6-Day Nile Cruise & Cairo Trip from Sharm El Sheikh
Step away from the beach for the pyramids, a Nile cruise and the temples of Upper Egypt. Every flight, transfer, entry fee and guide is arranged, and you finish back at your Sharm hotel.
The short answer
6-Day Nile Cruise & Cairo Trip from Sharm El Sheikh is a 6-day, 5-night trip to Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel and Sharm El Sheikh: 2 nights in Cairo and 3 on a Nile cruise. Starts on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Saturdays. It includes domestic flights, an Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transfers. Prices start at $2,501 per person, two sharing (Essential, October–April).
02Overview
A first look
You are already on the Red Sea, so why not see the Egypt that fills the guidebooks? This trip picks you up at your hotel in Sharm El Sheikh and flies you to Cairo, where you spend two nights. You ride a camel past the pyramids at sunset, then spend a full day at Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum.
Next you fly to Aswan and join a Nile cruise ship for three nights, sailing north to Luxor. Abu Simbel, Philae, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Karnak and the Valley of the Kings are all on the list. The last day is very long: you finish in Luxor and fly home to Sharm via Cairo in one go. We book the flights and transfers, and you choose the standard of hotel and ship when you book. Your resort stay and your international flights are separate from this trip.
What lingers
- 01A sunset camel ride at the Giza Pyramids on your first evening
- 02A full day at the Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum
- 03Three nights on a Nile cruise ship from Aswan to Luxor, full board
- 04Abu Simbel by road on cruise day 2, from your moored ship
- 05Philae, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Karnak and the Valley of the Kings with an Egyptologist
- 06All flights from and back to Sharm El Sheikh, plus every transfer, 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 $2,5013★ hotels · well-priced Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 3 nightsMagic I | $2,501May–Sep: from $2,385 | |
| Comfortfrom $2,6084★ hotels · 5★ Nile cruises | Cairo · 2 nightsJewel Sport City Nile Cruise · 3 nightsRoyal Elite · Emilio | $2,608May–Sep: from $2,476 | |
| Classicfrom $2,8535★ hotels · 5★ Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 3 nightsRoyal Liberty · Stephanie | $2,853May–Sep: from $2,476 | |
| Prestigefrom $3,1785★ deluxe hotels · 5★ deluxe Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 3 nightsNile Serenity | $3,178May–Sep: from $2,983 | |
| Luxuryfrom $4,2285★ luxury hotels · 5★ luxury Nile cruises | Cairo · 2 nightsSt. Regis Cairo Nile Cruise · 3 nightsSonesta Star Goddess · Esmeralda | $4,228May–Sep: from $3,590 | |
| Signature Collectionfrom $5,806Iconic heritage vessels · landmark hotels | Cairo · 2 nightsFour Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza Nile Cruise · 3 nightsHistoria | $5,806May–Sep: from $4,673 |
Hotels on bed & breakfast · 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
6 Days / 5 Nights · Sharm El Sheikh · Cairo · Giza Plateau · Grand Egyptian Museum · Aswan · Philae Temple
- 1
A private driver collects you at your Sharm El Sheikh hotel and takes you to the airport, with a representative to help with luggage. Your flight to Cairo is booked, with a 23 kg bag included, and flight times follow the airline schedule. In Cairo you are met and driven to your hotel. Later you are picked up for a private camel ride at the Giza Pyramids at sunset.
Plan on about three hours in all, with roughly one hour on the camel, one camel for each adult, and tea and bottled water. An English-speaking escort travels with you. Then back to the hotel for the night.
- 2
Today is a full eight hours with a licensed Egyptologist, who speaks English. You are collected at your hotel and driven in an air-conditioned vehicle to the Giza Plateau, where you see the pyramids and the Great Sphinx up close. Lunch is at a restaurant with a view. In the afternoon you go to the Grand Egyptian Museum, a short drive from the plateau.
Entrance fees to both are included, as is bottled water. You are returned to your hotel for a second night in Cairo.
- 3
Leave Cairo early for the airport, where a representative helps you check in, and fly south to Aswan. A private transfer takes you from Aswan airport to your Nile cruise ship, where you join the ship for the next three nights. The cruise sightseeing starts the same day, with an Egyptologist, entrance fees and transport all included. You visit Philae Temple, the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk.
Meals on board are on a full-board basis, and you sleep on the ship in Aswan.
