9-Day Egypt Tour: Cairo, Nile Cruise & Sharm El Sheikh
The Giza Pyramids, Abu Simbel, three nights sailing from Aswan to Luxor, then snorkeling at Ras Mohammed. Domestic flights, hotels, your cruise cabin and guiding are all included.
The short answer
9-Day Egypt Tour: Cairo, Nile Cruise & Sharm El Sheikh is a 9-day, 8-night trip to Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel and Sharm El Sheikh: 2 nights in Cairo, 3 on a Nile cruise, 1 in Luxor and 2 in Sharm El Sheikh. Starts on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Saturdays. It includes domestic flights, an Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transfers. Prices start at $2,459 per person, two sharing (Essential, October–April).
02Overview
A first look
Many people want the temples and the beach in one trip. This Egypt tour with Sharm El Sheikh does both. You start in Cairo with the Nile dinner cruise and a full day at the Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum. Then you fly south to Aswan and join your Nile cruise ship for three nights, sailing north to Luxor. Abu Simbel, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Karnak and the Valley of the Kings all fall on the way.
After a night in a Luxor hotel, two flights take you to Sharm El Sheikh on the Red Sea. You finish with a day at Ras Mohammed National Park and a free morning before you leave. We book the domestic flights, every transfer, your hotels and your cabin. You choose the standard of hotel and ship when you book, from budget to luxury, and the sightseeing stays the same.
What lingers
- 01A Nile dinner cruise with an evening show on your first night in Cairo
- 02The Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum in one guided day
- 03Three nights on a Nile cruise ship from Aswan to Luxor, full board
- 04Abu Simbel by road from Aswan, with lunch back on the ship
- 05Philae, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Karnak and the Valley of the Kings, with guide and entrance fees included
- 06A day at Ras Mohammed National Park near Sharm El Sheikh, with snorkeling and the Magic Lake
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 $2,4593★ hotels · well-priced Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 3 nightsMagic I Luxor · 1 nightEl Mesala Hotel Luxor Sharm El Sheikh · 2 nightsFalcon Naama Star Hotel | $2,459May–Sep: from $2,344 | |
| Comfortfrom $2,6854★ hotels · 5★ Nile cruises | Cairo · 2 nightsJewel Sport City Nile Cruise · 3 nightsRoyal Elite · Emilio Luxor · 1 nightIberotel Luxor by JAZ Sharm El Sheikh · 2 nightsJaz NEO Naama Bay | $2,685May–Sep: from $2,572 | |
| Classicfrom $2,9475★ hotels · 5★ Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 3 nightsRoyal Liberty · Stephanie Sharm El Sheikh · 2 nightsParrotel Lagoon Waterpark Resort | $2,947May–Sep: from $2,572 | |
| Prestigefrom $3,3095★ deluxe hotels · 5★ deluxe Nile cruises | Nile Cruise · 3 nightsNile Serenity Luxor · 1 nightSteigenberger Nile Palace Luxor Sharm El Sheikh · 2 nightsNaama Bay Suites & Spa | $3,309May–Sep: from $3,190 | |
| Luxuryfrom $4,5545★ luxury hotels · 5★ luxury Nile cruises | Cairo · 2 nightsSt. Regis Cairo Nile Cruise · 3 nightsSonesta Star Goddess · Esmeralda Luxor · 1 nightHilton Luxor Resort & Spa | $4,554May–Sep: from $4,182 |
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
9 Days / 8 Nights · Cairo · Giza Plateau · Grand Egyptian Museum · Aswan · Philae Temple · Abu Simbel
- 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 a Nile dinner cruise: about two hours on the river with an open buffet dinner and a live show, and the lights of Cairo along the banks. A private transfer brings you back to your hotel afterward.
- 2
A full day with your English-speaking Egyptologist guide. You are picked up at your hotel and start on the Giza Plateau with the pyramids of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure and the Great Sphinx. Plan on 4 to 6 hours at Giza. Lunch follows, then the Grand Egyptian Museum for the Tutankhamun collection and the great statues of the Old and New Kingdoms.
Entrance fees and the air-conditioned vehicle are included. Back to your hotel for a second night in Cairo.
- 3
A transfer takes you from your hotel to Cairo Airport for the flight to Aswan, where a driver meets you. Sightseeing is arranged around your flight. With your Egyptologist you visit Philae Temple on its island by motor boat, the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk. The guide, entrance fees and transport are included.
