9-Day Cairo, Nile Cruise, Abu Simbel & Fayoum Tour
The Giza Pyramids, four nights cruising from Luxor to Aswan, a road trip to Abu Simbel and a day in the Fayoum oasis. Flights, hotels and your cruise cabin are included.
The short answer
9-Day Cairo, Nile Cruise, Abu Simbel & Fayoum Tour is a 9-day, 8-night trip to Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel and Fayoum: 4 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 $2,463 per person, two sharing (Essential, October–April).
02Overview
A first look
Nine days gives you room to see Egypt without rushing every hour. You begin in Cairo with the Giza Pyramids, a Sound & Light show and the Grand Egyptian Museum. Then you fly to Luxor and join your Nile cruise ship for four nights, with Karnak, Luxor Temple, the West Bank, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae along the way.
In Aswan you leave the ship early for the road trip to the temples of Abu Simbel, then see Philae and the High Dam before your flight. A second flight brings you back to Cairo, where the last full day is spent in the Fayoum oasis. We book both domestic flights, every transfer, your hotels and your cruise cabin. You choose the standard of hotel and ship when you book, and the sightseeing stays the same.
What lingers
- 01Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum with an Egyptologist
- 02The Pyramids Sound & Light Show on your first evening in Egypt
- 03Four nights on a Nile cruise ship from Luxor to Aswan, full board
- 04Karnak, Luxor Temple and the Valley of the Kings, including three tombs
- 05Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae temples, plus the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk
- 06An early-morning road trip to Abu Simbel from your moored ship, and a full day in the Fayoum oasis and Wadi El Rayan
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 $2,4633★ hotels · well-priced Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 4 nightsNephtis · Magic I | $2,463May–Sep: from $2,231 | |
| Comfortfrom $2,6774★ hotels · 5★ Nile cruises | Cairo · 4 nightsJewel Sport City Nile Cruise · 4 nightsTower Prestige · Royal La Terrasse | $2,677May–Sep: from $2,413 | |
| Classicfrom $2,8815★ hotels · 5★ Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 4 nightsSun Times · Stephanie | $2,881May–Sep: from $2,413 | |
| Prestigefrom $3,5315★ deluxe hotels · 5★ deluxe Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 4 nightsSonesta Moon Goddess · Nile Excellence | $3,531May–Sep: from $3,034 | |
| Luxuryfrom $5,6315★ luxury hotels · 5★ luxury Nile cruises | Cairo · 4 nightsSt. Regis Cairo Nile Cruise · 4 nightsSonesta St. George I · Esmeralda | $5,631May–Sep: from $4,276 | |
| Signature Collectionfrom $7,514Iconic heritage vessels · landmark hotels | Cairo · 4 nightsFour Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza Nile Cruise · 4 nightsHistoria | $7,514May–Sep: from $5,923 |
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.
Day by day
Detailed itinerary
9 Days / 8 Nights · Cairo · Giza · Luxor · Edfu · Kom Ombo · Aswan
- 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 you are collected for the Sound & Light Show at the Giza Pyramids, with a private round trip from your hotel and a ticket arranged for you. Dinner is not included today.
- 2
A full day with your Egyptologist, about eight hours in all. The Giza visit itself takes 4 to 6 hours: the pyramids and the Great Sphinx on the Giza Plateau. Lunch is at a restaurant with a view, and then you go on to the Grand Egyptian Museum. The guide, the entrance fees and the air-conditioned vehicle are included. Your driver takes you back to the hotel for a second night in Cairo.
- 3
A transfer takes you to Cairo Airport for the one-hour flight to Luxor, where a driver takes you to the river and your cruise ship. The airline sets the flight time, so the sightseeing is arranged around it. Today is Karnak, the largest temple complex in Egypt, with its Sacred Lake, and Luxor Temple. An English-speaking Egyptologist guide, the entrance fees and the transport are included.
Dinner and your first night are on board.
- 4
Cross to the West Bank of the Nile with your Egyptologist guide for the Colossi of Memnon, the Valley of the Kings, with three tombs included, and the mortuary temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari. Entrance fees and transport are included. The rest of the day and the evening are on board.
- 5
The ship travels south toward Aswan. With your Egyptologist guide you go ashore at the Temple of Edfu, then at the temple of Kom Ombo, which stands right on the river. Entrance fees and transport are included. Between the visits you can sit on deck and watch the Nile Valley go by.
- 6
The ship is moored in Aswan, and you leave early by road for Abu Simbel, the two rock temples of Ramesses II. Your English-speaking Egyptologist guide, the entrance fees and the transport are included. You return to the ship and the afternoon is free. This is your last night on board.
- 7
After breakfast you check out of the ship. Your Egyptologist guide takes you to Philae Temple, the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk, with entrance fees and transport included. A private transfer then takes you to Aswan Airport for the one-hour flight to Cairo, and another to your hotel. The airline sets the flight time, so the sightseeing is arranged around it.
- 8
A private day trip of about ten hours from Cairo to the Fayoum Oasis and Wadi El Rayan. You travel by air-conditioned vehicle with a driver and an English-speaking guide, and have lunch at a local restaurant. You return to your Cairo hotel. This last night in Cairo is deliberate: it is a safety window in case a domestic flight was delayed earlier, so you reach your flight home calmly.
- 9
Your last morning in Egypt starts with breakfast and check-out. A transfer representative meets you in the lobby to load your bags, and a private car runs you out to Cairo Airport, a drive we plan at around ninety minutes, so leave yourself a good margin before your flight.
