10-Day Cairo, Luxor & Marsa Alam Tour
The Giza Pyramids, Karnak and the Valley of the Kings, then five nights on the quiet southern Red Sea coast with snorkeling boat trips. Flights, hotels and guides are included.
The short answer
10-Day Cairo, Luxor & Marsa Alam Tour is a 10-day, 9-night trip to Cairo, Luxor and Marsa Alam: 2 nights in Cairo, 2 in Luxor and 5 in Marsa Alam. It includes domestic flights, an Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transfers. Prices start at $2,101 per person, two sharing (Essential, October–April).
02Overview
A first look
This tour does the big sights first and the beach second. You spend two nights in Cairo, with the Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx, Saqqara and Memphis. You fly to Luxor for two nights of temples and tombs on both banks of the Nile. Then you drive to Marsa Alam, a quiet stretch of the Red Sea coast known for its reefs. Five nights there give you time to swim, snorkel and rest. Three of your days are boat or bay trips to look for turtles, dolphins and dugongs, and one is a sunset quad ride with a Bedouin dinner. Wild animals are never guaranteed, but this coast gives you good odds.
What lingers
- 01Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx, Saqqara and Memphis in one guided day with a private Egyptologist
- 02A Nile dinner cruise with a live show on your first evening in Cairo
- 03Karnak, Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut's temple over two days in Luxor
- 04Five nights at Marsa Alam on the quiet southern Red Sea coast
- 05Snorkeling trips to Abu Dabbab Bay, Samadai Dolphin House and Hamata and Qulaan islands
- 06A sunset quad safari with a Bedouin dinner
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 $2,1013★ hotels | Luxor · 2 nightsEl Mesala Hotel Luxor | $2,101May–Sep: from $2,079 | |
| Comfortfrom $2,4274★ hotels | Cairo · 2 nightsJewel Sport City Luxor · 2 nightsIberotel Luxor by JAZ | $2,427May–Sep: from $2,710 | |
| Classicfrom $2,8695★ hotels | Marsa Alam · 5 nightsSENTIDO Reef Oasis Suakin Resort | $2,869May–Sep: from $2,956 | |
| Prestigefrom $3,1705★ deluxe hotels | Luxor · 2 nightsSteigenberger Nile Palace Luxor | $3,170May–Sep: from $3,140 | |
| Luxuryfrom $3,9095★ luxury hotels | Cairo · 2 nightsSt. Regis Cairo Luxor · 2 nightsHilton Luxor Resort & Spa Marsa Alam · 5 nightsSteigenberger Coraya Beach (Adults Friendly 16+) · Pickalbatros Vita Resort Portofino | $3,909May–Sep: from $3,799 |
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
10 Days / 9 Nights · Cairo · Giza Plateau · Great Sphinx · Saqqara · Memphis · Luxor
- 1
A representative greets you inside the arrivals hall at Cairo Airport, helps with your bags and drives you to your hotel. Once you have settled in, you are picked up for an evening on the river. The Nile dinner cruise lasts about three hours door to door, with a seat for the live show, a buffet dinner and views of the lit-up city from the top deck.
A driver brings you back to your hotel afterwards.
- 2
Your private Egyptologist and driver collect you from the hotel for an eight-hour day outside the city. The morning is for the Giza Pyramids and, down by the Valley Temple, the Great Sphinx. You then drive south through farmland to lunch in a countryside setting. Next comes Saqqara, home of the first pyramid ever built, and Memphis, the old capital of the pharaohs.
You are driven back to your Cairo hotel in an air-conditioned vehicle.
- 3
After breakfast you are driven to Cairo Airport for the domestic flight south to Luxor; luggage and taxes are included, and the flight time follows the airline schedule. A driver meets you on arrival and, when the time allows, your licensed Egyptologist takes you straight to the East Bank. You visit Karnak Temple, with its forest of columns, and Luxor Temple beside the river.
Entrance fees and the vehicle between sites are included. The sightseeing is fitted around your flight, and you end the day at your Luxor hotel.
