7-Day Cairo & El Gouna Vacation
Three nights in Cairo for the pyramids, the Grand Egyptian Museum, the Citadel and Coptic Cairo, then a short flight to El Gouna for three nights by the sea. Hotels, the flight and your guide are included.
The short answer
7-Day Cairo & El Gouna Vacation is a 7-day, 6-night trip to Cairo and Hurghada: 3 nights in Cairo and 3 in El Gouna. It includes domestic flights, an Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transfers. Prices start at $1,563 per person, two sharing (Essential, October–April).
02Overview
A first look
This vacation splits the week in two. The first half is Cairo: a Nile dinner cruise on your arrival evening, a full day at the Giza Pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum, and a third day in the old city at the Citadel and Coptic Cairo.
On day 4 you fly to Hurghada and drive to El Gouna, a lagoon resort town on the Red Sea. The next two days are for the water: a boat trip to Giftun Island for snorkeling and a beach lunch, then a semi-submarine ride over the reef. The last day is a transfer to the airport. We book the domestic flight, every transfer and your hotels. You pick the hotel standard when you book, and the plan stays the same.
What lingers
- 01A Nile dinner cruise with a live show on your first evening in Cairo
- 02Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum in one guided day
- 03The Citadel of Saladin and the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, with Cairo spread out below
- 04Coptic Cairo: the Hanging Church, the Ben Ezra Synagogue and a mint tea stop
- 05A boat day to Orange Bay on Giftun Island with two snorkeling sessions and a hot lunch
- 06A semi-submarine trip over the Red Sea reef
- 07Three nights by the sea in El Gouna, with the domestic flight 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 $1,5633★ hotels | El Gouna · 3 nightsMovenpick Resort & Spa El Gouna | $1,563May–Sep: from $1,288 | |
| Comfortfrom $1,7554★ hotels | Cairo · 3 nightsJewel Sport City | $1,755May–Sep: from $1,664 | |
| Classicfrom $1,9305★ hotels | El Gouna · 3 nightsSheraton Miramar Resort El Gouna | $1,930May–Sep: from $1,729 | |
| Prestigefrom $2,2505★ deluxe hotels | $2,250May–Sep: from $2,156 | ||
| Luxuryfrom $3,1575★ luxury hotels | Cairo · 3 nightsSt. Regis Cairo El Gouna · 3 nightsCasa Cook El Gouna (Adults Only) | $3,157May–Sep: from $2,867 |
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
7 Days / 6 Nights · Cairo · Giza Plateau · Grand Egyptian Museum · Saladin Citadel · Coptic Cairo · Hurghada
- 1
A representative greets you at Cairo Airport and drives you to your hotel, a trip of about an hour. Once you have settled in, you are picked up for an evening on the river. The Nile dinner cruise lasts about three hours door to door: you board near sunset, enjoy a buffet dinner on deck and watch a live show while the city lights slide past. A vehicle brings you back to the hotel afterward.
We plan the evening around your arrival time, so tell us your flight details.
- 2
This is your big Cairo day, about eight hours with your Egyptologist guide. You are collected from the hotel and driven to the Giza Plateau, where you spend 4 to 6 hours across the pyramids and the Great Sphinx. Lunch comes with a view. The afternoon is at the Grand Egyptian Museum, home to the Tutankhamun collection, before the drive back.
Entrance fees, the vehicle and bottled water are included. Expect sun, sand and a lot of walking.
- 3
Today is two half days in the old city, with a licensed Egyptologist and a private vehicle. In the morning you climb to the Citadel of Saladin, walking through its gateway and into the courtyard of the alabaster Mosque of Muhammad Ali. The Mosque of Sultan al-Nasir Muhammad and a terrace with views over Cairo are on the route.
After a break you move to Coptic Cairo for the Hanging Church, the Greek Orthodox church of St George, the Church of Abu Serga with its crypt and the Ben Ezra Synagogue, ending with mint tea and a pastry. Dress to cover shoulders and knees. The rest of the day is yours.
- 4
A travel day. After breakfast a private car takes you to Cairo Airport for the domestic flight to Hurghada, about an hour in the air. Flight times follow the airline schedule. At Hurghada a representative meets you and drives you to your El Gouna hotel, about another hour. El Gouna is a lagoon resort town on the Red Sea, roughly 25 km north of Hurghada.
