9-Day Egypt Tour: Explore Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and Majestic Abu Simbel
Overview
The Great Pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx give your Egypt trip a concrete starting point: monuments you’ll explore with your private guide, a professional Egyptologist. In Cairo and Saqqara, you’ll connect those vast structures with the Step Pyramid, decorated tombs, and artifacts in the Egyptian Museum. The Citadel of Salah el-Din and Alabaster Mosque add another side of Cairo beyond its ancient sites.
Your route continues by flight to Luxor, where a four-night Nile cruise combines temple visits with time aboard between stops. Walk through Luxor Temple and Karnak Temples, then explore the Valley of the Kings and Temple of Hatshepsut. Edfu and Kom Ombo bring more temple encounters before Aswan. The payoff reaches beyond the river: an early drive takes you to Abu Simbel, while a felucca ride around the Botanical Garden and Aga Khan Mausoleum brings you back onto the water.
We arrange this private package for your own party, with guided visits, airport transfers, and domestic flights included. Your eight nights combine four in a 5-star Cairo hotel with breakfast and four aboard a 5-star Nile cruise with full board. You’ll return to Cairo before your departure transfer.
Highlights
- Explore the Great Pyramids of Giza with your private guide
- See the Great Sphinx of Giza up close
- Walk among Saqqara’s pyramids and decorated tombs
- Explore ancient artifacts with your guide at the Egyptian Museum
- Visit the Citadel of Salah el-Din and Alabaster Mosque
- Explore Luxor Temple and Karnak Temples with an Egyptologist
- Walk through the Valley of the Kings
- Cruise the Nile with Edfu and Kom Ombo visits
- Travel by land to the Abu Simbel Temples
- Sail by felucca around Aswan’s Botanical Garden
Itinerary
Day 1Arrival in Cairo, Airport Transfer and Free Day
When your flight arrives at Cairo International Airport, we'll greet you and arrange your private transfer to your hotel. You'll travel in an air-conditioned vehicle, then check in.
The afternoon is free, so you can rest or explore at your own pace. Any walking is up to you. If you head out, comfortable shoes and sun protection are useful.
You'll stay overnight in Cairo at Pyramisa Suites Hotel and Casino, Hilton Cairo Heliopolis, or a similar hotel. No meals are included today.
- Overnight in Cairo.
- Included Meal(s): None
Day 2Pyramids, Sphinx & Sakkara
After breakfast at your hotel, you'll begin your tour with your private guide, an English-speaking Egyptologist. Your first stop is the Great Pyramids of Giza. You'll see the Great Pyramid of Cheops (Khufu), the Pyramid of Chephren (Khafre), and the Pyramid of Menkaure (Mykerinus).
Next, you'll get a close-up look at the Great Sphinx of Giza. Wear comfortable shoes for exploring the sites, and bring a hat and sunscreen.
After lunch at a local restaurant, you'll travel to Saqqara to visit the Pyramid of Djoser, also called the Step Pyramid. You'll also visit the pyramids of Unas and Userkaf, followed by the tombs of Mereruka, Ti, and Ptahhotep.
You'll return to your hotel in Cairo at around 5:00 PM and stay overnight. Your accommodation is Pyramisa Suites Hotel and Casino, Hilton Cairo Heliopolis, or a similar hotel.
- Overnight in Cairo.
- Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
Day 3Egyptian Museum, Citadel & Alabaster Mosque
After breakfast at your hotel, you'll visit the Egyptian Museum with your private guide, a professional Egyptologist. You'll explore its collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts, with your guide explaining what you're seeing.
Lunch is included at a typical Egyptian restaurant. Then you'll continue to the Salah El Din Citadel and the Muhammad Ali Alabaster Mosque. Wear comfortable shoes for exploring the sites on foot, and clothing that covers your shoulders and knees for the mosque.
After the tour, we'll return you to your hotel for another night in Cairo. Your accommodation is Pyramisa Suites Hotel and Casino, Hilton Cairo Heliopolis, or a similar hotel.
- Overnight in Cairo.
- Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
Day 4Fly to Luxor from Cairo and embark on the cruise (Departs: Sat, Mon, Thu).
