8-Day Christmas Nile Cruise & Cairo Tour
Dates are fixed: 21 to 28 December 2026. See the Giza Pyramids, spend four nights on a Nile cruise ship, and wake up on Christmas Day on the river. An Egyptologist guide, entrance fees, flights and transfers are included.
The short answer
8-Day Christmas Nile Cruise & Cairo Tour is an 8-day, 7-night trip to Cairo, Luxor and Aswan: 3 nights in Cairo and 4 on a Nile cruise. Starts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays or Saturdays. It includes domestic flights, an Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transfers. Prices start at $2,369 per person, two sharing (Essential, October–April).
02Overview
A first look
Christmas is a good time to be in Egypt. The days are mild, the skies are clear, and the temples are comfortable to walk around. This tour runs from 21 to 28 December 2026, with Christmas Day, Friday 25 December, on day 5.
You start with two nights in Cairo: a food tour on your first evening, then a full day at the Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Egyptian Museum. On day 3 you fly to Luxor and join your Nile cruise ship for four nights, Luxor to Aswan. You see Karnak, Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae, with a horse carriage ride, a boat trip to Banana Island and a felucca at sunset on the way. A flight takes you back to Cairo for a last night.
Christmas week is busy and popular, so we suggest booking early. If you would like to ask about festive meals, ask us when you book. The Christmas Eve gala dinner is not included in the price. You pay for it locally, at the hotel or on the ship, on the night.
What lingers
- 01Christmas Day, Friday 25 December 2026, spent on board a Nile cruise ship
- 02Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Egyptian Museum with a private Egyptologist
- 03Four nights on a Nile cruise ship from Luxor to Aswan, full board
- 04Karnak, Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae
- 05A private horse carriage ride in Luxor, a motorboat trip to Banana Island and a sunset felucca in Aswan
- 06A Cairo food tour by night on your first evening
- 07Two domestic flights, entrance fees and transfers all included
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 $2,3693★ hotels · well-priced Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 4 nightsNephtis · Magic I | $2,369May–Sep: from $2,156 | |
| Comfortfrom $2,5694★ hotels · 5★ Nile cruises | Cairo · 3 nightsJewel Sport City Nile Cruise · 4 nightsTower Prestige · Royal La Terrasse | $2,569May–Sep: from $2,312 | |
| Classicfrom $2,7485★ hotels · 5★ Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 4 nightsSun Times · Stephanie | $2,748May–Sep: from $2,312 | |
| Prestigefrom $3,3465★ deluxe hotels · 5★ deluxe Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 4 nightsSonesta Moon Goddess · Nile Excellence | $3,346May–Sep: from $2,836 | |
| Luxuryfrom $5,2005★ luxury hotels · 5★ luxury Nile cruises | Cairo · 3 nightsSt. Regis Cairo Nile Cruise · 4 nightsSonesta St. George I · Esmeralda | $5,200May–Sep: from $3,872 | |
| Signature Collectionfrom $6,899Iconic heritage vessels · landmark hotels | Cairo · 3 nightsFour Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza Nile Cruise · 4 nightsHistoria | $6,899May–Sep: from $5,367 |
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
8 Days / 7 Nights · Cairo · Giza Plateau · Egyptian Museum · Luxor · Karnak Temple · Valley of the Kings
- 1
A private representative meets you in the arrivals hall at Cairo Airport and takes you to your hotel. This is Monday 21 December. Rest after your flight. In the evening your guide leads a private tasting walk that starts from your hotel, so you meet Cairo through its street food and its night streets. It is an easy first evening, with no early start waiting for you at the end of it.
- 2
A full day with your English-speaking Egyptologist. The Giza visit takes 4 to 6 hours: the pyramids of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure and the Great Sphinx. Then you go on to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, which holds a huge collection of pharaonic objects. Entrance fees and the private vehicle are included. It is a long day on your feet, so pace yourself, and keep a sun hat and water to hand.
- 3
After breakfast you are driven to Cairo Airport for your domestic flight to Luxor. The airline sets the time, so we plan the rest of the day around it. A transfer takes you from Luxor Airport to your Nile cruise ship, where you join the ship and settle into your cabin. Lunch and dinner are on board.
