8-Day Aswan & Hurghada Twin-Center Vacation
Three nights beside the Nile in Aswan, a long drive east, then four nights on the Red Sea coast. Hotels, transfers and every excursion are included.
The short answer
8-Day Aswan & Hurghada Twin-Center Vacation is an 8-day, 7-night trip to Aswan, Abu Simbel and Hurghada: 3 nights in Aswan and 4 in Hurghada. It includes an Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transfers. Prices start at $1,314 per person, two sharing (Classic, October–April).
02Overview
A first look
This vacation splits one week between two very different Egyptian places. First comes Aswan, the quiet southern city on the Nile. You ride a felucca at sunset, make the early-morning trip by road to Abu Simbel, and spend a day at the High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk and Philae Temple with a local Egyptologist.
On day 4 a private car takes you across to the Red Sea. The drive is long, about seven hours, so treat it as a travel day. In Hurghada you stay four nights and take three boat and sea excursions: a beach island with snorkeling, the dolphin reef, and a semi-submarine trip. Each day has one outing with the rest of the day left free, so you can swim, read or rest. International flights are not part of the price.
What lingers
- 01A sunset felucca ride on the Nile at Aswan
- 02A full-day road trip to the Abu Simbel temples
- 03The High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk and Philae Temple with a local Egyptologist
- 04A private transfer from Aswan to the Red Sea coast
- 05Paradise Island beach day by boat, with snorkeling and lunch on board
- 06Dolphin House snorkeling trip and a semi-submarine reef tour
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comfortfrom $1,3144★ hotels | Hurghada · 4 nightsSwiss Inn Resort Hurghada | $1,314May–Sep: from $1,288 | |
| Classicfrom $1,3145★ hotels | Hurghada · 4 nightsAMC Royal Hotel & Spa | $1,314May–Sep: from $1,288 | |
| Prestigefrom $1,8885★ deluxe hotels | Aswan · 3 nightsTolip Aswan Hurghada · 4 nightsHilton Hurghada Plaza | $1,888May–Sep: from $1,895 | |
| Luxuryfrom $2,0905★ luxury hotels | Aswan · 3 nightsThe Zen Wellness Resort Aswan | $2,090May–Sep: from $2,195 |
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
8 Days / 7 Nights · Aswan · Nile Felucca · Abu Simbel · High Dam · Unfinished Obelisk · Philae Temple
- 1
A representative meets you at Aswan Airport and drives you to your hotel; the transfer takes about an hour. Later in the day you board a felucca, the traditional Nile sailing boat, for a three-hour ride. It passes Elephantine Island and Kitchener's Island, with its botanical gardens, and the Aga Khan views, and you watch the sun go down over the cataract.
The felucca is picked up from, and returned to, your hotel or cruise pier, and entrance fees are included.
- 2
Today is one long excursion. You leave Aswan early and travel by road to Abu Simbel, where Ramesses II carved two great temples into the cliff. The entrance fees to the temples are included. The trip takes the whole day, so expect to be back at your hotel in the afternoon or evening and to spend a good part of it on the road. Bring a hat and water.
- 3
A local Egyptologist guide collects you from your Aswan hotel for an eight-hour day by air-conditioned vehicle. You see the Aswan High Dam, then the northern quarries where the Unfinished Obelisk still lies in the rock. After that a short motorboat ride takes you to Agilkia Island and the Temple of Isis at Philae, with time for photos and a drink on the island terrace.
Entrance fees and the boat transfer are included, and the afternoon is yours.
- 4
After breakfast a private driver takes you from your Aswan hotel to Hurghada. The drive takes about seven hours, with a representative handling the transfer and your luggage. There is nothing else planned, so the day is for the journey and for settling into your Hurghada hotel, which is where you stay for the next four nights. Pack water and snacks for the road.
- 5
You are picked up at your Hurghada hotel for an eight-hour boat day, shared with other guests. The boat runs out to Paradise Island, where your entrance includes a sunbed and parasol. You get a snorkeling guide, a mask, snorkel and fins, and a lunch on board with soft drinks and water. Marine park fees are included.
Sea trips run as weather and sea conditions allow, and the captain can change or cancel a sailing for safety.
