8-Day Luxury Egypt Tour: Cairo & Nile Cruise
Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum, a sunrise balloon over Luxor, and four nights on the river from Luxor to Aswan. Your guide and vehicle are private all the way.
The short answer
8-Day Luxury Egypt Tour: Cairo & Nile Cruise is an 8-day, 7-night trip to Cairo, Luxor and Aswan: 2 nights in Cairo, 1 in Luxor and 4 on a Nile cruise. Starts on Mondays, Wednesdays or Fridays. It includes domestic flights, an Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transfers. Prices start at $3,284 per person, two sharing (Prestige, October–April).
02Overview
A first look
This is Egypt at a calm, unhurried standard. You land in Cairo and spend two nights there: an evening drive past the city's lights and bazaar on arrival, then a full day at the Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum. On day 3 you fly to Luxor for a night in a hotel, with the Luxor Museum by day and a private motorboat to Banana Island at sunset.
At dawn on day 4 you rise over the West Bank in a hot air balloon, then join your Nile cruise ship for four nights, sailing south from Luxor to Aswan. Your Egyptologist guide, the entrance fees and the transport are included on every sightseeing day, and the guide and vehicle are yours alone. The flights, transfers, hotels and cruise cabin are all booked for you, in the first-class or luxury standard.
What lingers
- 01A private evening in Cairo, with the Cairo Tower and Khan el-Khalili bazaar
- 02The Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum in one guided day
- 03The Luxor Museum, then a private motorboat to Banana Island at sunset
- 04A sunrise hot air balloon ride over Luxor (weather permitting)
- 05Four nights on a Nile cruise ship from Luxor to Aswan, full board
- 06Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae with a private Egyptologist
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prestigefrom $3,2845★ deluxe hotels · 5★ deluxe Nile cruises | Luxor · 1 nightSteigenberger Nile Palace Luxor Nile Cruise · 4 nightsNile Excellence · Nile Serenity | $3,284May–Sep: from $3,050 | |
| Luxuryfrom $5,1275★ luxury hotels · 5★ luxury Nile cruises | Cairo · 2 nightsSt. Regis Cairo Luxor · 1 nightHilton Luxor Resort & Spa Nile Cruise · 4 nightsSonesta St. George I · Esmeralda | $5,127May–Sep: from $3,826 |
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 · Grand Egyptian Museum · Luxor · Banana Island · Karnak Temple
- 1
Your driver meets you in the arrivals hall at Cairo Airport and takes you to your hotel. Rest after your flight. In the evening a private guide and driver take you out to see the city after dark: the Cairo Tower for the view over the city, and Khan el-Khalili, the old bazaar, where you can wander the lanes of lamps, spices and silver.
Dinner is not part of this day, so you are free to eat wherever you like.
- 2
A full day of about eight hours with your private Egyptologist. You are collected from your hotel and spend the morning on the Giza Plateau with the pyramids of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure and the Great Sphinx; the Giza visit itself takes 4 to 6 hours. Lunch is at a restaurant with a view. In the afternoon you go to the Grand Egyptian Museum.
The guide, the entrance fees and the air-conditioned vehicle are all included, and you return to your hotel for a second night in Cairo.
- 3
After breakfast you transfer to Cairo Airport for the flight to Luxor, where a driver takes you into town. Your guide shows you the Luxor Museum, a compact and calm museum of finds from Thebes. Later, as the light softens, a private motorboat takes you out on the Nile to Banana Island, with fresh fruit, mint tea and bottled water on board.
You sleep in a Luxor hotel tonight, ready for an early start.
- 4
You are up before dawn for a hot air balloon ride over Luxor, rising as the sun clears the West Bank. Balloon flights depend on the wind and can be cancelled on the morning; if that happens we tell you early and help you rearrange. After the ride you join your Nile cruise ship. With your Egyptologist you then visit Karnak, including the Sacred Lake, and Luxor Temple.
The guide, entrance fees and transport are included, and you spend the night on board.
- 5
A day on Luxor's West Bank with your Egyptologist. You see the Colossi of Memnon, then the Valley of the Kings, where your ticket covers three tombs, and finally the mortuary temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari, cut into the cliff. The guide, entrance fees and transport are included. The ship is your base for the night.
- 6
The ship sails south and you go ashore at two riverside temples. First the Temple of Horus at Edfu, one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt, then Kom Ombo, the double temple of Sobek and Horus. The guide, entrance fees and transport are included. Toward the end of the day you take a sunset felucca ride on the river at Aswan, under a single white sail.
- 7
A full day in Aswan. Your Egyptologist takes you to Philae Temple on its island, the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk, which still lies in its quarry. You then visit a Nubian village, crossing by boat and returning by vehicle, with a local English-speaking guide. Entrance fees and transport are included. You spend a last night on the ship.
- 8
After breakfast you leave the ship. A private transfer takes you to Aswan Airport for the flight to Cairo, and another to Cairo Airport for your flight home. Flight times follow the airline schedule, so we plan the day around your international departure. This is a travel day with no sightseeing, and a late-evening flight home is the safest choice.
Bundled in
- Domestic flights
The fine print
What's included – and what isn't
Included
- Two nights in a Cairo hotel and one night in a Luxor 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
- Private Egyptologist guide and private vehicle on the sightseeing days
- Entrance fees to every site in the itinerary, including three tombs in the Valley of the Kings
- Sunrise hot air balloon ride over Luxor (weather permitting)
- Cairo by night, Luxor Museum, Banana Island by private motorboat and a sunset felucca ride in Aswan
- Lunch on the Giza day
- Meet-and-assist at the airport
- 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
Book the hot air balloon for your first cruise morning and dress in layers; it is cool at takeoff and warm by the time you land.
