8-Day Cairo, Luxor, Aswan & Abu Simbel Nile Cruise Tour
Visit Giza, the Grand Egyptian Museum, Luxor’s temples, Abu Simbel and Philae with an Egyptologist guide.
The short answer
8-Day Cairo, Luxor, Aswan & Abu Simbel Nile Cruise Tour is an 8-day, 7-night trip to Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and Abu Simbel: 2 nights in Cairo, 4 on a Nile cruise and 1 in Aswan. Starts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays or Saturdays. It includes domestic flights, an Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transfers. Prices start at $2,319 per person, two sharing (Essential, October–April).
02Overview
A first look
By early morning, Cairo’s limestone is cool beneath your feet, and the Giza Plateau opens into a wide horizon of Khufu, the Great Sphinx, and desert beyond. Later, our Egyptologists bring the Grand Egyptian Museum’s galleries into context before the landscape changes from city traffic to the Nile’s green riverbanks.
Days unfold through Karnak Temple’s towering columns, the painted tombs of the Valley of the Kings, and the quiet water beside Philae. At Edfu and Kom Ombo, longer visits give you time to notice carved processions and temple shadows rather than hurry through. We arrange your vehicles, domestic connections, and English-speaking Egyptologists so each day has a clear plan.
What lingers
- 01Visit the Giza Plateau, including Khufu, the Great Sphinx and the Valley Temple
- 02See the Grand Egyptian Museum collection in Cairo
- 03Full-day Luxor sightseeing, Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple on the East Bank
- 04West Bank: Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple and the Colossi of Memnon
- 05Sail past and visit Edfu Temple and Kom Ombo Temple during the cruise segment
- 06Early morning visit to the twin temples of Abu Simbel and Aswan highlights, including Philae
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 $2,3193★ hotels · well-priced Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 4 nightsNephtis · Magic I | $2,319May–Sep: from $2,106 | |
| Comfortfrom $2,5194★ hotels · 5★ Nile cruises | Cairo · 3 nightsJewel Sport City Nile Cruise · 4 nightsTower Prestige · Royal La Terrasse | $2,519May–Sep: from $2,262 | |
| Classicfrom $2,6985★ hotels · 5★ Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 4 nightsSun Times · Stephanie | $2,698May–Sep: from $2,262 | |
| Prestigefrom $3,2965★ deluxe hotels · 5★ deluxe Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 4 nightsSonesta Moon Goddess · Nile Excellence | $3,296May–Sep: from $2,786 | |
| Luxuryfrom $5,1505★ luxury hotels · 5★ luxury Nile cruises | Cairo · 3 nightsSt. Regis Cairo Nile Cruise · 4 nightsSonesta St. George I · Esmeralda | $5,150May–Sep: from $3,822 | |
| Signature Collectionfrom $6,848Iconic heritage vessels · landmark hotels | Cairo · 3 nightsFour Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza Nile Cruise · 4 nightsJaz Elite Senator · Historia | $6,848May–Sep: from $5,317 |
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.
- Private
Day by day
Detailed itinerary
8 Days / 7 Nights · Cairo · Giza Plateau · Luxor · Edfu · Kom Ombo · Aswan
- 1
You arrive at Cairo International Airport where our drivers meet you and transfer you to your included hotel for check-in. After a short rest and freshening up, enjoy an evening Nile dinner cruise on the River Nile, departing from the Nile corniche near the Cairo Opera House. Your local guide will brief you on the next days during the cruise, and point out Zamalek island and the Cairo skyline.
Unlike many arrival-day itineraries, this one includes an organized evening activity to ease into the schedule.
- 2
In the morning your Egyptologist leads a guided visit to the Giza Pyramids Complex, including views of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure pyramids. You then walk past the Great Sphinx and visit the adjoining Valley Temple, where visitors see dressed limestone blocks and original alabaster flooring.
Midday is reserved for the Grand Egyptian Museum, opening times permitting, to view Tutankhamun material and the royal collection. Late afternoon you transfer to Cairo International Airport for a scheduled domestic flight to Luxor, with arrival and hotel transfer on landing. We recommend skipping the Khufu pyramid interior, the ticket is extra and often crowded.
- 3
Morning visit to Karnak Temple, focusing on the Great Hypostyle Hall and the Avenue of Sphinxes, with about 90–120 minutes for exploration. Your Egyptologist explains the New Kingdom inscriptions and temple phases, then you return to the hotel for a short rest. Late afternoon transfer to Luxor Temple on the Corniche for a guided walk at dusk, when the colonnades and the Ramesses II statue are lit.