- 4
Today is on the west side of the Nile, with a private driver and a private licensed Egyptologist. The Valley of the Kings comes first; your ticket covers three tombs. Then you see Queen Hatshepsut's terraced temple at Deir el-Bahari, the two giant Colossi of Memnon and the walls of Medinet Habu, the mortuary temple of Ramses III. All entrance tickets are included.
It is a full day on hot stone with little shade, so bring water and a hat. You sleep in Luxor again.
- 5
This is a travel day, with no sightseeing planned. After breakfast a private driver takes you out of Luxor and across to the Red Sea. The vehicle is sized to your group, and a representative handles the transfer. It is a long drive, so bring a book, water and snacks. You arrive at your Marsa Alam hotel in time to unpack, swim and enjoy your first evening by the sea.
Five nights here are the relaxed half of your trip.
- 6
A shared air-conditioned vehicle collects you from your hotel for a five-hour outing to Abu Dabbab Bay. You swim in a sheltered bay off the beach with mask, snorkel and fins supplied, and a guide looks after the group. Sea turtles graze on the seagrass here and dugongs sometimes visit. We never promise a sighting, because the animals are wild.
Beach entrance and bottled water are included, and you are back at the hotel for a lazy afternoon.
- 7
An eight-hour day on the water. A shared vehicle takes you to the harbor, where you board a shared boat for Samadai, the horseshoe reef known as the Dolphin House. Resident spinner dolphins often rest in the lagoon, though a sighting is never certain. Snorkeling gear and a life jacket are provided, the marine park fee is paid, and lunch is served on board with tea, coffee and water.
The guide and crew stay with you throughout, and you return to your hotel in the afternoon.
- 8
Another full boat day, this time to the islands of Hamata and Qulaan to the south. You go by shared vehicle and shared boat, with a guide and crew, and stop to snorkel from the boat over coral gardens. Mask, snorkel and fins are included, as are lunch on board and tea, coffee and water. Between swims you can sunbathe on deck.
The boat brings you back to land late afternoon, and you are driven to your hotel for a rest before dinner.
- 9
The morning is free, so rest, swim or read by the sea. Late in the day a shared vehicle picks you up for a five-hour evening outing. A guide leads a quad-bike ride through the sandy hinterland behind the coast as the sun goes down. Helmet and scarf are provided, and you can ride a bike alone or share one.
The ride ends with a Bedouin dinner, tea and water, then the vehicle takes you back to your hotel.
- 10
Have breakfast and check out. A driver takes you from your Marsa Alam hotel to the airport for the domestic flight to Cairo, with luggage and taxes included. The flight time follows the airline schedule. The tour ends when you land in Cairo, and there is no hotel night booked there.
If you are catching an international flight the same day, please read the flight question in the FAQ below before you choose your departure time.
Bundled in
- Domestic flights
The fine print
What's included – and what isn't
Included
- Two nights in a Cairo hotel, two nights in a Luxor hotel and five nights in a Marsa Alam hotel, with breakfast
- Domestic flights Cairo to Luxor and Marsa Alam to Cairo, with 23 kg luggage and taxes
- All airport and hotel transfers, plus the private road transfer from Luxor to Marsa Alam
- Nile dinner cruise with a live show in Cairo
- Private Egyptologist and vehicle on the Giza, Saqqara and Memphis day, with lunch
- Licensed Egyptologist, entrance fees and transport for Karnak, Luxor Temple and the West Bank, including three tombs in the Valley of the Kings
- Abu Dabbab Bay snorkeling trip with mask, snorkel, fins, guide and beach entrance
- Samadai Dolphin House boat day with marine park fee, snorkeling gear, life jacket and lunch on board
- Hamata and Qulaan islands boat day with snorkeling gear and lunch on board
- Sunset quad safari with helmet, scarf, guide and Bedouin dinner
- Meet-and-assist at the airport
Not included
- International flights to and from Egypt
- Egypt entry visa
- Gratuities for guides, drivers and boat crews
- Drinks and meals other than those stated
- Khufu pyramid interior and premium tombs such as Tutankhamun and Seti I
- A hotel night in Cairo on day 10 (available on request)
- Travel insurance and personal expenses
Field notes
From our Egyptologists
- 01
Bring your own reef-safe sunscreen and a rash vest for Abu Dabbab Bay, where you spend long stretches floating over seagrass.
