13-Day Alexandria, Cairo, Aswan–Luxor Nile Cruise & Hurghada Tour

The short answer

13 Days Alexandria, Cairo, Hurghada Nile Cruise Holiday is a 13-day multi-day tour covering Alexandria, Cairo, Aswan, Luxor, the Nile cruise route, and Hurghada in Egypt, operated by Discovery Tours Egypt.

• ✦ New

• Diving & snorkelling
• Archaeology & history
• Cultural

Snapshot

Good to know

Duration

13 Days / 12 Nights

Travel style

Private Guided Tour

Accommodation

4-Star or 5-Star Hotels & 4-Star or 5-Star Nile Cruise

Operated by

Discovery Tours Egypt

Destinations

Alexandria · Cairo · Aswan · Luxor · Hurghada · Nile (Aswan–Luxor)

Includes

4 nights Cairo hotel · 3 nights Nile cruise · 1 night Luxor hotel · 4 nights Hurghada hotel · Domestic flights Cairo–Aswan and Hurghada–Cairo · Private Egyptologist guide · Private air-conditioned transfers · Entrance fees to itinerary sights · Snorkelling excursion in Hurghada

Best for

First-time visitors to Egypt · History enthusiasts · Travellers wanting both sightseeing and beach time · Families with school-age children · Private tour travellers

Guide languages

English

Background

The facts

Suited to

Is this for you?

What lingers

• 01 Three-night Nile cruise sailing the Aswan to Luxor corridor with guided visits ashore to Edfu and Kom Ombo
• 02 Guided exploration of Alexandria’s and Cairo’s principal sites with a private Egyptologist throughout
• 03 Domestic flights organised Cairo to Aswan and Hurghada to Cairo to reduce road time on long sectors
• 04 Four nights on the Red Sea at Hurghada including a guided snorkelling excursion
• 05 Meet-and-assist at Cairo airport and private modern-car transfers between destinations

Worth knowing

How this compares

Unlike a point-to-point Egypt trip, this itinerary combines Mediterranean city sightseeing, Nile Valley monuments, and Red Sea downtime in one sequence. Compared with a standard land-only tour, the domestic flights and three-night Nile cruise reduce overland travel and make the schedule more manageable. Compared with a cruise-only holiday, it includes both Alexandria and Cairo, which adds the major urban and museum sites often missed on river-only programs.

Bundled in

• ✈ Domestic flight
• 🚖 Airport transfer
• ◈ Group Egyptologist
• 🎟 All entry tickets
• ✦ Abu Simbel extension
• 🎈 Hot-air balloon
• ⛵ Felucca ride
• 🐪 Camel ride
• ✨ Sound & light show
• ✦ Red Sea extension
• 🚖 Private transfer
• ◈ Private Egyptologist

The fine print

What's included – and what isn't

Tailor it

Make it yours

The itinerary can be adjusted to private or semi-private travel depending on availability and preference. Common changes include upgrading hotel category, adding extra time in Cairo or Hurghada, or extending the Nile cruise segment with additional guided visits. Meal plans, flight routing, and sightseeing order can also be modified to suit flight schedules and personal pace.

All requests handled by your dedicated specialist before booking.

Accessibility

Who can join this

This 13-day itinerary involves significant walking on uneven stone, sand and cobbles at archaeological sites and on Nile temple quays. Expect stepped access at the Great Pyramid plateau, the Egyptian Museum and Luxor West Bank tombs; many temple entrances have 10–20 low stone steps and no handrails. Nile cruise shore visits and Hurghada snorkelling require transfers between boats and shore with short ramps or ladders. Our modern vehicles have limited wheelchair space; fully folding wheelchairs are manageable but standard wheelchairs cannot be carried in smaller launches. If you use a mobility scooter, contact us before booking so we can advise on feasibility for tomb interiors and boat transfers. We provide meet-and-assist at airports and help with ramps and lifting where local facilities allow, but some sites cannot be made step-free.

Before you go

What to pack & wear

The morning of

Meeting point & timing

Where

Hotel lobby (central Cairo) Map

On the ground

Your route

– Responsible travel

How we travel here

Transfers use modern, air‑conditioned minivans and coaches that meet Egyptian local safety standards; vehicle size matches group numbers to avoid half-empty buses. Domestic flights are economy class on scheduled carriers and booked only for long sectors to reduce road miles. We contract local guides, hotel and cruise suppliers in Cairo, Aswan, Luxor and Hurghada and pay suppliers directly; this keeps tour revenue local and supports jobs for Egyptologists, drivers and boat crews. For the Red Sea snorkelling trip we use licensed dive operators based in Hurghada who follow no‑anchor procedures over coral where mooring buoys exist. We do not run large coach group sightseeing; instead, private vehicles limit group sizes and reduce idle time. If you have specific sustainability concerns—carbon offsets, single-use plastic reduction, or community projects—we will share current partner details on request.

