7-Day Cairo, Nile Cruise & Alexandria Tour
Giza's pyramids, three nights on the Nile from Aswan to Luxor, and a day in Alexandria. Both flights, hotels, your cruise cabin, entrance fees and an Egyptologist guide are included.
The short answer
7-Day Cairo, Nile Cruise & Alexandria Tour is a 7-day, 6-night trip to Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor and Aswan: 3 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 $2,073 per person, two sharing (Essential, October–April).
02Overview
A first look
A week is enough for the big three: the pyramids, the Nile and the temples. This itinerary spends it well. You start in Cairo, with the Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum. Then you fly south to Aswan and board your Nile cruise ship for three nights, sailing north to Luxor with stops at Philae, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Karnak and the Valley of the Kings.
A second flight brings you back to Cairo. The last day is a long day trip to Alexandria, where Egypt meets the Mediterranean. We book both domestic flights, every transfer and your hotel and cruise cabin. On every sightseeing day an English-speaking Egyptologist guide, the entrance fees and the transport are included. You choose the standard of hotel and ship when you book, and the sightseeing stays the same.
What lingers
- 01Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum in one guided day
- 02A Nile dinner cruise with an evening show on your first night in Cairo
- 03Three nights on a Nile cruise ship from Aswan to Luxor, full board
- 04Philae, Kom Ombo and Edfu temples seen from the river
- 05Karnak, Luxor Temple and the Valley of the Kings with your Egyptologist
- 06A long day in Alexandria: the catacombs, the modern library, the Qaitbay Citadel, Montaza Palace Gardens and a seafront lunch
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 $2,0733★ hotels · well-priced Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 3 nightsMagic I | $2,073May–Sep: from $1,938 | |
| Comfortfrom $2,1944★ hotels · 5★ Nile cruises | Cairo · 3 nightsJewel Sport City Nile Cruise · 3 nightsRoyal Elite · Emilio | $2,194May–Sep: from $2,055 | |
| Classicfrom $2,4645★ hotels · 5★ Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 3 nightsRoyal Liberty · Stephanie | $2,464May–Sep: from $2,055 | |
| Prestigefrom $2,8545★ deluxe hotels · 5★ deluxe Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 3 nightsNile Serenity | $2,854May–Sep: from $2,659 | |
| Luxuryfrom $4,1375★ luxury hotels · 5★ luxury Nile cruises | Cairo · 3 nightsSt. Regis Cairo Nile Cruise · 3 nightsSonesta Star Goddess · Esmeralda | $4,137May–Sep: from $3,472 | |
| Signature Collectionfrom $5,900Iconic heritage vessels · landmark hotels | Cairo · 3 nightsFour Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza Nile Cruise · 3 nightsHistoria | $5,900May–Sep: from $4,707 |
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.
Day by day
Detailed itinerary
7 Days / 6 Nights · Cairo · Aswan · Kom Ombo · Edfu · Luxor · Alexandria
- 1
A private representative is waiting in the arrivals hall at Cairo Airport and drives you to your hotel, so you can unpack and rest. As evening comes you are picked up for a Nile dinner cruise. The boat is out for about two hours, with a buffet dinner, a live show and the lit-up city passing on both banks. A private car returns you to the hotel afterwards.
- 2
Your licensed Egyptologist guide collects you from the hotel for a full day. The entrance fees, the air-conditioned vehicle and bottled water are all included. The morning belongs to the Giza Plateau, where you stand at the foot of the pyramids and in front of the Great Sphinx (allow 4 to 6 hours for Giza). Lunch is at a table with a view.
The afternoon goes to the Grand Egyptian Museum, home of the Tutankhamun collection. Then you ride back to the hotel for a second night in Cairo.
- 3
This morning you ride to Cairo Airport and fly south to Aswan; the airline sets the flight time, and the sightseeing is arranged around it. A driver meets you on landing. The first cruise sightseeing visit takes in the High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk still lying in its quarry and Philae, the temple of Isis on its island.
An English-speaking Egyptologist guide, the entrance fees and the transport are included. Afterwards you board the Nile cruise ship, find your cabin and have dinner on board.
- 4
Today the ship travels downstream, with two temple stops in between. At Kom Ombo you walk into a temple built in two halves, one for Sobek the crocodile god and one for Horus the falcon god, with the river just beyond its walls. Later you visit Edfu, where the Temple of Horus still has its walls and roof. Your Egyptologist guide, the entrance fees and the transport are included.
In between there is time on deck for palm groves, villages and water buffalo on the banks.
- 5
The ship ties up at Luxor, and your Egyptologist guide leads the day. You walk through Karnak, the largest temple complex in Egypt, passing the hall of towering columns and the Sacred Lake. Luxor Temple sits much closer to the river and is a shorter stop. The guide, the entrance fees and the transport are included. Back on board you spend the last night on the ship.
- 6
After breakfast you check out of the cabin and cross the river to Luxor's West Bank. The Valley of the Kings comes first, with entry to three tombs, then Hatshepsut's terraced temple at Deir el-Bahari and the two Colossi of Memnon. An English-speaking Egyptologist guide, the entrance fees and the transport are included.
A driver takes you on to Luxor Airport for the flight to Cairo, timed by the airline, and then to your hotel for the night.
- 7
You leave Cairo early for Alexandria, the Mediterranean port. Expect about 12 hours including the drives, so this day suits good walkers. Stops are the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, a tomb mixing Egyptian, Greek and Roman carving; the modern library; and lunch overlooking the sea. After lunch come the Qaitbay Citadel on the harbor and the gardens at Montaza Palace, then the road back to Cairo.
Your Egyptologist guide, the entrance fees and a private or small-group air-conditioned vehicle are included. A departure transfer takes you to Cairo Airport, so book a late-evening or night international flight and read the flight question in the FAQs.
