7-Day El Gouna & Nile Cruise Vacation
Land at Hurghada airport, sleep in El Gouna, then cross to Luxor and spend four nights on the Nile. Transfers, entrance fees and an Egyptologist are included.
The short answer
7-Day El Gouna & Nile Cruise Vacation is a 7-day, 6-night trip to Luxor, Aswan and Hurghada: 2 nights in El Gouna and 4 on a Nile cruise. Starts on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays or Sundays. It includes an Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transfers. Prices start at $1,628 per person, two sharing (Essential, October–April).
02Overview
A first look
This week is built around the river. You land at Hurghada airport and are driven to El Gouna, a lagoon resort town on the Red Sea, about 25 km north of Hurghada. After one night there you go by road to Luxor and join your Nile cruise ship.
The ship takes you upriver for four nights. Along the way you see Karnak, Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae, with an English-speaking Egyptologist, your entrance fees and your transport included. In Aswan you leave the ship and drive back to your El Gouna hotel for a last night, then on to the airport.
There is no free resort time in the plan. It is a short cruise with a hotel night at each end, and two long road days to link the coast with the Nile. You choose your hotel and ship standard when you book. The sightseeing is the same at every level.
What lingers
- 01Private airport pick-up at Hurghada and a first night in El Gouna
- 02A private road transfer to Luxor to join your Nile cruise ship
- 03Karnak Temples with the Sacred Lake, and Luxor Temple
- 04Valley of the Kings (three tombs), Hatshepsut's temple and the Colossi of Memnon
- 05The temples of Edfu and Kom Ombo on the river
- 06Philae Temple, the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk in Aswan
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 $1,6283★ hotels · well-priced Nile cruises | El Gouna · 2 nightsMovenpick Resort & Spa El Gouna Nile Cruise · 4 nightsNephtis · Magic I | $1,628May–Sep: from $1,306 | |
| Comfortfrom $1,8814★ hotels · 5★ Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 4 nightsTower Prestige | $1,881May–Sep: from $1,627 | |
| Classicfrom $2,0515★ hotels · 5★ Nile cruises | El Gouna · 2 nightsSheraton Miramar Resort El Gouna Nile Cruise · 4 nightsSun Times · Stephanie | $2,051May–Sep: from $1,627 | |
| Prestigefrom $2,6025★ deluxe hotels · 5★ deluxe Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 4 nightsSonesta Moon Goddess · Nile Serenity | $2,602May–Sep: from $2,124 | |
| Luxuryfrom $3,8345★ luxury hotels · 5★ luxury Nile cruises | El Gouna · 2 nightsCasa Cook El Gouna (Adults Only) Nile Cruise · 4 nightsSonesta St. George I · Esmeralda | $3,834May–Sep: from $2,446 |
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
7 Days / 6 Nights · Hurghada · El Gouna · Luxor · Karnak Temple · Luxor Temple · Valley of the Kings
- 1
A representative is waiting in the arrivals hall at Hurghada airport and helps you through to a private car. The drive north to El Gouna takes about an hour. El Gouna is a lagoon resort town on the Red Sea, roughly 25 km from Hurghada. Settle into your hotel and rest. Nothing else is planned today, and the next day starts with a long drive.
- 2
Today you leave the Red Sea for the Nile. A private car takes you from El Gouna to Luxor. The drive is long, five to six hours. In Luxor you meet your Egyptologist and see the Karnak Temples, including the Sacred Lake, and Luxor Temple. Your entrance fees and the transport are included. You join your Nile cruise ship and spend the night aboard.
We fit the visits and boarding around the time you arrive.
- 3
This is the day for the west side of the river. With your Egyptologist you stop at the Colossi of Memnon, then go into the Valley of the Kings, where your ticket covers three tombs. The last visit is the terraced mortuary temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari. Guide, entrance fees and transport are included, and you return to the ship for the evening.
- 4
The ship moves upriver and you stop at two temples that stand close to the water. Edfu is dedicated to the falcon god Horus. Kom Ombo is shared by two gods and sits on a bend in the Nile. Your Egyptologist walks you through both, and entrance fees and transport to each are included. The rest of the day is on board, watching the banks go by.