• Licensed local Egyptologists

  ETAA-credentialed, on payroll

• Fair wages on the ground

  Drivers + guides paid above market

• Site preservation

  We follow MoTA visitor caps and no-touch protocols

• Carbon-aware itineraries

  Domestic flights only when train/road is impractical

· In summary

Asked & answered

Frequent questions

1. 01 How long is this 13-day Alexandria, Cairo, Aswan–Luxor Nile cruise and Hurghada holiday?

   The tour runs for 13 days from arrival in Cairo to departure from Cairo. It combines city sightseeing in Alexandria and Cairo, a three-night Nile cruise between Aswan and Luxor, and four nights in Hurghada on the Red Sea. This paced itinerary suits guests who want museums, temple visits, a short cruise segment, and beach time without rushed transfers.
2. 02 What time are airport pickups and how will transfers be arranged?

   We meet you at Cairo airport on arrival and provide meet-and-assist plus private transfers throughout the itinerary. Domestic flights (Cairo–Aswan and Hurghada–Cairo) and all inter-site transfers are included. Exact pickup times depend on your international flight schedule and domestic flight timings; we confirm final pick-up times in your pre-departure information pack.
3. 03 Which entrance fees and excursions are included and what is excluded?

   Entrance fees to all sights listed in the itinerary are included, along with the Hurghada snorkeling excursion. Domestic flights, private Egyptologist guide, transfers and accommodation are included. Exclusions: tipping (guides, drivers, cruise staff), Egypt entry visa, international airfare, and any items not explicitly listed in the inclusions.
4. 04 Are the Nile cruise and hotels run by you or by third parties?

   We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator who arranges and books the hotels and the three-night Nile cruise with local suppliers. The cruise and hotels are operated by third-party companies; we coordinate timings, cabins and room allocations but do not own or operate the cruise vessel or hotels. We choose suppliers we have worked with repeatedly in Cairo, Aswan, Luxor and Hurghada.
5. 05 Is this itinerary suitable for people with limited mobility or specific accessibility needs?

   Sites include uneven ancient stone, stairs and soft sand; many temple approaches involve steps. Some Nile cruise decks and Aswan/Luxor sites have limited ramp access. Tell us your exact mobility requirements before booking; we can suggest adjustments or replacement visits. We do not claim full accessibility at all historic sites.
6. 06 What level of fitness is required and how much walking should I expect?

   Expect several hours of walking on most sightseeing days, often on uneven stone, steps and loose sand. Days at temples and the Valley of the Kings involve standing and climbing short flights of stairs. If you have reduced stamina, we can adapt the pace, add more vehicle time, or recommend skipping interior tomb visits.
7. 07 Are children welcome and are there age-related considerations?

   Children are welcome, but consider early starts, long days and the Valley of the Kings' narrow tomb passages. The cruise and hotel rooms can usually accommodate families; inform us of ages at booking for appropriate rooming. For safety, supervise children around Nile quays, cruise decks and beaches; some sites restrict infant carriers or strollers due to steps.
8. 08 What should I bring and what clothes are appropriate for temples, mosques and the Red Sea?

   Bring sturdy walking shoes, sunhat, high-SPF sunscreen, sunglasses, a refillable water bottle and light layers for variable days. For temples and mosques, wear modest clothing covering shoulders and knees; avoid sleeveless tops and short shorts. Pack swimwear and reef-safe sunscreen for Hurghada snorkeling, and a light jacket for cooler desert evenings.
9. 09 Can I take photos at the main sites and are any sites restricted?

   Photography is allowed at most sites, but flash and tripods are sometimes prohibited inside museums and tombs. The Tutankhamun tomb (if visited) and some museum galleries restrict photos; staff will advise on-site. For Abu Simbel, photography is permitted outside; drone use is prohibited at archaeological sites without prior permits.
10. 10 When is the best time of year for this combined itinerary (Alexandria, Nile cruise, Hurghada)?

    Optimal months are October–April when daytime temperatures in Cairo, Luxor and Aswan are milder, and sea conditions in Hurghada are pleasant for snorkeling. Summer (June–August) brings high heat in Upper Egypt and stronger sea thermals. Unlike short bus day trips, this multi-centre itinerary spaces travel so you avoid back-to-back long drives.

If plans change

Cancellation

More than 30 days

Full refund less a £50 admin fee

15–30 days

50% refund

Within 14 days

No refund – date changes considered case by case