11-Day Cairo, Alexandria & Nile Cruise Tour
The pyramids and Alexandria, three nights sailing from Aswan to Luxor with Abu Simbel, and a slower finish in Cairo. Flights, hotels, your cruise cabin and guiding are included.
The short answer
11-Day Cairo, Alexandria & Nile Cruise Tour is an 11-day, 10-night trip to Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor, Aswan and Abu Simbel: 6 nights in Cairo, 3 on a Nile cruise and 1 in Luxor. Starts on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays or Sundays. It includes domestic flights, an Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transfers. Prices start at $2,680 per person, two sharing (Essential, October–April).
02Overview
A first look
Eleven days gives you a proper tour of Egypt without rushing. You start in Cairo with a day at the Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum. The next day is a long outing to Alexandria on the Mediterranean coast. Then you fly to Aswan and join your Nile cruise ship for three nights, sailing to Luxor with Philae, the High Dam, Abu Simbel, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Karnak and Luxor Temple on the way.
After a night in a Luxor hotel and a morning on the West Bank, you fly back to Cairo for the last three nights: Islamic Cairo, a free day and an unhurried departure. We book the flights, the transfers, your hotels, your cruise cabin and every entrance ticket. You choose the standard of hotel and ship when you book.
What lingers
- 01Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum in one guided day
- 02A day in Alexandria: the catacombs, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the Qaitbay Citadel and a seafront lunch
- 03Three nights on a Nile cruise ship from Aswan to Luxor, full board
- 04Philae, the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk, then Abu Simbel in the early morning from the moored ship
- 05Kom Ombo and Edfu temples, then Karnak and Luxor Temple, with the cruise sightseeing included
- 06Valley of the Kings with three tombs, Hatshepsut's temple and the Colossi of Memnon
- 07Islamic Cairo, the Citadel and Khan el-Khalili, a free day and three unhurried last nights in Cairo
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 $2,6803★ hotels · well-priced Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 3 nightsNephtis · Al Nabilatan Luxor · 1 nightEl Mesala Hotel Luxor | $2,680May–Sep: from $2,395 | |
| Comfortfrom $2,8224★ hotels · 5★ Nile cruises | Cairo · 6 nightsJewel Sport City Nile Cruise · 3 nightsEmilio · Tower Prestige Luxor · 1 nightIberotel Luxor by JAZ | $2,822May–Sep: from $2,706 | |
| Classicfrom $3,1545★ hotels · 5★ Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 3 nightsSun Times · Nile Dolphin | $3,154May–Sep: from $2,706 | |
| Prestigefrom $3,7985★ deluxe hotels · 5★ deluxe Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 3 nightsSonesta Moon Goddess Luxor · 1 nightSteigenberger Nile Palace Luxor | $3,798May–Sep: from $3,739 | |
| Luxuryfrom $6,2145★ luxury hotels · 5★ luxury Nile cruises | Cairo · 6 nightsSt. Regis Cairo Nile Cruise · 3 nightsSonesta St. George I · Esmeralda Luxor · 1 nightHilton Luxor Resort & Spa | $6,214May–Sep: from $5,118 |
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
11 Days / 10 Nights · Cairo · Alexandria · Aswan · Abu Simbel · Kom Ombo · Edfu
- 1
A representative meets you in the arrivals hall at Cairo Airport and takes you to your hotel. Nothing is planned for the rest of the day, so you can rest after your flight and get ready for the pyramids tomorrow. Your hotel can suggest places to eat nearby.
- 2
A full day with your English-speaking Egyptologist guide, about eight hours in all. You start on the Giza Plateau with the pyramids and the Great Sphinx, then have lunch and continue to the Grand Egyptian Museum for the Tutankhamun collection and the great statues of the Old and New Kingdoms. The guide, the entrance fees and the air-conditioned transport are included.
Back to your hotel for a second night in Cairo.
- 3
This is a long day, about 12 hours including the drives, and it suits good walkers. You are collected from your Cairo hotel and driven to Alexandria with an Egyptologist guide.
You visit the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the modern library beside the site of the ancient one, and the Citadel of Qaitbay on the harbor, with lunch overlooking the Mediterranean and a stop at the Montaza Palace gardens. Then you drive back to Cairo. The guide, the entrance fees to the listed sites and the air-conditioned transport are included.