Bundled in
- Domestic flights
The fine print
What's included – and what isn't
Included
- Three nights in a Cairo hotel with breakfast, and three nights on a Nile cruise ship on full board
- Domestic flights Cairo to Aswan and Luxor to Cairo
- All airport, hotel and port transfers by air-conditioned vehicle
- Nile dinner cruise with an evening show in Cairo
- English-speaking Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transport on all sightseeing days, including three tombs in the Valley of the Kings
- Lunch on the Giza and Alexandria days
- 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 on board 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
Visit Giza at opening time for lower heat and fewer coach arrivals.
- 02
At Karnak, the east side of the first court gets softer light in late afternoon.
- 03
For the Valley of the Kings, wear shoes with grip, the paths can be uneven and dusty.
- 04
Philae is easier to photograph before midmorning boat traffic increases.
- 05
In Alexandria, Qaitbay Citadel is usually clearest for sea views after the midday haze lifts.
Tailor it
Make it yours
Choose your hotel and ship standard when you book. Ask us about adding Abu Simbel, extra nights in Luxor or Cairo, or a hot-air balloon flight in Luxor.
All requests handled by your dedicated specialist before booking.
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- First-time visitors who want a compact Egypt overview: Cairo, a Nile cruise and one extra city. Suited to couples, friends and solo travelers who are comfortable with two flights and several hours of walking on sightseeing days.
Maybe not, if
- Travelers who need step-free access to every site, or who want a slow pace in one place. Day 7 is about 12 hours including the drives.
Honest assessment
Real trade-offs from our experience managing this tour.
Highlights
- Pyramids, Grand Egyptian Museum, the main Nile temples and Alexandria in seven days
- Both domestic flights and all transfers handled for you
- Three nights on a ship, so no repacking between Aswan and Luxor
Things to Consider
- Early starts on the flight days and a 12-hour Alexandria day
- Uneven stone, steps and little shade at the major sites
- Abu Simbel is not included
Where it fits
A good first trip to Egypt, or a first week before a longer stay. Abu Simbel is not included, so add it if it is on your list.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Many operators sell Cairo, the Nile and Alexandria as separate trips. This itinerary joins them in one week, with both flights and every transfer booked for you. Hotel and ship standard is your choice; the sightseeing does not change.
Compare
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On the ground
Your route
Snapshot
Good to know
- Travel style
- Guided Multi-Day Tour with Nile Cruise
- Accommodation
- Cairo hotels and a Nile cruise ship, standard chosen at booking
- Destinations
- Cairo · Aswan · Kom Ombo · Edfu · Luxor · Alexandria
- Includes
- 3 nights in Cairo hotels with breakfast · 3 nights on a Nile cruise ship, full board · Flights Cairo to Aswan and Luxor to Cairo · Entrance fees to every listed site · Licensed Egyptologist on sightseeing days · All transfers by air-conditioned vehicle
- Best for
- First-time visitors · History-focused travelers · Travelers who want the pyramids, a Nile cruise and Alexandria 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
- Sunscreen, SPF 30 or higher
- Sun hat and sunglasses
- Refillable water bottle
- Any personal medication
- Small day bag
- Light layer for the ship and for flights
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 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.
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 and Karnak have long outdoor stretches with little shade. Boarding the ship involves steps and a gangway. The vehicles are private and air-conditioned, but we cannot promise wheelchair access at every site. The Alexandria day is about 12 hours including the drives, which is hard going for anyone who tires easily. 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 and road 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, Aswan, Luxor and Alexandria, so most of the money you spend stays in the places you visit. We ask guests to take water bottles that can be refilled and not to touch painted walls in 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
01Are the domestic flights included?
Yes. The flights from Cairo to Aswan on day 3 and from Luxor to Cairo on day 6 are booked for you and included in the price. International flights are not.02How 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 three nights are in Cairo hotels with breakfast. Day 1 includes a Nile dinner cruise.03Which cruise ship and hotels will we have?
You choose a standard when you book, from budget to luxury, and we name the ship and hotels for your dates. The itinerary and sightseeing are the same at every standard.04Is Abu Simbel included?
No. This itinerary does not include Abu Simbel. It can be added on a longer tour; ask us and we will show you the options.05Is the Alexandria day tiring?
It is a long day: about 12 hours including the drives, with several stops. It suits good walkers. Your Egyptologist guide, the entrance fees, the vehicle and lunch are included. Most guests find it worth it.06What 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 such as Tutankhamun's.07Is this tour private?
Your Egyptologist and driver are private for the sightseeing days in Cairo, Luxor and Alexandria. On the ship you are with the other guests on board.08When is the best time to go?
October to April is cooler and the most comfortable for walking around temples. Summers are hot, especially in Luxor and Aswan, so sightseeing starts early.09Will I make my international flight?
This tour ends with the Alexandria day, and domestic and international tickets are separate bookings, so a delayed domestic flight could cost you your connection. We prefer you to have one last night in Cairo. If you must fly to Cairo and connect the same day, choose a late-evening or night international flight. Take travel insurance that covers missed connections.10Are the guide, entrance fees and transport included?
Yes. On every sightseeing day, in Cairo, on the cruise sightseeing days and in Alexandria, an English-speaking Egyptologist guide, the entrance fees and the transport are included.
Last updated Product ID: TOU-CAI-224330
At a glance
- Length
- 7 days · 6 nights
- Starts
- Mon, Tue, Wed or Sat
- Route
- Cairo → Aswan → Kom Ombo → Edfu → Luxor → Alexandria → Cairo
- Nights
- 3 Cairo · 3 Nile cruise
- Includes
- Domestic flights, Egyptologist guide, entrance fees, transfers