7-Day Marsa Alam & Nile Cruise Vacation
Arrive on the quiet southern Red Sea coast, drive to Luxor, then spend four nights on a Nile cruise ship to Aswan. Guide, entrance fees and transfers are included.
The short answer
7-Day Marsa Alam & Nile Cruise Vacation is a 7-day, 6-night trip to Luxor, Aswan and Marsa Alam: 2 nights in Marsa Alam 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 $1,530 per person, two sharing (Essential, October–April).
02Overview
A first look
This is a short Egypt trip built around one big idea: the Nile, reached from the Red Sea. You land at Marsa Alam airport and spend your first night in a hotel on the quiet southern stretch of the Red Sea coast. The next morning a private driver takes you across the country to Luxor, where you join your Nile cruise ship.
Four nights on the river take you from Luxor to Aswan. Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae are all on the plan, with an English-speaking Egyptologist guide. On day 6 you leave the ship and drive back to Marsa Alam for a final night before your flight home. Both road days are long, and we say so up front.
What lingers
- 01Four nights on a Nile cruise ship from Luxor to Aswan, on full board
- 02Karnak Temples and Luxor Temple on your first day aboard
- 03The Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's temple and the Colossi of Memnon
- 04Edfu and Kom Ombo temples, with Philae, the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk at Aswan
- 05An English-speaking Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transport on every sightseeing day
- 06A hotel night at each end on the quiet Marsa Alam coast, with private transfers
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 $1,5303★ hotels · well-priced Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 4 nightsNephtis · Magic I | $1,530May–Sep: from $1,397 | |
| Comfortfrom $1,7804★ hotels · 5★ Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 4 nightsTower Prestige | $1,780May–Sep: from $1,702 | |
| Classicfrom $2,0365★ hotels · 5★ Nile cruises | Marsa Alam · 2 nightsSENTIDO Reef Oasis Suakin Resort Nile Cruise · 4 nightsSun Times · Stephanie | $2,036May–Sep: from $1,702 | |
| Prestigefrom $2,5565★ deluxe hotels · 5★ deluxe Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 4 nightsSonesta Moon Goddess · Nile Serenity | $2,556May–Sep: from $2,144 | |
| Luxuryfrom $3,6905★ luxury hotels · 5★ luxury Nile cruises | Marsa Alam · 2 nightsSteigenberger Coraya Beach (Adults Friendly 16+) · Pickalbatros Vita Resort Portofino Nile Cruise · 4 nightsSonesta St. George I · Esmeralda | $3,690May–Sep: from $2,420 |
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 · Marsa Alam · Luxor · Karnak Temple · Luxor Temple · Valley of the Kings · Edfu
- 1
Your flight lands at Marsa Alam airport on the southern Red Sea coast, a quiet stretch of shoreline far from the big cities. A representative meets you and a private vehicle takes you to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to settle in and rest. No sightseeing is planned, because tomorrow is a long travel day.
- 2
Today you cross from the Red Sea to the Nile. A private driver takes you from Marsa Alam to Luxor, which is a long drive, so we suggest an early start. In Luxor you join your Nile cruise ship and meet your English-speaking Egyptologist guide. The first sightseeing is Karnak, the vast temple complex of Amun, including the Sacred Lake, and then Luxor Temple. Entrance fees and transport are included.
You spend the night aboard.
- 3
Cross to the west bank with your Egyptologist. You pass the two seated Colossi of Memnon, then enter the Valley of the Kings, where your ticket covers three tombs. The morning ends at the terraced mortuary temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari. Guide, entrance fees and transport are all included. The afternoon and evening are spent aboard the ship.
- 4
The ship carries you south along the river. Your Egyptologist takes you ashore at the Temple of Edfu, among the best-preserved temples in Egypt, and at Kom Ombo, a double temple standing above the water. Guide, entrance fees and transport are included. Between the stops there is time on deck to watch palms and farmland slide past.
- 5
This is the last sightseeing day on the Nile. In Aswan your guide takes you to Philae Temple, to the High Dam and to the Unfinished Obelisk, still lying in its quarry. Entrance fees and transport are included. You sleep aboard the ship for a final night. Tomorrow's drive is long, so use the evening to pack and rest.
- 6
After breakfast you leave the ship at Aswan and your private driver starts the journey back to the Red Sea coast. It is another long day on the road, with no sightseeing planned. You reach Marsa Alam and check in to your hotel for the last night of the trip.
- 7
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel. When it is time, a private vehicle takes you to Marsa Alam airport for your flight home. Please send us your flight details beforehand so we can set the pick-up time.
The fine print
What's included – and what isn't
Included
- Two nights in a Marsa Alam hotel with breakfast, and four nights on a Nile cruise ship on full board
- Private transfers from Marsa Alam airport, from Marsa Alam to Luxor, from Aswan to Marsa Alam and back to the airport
- Meet-and-assist at the airport
- Cruise sightseeing: Karnak, Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings (three tombs), Hatshepsut's temple, the Colossi of Memnon, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Philae, the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk
- English-speaking Egyptologist guide on the cruise sightseeing days
- Entrance fees and sightseeing transport on the 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
- Tombs outside the three covered by the Valley of the Kings ticket
- Travel insurance and personal expenses
Field notes
From our Egyptologists
- 01
Sit on the left side of the car heading inland to Luxor if you want the open desert light on your side.
- 02
Carry a refillable water bottle for the long road between the coast and the Nile; the desert stretch has few stops.
- 03
At Edfu the temple's walls are best photographed in the soft morning light, before the courtyard fills.
- 04
Return to Marsa Alam on the last full day with swimwear in your day bag, ready for the water.