- 6
Today's boat trip, again about eight hours and shared with other guests, heads for the Dolphin House reef. The dolphins are wild, so a sighting is likely at best and not promised. A snorkeling guide goes in the water with you, and mask, snorkel and fins are provided. Lunch on board comes with soft drinks and water, and marine park fees are included.
Weather and sea state decide whether the boat sails.
- 7
This is the lightest outing of the week, about three hours. You are collected from your hotel for a two-hour semi-submarine trip shared with other guests, where you view the reef through the windows below the waterline. There is a swim stop, with a mask and snorkel provided, and a soft drink and water on board. The rest of the day is free for the beach or the pool.
- 8
After breakfast you check out and a driver takes you from your hotel to Hurghada Airport, about an hour away. Your tour ends at the airport. Plan to arrive in good time for your flight, as the transfer is arranged around your departure.
The fine print
What's included – and what isn't
Included
- Three nights in an Aswan hotel and four nights in a Hurghada hotel
- Private airport pickup in Aswan and hotel-to-airport transfer in Hurghada
- Sunset felucca ride in Aswan, with entrance fees
- Abu Simbel day trip by road, with temple entrance fees
- High Dam, Unfinished Obelisk and Philae Temple day with a local Egyptologist, transport and entrance fees
- Private one-way transfer from Aswan to Hurghada, about seven hours
- Paradise Island and Dolphin House boat trips with guide, mask, snorkel, fins, lunch on board and marine park fees
- Semi-submarine and glass-bottom boat trip with mask and snorkel
- Breakfast at the hotel, and the lunches stated
Not included
- International flights to and from Egypt
- Egypt entry visa
- Gratuities for guides, drivers and boat crews
- Meals and drinks other than those stated
- Travel insurance and personal expenses
Field notes
From our Egyptologists
- 01
Book the Aswan felucca for golden hour and bring a light shawl; the wind on the river feels stronger than it looks from shore.
- 02
At Abu Simbel, also visit the smaller Temple of Nefertari beside the main facade; many visitors only photograph the colossi.
- 03
The Aswan to Hurghada road transfer crosses open desert for hours, so keep water and snacks in your daypack, not the trunk.
- 04
At Dolphin House, stay respectfully back from dolphins; crews enforce rules against touching or chasing them.
Tailor it
Make it yours
Choose your hotel standard when you book. Ask us about extra nights in Aswan or Hurghada, or adding Cairo or Luxor sightseeing.
All requests handled by your dedicated specialist before booking.
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- Travelers who want Egypt's southern temples and a Red Sea beach stay in one trip. Suited to couples, friends and families with older children who can manage a long road day and a long drive.
Maybe not, if
- Travelers who cannot sit for long journeys, need step-free access to every site, or are not comfortable in the water on boat days.
Honest assessment
Real trade-offs from our experience managing this tour.
Highlights
- Abu Simbel, Philae and the High Dam plus three Red Sea boat days in eight days
- One excursion a day after arrival, with free time to rest
- Airport transfers, hotels and entrance fees all arranged for you
Things to Consider
- Day 4 is about seven hours in a car
- Day 2 to Abu Simbel is an early start and a full day
- Dolphin sightings are never guaranteed and sea trips depend on the weather
Where it fits
A good fit if you want temples first and a beach week after. Plan for the long drive on day 4 and the early start on day 2.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Many trips cover either the Nile or the Red Sea. This itinerary combines Aswan and Hurghada in eight days, with a private transfer between them and one excursion a day after arrival. Hotel standard is your choice; the excursions do not change.
