9-Day Cairo, Luxor & Hurghada Tour
The Giza Pyramids, the tombs and temples of Luxor, then four nights by the Red Sea with a jeep safari and a snorkeling day. Both flights, hotels and an Egyptologist are included.
The short answer
9-Day Cairo, Luxor & Hurghada Tour is a 9-day, 8-night trip to Cairo, Luxor and Hurghada: 2 nights in Cairo, 2 in Luxor and 4 in Hurghada. It includes domestic flights, an Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transfers. Prices start at $2,041 per person, two sharing (Classic, October–April).
02Overview
A first look
Two parts, in this order: the ancient sites first, then the sea. Day 1 is a calm arrival in Cairo, with a private pickup at the airport and a free evening. On day 2 you spend the day at the Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum, then fly to Luxor. Day 3 is the West Bank: the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's temple and the Colossi of Memnon.
Day 4 begins at Karnak and Luxor Temple on the East Bank. After the visit, a private car drives you to Hurghada, about five hours, and you stay there four nights. You take a jeep safari into the hills behind the coast, spend a day snorkeling at Orange Bay, and keep one day free. On day 8 you fly back to Cairo for a half-day tour of Coptic Cairo and a last night in the city. We book both flights, every transfer and your hotels. You pick the hotel standard when you book, and the sightseeing stays the same.
What lingers
- 01The Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum with your Egyptologist
- 02A day on Luxor's West Bank: the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's temple and the Colossi of Memnon
- 03Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple on the East Bank, before the drive to the coast
- 04Four nights on the Red Sea at Hurghada
- 05A jeep safari into the hills behind the coast
- 06A boat trip to Orange Bay, Giftun Island, with two snorkeling sessions
- 07Coptic Cairo, with the Hanging Church and Ben Ezra Synagogue
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 $2,0414★ hotels | Cairo · 2 nightsJewel Sport City Luxor · 2 nightsIberotel Luxor by JAZ Hurghada · 4 nightsSwiss Inn Resort Hurghada | $2,041May–Sep: from $2,053 | |
| Classicfrom $2,0415★ hotels | Hurghada · 4 nightsAMC Royal Hotel & Spa | $2,041May–Sep: from $2,055 | |
| Prestigefrom $2,5105★ deluxe hotels | Luxor · 2 nightsSteigenberger Nile Palace Luxor Hurghada · 4 nightsHilton Hurghada Plaza | $2,510May–Sep: from $2,718 | |
| Luxuryfrom $3,4015★ luxury hotels | Cairo · 2 nightsSt. Regis Cairo Luxor · 2 nightsHilton Luxor Resort & Spa | $3,401May–Sep: from $3,492 |
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.
Day by day
Detailed itinerary
9 Days / 8 Nights · Cairo · Giza · Saqqara · Luxor · Hurghada · Red Sea
- 1
Nothing is planned today except your arrival. A private representative meets you at Cairo Airport, helps with luggage and drives you to your hotel, about an hour away. The evening is yours to unpack, eat when you like and sleep. Tomorrow starts early with the Giza Pyramids, so an easy night is the right way to begin.
- 2
After breakfast your English-speaking Egyptologist collects you from the hotel. The Giza Plateau comes first, with the three great pyramids and the Great Sphinx; plan on four to six hours for the plateau. Lunch with a view follows, then the Grand Egyptian Museum. Entrance fees, bottled water and the air-conditioned vehicle are included.
Late in the day you are driven to Cairo Airport for the flight to Luxor, and a driver there takes you to your hotel. The timings are built around the airline's schedule for that flight.
- 3
This morning is all about the west side of the Nile. With your English-speaking Egyptologist, you go into the Valley of the Kings, where your ticket covers three tombs. Next is the terraced Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, and the two huge Colossi of Memnon stand on the way back. The tour takes about six hours, with the entrance tickets and an air-conditioned vehicle included.
The rest of the day is free in Luxor.
- 4
You finish the Luxor sightseeing in the morning on the East Bank. Your Egyptologist guides you through Karnak Temple and on to Luxor Temple, with entrance fees and the transfer between the two included. After the visit, a private air-conditioned car sets off for Hurghada. The drive takes about five hours and ends at the Red Sea.
This is a travel day, so use the road to rest and settle into your hotel when you arrive.
