saqqara and Memphis; either choice is quoted separately and does not alter the scheduled sightseeing on the other days. Confirm optional plans in advance if you want an early start, and allow roughly five to six hours for the archaeological excursion. Overnight at your hotel in Cairo (hotel not included; we can book a 4-star or 5-star hotel for you).
Day 10Departure
Your representative collects you from the hotel for a private transfer to Cairo International Airport. Pickup is normally scheduled about three hours before an international departure, with extra time allowed when traffic conditions require it.
The package provides no meals or hotel accommodation today. If your flight leaves later, keep the room or arrange luggage storage directly with the hotel, as late checkout is not part of the package. At the terminal, receive assistance as available before check-in for your onward flight. Your international flight is not included, and the program ends at the airport.
Included
- 4 nights in a cabin on a 5-star Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan, full board (breakfast, lunch and dinner on board)
- Meet and assist on arrival and departure
- All transfers and sightseeing by private air-conditioned vehicle
- Professional English-speaking Egyptologist guide throughout
- All sightseeing tours as listed in the itinerary
- Bottled water during tours
Not included
- International and domestic flights — not included (we can book domestic flights for you on request)
- Hotel accommodation — not included (we can book 4★ or 5★ hotels for you on request)
- Entrance fees to all mentioned sites (unless stated otherwise)
- Optional tours (Abu Simbel, Sound & Light Show, dinner cruise, etc.)
- Egypt entry visa
- Tipping for guide, driver and cruise staff
- Personal expenses
Frequently asked questions
Are flights included?
No. International and domestic flights are not included. We can book the Cairo–Luxor and Aswan–Cairo sectors for you on request, or coordinate the transfers around flights you purchase yourself. The itinerary timing is confirmed after your flight details are available.
Is the hotel accommodation included?
No. Cairo hotel nights are booked separately, so you can select your preferred location and standard. We can arrange a 4-star or 5-star hotel on request. Breakfast and other hotel meals are not included in the program price.
What is included on the cruise?
The price includes four nights in a cabin on the Nile cruise, with breakfast, lunch and dinner served on board. Guided sightseeing and private transfers listed in the itinerary are included, while entrance fees, drinks, tips and optional excursions are paid separately.
Are entrance fees included?
No. Admission tickets for the sites in the itinerary are not included unless specifically stated. Your guide will help you obtain the appropriate tickets at each stop. Separate or premium tomb tickets and tickets for optional activities also cost extra.
Is this a private tour?
Yes. Airport transfers and scheduled sightseeing are private, with an Egyptologist guide and air-conditioned vehicle for your party. The Nile cruise vessel and its onboard facilities are shared with other passengers, while your guided shore visits remain private.
What is the best time of year for this trip?
October through April usually brings milder conditions for long days at outdoor sites. The program operates daily throughout the year, including summer. In every season, bring breathable clothing, comfortable walking shoes, sun protection and a light layer for cool evenings or air-conditioned spaces.
