10-Day Egypt Tour: White Desert Camp & Nile Cruise
The Giza Pyramids, a night under the stars in the White Desert, and three nights sailing from Aswan to Luxor. Flights, hotels, your cruise cabin and guides are included.
The short answer
10-Day Egypt Tour: White Desert Camp & Nile Cruise is a 10-day, 9-night trip to Cairo, Luxor and Aswan. Starts on Mondays, Thursdays, Saturdays or Sundays. It includes domestic flights, an Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transfers. Prices start at $2,556 per person, two sharing (Essential, October–April).
02Overview
A first look
Most Egypt trips go from the pyramids to the Nile. This one adds a night in the desert. You start in Cairo with a Nile dinner cruise, then spend a day at Giza, Saqqara and Memphis with a private Egyptologist. On day 3 a 4x4 takes you out to Bahariya Oasis, the Black Desert, Crystal Mountain and the White Desert, where you sleep in a simple camp.
Back in Cairo, you fly to Aswan and join your Nile cruise ship for three nights, sailing north to Luxor with stops at Philae, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Luxor Temple and Karnak. The Valley of the Kings comes on the last morning. A second flight returns you to Cairo for your final night. The White Desert trip is sold by request: the camp arrangements and the final price for that part are confirmed with you before you pay.
What lingers
- 01A Nile dinner cruise with an evening show on your first night in Cairo
- 02Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx, Saqqara and Memphis with a private Egyptologist
- 03A 4x4 trip to Bahariya Oasis, the Black Desert, Crystal Mountain and the White Desert
- 04One night in a simple desert camp: tent, mattress, sleeping bag and blankets
- 05Three nights on a Nile cruise ship from Aswan to Luxor, full board
- 06Philae, Kom Ombo and Edfu temples, with Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transport included
- 07Karnak, Luxor Temple and the Valley of the Kings, plus a Nubian village visit and an evening horse carriage ride in Luxor
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 $2,5563★ hotels · well-priced Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 3 nightsNephtis · Magic I Luxor · 1 nightEl Mesala Hotel Luxor | $2,556May–Sep: from $2,367 | |
| Comfortfrom $2,7724★ hotels · 5★ Nile cruises | Cairo · 3 nightsJewel Sport City Nile Cruise · 3 nightsRoyal Princess Amira · Tower Prestige Luxor · 1 nightIberotel Luxor by JAZ | $2,772May–Sep: from $2,561 | |
| Classicfrom $2,9905★ hotels · 5★ Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 3 nightsGrand Sun · Stephanie | $2,990May–Sep: from $2,561 | |
| Prestigefrom $3,4005★ deluxe hotels · 5★ deluxe Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 3 nightsSonesta Moon Goddess · Nile Serenity Luxor · 1 nightSteigenberger Nile Palace Luxor | $3,400May–Sep: from $3,146 | |
| Luxuryfrom $5,0795★ luxury hotels · 5★ luxury Nile cruises | Cairo · 3 nightsSt. Regis Cairo Nile Cruise · 3 nightsSonesta St. George I · Esmeralda Luxor · 1 nightHilton Luxor Resort & Spa | $5,079May–Sep: from $4,063 |
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
10 Days / 9 Nights · Cairo · Giza Plateau · Saqqara · Bahariya Oasis · White Desert · Aswan
- 1
Your driver meets you in the arrivals hall at Cairo Airport and takes you to your hotel. Rest after your flight. In the evening you are collected for a Nile dinner cruise: about three hours in all, with a buffet dinner, a live show and views of Cairo's lights from the top deck. A private transfer takes you back to your hotel afterwards.
- 2
A full day of about eight hours with your private Egyptologist. You start on the Giza Plateau with the Great Pyramids, the Valley Temple and the Great Sphinx. Then you drive south through the countryside to lunch at a rural spot, followed by Saqqara, home of the first pyramid, and Memphis, the old capital. Your driver brings you back to your hotel.
The guide, the entrance fees and the private vehicle are included.
- 3
A private driver collects you from your hotel and takes you to Bahariya Oasis. There you change to a 4x4 with a local desert driver-guide. The route takes in the Black Desert, Crystal Mountain and the White Desert, where wind has carved the chalk into odd white shapes. You sleep in a simple camp: a tent, a mattress, a sleeping bag and blankets, with shared facilities.
Lunch and dinner are included, and so are bottled water and the protected-area fees. This trip is sold by request, and the camp arrangements and final price are confirmed with you before you pay.
- 4
After breakfast in camp you leave the desert and drive back to Cairo with your private driver, who drops you at your hotel. No sightseeing is planned for the rest of the day, so you can shower, rest and repack before the flight south. Your fourth night is in a Cairo hotel.
