12-Day Egypt Tour: Cairo, Dahabiya & Red Sea
Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum, four nights on a traditional sailing boat from Luxor to Aswan, then three nights at the Red Sea. Domestic flights, hotels and an Egyptologist are included.
The short answer
12-Day Egypt Tour: Cairo, Dahabiya & Red Sea is a 12-day, 11-night trip to Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and Hurghada: 4 nights in Cairo, 4 on a dahabiya and 3 in Hurghada. Starts on Wednesdays, Fridays or Sundays. It includes domestic flights, an Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transfers. Prices start at $3,208 per person, two sharing (Comfort, October–April).
02Overview
A first look
This tour has three different moods. First comes Cairo: the Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx, the Grand Egyptian Museum, then the Citadel and the old bazaar. Then you fly to Luxor and spend four nights on a dahabiya, a traditional sailing boat on the Nile, drifting upriver to Aswan with stops at the Valley of the Kings, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae.
After the river comes a long road day from Aswan to the Red Sea, about seven hours, and three nights in Hurghada with a free day and a snorkeling trip to Orange Bay. A short flight returns you to Cairo for a last night before you fly home. We book the domestic flights, every transfer, your hotels and your dahabiya cabin. You choose the standard of hotel and boat when you book, and the sightseeing stays the same.
What lingers
- 01Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum in one guided day
- 02The Citadel, Muhammad Ali Mosque and Khan el-Khalili on a relaxed afternoon
- 03Four nights on a dahabiya, a traditional Nile sailing boat, from Luxor to Aswan
- 04The Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's temple and the Colossi of Memnon
- 05Edfu and Kom Ombo temples, then the High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk and Philae
- 06Three nights in Hurghada with a free day and a snorkeling trip to Orange Bay
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 $3,2084★ hotels · 5★ Nile cruises | Cairo · 4 nightsJewel Sport City Dahabiya · 4 nightsBens Dahabiya · Amoura Dahabiya Hurghada · 3 nightsSwiss Inn Resort Hurghada | $3,208May–Sep: from $3,085 | |
| Classicfrom $3,6995★ hotels · 5★ Nile cruises | Dahabiya · 4 nightsIris Luxury Dahabiya · Royal Cleopatra Dahabiya Hurghada · 3 nightsAMC Royal Hotel & Spa | $3,699May–Sep: from $3,085 | |
| Prestigefrom $5,0905★ deluxe hotels · 5★ deluxe Nile cruises | Dahabiya · 4 nightsAzhar Dahabiya Hurghada · 3 nightsHilton Hurghada Plaza | $5,090May–Sep: from $4,574 | |
| Luxuryfrom $8,1055★ luxury hotels · 5★ luxury Nile cruises | Cairo · 4 nightsSt. Regis Cairo Dahabiya · 4 nightsMinya Dahabiya | $8,105May–Sep: from $6,335 |
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
12 Days / 11 Nights · Cairo · Giza Plateau · Islamic Cairo · Luxor · Valley of the Kings · Esna
- 1
A representative is waiting in the arrivals hall at Cairo Airport to help with your bags and drive you to your hotel, about an hour away. Nothing else is planned, so the rest of the day is yours to sleep, unpack or take a first look around the neighborhood. The big sightseeing starts tomorrow.
- 2
Your Egyptologist collects you from the hotel for a full day of about eight hours. The morning belongs to the Giza Plateau, where you stand below the pyramids and beside the Great Sphinx; the Giza visit itself takes 4 to 6 hours. Lunch comes with a view, and the afternoon goes to the Grand Egyptian Museum.
The guide, the entrance fees, the vehicle and bottled water are all included, and you are driven back to your hotel afterwards.
- 3
The morning is free. In the afternoon your guide picks you up for a half day in medieval Cairo. First is the Citadel of Salah El Din and the Muhammad Ali Mosque on its hill, then a walk through the lanes of Islamic Cairo, and last the stalls of Khan el-Khalili bazaar. Entrance fees to the Citadel and the mosque are covered, and a private vehicle brings you back to the hotel.
- 4
You leave Cairo by private transfer for the short flight to Luxor, which is included. On the West Bank, about six hours with your Egyptologist, you enter three tombs in the Valley of the Kings, see Hatshepsut's temple and stop at the Colossi of Memnon. A private road transfer then takes you to Esna, where you step aboard your dahabiya and settle in for the first of four nights on the river.
Flight times follow the airline schedule, and the sightseeing is arranged around them.
