11-Day Cairo, Hurghada, Nile Cruise & Abu Simbel Tour
The Giza Pyramids, a day of snorkeling off Giftun Island, four nights sailing from Luxor to Aswan and a day at Abu Simbel. Flights, hotels, your cruise cabin, guides and entrance fees are included.
The short answer
11-Day Cairo, Hurghada, Nile Cruise & Abu Simbel Tour is an 11-day, 10-night trip to Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel and Hurghada: 4 nights in Cairo, 2 in Hurghada and 4 on a Nile cruise. Starts on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays or Sundays. It includes domestic flights, an Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transfers. Prices start at $3,106 per person, two sharing (Comfort, October–April).
02Overview
A first look
Eleven days is enough for history and a little sea. You start in Cairo with a Nile dinner cruise, then spend a day at the Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum. A short flight takes you to Hurghada on the Red Sea for two nights, with a boat day to Orange Bay for snorkeling.
From Hurghada you drive to Luxor and join your Nile cruise ship for four nights, with Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, Edfu and Kom Ombo along the way. On day 8, from the ship in Aswan, you make the long road trip to Abu Simbel, and on day 9 you see Philae and the High Dam before flying to Cairo. The last days cover Islamic and Coptic Cairo and the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization. You choose your hotel and ship standard when you book. The sightseeing stays the same.
What lingers
- 01Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum in one guided day
- 02A Nile dinner cruise with a live show on your first evening in Cairo
- 03Orange Bay snorkeling and a beach day by boat from Hurghada
- 04Four nights on a Nile cruise ship from Luxor to Aswan, full board
- 05Karnak, Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae with an Egyptologist
- 06Abu Simbel by road from the ship in Aswan, with a free afternoon after
- 07Islamic and Coptic Cairo and the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comfortfrom $3,1064★ hotels · 5★ Nile cruises | Cairo · 4 nightsJewel Sport City Hurghada · 2 nightsSwiss Inn Resort Hurghada Nile Cruise · 4 nightsRuby 1 · Royal Elite | $3,106May–Sep: from $2,816 | |
| Classicfrom $3,2765★ hotels · 5★ Nile cruises | Hurghada · 2 nightsAMC Royal Hotel & Spa Nile Cruise · 4 nightsSun Times · Stephanie | $3,276May–Sep: from $2,816 | |
| Prestigefrom $4,1115★ deluxe hotels · 5★ deluxe Nile cruises | Hurghada · 2 nightsHilton Hurghada Plaza Nile Cruise · 4 nightsSonesta Moon Goddess · Nile Serenity | $4,111May–Sep: from $3,864 | |
| Luxuryfrom $6,3075★ luxury hotels · 5★ luxury Nile cruises | Cairo · 4 nightsSt. Regis Cairo Nile Cruise · 4 nightsSonesta St. George I · Cleopatra | $6,307May–Sep: from $5,155 |
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 · Giza · Hurghada · Luxor · Edfu · Kom Ombo
- 1
Touch down in Cairo and you will find your driver waiting in the arrivals hall, ready to help with bags and take you to the hotel. Settle in, then head out after dark for a two-hour dinner cruise on the Nile. A buffet is served on board, there is a live show with a seat reserved for it, and a private transfer brings you back to the hotel.
- 2
Today is the big Giza day, led by your licensed English-speaking Egyptologist. Spend 4 to 6 hours at the Pyramids and the Great Sphinx, break for lunch, and finish inside the Grand Egyptian Museum. The guide, entrance fees and vehicle are all included, and you sleep in the same Cairo hotel again tonight.
- 3
Eat breakfast, then ride with a driver to Cairo Airport for the one-hour flight to Hurghada. The airline sets the departure time. A driver meets you on arrival and takes you to your resort hotel, and the rest of the day is yours for the pool, the beach or a walk.
- 4
A boat leaves Hurghada for Orange Bay on Giftun Island, and you are picked up at your hotel for it. You get two guided snorkeling sessions with a mask, snorkel and life jacket supplied, plus a sunbed on the beach. A hot lunch and bottled water are part of the day, and the boat returns you to the hotel in the afternoon.
