15-Day Cairo, Nile Cruise & Hurghada Tour
The Giza Pyramids, a day in the Fayoum oasis, three nights on the Nile with a sunset felucca ride, and four nights in Hurghada. Domestic flights, transfers, hotels, your cruise cabin, guides and entrance fees are included.
The short answer
15-Day Cairo, Nile Cruise & Hurghada Tour is a 15-day, 14-night trip to Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel and Hurghada: 7 nights in Cairo, 3 on a Nile cruise and 4 in Hurghada. Starts on Mondays, Thursdays, Saturdays or Sundays. It includes domestic flights, an Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transfers. Prices start at $3,186 per person, two sharing (Comfort, October–April).
02Overview
A first look
This tour is built around a simple idea: see Egypt first, then rest. You land in Cairo and have the evening to yourself. Then come the Giza Pyramids, the Grand Egyptian Museum, the Citadel and a full day out to the Fayoum oasis, with its lakes and the waterfalls of Wadi El Rayan. You fly to Aswan, ride a felucca at sunset and board your Nile cruise ship for three nights, with stops at Philae, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Luxor Temple, Karnak and the Valley of the Kings. The second day is relaxed: the ship sails north and you visit the temples of Kom Ombo and Edfu. In Luxor you can end the day at the Karnak Temple Sound & Light Show.
After the ship you drive to Hurghada on the Red Sea for four nights. There is an island snorkeling day at Orange Bay and two free days. A flight back to Cairo is followed by three more nights, two of them free days. We book the flights, transfers, hotels and the cruise cabin. You choose your hotel and ship standard when you book, and the sightseeing stays the same.
What lingers
- 01Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum in one guided day
- 02A full day in the Fayoum oasis: Wadi El Rayan with its lakes and waterfalls, and lunch
- 03A sunset felucca ride on the Nile at Aswan on the day you join the ship
- 04Three nights on a Nile cruise ship from Aswan to Luxor, full board
- 05Kom Ombo and Edfu temples on a relaxed day as the ship sails north
- 06The Karnak Temple Sound & Light Show in the evening after your day in Luxor
- 07Orange Bay snorkeling and beach day by boat from Hurghada
- 08Four free days built in, in Hurghada and Cairo, to rest between sights
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 $3,1864★ hotels · 5★ Nile cruises | Cairo · 7 nightsJewel Sport City Nile Cruise · 3 nightsRoyal Princess Amira · Tower Prestige Hurghada · 4 nightsSwiss Inn Resort Hurghada | $3,186May–Sep: from $3,011 | |
| Classicfrom $3,4295★ hotels · 5★ Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 3 nightsGrand Sun · Stephanie Hurghada · 4 nightsAMC Royal Hotel & Spa | $3,429May–Sep: from $3,011 | |
| Prestigefrom $4,4175★ deluxe hotels · 5★ deluxe Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 3 nightsSonesta Moon Goddess · Nile Serenity Hurghada · 4 nightsHilton Hurghada Plaza | $4,417May–Sep: from $4,398 | |
| Luxuryfrom $7,1665★ luxury hotels · 5★ luxury Nile cruises | Cairo · 7 nightsSt. Regis Cairo Nile Cruise · 3 nightsSonesta St. George I · Esmeralda | $7,166May–Sep: from $6,189 |
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
15 Days / 14 Nights · Cairo · Alexandria · Aswan · Abu Simbel · Kom Ombo · Edfu
- 1
Your driver meets you in the arrivals hall at Cairo Airport, with meet-and-assist, and takes you to your hotel. Nothing else is planned today. Rest after your journey, have a walk or a meal nearby, and get ready for the Pyramids tomorrow. No meals are included on arrival day.
- 2
A full day with your licensed English-speaking Egyptologist. The Giza visit takes 4 to 6 hours: the Pyramids and the Great Sphinx, then lunch, then the Grand Egyptian Museum. Entrance fees, the guide and the vehicle are included. You return to your hotel for a second night in Cairo.
- 3
The morning is free after breakfast. In the afternoon a licensed Egyptologist collects you for a half-day tour: the Citadel of Saladin and the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, a walk through Islamic Cairo and the Khan el-Khalili bazaar. Entrance fees and a private air-conditioned vehicle are included, and it brings you back to your hotel.
- 4
A full day out of Cairo, about 10 hours including the drives. A private vehicle and driver collect you at your Cairo or Giza hotel, and an English-speaking guide takes you to the Fayoum oasis, a green region of lakes and farmland, and on to Wadi El Rayan with its lakes and waterfalls. Lunch is at a local restaurant. You return to your hotel in Cairo for the evening.
- 5
A transfer takes you to Cairo Airport for the one-hour flight to Aswan. The airline sets the flight time, and the sightseeing is arranged around it. A driver takes you from Aswan Airport to your hotel or the ship.