- 5
A dahabiya moves slowly, and that is the point. You wake on the river to farmland and palm groves sliding past. Today's shore visit is the Temple of Edfu, with your Egyptologist and with the entrance ticket included. Between stops the day is for the deck, a book and the view. The boat moors again for your second night aboard.
- 6
The boat carries on upstream towards Aswan. Today you go ashore at the Temple of Kom Ombo, a double temple standing right at the water's edge, with your guide and with the entry ticket included. The rest of the day is unhurried, with time on the deck as the Nile narrows and the landscape grows drier. You spend your third night on board.
- 7
In Aswan you have a full sightseeing day of about eight hours with your Egyptologist. You see the High Dam, then the granite quarries where the Unfinished Obelisk still lies in the rock. A short motorboat ride takes you out to Agilkia Island and the temple of Isis at Philae, with a pause for refreshments on the island terrace. Entrance fees, the guide and the vehicle are included.
You sleep on the dahabiya for the fourth and last time.
- 8
This is a travel day. After breakfast you leave the dahabiya and are driven privately from Aswan to Hurghada, a journey of about seven hours, with your luggage and a transfer representative looking after the details. You arrive on the Red Sea coast in time to check in and settle. There is no sightseeing today, so you can watch the scenery change from the river valley to the coast.
- 9
Nothing is planned today. Swim, lie by the water, read, or walk along the seafront. If you want something extra, ask us in advance and we will suggest what is worth doing nearby. Your hotel stays the same for a second night.
- 10
A driver collects you from your hotel and takes you to the harbor, where a motorboat crosses to Orange Bay on Giftun Island. You have two guided snorkeling sessions, with snorkel gear and life jackets provided, and a sunbed on the beach between them. A hot lunch and bottled water are included. The boat returns you to the mainland and you are driven back to your hotel for the evening.
- 11
You are driven from your Hurghada hotel to the airport for the flight to Cairo, about an hour, which is included. In Cairo a representative meets you and takes you to your hotel. Staying one more night in the capital is deliberate: it gives you a safety window if a domestic flight is delayed, so you are not rushing to make your flight home. The afternoon is free.
- 12
After breakfast you check out and a private driver takes you to Cairo Airport, with a transfer representative to help with luggage. Plan to leave the hotel about 90 minutes before the time we advise, because Cairo traffic can be slow. Your tour ends at the terminal.
Bundled in
- Domestic flights
The fine print
What's included – and what isn't
Included
- Eight hotel nights: three in Cairo, three in Hurghada and one more in Cairo, all with breakfast
- Four nights on a dahabiya sailing from Luxor to Aswan
- Domestic flights Cairo to Luxor and Hurghada to Cairo
- All airport, hotel, boat and intercity transfers, including the Aswan to Hurghada road transfer
- Entrance fees to every site in the itinerary, including three tombs in the Valley of the Kings
- Licensed English-speaking Egyptologist guide on every sightseeing day, and aboard the dahabiya
- Lunch on the Giza day and the Orange Bay day
- Snorkel gear, life jackets and a sunbed at Orange Bay
- Meet-and-assist at the airport
- All service charges and taxes
Not included
- International flights to and from Egypt
- Egypt entry visa
- Gratuities for guides, drivers and boat crew
- Drinks 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
Pack soft-sided luggage for the dahabiya, since cabins are compact and a hard suitcase is awkward to store.
- 02
Dress in layers on the river: mornings on deck are cool in winter, while afternoons at Edfu and Kom Ombo can turn hot.
- 03
At the Citadel, walk out to the terrace for a view across Cairo toward Giza, best on a clear morning.
- 04
Wear a rash guard and bring water shoes for Giftun Island; snorkel gear is supplied, but the sun on the boat deck is strong.
Tailor it
Make it yours
Choose your hotel and dahabiya standard when you book. Ask us about adding Abu Simbel, extra nights in Hurghada or Cairo, 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
- First-time visitors who want Cairo, the temples of the Nile and a few days by the sea. Suited to couples, friends and solo travelers who enjoy a slower pace on the river and can handle one long road day.
Maybe not, if
- Travelers who need step-free access to every site and the boat, or who dislike long drives. Day 8 is about seven hours by road.
Honest assessment
Real trade-offs from our experience managing this tour.
