9-Day Egypt Photography Tour: Cairo, Luxor & Aswan
Sunset camels at Giza, a sunrise balloon over Luxor, Karnak after dark and Abu Simbel in the early morning. Hotels, flights and an Egyptologist are included.
The short answer
9-Day Egypt Photography Tour: Cairo, Luxor & Aswan is a 9-day, 8-night trip to Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and Abu Simbel: 3 nights in Cairo, 3 in Luxor and 2 in Aswan. It includes domestic flights, an Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and transfers. Prices start at $2,203 per person, two sharing (Essential, October–April).
02Overview
A first look
Egypt looks its best at the edges of the day, and this tour is planned around that. You spend three nights in Cairo, three in Luxor and two in Aswan, and most days have one moment picked for the light: a camel ride at Giza as the sun drops, a felucca on the Nile at dusk, a Banana Island boat ride at sunset, a balloon at sunrise.
To be clear about what this is: it is a normal guided tour on a route that suits photographers. There is no dedicated photography guide and no workshop. Your English-speaking Egyptologist takes you through the sites and tells you where the best angles are. We book the domestic flights, the transfers, the hotels and the entrance fees. You choose the hotel standard when you book, and the sightseeing stays the same.
What lingers
- 01The Giza Pyramids and the Sphinx, then a camel ride at sunset
- 02A sunset felucca on the Nile in Cairo and another in Aswan
- 03A sunrise hot air balloon ride over Luxor, weather permitting
- 04Karnak Temple by day and the sound and light show after dark
- 05The Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut Temple on Luxor's West Bank
- 06Abu Simbel by road, a full day from Aswan
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 $2,2033★ hotels | Luxor · 3 nightsEl Mesala Hotel Luxor Aswan · 2 nightsHapi Hotel Aswan | $2,203May–Sep: from $2,096 | |
| Comfortfrom $2,4464★ hotels | Cairo · 3 nightsJewel Sport City Luxor · 3 nightsIberotel Luxor by JAZ | $2,446May–Sep: from $2,333 | |
| Classicfrom $2,5775★ hotels | $2,577May–Sep: from $2,414 | ||
| Prestigefrom $2,8795★ deluxe hotels | Luxor · 3 nightsSteigenberger Nile Palace Luxor Aswan · 2 nightsTolip Aswan | $2,879May–Sep: from $2,801 | |
| Luxuryfrom $3,9345★ luxury hotels | Cairo · 3 nightsSt. Regis Cairo Luxor · 3 nightsHilton Luxor Resort & Spa Aswan · 2 nightsThe Zen Wellness Resort Aswan | $3,934May–Sep: from $3,827 |
Hotels on bed & breakfast. 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 · Islamic Cairo · Luxor · Banana Island · Valley of the Kings
- 1
A private representative meets you in the arrivals hall at Cairo Airport and drives you to your hotel, about an hour away. Nothing else is planned for today, so you can rest after the flight, charge your camera batteries and check your gear. Tomorrow starts with the pyramids.
- 2
Your Egyptologist guide takes you to the Giza plateau for the pyramids and the Sphinx, with the entrance fees and transport included. Plan on a camera permit fee at some sites; your guide will tell you where. Later you return to the plateau for a private camel ride at sunset, when the stone turns gold and the crowds thin out.
- 3
Today is on foot through the old city. You walk Al-Muizz Street, lined with medieval mosques and gates, and then lose yourself in the lanes of Khan El Khalili bazaar. Your Egyptologist guide leads, and transport and any entrance fees are included. In the evening you board a felucca on the Nile for a sunset trip on the river.
- 4
A transfer takes you to Cairo Airport for the domestic flight to Luxor, and a driver meets you there. Flight times follow the airline schedule. Once you are settled in, a private motorboat takes you out on the Nile to Banana Island for the last light of the day, with fruit, mint tea and water on board.
- 5
Before dawn you are collected for a hot air balloon flight over the West Bank, a calm view of fields, dry hills and temples as the sun rises. Balloons only fly when the weather allows, and we cannot promise a flight on a given morning.
Afterwards your Egyptologist guide takes you to the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, the Colossi of Memnon and Medinet Habu, with entrance fees and transport included.