This is the start of four nights on the river, on full board, and the ship stays your base until day 7.
- 4
Today is Thursday 24 December. Your Egyptologist guide takes you to Karnak, the largest temple complex in Egypt, including a visit to the Sacred Lake, and then to Luxor Temple. The entrance fees and the transport are included. In the evening you take a private horse carriage ride through Luxor, past the local market and to Luxor Temple lit up at night.
If your ship or hotel holds a Christmas Eve gala dinner, it is not included in your price. You pay for it on the night.
- 5
It is Friday 25 December, Christmas Day, and you spend it on the Nile. Your Egyptologist takes you to the West Bank: the Colossi of Memnon, the Valley of the Kings, where your ticket covers three tombs, and the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari. Entrance fees and transport are included.
Later you take a private motorboat to Banana Island for a trip of about three hours at sunset, with fruit, mint tea and water. It is a busy day. Ask us about festive meals when you book.
- 6
The ship carries you south and you go ashore with your Egyptologist at the Temple of Edfu, the Temple of Horus and one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt, and at Kom Ombo, the double temple that stands on the riverbank. The entrance fees and the transport are included. Once you reach Aswan, a sunset felucca ride on the Nile takes you past islands and rocks on a traditional sailing boat.
You spend the night on the ship.
- 7
After breakfast you leave the ship. Your Egyptologist guide takes you to Philae Temple, the temple of Isis on its island, then to the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk. The entrance fees and the transport are included. A private transfer then takes you to Aswan Airport for your domestic flight to Cairo, where a driver takes you to your hotel.
The airline sets the flight time, so we arrange the sightseeing around it. Expect a full day.
- 8
Have breakfast at your hotel. A private transfer takes you to Cairo Airport for your flight home. Your last night in Cairo is deliberate. It gives you a safety window if your domestic flight from Aswan runs late, so you can be at Cairo Airport rested and on time for your international flight.
Bundled in
- Domestic flights
The fine print
What's included – and what isn't
Included
- Three nights in a Cairo hotel with breakfast, and four nights on a Nile cruise ship on full board
- Domestic flights Cairo to Luxor and Aswan to Cairo
- All airport, hotel and port transfers by air-conditioned vehicle
- Cairo food tour by night on day 1
- Entrance fees to every site in the itinerary, including three tombs in the Valley of the Kings
- English-speaking Egyptologist guide and transport on every sightseeing day, including the cruise days
- Private horse carriage ride in Luxor, motorboat trip to Banana Island and a sunset felucca in Aswan
- Meet-and-assist at the airport
- All service charges and taxes
Not included
- International flights to and from Egypt
- Egypt entry visa
- The Christmas Eve gala dinner, paid locally on the night
- Gratuities for guides, drivers and ship staff
- Drinks on board and meals other than those stated
- Premium tombs such as Tutankhamun and Seti I
- Travel insurance and personal expenses
Field notes
From our Egyptologists
- 01
Book the Cairo night food walk for your first evening; it is an easy way to stay awake and beat jet lag.
- 02
Take a warm layer for the Luxor horse carriage ride and the Aswan felucca; winter evenings on the Nile turn cool.
- 03
Visit the Valley of the Kings early in the day; December is busy and the tomb lines grow after mid-morning.
- 04
Bring small bills for tipping on the Banana Island and felucca outings, which are short and informal.
Tailor it
Make it yours
Choose your hotel and ship standard when you book. Ask us about extra nights in Cairo or Luxor, or about festive meals. The Christmas Eve gala dinner is paid for locally on the night.
All requests handled by your dedicated specialist before booking.
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- First-time visitors who want to spend Christmas in Egypt: two days in Cairo, then a Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan. Suited to couples, friends, families 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, who want a slow pace, or who cannot travel on the fixed dates of 21 to 28 December 2026.
Honest assessment
Real trade-offs from our experience managing this tour.