You then join your Nile cruise ship, settle into your cabin and have dinner on board.
- 4
This is an early start. From the moored ship you drive by road to Abu Simbel for the great temples of Ramesses II, with entrance fees included. You are back on board for lunch. Then the ship sails north, and in the afternoon you go ashore at Kom Ombo, the double temple of the crocodile god Sobek and the falcon god Horus, standing on the riverbank. It is a full day, with dinner on board.
- 5
Your Egyptologist takes you ashore at Edfu to see the Temple of Horus, one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt. The ship then continues to Luxor, where you visit Luxor Temple and Karnak, the largest temple complex in Egypt, with its forest of columns and the Sacred Lake. Guide, entrance fees and transport are included. This is a full day of sightseeing, and your last night is on board.
- 6
After breakfast you leave the ship and cross to the West Bank with your Egyptologist: the Valley of the Kings, with three tombs included, Hatshepsut's mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahari and the Colossi of Memnon. Guide, entrance fees and transport are included. A transfer then takes you into Luxor and to your hotel for the night. The rest of the day is yours.
- 7
Today is a travel day. After breakfast a driver takes you to Luxor Airport for the flight to Cairo, then you fly on from Cairo to Sharm El Sheikh. Both flights and 23 kg of checked luggage are included. Flight times are set by the airline schedule. A driver meets you at Sharm El Sheikh Airport and takes you to your hotel on the Red Sea. There is no sightseeing planned, so the evening is yours.
- 8
You are picked up at your hotel for a day at Ras Mohammed National Park, about 6 hours in all. The trip runs in an air-conditioned minibus shared with other guests, with an English-speaking guide. You snorkel in the Red Sea (mask and snorkel are provided) and visit the Magic Lake. A picnic lunch with water and the park fee are included. The minibus then returns you to your hotel.
- 9
After breakfast you check out. A private transfer takes you from your hotel to Sharm El Sheikh Airport for your flight home. Your representative helps with luggage. Please book your international flight from Sharm El Sheikh, and tell us the time so we can set your pickup.
Bundled in
- Domestic flights
The fine print
What's included – and what isn't
Included
- Two nights in a Cairo hotel, one night in a Luxor hotel and two nights in a Sharm El Sheikh hotel, all with breakfast
- Three nights on a Nile cruise ship from Aswan to Luxor on full board
- Domestic flights Cairo to Aswan, Luxor to Cairo and Cairo to Sharm El Sheikh
- All airport, hotel and port transfers
- Nile dinner cruise with an evening show in Cairo
- English-speaking Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transport on the Cairo and Nile sightseeing days
- Abu Simbel by road from Aswan, with entrance fees
- Ras Mohammed National Park day with guide, snorkel gear, picnic lunch and park fee
- 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
Plan to see the Giza pyramids first and the museum afterwards, as the plateau is more comfortable in the morning.
- 02
Bring a small bag for the cruise days, since you step on and off the boat for temples each morning.
- 03
At Edfu the temple stands almost whole, so ask your guide to explain the wall reliefs of the falcon god Horus.
- 04
In Sharm, keep the final day light and finish packing early, because the airport journey follows a busy Red Sea morning.
Tailor it
Make it yours
Choose your hotel and ship standard when you book. Ask us about extra nights in Sharm El Sheikh, Luxor or Cairo.
All requests handled by your dedicated specialist before booking.
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- Travelers who want Egypt's big sights and some time by the sea in one trip. Suited to couples, friends and solo travelers who are comfortable with three flights and several hours of walking on sightseeing days.
Maybe not, if
- Travelers who need step-free access to every site, or who want a slow pace in one place. Days 2 to 6 are full, and day 7 is a travel day.
Honest assessment
Real trade-offs from our experience managing this tour.