Tailor it
Make it yours
Choose your hotel and ship standard when you book. Ask us about extra nights on the coast or in Luxor, or about adding 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 but would rather arrive and leave through the southern Red Sea coast. Suited to couples, friends and solo travelers who accept two long days on the road and several hours of walking on cruise sightseeing days.
Maybe not, if
- Travelers who find long car journeys hard, who need step-free access to every site, or who want a beach vacation with a short Nile add-on. Days 2 and 6 are long.
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
- Quiet Red Sea coast hotel at each end
- Guide, entrance fees and every transfer handled for you
Things to Consider
- Day 2 and day 6 are long road journeys
- Uneven stone, steps and little shade at the major sites
- No resort or beach program is planned
Where it fits
A fit for travelers who want the Nile highlights in a short trip and are happy to arrive by the Red Sea. Abu Simbel is not included, so add it if it is on your list.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Most Nile cruise itineraries start in Cairo, Luxor or Aswan. This one begins and ends at Marsa Alam, so two days are spent on the road. 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 Nile Cruise with Red Sea coast stays
- Accommodation
- Marsa Alam hotel and a Nile cruise ship, standard chosen at booking
- Destinations
- Marsa Alam · Luxor · Karnak Temple · Luxor Temple · Valley of the Kings · Edfu · Kom Ombo · Aswan · Philae Temple · High Dam
- Includes
- 2 nights in a Marsa Alam hotel with breakfast · 4 nights on a Nile cruise ship, full board · Private transfers, including Marsa Alam to Luxor and Aswan to Marsa Alam · English-speaking Egyptologist guide on cruise sightseeing days · Entrance fees and sightseeing transport on the cruise days · Meet-and-assist at the airport
- Best for
- Travelers who want a Nile cruise without starting in a big city · Couples and friends who accept two long road days · First-time visitors short on time
The morning of
Meeting point & timing
- Where
- Marsa Alam International Airport (RMF), Arrivals HallMap
Before you go
What to pack & wear
What to bring
- Passport and any required travel documents
- Comfortable walking shoes with good grip
- Sun hat, sunglasses and high-factor sunscreen
- A refillable water bottle
- Something to read or listen to for the long drives on days 2 and 6
- A light jacket or sweater for the ship's air conditioning and cool evenings on deck
- Cash in small notes for tips
- Any personal medication, in your hand luggage
- Travel plug adapter and a power bank
- A small day bag for the sightseeing days
What to wear
- Lightweight, breathable clothing for sun and heat
- Closed shoes for temples and uneven ground
- Shoulders and knees covered at the temples is a courteous choice
- A light layer for evenings and the air-conditioned vehicle
- Swimwear if your hotel and ship have a pool
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. The long drives on days 2 and 6 and the heat at the temples can be tiring for very young children.
Accessibility
Who can join this
Sightseeing on the cruise means a lot of walking on uneven stone and sand, with steps and some narrow tomb passages. The Valley of the Kings and Karnak have long open stretches with little shade. Boarding the ship and the boat to Philae involve a gangway and steps. The two transfers between Marsa Alam and the Nile are long road journeys in a private vehicle, so tell us in advance if sitting for many hours is a problem. Vehicles are private and air-conditioned. We cannot promise step-free access to temples or tombs, but tell us about any mobility need and we will plan the days around it.
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
The trip uses private road transfers, a Nile cruise ship and coach-style sightseeing transport, and vehicle types vary, so we make no claim about carbon savings. The long drives between Marsa Alam and the Nile add road miles, and we say so. Sightseeing is guided by local Egyptologists and arranged through local suppliers in Luxor and Aswan, so most of what you spend stays in Egypt. We ask guests to keep to marked paths at the sites and to avoid single-use plastic where they can.
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
01How long are the drives between Marsa Alam and the Nile?
Both are long road days: Marsa Alam to Luxor on day 2 and Aswan to Marsa Alam on day 6. We do not promise a drive time because traffic and checkpoints vary. Plan on most of the day each time, and take food, water and something to read.02Is Marsa Alam a resort vacation as well?
Not in this itinerary. You have one hotel night at each end of the trip, on a quiet stretch of the southern Red Sea coast. The days are built around the Nile cruise and the road, so we do not plan beach or diving time.03How many nights are on the Nile cruise?
Four nights on board, from Luxor to Aswan, on full board. The two other nights are in a Marsa Alam hotel with breakfast.04Are guide, entrance fees and transport included?
Yes. On the cruise sightseeing days an English-speaking Egyptologist guide, the entrance fees and the transport are included. The Valley of the Kings ticket covers three tombs.05Is Abu Simbel included?
No. Abu Simbel is not part of this itinerary. The sightseeing at Aswan is Philae, the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk.06Will I make my international flight?
Domestic transfers and international tickets are separate bookings, so a delay on the road could cost you a connection. You fly out from Marsa Alam on day 7 after a night in the same town, which helps. If your flight connects elsewhere the same day, choose a late-evening departure, and take travel insurance that covers missed connections. An extra night at the coast is also an option.07Can I choose the hotel and ship?
You choose a standard, from budget to luxury, when you book. We then confirm the exact hotel and Nile cruise ship for your dates.08When is the best time to go?
October to April is cooler and more comfortable for temples and long drives. Summers are very hot in Luxor and Aswan, so the sightseeing starts early.
Last updated Product ID: TOU-MRS-290125
At a glance
- Length
- 7 days · 6 nights
- Starts
- Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat or Sun
- Route
- Marsa Alam → Luxor → Edfu → Kom Ombo → Aswan → Marsa Alam
- Nights
- 2 Marsa Alam · 4 Nile cruise
- Includes
- Egyptologist guide, entrance fees, transfers