- 5
Aswan is the end of the cruise, and today is its sightseeing day. You visit Philae Temple, the temple of Isis that now stands on an island near the High Dam. Then you go to the High Dam itself and the Unfinished Obelisk in the old granite quarries. Guide, entrance fees and transport are included. You spend your last night on the ship.
- 6
After breakfast on board you leave the ship in Aswan. A private car takes you back to the Red Sea coast and your El Gouna hotel. The drive is about seven hours and nothing else is planned, so treat it as a travel day. Take snacks, water and something to read. When you arrive, you have the evening free.
- 7
Have breakfast, check out and meet your driver. The ride from El Gouna to Hurghada airport takes about an hour, with a representative to help you at the terminal. The tour ends here. International flights are not included, so choose a departure time with the day-6 drive in mind.
The fine print
What's included – and what isn't
Included
- Two nights in an El Gouna hotel with breakfast on day 7, and four nights on a Nile cruise ship on full board
- Private airport transfers at Hurghada on arrival and departure, with meet-and-assist
- Private road transfers El Gouna to Luxor and Aswan back to El Gouna
- Nile cruise sightseeing package: Karnak, Luxor Temple, Colossi of Memnon, Valley of the Kings (three tombs), Hatshepsut's temple, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Philae, the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk
- English-speaking Egyptologist guide on the cruise sightseeing days
- Entrance fees to every site in the itinerary
- Transport for the sightseeing
- Breakfast on day 6, and lunch and dinner on cruise days
- 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
Plan the Valley of the Kings visit with a charged camera, but remember photography rules inside the tombs and ask your guide first.
- 02
Walk the Philae boat landing slowly, as the temple on its island looks best from the approach by water.
- 03
Bring a light scarf for Edfu and Kom Ombo, where sun and wind on the riverside platforms can be strong.
- 04
Pack a small bag for the El Gouna to Luxor transfer and keep passports handy, since road checkpoints on the desert route are routine.
Tailor it
Make it yours
Choose your hotel and ship standard when you book. Ask us about extra nights in El Gouna, Luxor or Aswan, or a plan that includes Abu Simbel.
All requests handled by your dedicated specialist before booking.
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- Travelers who want a short Nile cruise and a Red Sea hotel in the same week, and who are fine with long drives to link them. Suits couples, friends and solo travelers who can walk over uneven stone on the temple days.
Maybe not, if
- Travelers who dislike long car journeys, need step-free access to every site, or want several days of resort time in El Gouna. Days 2 and 6 are mostly on the road.
Honest assessment
Real trade-offs from our experience managing this tour.
Highlights
- Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae in one cruise
- One airport, Hurghada, for arrival and departure
- Guide, entrance fees and transport included on sightseeing days
Things to Consider
- Two long drives: five to six hours on day 2 and about seven on day 6
- Only one night at each end in El Gouna
- Abu Simbel is not included
Where it fits
Good for a short trip that mixes the temples of the Nile with a Red Sea stay. It has little resort time, so add nights in El Gouna if the coast matters as much as the river.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Most Nile cruises start and end in Luxor or Aswan. This one adds a Red Sea hotel at each end, so you fly in and out of Hurghada. The price of that is two long road days. Hotel and ship standard is your choice and the sightseeing does not change.
Compare
Similar tours to compare
On the ground
Your route
Snapshot
Good to know
- Travel style
- Guided multi-day vacation with a Nile cruise and Red Sea hotel nights
- Accommodation
- El Gouna hotel and a Nile cruise ship, standard chosen at booking
- Destinations
- Hurghada · El Gouna · Luxor · Karnak Temple · Luxor Temple · Valley of the Kings · Hatshepsut Temple · Edfu · Kom Ombo · Aswan · Philae Temple · High Dam
- Includes
- 2 nights in an El Gouna hotel · 4 nights on a Nile cruise ship, full board · Private transfers at Hurghada airport and by road to and from Luxor and Aswan · Entrance fees to every listed site · English-speaking Egyptologist on sightseeing days · All service charges and taxes
- Best for
- Travelers who want the Nile temples with a Red Sea hotel · Couples and friends · Those who accept long road days
The morning of
Meeting point & timing
- Where
- Hurghada International Airport (HRG), 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
- Something to read or listen to for the long drives
- Swimwear for the hotel pools
What to wear
- Light, breathable clothing for sun and heat
- Closed shoes for temples and uneven ground
- Clothing that covers shoulders and knees at the 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 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 cabin costs depend on the child's age and the room used, and we give you the exact figure when you tell us the age at booking. Days 2 and 6 involve long drives, so think about whether your child is comfortable in a car for that long.