Compare
Similar tours to compare
On the ground
Your route
Snapshot
Good to know
- Travel style
- Twin-center vacation: Nile temples in Aswan plus Red Sea boat trips from Hurghada
- Accommodation
- Aswan and Hurghada hotels, standard chosen at booking
- Destinations
- Aswan · Nile Felucca · Abu Simbel · High Dam · Unfinished Obelisk · Philae Temple · Hurghada · Paradise Island · Dolphin House
- Includes
- 3 nights in an Aswan hotel and 4 nights in a Hurghada hotel · Airport pickup and hotel-to-airport transfer · Sunset felucca ride, Abu Simbel by road, High Dam, Unfinished Obelisk and Philae · Private Aswan to Hurghada transfer, about 7 hours · Paradise Island, Dolphin House and semi-submarine trips with snorkeling gear · Entrance fees and marine park fees
- Best for
- Travelers who want Nile temples and a beach week in one trip · Relaxed pace with one outing a day · Confident swimmers who enjoy snorkeling
The morning of
Meeting point & timing
- Where
- Aswan International Airport (ASW), Arrivals HallMap
Before you go
What to pack & wear
What to bring
- Passport and any required travel documents
- Swimsuit and a quick-dry towel
- Reef-safe sunscreen, SPF 30 or higher
- Sun hat and sunglasses
- Comfortable walking shoes with good grip
- Refillable water bottle
- Any personal medication, and something for motion sickness if boats affect you
- Light layer for the early start at Abu Simbel and for the boats
What to wear
- Light, breathable clothing for hot days
- Closed shoes for temple sites and uneven ground
- Clothes that cover shoulders and knees at the temples
- Swimwear under easy clothes on boat days
- A light jacket for the Abu Simbel morning and for evenings in winter
Children & families
Children are welcome. Two days are hard for small children: the full-day road trip to Abu Simbel and the long drive from Aswan to Hurghada. Boat and semi-submarine age limits are set by the operators, and we confirm them when you book. Tell us each child's age at booking and we will give you the exact arrangements and figures for rooms and excursions.
Accessibility
Who can join this
Philae and the Unfinished Obelisk involve uneven stone, steps and open ground with little shade, and you board a small motorboat to reach Philae. The felucca and the Red Sea boats have steps and a gangway, and the decks can move. Abu Simbel and the Aswan to Hurghada transfer mean several hours in a vehicle. The vehicles are private or shared air-conditioned transport, but we cannot promise wheelchair access at every site or on every boat. Tell us your needs when you book and we will tell you honestly which parts suit you.
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
Most of the route is by road, and the Red Sea days use motorized boats, so we do not claim a carbon saving. The Hurghada trips run inside marine park areas and the park fees are included. We ask guests not to touch or stand on coral, to take refillable water bottles, and to use reef-safe sun cream. Guides, drivers and boat crews are local, so most of what you spend stays in Aswan and Hurghada.
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 flights included?
No. International flights and any flight into Aswan are not included in this tour. The price covers your airport pickup, hotel nights, transfers and the listed excursions, and ends with the hotel-to-airport transfer in Hurghada.02How long is the drive from Aswan to Hurghada?
About seven hours by private car on day 4. It is a long day, and nothing else is planned, so you settle into your Hurghada hotel when you arrive.03Is every day full of activities?
No. After arrival, each day has one excursion and the rest is free. Days 2 and 3 in Aswan are the fullest, and day 4 is mostly travel.04Will I see dolphins at Dolphin House?
Possibly. The dolphins are wild and free, so sightings are likely at best and never guaranteed. Boat trips also depend on the weather and sea conditions, and the captain can change or cancel a sailing for safety.05Is snorkeling gear provided?
Yes. On Paradise Island and Dolphin House days you get a mask, snorkel and fins and a snorkeling guide. On the semi-submarine trip you get a mask and snorkel for the swim stop.06Is Abu Simbel included?
Yes. Day 2 is a full-day road trip from Aswan to the Abu Simbel temples, with entrance fees included. It starts early and is a long day.07Will I make my international flight?
This tour ends with a transfer to Hurghada Airport, so you fly home from there. Your international ticket is a separate booking from the tour, so a delayed flight can cost you a connection. If your journey home connects through Cairo or another airport, leave a generous margin, and take travel insurance that covers missed connections.08Which hotels will we have?
You choose a standard when you book, from budget to luxury, and we name the hotels in Aswan and Hurghada for your dates. The excursions are the same at every standard.09What is not included?
International flights, the Egypt visa, tips for guides and drivers, drinks and meals other than those stated, and personal expenses.
Last updated Product ID: TOU-ASW-885176
At a glance
- Length
- 8 days · 7 nights
- Starts
- Daily
- Route
- Aswan → Abu Simbel → Hurghada
- Nights
- 3 Aswan · 4 Hurghada
- Includes
- Egyptologist guide, entrance fees, transfers