6-Day Cairo, Aswan & Abu Simbel by Sleeper Train
The Giza Pyramids, the Grand Egyptian Museum, Philae Temple and Abu Simbel. You travel between Cairo and Aswan on the overnight sleeper train, in a private cabin, and your Egyptologist guide is with you on every sightseeing day.
The short answer
6-Day Cairo, Aswan & Abu Simbel by Sleeper Train is a 6-day, 5-night trip to Cairo, Aswan and Abu Simbel: 2 nights in Cairo, 2 on sleeper trains and 1 in Aswan. It includes sleeper trains, an Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transfers. Prices start at $1,407 per person, two sharing (Essential, October–April).
02Overview
A first look
This tour gets you from the pyramids to Abu Simbel in six days without a single domestic flight. Instead you ride the sleeper train. Two of your five nights are on board, one heading south to Aswan and one coming back to Cairo, so you cover a long distance while you sleep and keep your days free for sightseeing.
You spend two days in Cairo, with the Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum on day 2 and the Citadel and Khan el-Khalili bazaar on the afternoon of day 3. That evening you board the train. In Aswan you see the High Dam, Philae Temple and the Unfinished Obelisk, then make the very early drive to Abu Simbel. A second night train takes you back to Cairo for a morning at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization and your departure. You choose the standard of your hotels when you book, and the sightseeing stays the same.
What lingers
- 01Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum in one guided day
- 02The Citadel, Muhammad Ali Mosque and Khan el-Khalili bazaar on day 3
- 03Two nights on the sleeper train between Cairo and Aswan, in a private cabin
- 04High Dam, Philae Temple and the Unfinished Obelisk in one full day in Aswan
- 05Abu Simbel by road, with the temples of Ramses II and Nefertari
- 06A morning at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, including the Royal Mummies Hall
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 $1,4073★ hotels | Aswan · 1 nightHapi Hotel Aswan | $1,407May–Sep: from $1,367 | |
| Comfortfrom $1,4824★ hotels | Cairo · 2 nightsJewel Sport City | $1,482May–Sep: from $1,441 | |
| Classicfrom $1,5505★ hotels | $1,550May–Sep: from $1,454 | ||
| Prestigefrom $1,7275★ deluxe hotels | Aswan · 1 nightTolip Aswan | $1,727May–Sep: from $1,694 | |
| Luxuryfrom $2,2215★ luxury hotels | Cairo · 2 nightsSt. Regis Cairo Aswan · 1 nightThe Zen Wellness Resort Aswan | $2,221May–Sep: from $2,154 |
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
6 Days / 5 Nights · Cairo · Giza Plateau · Great Sphinx · Grand Egyptian Museum · Islamic Cairo · Khan el-Khalili
- 1
Your driver meets you in the arrivals hall at Cairo Airport and takes you to your hotel, about an hour away. Nothing else is planned, so you can rest after your flight and get ready for a big day at the pyramids tomorrow. No meals are included today.
- 2
A full day, about 8 hours, with your Egyptologist guide and a private air-conditioned vehicle. After hotel pickup you spend 4 to 6 hours on the Giza Plateau and at the Grand Egyptian Museum, starting with the pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx. Lunch is at a restaurant with a view.
In the afternoon you go inside the Grand Egyptian Museum, where the Tutankhamun collection and the great royal statues are displayed. Entrance fees to the Giza Plateau outdoor sites and the museum are included. You return to your hotel for a second night in Cairo.
- 3
After a relaxed morning, your guide collects you from the hotel in the afternoon for a half-day tour of old Cairo. You visit the Saladin Citadel and the Muhammad Ali Mosque, walk through Islamic Cairo and spend time in the Khan el-Khalili bazaar. The guide, the private vehicle and the entrance fees to the Citadel and the mosque are included.
In the evening a transfer of about 45 minutes takes you from your Giza hotel to Giza train station. You board the sleeper train to Aswan and sleep in your private cabin as it runs through the night.
- 4
You wake up in Aswan. A driver meets you at the station and takes you to your hotel. Then comes a full day of sightseeing with your Egyptologist guide: the Aswan High Dam, Philae Temple on its island, reached by boat, and the Unfinished Obelisk in the old granite quarries. The guide, the entrance fees and the transport are included.
