8-Day Egypt Honeymoon: Cairo, Luxor & Aswan
Eight days for two, with sunset at the pyramids, a balloon at dawn over Luxor and a felucca in Aswan. A private guide and car are with you throughout.
The short answer
8-Day Egypt Honeymoon: Cairo, Luxor & Aswan is an 8-day, 7-night trip to Cairo, Luxor and Aswan: 2 nights in Cairo, 3 in Luxor and 2 in Aswan. It includes domestic flights, an Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transfers. Prices start at $1,940 per person, two sharing (Essential, October–April).
02Overview
A first look
Egypt is a very good place to start a marriage. The sights are huge, the evenings are warm, and the river is never far away. This honeymoon is built around the quiet moments between the big sites. You begin in Cairo with a dinner cruise on the Nile, then spend a sunset on a camel at the Giza Pyramids. In Luxor you float over the temples in a hot-air balloon at sunrise, cross to Banana Island by private motorboat and ride a horse carriage through the evening streets. Aswan ends the trip on the water, in a felucca at sunset and in a Nubian village.
You travel with your own guide and your own car, so the pace is yours. Two domestic flights, every transfer and your hotels are booked for you. You choose the standard of hotel when you book, and the plan stays the same. Honeymoon extras such as a room set-up or a bottle of champagne are not part of the tour, but we can arrange them for you on request.
What lingers
- 01A Nile dinner cruise with an evening show on your first night in Cairo
- 02The Giza Pyramids and the Sphinx, then a camel ride at sunset
- 03A sunrise hot-air balloon ride over Luxor (weather permitting)
- 04Banana Island by private motorboat as the sun sets on the Nile
- 05The Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's temple, Karnak and Luxor Temple with an Egyptologist
- 06An evening horse carriage ride through Luxor, past the market and Luxor Temple by night
- 07A sunset felucca on the Nile at Aswan, then Philae Temple and a Nubian village
- 08A private guide and car, with flights, transfers and entrance fees 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 $1,9403★ hotels | Luxor · 3 nightsEl Mesala Hotel Luxor Aswan · 2 nightsHapi Hotel Aswan | $1,940May–Sep: from $1,852 | |
| Comfortfrom $2,1694★ hotels | Cairo · 2 nightsJewel Sport City Luxor · 3 nightsIberotel Luxor by JAZ | $2,169May–Sep: from $2,063 | |
| Classicfrom $2,2755★ hotels | $2,275May–Sep: from $2,137 | ||
| Prestigefrom $2,5245★ deluxe hotels | Luxor · 3 nightsSteigenberger Nile Palace Luxor Aswan · 2 nightsTolip Aswan | $2,524May–Sep: from $2,433 | |
| Luxuryfrom $3,3345★ luxury hotels | Cairo · 2 nightsSt. Regis Cairo Luxor · 3 nightsHilton Luxor Resort & Spa Aswan · 2 nightsThe Zen Wellness Resort Aswan | $3,334May–Sep: from $3,254 |
Hotels on bed & breakfast. 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 · Great Sphinx · Luxor · Banana Island · Valley of the Kings
- 1
Your driver meets you in the arrivals hall at Cairo Airport, helps with your bags and takes you to your hotel. Rest after your flight. In the evening you are collected for a Nile dinner cruise. You spend about three hours on the river with an open buffet dinner, live entertainment and views of Cairo from the top deck, then ride back to your hotel.
It is a gentle first night as a married couple in Egypt.
- 2
Your Egyptologist guide takes you to the Giza Plateau for a half-day visit to the pyramids of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure and the Great Sphinx. Entrance fees and the transport are included. In the afternoon you have time to rest or wander. Near sunset your car takes you back to the plateau for a private camel ride, with the pyramids lit gold and the crowds thinning.
Then you return to the hotel for the night.
- 3
After breakfast you are driven to Cairo Airport for the domestic flight to Luxor, about one hour in the air. A driver meets you on arrival and takes you to your hotel in Luxor. Later in the day a private motorboat collects you for the ride to Banana Island, about three hours in all. You get fresh fruit, mint tea and water on board, and the island entry fee is covered.
The trip is timed for sunset, so the Nile turns copper as you glide back to the hotel.
- 4
The day starts before dawn with a hot-air balloon ride over Luxor, when the temples and the green river valley come out of the dark. Flights depend on the weather, and if the wind is wrong we will tell you at once.
