5-Day Cairo, Aswan & Abu Simbel Tour with Philae
A Nile dinner cruise, Philae Temple, a full day at Abu Simbel, a private boat to Elephantine Island, and the Giza Pyramids with the Grand Egyptian Museum. Both domestic flights are included.
The short answer
5-Day Cairo, Aswan & Abu Simbel Tour with Philae is a 5-day, 4-night trip to Cairo, Aswan and Abu Simbel: 2 nights in Cairo and 2 in Aswan. It includes domestic flights, an Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transfers. Prices start at $1,489 per person, two sharing (Essential, October–April).
02Overview
A first look
Five days is short, so this itinerary leaves out the filler. You land in Cairo and spend the first evening on the Nile at a dinner cruise. Next morning you fly to Aswan, Egypt's quiet southern city, and by afternoon you are crossing the water by boat to Philae, the temple of Isis.
Day 3 is the big one: a full day by road to Abu Simbel and the two great rock temples of Ramesses II. On day 4 a private motorboat takes you around Elephantine Island and the Aswan Botanical Garden before you fly back to Cairo. The last day is for the Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum. You choose the standard of hotel when you book, from budget to luxury, and the sightseeing stays the same.
What lingers
- 01A Nile dinner cruise with an evening show on your first night in Cairo
- 02Philae Temple, reached by boat to its island near Aswan
- 03A full day at the Abu Simbel temples of Ramesses II
- 04A private motorboat trip to Elephantine Island and the Aswan Botanical Garden
- 05The Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum on your last day
- 06Both domestic flights, Cairo to Aswan and back, booked for you
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essentialfrom $1,4893★ hotels | Aswan · 2 nightsHapi Hotel Aswan | $1,489May–Sep: from $1,446 | |
| Comfortfrom $1,6094★ hotels | Cairo · 2 nightsJewel Sport City | $1,609May–Sep: from $1,542 | |
| Classicfrom $1,6955★ hotels | $1,695May–Sep: from $1,555 | ||
| Prestigefrom $1,9455★ deluxe hotels | Aswan · 2 nightsTolip Aswan | $1,945May–Sep: from $1,854 | |
| Luxuryfrom $2,4435★ luxury hotels | Cairo · 2 nightsSt. Regis Cairo Aswan · 2 nightsThe Zen Wellness Resort Aswan | $2,443May–Sep: from $2,363 |
Hotels on bed & breakfast. 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
5 Days / 4 Nights · Cairo · Aswan · Philae Temple · Abu Simbel · Elephantine Island · Aswan Botanical Garden
- 1
Cairo airport is your starting point. A representative waits in the arrivals hall, handles the meet-and-assist and drives you to your hotel, so you can settle in and rest. As evening comes, a private car takes you to the boat for a Nile dinner cruise. The two hours afloat bring an open buffet dinner, a live show and views of Cairo's riverfront. The same car brings you back to the hotel afterwards.
- 2
The morning begins with breakfast and a private run to Cairo Airport for the flight south to Aswan, about an hour in the air. A representative meets you on landing and takes you to your hotel. Philae Temple is the afternoon's visit, about four hours, timed around your flight.
A boat carries you over the water to Agilkia Island, where the temple of Isis was rebuilt after the High Dam flooded its first site. You see the Great Colonnade, the inner sanctuaries and Trajan's Kiosk with an Egyptologist, and the entrance fee and transport are included.
- 3
Abu Simbel takes the whole day, and you leave Aswan early by road. Two temples cut into the cliff wait at the end of the drive: the Great Temple of Ramesses II, with four seated colossi at the front, and the smaller temple dedicated to his queen Nefertari. The entrance fees are included. After your visit you drive back to Aswan, and the evening is yours to rest.
Breakfast is included; lunch on this day is not listed, so bring a snack for the journey.
- 4
A private motorboat collects you from the hotel for about four hours on the river, with a boatman and an English-speaking Egyptologist. First comes Elephantine Island and the ruins of its ancient town, then the Aswan Botanical Garden. Tickets and bottled water are covered. From there a private car takes you to Aswan Airport, and you fly to Cairo, about an hour.
Another transfer brings you to your Cairo hotel. Airline timings decide the exact order of the day, and spending the night in Cairo gives you a buffer before your last day.
- 5
Your final day starts with a hotel pickup and a drive to the Giza Plateau. You walk among the pyramids of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure and stand before the Great Sphinx. A lunch stop follows, and the afternoon goes to the Grand Egyptian Museum. The licensed Egyptologist, the entrance fees for Giza's outdoor sites and the museum, an air-conditioned vehicle and bottled water are all included.
Afterward, a transfer takes you to Cairo Airport. Choose an evening or later international flight so you are not racing the clock.
Bundled in
- Domestic flights
The fine print
What's included – and what isn't
Included
- Four nights in hotels in Cairo and Aswan with breakfast
- Domestic flights Cairo to Aswan and Aswan to Cairo
- All airport and hotel transfers by air-conditioned vehicle
- Nile dinner cruise with an evening show in Cairo
- Philae Temple half-day tour with boat crossing and entrance fee
- Full-day road trip to Abu Simbel with entrance fees (lunch not listed)
- Private motorboat trip to Elephantine Island and the Aswan Botanical Garden, with tickets and bottled water
- Giza Pyramids, Sphinx and Grand Egyptian Museum with entrance fees, lunch and bottled water
- English-speaking Egyptologist guide on the Philae, Elephantine and Giza days
- Meet-and-assist at the airport
Not included
- International flights to and from Egypt
- Egypt entry visa
- Gratuities for guides and drivers
- Drinks and meals other than those stated
- Khufu pyramid interior and other optional extras
- Travel insurance and personal expenses
Field notes
From our Egyptologists
- 01
The Abu Simbel road starts before dawn, so eat a quick breakfast on the go and stay hydrated; the temple visit itself is short and bright.