You sleep in a hotel tonight, so you can shower and rest before the long day tomorrow.
- 5
A very early start for a full day at Abu Simbel by road from Aswan. You visit the two rock-cut temples built by Ramses II, one for himself and one for his queen Nefertari, moved to higher ground in the 1960s when the lake rose. Entrance fees to Abu Simbel are included, with your guide and a private vehicle. You return to Aswan, and in the evening a transfer takes you to the train station.
You board the sleeper train to Cairo and spend your second night in a private cabin.
- 6
The train reaches Cairo in the morning. Your guide takes you on a half-day visit of about 4 hours to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, with its main exhibition hall and the Royal Mummies Hall. Lunch is at a nearby restaurant with a Nile view. The guide, the private vehicle and the museum entrance fees are included. Afterwards a driver takes you to Cairo Airport for your flight home.
There is no hotel tonight, so choose an evening or night flight.
Bundled in
- Sleeper train
The fine print
What's included – and what isn't
Included
- Three nights in hotels (two in Cairo, one in Aswan) and two nights in a private sleeper train cabin
- Sleeper train Cairo to Aswan and Aswan to Cairo
- Airport arrival and departure transfers, and transfers to and from the train stations
- Giza Pyramids, Sphinx and Grand Egyptian Museum day, with lunch
- Citadel, Islamic Cairo and Khan el-Khalili half day
- High Dam, Philae Temple and Unfinished Obelisk day in Aswan
- Abu Simbel by road from Aswan, with entrance fees
- National Museum of Egyptian Civilization half day, with lunch
- English-speaking Egyptologist guide on all sightseeing days
- Entrance fees for the listed sites and private air-conditioned transport
Not included
- International flights to and from Egypt
- Egypt entry visa
- Gratuities for guides and drivers
- Drinks and meals other than those stated
- Travel insurance and personal expenses
Field notes
From our Egyptologists
- 01
Pack a small overnight bag for the sleeper train and leave the big suitcase at the hotel when you can, since space in the cabin is tight.
- 02
Ask your guide to start inside the Grand Egyptian Museum with the Grand Staircase, where the statues are best seen before the groups arrive.
- 03
At Philae, sit on the boat's open side on the short crossing; the temple appears from the water and makes the best first photo.
- 04
The Abu Simbel drive leaves in the small hours, so sleep on the train rather than the road and bring a light jacket for the cold desert dawn.
Tailor it
Make it yours
Choose your hotel standard when you book. Ask us about adding a last night in Cairo, extra nights in Aswan, or a longer tour with a Nile cruise.
All requests handled by your dedicated specialist before booking.
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- Travelers who want the pyramids and Abu Simbel in a short trip and are happy to sleep on a train. Suited to couples, friends and solo travelers who can handle several hours of walking and two early mornings.
Maybe not, if
- Travelers who need step-free access to every site or to the train, or who want a slow pace. Days 2, 4 and 5 are long.
Honest assessment
Real trade-offs from our experience managing this tour.
Highlights
- Pyramids, the Grand Egyptian Museum, Philae and Abu Simbel in six days
- Two nights on the train double as travel time, so no daytime is lost
- No domestic flights to book or miss
Things to Consider
- A very early start for Abu Simbel, then the night train the same evening
- Uneven stone, steps and little shade at the major sites
- No last night in Cairo: the tour ends with a morning museum visit and the airport
Where it fits
A good first trip to Egypt for people short on time who want Abu Simbel. It is not a slow trip: the Abu Simbel day is a full one.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Most six-day Egypt tours between Cairo and Aswan fly. This itinerary takes the sleeper train instead, so two of your five nights are spent traveling and Abu Simbel still fits. 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 Sleeper Train
- Accommodation
- Cairo and Aswan hotels and a private sleeper cabin, standard chosen at booking
- Destinations
- Cairo · Giza Plateau · Great Sphinx · Grand Egyptian Museum · Islamic Cairo · Khan el-Khalili · Aswan · High Dam · Philae Temple · Unfinished Obelisk · Abu Simbel · National Museum of Egyptian Civilization
- Includes
- 3 hotel nights (2 in Cairo, 1 in Aswan) · 2 nights in a private sleeper train cabin · Sleeper train Cairo to Aswan and back · Entrance fees to every listed site · English-speaking Egyptologist guide on sightseeing days · All transfers by air-conditioned vehicle
- Best for
- First-time visitors · Travelers who want Abu Simbel without domestic flights · History-focused travelers with limited time
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
- A small overnight bag for the train, so your main suitcase stays packed
- A light layer for the air-conditioned train and early mornings
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
- A hat and sunglasses
- A light jacket or scarf for the train and the early start at Abu Simbel
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. Hotel and train cabin arrangements depend on the child's age and how many people share, so we give you the exact figure when you tell us the age at booking. The night trains and the very early Abu Simbel day suit older children better than toddlers.