- 5
A private transfer takes you to Cairo Airport for the domestic flight to Aswan. The flight time is set by the airline, and we arrange the sightseeing around it. You are met at Aswan airport and join your Nile cruise ship. Your Egyptologist guide then takes you to Philae Temple, the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk. A visit to a Nubian village is also part of the day.
Guide, entrance fees and transport are included. It is a full day, and you sleep on board.
- 6
Your second day on the river brings two temples with your Egyptologist: Kom Ombo, which is dedicated to two gods, and Edfu, the temple of Horus. Entrance fees and transport are included. You also take a private motorboat around Elephantine Island and the Aswan Botanical Garden. Meals are on board, and the ship carries you north as you rest.
- 7
The ship reaches Luxor. Your Egyptologist takes you to Luxor Temple and the Karnak Temples, including the Sacred Lake. Guide, entrance fees and transport are included. In the evening you take a private horse carriage ride through Luxor, with a stop at the local market and a look at Luxor Temple lit up at night. Then you return to the ship for your last night on board.
- 8
On the West Bank your Egyptologist shows you the Valley of the Kings, with entry to three tombs, the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari and the Colossi of Memnon. Guide, entrance fees and transport are included. After the West Bank you leave the ship and are taken to a hotel in Luxor, where you spend the night.
- 9
A private transfer takes you from Luxor to the airport for the domestic flight to Cairo, with 23 kg of luggage and taxes included. The flight time is set by the airline. In Cairo you are met and taken to your hotel. No sightseeing is planned today. This final night in Cairo is a deliberate safety window: if a domestic flight is delayed, you still have time to catch your flight home.
- 10
After breakfast you check out. A private transfer, with a representative to help with your luggage, takes you to Cairo Airport for your flight home. Allow plenty of time for check-in and security. Your tour ends at the airport.
Bundled in
- Domestic flights
The fine print
What's included – and what isn't
Included
- Four nights in hotels with breakfast: three in Cairo and one in Luxor
- Three nights on a Nile cruise ship, Aswan to Luxor, on full board
- One night in a simple White Desert camp: tent, mattress, sleeping bag and blankets
- Domestic flights Cairo to Aswan and Luxor to Cairo
- All airport, hotel and port transfers by air-conditioned vehicle
- Nile dinner cruise with an evening show in Cairo
- Entrance fees to every site in the itinerary, including three tombs in the Valley of the Kings
- Egyptologist guide on Cairo and cruise sightseeing days; local desert driver-guide with a 4x4 in the desert
- Lunch and dinner on the first desert day, breakfast on the second, plus bottled water and protected-area fees
- Nubian village visit, Elephantine Island motorboat trip and evening horse carriage ride in Luxor
- 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
- Travel insurance and personal expenses
Field notes
From our Egyptologists
- 01
Wear layers for the White Desert camp; days are warm but the desert nights drop sharply in temperature.
- 02
On the Elephantine Island boat trip, ask the boatman to slow near the granite rocks for the best photographs.
- 03
At the Nubian village, accept the offer of tea and chat; it makes the visit feel like a welcome, not a stop.
- 04
On Luxor's evening carriage ride, agree the route with your guide so you pass the market before the lit-up temple.
Tailor it
Make it yours
You choose the standard of hotel and ship when you book. Ask us about adding Abu Simbel or extra nights in Cairo or Luxor.
All requests handled by your dedicated specialist before booking.
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- Travelers who want the classic route plus a night in the desert. Suited to couples, friends and active solo travelers who are comfortable with a basic tented camp, two flights and several hours of walking on sightseeing days.
Maybe not, if
- Travelers who need step-free access to every site, a private bathroom every night, or a slow pace. Days 2, 3 and 5 are full days.
Honest assessment
Real trade-offs from our experience managing this tour.
Highlights
- Pyramids, the White Desert and the main Nile temples in ten days
- Both domestic flights and all transfers handled for you
- Three nights on a ship, so no repacking between Aswan and Luxor
- A last night in Cairo that protects your flight home
Things to Consider
- The desert camp is simple: a tent, shared facilities and a long 4x4 journey
- Day 5 is full, with a flight and sightseeing in Aswan on the same day
- Uneven stone, steps and little shade at the major sites
- Abu Simbel is not included
Where it fits
A good fit for a second look at Egypt, or a first trip for adventurous travelers. Abu Simbel is not included, so ask us if it is on your list.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Most Egypt tours skip the desert, and most desert trips skip the Nile. This tour joins them with both flights and every transfer booked for you. The standard of hotel and ship is your choice, and the desert camp is simple at every standard.