Highlights
- Pyramids, Grand Egyptian Museum, Abu Simbel, the main Nile temples and the Red Sea in nine days
- All three domestic flights and every transfer handled for you
- Three nights on a ship, so no repacking between Aswan and Luxor
Things to Consider
- An early start for Abu Simbel and several full sightseeing days in a row
- Day 7 is mostly spent on two flights and transfers
- The Ras Mohammed trip is in a minibus shared with other guests
Where it fits
A good fit if you want the temples and a few days by the sea without planning the flights yourself. You fly home from Sharm El Sheikh, so book your international flight from there.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Many operators sell Cairo, the Nile and the Red Sea as separate trips. This itinerary joins them in nine days, with all three domestic 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 and Red Sea Finish
- Accommodation
- Cairo, Luxor and Sharm El Sheikh hotels and a Nile cruise ship, standard chosen at booking
- Destinations
- Cairo · Giza Plateau · Grand Egyptian Museum · Aswan · Philae Temple · Abu Simbel · Edfu · Luxor · Karnak Temple · Valley of the Kings · Sharm El Sheikh · Ras Mohammed National Park
- Includes
- 5 hotel nights with breakfast: 2 Cairo, 1 Luxor, 2 Sharm El Sheikh · 3 nights on a Nile cruise ship, full board · Flights Cairo to Aswan, Luxor to Cairo and Cairo to Sharm El Sheikh · Entrance fees to every listed site, including Abu Simbel · English-speaking Egyptologist guide on Cairo and Nile sightseeing days · Ras Mohammed day with snorkel gear and picnic lunch
- Best for
- First-time visitors · Travelers who want temples and a Red Sea finish · Active sightseers who enjoy a ship for part of the 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, ideally reef-friendly for Ras Mohammed
- Sun hat and sunglasses
- Swimsuit and a towel for the Red Sea day
- Refillable water bottle
- Any personal medication
- Small day bag
- Light layer for the ship, early mornings and flights
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 and the early Abu Simbel start in winter
- Swimwear under light clothes for the Ras Mohammed day
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 Ras Mohammed day includes snorkeling, so tell us if your child is a confident swimmer.
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, the boat to Philae and getting in and out of the shared minibus at Ras Mohammed involve steps. Vehicles are 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 three domestic flights, a Nile cruise ship and 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, Aswan, Luxor and Sharm El Sheikh, so much of what you spend stays in the places you visit. At Ras Mohammed we ask guests to follow the guide, keep off the coral and take their rubbish with them. Bring a refillable water bottle.
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
01Is this an Egypt tour with Sharm El Sheikh included?
Yes. Days 7 to 9 are in Sharm El Sheikh, on the Red Sea. You arrive by two flights on day 7, spend day 8 at Ras Mohammed National Park and depart from Sharm El Sheikh Airport on day 9.02Are the domestic flights included?
Yes. Cairo to Aswan on day 3, then Luxor to Cairo and Cairo to Sharm El Sheikh on day 7, each with 23 kg of luggage where the booking states it. International flights are not included.03Will I make my international flight?
Domestic and international tickets are separate bookings, so a delayed domestic flight can cost you a connection. On this tour you fly home from Sharm El Sheikh on day 9, after a hotel night there, with only a road transfer that morning. Day 7 has a Cairo connection but nothing leaves Egypt that day. Take travel insurance that covers missed connections, and tell us your flight time.04How many nights are on the Nile cruise?
Three nights on board, from Aswan to Luxor, on full board: breakfast, lunch and dinner each day. The other five nights are in hotels: two in Cairo, one in Luxor and two in Sharm El Sheikh, with breakfast.05Which 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.06Is Abu Simbel included?
Yes. On day 4 you drive to Abu Simbel by road from the moored ship in Aswan, with entrance fees included, and return to the ship for lunch before it sails north. It is an early start and a long morning.07Is the Ras Mohammed day private?
No. It is a shared trip: an air-conditioned minibus with other guests and an English-speaking guide. Mask, snorkel, picnic lunch with water and the park fee are included.08What is not included?
International flights, the Egypt visa, tips for guides, drivers and ship staff, drinks other than those stated, meals not listed on each day, 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, so sightseeing starts early. Sharm El Sheikh is warm for most of the year.
Last updated Product ID: TOU-CAI-464018
At a glance
- Length
- 9 days · 8 nights
- Starts
- Mon, Tue, Wed or Sat
- Route
- Cairo → Aswan → Abu Simbel → Kom Ombo → Edfu → Luxor → Sharm El Sheikh
- Nights
- 2 Cairo · 3 Nile cruise · 1 Luxor · 2 Sharm El Sheikh
- Includes
- Domestic flights, Egyptologist guide, entrance fees, transfers