21-Day Egypt in Depth: Cairo, Nile Cruise & Red Sea
Cairo and Alexandria, Abu Simbel, three nights on the Nile from Aswan to Luxor, and four nights on the Red Sea. Flights, guides, entrance fees and transport are included.
The short answer
21-Day Egypt in Depth: Cairo, Nile Cruise & Red Sea is a 21-day, 20-night trip to Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel, Hurghada and Fayoum: 7 nights in Cairo, 2 in Alexandria, 2 in Aswan, 3 on a Nile cruise, 2 in Luxor and 4 in Hurghada. Starts on Tuesdays, Fridays or Sundays. It includes domestic flights, an Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transfers. Prices start at $6,676 per person, two sharing (Prestige, October–April).
02Overview
A first look
Most Egypt trips run a week. This one runs three, and the extra time changes how it feels. You spend eight nights around Cairo and Alexandria, so the pyramids at Giza, Saqqara and Dahshur, the Egyptian Museum, the Citadel and Islamic Cairo and the Mediterranean coast each get a day of their own. Then you fly to Aswan for the felucca, Abu Simbel and a three-night Nile cruise north to Luxor, with two more days in Luxor for the temples, the tombs and a trip to Dendara and Abydos.
The last stretch is the Red Sea. A private road transfer takes you from Luxor to Hurghada for four nights of boat trips, snorkeling and a quad bike safari. You fly back to Cairo for one last night before you go home. We book every domestic flight, transfer, hotel and the cruise cabin. This 21-day itinerary is arranged at the upper standards, first-class and luxury.
What lingers
- 01Eight nights around Cairo and Alexandria, with a day each for Giza and the Egyptian Museum, the Citadel and Islamic Cairo, and Saqqara, Memphis and Dahshur
- 02A two-night Alexandria trip by way of the Wadi Natrun monasteries
- 03A Nile dinner cruise with an evening show on your first night in Cairo
- 04Abu Simbel by road from Aswan, a sunset felucca ride and a Nubian village visit
- 05Three nights on a Nile cruise ship from Aswan to Luxor, full board, with the temples of Philae, Kom Ombo, Edfu and Karnak
- 06The Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's temple and a day trip to Dendara and Abydos
- 07Four nights in Hurghada: Dolphin House snorkeling, a semi-submarine reef trip and a quad bike safari with a Bedouin dinner
- 08A last night in Cairo and the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization before you fly home
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prestigefrom $6,6765★ deluxe hotels · 5★ deluxe Nile cruises | Alexandria · 2 nightsHelnan Mamoura Aswan · 2 nightsTolip Aswan Nile Cruise · 3 nightsSonesta Moon Goddess Luxor · 2 nightsSteigenberger Nile Palace Luxor Hurghada · 4 nightsHilton Hurghada Plaza | $6,676May–Sep: from $6,675 | |
| Luxuryfrom $9,6845★ luxury hotels · 5★ luxury Nile cruises | Cairo · 7 nightsSt. Regis Cairo Alexandria · 2 nightsSteigenberger Cecil Hotel Alexandria Aswan · 2 nightsThe Zen Wellness Resort Aswan Nile Cruise · 3 nightsSonesta St. George I · Esmeralda Luxor · 2 nightsHilton Luxor Resort & Spa | $9,684May–Sep: from $8,701 |
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
21 Days / 20 Nights · Cairo · Giza Plateau · Saqqara · Alexandria · Fayoum Oasis · Aswan
- 1
Your driver meets you in the arrivals hall at Cairo Airport and takes you to your hotel. Rest after your flight. In the evening you are collected for a Nile dinner cruise: about three hours in all, with a buffet dinner, a live show and the lights of Cairo along the banks. A private transfer takes you back to your hotel afterwards.
- 2
A full day with your Egyptologist guide, in a private vehicle with entrance fees included. The Giza visit takes 4 to 6 hours: the pyramids of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure and the Great Sphinx. The day also takes in the Egyptian Museum. Back to your hotel for a second night in Cairo.