- 02
Keep a respectful distance from wild dolphins at Samadai and let them approach you; a calm, slow entry into the water works best.
- 03
Ask your guide to take the Saqqara and Memphis stops before lunch on the Giza day, when the desert light is softer for photos.
- 04
Pack a scarf for the Marsa Alam quad safari, as dust off the desert tracks gets into everything at sunset.
Tailor it
Make it yours
Choose your hotel standard in each city when you book. Ask us about an extra night in Cairo at the end, more nights at the coast or an Abu Simbel add-on.
All requests handled by your dedicated specialist before booking.
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- Travelers who want the highlights of Cairo and Luxor and then time on the Red Sea. Suited to couples, friends and active families who enjoy the sea, can walk for several hours on sightseeing days and are fine with a long drive.
Maybe not, if
- Travelers who need step-free access to every site, who dislike boats or open water, or who want to stay in one hotel all trip.
Honest assessment
Real trade-offs from our experience managing this tour.
Highlights
- Pyramids, Luxor's temples and a quiet Red Sea reef coast in one trip
- Three snorkeling outings that give a chance to see turtles, dolphins and dugongs
- Both domestic flights and all transfers handled for you
Things to Consider
- A long road transfer from Luxor to Marsa Alam on day 5
- Days 2, 3 and 4 are full, with uneven stone and little shade
- The tour ends at Cairo airport with no hotel night, so a same-day international connection is a risk
Where it fits
A good fit for a first trip that mixes history and sea. It ends in Cairo with no hotel night, so add one if you connect to a long-haul flight.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Many Egypt itineraries stop at the Nile. This one adds five nights on the quiet southern Red Sea coast, where the reefs are the draw. Hotel standard is your choice; the sightseeing and outings do not change.
Compare
Similar tours to compare
On the ground
Your route
Snapshot
Good to know
- Travel style
- Guided Multi-Day Tour with a Red Sea Beach Stay
- Accommodation
- Hotels in Cairo, Luxor and Marsa Alam, standard chosen at booking
- Destinations
- Cairo · Giza Plateau · Great Sphinx · Saqqara · Memphis · Luxor · Karnak Temple · Luxor Temple · Valley of the Kings · Hatshepsut Temple · Marsa Alam
- Includes
- 9 hotel nights with breakfast: 2 Cairo, 2 Luxor, 5 Marsa Alam · Flights Cairo to Luxor and Marsa Alam to Cairo · Private road transfer Luxor to Marsa Alam · Egyptologist, entrance fees and transport at Karnak, Luxor Temple and the West Bank · Snorkeling trips to Abu Dabbab Bay, Samadai and the Hamata and Qulaan islands · Nile dinner cruise and a sunset quad safari with a Bedouin dinner
- Best for
- First-time visitors who also want a beach week · Snorkelers and reef lovers · Couples and friends who want history followed by rest
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
- Swimsuit and a quick-dry towel
- Reef-safe sunscreen, SPF 30 or higher
- Sun hat and sunglasses
- Refillable water bottle
- Any personal medication and motion-sickness tablets for the boat days
- Small day bag
- Water shoes for entering the sea from the shore
What to wear
- Lightweight, breathable clothing for sun and heat
- Closed shoes for temples, tombs and uneven ground
- Clothing that covers shoulders and knees at temples
- A long-sleeved top or rash vest for sun protection on the boats
- Clothes you do not mind getting dusty for the quad ride, plus a light layer for the evening
- A hat and sunglasses
Children & families
Children are welcome, but the pace suits older children best. Days 2, 3 and 4 are long, and the Luxor to Marsa Alam transfer on day 5 is a long drive. Boat and bay days need a child who is happy in the water with a life jacket; ask us about minimum ages for the boat trips and the quad ride when you book. Entrance tickets are free for children under 6 and full price from 6. Hotel prices depend on the child's age and the room used, so we give you the exact figure once you tell us the age.