As a licensed Egyptian tour operator, we arrange the transfers and Egyptologist guide, and we avoid rushed coach drop-offs by allowing generous site time.
- 4
Morning starts on Luxor's West Bank with a guided visit to the Valley of the Kings, where your Egyptologist explains New Kingdom tomb decoration, including the tomb of Ramesses III if open. Midday you visit the mortuary temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari, noting its three terraces and Hathor chapel.
In the late afternoon stop at the Colossi of Memnon to see the two 18-meter seated statues of Amenhotep III. Unlike many rushed day tours, we begin early so you spend adequate time at each site.
- 5
Morning disembarkation for a guided visit to the Ptolemaic Temple of Horus at Edfu, largely completed by 57 BC, where your Egyptologist explains the reliefs and pronaos. After lunch on board, the cruise sails north to Kom Ombo for an afternoon tour of the double temple to Sobek and Horus, notable for its symmetrical chapels.
Evening sailing follows, giving time to relax on deck and watch the riverbank villages pass. Unlike many shorter itineraries, this day includes full visits at both temples rather than brief shore calls.
- 6
Early morning departure from Aswan for Abu Simbel, about 280 km and a three-hour drive each way. In the morning you visit the Great Temple of Ramses II, noted for its four seated colossi, and the neighbouring temple of Queen Nefertari. Your Egyptologist explains the 1964–1968 UNESCO-led relocation of both temples to higher ground.
Expect a relaxed afternoon return to Aswan, arriving late afternoon. Unlike cruise shore calls, this road transfer gives you more time at the temples before the larger coach arrivals.
- 7
Morning begins with a guided visit to the Aswan High Dam, completed in 1970, 3,830 meters long and 111 meters high. Next you drive to the northern quarry to see the Unfinished Obelisk, which would have measured about 42 meters if completed. In the late morning you cross to Agilkia Island for Philae Temple, the relocated sanctuary dedicated to Isis and conserved under UNESCO efforts.
In the afternoon you transfer to Aswan International Airport for an approximately 1 hour 15 minute domestic flight to Cairo, with an airport transfer on arrival.
- 8
Morning: after breakfast you complete hotel check-out. Your Egyptologist meets you in the lobby for final paperwork and directions. Mid-morning to early afternoon: a private vehicle transfers you to Cairo International Airport for your scheduled international flight.
Transfer time is typically 35 to 60 minutes from central Cairo hotels, depending on traffic and arrival terminal at Cairo International Airport. As a licensed Egyptian tour operator, Discovery Tours Egypt coordinates the timing to match your carrier's check-in requirements and to reduce stress on departure day.
Bundled in
- Domestic flights
- Private transfer
- Group Egyptologist
- All entry tickets
- Abu Simbel extension
The fine print
What's included – and what isn't
Included
- 3 nights' accommodation in a Cairo hotel (2 nights before the cruise and 1 night after)
- 4 nights on a Nile cruise
- Full board as stated in the itinerary
- Domestic flights, Cairo to Luxor and Aswan to Cairo
- Meet and assist at Egyptian airports
- Entrance fees to the sites listed in the itinerary
- Professional English-speaking Egyptologist during guided visits
- Meals as shown in the itinerary
- All transfers by private air-conditioned vehicle
- All service charges
- Local taxes
Not included
- International airfare to and from Egypt
- Egypt entry visa
- Personal expenses and optional activities not listed
- Gratuities and tipping
- Any services not explicitly listed under inclusions
Tailor it
Make it yours
The itinerary can be arranged as a private tour or adapted for different pacing preferences. Common customizations include upgrading meal plans, adding extra nights in Cairo or Aswan, or including additional sightseeing such as Alexandria or a different Luxor West Bank tomb selection. Hotel and cruise categories can also be adjusted at booking time, subject to availability.
All requests handled by your dedicated specialist before booking.
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- This tour suits first-time visitors to Egypt who want Cairo, Upper Egypt, and Abu Simbel in one itinerary with guided logistics handled for them. It also suits travelers in their 30s to 70s who are comfortable with early starts, full sightseeing days, and moving between hotels, flights, and a cruise segment.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Unlike short Nile cruise packages that focus mainly on the river segment, this itinerary adds two full days in Cairo and a Luxor land program before the cruise begins. Compared with self-planned travel, it bundles domestic flights, transfers, hotels, guided sightseeing, and site entrance fees into one coordinated itinerary. The Abu Simbel visit is included as a scheduled excursion rather than an optional add-on.
