10-Day Cairo, 7-Night Nile Cruise & Abu Simbel Tour
Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum, seven nights on a Nile cruise ship out of Luxor, Abu Simbel by road from Aswan, and Islamic and Coptic Cairo to finish. Flights, hotels, your cabin and an Egyptologist are all included.
The short answer
10-Day Cairo, 7-Night Nile Cruise & Abu Simbel Tour is a 10-day, 9-night trip to Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and Abu Simbel: 2 nights in Cairo and 7 on a Nile cruise. Starts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays or Sundays. It includes domestic flights, an Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transfers. Prices start at $2,886 per person, two sharing (Essential, October–April).
02Overview
A first look
This tour keeps Cairo short and gives the river most of your time. You arrive on day 1 and take a Nile dinner cruise in Cairo. Day 2 is the Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum, then you fly to Luxor and join your Nile cruise ship.
The ship stays with you for seven nights. You see the West Bank, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae, make a full-day trip by road to Abu Simbel, and finish with Karnak and Luxor Temple. A flight takes you back to Cairo for Islamic and Coptic Cairo. Your last night is in Cairo, so a late domestic flight cannot cost you your trip home. We book both domestic flights, every transfer, your hotels and your cabin. You pick the standard of hotel and ship when you book, and the sightseeing stays the same.
What lingers
- 01A Nile dinner cruise with an evening show on your first night in Cairo
- 02The Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum with your Egyptologist
- 03Seven nights on a Nile cruise ship, round trip from Luxor, full board
- 04The Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's temple, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae
- 05Abu Simbel, a full day by road from Aswan
- 06Karnak and Luxor Temple, then Islamic and Coptic Cairo on your last day of sightseeing
Choose your comfort level
Prices are per person in USD, 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 $2,8863★ hotels · well-priced Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 7 nightsNephtis · Magic I | $2,886May–Sep: from $2,575 | |
| Comfortfrom $3,1884★ hotels · 5★ Nile cruises | Cairo · 2 nightsJewel Sport City Nile Cruise · 7 nightsTower Prestige · Royal Elite | $3,188May–Sep: from $2,672 | |
| Classicfrom $3,4205★ hotels · 5★ Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 7 nightsSun Times · Stephanie | $3,420May–Sep: from $2,672 | |
| Prestigefrom $4,2975★ deluxe hotels · 5★ deluxe Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 7 nightsSonesta Moon Goddess · Nile Serenity | $4,297May–Sep: from $3,641 | |
| Luxuryfrom $6,7455★ luxury hotels · 5★ luxury Nile cruises | Cairo · 2 nightsSt. Regis Cairo Nile Cruise · 7 nightsSonesta St. George I · Cleopatra | $6,745May–Sep: from $4,735 | |
| Signature Collectionfrom $9,116Iconic heritage vessels · landmark hotels | Cairo · 2 nightsFour Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza Nile Cruise · 7 nightsHistoria | $9,116May–Sep: from $6,631 |
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
10 Days / 9 Nights · Cairo · Giza · Saqqara · Luxor · Edfu · Aswan
- 1
A driver with a name sign meets you at Cairo Airport and takes you to your hotel, so you can rest from the flight. Later you are collected for a dinner cruise on the Nile. You eat a buffet on board, watch a live show and see the city lit up along the banks. The cruise lasts about three hours, including boarding and the return transfer to your hotel.
- 2
Today you cover a lot, with an English-speaking Egyptologist guide, the entrance fees and the transport all included. The morning goes to the Giza Plateau: the pyramids of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure and the Great Sphinx. Count on four to six hours there. Lunch follows, then the Grand Egyptian Museum.
After that you are driven to Cairo Airport for the flight to Luxor, and on arrival you go straight to your Nile cruise ship for dinner. The timing is built around the flight, which the airline sets.
- 3
Cross to Luxor's West Bank with your Egyptologist guide. First stop is the Valley of the Kings, where your ticket opens three tombs. Next come the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari and the two huge Colossi of Memnon. Entrance fees and transport are included. Lunch and dinner are on the ship.
- 4
The ship works its way upriver today, and you step ashore twice. Your Egyptologist guide takes you through the Temple of Edfu and the Temple of Kom Ombo, with entrance fees and transport included. Between the visits, the time is yours on deck. All three meals are served on board.