- 3
The morning is yours. In the afternoon you are collected from the hotel for a half-day tour: the Salah El Din Citadel and the Muhammad Ali Mosque, a walk through Islamic Cairo and time in the Khan el-Khalili bazaar. A licensed Egyptologist guides you, the vehicle is private and the Citadel and mosque entrance fees are included.
- 4
A private day trip south of Cairo to the early pyramids. You see the Step Pyramid at Saqqara, the ancient capital at Memphis, and at Dahshur the Bent Pyramid and the Red Pyramid. Your Egyptologist guide, the vehicle and the entrance fees are included. The sites are quieter than Giza, and there is a lot of walking on sand and uneven ground.
- 5
You leave Cairo for a two-night stay in Alexandria, driving by way of the monasteries of Wadi Natrun. Lunch is included. The Alexandria sightseeing is arranged over this day and the next and takes in Pompey's Pillar, the Qaitbay Citadel, the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina and the Graeco-Roman Museum. Entrance tickets to all five are included, along with the drive.
- 6
The sights of Alexandria are shared between today and yesterday, so you can take them at an easier pace than a single day trip allows. They are Pompey's Pillar, the Qaitbay Citadel on the harbour, the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina and the Graeco-Roman Museum. Your hotel stays the same for a second night.
- 7
After breakfast you drive back to Cairo by way of Wadi Natrun. There is no sightseeing planned for the rest of the day, so the afternoon and evening are yours to rest, swim or wander near the hotel before the flight south on day 9.
- 8
A private day trip of about 10 hours from Cairo or Giza. You see Lake Qarun, the village of Tunis and the lakes and waterfalls of Wadi El Rayan. Your driver and English-speaking guide stay with you, the vehicle is air-conditioned and lunch is at a local restaurant. It is a quiet change from the monuments.
- 9
A private transfer takes you to Cairo Airport for your flight to Aswan, arranged around the airline schedule. A driver meets you in Aswan and takes you to your hotel. Later you board a felucca, the traditional sailing boat of the Nile, for a ride at sunset.
- 10
A full day from Aswan by road to the temples of Abu Simbel, carved into the rock by Ramesses II. The vehicle and the entrance fees to the temples are included, and your Egyptologist guide takes you through. The road is long and the temples have little shade. You return to your Aswan hotel for a second night.
- 11
Today you join the ship for three nights on the Nile, on full board. Your Egyptologist guide takes you to Philae Temple, the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk, with the transport and the entrance fees included. A private motorboat also takes you around Elephantine Island and the Aswan Botanical Garden.
- 12
The ship carries you north. Your Egyptologist shows you the Temple of Kom Ombo and the Temple of Edfu, with entrance fees and transport included. You also make a visit to a Nubian village near Aswan, with transfers by boat and by vehicle and bottled water on the way.
- 13
Your guide takes you to Luxor Temple and the Karnak Temples, including the Sacred Lake, with entrance fees and transport included. In the evening you go to the Sound and Light show at Karnak. This is your last night on the ship.
- 14
After breakfast on the ship you cross to the West Bank with your Egyptologist guide. You see the Valley of the Kings, with entry to three tombs, the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari and the Colossi of Memnon. Entrance fees and transport are included. You are then taken to downtown Luxor and your hotel.
- 15
A day trip from Luxor with your Egyptologist guide to two temples north of the city: Dendara and Abydos. The vehicle is air-conditioned, entrance fees are included, and you have lunch at a local restaurant and a bottle of water each. It is a full day on the road and on your feet.
- 16
A private air-conditioned transfer of about 5 hours takes you from Luxor to Hurghada on the Red Sea. The rest of the day is yours to settle in. There is no sightseeing planned, so nothing to rush.
- 17
A boat trip from Hurghada out to the Dolphin House reef, with time in the water to snorkel. The pack lists no further details for this day, so we confirm the pickup and what is provided with you before you travel.