Your cruise sightseeing begins with Philae Temple on its island, the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk, with an English-speaking Egyptologist guide, the entrance fees and the transport included.
In the late afternoon you board a felucca for a sunset ride of about three hours around Elephantine Island and Kitchener's Island, with the Aga Khan views and the sun going down over the cataract, then return to the pier. This is the first of three nights on the ship, on full board. It is a full day.
- 6
This is a relaxed day. The ship sails north from Aswan, and you go ashore to visit the Temple of Kom Ombo and the Temple of Edfu. Your English-speaking Egyptologist guide, the entrance fees and the transport are included. The rest of the day is yours on board, on full board, with the Nile passing by.
- 7
The ship reaches Luxor. With your Egyptologist guide you visit Luxor Temple and Karnak, including the Sacred Lake. Entrance fees and transport are included. In the evening you attend the Karnak Temple Sound & Light Show, an evening performance of about two hours, with admission included. This is your last night on board.
- 8
After breakfast you leave the ship and cross to the West Bank with your Egyptologist guide. You see the Colossi of Memnon, the Valley of the Kings, with three tombs included, and the mortuary temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari. Entrance fees and transport are included. A private air-conditioned vehicle then drives you about five hours from Luxor to Hurghada on the Red Sea. It is a full day.
- 9
Today is a free day. Nothing is planned, so you can sleep in, swim and rest by the Red Sea after the sightseeing. Breakfast is at your hotel. If you would like to add something, ask us before you travel and we will tell you what is possible.
- 10
You are collected from your hotel for a boat trip to Orange Bay on Giftun Island. There are two guided snorkeling sessions with snorkel equipment and life jackets, a sunbed on the beach, and a hot lunch with bottled water. The boat brings you back to Hurghada and you return to your hotel.
- 11
Another free day by the sea. Nothing is planned, so swim, rest or walk along the shore before the flight back to Cairo tomorrow. Breakfast is at your hotel, and if you want to add something, ask us before you travel.
- 12
After breakfast a transfer takes you to Hurghada Airport for the one-hour flight to Cairo. The airline sets the flight time. A driver meets you in Cairo and takes you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free.
- 13
Today is free in Cairo. Nothing is planned, so you can shop, revisit a favorite place or rest. If you would like to add something, ask us before you travel and we will tell you what is possible.
- 14
One more free day in Cairo, with nothing planned. This last full day is also a quiet buffer before your journey home, so you can pack without a rush. Breakfast is at your hotel, and your departure transfer is tomorrow.
- 15
Breakfast is your last meal at the hotel before you check out. A private driver takes you to Cairo Airport for the flight home and helps with your bags. Plan on about two hours for the drive and check-in, and tell us your flight time in advance so we can fix the pickup.
Bundled in
- Domestic flights
The fine print
What's included – and what isn't
Included
- Four nights in a Cairo hotel, three nights on a Nile cruise ship, four nights in a Hurghada hotel and three more nights in a Cairo hotel
- Breakfast at the hotels, full board on the ship and the lunches listed in the itinerary
- Domestic flights Cairo to Aswan and Hurghada to Cairo
- Private transfer from Luxor to Hurghada, and all airport and hotel transfers
- Fayoum oasis and Wadi El Rayan day trip from Cairo (about 10 hours) with a private vehicle, driver, English-speaking guide and lunch
- Sunset felucca ride on the Nile in Aswan (about 3 hours), with entrance fees
- Nile cruise sightseeing package with an English-speaking Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transport: Philae, the High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Luxor Temple, Karnak and the West Bank
- Admission to the Karnak Temple Sound & Light Show (evening performance, about 2 hours)
- Entrance fees to the Kom Ombo and Edfu temples on day 6
- Orange Bay snorkeling day with boat, two guided snorkeling sessions, equipment, sunbed and lunch
- Licensed Egyptologist guide and entrance fees on the Giza and Citadel 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
- Optional extras on the free days
- Travel insurance and personal expenses
Field notes
From our Egyptologists
- 01
Book the Giza Plateau visit early, before midday haze and stronger crowd levels.
- 02
At Abu Simbel, sunrise light is better for the façade and less harsh for photography.
- 03
The Luxor West Bank needs good walking shoes, because paths can be uneven and dusty.
- 04
In Khan El Khalili, ask prices before buying, then compare two stalls before you commit.
- 05
Hurghada sea conditions are calmer in the morning, which helps for snorkeling and boat trips.
Tailor it
Make it yours
Choose your hotel and ship standard when you book. Ask us about changing the number of nights in Hurghada or Cairo.
All requests handled by your dedicated specialist before booking.
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- Travelers who want to see the main sights of Egypt first and then slow down. Suited to couples, friends and solo travelers who are comfortable with two flights, road days 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 from the start. Days 4 and 8 are long.
Honest assessment
Real trade-offs from our experience managing this tour.