After the balloon, and breakfast, your Egyptologist takes you across the river for a full day on the West Bank: the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's temple, the Colossi of Memnon and Medinet Habu. The guide, the entrance fees and the transport are all included. Expect a long day, so rest in the evening.
- 5
Today is for the East Bank. With a licensed Egyptologist you visit Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple, moving between them in an air-conditioned vehicle. Entrance fees, bottled water and the hotel pickup are covered. The afternoon is free. After dark a private horse carriage takes you through the local market and on to Luxor Temple, which is lit up at night.
It is an easy, unhurried evening after two busy days.
- 6
After breakfast a private car takes you from your Luxor hotel to your Aswan hotel by road. The drive is long, so rest as you like on the way. We have not added sightseeing stops to this day; ask us if you want to break the journey. In the late afternoon you board a felucca, the traditional Nile sailboat, for a ride on the river at sunset.
The wind sets the pace, and the light on the water is the point.
- 7
In the morning you visit Philae Temple, the temple of Isis, on a half-day tour with your guide. The entrance fee and the transport are included. Later you cross to a Nubian village, using a boat and an air-conditioned vehicle, with an English-speaking guide, bottled water and a licensed local operator looking after the details. You return to your hotel in Aswan for your last night in the south.
- 8
After breakfast you check out and are driven to Aswan Airport for the domestic flight to Cairo, about one hour. In Cairo a driver meets you and takes you to Cairo Airport for your onward international flight. The tour ends at the airport, with no hotel night in Cairo, so please read our answer on connecting flights before you book your own tickets. Flight times follow the airline schedule.
Bundled in
- Domestic flights
The fine print
What's included – and what isn't
Included
- Seven hotel nights with breakfast: two in Cairo, three in Luxor and two in Aswan
- Domestic flights Cairo to Luxor and Aswan to Cairo, with 23 kg of luggage
- All airport, hotel and intercity transfers by private, air-conditioned car
- Nile dinner cruise with an evening show in Cairo, with hotel transfers
- Private camel ride at sunset at the Giza Pyramids
- Sunrise hot-air balloon ride over Luxor (weather permitting)
- Banana Island by private motorboat, with fruit, mint tea and water
- Private evening horse carriage ride in Luxor
- Sunset felucca ride on the Nile in Aswan
- English-speaking Egyptologist guide on the sightseeing days
- Entrance fees to the sites in the itinerary
- Meet-and-assist at the airport
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
- Honeymoon extras such as room decoration or champagne (available on request)
- Optional extras such as Abu Simbel or Khufu pyramid interior entry
- Travel insurance and personal expenses
Field notes
From our Egyptologists
- 01
Book the Giza camel ride for the late afternoon so you get warm light on the Pyramids and softer crowds.
- 02
Dress warmly for the Luxor balloon pre-dawn start; the desert air is cold before the sun climbs.
- 03
Take the Luxor horse carriage ride after dark, when Luxor Temple is lit and the market lanes feel quieter.
- 04
At Philae, ask the boatman to circle the island once for a wide shot of the temple from the water.
Tailor it
Make it yours
Choose your hotel standard when you book. Ask us about a room set-up or champagne, a final night in Cairo, extra nights in Luxor or a day to Abu Simbel.
All requests handled by your dedicated specialist before booking.
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- Couples on a honeymoon or anniversary who want Egypt's great sights and a few romantic evenings, at their own pace, with a private guide and car.
Maybe not, if
- Travelers who need step-free access to every site, or who want a slow trip from a single base. Days 4 and 6 are long.
Honest assessment
Real trade-offs from our experience managing this tour.
Highlights
- Romantic moments built in: Nile dinner cruise, sunset camel ride, dawn balloon, felucca
- Pyramids, Valley of the Kings, Karnak and Philae in eight days
- Private guide and car, with both flights and every transfer booked for you
Things to Consider
- The balloon needs a very early start and depends on the weather
- A long road transfer from Luxor to Aswan on day 6
- The tour ends at Cairo Airport with no final night in Cairo; Abu Simbel is not included
Where it fits
A good fit for a honeymoon or anniversary in Egypt. Abu Simbel and a final night in Cairo are not included, so add them if they matter to you.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Many Egypt itineraries are built as group sightseeing with a romantic extra tacked on. This one is built around the evenings: you have your own guide and car, and every major site is paired with a quiet moment. Hotel standard is your choice; the plan does not change.