After breakfast, you'll meet your representative and transfer to Cairo International Airport for your flight to Luxor. On arrival, we'll transfer you to your Nile cruise. Cruise departures are on Saturdays, Mondays, and Thursdays.
After lunch on board, you'll explore Luxor's East Bank with your private guide, a professional Egyptologist. You'll visit Luxor Temple and Karnak Temple. Wear comfortable shoes for exploring the temple sites on foot, and bring a hat and sunscreen.
You'll return to the cruise for dinner and spend the night aboard your 5-star Nile River Cruise. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included today.
- Included Meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 5Luxor
After breakfast on the cruise, you'll explore Luxor's West Bank with your private guide, a professional Egyptologist. Your visits include the Valley of the Kings and the Temple of Hatshepsut.
You'll also visit the Colossi of Memnon before returning to the cruise. Wear comfortable shoes for exploring the sites on foot, and bring a hat and sunscreen.
Then your cruise sets sail for Edfu, and you'll spend another night aboard the Nile River Cruise. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included on board as part of your full-board stay.
- Included Meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 6Edfu & Kom Ombo
Once you arrive in Edfu, you'll visit the well-preserved Temple of Edfu. Your private guide, a professional Egyptologist, will lead your visit.
Back aboard, you'll sail to Kom Ombo for a visit to the Temple of Kom Ombo. Wear comfortable shoes for exploring both temple sites, and bring a hat and sunscreen.
The cruise then continues toward Aswan, with another overnight aboard your Nile River Cruise. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included on board as part of your full-board stay.
- Included Meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 7Aswan & Abu Simbel
Your day starts early, with a breakfast box and a drive to Abu Simbel in an air-conditioned minibus. You'll visit the Abu Simbel Temples with your private guide, a professional Egyptologist. Bring comfortable shoes for exploring the site, plus a hat and sunscreen.
The trip to Aswan takes about six hours, with rest stops along the way. After returning, you'll take a felucca ride around the Botanical Garden and the Aga Khan Mausoleum.
You'll spend another night aboard your Nile River Cruise in Aswan. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included as part of your full-board stay.
- Included Meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 8Fly Back to Cairo from Aswan
After breakfast, you'll take your private transfer to Aswan Airport for your flight back to Cairo. You'll travel in an air-conditioned vehicle, then fly in economy class.
When you arrive in Cairo, we'll pick you up and transfer you privately to your hotel. Keep your travel documents handy, and wear comfortable shoes for walking through the airports.
You'll stay overnight at Pyramisa Suites Hotel and Casino, Hilton Cairo Heliopolis, or a similar hotel. Your Cairo accommodation is 5-star, with breakfast included.
- Overnight in Cairo.
- Included Meal(s): Breakfast
Day 9Departure from Cairo – End of Tour Service.
After breakfast, you'll check out of your hotel in Cairo. Hotel check-out is before 12:00 noon.
We'll pick you up from your hotel for your private transfer to Cairo International Airport. You'll travel in an air-conditioned vehicle, with pickup arranged according to your flight details.
Your tour and our services end when you reach the airport. Keep your passport and flight documents handy for check-in.
- Included Meal(s): Breakfast
Featured Hotels
Hand-picked hotels for your stay — view our featured options for each city.
Featured Hotels
Nile Cruise
5-Star Nile Cruise
5 StarNile Cruise
Cairo
Hilton Cairo Heliopolis
5 Star
Pyramisa Suites Hotel and Casino
5 Star
Hotels are subject to availability; alternatives of an equal standard may be provided.
What's included
- Private tour arrangements for your booking party, with all scheduled visits guided by a professional Egyptologist and an English-speaking Egyptologist for the Day 2 private tour.
- Arrival meet-and-greet at Cairo International Airport and all itinerary transfers in air-conditioned vehicles, including hotel pick-up/drop-off, domestic airport and cruise transfers, and the final transfer to Cairo International Airport.
- Economy-class domestic flights from Cairo to Luxor and from Aswan to Cairo.