- 4
This is an early start. You leave the moored ship in the dark and drive by road to Abu Simbel, and you are back on board for lunch. The entrance fees to the Abu Simbel temples are included. After lunch the ship moves on, and the cruise sightseeing continues with the Temple of Kom Ombo. Dinner and the night are on the ship. It is a full day, so keep your energy for the road.
- 5
Your Egyptologist takes you ashore for the Temple of Horus at Edfu. The ship carries on to Luxor, where the cruise sightseeing continues with Luxor Temple and the Karnak Temples, including the Sacred Lake. Entrance fees and transport are included. Karnak is large and open, so wear a hat and take water. You sleep on board in Luxor.
- 6
After breakfast you leave the ship for Luxor's West Bank with your Egyptologist. You see the Valley of the Kings, with entry to three tombs, then the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari and the Colossi of Memnon. Entrance fees and transport are included.
From Luxor you are driven to the airport and fly to Cairo, then straight on to Sharm El Sheikh, and a private driver takes you to your hotel. This is a very long day, with sightseeing, two flights and a connection, and the flight times follow the airline schedule. Please allow for a late arrival at your resort.
Bundled in
- Domestic flights
The fine print
What's included – and what isn't
Included
- Two nights in a Cairo hotel with breakfast, and three nights on a Nile cruise ship on full board
- Four domestic flights: Sharm El Sheikh to Cairo, Cairo to Aswan, Luxor to Cairo and Cairo to Sharm El Sheikh, each with a 23 kg bag
- Private transfers from your Sharm El Sheikh hotel and back to it, and at every airport, hotel and port in between
- Sunset camel ride at the Giza Pyramids, with tea and bottled water
- Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum, with lunch
- Nile cruise sightseeing with an English-speaking Egyptologist, entrance fees and transport
- Abu Simbel by road on cruise day 2, with entrance fees
- Entry to three tombs in the Valley of the Kings
- All service charges and taxes
Not included
- International flights to and from Egypt
- Your Sharm El Sheikh resort hotel and stay
- Egypt entry visa
- Gratuities for guides, drivers and ship staff
- Drinks on board and meals other than those stated
- Travel insurance and personal expenses
Field notes
From our Egyptologists
- 01
Wear long trousers for the sunset camel ride at Giza; the saddle chafes bare legs and the plateau cools quickly after sundown.
- 02
The Abu Simbel run leaves in the early hours, so keep a scarf or sweater handy for the cold vehicle before dawn.
- 03
Stay on the temple-facing side of the boat crossing to Philae; the island's colonnades look best from the approach.
- 04
At Karnak, walk the Great Hypostyle Hall before tour groups gather, then continue to the Sacred Lake while the light is soft.
Tailor it
Make it yours
Choose your hotel and ship standard when you book. Ask us about extra nights in Cairo or Luxor, which also take the pressure off the long last day.
All requests handled by your dedicated specialist before booking.
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- Travelers on a Sharm El Sheikh stay who want to add the pyramids, a Nile cruise and Abu Simbel without arranging flights themselves. Suited to couples, friends and solo travelers who are comfortable with flights and long days of walking.
Maybe not, if
- Travelers who need step-free access to every site, or who want a slow pace. Days 3, 4 and 6 are long.
Honest assessment
Real trade-offs from our experience managing this tour.