- 5
Leave Hurghada by private car for the five-hour drive to Luxor. Once there, your Egyptologist guide takes you through Karnak, including the Sacred Lake, and Luxor Temple. Guide, entrance fees and transport are covered. By evening you board your Nile cruise ship, find your cabin and eat dinner on board.
This is night one of four on the river, all on full board, and the visits are timed around the drive.
- 6
Cross the river to Luxor's West Bank with your Egyptologist. First come the Colossi of Memnon, then the Valley of the Kings, where your ticket opens three tombs, and last the terraced temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari. The guide, entrance fees and transport are included. You are back on the ship for the afternoon, with every meal served on board.
- 7
The ship cruises south toward Aswan today. You step ashore twice with your Egyptologist: first at the Temple of Edfu, among the best-preserved temples in the country, then at the Temple of Kom Ombo, right on the riverbank. Entrance fees and transport are included, and the hours between visits are for sitting on deck.
- 8
The ship is moored at Aswan, so today stands alone. You leave early by road for the temples of Abu Simbel and spend the day there, with entrance fees and transport included. Back on board in the afternoon, you have the evening free. This is your fourth and last night on the ship.
- 9
Pack, check out of the ship and join your Egyptologist for Philae Temple on its island, the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk. Guide, entrance fees and transport are included. Then a private driver takes you to Aswan Airport for the one-hour flight to Cairo, where another driver delivers you to the hotel. The airline decides the flight time, so the visits are arranged around it.
- 10
Two guided visits fill today, both with a private English-speaking Egyptologist. The first, about six hours, takes in the Sultan Hassan and Al-Rifa'i mosques, the Citadel of Saladin with the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, and Old Cairo's Hanging Church and Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus, with a lunch break.
The second, about four hours, is the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization and its Royal Mummies Hall. Entrance fees and the vehicle are included. This is a full day.
- 11
There is nothing planned beyond the trip home. Eat breakfast, check out, and a private driver collects you for Cairo Airport and helps with your luggage. Leave about two hours for the transfer slot, and tell us your flight time beforehand so we can set the pickup.
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 Hurghada hotel, four nights on a Nile cruise ship and two more nights in a Cairo hotel
- Breakfast at the hotels and full board on the ship, plus the lunches and dinner listed in the itinerary
- Domestic flights Cairo to Hurghada and Aswan to Cairo
- Private transfer from Hurghada to Luxor, and all airport and hotel transfers
- Nile dinner cruise with a live show in Cairo
- Nile cruise sightseeing package with an English-speaking Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transport: Karnak, Luxor Temple, the West Bank, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Philae, the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk
- Abu Simbel day trip by road from Aswan, with entrance fees
- Orange Bay snorkeling day with boat, two guided snorkeling sessions, equipment, sunbed and lunch
- Licensed Egyptologist guide and entrance fees on the Giza, Islamic and Coptic Cairo and museum days
- Meet-and-assist at Cairo 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 the Giza visit early in the morning for softer light and lower heat.
- 02
At the Valley of the Kings, carry small bills for site lockers and extra bottled water.
- 03
Philae visits are easier in the cooler morning hours before midday boat traffic builds.
- 04
For mosque stops in Cairo, wear long trousers or a long skirt and cover shoulders.
- 05
Abu Simbel departure is usually very early, so pack snacks and a light layer for the road.
Tailor it
Make it yours
Choose your hotel and ship standard when you book. Ask us about extra nights in Hurghada, Luxor or Cairo.
All requests handled by your dedicated specialist before booking.
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- First-time visitors who want Cairo, a few days by the sea and a Nile cruise in one trip. Suited to couples, friends and solo travelers who are comfortable with two flights, a long drive and several hours of walking on sightseeing days.
Maybe not, if
- Travelers who need step-free access to every site, or who want a slow pace. Days 5, 8 and 10 are long.
Honest assessment
Real trade-offs from our experience managing this tour.
