13-Day Cairo, Hurghada & Nile Cruise Tour
The Giza Pyramids, two nights by the Red Sea, and seven nights on one Nile cruise ship, with Aswan, Luxor and the temples between. Flights, transfers, hotels, guides and entrance fees are included.
The short answer
13-Day Cairo, Hurghada & Nile Cruise Tour is a 13-day, 12-night trip to Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and Hurghada: 3 nights in Cairo, 2 in Hurghada and 7 on a Nile cruise. Starts on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays or Sundays. It includes domestic flights, an Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transfers. Prices start at $3,484 per person, two sharing (Comfort, October–April).
02Overview
A first look
You see the Giza Pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum in one day in Cairo, then fly to Hurghada for two nights on the Red Sea, with one free day to rest. After that comes the main part: seven nights on a Nile cruise ship, starting and ending in Luxor, so you unpack once and the sights come to you.
Ashore you visit the West Bank, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Philae, Karnak and Luxor Temple, with Elephantine Island and a Nubian village in Aswan. Several days on the ship have no visits, so there is time to rest. A flight returns you to Cairo for your last night. We arrange the flights, the private transfers, the hotels and the cabin. You choose your hotel and ship standard when you book, and the sightseeing stays the same.
What lingers
- 01A Nile dinner cruise with a live show on your first evening in Cairo
- 02Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum in one guided day
- 03Two nights in Hurghada with a completely free day
- 04Seven nights on one Nile cruise ship, full board, so you unpack once
- 05The Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's temple, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae with an Egyptologist
- 06A private motorboat to Elephantine Island and the Aswan Botanical Garden, and a Nubian village visit
- 07Karnak and Luxor Temple before you fly back to 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comfortfrom $3,4844★ hotels · 5★ Nile cruises | Cairo · 3 nightsJewel Sport City Hurghada · 2 nightsSwiss Inn Resort Hurghada Nile Cruise · 7 nightsRoyal Princess Amira · Royal Elite | $3,484May–Sep: from $2,941 | |
| Classicfrom $3,8435★ hotels · 5★ Nile cruises | Hurghada · 2 nightsAMC Royal Hotel & Spa Nile Cruise · 7 nightsGrand Sun · Stephanie | $3,843May–Sep: from $2,941 | |
| Prestigefrom $4,7755★ deluxe hotels · 5★ deluxe Nile cruises | Hurghada · 2 nightsHilton Hurghada Plaza Nile Cruise · 7 nightsSonesta Moon Goddess · Nile Serenity | $4,775May–Sep: from $4,223 | |
| Luxuryfrom $7,5645★ luxury hotels · 5★ luxury Nile cruises | Cairo · 3 nightsSt. Regis Cairo Nile Cruise · 7 nightsSonesta St. George I · Cleopatra | $7,564May–Sep: from $5,600 |
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
13 Days / 12 Nights · Cairo · Giza · Hurghada · Luxor · Edfu · Aswan
- 1
Look for the representative holding your name sign once you clear arrivals at Cairo Airport. Meet-and-assist is included, and a private car runs you to your hotel. Come evening, you are picked up again for a Nile dinner cruise: roughly two hours afloat with an open buffet, live entertainment and a reserved seat for the show, then a private ride back to the hotel.
- 2
Your licensed, English-speaking Egyptologist guide collects you at the hotel. The Giza visit alone takes 4 to 6 hours, so expect a full day. First the Pyramids and the Great Sphinx, next a sit-down lunch, then the Grand Egyptian Museum. The guide, the entrance fees, bottled water and the air-conditioned vehicle are all included before you return for a second Cairo night.
- 3
Over breakfast you can take your time. A private car then carries you to Cairo Airport for the one-hour flight to Hurghada on the Red Sea (the airline sets the departure time). Another driver is waiting when you land and takes you to your hotel, and the afternoon belongs to you.
- 4
There is no schedule today. Swim, read by the water or sleep late, with breakfast at the hotel. Should you want to fill part of it, tell us before you leave home and we will explain what can be arranged.