Highlights
- Pyramids, Grand Egyptian Museum, Abu Simbel and the main Nile temples in six days
- All four flights and every transfer handled for you
- Start and finish at your own Sharm El Sheikh hotel
Things to Consider
- Day 6 is very long, with sightseeing and two flights
- Early starts on days 3 and 4
- Uneven stone, steps and little shade at the major sites
Where it fits
A good way to add ancient Egypt to a Red Sea stay. Plan for a late return on day 6 and book any onward international flight with a wide margin.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Many Nile cruises start in Cairo or Luxor and assume you have already flown in. This one is built for guests already in Sharm El Sheikh, with the flights there and back 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 trip from a Red Sea resort, with a Nile cruise
- Accommodation
- Cairo hotel and a Nile cruise ship, standard chosen at booking
- Destinations
- Sharm El Sheikh · Cairo · Giza Plateau · Grand Egyptian Museum · Aswan · Philae Temple · Abu Simbel · Kom Ombo · Edfu · Luxor · Karnak Temple · Valley of the Kings
- Includes
- 2 nights in a Cairo hotel with breakfast · 3 nights on a Nile cruise ship, full board · 4 domestic flights from and back to Sharm El Sheikh · Entrance fees to every listed site · English-speaking Egyptologist on sightseeing days · All transfers, including your Sharm hotel
- Best for
- Travelers already staying in Sharm El Sheikh · First-time visitors who want the pyramids and the Nile · Guests who can manage long days
The morning of
Meeting point & timing
- Where
- Your hotel in Sharm El SheikhMap
Before you go
What to pack & wear
What to bring
- Passport and any documents you need to travel within Egypt
- Comfortable walking shoes with good grip
- Sunscreen, SPF 30 or higher
- Sun hat and sunglasses
- Refillable water bottle
- Any personal medication, in your hand luggage
- Small day bag for flights and sightseeing
- A light layer for the early mornings and the evenings on the river
- A small bag for the ship, so your main case can stay packed in the hotel
What to wear
- Lightweight, breathable clothing for sun and heat
- Closed shoes for temples, tombs and uneven ground
- Clothing that covers shoulders and knees for mosques and temples
- Long trousers for the camel ride
- A hat and sunglasses
- A light jacket or shawl for the river in the evening
Children & families
Children are welcome. Every child takes a seat in the vehicles, 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. Flight, hotel and cabin costs 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. Days 3, 4 and 6 are long, and the camel ride suits children only if they are comfortable on a camel.
Accessibility
Who can join this
This trip involves a lot of walking at large archaeological sites, on uneven stone and sand, with steps and some narrow tomb passages. Karnak and the Valley of the Kings have long open stretches with little shade. Boarding the ship, the boat to Philae and the camel ride all need steady footing. Vehicles are private and air-conditioned, but we cannot promise wheelchair access at every site. Day 6 means a long journey through Luxor, Cairo and Sharm El Sheikh airports. Tell us your needs when you book and we will say honestly which parts suit you.
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
The trip uses four domestic flights, a Nile cruise ship and private road transfers, and vehicle types vary, so we make no claim about carbon savings. Sightseeing is led by local Egyptologists and arranged through suppliers in Cairo, Aswan and Luxor, so much of what you spend stays in those places. We ask guests to carry a refillable bottle, to treat the camels kindly and not to touch the painted walls inside 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
01Does the trip start and end at my Sharm El Sheikh hotel?
Yes. A driver collects you at your hotel on day 1 and takes you back to it at the end of day 6. Your resort stay itself is not part of this trip.02Are the flights included?
The four domestic flights are booked for you and included: Sharm El Sheikh to Cairo, Cairo to Aswan, Luxor to Cairo and Cairo to Sharm El Sheikh. Each has a 23 kg bag. Times follow the airline schedule. International flights are not included.03How many nights are on the Nile cruise?
Three nights on board, from Aswan to Luxor, with breakfast, lunch and dinner each day. The two nights before that are in a Cairo hotel with breakfast.04Is Abu Simbel included?
Yes. On day 4 you leave the moored ship very early and drive to Abu Simbel by road. You return to the ship for lunch, and then the cruise carries on. Entrance fees are included.05Is day 6 too long?
It is a very long day. You visit the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's temple and the Colossi of Memnon, then take two flights back to Sharm El Sheikh. Plan to reach your hotel late, and do not book anything for that evening.06Will I make my international flight?
This trip returns you to your resort, so no home flight is tied to it. If you plan to fly home the same day you return, book a late-evening or night flight and leave a wide margin. Domestic and international tickets are separate bookings, so a delayed flight inside Egypt can cost you the connection. Take travel insurance that covers missed connections.07Which hotels and cruise ship will we have?
You choose a standard when you book, from budget to luxury, and we name the hotel and ship for your dates. The route and the sightseeing are the same at every standard.08Who guides us, and are entrance fees included?
An English-speaking Egyptologist guides the sightseeing days in Cairo and on the cruise. Entrance fees to every listed site and the transport between them are included.09What is not included?
International flights, your resort hotel and stay, the Egypt visa, tips for guides, drivers and ship staff, drinks and meals other than those stated, and travel insurance.
Last updated Product ID: TOU-SHM-603673
At a glance
- Length
- 6 days · 5 nights
- Starts
- Mon, Tue, Wed or Sat
- Route
- Sharm El Sheikh → Cairo → Aswan → Abu Simbel → Kom Ombo → Edfu → Luxor → Sharm El Sheikh
- Nights
- 2 Cairo · 3 Nile cruise
- Includes
- Domestic flights, Egyptologist guide, entrance fees, transfers