The rest of the day is free to swim and unpack.
- 5
Today you are picked up at your El Gouna hotel for the boat day. A motorboat takes you across to Orange Bay on Giftun Island, where there are two guided snorkeling sessions with equipment and life jackets, plus sunbeds on the beach. A hot lunch and bottled water are served on the day. You return to your hotel in the afternoon. Bring your swimsuit, a towel and sun protection.
- 6
A gentler water day. You are collected from El Gouna for a three-hour trip on a semi-submarine, shared with other guests. From the viewing deck below the waterline you watch the reef and its fish through the windows. There is a swim stop with mask and snorkel, and a soft drink and water on board. The rest of the day is free for the hotel beach or the town.
- 7
After breakfast and check-out, a private air-conditioned car takes you from El Gouna to Hurghada Airport, about an hour away. A representative helps you at the airport. The tour ends here. Please book your onward flight with the transfer time in mind and tell us the departure time so we can set the pickup.
Bundled in
- Domestic flights
The fine print
What's included – and what isn't
Included
- Three nights in a Cairo hotel and three nights in an El Gouna hotel, with breakfast
- Domestic flight Cairo to Hurghada
- All airport and hotel transfers by air-conditioned vehicle, with meet-and-assist
- Nile dinner cruise with an evening show in Cairo
- Licensed Egyptologist guide for the Giza, Grand Egyptian Museum, Citadel and Coptic Cairo days
- Entrance fees to the Giza Plateau, the Grand Egyptian Museum and the Citadel
- Lunch on the Giza day, and a hot lunch on the Orange Bay boat day
- Orange Bay boat trip with two guided snorkeling sessions, equipment and life jackets
- Semi-submarine trip with a swim stop, mask and snorkel
- All service charges and taxes
Not included
- International flights to and from Egypt
- Egypt entry visa
- Gratuities for guides and drivers
- Drinks and meals other than those stated
- Optional extras not in the itinerary
- Travel insurance and personal expenses
Field notes
From our Egyptologists
- 01
Stand back from the Sphinx terrace first for the full profile, then walk closer once the tour buses thin out.
- 02
Wear closed shoes at the Citadel, where the courtyard stones are uneven and the mosque asks for covered shoulders.
- 03
Bring a rash vest and reef-safe sunscreen for Giftun Island; the Red Sea sun is strong even in winter.
- 04
Keep a light jacket for the Hurghada boat days, since the breeze at sea feels cooler than the beach.
Tailor it
Make it yours
Choose the hotel standard when you book. Ask us about an extra night in Cairo before you fly home, or more nights in El Gouna.
All requests handled by your dedicated specialist before booking.
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- First-time visitors who want Cairo's main sights and then a few easy days on the Red Sea. Suited to couples, friends and families with older children who are happy with one long sightseeing day.
Maybe not, if
- Travelers who need step-free access to every site, or who want a long beach stay. The Red Sea part is three nights.
Honest assessment
Real trade-offs from our experience managing this tour.
Highlights
- Pyramids, the Grand Egyptian Museum, the Citadel and Coptic Cairo, then the sea, in seven days
- Flight and transfers booked for you
- Two relaxed water days at the end, after the busy Cairo days
Things to Consider
- Day 2 at Giza is long, with 4 to 6 hours at the pyramids
- Day 4 is mostly travel, with a flight and two transfers
- The tour ends at Hurghada, so you need a plan for your flight home
Where it fits
A good first week in Egypt for people who want landmarks and a rest by the sea, without a Nile cruise. It ends at Hurghada, so plan your flight home.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Many operators sell Cairo and the Red Sea as separate trips. This vacation joins them in a week, with the flight and every transfer booked for you. Hotel standard is your choice; the plan does not change.