- 4
A transfer takes you to Cairo Airport for the flight to Aswan, where a driver takes you to the river. You join your Nile cruise ship, settle into your cabin and then go sightseeing with your Egyptologist: Philae Temple on its island, the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk. The guide, the entrance fees and the transport are part of the cruise sightseeing package.
The sightseeing is arranged around the airline's flight time. You spend the night on board, moored in Aswan.
- 5
You leave early in the morning from the moored ship for Abu Simbel, the two rock temples of Ramesses II beside Lake Nasser, with their colossal statues. The road journey and the entrance fees are included, and you are back on board for lunch. In the afternoon the ship sets off north from Aswan, and you spend the evening on deck and at dinner on board.
- 6
The ship continues north towards Luxor. With your Egyptologist you go ashore at the temple of Kom Ombo, dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek and the falcon god Horus, and at the Temple of Horus at Edfu, one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt. Entrance fees, the guide and the transport to the temples are included. The rest is deck time, with farmland and date palms passing by.
Your last night is on board.
- 7
After breakfast you leave the ship in Luxor. With your Egyptologist you visit Karnak, the largest temple complex in Egypt, including the Sacred Lake, and Luxor Temple beside the river. The guide, the entrance fees and the transport are included. Then you check in to your Luxor hotel for the night. Lunch and dinner are not included today.
- 8
With your Egyptologist you cross to the West Bank for the Valley of the Kings, where three tombs are included, Hatshepsut's temple at Deir el-Bahari and the Colossi of Memnon. The guide, the entrance fees and the air-conditioned transport are included. A transfer then takes you to Luxor Airport for the flight to Cairo, and a driver takes you to your hotel.
The sightseeing is planned around the airline's flight time.
- 9
A relaxed morning at the hotel, then an afternoon pickup for a half-day tour with a licensed Egyptologist. You visit the Citadel of Saladin and the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, walk through Islamic Cairo and finish in the Khan el-Khalili bazaar. The guide, the entrance fees for the Citadel and the mosque, and the private air-conditioned vehicle are included.
- 10
Nothing is scheduled today. Visit the shops, revisit a favorite site, or rest at the hotel. If you want to add a tour or an evening out, ask us and we will quote it. A driver with a vehicle can be arranged for the time you need.
- 11
Have breakfast at your hotel and check out. A private transfer takes you to Cairo Airport, allowing about 90 minutes for the drive. Staying the last three nights in Cairo gives a safety window if a domestic flight runs late, so you reach your international flight calmly.
Bundled in
- Domestic flights
The fine print
What's included – and what isn't
Included
- Three nights on a Nile cruise ship on full board
- Seven hotel nights with breakfast: six in Cairo and one in Luxor
- Domestic flights Cairo to Aswan and Luxor to Cairo
- All airport, hotel and port transfers by air-conditioned vehicle
- Cruise sightseeing package: Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transport
- Abu Simbel visit by road from the ship, with entrance fees
- Giza and Grand Egyptian Museum day, Alexandria day and Islamic Cairo half day, with guide and entrance fees
- Valley of the Kings with three tombs, Hatshepsut's temple and the Colossi of Memnon
- Lunch on days 2, 3 and 8, and bottled water on the tours
- 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
Book Abu Simbel for the first departure slot, before the heat builds and coach traffic increases.
- 02
At the Giza Plateau, late afternoon gives softer light on Khufu’s pyramid faces.
- 03
The Valley of the Kings is less tiring if you start with the shorter tombs first.
- 04
Khan El Khalili is calmer just after opening hours, before tour groups arrive.
- 05
Bring small cash for restrooms and incidental purchases in Alexandria and Luxor.
Tailor it
Make it yours
Choose your hotel and ship standard when you book. Ask us about extra nights in Luxor or Aswan, a longer cruise, 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 Cairo, Alexandria and a Nile cruise in one trip, with a calmer finish. Suited to couples, friends and solo travelers who are comfortable with two flights and plenty of walking on sightseeing days.
Maybe not, if
- Travelers who need step-free access to every site, or who dislike early starts and long days. Days 3 and 5 are demanding.
Honest assessment
Real trade-offs from our experience managing this tour.