- 8 nights of accommodation: 4 nights in a 5-star hotel in Cairo on a bed-and-breakfast basis and 4 nights aboard a 5-star Nile cruise on a full-board basis.
- Meals as specified: breakfast on Days 2–9, lunch on Days 2–7, and dinner on Days 4–7, including a breakfast box for the Abu Simbel excursion.
- Two full days of Cairo sightseeing, covering the Giza Pyramids, Great Sphinx, Saqqara's Step Pyramid, pyramids of Unas and Userkaf, tombs of Mereruka, Ti and Ptahhotep, Egyptian Museum, Citadel of Salah el-Din and Alabaster Mosque.
- Scheduled Nile cruise sightseeing at Luxor Temple, Karnak Temples, Valley of the Kings, Temple of Hatshepsut, Colossi of Memnon, Edfu Temple and Kom Ombo Temple.
- Abu Simbel visit by land in an air-conditioned minibus.
- Felucca ride in Aswan around the Botanical Garden and Aga Khan Mausoleum.
- Entrance fees for all sights mentioned in the itinerary.
What's not included
- International flight tickets.
- Egypt entry visa.
- Optional tours, available at an additional cost.
- Services not mentioned in the program.
- Drinks with meals.
- Travel insurance, which is recommended.
Good to know
- This Egypt tour is a private arrangement for your booking party. All scheduled visits are guided by a professional Egyptologist; the Cairo tour on Day 2 specifies an English-speaking guide. The private format does not mean exclusive use of the Nile cruise ship.
- Arrival transfer from Cairo International Airport to your hotel is included on Day 1, with the afternoon free at leisure. On Day 9, hotel check-out is before 12:00 noon, followed by your airport transfer according to your flight details. Itinerary transfers use air-conditioned vehicles.
- Economy-class domestic flights from Cairo to Luxor and from Aswan to Cairo are included, together with the airport and cruise transfers listed in the itinerary.
- The Day 4 Nile cruise departs on Saturdays, Mondays and Thursdays. The sequence of daily tours may change depending on domestic flight availability and historical-site opening or closing arrangements.
- The package includes four hotel nights in Cairo and four nights aboard a 5-star Nile cruise. Named Cairo hotels are Pyramisa Suites Hotel and Casino or Hilton Cairo Heliopolis, or similar.
- No meals are included on Day 1. Breakfast and lunch are included on Days 2–3; breakfast, lunch and dinner on Days 4–7; and breakfast on Days 8–9. Day 7 starts with a breakfast box. Drinks with meals are excluded.
- Two full days of Cairo sightseeing, two lunches during those visits and all mentioned entrance fees are included. Day 2 covers Giza, the Sphinx and Saqqara, with return to the hotel around 5:00 PM. Day 3 includes the Egyptian Museum, the Citadel of Salah el-Din and the Alabaster Mosque.
- Cruise sightseeing includes Luxor and Karnak temples, the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Hatshepsut, the Colossi of Memnon, Edfu Temple and Kom Ombo Temple, before continuing to Aswan.
- Day 7 has an early start for the included Abu Simbel visit by land in an air-conditioned minibus, with rest stops along the way. After returning to Aswan, the itinerary includes a felucca ride around the Botanical Garden and the Aga Khan Mausoleum.
- Bring comfortable walking shoes for the archaeological sites, lightweight clothing, a sunhat and sunscreen for outdoor visits. Wear modest clothing covering shoulders and knees for the Alabaster Mosque, and bring a light layer for the early-morning Abu Simbel departure.
- International flights, the Egypt entry visa, optional tours, services not mentioned in the program, drinks with meals and travel insurance are not included. Optional tours carry an additional charge; travel insurance is recommended.
- Editor diagnostics: The daily accommodation entries describe the Cairo hotels as 'Standard quality', while the inclusions promise a 5-star hotel; reconcile these descriptions before publication. Day 7 states that 'the trip to Aswan takes about six hours' without clearly identifying whether this is the return leg or total excursion driving time; clarify the scope of that duration before presenting it as a travel-time estimate.
Frequently asked questions
Is this a private tour, and who guides the sightseeing?