- 18
A five-hour quad bike safari. You are collected from your Hurghada hotel and ride with a safari guide, with a helmet and one quad each, or two to a bike on request. You have a short camel ride, a barbecue dinner with soft drinks, tea and water, and a folklore show. Then you are driven back to your hotel.
- 19
A three-hour trip to see the reef. You go in a semi-submarine, shared with other guests, for about two hours, and there is a swim stop with a mask and snorkel. A soft drink and water are on board. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included.
- 20
A transfer takes you to Hurghada Airport for your flight to Cairo, set by the airline schedule. In Cairo you are met and taken for a half-day visit to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization with a private Egyptologist, including the Royal Mummies gallery where it is open, and a set lunch.
This night in Cairo is deliberate: it gives you a safety window if a domestic flight is delayed, before your flight home.
- 21
After breakfast you check out and a private transfer takes you to Cairo Airport for your international flight home. The journey takes about 90 minutes to allow for traffic, and a representative helps with your luggage.
Bundled in
- Domestic flights
The fine print
What's included – and what isn't
Included
- Seventeen hotel nights with breakfast, and three nights on a Nile cruise ship on full board
- Domestic flights Cairo to Aswan and Hurghada to Cairo
- All airport, hotel and port transfers by air-conditioned vehicle, and a private road transfer from Luxor to Hurghada
- Nile dinner cruise with an evening show in Cairo
- Entrance fees to the sites in the itinerary, including three tombs in the Valley of the Kings
- Licensed Egyptologist guides on the sightseeing days
- Lunch on days 5, 8, 15 and 20, and the barbecue dinner on the quad bike safari
- Felucca ride, Elephantine Island motorboat, Dolphin House trip, quad bike safari and semi-submarine trip
- 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 ship staff
- 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
At Dahshur, the Red Pyramid has a steep, low entrance passage if you choose to go inside, so wear flat shoes and expect warm, close air.
- 02
Alexandria sits on the Mediterranean and can be breezy and damp in winter, so pack a windproof layer for your two nights there.
- 03
For the Fayoum day, bring sunglasses, a scarf against dust and a charged camera for the waterfalls at Wadi El Rayan.
- 04
Pack warm layers for the quad bike and Bedouin dinner evening; the desert cools fast after sunset, even after a hot Hurghada day.
Tailor it
Make it yours
The itinerary is fixed as shown, with the choice of first-class or luxury standard when you book. Ask us about extra nights in Cairo, Luxor or Hurghada.
All requests handled by your dedicated specialist before booking.
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- Travelers who want to see Egypt in depth and have three weeks to do it. Suited to couples, friends and return visitors who are comfortable with two flights, long drives and several hours of walking on sightseeing days.
Maybe not, if
- Travelers who need step-free access to every site, or who want a single base. Days 5, 8 and 10 are long days.
Honest assessment
Real trade-offs from our experience managing this tour.
Highlights
- Eight nights around Cairo and Alexandria, so no day is rushed
- Abu Simbel, a Nile cruise, Luxor and the Red Sea in one trip
- Domestic flights and every transfer are booked for you
Things to Consider
- Three weeks is a big block of time and many early starts
- Uneven stone, steps and little shade at the major sites
- Offered at first-class and luxury standards only
Where it fits
A good fit for a once-in-a-lifetime Egypt trip, or for a second visit that goes beyond the standard route.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Most Egypt tours last a week and stop at the headline sites. This 21-day itinerary adds Saqqara, Dahshur, Alexandria, the Fayoum, Dendara and Abydos and a Red Sea finish. It is offered at first-class and luxury standards only.