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On the ground
Your route
Snapshot
Good to know
- Travel style
- Private Guided Multi-Day Tour with Nile Cruise Segment
- Accommodation
- 2 Nights Cairo Hotel, 1 Night Luxor Hotel, 4 Nights Nile Cruise
- Destinations
- Cairo · Giza Plateau · Luxor · Edfu · Kom Ombo · Aswan · Abu Simbel
- Includes
- Hotel accommodation in Cairo and Luxor · Four-night Nile cruise as stated in the itinerary · Domestic flights Cairo to Luxor and Aswan to Cairo · Private air-conditioned transfers · Entrance fees to listed sites · English-speaking Egyptologist guide · Meals as shown in the itinerary
- Best for
- First-time visitors to Egypt · History enthusiasts · Travelers wanting Cairo plus Upper Egypt in one trip · Couples · Families with older children
- Guide languages
- Arabic · English · French · German · Italian · Spanish
The morning of
Meeting point & timing
- Where
- Cairo International Airport (CAI), Arrivals HallMap
Before you go
What to pack & wear
What to bring
- Valid passport and photocopy, plus printed e-ticket
- Comfortable walking shoes with good grip
- Sunscreen SPF30 or higher and a wide-brim hat
- Reusable water bottle (empty for airport security)
- Lightweight daypack for personal items and camera
- Small first-aid items, motion-sickness medication if needed
- Copies of medication prescriptions and glasses
What to wear
- Lightweight, loose-fitting clothing in breathable fabrics
- Covered shoulders and knees for mosques and some temples
- A light scarf or shawl for sun protection and modesty
- Comfortable closed shoes for walking on uneven surfaces
- A light jacket for early mornings and air-conditioned interiors
Children & families
Minimum age for this itinerary is five years at time of travel, due to long days, early starts and the Abu Simbel transfer. Children aged 5 to 11 receive a child rate when sharing a room with two adults; infants under two are charged approximately 25% of the land portion, subject to confirmation at booking. Strollers are manageable in modern hotel lobbies and wider pavements, but are not practical inside many archaeological sites because of steps and uneven ground. High chairs and baby cots are limited and must be requested when you book.
Accessibility
Who can join this
This itinerary involves significant walking on uneven ancient stone, loose sand at riverbanks, and paved but irregular surfaces at many sites. Expect stairs at the Giza Plateau, stepped access and narrow passages inside several tombs at the Valley of the Kings, and uneven temple approaches at Karnak and Luxor Temple. Boarding the river cruise segment requires climbing gangway steps; ships and river tenders have steps that may not suit wheelchairs. Airport transfers use private vehicles with standard kerbside steps. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator and can arrange additional assistance on request, but wheelchair users should contact us before booking so we can assess feasibility for each site and arrange suitable vehicles or meet-and-assist where possible. Assistance dogs are accepted, but local facility access may still be limited.
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
Transfers use air-conditioned, modern minibuses or sedans that meet local safety standards, typically 2015 model year or newer. The cruise segment uses locally operated Nile vessels, staffed by Egyptian crews; fuel and waste handling follow the operator's Egyptian regulatory requirements. We contract with local Egyptologists, drivers and hotels to keep economic benefit in the region, and we pay entrance fees and tips directly to on-ground staff where required. We encourage small-group touring to reduce vehicle numbers, and we ask guests to use refillable water bottles where possible; crew provide bottled water in line with local hygiene regulations. If you wish, we can arrange visits to community-run projects or responsible local suppliers on request.
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
– What travellers say
5.0
out of 5 · from 9 reviewsGuest reviews of our 8-day Cairo and Nile cruise tours, from Tripadvisor · Read them on Tripadvisor
Rui G.
★★★★★“My travel agency "Que tal Viajarmos?", took a group of clients on a trip to Egypt, with the program provided by Discovery Tours Egypt. From the organization to Mr. Hassany's friendliness, the constant support given to my group, and the quality of the services, everything was more than perfect. I recommend 100% Discovery Tours Egypt's services.”
April 2026 · Tripadvisor
Brooke G.