Bundled in
- Domestic flights
The fine print
What's included – and what isn't
Included
- Four nights in Cairo hotels with breakfast, and four nights on a Nile cruise ship on full board
- Domestic flights Cairo to Luxor and Aswan to Cairo, with 23 kg of luggage
- All airport, hotel and ship transfers by air-conditioned vehicle
- Pyramids Sound & Light Show ticket with a private round trip
- Entrance fees to the Giza Plateau, the Grand Egyptian Museum, Abu Simbel and the cruise sightseeing sites, including three tombs in the Valley of the Kings
- Lunch on the Giza and Fayoum days
- English-speaking Egyptologist guide on every sightseeing day, including the cruise sightseeing and Abu Simbel, with transport, and a private English-speaking guide in the Fayoum
- 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
- Dinner on days 1 and 8
- Travel insurance and personal expenses
Field notes
From our Egyptologists
- 01
Arrive at Abu Simbel at sunrise if possible, before day visitor traffic builds.
- 02
The Valley of the Kings is cooler before 9am, and shade is limited after that.
- 03
At Philae, boat crossings are calmer earlier in the day, before the afternoon breeze rises.
- 04
Fayoum roads are smoother in the morning, with less dust and fewer local bus stops.
Tailor it
Make it yours
Choose your hotel and ship standard when you book. Ask us about extra nights in Cairo, Luxor or Aswan.
All requests handled by your dedicated specialist before booking.
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- Travelers who want the classic Egypt route plus Abu Simbel and one lesser-visited day in the Fayoum. Suited to couples, friends 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, or who dislike long days in a vehicle. Days 3, 6 and 8 are long, and day 7 combines sightseeing with a flight.
Honest assessment
Real trade-offs from our experience managing this tour.
Highlights
- Pyramids, Grand Egyptian Museum, a full Nile cruise, Abu Simbel and the Fayoum in nine days
- Both domestic flights and all transfers handled for you
- Four nights on a ship, so no repacking between Luxor and Aswan
Things to Consider
- An early start for Abu Simbel on day 6, then Aswan sightseeing and a flight on day 7
- Uneven stone, steps and little shade at the major sites
- Two long road days: Abu Simbel and the Fayoum
Where it fits
A good fit for a first trip to Egypt when you want Abu Simbel and a full cruise, plus one day away from the main tourist route.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Many operators sell the Nile cruise, Abu Simbel and the Fayoum as separate trips. This itinerary joins them in nine days, with both flights and every transfer booked for you. 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 Multi-Day Tour with Nile Cruise
- Accommodation
- Cairo hotels and a Nile cruise ship, standard chosen at booking
- Destinations
- Cairo · Giza · Luxor · Edfu · Kom Ombo · Aswan · Abu Simbel · Fayoum
- Includes
- 4 nights in Cairo hotels with breakfast · 4 nights on a Nile cruise ship, full board · Flights Cairo to Luxor and Aswan to Cairo · Entrance fees to every listed site, including Abu Simbel · Egyptologist at Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum, guide in the Fayoum · All transfers by air-conditioned vehicle
- Best for
- First-time visitors who want more than the basics · History-focused travelers · Travelers who want a Nile cruise, Abu Simbel and the Fayoum in one trip
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
- Light layer for the ship, the flights and early starts
What to wear
- Lightweight, breathable clothing for sun and heat
- Closed shoes for temples and uneven ground
- Clothing that covers shoulders and knees at mosques and temples
- A hat and sunglasses
- A light jacket 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. Abu Simbel and Fayoum are long drives, so think about whether your child is happy in a car for several hours.
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. The Valley of the Kings, Karnak and Abu Simbel have long outdoor stretches with little shade. Boarding the ship and the boat to Philae involve steps and a gangway. Abu Simbel and Fayoum mean long drives. 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 long private road days, and the vehicle type can vary, so we do not claim a carbon saving. Sightseeing is guided by local guides and arranged through local suppliers in Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and Fayoum, so most of the money you spend stays in the places you visit. We ask guests to take water bottles that can be refilled 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 in the price, with a 23 kg luggage allowance. The airline sets the flight times. International flights are not.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 four nights are in Cairo hotels with breakfast.03Which 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.04Is Abu Simbel included?
Yes. On day 6 you leave the moored ship in Aswan early in the morning for Abu Simbel by road, with an English-speaking Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transport included. The afternoon is free on the ship. On some departures the order swaps, with Aswan sightseeing on day 6 and Abu Simbel on day 7, and a flight after 4 pm. We tell you which applies to your dates.05What do we see in the Fayoum?
Day 8 is a private ten-hour trip from Cairo to the Fayoum Oasis and Wadi El Rayan, with a driver, an English-speaking guide and lunch at a local restaurant.06What is not included?
International flights, the Egypt visa, tips for guides, drivers and ship staff, drinks other than those stated, dinner on days 1 and 8 and meals on the other days not listed in the itinerary.07Is the pace too fast?
Days 3, 6 and 7 are the busiest: a flight plus sightseeing on day 3, an early start for Abu Simbel on day 6, and Aswan sights before the flight on day 7. Day 1 is lighter and gives you time to rest.08When is the best time to go?
October to April is cooler and the most comfortable for walking around temples. Summers are very hot, especially in Luxor, Aswan and Abu Simbel, so sightseeing starts early.09Will 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 last night in Cairo, a safety window we prefer. If you change that and connect through Cairo the same day, choose a late-evening or night international flight. Take travel insurance that covers missed connections.
Last updated Product ID: TOU-CAI-523638
At a glance
- Length
- 9 days · 8 nights
- Starts
- Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri or Sat
- Route
- Cairo → Luxor → Edfu → Kom Ombo → Abu Simbel → Aswan → Fayoum → Cairo
- Nights
- 4 Cairo · 4 Nile cruise
- Includes
- Domestic flights, Egyptologist guide, entrance fees, transfers