Highlights
- Cairo, the West Bank, three Nile temples and Philae, then the Red Sea, in twelve days
- Four nights on a small traditional sailing boat, so no repacking along the river
- Domestic flights and all transfers handled for you, with a spare night in Cairo at the end
Things to Consider
- A seven-hour road transfer on day 8
- Uneven stone, steps and little shade at the major sites
- A dahabiya has narrow decks and a gangway, so it is not step-free
Where it fits
A good fit for a first trip to Egypt that mixes history, a quiet river and the sea. Allow for one seven-hour road day between Aswan and Hurghada.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Many tours put the Nile on a big cruise ship. This one uses a dahabiya, a small traditional sailing boat, and then adds a Red Sea stay in the same trip. Hotel and boat 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 Nile Dahabiya and Red Sea Stay
- Accommodation
- Cairo and Hurghada hotels and a Nile dahabiya, standard chosen at booking
- Destinations
- Cairo · Giza Plateau · Islamic Cairo · Luxor · Valley of the Kings · Esna · Edfu · Kom Ombo · Aswan · Philae Temple · Hurghada · Giftun Island
- Includes
- 7 hotel nights in Cairo and Hurghada with breakfast · 4 nights on a Nile dahabiya from Luxor to Aswan · Flights Cairo to Luxor and Hurghada to Cairo · Entrance fees to every listed site · Licensed Egyptologist on sightseeing days · All transfers, including Aswan to Hurghada by road
- Best for
- First-time visitors · Travelers who want a slow stretch on the Nile · Travelers who want history and some beach time 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
- Swimsuit and a towel for the Hurghada days
- Refillable water bottle
- Any personal medication
- Small day bag
What to wear
- Lightweight, breathable clothing for sun and heat
- Closed shoes for temples and uneven ground, plus flat shoes with grip for the dahabiya deck
- Clothing that covers shoulders and knees at mosques and temples
- A hat and sunglasses
- A light jacket or scarf for 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. A dahabiya has open decks, steps and a gangway, so parents of young children should think carefully about it. Hotel and cabin prices depend on the child's age and the room 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 at large archaeological sites, with uneven stone, sand, steps and some narrow tomb passages. The Valley of the Kings, Edfu and the Aswan sites have long outdoor stretches with little shade. A dahabiya is a small traditional boat: boarding uses a plank or gangway, decks and stairs are narrow, and the boat to Philae involves steps. Vehicles are private and air-conditioned, but we cannot promise wheelchair access at every site or on the dahabiya. 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, private road transfers, a sailing boat on the Nile and a motorboat to Orange Bay, and vehicle 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, Aswan and Hurghada, so most of the money you spend stays in the places you visit. We ask guests to carry a refillable water bottle, not to touch painted tomb walls, and to look after the reef at Orange Bay.
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
01What is a dahabiya?
A dahabiya is a traditional Nile sailing boat, smaller and quieter than a big cruise ship. On this tour you spend four nights aboard, sailing from Luxor to Aswan, with temple stops guided by your Egyptologist.02Are the domestic flights included?
Yes. The flights from Cairo to Luxor on day 4 and from Hurghada to Cairo on day 11 are booked for you and included. International flights are not.03How long is the drive from Aswan to Hurghada?
About seven hours on day 8, in a private vehicle with a transfer representative. It is a travel day with no sightseeing, so you can rest in the vehicle and arrive in time for the evening.04Which hotels and which dahabiya will we have?
You choose a standard when you book, from budget to luxury, and we name the hotels and boat for your dates. The itinerary and sightseeing are the same at every standard.05Can I snorkel if I am not a strong swimmer?
Snorkel gear and life jackets are provided for the Orange Bay trip, and the sessions are guided. Tell your guide how comfortable you are in the water and they will keep you close.06Will 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 after the flight from Hurghada. If you change the plan and fly to Cairo the same day you fly home, choose a late-evening or night departure, and take travel insurance that covers missed connections.07What is not included?
International flights, the Egypt visa, tips for guides, drivers and boat crew, extras and drinks beyond those stated, and the Khufu pyramid interior or premium tombs.08Is the sightseeing private?
Your Egyptologist and driver are private for the sightseeing days in Cairo, on the West Bank and in Aswan. On the dahabiya you may share the boat with other guests.09When is the best time to go?
October to April is cooler and the most comfortable for temples and tombs. Summers are very hot in Luxor and Aswan, so sightseeing starts early; the Red Sea is warm for swimming nearly all year.
Last updated Product ID: TOU-CAI-639395
At a glance
- Length
- 12 days · 11 nights
- Starts
- Wed, Fri or Sun
- Route
- Cairo → Luxor → Edfu → Kom Ombo → Aswan → Hurghada → Cairo
- Nights
- 4 Cairo · 4 dahabiya · 3 Hurghada
- Includes
- Domestic flights, Egyptologist guide, entrance fees, transfers