Accessibility
Who can join this
The sightseeing days involve a lot of walking on large archaeological sites, with uneven stone, steps and some narrow tomb passages, and little shade at Karnak and the Valley of the Kings. Boarding the ship and the boat to Philae involve a gangway and steps. Days 2 and 6 include long drives of five to seven hours in a private air-conditioned vehicle, which can be tiring for anyone with back or mobility problems. We cannot promise wheelchair access at every site. Tell us your needs when you book and we will say honestly which parts suit you.
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
This tour uses a Nile cruise ship and long private road transfers, and the vehicle type can vary, so we do not claim a carbon saving. Sightseeing is guided by local Egyptologists and run through suppliers in Luxor and Aswan, so much of what you spend stays in the places you visit. We ask guests to bring a refillable water bottle and to keep their hands off the painted walls in the 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
01Why does the tour drive between the Red Sea and the Nile?
The tour pairs a Red Sea resort town with the Nile cruise. You fly in and out of Hurghada airport, so on day 2 a private car takes you to Luxor to join the ship, and on day 6 it takes you back from Aswan. Both drives are long: five to six hours on day 2 and about seven hours on day 6.02How many nights are on the Nile cruise?
Four nights on board, from Luxor to Aswan. The cruise is on full board, so breakfast, lunch and dinner are covered. The other two nights are in an El Gouna hotel, with breakfast on day 7.03Which hotels and ship will we have?
You pick the standard, from budget to luxury, when you book. We then name the exact hotel and ship for your dates. The sightseeing is the same whatever you choose.04Is Abu Simbel included?
No. Abu Simbel is not part of this itinerary. The sightseeing in Aswan on day 5 is Philae Temple, the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk. If Abu Simbel matters to you, ask us about a longer plan that includes it.05Are guides and entrance fees included?
Yes. On the cruise sightseeing days an English-speaking Egyptologist guide, the entrance fees and the transport are included. That covers Karnak, Luxor Temple, the Colossi of Memnon, the Valley of the Kings with three tombs, Hatshepsut's temple, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Philae, the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk.06Is there time to enjoy El Gouna?
Only a little. You spend the first night and the last night there, and there is an evening free on day 6. The days between are for the Nile. If you want more time on the coast, ask us to add nights.07Will I make my international flight?
Your international ticket is a separate booking from this tour, and the road transfer on day 7 depends on the road being clear. The last night is in El Gouna, about an hour from the airport, so you have a margin on the day itself. We advise a mid-day or later flight, or an extra resort night. Take travel insurance that covers missed connections.08What is not included?
International flights, the Egypt entry visa, gratuities, drinks on board and meals other than those stated, the Khufu pyramid interior and premium tombs, and travel insurance. Days 1 and 7 carry no lunch or dinner, so those meals are yours to arrange.09Is this tour private?
The road transfers, the airport meetings and the hotel transfers are private. Cruise sightseeing is arranged with your Egyptologist for your party. Cabins are on a ship that also carries other guests.10When is the best time to go?
October to April is cooler and better for walking the temples. Summer in Luxor and Aswan can pass 40 C, so sightseeing starts early. Expect more visitors around Christmas, New Year and Eid.
Last updated Product ID: TOU-HRG-130479
At a glance
- Length
- 7 days · 6 nights
- Starts
- Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat or Sun
- Route
- Hurghada → El Gouna → Luxor → Edfu → Kom Ombo → Aswan
- Nights
- 2 El Gouna · 4 Nile cruise
- Includes
- Egyptologist guide, entrance fees, transfers