- 5
Today you leave the beach for a jeep safari, run as the Telescope Adventure. A jeep collects you and heads away from the coast into the hills behind Hurghada, on rough tracks with open views. It is a bumpy, dusty ride, so wear clothes you do not mind getting dirty. Afterward you are returned to your hotel and the evening is yours.
- 6
Your hotel pickup takes you to the marina, where a motorboat crosses to Orange Bay on Giftun Island. There are two guided snorkeling sessions, with masks, snorkels and life jackets provided. Between them you can lie on a sunbed on the beach. A hot lunch and bottled water are included. In the afternoon the boat brings you back to Hurghada and you are driven to your hotel.
- 7
No plans, no pickup. Swim, read by the pool, walk along the shore or look around the shops in Hurghada. If you would like a driver for part of the day or another trip, tell us and we will arrange it. Tomorrow morning you fly back to Cairo, so this is the day to pack at your own pace.
- 8
A driver takes you from your hotel to Hurghada Airport for the flight to Cairo; a second transfer brings you to your Cairo hotel. The rest of the day is arranged around the flight, which follows the airline's schedule. Your Egyptologist then leads a half-day tour of Coptic Cairo, about four hours.
You see the Babylon Fortress and the Hanging Church, the Greek Orthodox Church of St George, the Church of Abu Serga with its crypt and the Ben Ezra Synagogue. A break for mint tea and pastry is included, as are the vehicle and the guide.
- 9
Enjoy breakfast, check out and meet your driver for the ride to Cairo Airport, where a transfer representative helps you through. Your last night was in Cairo on purpose: it gives you a safety window if a domestic flight runs late, so you reach your international flight with time to spare.
Bundled in
- Domestic flights
The fine print
What's included – and what isn't
Included
- Two nights in Cairo hotels, two in Luxor and four in Hurghada, all with breakfast
- Domestic flights Cairo to Luxor and Hurghada to Cairo, with 23 kg luggage and taxes
- Private road transfer from Luxor to Hurghada
- All airport and hotel transfers by air-conditioned vehicle, with meet-and-assist on arrival in Cairo
- An English-speaking Egyptologist guide, the entrance fees and the transport on every sightseeing day, including three tombs in the Valley of the Kings
- Lunch on the Giza and Orange Bay days
- Jeep safari from Hurghada
- Orange Bay boat trip with snorkeling equipment, life jackets, a sunbed and a hot lunch
- Half-day Coptic Cairo tour with a mint tea and pastry break
Not included
- International flights to and from Egypt
- Egypt entry visa
- Gratuities for guides and drivers
- Drinks 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
Arrive at Giza early, before the strongest glare on the limestone surfaces.
- 02
Carry small cash for bottled water and restroom stops in Luxor and Hurghada.
- 03
At Karnak Temple, the earliest hours give the best light through the hypostyle hall columns.
- 04
In Hurghada, morning snorkeling usually has calmer water than late afternoon.
- 05
Wear shoes with grip, because tomb paths and temple stones can be uneven and dusty.
Tailor it
Make it yours
Choose your hotel standard when you book. Ask us about extra nights in Luxor or Hurghada, or a hot-air balloon flight in Luxor.
All requests handled by your dedicated specialist before booking.
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- Travelers who want to see the big sites and then rest on the Red Sea. Suited to couples, friends and active travelers comfortable with two flights, a long drive and several hours of walking on sightseeing days.
Maybe not, if
- Travelers who need step-free access to every site, or who want a Nile cruise or Abu Simbel. Days 2, 3 and 4 are full days.
Honest assessment
Real trade-offs from our experience managing this tour.
