Day
01
Arrival in Cairo
Met at the airport with visa and customs handled for you, then straight to your hotel. Nothing scheduled for the rest of the day.
Year-round · 8 Days
Cairo and the Nile Cruise
8 days
Heritage
Cairo → Luxor → Aswan
Scroll for the days
The classic route, done properly: three nights in Cairo and four on the river between Luxor and Aswan, with a private guide rather than a shared coach at every stop.
Length
8 days · 7 nights
Route
- Cairo
- Luxor
- Aswan
Style
Heritage
, private
Starting at
$2,290 per person
- Giza
- Egyptian Museum
- Karnak
- Valley of the Kings
- Edfu
- Kom Ombo
- Philae
Day by day
The days, as they’ll unfold
01
/ 08
Day
02
The pyramids and the Sphinx
The Giza plateau in the morning, including the panorama point where the three pyramids line up. Afternoon at the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir, or the Grand Egyptian Museum if you would rather.
Tutankhamun’s full collection, finally under one roof
Day
03
Old Cairo and the flight south
Coptic Cairo on foot: the Hanging Church, the Church of Abu Serga and the lanes between them. Afternoon flight to Luxor and aboard your ship.
Where the Holy Family is said to have sheltered
Day
04
Karnak and Luxor Temple
The Karnak complex in the morning, then Luxor Temple in the evening when it is lit. Sail south after dinner.
Day
05
The West Bank
The Valley of the Kings with three royal tombs, the terraced temple of Hatshepsut, and the Colossi of Memnon. Optional balloon before dawn for those who want it.
Sunrise over the West Bank, if you’re up for it
Day
06
Edfu and Kom Ombo
The Temple of Horus at Edfu in the morning, Kom Ombo in the golden hour, and the stretch of river between them, which is the best part of the day.
Day
07
Aswan
Philae, the High Dam and the granite quarry with its unfinished obelisk. Afternoon by motorboat to a Nubian village on the west bank for tea.
Tea with a local family
Day
08
Home
Fly Aswan to Cairo and connect with your onward flight, or stay on and let us add Abu Simbel to the front of the day.
An early start. Worth every minute.
Every day can move. Tell us where you’d like more time.
Included, and not
Prices are per person and vary with dates, group size and hotel choice. Your quote lists everything line by line.
Included
- Private Egyptologist guide throughout
- Four-star hotels in Cairo (five-star on request)
- Four-night Nile cruise, full board
- Domestic flights Cairo to Luxor and Aswan to Cairo
- All entrance fees to sites and temples
- Airport meet and assist with visa support
- Private air-conditioned transport throughout
- Daily breakfast and all meals aboard
Not included
- International flights
- Travel insurance
- Tipping and personal expenses
- Optional sunrise balloon over the West Bank
- Abu Simbel excursion (we are glad to add it)
Plan your visit
The practical things travellers ask us most. Your trip designer covers the rest before you fly.
What to wear
Churches, monasteries and mosques ask for covered shoulders and knees. A light scarf does both jobs and helps in the sun.
When to go
October to April is the comfortable season. In summer, Luxor and Aswan are very hot, so we start early and rest at midday.
Arriving
We meet you as you land, or at the Taba border for Sinai trips, and walk you through visa and customs.
Pace
Early starts are flagged ahead of time. Tell us where you’d rather slow down and we’ll rebalance the days.
Make it yours
Talk to a trip designer about Cairo and the Nile Cruise
Change the dates, add a day in Sinai, swap the cruise for a dahabiya. We’ll send back a revised day-by-day plan.