- 6
Your Egyptologist guide meets you at the hotel for the East Bank. You see Karnak, the largest temple complex in Egypt, and then Luxor Temple, with both entrance fees and the air-conditioned transfer between them included. The day is quieter than yesterday. After dark you return to Karnak for the sound and light show.
- 7
A private driver takes you from your Luxor hotel to your Aswan hotel, so this is mostly a travel day with time to settle in. As the afternoon cools you take a felucca around the Nile islands at Aswan. Granite rocks, palm trees and white sails make this one of the easiest places to take pictures without effort.
- 8
Today is a full day. You leave Aswan very early by road so that you reach Abu Simbel in the soft light of the morning, with the entrance fees included. The two rock-cut temples of Ramesses II and Nefertari stand above Lake Nasser. You drive back to Aswan afterwards, and the afternoon is yours to rest.
- 9
Your Egyptologist guide takes you by boat to Philae, the temple of Isis on its island, with entrance fees and transport included. The visit is arranged around your flight. A driver then takes you to Aswan Airport for the domestic flight to Cairo, and a second transfer takes you to Cairo Airport for your flight home. Flight times follow the airline schedule.
Bundled in
- Domestic flights
The fine print
What's included – and what isn't
Included
- Eight hotel nights with breakfast: three in Cairo, three in Luxor, two in Aswan
- Domestic flights Cairo to Luxor and Aswan to Cairo
- All airport and hotel transfers, plus the Luxor to Aswan road transfer, by private air-conditioned vehicle
- Giza Pyramids and the Sphinx with a camel ride at sunset
- Sunset felucca rides in Cairo and Aswan, and a Banana Island motorboat trip
- Sunrise hot air balloon ride over Luxor, weather permitting
- Karnak sound and light show
- Entrance fees to every site in the itinerary, including Abu Simbel
- English-speaking Egyptologist guide on all sightseeing days
- Meet-and-assist at Cairo Airport
Not included
- International flights to and from Egypt
- Egypt entry visa
- Gratuities for guides and drivers
- Meals other than breakfast and drinks
- Camera permit fees where a site charges them
- Travel insurance and personal expenses
Field notes
From our Egyptologists
- 01
At Giza sunset, ask your handler to pause where the pyramids line up behind the camel, and keep your shutter fast as it moves.
- 02
In Islamic Cairo, shoot Al-Muizz Street in late afternoon when minaret silhouettes stand out, and keep your bag zipped in the crowds.
- 03
Bring a spare battery for the balloon flight; cool pre-dawn air drains camera batteries fast and you will shoot constantly.
- 04
Ask your guide about camera rules inside the Abu Simbel temples before lifting a lens; the colossal facade outside is the main photo moment.
Tailor it
Make it yours
Choose your hotel standard when you book. Ask us about 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 care about light and want good timing at the famous sites, with an Egyptologist to explain them. Suited to couples, friends and solo travelers who can handle walking, sand and early alarms.
Maybe not, if
- Anyone expecting photography teaching, a private photographer guide or guaranteed tripod and drone use. Also not for travelers who need step-free access everywhere.
Honest assessment
Real trade-offs from our experience managing this tour.
Highlights
- Sunrise, sunset and dusk moments are built into the schedule
- Cairo, Luxor and Aswan with both domestic flights and all transfers handled
- Abu Simbel is included, by road
Things to Consider
- Several very early starts, including the balloon and Abu Simbel
- Not a photography workshop: no dedicated photographer guide
- The balloon depends on the weather and cannot be promised
Where it fits
A good fit if photos are your reason for going and you want Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and Abu Simbel in nine days. If you want a tutor or private site access, this is not that tour.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Many photography trips cost more and run as workshops. This one is a normal guided tour on a route with sunrise and sunset moments built in. You get the locations and the timing; you do not get tuition.