Highlights
- Pyramids, Grand Egyptian Museum, both banks of Luxor and the Red Sea in nine days
- Four nights in one resort, with a free day to rest
- A final night in Cairo protects your flight home
Things to Consider
- Days 2, 3 and 4 are full sightseeing days, and day 4 ends with a five-hour drive
- Day 1 is only an arrival, so Cairo gets a single full day
- No Nile cruise, and no Abu Simbel
Where it fits
A good first trip to Egypt that mixes history with rest by the sea. If you want a Nile cruise or Abu Simbel, ask about a longer tour.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Many operators sell the sights and the beach as separate trips. This itinerary joins them in nine days, with both flights, the road transfer and every other transfer booked for you. Hotel 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 multi-day tour with a Red Sea beach stay
- Accommodation
- Hotels in Cairo, Luxor and Hurghada, standard chosen at booking
- Destinations
- Cairo · Giza · Saqqara · Luxor · Hurghada · Red Sea
- Includes
- 8 nights in hotels with breakfast · Flights Cairo to Luxor and Hurghada to Cairo · Private transfer Luxor to Hurghada · English-speaking Egyptologist, entrance fees and transport on sightseeing days · Jeep safari and Orange Bay snorkeling trip · All transfers by air-conditioned vehicle
- Best for
- First-time visitors · Travelers who want history plus a beach stay · Active travelers who like a jeep safari and snorkeling
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
- Swimwear and a towel for Hurghada
- Any personal medication
- A scarf or buff against dust on the jeep safari
What to wear
- Lightweight, breathable clothing for sun and heat
- Closed shoes for tombs, temples and uneven ground
- Clothing that covers shoulders and knees at temples and churches
- Clothes you do not mind getting dusty for the jeep safari
- A light layer for cool mornings and the boat ride
Children & families
Children are welcome. 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 jeep safari and the boat trip can have their own age and size rules, so tell us your child's age when you book and we will say what is possible. Hotel costs depend on the child's age and the room used, so we give you the exact figure then.
Accessibility
Who can join this
This tour has a lot of walking on large archaeological sites, over uneven stone and sand, up steps and through narrow tomb passages. The Valley of the Kings and Karnak have long outdoor stretches with little shade. The old churches of Coptic Cairo add cobbles and steps. The jeep safari is a bumpy ride over rough ground, and the Orange Bay day involves a boat crossing and getting in and out of the water. Our vehicles are private and air-conditioned, but we cannot promise wheelchair access at every site. Tell us what you need when you book and we will say honestly which parts suit you.
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
The itinerary uses two domestic flights, a five-hour road transfer, a motorboat crossing and a jeep safari, and vehicle types vary, so we do not claim a carbon saving. Sightseeing is led by local Egyptologists and arranged with suppliers in Cairo, Luxor and Hurghada, so most of what you spend stays where you travel. At sea we ask guests to bring their trash back to the boat and to keep hands and feet off the coral.
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 2 and the flight from Hurghada to Cairo on day 8 are booked for you and included, with 23 kg of luggage and taxes. International flights are not.02How long is the drive from Luxor to Hurghada?
About five hours by private, air-conditioned car on day 4. You visit Karnak and Luxor Temple first, so the drive begins after the morning's sightseeing.03Will 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 before you leave. If you change the plan to fly to Cairo and connect the same day, choose a late-evening or night international flight, and take travel insurance that covers missed connections.04Which hotels will we have?
You choose a standard when you book, from budget to luxury, and we name the hotels for your dates. The itinerary and sightseeing are the same at every standard. All hotels include breakfast.05What is the jeep safari like?
A jeep takes you from Hurghada into the hills behind the coast on rough tracks. It is bumpy and dusty, so bring a scarf and wear old clothes. Ask us for the pickup time and length when you book and we will confirm them.06Is snorkeling equipment included?
Yes. On the Orange Bay day you get snorkel equipment and life jackets, two guided snorkeling sessions, a sunbed on the beach, a hot lunch and water.07What can I do on the free day?
Nothing is booked. Swim, relax at your hotel or shop in Hurghada. If you want a driver or another trip, ask us and we will arrange it.08Are the guide, entrance fees and transport included?
Yes. On the sightseeing days in Cairo, Luxor and Coptic Cairo an English-speaking Egyptologist guide, the entrance fees and the transport are included.09What is not included?
International flights, the Egypt visa, tips for guides and drivers, drinks and meals other than those stated, the Khufu pyramid interior and premium tombs such as Tutankhamun's.10When is the best time to go?
October to April is cooler and the most comfortable for walking around temples and tombs. Summers are very hot in Luxor, so sightseeing starts early, but the Red Sea is warm for swimming for much of the year.
Last updated Product ID: TOU-CAI-311540
At a glance
- Length
- 9 days · 8 nights
- Starts
- Daily
- Route
- Cairo → Luxor → Hurghada → Cairo
- Nights
- 2 Cairo · 2 Luxor · 4 Hurghada
- Includes
- Domestic flights, Egyptologist guide, entrance fees, transfers