Highlights
- Giza, Alexandria, a Nile cruise with Abu Simbel and Luxor in eleven days
- Cruise sightseeing, both domestic flights and all transfers handled for you
- A free day and three Cairo nights at the end protect your flight home
Things to Consider
- Early start for Abu Simbel and a long Alexandria day
- Uneven stone, steps and little shade at the major sites
- Not a private cruise: you share the ship with other guests
Where it fits
A good fit if you want a full Egypt tour with a Nile cruise, Abu Simbel and time to unwind in Cairo.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Many operators sell Cairo, Alexandria and a Nile cruise as separate trips. This tour joins them in eleven days with both flights, cruise sightseeing and every transfer booked for you, and ends with three Cairo nights so a late domestic flight does not threaten your flight home.
Compare
Similar tours to compare
On the ground
Your route
Snapshot
Good to know
- Travel style
- Guided multi-day tour with Nile cruise
- Accommodation
- Cairo and Luxor hotels and a Nile cruise ship, standard chosen at booking
- Destinations
- Cairo · Alexandria · Aswan · Abu Simbel · Kom Ombo · Edfu · Luxor
- Includes
- 7 hotel nights with breakfast · 3 nights on a Nile cruise ship, full board · Flights Cairo to Aswan and Luxor to Cairo · Cruise sightseeing: Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transport · Abu Simbel from the moored ship · All transfers in an air-conditioned vehicle
- Best for
- First-time visitors who want a full Egypt tour · Travelers who want a Nile cruise with Abu Simbel and time to spare in Cairo · History lovers who prefer a steadier pace
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 that works as carry-on for the flights
- Light layer for the ship, early mornings and flights
What to wear
- Lightweight, breathable clothing for sun and heat
- Closed shoes for temples and uneven ground
- Clothing that covers shoulders and knees at temples and mosques
- A hat and sunglasses
- A light jacket for early mornings and evenings on the river in winter
Children & families
Children are welcome. Every child takes a seat in the vehicle, so transport and guiding 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 Alexandria day and the early Abu Simbel start are long for young children.
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, Karnak and Abu Simbel have long outdoor stretches with little shade. Boarding the ship and the boat to Philae involve steps and a gangway. The Alexandria day is long. Vehicles are 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 Nile cruise ship and road transfers, and the vehicle type can vary, so we do not claim a carbon saving. Sightseeing is guided by local Egyptologists and arranged through local suppliers in Cairo, Alexandria, Aswan and Luxor, so most of the money you spend stays in the places you visit. We ask guests to bring a refillable water bottle 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 Aswan on day 4 and from Luxor to Cairo on day 8 are booked for you and included in the price. International flights are not.02Will 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 three nights in Cairo before you leave. If you ever 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.03How many nights are on the Nile cruise?
Three nights on board, from Aswan to Luxor, on full board: breakfast, lunch and dinner each day. The other seven nights are in hotels with breakfast: six in Cairo and one in Luxor.04Is a guide and are entrance fees included on the cruise?
Yes. The cruise sightseeing package includes an English-speaking Egyptologist guide, the entrance fees and the transport to the sites. The cruise days cover Philae, the High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk, Abu Simbel, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Karnak and Luxor Temple.05When do we visit Abu Simbel?
In the early morning of day 5, from the moored ship in Aswan. You return to the ship for lunch and the ship then sets off north. Philae and the High Dam are on the afternoon of day 4.06Which cruise 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.07Is the Alexandria day tiring?
It is a long day, about 12 hours including the drives, so it suits good walkers. You have an Egyptologist guide, lunch by the sea and several stops.08What is not included?
International flights, the Egypt visa, tips for guides, drivers and ship staff, drinks on board and dinners other than those stated, the interior of the Khufu pyramid, premium tombs such as Tutankhamun's, and travel insurance.
Last updated Product ID: TOU-CAI-113769
At a glance
- Length
- 11 days · 10 nights
- Starts
- Mon, Tue, Fri or Sun
- Route
- Cairo → Alexandria → Aswan → Abu Simbel → Kom Ombo → Edfu → Luxor → Cairo
- Nights
- 6 Cairo · 3 Nile cruise · 1 Luxor
- Includes
- Domestic flights, Egyptologist guide, entrance fees, transfers