- 02
At the Grand Egyptian Museum, ask your guide to focus on the Tutankhamun galleries first, then wander the rest at a slower pace.
- 03
Time your Banana Island motorboat for sunset; the island stops are short, so bring a few small bills for fruit and juice.
- 04
In Aswan, walk through the Nubian village's painted lanes in the late afternoon, when the houses glow and the heat has eased.
Tailor it
Make it yours
Choose your hotel and ship standard (first-class or luxury) when you book. Ask us about adding Abu Simbel, an extra night in Cairo before your flight home, or more time in Luxor.
All requests handled by your dedicated specialist before booking.
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- Travelers who want a first-class or luxury Egypt trip with a private guide: Cairo, Luxor and a Nile cruise to Aswan, with a balloon ride along the way. Suited to couples, small groups of friends and anyone who prefers to travel without a crowd on sightseeing days.
Maybe not, if
- Travelers who need step-free access to every site, or who cannot manage an early balloon start. Days 4 and 8 are demanding.
Honest assessment
Real trade-offs from our experience managing this tour.
Highlights
- Private guide and vehicle on every sightseeing day
- Pyramids, Grand Egyptian Museum, a sunrise balloon and a four-night Nile cruise in eight days
- Both domestic flights and all transfers handled for you
Things to Consider
- A pre-dawn start on day 4, and the balloon can be cancelled for wind
- Day 8 is a travel day with a domestic and an international flight
- Abu Simbel is not included
Where it fits
A good fit for a special trip, such as a honeymoon or anniversary. Abu Simbel is not included, so add it if it is on your list.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Many luxury Egypt trips are sold as a Nile cruise alone. This tour adds Cairo, the Grand Egyptian Museum and a balloon ride, with a private guide and vehicle throughout and both flights booked for you. It is offered at first-class and luxury standards only.
Compare
Similar tours to compare
On the ground
Your route
Snapshot
Good to know
- Travel style
- Private-guided luxury tour with a Nile cruise and balloon ride
- Accommodation
- First-class or luxury hotels and Nile cruise ship, standard chosen at booking
- Destinations
- Cairo · Giza Plateau · Grand Egyptian Museum · Luxor · Banana Island · Karnak Temple · Valley of the Kings · Edfu · Kom Ombo · Aswan · Philae Temple
- Includes
- 2 nights in a Cairo hotel and 1 in Luxor with breakfast · 4 nights on a Nile cruise ship, full board · Flights Cairo to Luxor and Aswan to Cairo · Sunrise hot air balloon ride (weather permitting) · Private Egyptologist and vehicle, entrance fees included · All transfers by air-conditioned vehicle
- Best for
- Couples and honeymooners · Travelers who want comfort and a private guide · First-time visitors who want the pyramids, a balloon and a Nile cruise
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
- A warm layer for the pre-dawn balloon ride and for the ship and flights
What to wear
- Lightweight, breathable clothing for sun and heat
- Closed, flat shoes for temples, tombs and the balloon basket
- Clothing that covers shoulders and knees at mosques and temples
- A hat and sunglasses
- A jacket or fleece for the cold before sunrise and for evenings on the river in winter
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 balloon operator has its own rules for young children, so tell us the ages when you book and we confirm what is possible.
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, the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut's temple have long outdoor stretches with little shade. The balloon basket needs a short climb in and out, and boarding the ship, the Banana Island motorboat and the boat to Philae involve steps and a gangway. 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, a hot air balloon, a motorboat and private road transfers, and vehicle types 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. We ask guests to take 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
01Which standards of hotel and ship does this tour offer?
This tour is offered at the first-class and luxury standards only. We name the hotels and the ship for your dates, and the sightseeing is the same at either one.02Are 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. International flights are not, and flight times follow the airline schedule.03Is the hot air balloon ride included, and can it be cancelled?
Yes, the sunrise balloon ride over Luxor is part of day 4. Balloons only fly in safe wind conditions, so a flight can be cancelled on the morning. If that happens we tell you straight away and help you rearrange; we do not promise the flight.04Is the guide private?
Yes. Your Egyptologist and vehicle are private on the sightseeing days in Cairo, Luxor and Aswan. On the ship you are with the other guests, and the balloon ride is shared with other passengers.05How many nights are on the Nile cruise?
Four nights on board, sailing from Luxor to Aswan, on full board. You also spend two nights in Cairo and one in Luxor, all with breakfast.06Will I make my international flight on day 8?
Domestic and international tickets are separate bookings, so a delayed Aswan to Cairo flight can cost you the connection. We prefer one extra night in Cairo, so ask us to add it. If you fly home the same day, choose a late-evening or night international flight, and take travel insurance that covers missed connections.07Is Abu Simbel included?
No. This itinerary does not include Abu Simbel. Ask us if you want to see it and we will show you the options.08What is not included?
International flights, the Egypt visa, tips for guides, drivers and ship staff, drinks other than those stated, the Khufu pyramid interior and premium tombs such as Tutankhamun's.09When is the best time to go?
October to April is cooler and the most comfortable for walking around temples. Summers are hot, especially in Luxor and Aswan, and the early balloon start is also the coolest part of the day.
Last updated Product ID: TOU-CAI-139920
At a glance
- Length
- 8 days · 7 nights
- Starts
- Mon, Wed or Fri
- Route
- Cairo → Luxor → Edfu → Kom Ombo → Aswan → Cairo
- Nights
- 2 Cairo · 1 Luxor · 4 Nile cruise
- Includes
- Domestic flights, Egyptologist guide, entrance fees, transfers