Yes. This package is arranged privately for your booking party, with all scheduled visits guided by a professional Egyptologist. The Day 2 private tour specifically includes an English-speaking Egyptologist. The private arrangement does not mean exclusive use of the Nile cruise ship.
Where does the tour start and end, and are airport transfers included?
The tour starts with a meet-and-greet at Cairo International Airport and a transfer to your hotel. Day 1's afternoon is free. All itinerary transfers are included in air-conditioned vehicles, including domestic airport and cruise transfers. On Day 9, you check out before noon and transfer to Cairo International Airport according to your flight details.
What accommodation is included?
The package includes eight nights: four in a 5-star Cairo hotel with breakfast and four aboard a 5-star Nile cruise with full board. Cairo stays are on Nights 1–3 and 8; cruise stays are on Nights 4–7. Listed Cairo hotels are Pyramisa Suites Hotel and Casino or Hilton Cairo Heliopolis, or similar, with accommodation described as standard quality.
Which meals are included?
Breakfast is included on Days 2–9, lunch on Days 2–7, and dinner on Days 4–7. The early Abu Simbel excursion includes a breakfast box. No meals are included on Day 1, and drinks with meals are excluded.
What will I visit during the two Cairo sightseeing days?
Day 2 covers the three Great Pyramids of Giza, the Great Sphinx, and Saqqara's Step Pyramid, pyramids of Unas and Userkaf, and tombs of Mereruka, Ti and Ptahhotep, with a return to your hotel around 5:00 PM. Day 3 visits the Egyptian Museum, Citadel of Salah el-Din and Alabaster Mosque. Both days include lunch.
Are domestic flights included, and when does the cruise depart?
Economy-class flights from Cairo to Luxor on Day 4 and from Aswan to Cairo on Day 8 are included. The Nile cruise departs on Saturdays, Mondays and Thursdays. The sightseeing order may change depending on domestic flight availability and historical-site opening or closing schedules.
Which sights are included during the Nile cruise?
Scheduled visits include Luxor Temple and Karnak Temples on the East Bank, followed by the Valley of the Kings, Temple of Hatshepsut and Colossi of Memnon on the West Bank. The cruise then continues to Edfu Temple and Kom Ombo Temple before reaching Aswan.
How is the Abu Simbel excursion arranged?
On Day 7, you leave early with a breakfast box and travel overland to Abu Simbel in an air-conditioned minibus. The itinerary describes the trip to Aswan as taking about six hours, with rest stops along the way. After returning to Aswan, you enjoy a felucca ride around the Botanical Garden and Aga Khan Mausoleum, then spend the night aboard the cruise.
Are entrance fees included, and what costs are excluded?
Entrance fees for all sights mentioned in the itinerary are included. International flights, the Egypt entry visa, optional tours, drinks with meals, travel insurance and services not mentioned in the program are excluded. Optional tours carry an additional cost, and travel insurance is recommended.
What is your cancellation and refund policy?
If you need to cancel or change your travel dates, you must notify All Istanbul Tours at least 5 days before the tour starts. For a cancellation or date-change request received at least 5 days before the tour starts, the cost of all non-refundable flight and bus tickets will be deducted from the paid balance. For a cancellation or date-change request received less than 5 days before the tour starts, the full amount paid is non-refundable. If a traveler does not appear for the booked service, the reservation is treated as a no-show and the full amount paid is non-refundable.
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This 9-day journey across Egypt was simply unforgettable. Starting in Cairo, the Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx, and the treasures inside the Egyptian Museum left a lasting impression. Moving on to Luxor, exploring the Valley of the Kings and walking through the grand temples of Karnak and Luxor felt like stepping back in time. The days in Aswan were peaceful and full of charm, with stunning views along the Nile. The visit to Abu Simbel was the highlight of the trip — its scale and beauty were beyond words. Every detail was carefully arranged, from the transfers and domestic flights to the comfortable hotels. The guides were outstanding, blending knowledge with warmth and passion, which made history come alive. This tour exceeded expectations and is highly recommended for anyone wanting to truly experience the wonders of Egypt.