Highlights
- Pyramids, Grand Egyptian Museum, the Fayoum oasis and the main Nile temples in one trip
- Four free days and four quiet nights on the Red Sea
- Flights, transfers and the cruise sightseeing package arranged for you
Things to Consider
- A busy first week with a 10-hour Fayoum day
- A five-hour road transfer from Luxor to Hurghada on day 8
- Several free days with nothing planned
Where it fits
A good fit for a trip that starts with the big sights and ends with rest. A night at Karnak is included, and four days are free.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Many trips to Egypt put the Nile and the Red Sea in separate bookings. This itinerary joins Cairo, the Nile and Hurghada in 15 days, with both 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 Nile Cruise and Red Sea Stay
- Accommodation
- Cairo and Hurghada hotels and a Nile cruise ship, standard chosen at booking
- Destinations
- Cairo · Alexandria · Aswan · Abu Simbel · Kom Ombo · Edfu · Luxor · Hurghada
- Includes
- 7 nights in Cairo hotels and 4 nights in Hurghada, with breakfast · 3 nights on a Nile cruise ship, full board · Flights Cairo to Aswan and Hurghada to Cairo · Fayoum oasis day trip, a sunset felucca and an Orange Bay snorkeling day · Karnak Temple Sound & Light Show admission · Guides and entrance fees on the Cairo and cruise sightseeing days · All transfers by air-conditioned vehicle
- Best for
- Travelers who want sightseeing followed by rest · First-time visitors with two weeks to spend · Travelers who want a Nile cruise and a day in the Fayoum oasis
- Guide languages
- English
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
- Swimsuit, towel and a snorkeling mask if you have your own
- Sunscreen, SPF 30 or higher
- Sun hat and sunglasses
- Refillable water bottle
- Any personal medication
- Small day bag
- A light layer for the ship, the felucca 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
- Beachwear for the Red Sea days
- A light jacket for evenings on the river and at the Karnak show 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.
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. Karnak and the Valley of the Kings have long outdoor stretches with little shade. The Fayoum day is a long day in the vehicle with short stops outdoors. Boarding the ship, the felucca, the boat to Philae and the boat to Orange Bay involve steps and a gangway. 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 Nile cruise ship, a sailing felucca, a boat to Giftun Island and private road transfers, and vehicle types vary, so we do not claim a carbon saving. Sightseeing is guided by local guides and arranged through local suppliers in Cairo, Fayoum, Aswan, Luxor and Hurghada, so most of the money you spend stays in the places you visit. We ask guests to bring refillable water bottles, not to touch painted walls in tombs and to leave coral and shells where they are.
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 5 and from Hurghada to Cairo on day 12 are booked for you and included. International flights are not. Luxor to Hurghada on day 8 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 guide, the entrance fees and the transport are included on the Cairo and Nile cruise sightseeing days, and the entrance fees to the Giza and Citadel sites are covered. On the Fayoum day you have a private vehicle, driver, English-speaking guide and lunch. The Hurghada and free days have no sightseeing.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 eleven nights are in hotels with breakfast: four in Cairo, four in Hurghada and three more in Cairo.04What is day 6 on the ship like?
It is a relaxed day. The ship sails north and you visit the temples of Kom Ombo and Edfu with your guide, with entrance fees included. The rest of the time is free on board.05What do we see on the Fayoum day?
Day 4 is a day out from Cairo of about 10 hours including the drives. You visit the Fayoum oasis and Wadi El Rayan, with its lakes and waterfalls, with a private vehicle, driver and English-speaking guide, and lunch at a local restaurant. It is a full day, so it suits people who are happy with a long time in the vehicle.06Is the Karnak Sound & Light Show included?
Yes. On day 7, after the day's sightseeing in Luxor, admission to the Karnak Temple Sound & Light Show is included. It is an evening performance of about 2 hours. Ask us before you travel if you would like to know how the evening is arranged.07Which 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.08How much free time is there?
Day 1 is an evening at leisure after you arrive. Days 9 and 11 in Hurghada and days 13 and 14 in Cairo are free, and the morning of day 3 is free before the afternoon tour. Tell us if you would like to add something.09Is day 8 too long?
It is a full day: the West Bank in the morning, then about five hours by private vehicle to Hurghada. Ask us if you would like a gentler pace.10Will 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, Hurghada to Cairo, is on day 12, followed by three nights in Cairo. That is a deliberate safety window. Choose an international flight home on day 15, and take travel insurance that covers missed connections.
Last updated Product ID: TOU-CAI-309520
At a glance
- Length
- 15 days · 14 nights
- Starts
- Mon, Thu, Sat or Sun
- Route
- Cairo → Fayoum → Aswan → Kom Ombo → Edfu → Luxor → Hurghada → Cairo
- Nights
- 7 Cairo · 3 Nile cruise · 4 Hurghada
- Includes
- Domestic flights, Egyptologist guide, entrance fees, transfers