- 5
After breakfast a private vehicle makes the road transfer of about five hours from Hurghada to Luxor. At the end of it you step aboard your Nile cruise ship, find your cabin and sit down to dinner. This is night one of seven on board, all on full board. Nothing else is planned, so the trip itself is the day.
- 6
The itinerary lists no sightseeing for this day, and the ship stays your base in Luxor. Meals come with the cabin, from breakfast through dinner. Take it slowly. If you would like an extra visit in town, ask us ahead of travel.
- 7
Today you cross the river to Luxor's West Bank with your Egyptologist. You stand before the Colossi of Memnon, walk into three tombs in the Valley of the Kings, and finish at Queen Hatshepsut's terraced mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahari. Guiding, entrance fees and transport are included. Back on board you have lunch and a quiet afternoon.
- 8
Heading south toward Aswan, the ship stops twice for temples. At Edfu, one of the best-preserved temples in the country, and at Kom Ombo, set right on the riverbank, your Egyptologist walks you through the carvings. An English-speaking guide, entrance fees and transport come with the cruise sightseeing package. In between, stretch out on deck.
- 9
Aswan fills this day, and your guide speaks English throughout, with entrance fees and transport included. Visit Philae on its island, drive across the High Dam and stop at the Unfinished Obelisk in the granite quarries. A private motorboat with a boatman then takes you, about four hours in all, to Elephantine Island and the Botanical Garden, and a visit to a Nubian village follows.
We fit the order around the ship's schedule. Abu Simbel is not on this itinerary.
- 10
With the sightseeing done in Aswan, the ship turns north for Luxor. The itinerary lists no stops today, which makes it a day for the sun deck and the river banks sliding by. All three meals are served on board.
- 11
Another day with no listed visits while the ship keeps heading to Luxor. Eat on board, watch village life along the bank and sort your luggage, because tomorrow starts early with Karnak. Tonight is your final night on the ship.
- 12
Say goodbye to the ship and join your Egyptologist at Karnak, where the tour includes the Sacred Lake, then continue to Luxor Temple. Guide, entrance fees and transport are covered. Afterwards a transfer takes you to Luxor Airport for the one-hour flight to Cairo, where a driver takes you to your hotel. The visits are timed around the flight, which the airline schedules.
- 13
Eat breakfast, check out, and a private driver takes you and your luggage to Cairo Airport. Plan on a transfer slot of about two hours. Tell us your flight time in advance and we will fix the pickup to suit it.
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, seven nights on a Nile cruise ship and one more night in a Cairo hotel
- Breakfast at the hotels, full board on the ship and the lunches listed in the itinerary
- Domestic flights Cairo to Hurghada and Luxor 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: the West Bank, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Philae, the Unfinished Obelisk, the High Dam, Karnak and Luxor Temple
- Private motorboat to Elephantine Island and the Aswan Botanical Garden, with a private Egyptologist and entrance tickets
- Nubian village visit in Aswan with a guide
- Licensed Egyptologist guide and entrance fees on the Giza and Grand Egyptian Museum day
- 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
- Optional extras on the free day
- Travel insurance and personal expenses
Field notes
From our Egyptologists
- 01
At Giza, the clearest pyramid photos usually come early morning before heat shimmer builds.
- 02
In Luxor, the West Bank is quieter first thing, before the largest coach arrivals.
- 03
Bring small cash for drinks and optional items, since many sites do not take cards.
- 04
Hurghada can feel windy in the afternoon, so a light layer helps on boat or beach time.
- 05
For Philae, the best light is often midmorning after the first departure rush slows.
Tailor it
Make it yours
Choose your hotel and ship standard when you book. Ask us about adding Abu Simbel or extra nights in Cairo.
All requests handled by your dedicated specialist before booking.
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- Travelers who want a steadier pace: Cairo, a short rest on the Red Sea and a long Nile cruise with few hotel changes. Suited to couples, friends and solo travelers who can manage steps, gangways and moderate walking on sightseeing days.
Maybe not, if
- Travelers who need step-free access to every site, or who dislike long road transfers. Day 5 is the longest road day.
Honest assessment
Real trade-offs from our experience managing this tour.