Compare
Similar tours to compare
On the ground
Your route
Snapshot
Good to know
- Travel style
- Guided city tour plus Red Sea beach stay
- Accommodation
- Cairo and El Gouna hotels, standard chosen at booking
- Destinations
- Cairo · Giza Plateau · Grand Egyptian Museum · Saladin Citadel · Coptic Cairo · Hurghada · El Gouna · Orange Bay Island · Giftun Island
- Includes
- 3 nights in a Cairo hotel with breakfast · 3 nights in an El Gouna hotel with breakfast · Domestic flight Cairo to Hurghada · Nile dinner cruise with a show · Licensed Egyptologist on the Cairo sightseeing days · Orange Bay snorkeling boat day and a semi-submarine trip
- Best for
- First-time visitors · Couples and friends · Travelers who want sights and a beach in one week
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 and a quick-dry towel for the boat day
- Sunscreen, SPF 30 or higher
- Sun hat and sunglasses
- Refillable water bottle
- Any personal medication
- Small day bag
What to wear
- Lightweight, breathable clothing for sun and heat
- Closed shoes for the pyramids, Citadel and old churches
- Clothing that covers shoulders and knees at mosques and churches
- Swimwear and a cover-up for El Gouna
- A light layer for the boat and for evenings in winter
Children & families
Children are welcome. Hotel and transport prices depend on the child's age and the room used, so we give you the exact figure when you tell us the age at booking. Entrance tickets are free for young children and full price from age 6 at most sites. The Giza day is tiring for little ones, as the pyramids alone take 4 to 6 hours. On the boat day, snorkeling and the semi-submarine suit children who are happy near the water; tell us your child's age and swimming ability so we can check what applies.
Accessibility
Who can join this
The Cairo days involve a lot of walking on uneven stone and sand, steps at the churches of Coptic Cairo and a climb up to the Citadel terraces, with little shade at Giza. The Orange Bay day uses a motorboat and a beach landing, and the snorkeling needs you to be comfortable in the water in a life jacket. The semi-submarine involves a short gangway and steps down to the viewing deck. Vehicles are private and air-conditioned, but we cannot promise wheelchair access at every stop. Tell us your needs when you book and we will say honestly which parts suit you.
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
The tour uses one domestic flight and private road transfers, and vehicle types vary, so we do not claim a carbon saving. The Red Sea reef is fragile: guests are asked not to stand on or touch the coral, and to use sunscreen sparingly before snorkeling. Guiding and hotels are arranged through local suppliers in Cairo and El Gouna, so much of what you spend stays in the places you visit. Bring a refillable water bottle.
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
01Is the flight from Cairo to Hurghada included?
Yes. The domestic flight on day 4 is booked for you and included, with the transfers on both ends. International flights are not.02How many nights are in Cairo and how many in El Gouna?
Three nights in Cairo and three nights in El Gouna, all with hotel breakfast. Day 1 includes a Nile dinner cruise.03Will I make my international flight?
The tour ends at Hurghada airport on day 7. Domestic and international tickets are separate bookings, so a delayed domestic flight can cost you the connection. If you fly out from Cairo, we prefer you add one last night in Cairo. If you must connect on the same day, choose a late-evening or night international flight, and take travel insurance that covers missed connections.04Which hotels will we have?
You choose a standard when you book, from budget to luxury, and we name the hotels for your dates. The sightseeing and boat trips are the same at every standard.05How long is the Giza visit?
Plan for 4 to 6 hours at Giza with your guide, then the Grand Egyptian Museum in the afternoon. It is a full day, so wear good shoes and bring water.06Do I need to swim for the boat day at Orange Bay?
You do not need to be a strong swimmer. Life jackets are provided for the two guided snorkeling sessions. You can also stay on the beach on a sunbed. Tell us about any concerns when you book.07Is the semi-submarine a real submarine?
No. It is a boat with a viewing deck below the waterline, so you watch the reef through windows without getting wet. The trip lasts about three hours and is shared with other guests.08What is not included?
International flights, the Egypt visa, tips for guides and drivers, drinks and meals other than those stated, and travel insurance.09When is the best time to go?
October to April is cooler and easier for walking around the Cairo sites. The Red Sea is warm for swimming for much of the year, and summer is hot, so sightseeing starts early.
Last updated Product ID: TOU-CAI-478973
At a glance
- Length
- 7 days · 6 nights
- Starts
- Daily
- Route
- Cairo → Hurghada → El Gouna
- Nights
- 3 Cairo · 3 El Gouna
- Includes
- Domestic flights, Egyptologist guide, entrance fees, transfers