Compare
Similar tours to compare
On the ground
Your route
Snapshot
Good to know
- Travel style
- Private Guided Honeymoon Tour
- Accommodation
- Hotels in Cairo, Luxor and Aswan, standard chosen at booking
- Destinations
- Cairo · Giza Plateau · Great Sphinx · Luxor · Banana Island · Valley of the Kings · Hatshepsut Temple · Karnak Temple · Luxor Temple · Aswan · Philae Temple · Nubian Village
- Includes
- 2 nights in Cairo, 3 in Luxor and 2 in Aswan, with breakfast · Flights Cairo to Luxor and Aswan to Cairo · Nile dinner cruise, sunset camel ride and Luxor balloon flight · Private Egyptologist guide and car · Entrance fees to every listed site · All transfers
- Best for
- Honeymooners · Couples celebrating an anniversary · Travelers who want a private guide and car
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
- A warm layer for the early balloon morning
- Camera or phone with space for photos
- Any personal medication
What to wear
- Lightweight, breathable clothing for sun and heat
- Closed shoes for temples and uneven ground
- Clothing that covers shoulders and knees at temples and mosques
- A fleece or jacket for the balloon at sunrise and for evenings on the river
- Trousers or a long skirt that suit a camel ride
Children & families
Children are welcome, though this itinerary is designed for couples. 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. The camel ride, balloon flight and boat trips have their own age and safety rules, so tell us your children's ages at booking and we will confirm what they can join.
Accessibility
Who can join this
This tour involves walking on large archaeological sites, with uneven stone, sand and steps. The Valley of the Kings, Karnak and the Giza plateau have long outdoor stretches with little shade. A hot-air balloon ride means climbing into and out of a basket, and a felucca, a motorboat and a camel each ask for some balance. Your car is private and air-conditioned, but 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
The tour uses two domestic flights, private cars and boats, and vehicle types vary, so we do not claim a carbon saving. Your guides, drivers and boatmen are local people and the sightseeing is arranged through suppliers in Cairo, Luxor and Aswan, so most of what you spend stays where you travel. We ask guests to carry a refillable water bottle, to stay on marked paths 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
01Will I make my international flight?
This tour ends with a domestic flight from Aswan to Cairo and a transfer to Cairo Airport on day 8. Domestic and international tickets are separate bookings, so a delayed domestic flight can cost you your connection. We prefer one last night in Cairo and can add it. If you must connect the same day, choose a late-evening or night international flight, and take travel insurance that covers missed connections.02What makes this a honeymoon tour?
The pace and the evenings. You have a private guide and car, a Nile dinner cruise, a camel ride at Giza at sunset, a sunrise balloon in Luxor, a motorboat to Banana Island, a horse carriage and a felucca at sunset in Aswan. Extras such as a room set-up or champagne are not included; we can arrange them on request.03Is the hot-air balloon ride guaranteed?
No. The ride is included, but balloons only fly when the wind and weather allow, and the decision is made on the morning. If it is cancelled, tell your guide and we will look at other options for you.04Are the domestic flights included?
Yes. The flights from Cairo to Luxor on day 3 and from Aswan to Cairo on day 8 are booked for you and included, with 23 kg of luggage. International flights are not included. Flight times are set by the airline.05Will we have a private guide and car?
Yes. Your Egyptologist guide and your car are for the two of you on the sightseeing days. The entrance fees and the transport are included on every sightseeing day.06Which hotels will we stay in?
You choose a standard when you book, from budget to luxury, and we name the hotels for your dates. The plan and sightseeing are the same at every standard. You spend two nights in Cairo, three in Luxor and two in Aswan.07Is Abu Simbel included?
No. This itinerary does not include Abu Simbel. It is a long extra day from Aswan; ask us and we will show you how to add it.08What should I pack for the balloon morning?
A warm layer, because it is cool before sunrise even in warm months. Wear closed shoes and comfortable clothes, and bring your camera. After the flight it warms quickly, so dress in layers.
Last updated Product ID: TOU-CAI-973635
At a glance
- Length
- 8 days · 7 nights
- Starts
- Daily
- Route
- Cairo → Luxor → Aswan → Cairo
- Nights
- 2 Cairo · 3 Luxor · 2 Aswan
- Includes
- Domestic flights, Egyptologist guide, entrance fees, transfers