- 02
On Elephantine Island, wander the Nubian lanes behind the museum; the painted houses and quiet paths feel far from the Aswan corniche.
- 03
Take a seat on the right-hand side of the plane south for views of the Nile ribbon cutting through the desert.
- 04
Keep your Grand Egyptian Museum day for last; with the Pyramids the same morning, an early start avoids the midday heat on the plateau.
Tailor it
Make it yours
Choose your hotel standard when you book. Ask us about extra nights in Aswan or Cairo, or adding a Nile cruise or Luxor to make the trip longer.
All requests handled by your dedicated specialist before booking.
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- First-time visitors with about five days who want southern Egypt as well as the pyramids. Suited to couples, friends and solo travelers who are comfortable with two flights and a long day on the road to Abu Simbel.
Maybe not, if
- Travelers who need step-free access to every site, or who want a slow pace. Days 2, 3 and 5 are busy and day 3 starts early.
Honest assessment
Real trade-offs from our experience managing this tour.
Highlights
- Philae, Abu Simbel and Elephantine Island in two nights in Aswan
- Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum on the last day
- Both domestic flights and all transfers handled for you
Things to Consider
- Day 3 is a full day with an early start
- Uneven stone, steps and little shade at the major sites
- No Nile cruise on this itinerary
Where it fits
A good fit for a first trip of about five days, or a stopover before a longer stay. It has no Nile cruise, so add one if a river trip is on your list.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Short tours often pick either Cairo or Abu Simbel. This one adds Philae and a private boat trip around Elephantine Island, with two nights in Aswan, and still ends at Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum. Hotel 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 by Air and Road
- Accommodation
- Cairo and Aswan hotels on bed and breakfast, standard chosen at booking
- Destinations
- Cairo · Aswan · Philae Temple · Abu Simbel · Elephantine Island · Aswan Botanical Garden · Giza Plateau · Great Sphinx · Grand Egyptian Museum
- Includes
- 4 hotel nights in Cairo and Aswan with breakfast · Flights Cairo to Aswan and Aswan to Cairo · Nile dinner cruise with an evening show · Entrance fees to the listed sites · Egyptologist guide on Philae, Elephantine and Giza days · All transfers by air-conditioned vehicle
- Best for
- First-time visitors short on time · Travelers who want Abu Simbel and Philae without a cruise · History-focused travelers
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
- Small day bag
- Snacks and a light layer for the long Abu Simbel day
What to wear
- Lightweight, breathable clothing for sun and heat
- Closed shoes for temples and uneven ground
- Clothing that covers shoulders and knees at temples and mosques
- A hat and sunglasses
- A light jacket for early mornings and 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. Hotel and flight prices depend on the child's age, so we give you the exact figure when you tell us the age at booking. Day 3 is a long day on the road, so think about whether your child can sit for that long.
Accessibility
Who can join this
This tour involves walking on uneven ancient stone, steps and sand, with little shade at Abu Simbel, Philae and Giza. Boarding the boats at Philae and on Elephantine Island means stepping down onto a landing and into the boat. Day 3 is a long day in a vehicle, and the Grand Egyptian Museum is large. 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 and private road and boat transfers, and the vehicle type can vary, so we do not claim a carbon saving. Sightseeing is guided by local Egyptologists and arranged through local suppliers in Cairo and Aswan, so much of what you spend stays in the places you visit. The Elephantine trip is by motorboat with a local boatman. We ask guests to take a refillable water bottle and not to touch painted walls in temples.
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 2 and from Aswan to Cairo on day 4 are booked for you and included in the price, with a 23 kg bag on the return leg. International flights are not.02Will 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 returns you to Cairo on day 4 and keeps a night there before you leave. If you must fly to Cairo and connect on the same day, choose a late-evening or night international flight. Take travel insurance that covers missed connections.03How long is the Abu Simbel day?
It is a full day with an early start, by road from Aswan and back. It is the longest day of the trip, and nothing else is planned on it. Breakfast is included but lunch on this day is not listed, so take a snack.04How is this different from a Cairo and Abu Simbel tour?
It adds Philae Temple on day 2 and a private boat trip to Elephantine Island and the Aswan Botanical Garden on day 4, and it gives you two nights in Aswan.05Which hotels will we have?
You choose a standard when you book, from budget to luxury, and we name the hotels for your dates. The itinerary and sightseeing are the same at every standard. Hotel nights are on bed and breakfast.06Is a guide included?
Yes, on the Philae, Elephantine Island and Giza days an English-speaking Egyptologist guides you. Entrance fees to the sites listed and transport are included too. We confirm the guiding arrangement for the Abu Simbel day before you pay.07What is not included?
International flights, the Egypt visa, tips for guides and drivers, drinks other than those stated, the Khufu pyramid interior, and meals not listed in the itinerary.08When is the best time to go?
October to April is cooler and the most comfortable for walking around temples. Summer is very hot in Aswan and at Abu Simbel, so sightseeing starts early.
Last updated Product ID: TOU-CAI-701343
At a glance
- Length
- 5 days · 4 nights
- Starts
- Daily
- Route
- Cairo → Aswan → Abu Simbel → Cairo
- Nights
- 2 Cairo · 2 Aswan
- Includes
- Domestic flights, Egyptologist guide, entrance fees, transfers