Highlights
- Christmas Day on the Nile, with the pyramids and the main Luxor and Aswan temples in eight days
- Both domestic flights and all transfers handled for you
- A final night in Cairo that protects your flight home
Things to Consider
- Fixed dates: 21 to 28 December 2026
- Christmas week is busy, and the gala dinner is paid for locally
- Uneven stone, steps and little shade at the major sites
Where it fits
A good way to spend the week of Christmas, whether it is your first trip to Egypt or a family break. Abu Simbel is not included.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Many Christmas trips to Egypt are sold as a cruise only. This one adds Cairo and the pyramids at the start, books both flights, and ends with a night in Cairo before you fly home. 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 Christmas tour with a Nile cruise
- Accommodation
- Cairo hotels and a Nile cruise ship, standard chosen at booking
- Destinations
- Cairo · Giza Plateau · Egyptian Museum · Luxor · Karnak Temple · Valley of the Kings · Banana Island · Edfu · Kom Ombo · Aswan · Philae Temple
- Includes
- 3 nights in Cairo hotels with breakfast · 4 nights on a Nile cruise ship, full board · Flights from Cairo to Luxor and Aswan to Cairo · Entrance fees to every listed site · English-speaking Egyptologist on sightseeing days · All transfers in an air-conditioned vehicle
- Best for
- First-time visitors · Travelers who want to spend Christmas in Egypt · Couples, friends and families
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
- Warm layer for the river in the evening and a light jacket for flights
- Smart-casual clothes in case you join a dinner on the ship or at the hotel
What to wear
- Lightweight, breathable clothing for the sun in the middle of the day
- Closed shoes for temples and uneven ground
- Clothing that covers shoulders and knees at mosques and temples
- A hat and sunglasses
- A sweater or jacket for December mornings and evenings, especially on the water
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. Christmas week is busy, so tell us early if you are travelling with children.
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. Karnak and the Valley of the Kings have long outdoor stretches with little shade. Boarding the ship, the felucca and the motorboat to Banana Island involve steps or a gangway, and the Philae boat has steps too. The vehicles are private and air-conditioned, but we cannot promise wheelchair access at every site. 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 private 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, Luxor and Aswan, so most of the money you spend stays in the places you visit. The felucca is wind powered. We ask guests to bring refillable water bottles 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 flight from Cairo to Luxor on day 3 and the flight from Aswan to Cairo on day 7 are booked for you and included. The airline sets the times. International flights are not included.02How many nights are on the Nile cruise?
Four nights on board, from Luxor to Aswan, on full board: breakfast, lunch and dinner each day. The other three nights are in Cairo hotels with breakfast.03Where will I be on Christmas Day?
On the Nile. Friday 25 December is day 5, with the Colossi of Memnon, the Valley of the Kings and the Temple of Hatshepsut in the day, and a motorboat trip to Banana Island at sunset. Christmas week is busy and popular, so book early and ask us about festive meals.04Is the gala dinner included?
No. The Christmas Eve gala dinner, where your ship or hotel holds one, is not included in the price. You pay for it locally, on the night.05Does the tour include a guide, entrance fees and transport?
Yes. An English-speaking Egyptologist guide, the entrance fees to every site in the itinerary and the transport are included on every sightseeing day, including the Nile cruise days.06Which 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.07Is Abu Simbel included?
No. This itinerary does not include Abu Simbel. Ask us if you would like to see it on another tour.08Will I make my international flight?
Domestic and international tickets are separate bookings, so a delayed domestic flight can cost you the connection. That is why this tour ends with a night in Cairo. If you change the plan and must fly to Cairo and connect the same day, choose a late-evening or night international flight. Take travel insurance that covers missed connections.09What is not included?
International flights, the Egypt visa, tips for guides, drivers and ship staff, drinks on board and meals other than those stated, the Christmas Eve gala dinner, premium tombs such as Tutankhamun's, and travel insurance.
Last updated Product ID: TOU-CAI-311084
At a glance
- Length
- 8 days · 7 nights
- Starts
- Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri or Sat
- Route
- Cairo → Luxor → Edfu → Kom Ombo → Aswan → Cairo
- Nights
- 3 Cairo · 4 Nile cruise
- Includes
- Domestic flights, Egyptologist guide, entrance fees, transfers