- 5
Aswan fills the day. With your Egyptologist guide you see the Unfinished Obelisk, still lying in its quarry, then take a boat across to the island of Philae Temple, and finish at the High Dam. Entrance fees and transport are included. Lunch and dinner are served on the ship.
- 6
The ship stays moored at Aswan, and you spend today on the road to Abu Simbel and back. The entrance fees to the temples are included. It is a full day, so wear good shoes and carry water and a hat. You are back on the ship for dinner.
- 7
No visits are planned today. The ship turns back toward Luxor, and the river is the main event. Take a seat on deck after yesterday's drive and watch the farmland and villages slide past. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served on board.
- 8
This is the last sightseeing day on the ship, and it is spent in Luxor with your Egyptologist guide. You walk through the Karnak Temple complex, including its Sacred Lake, and then visit Luxor Temple. Entrance fees and transport are included. You sleep on the ship one last time.
- 9
After breakfast you leave the ship and are driven to Luxor Airport for the flight to Cairo. A driver takes you to your Cairo hotel. The sightseeing is arranged around the flight, which the airline sets.
Your Egyptologist guide shows you the Sultan Hassan and Al-Rifa'i mosques, the Citadel of Saladin and Muhammad Ali Mosque, then Old Coptic Cairo with the Hanging Church and the Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus. There is a lunch break in Old Cairo. Entrance fees and the vehicle are included. It is a full day.
- 10
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel, then check out. A private driver and a transfer representative take you to Cairo Airport for your international flight. You spent last night in Cairo on purpose, as a safety window in case a domestic flight ran late.
Bundled in
- Domestic flights
The fine print
What's included – and what isn't
Included
- Two nights in a Cairo hotel with breakfast, and seven nights on a Nile cruise ship on full board
- Domestic flights Cairo to Luxor and Luxor to Cairo
- All airport, hotel and port transfers by air-conditioned vehicle
- Nile dinner cruise with an evening show in Cairo
- An English-speaking Egyptologist guide, the entrance fees and the transport on every sightseeing day, including three tombs in the Valley of the Kings
- Abu Simbel by road from Aswan, with entrance fees
- Lunch on the Giza and Islamic and Coptic Cairo days
- Meet-and-assist at the airport
Not included
- International flights to and from Egypt
- Egypt entry visa
- Gratuities for guides, drivers and ship staff
- Drinks on board and meals other than those stated
- Khufu pyramid interior and premium tombs such as Tutankhamun and Seti I
- Travel insurance and personal expenses
Field notes
From our Egyptologists
- 01
Visit the Giza Plateau early, before the strongest midday heat and coach arrivals.
- 02
At Philae, morning light gives cleaner photos on the sandstone facades.
- 03
Carry small cash for restrooms and incidental purchases at Khan El Khalili.
- 04
The Valley of the Kings is cooler first thing, but the tomb interiors still feel warm.
- 05
Abu Simbel works best at sunrise, when the forecourt is quieter and temperatures are lower.
Tailor it
Make it yours
Choose your hotel and ship standard when you book. Ask us about extra nights in Cairo or Luxor, or a hot-air balloon flight in Luxor.
All requests handled by your dedicated specialist before booking.
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- Travelers who want most of their trip on the Nile at an unhurried pace, with the pyramids at the start and old Cairo at the end. Suited to couples, friends and solo travelers who are comfortable with two flights and several hours of walking on sightseeing days.
Maybe not, if
- Travelers who need step-free access to every site, or who want a long stay in Cairo. Days 2, 6 and 9 are long.
Honest assessment
Real trade-offs from our experience managing this tour.