Highlights
- One ship for seven nights, so you unpack once
- A free day in Hurghada and several days on board with no sightseeing
- Domestic flights, private transfers and the cruise sightseeing package arranged for you
Things to Consider
- A five-hour road transfer from Hurghada to Luxor on day 5
- Uneven stone, steps and little shade at the major sites
- Abu Simbel is not included
Where it fits
A good fit for a first long trip to Egypt, or for people who prefer a ship as a base. Days 6, 10 and 11 have no visits, so the cruise suits a relaxed rhythm.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Many Egypt trips change hotel every two nights. This itinerary spends seven nights on one Nile cruise ship, with the Red Sea for rest and Cairo at the start and end. 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 a Seven-Night Nile Cruise
- Accommodation
- Cairo and Hurghada hotels and a Nile cruise ship, standard chosen at booking
- Destinations
- Cairo · Giza · Hurghada · Luxor · Edfu · Aswan · Kom Ombo
- Includes
- 3 nights in Cairo hotels and 2 nights in Hurghada, with breakfast · 7 nights on a Nile cruise ship, full board · Flights Cairo to Hurghada and Luxor to Cairo · Nile cruise sightseeing with Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transport, plus a private motorboat in Aswan · Licensed Egyptologist on the Giza and museum day · All transfers by air-conditioned vehicle
- Best for
- Travelers who prefer one ship to many hotels · Travelers who want the pyramids, a long Nile cruise and a Red Sea rest · First-time visitors who want a thorough 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, in your carry-on bag
- A walking stick or support if you use one
- Swimsuit for the Red Sea days
- Small day bag
What to wear
- Lightweight, breathable clothing for sun and heat
- Closed shoes with grip for temples, gangways and uneven ground
- Clothing that covers shoulders and knees at 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 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. A week on one ship can be long for young children.
Accessibility
Who can join this
This tour involves walking on large archaeological sites, with uneven stone, sand, steps and some narrow tomb passages. Karnak and the Valley of the Kings have long outdoor stretches with little shade. Boarding the ship, the motorboat in Aswan and the village visit involve steps and gangways. The vehicles are private and air-conditioned, but we cannot promise wheelchair access at every site. Tell us your needs and any mobility aids 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 private motorboat, and vehicle types vary, so we do not claim a carbon saving. Sightseeing is arranged through local suppliers in Cairo, Luxor and Aswan, so most of the money you spend stays in the places you visit. Spending a week on one ship means no repeated packing and fewer transfers between hotels. We ask guests to bring refillable water bottles 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 Luxor to Cairo on day 12 are booked for you and included. International flights are not. Hurghada to Luxor on day 5 is a private road transfer of about five hours. 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 Giza, Nile cruise and Aswan sightseeing days. The Hurghada days are free time.03How many nights are on the Nile cruise?
Seven nights on board, starting and ending in Luxor, on full board: breakfast, lunch and dinner each day. The other five nights are in hotels with breakfast: two in Cairo, two in Hurghada and one 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.05Are there days with nothing planned?
Yes. Day 4 in Hurghada is a free day, and days 6, 10 and 11 on the ship list no visits. Ask us if you would like to add something.06Is Abu Simbel included?
No. This itinerary does not include Abu Simbel. It can be added; ask us and we will show you the options.07Is the drive from Hurghada to Luxor tiring?
It is about five hours by private vehicle on day 5, and you join the ship that evening. No sightseeing is planned that day.08Will I make my international flight?
Domestic and international tickets are separate bookings, so a delayed domestic flight can cost you the connection. After the Luxor to Cairo flight on day 12 we keep one last night in Cairo on purpose, as a safety window. Book your flight home on day 13 and take travel insurance that covers missed connections.09What 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.
Last updated Product ID: TOU-CAI-555954
At a glance
- Length
- 13 days · 12 nights
- Starts
- Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Sat or Sun
- Route
- Cairo → Hurghada → Luxor → Edfu → Kom Ombo → Aswan → Cairo
- Nights
- 3 Cairo · 2 Hurghada · 7 Nile cruise
- Includes
- Domestic flights, Egyptologist guide, entrance fees, transfers