Highlights
- Pyramids, the Red Sea, a Nile cruise and Abu Simbel in eleven days
- Both domestic flights, the long road transfer and all other transfers handled for you
- Four nights on a ship, so no repacking between Luxor and Aswan
Things to Consider
- Several long days: a five-hour drive on day 5, Abu Simbel on day 8, and two guided visits on day 10
- Uneven stone, steps and little shade at the major sites
- Only two nights on the Red Sea
Where it fits
A good first long trip to Egypt for people who want both history and a few days by the sea. Days 5, 8 and 10 are the longest, so it suits travelers who are happy with a full schedule.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Many operators sell Cairo, the Red Sea and the Nile as separate trips. This itinerary joins them in eleven days, with the flights and every transfer booked for you. 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 Red Sea Stay and Nile Cruise
- Accommodation
- Hotels in Cairo and Hurghada and a Nile cruise ship, standard chosen at booking
- Destinations
- Cairo · Giza · Hurghada · Luxor · Edfu · Kom Ombo · Aswan · Abu Simbel
- Includes
- 4 nights in Cairo hotels and 2 nights in Hurghada, with breakfast · 4 nights on a Nile cruise ship, full board · Flights Cairo to Hurghada and Aswan to Cairo · Orange Bay snorkeling day by boat · Egyptologist guide and entrance fees on sightseeing days, including Abu Simbel · All transfers by air-conditioned vehicle
- Best for
- First-time visitors · Travelers who want history and some beach time · Travelers who want the pyramids, a Nile cruise and Abu Simbel 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
- Sunscreen, SPF 30 or higher
- Sun hat and sunglasses
- Refillable water bottle
- Any personal medication
- Small day bag
- Light layer for the ship and for 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 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. Tell us your child's age and swimming ability so we can advise you on the snorkeling day.
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 boats to Orange Bay and Philae involve steps and a gangway, and the Orange Bay day is on a beach. Abu Simbel is a long day by road. 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 transfer, a Nile cruise ship and a boat trip to Giftun Island, 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, Hurghada, Luxor and Aswan, so most of the money you spend stays in the places you visit. We ask guests to take refillable water bottles, to keep sunscreen off the reef by following the crew's guidance at Orange Bay 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 Hurghada on day 3 and from Aswan to Cairo on day 9 are booked for you and included. International flights are not. Hurghada to Luxor on day 5 is a private five-hour road transfer. Flight times are set by the airline schedule.02Are the guide and entrance fees included?
Yes. An English-speaking Egyptologist guide, the entrance fees and the transport are included on the Cairo and Nile cruise sightseeing days, including Abu Simbel. The snorkeling day is run by the boat crew.03How many nights are on the Nile cruise?
Four nights on board, from Luxor to Aswan, on full board: breakfast, lunch and dinner each day. The other six nights are in hotels with breakfast: two in Cairo, two in Hurghada and two more in Cairo.04Which hotels and cruise ship will we have?
You choose a standard when you book, from budget to luxury, and we name the hotels and the ship for your dates. The itinerary and sightseeing are the same at every standard.05How does Abu Simbel fit in?
On day 8 you leave the ship in Aswan early for a full-day road trip to Abu Simbel and have a free afternoon on your return. On day 9 you check out, see Philae, the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk, then fly to Cairo.06Do I need to swim for the snorkeling day?
Life jackets are provided and the sessions are guided. Tell us your swimming ability and your children's ages and we will advise before you book.07Will I make my international flight?
Domestic and international tickets are separate bookings, so a delayed domestic flight can cost you the connection. Your last domestic flight, Aswan to Cairo, is on day 9, followed by a night in Cairo before the Cairo day and your departure on day 11. That is a deliberate safety window. Take travel insurance that covers missed connections.08What is not included?
International flights, the Egypt visa, tips for guides, drivers and ship staff, drinks and meals other than those stated, travel insurance and personal expenses.09When is the best time to go?
October to April is cooler and the most comfortable for temples. Summers are very hot, especially in Luxor, Aswan and Abu Simbel, so sightseeing starts early. The Red Sea is warm for swimming for most of the year.
Last updated Product ID: TOU-CAI-139342
At a glance
- Length
- 11 days · 10 nights
- Starts
- Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu or Sun
- Route
- Cairo → Hurghada → Luxor → Edfu → Kom Ombo → Abu Simbel → Aswan → Cairo
- Nights
- 4 Cairo · 2 Hurghada · 4 Nile cruise
- Includes
- Domestic flights, Egyptologist guide, entrance fees, transfers