Highlights
- Seven nights on one ship, so no repacking along the Nile
- Abu Simbel, Philae, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Karnak and the Valley of the Kings all included
- A final night in Cairo protects your flight home
Things to Consider
- Day 2 is long: Giza, the museum and a flight
- Abu Simbel is a full day on the road
- Uneven stone, steps and little shade at the major sites
Where it fits
A good fit for a first trip that puts the river at the center. If you want more time in Cairo, ask us about extra nights.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Many Nile itineraries sail one way between Luxor and Aswan. This one goes there and back from Luxor on a single ship, with Abu Simbel on day 6 and a night in Cairo before you fly home. Hotel and ship standard 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 tour with a 7-night Nile cruise
- Accommodation
- Cairo hotels and a Nile cruise ship, standard chosen at booking
- Destinations
- Cairo · Giza · Saqqara · Luxor · Edfu · Aswan · Abu Simbel
- Includes
- 2 nights in Cairo hotels with breakfast · 7 nights on a Nile cruise ship, full board · Flights Cairo to Luxor and Luxor to Cairo · Abu Simbel by road from Aswan · English-speaking Egyptologist, entrance fees and transport on sightseeing days · All transfers by air-conditioned vehicle
- Best for
- First-time visitors who want the river · History-focused travelers · Travelers who want Abu Simbel without extra hotel changes
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
- Sunscreen, SPF 30 or higher
- Sun hat and sunglasses
- Refillable water bottle
- Any personal medication
- Small day bag for the long road day to Abu Simbel
- Light layer for the ship, the flights and the early starts
What to wear
- Lightweight, breathable clothing for sun and heat
- Closed shoes for temples and uneven ground
- Clothing that covers shoulders and knees at mosques, churches and temples
- A hat and sunglasses
- A light jacket for evenings on the river in winter
Children & families
Children are welcome. Every child takes 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. Abu Simbel is a long road day, which younger children may find tiring. Cabin and hotel prices depend on the child's age and the room or cabin used, so we give you the exact figure when you tell us the age at booking.
Accessibility
Who can join this
This tour involves a lot of walking on large archaeological sites, with uneven stone, sand, steps and some narrow tomb passages. The Valley of the Kings and Karnak have long outdoor stretches with little shade. Boarding the ship and the boat to Philae involve steps and a gangway. Abu Simbel is a long day by road. The Citadel and the old churches in Cairo mean more steps and cobbles. The vehicles are private and air-conditioned, but we cannot promise wheelchair access at every site. Tell us your needs when you book and we will tell you honestly which parts are suitable.
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
The itinerary uses two domestic flights, a long road day to Abu Simbel and a Nile cruise ship for seven nights, and vehicle and vessel types can vary, so we do not claim a carbon saving. Sightseeing is guided by local Egyptologists and arranged through local suppliers in Cairo, Luxor and Aswan, so most of the money you spend stays in the places you visit. We ask guests to take refillable water bottles and not to touch 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 early you tell us and on the type of trip. Read our current cancellation and refund policy
Asked & answered
Frequent questions
01Are the domestic flights included?
Yes. The flights from Cairo to Luxor on day 2 and from Luxor to Cairo on day 9 are booked for you and included. International flights are not.02How many nights are on the Nile cruise?
Seven nights on board, from Luxor to Aswan and back, on full board: breakfast, lunch and dinner each day. The other two nights are in Cairo hotels with breakfast.03Is day 2 too much?
It is a full day: the Giza visit takes four to six hours, then lunch, the Grand Egyptian Museum and a flight to Luxor. We arrange the day around the airline's flight time. Tell us your arrival time and we will talk you through it. An extra night in Cairo can be added.04Will I make my international flight?
Domestic and international tickets are separate bookings, so a delayed domestic flight can cost you the connection. That is why this tour ends with a night in Cairo before you leave. If you change the plan to fly to Cairo and connect on the same day, choose a late-evening or night international flight, and take travel insurance that covers missed connections.05Which ship and hotels will we have?
You choose a standard when you book, from budget to luxury, and we name the ship and hotels for your dates. The itinerary and sightseeing are the same at every standard.06Is Abu Simbel included?
Yes. It is a full-day trip by road from Aswan on day 6, with the entrance fees paid.07Is there a day with no sightseeing?
Yes. Day 7 has no visits: the ship is under way back toward Luxor, and you spend the day on board.08Are the guide, entrance fees and transport included?
Yes. On sightseeing days an English-speaking Egyptologist guide, the entrance fees and the transport are included, including the Nile cruise sightseeing days.09What is not included?
International flights, the Egypt visa, tips for guides, drivers and ship staff, drinks other than those stated, and the Khufu pyramid interior and premium tombs such as Tutankhamun's.10When is the best time to go?
October to April is cooler and the most comfortable for walking around temples. Summers are very hot, especially in Luxor and Aswan, so sightseeing starts early.
Last updated Product ID: TOU-CAI-047901
At a glance
- Length
- 10 days · 9 nights
- Starts
- Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat or Sun
- Route
- Cairo → Luxor → Edfu → Kom Ombo → Abu Simbel → Aswan → Cairo
- Nights
- 2 Cairo · 7 Nile cruise
- Includes
- Domestic flights, Egyptologist guide, entrance fees, transfers