Compare
Similar tours to compare
On the ground
Your route
Snapshot
Good to know
- Travel style
- Guided multi-day tour built around sunrise and sunset light
- Accommodation
- Cairo, Luxor and Aswan hotels, standard chosen at booking
- Destinations
- Cairo · Giza Plateau · Islamic Cairo · Luxor · Banana Island · Valley of the Kings · Medinet Habu · Karnak Temple · Aswan · Abu Simbel · Philae Temple
- Includes
- 8 hotel nights with breakfast: 3 Cairo, 3 Luxor, 2 Aswan · Flights Cairo to Luxor and Aswan to Cairo · Sunrise balloon over Luxor, weather permitting · Sunset camel ride at Giza and felucca rides in Cairo and Aswan · Entrance fees to every listed site, including Abu Simbel · English-speaking Egyptologist on sightseeing days
- Best for
- Amateur photographers · First-time visitors who like golden-hour views · Couples and friends
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
- Camera, spare batteries and spare memory cards
- Lens cloth and a small dust blower
- Comfortable walking shoes with good grip
- Sunscreen, SPF 30 or higher
- Sun hat and sunglasses
- Refillable water bottle
- Small day bag and a warm layer for the balloon morning
What to wear
- Lightweight, breathable clothing for sun and heat
- Closed, flat shoes for temples, sand and uneven ground
- Clothing that covers shoulders and knees at mosques and temples
- A warm jacket or fleece for the pre-dawn balloon launch and for evenings in winter
- A hat and sunglasses
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 balloon ride has its own age and height limits, which we check with the operator once you tell us the child's age. Hotel prices depend on age and the room used, and we give you the exact figure at booking.
Accessibility
Who can join this
This tour involves a lot of walking on large archaeological sites, with uneven stone, sand and steps, and long outdoor stretches with little shade at Karnak, the West Bank and Abu Simbel. The balloon basket, the felucca and the Banana Island boat all need a step up or down and some balance. 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 say honestly which parts suit you.
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
The tour uses two domestic flights and private road transfers, and the vehicle type varies, so we do not claim a carbon saving. Sightseeing is guided by local Egyptologists, and the felucca, boat and balloon operators are local businesses in Cairo, Luxor and Aswan. We ask guests to carry a refillable water bottle, to keep to the paths 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
01Is there a photography guide or a workshop?
No. This is a standard guided tour with an English-speaking Egyptologist, on a route chosen for its light. The guide knows the sites and will suggest where to stand, but there is no photography instructor, workshop or private access.02Can I use a tripod or a drone?
We cannot promise either. Rules differ from site to site, and a camera permit or fee may apply at some of them. Your guide tells you what is allowed on the day. Drones are generally not permitted.03Does the balloon always fly?
No. Balloons fly only when the weather and wind allow, and the operator decides on the morning. We cannot promise a flight on a particular day.04Are the domestic flights included?
Yes. Cairo to Luxor on day 4 and Aswan to Cairo on day 9 are booked for you and included. Flight times follow the airline schedule. International flights are not included.05How long is the Abu Simbel day?
It is a full day. You drive from Aswan in the early morning, spend time at the temples and drive back. The vehicle is private and air-conditioned, and the entrance fees are included.06Will I make my international flight?
Your domestic and international tickets are separate bookings, so a delayed flight from Aswan can cost you the connection. We prefer to add one last night in Cairo. If you must connect on day 9, choose a late-evening or night international flight, and take travel insurance that covers missed connections.07Which meals are included?
Breakfast is included at your hotel on days 2 to 9. Other meals are not part of the schedule, so you can eat where you like. The Banana Island boat trip includes fruit and mint tea.08Are the entrance fees and the guide included?
Yes. An English-speaking Egyptologist, the entrance fees and the transport are included on every sightseeing day. A camera permit fee can apply at some sites.09When is the best time to go?
October to April is cooler and the most comfortable for long days outside. Summers are hot, especially in Luxor and Aswan, so sightseeing starts early. Winter mornings are cold at the balloon launch, so bring a warm layer.
Last updated Product ID: TOU-CAI-411927
At a glance
- Length
- 9 days · 8 nights
- Starts
- Daily
- Route
- Cairo → Luxor → Aswan → Abu Simbel → Cairo
- Nights
- 3 Cairo · 3 Luxor · 2 Aswan
- Includes
- Domestic flights, Egyptologist guide, entrance fees, transfers