★★★★★“This trip was amazing! Hesham was the best guide you could ask for. In addition to being funny and patient he is also incredibly knowledgeable. I felt our group got so much additional information, facts and history. Hesham had stories and facts about every place we visited and even about places we just passed by while driving. …”
April 2025 · Tripadvisor
Catherine O.
★★★★★“Hesham was so amazing (and patient!) with our group, I would recommend this tour to anyone! I think the timing of the activities in the days allowed for a great mix of learning/exploring and some relaxation on the cruise sprinkled in. His tips for interacting with locals were very helpful as well.”
February 2025 · Tripadvisor
Alejandra M.
★★★★★“Discovery Tours is amazing!! Everything that they planned was well thought out, organized, and interesting. Their communication was spot on and all of our plans were very clear from the beginning. While visiting all the sites they provided so much historical and cultural context that took my trip to the next level. …”
February 2025 · Tripadvisor
Lena S.
★★★★★“I worked with Discovery Tours to host a group trip to Egypt and it was seamless from beginning to end. Hassany was a great coordinator and was always quick to respond to my needs and really helped me tailor this trip to the group’s interests. On the ground, I was met with such hospitality by Paul and Mohammed and I’m really grateful for this experience. …”
February 2025 · Tripadvisor
Alma Lorena A.
★★★★★“Hesham Mansour was great. He has a lot of experience and also a lot of knowledge to share. Learning with him is fun and he planned the schedule ahead so there’s nothing to worry about during your holidays. He will also text you the schedule a day ahead as a reminder so you can prepare for the adventure. …”
February 2025 · Tripadvisor
Asked & answered
Frequent questions
01What is the duration of the 8 Days Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and Abu Simbel Nile Cruise tour?
This tour is 8 days and 7 nights, combining hotel stays in Cairo and Luxor with a four-night Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan. It includes two domestic flights within Egypt.02What are the pick-up and drop-off arrangements for this tour?
We arrange all airport transfers upon arrival and departure in Cairo, as well as transfers between hotels, airports, and cruise ships throughout the itinerary. All transfers are by private, air-conditioned vehicle.03What is included in the price of this 8-day itinerary?
The tour includes 7 nights of accommodation, domestic flights between Cairo, Luxor, and Aswan, all listed entrance fees, an English-speaking Egyptologist, and all meals as specified in the itinerary. Private transfers and all local taxes are also covered.04What is not included in the 8 Days Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and Abu Simbel Nile Cruise tour?
International airfare to and from Egypt, the Egypt entry visa, personal expenses, optional activities not listed, and gratuities for guides and drivers are excluded. Any services not explicitly mentioned under inclusions are also not covered.05What are the physical demands and accessibility considerations for this tour?
This itinerary involves walking on uneven ancient stone surfaces at archaeological sites, climbing stairs at temples and tombs, and early starts for some excursions like Abu Simbel. Travelers should be able to manage moderate activity levels.06Is this tour suitable for families with children?
Yes, this tour can be suitable for families. We recommend it for children aged 6 and above due to the early starts, extensive sightseeing, and walking involved at archaeological sites. Please advise us of children's ages for any specific arrangements.07What should I wear and bring for this 8-day tour?
We recommend light, breathable clothing, comfortable walking shoes, a hat, sunglasses, and high-factor sun cream. Modest dress, covering shoulders and knees, is advisable for visiting religious sites like temples and mosques. A reusable water bottle is also useful.08What is the photography policy at the sites visited?
Photography is generally permitted at most outdoor sites. Some tombs and museum exhibits may prohibit flash photography or require a separate photography ticket, which is not included in the standard entrance fees. Your Egyptologist will advise on site-specific rules.09What is the best time of year to take this 8-day Nile cruise tour?
The best time to take this tour is from October to April when the weather is cooler and more comfortable for sightseeing. Summer months, May to September, can be very hot, especially in Luxor and Aswan.10How does this tour ensure proper visits to Edfu and Kom Ombo Temples?
Unlike shorter packaged cruises that often rush these sites, our itinerary dedicates specific time for thorough guided visits to Edfu Temple and Kom Ombo Temple on Day 5, allowing for a more comprehensive experience.
Last updated Product ID: TOU-CAI-665936
At a glance
- Length
- 8 days · 7 nights
- Starts
- Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri or Sat
- Route
- Cairo → Luxor → Edfu → Kom Ombo → Aswan → Abu Simbel → Cairo
- Nights
- 2 Cairo · 4 Nile cruise · 1 Aswan
- Includes
- Domestic flights, Egyptologist guide, entrance fees, transfers