Accessibility
Who can join this
The Cairo and Luxor days involve a lot of walking over uneven stone and sand, with steps and some narrow tomb passages, and long open stretches with little shade at Karnak and the Valley of the Kings. The transfer from Luxor to Marsa Alam is a long drive. The snorkeling days use boats, shore entries and shared vehicles, and the quad safari needs you to hold the handlebars and sit on a moving bike. Vehicles are air-conditioned, but we cannot promise wheelchair access at every site or on every boat. Tell us what you need when you book and we will say honestly which parts suit you.
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
The tour uses two domestic flights, private road transfers, shared boats and a quad ride, and vehicle types vary, so we do not claim a carbon saving. Guiding and boat trips are run by local companies in Cairo, Luxor and Marsa Alam, so much of what you spend stays on the coast and in the cities you visit. At the reefs, please do not stand on or touch coral, and keep a respectful distance from turtles, dolphins and dugongs. Choose reef-safe sunscreen and 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 early you tell us and on the type of trip. Read our current cancellation and refund policy
Asked & answered
Frequent questions
01Will I make my international flight home?
The domestic flight and your international flight are separate bookings, so a delayed or cancelled domestic flight can cost you the connection. The tour ends when you land in Cairo on day 10 with no hotel night after it. We would prefer you add one last night in Cairo as a safety window. If you must connect the same day, choose a late-evening or night international flight, and take travel insurance that covers missed connections.02Can I see dolphins, turtles or dugongs?
You have a good chance. Samadai Dolphin House on day 7 is home to resident dolphins, and Abu Dabbab Bay on day 6 is known for sea turtles and the occasional dugong. These are wild animals, so no sighting is guaranteed, and we do not promise one.03How long is the drive from Luxor to Marsa Alam?
It is a long road transfer, and the whole of day 5 is set aside for it. The vehicle is private and sized to your group, and a representative handles the transfer. There is no sightseeing that day. Bring water, snacks and something to read.04Are the domestic flights included?
Yes. The flights from Cairo to Luxor on day 3 and from Marsa Alam to Cairo on day 10 are booked for you, with 23 kg of luggage and taxes. Flight times follow the airline schedule. International flights are not included.05Do I need to be a strong swimmer to snorkel?
You should be comfortable in the sea. Mask, snorkel and fins are supplied on every snorkeling day, and a life jacket is provided on the Samadai boat trip. If you are unsure, tell the guide and stay close to the shore or the boat.06How long is the Giza day?
Day 2 is an eight-hour outing with a private Egyptologist and driver. It covers the Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx, Saqqara and Memphis, with lunch in a countryside setting. Expect a full day and a good deal of walking.07Are meals included?
Breakfast is included at the hotels. Dinner is included on day 1 as part of the Nile dinner cruise, and on day 9 as the Bedouin dinner. Lunch is included on the Cairo sightseeing day and on the Samadai and island boat days. Other meals are paid on the spot.08Is the quad ride safe for beginners?
A guide leads the ride at an easy pace, and helmet and scarf are provided. You can ride alone or share a quad with someone else. Tell us about any health problems, back trouble or pregnancy when you book.09What is not included?
International flights, the Egypt visa, tips for guides and drivers, drinks and meals other than those stated, the Khufu pyramid interior and premium tombs such as Tutankhamun's, travel insurance and personal spending.10When is the best time to go?
October to April is cooler for the temples and still warm enough for the sea. Summer is very hot in Luxor, so sightseeing starts early. Expect more visitors around Christmas and New Year.
Last updated Product ID: TOU-CAI-139995
At a glance
- Length
- 10 days · 9 nights
- Starts
- Daily
- Route
- Cairo → Luxor → Marsa Alam
- Nights
- 2 Cairo · 2 Luxor · 5 Marsa Alam
- Includes
- Domestic flights, Egyptologist guide, entrance fees, transfers