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
- First-class and luxury hotels and a Nile cruise ship
- Destinations
- Cairo · Giza Plateau · Saqqara · Alexandria · Fayoum Oasis · Aswan · Abu Simbel · Kom Ombo · Edfu · Luxor · Karnak Temple · Hurghada
- Includes
- 17 nights in hotels with breakfast · 3 nights on a Nile cruise ship, full board · Flights Cairo to Aswan and Hurghada to Cairo · Entrance fees and Egyptologist guides on sightseeing days · Abu Simbel by road, a felucca ride and the Dendara and Abydos trip · Dolphin House, semi-submarine and quad bike safari in Hurghada
- Best for
- Travelers with three weeks to spend · Return visitors who want depth · People who want history first and a Red Sea finish
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
- Swimsuit and a towel for the Red Sea days
- Small day bag
- Light layer for the ship, flights and cooler evenings
What to wear
- Lightweight, breathable clothing for sun and heat
- Closed shoes for temples, tombs and uneven ground
- Clothing that covers shoulders and knees at mosques, churches and temples
- A scarf or buff for the quad bike safari
- 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. Some activities, such as the quad bikes and the boat trips, have their own rules for children, and we confirm them for your child's age before you book. This is a long trip with several early starts, so think about how your child copes with long drives.
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, Karnak and Abu Simbel have long outdoor stretches with little shade. Boarding the Nile ship, the motorboats at Philae and Elephantine Island, and the Red Sea boats involve steps and gangways. The quad bike safari needs you to be fit enough to ride. 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, boat trips, a quad bike safari and long private road transfers, so we do not claim a carbon saving. Guiding, hotels and ground services are arranged through local suppliers in Cairo, Alexandria, Aswan, Luxor and Hurghada, so most of what you spend stays in the places you visit. At the reef, please do not touch or stand on the coral, and take a refillable water bottle. In tombs, do not touch the painted walls.
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
01Which hotel standards are offered on this tour?
This 21-day itinerary is arranged at the upper standards only, first-class and luxury. We name the hotels and the Nile cruise ship for your dates. The sightseeing is the same at both.02Are the domestic flights included?
Yes. The flights from Cairo to Aswan on day 9 and from Hurghada to Cairo on day 20 are booked for you and included. International flights are not.03Will I make my international flight?
Domestic and international tickets are separate bookings, so a delayed domestic flight can cost you a connection. That is why the tour ends with a night in Cairo on day 20 and leaves day 21 free for your flight home. If you change the plan and connect on the same day you fly to Cairo, choose a late-evening or night international flight. Take travel insurance that covers missed connections.04How 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 17 nights are in hotels, with breakfast. You join the ship on day 11.05Is Abu Simbel included?
Yes. Day 10 is a full day by road from Aswan to the Abu Simbel temples, with the entrance fees, the vehicle and an Egyptologist guide.06Are the days in Alexandria long?
The drive from Cairo takes you by way of the Wadi Natrun monasteries, and you stay two nights, so the sights are shared across two days. The drive back to Cairo on day 7 is the main task of that day, and the afternoon is free.07What is there to do in Hurghada?
Day 16 is the road transfer and a free afternoon. Day 17 is a Dolphin House snorkeling trip, day 18 a quad bike safari with a Bedouin dinner and day 19 a semi-submarine reef trip. Each is included in the tour.08What is not included?
International flights, the Egypt visa, tips for guides and drivers, drinks other than those stated, the Khufu pyramid interior and premium tombs, and travel insurance.09When is the best time to go?
October to April is cooler and the most comfortable for temples and tombs. Summer can pass 40 C in Luxor and Aswan, so sightseeing starts early. The Red Sea days are pleasant in most of the year.
Last updated Product ID: TOU-CAI-589875
At a glance
- Length
- 21 days · 20 nights
- Starts
- Tue, Fri or Sun
- Route
- Cairo → Alexandria → Fayoum → Aswan → Abu Simbel → Kom Ombo → Edfu → Luxor → Hurghada → Cairo
- Nights
- 7 Cairo · 2 Alexandria · 2 Aswan · 3 Nile cruise · 2 Luxor · 4 Hurghada
- Includes
- Domestic flights, Egyptologist guide, entrance fees, transfers