Compare
Similar tours to compare
- 10-Day Cairo, Nile Cruise, Abu Simbel, Hurghada & Alexandria Tour
10 days · Cairo
From $2,481 per person
On the ground
Your route
Snapshot
Good to know
- Travel style
- Guided multi-day tour with a White Desert camp and a Nile cruise
- Accommodation
- Cairo and Luxor hotels, a Nile cruise ship (standard chosen at booking) and one night in a simple desert camp
- Destinations
- Cairo · Giza Plateau · Saqqara · Bahariya Oasis · White Desert · Aswan · Philae Temple · Kom Ombo · Edfu · Luxor · Karnak Temple · Valley of the Kings
- Includes
- 4 hotel nights with breakfast, 3 nights on a Nile cruise ship (full board) · 1 night in a simple White Desert camp · Flights Cairo to Aswan and Luxor to Cairo · Entrance fees to every listed site · Egyptologist guide on sightseeing days, desert driver-guide in the White Desert · All transfers by air-conditioned vehicle
- Best for
- First-time visitors who want something beyond the usual route · Adventurous travelers happy with a basic desert camp · Travelers who want the pyramids, the desert and a Nile cruise in one 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 required travel documents
- Comfortable walking shoes with good grip
- A warm layer for the desert night, when it gets cold after sunset
- A torch or headlamp for the camp
- Sunscreen, SPF 30 or higher
- Sun hat and sunglasses
- Refillable water bottle
- Any personal medication
- Small day bag and a small overnight bag for the desert
What to wear
- Lightweight, breathable clothing for sun and heat
- Closed shoes for temples, tombs and desert sand
- Warm clothes for the desert camp, including long trousers and a fleece or jacket
- Clothing that covers shoulders and knees at mosques 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. 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. The White Desert night is a simple camp in a tent with shared facilities, so tell us your child's age and we will confirm what suits them before you pay.
Accessibility
Who can join this
This tour involves a lot of walking on 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. Day 3 is a long journey by road and 4x4, and the White Desert camp is simple, with a tent, a mattress on the ground and shared facilities. Boarding the ship and the boat to Philae involve steps and a gangway. The vehicles are private and air-conditioned, but we cannot promise wheelchair access at every site or at the camp. Tell us your needs when you book and we will say honestly which parts suit you.
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
The itinerary uses two domestic flights, a Nile cruise ship, private road transfers and a 4x4 in the desert, so we do not claim a carbon saving. The desert trip runs on set routes inside a protected area, and the protected-area fees are included. Sightseeing is guided by local Egyptologists and arranged through local suppliers in Cairo, Bahariya, Aswan and Luxor, so most of the money you spend stays in the places you visit. We ask guests to carry out all rubbish from the desert, bring a refillable water bottle and not 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 Aswan on day 5 and from Luxor to Cairo on day 9 are booked for you and included. International flights are not. Flight times are set by the airline.02What is the White Desert camp like?
It is simple. You sleep in a tent on a mattress with a sleeping bag and blankets, and the facilities are shared. A local desert driver-guide takes you around in a 4x4. Lunch and dinner on the first desert day and breakfast on the second, bottled water and the protected-area fees are included. The trip is sold by request, and the camp arrangements and the final price for the desert part are confirmed with you before you pay.03Will 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 last night in Cairo on day 9. If you change the plan and must fly to Cairo and connect the same day, choose a late-evening or night international flight. Take travel insurance that covers missed connections.04How many nights are on the Nile cruise?
Three nights on board, sailing from Aswan to Luxor. The other six nights are four hotel nights, one in Luxor after the cruise and the rest in Cairo, plus one night in the desert camp.05Which hotels and cruise ship will we have?
You choose a standard when you book, from budget to luxury, and we name the hotels and ship for your dates. The itinerary and sightseeing are the same at every standard. The desert camp is a simple camp whichever standard you pick.06Is Abu Simbel included?
No. This itinerary does not include Abu Simbel. Ask us if you want it added.07Is day 5 too much?
It is a full day: an early flight, boarding your ship, then Philae, the High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk and a Nubian village. We arrange the sightseeing around the airline's flight time, and you sleep on the ship.08Are guides and entrance fees included?
Yes. An English-speaking Egyptologist, the entrance fees and the transport are included on the Cairo and cruise sightseeing days. In the desert you have a local desert driver-guide, and the protected-area fees are included.09When is the best time to go?
October to April is cooler and best for temples. Desert nights are cold in winter, so pack a warm layer. Summers are hot, especially in Luxor and Aswan, so sightseeing starts early.
Last updated Product ID: TOU-CAI-331842
At a glance
- Length
- 10 days · 9 nights
- Starts
- Mon, Thu, Sat or Sun
- Route
- Cairo → White Desert → Aswan → Kom Ombo → Edfu → Luxor → Cairo
- Includes
- Domestic flights, Egyptologist guide, entrance fees, transfers