Accessibility
Who can join this
This tour involves a lot of walking on uneven stone, steps and open ground at Giza, the Citadel, Philae and Abu Simbel, often with little shade. Boarding Philae's boat involves steps. Getting on the sleeper train means climbing into the carriage with your luggage, and corridors and cabins are narrow. The vehicles are private and air-conditioned, but we cannot promise wheelchair access at every site or on the train. Tell us your needs when you book and we will tell you honestly which parts are suitable.
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
The tour uses private road vehicles and two overnight train journeys instead of domestic flights, but the vehicle type can vary and we do not claim a carbon saving. Sightseeing is guided by local Egyptologists and arranged through local suppliers in Cairo and Aswan, so most of the money you spend stays in the places you visit. We ask guests to carry a refillable water bottle and not to touch painted walls in the 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
01Where do we sleep on this tour?
Two of the five nights are on the sleeper train, in a private cabin: Cairo to Aswan on day 3 and Aswan to Cairo on day 5. The other three nights are in hotels, two in Cairo and one in Aswan. We name the hotels for your dates once you choose a standard.02Will I make my international flight?
Domestic and international tickets are separate bookings, so a late train can cost you the connection. On this tour you reach Cairo by train on the morning of day 6, visit the museum and go straight to the airport, with no last night in Cairo. Choose an evening or night international flight on day 6 to leave room for delays, and take travel insurance that covers missed connections. If you want more margin, add one last night in Cairo and we will quote it.03Are domestic flights included?
There are no domestic flights on this tour. The sleeper train links Cairo and Aswan in both directions. International flights are not included.04Is the Abu Simbel day long?
Yes. It starts very early, covers the full day by road from Aswan, and you board the night train to Cairo that evening. Wear comfortable shoes, bring water and a hat, and sleep well on day 4.05Are the guide, entrance fees and transport included?
Yes for the listed visits. You have an English-speaking Egyptologist guide, private air-conditioned transport and entrance tickets on the sightseeing days, including the Giza Plateau and the Grand Egyptian Museum, Abu Simbel and the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization. Transfers to and from the train stations are included.06What meals are included?
Day 1 has no meals. Day 2 has breakfast and lunch, days 3 to 5 have breakfast, and day 6 has breakfast and lunch. Please tell us about dietary needs when you book.07How do the sleeper trains work?
You board in the evening, in Giza on day 3 and in Aswan on day 5, and sleep in your private cabin while the train runs through the night. You arrive in Aswan on the morning of day 4 and in Cairo on the morning of day 6. We do not state train times because the schedule is set by the operator; we send the times with your final documents.08Is this tour private?
The guided sightseeing in Cairo and Aswan uses a private Egyptologist and a private vehicle. You have a private cabin on the train.09What is not included?
International flights, the Egypt visa, tips for guides and drivers, drinks and meals other than those stated, travel insurance and personal expenses.
Last updated Product ID: TOU-CAI-586182
At a glance
- Length
- 6 days · 5 nights
- Starts
- Daily
- Route
- Cairo → Aswan → Abu Simbel → Cairo
- Nights
- 2 Cairo · 2 sleeper train · 1 Aswan
- Includes
- Sleeper trains, Egyptologist guide, entrance fees, transfers