Egypt End to End — Cairo, Nile Cruise & Hurghada | 12 Days

Cairo · 12 days · 11 nights · shared departure for 4–12 travellers · from $1520 per person

About this departure

Egypt end to end in one shared, fully guided trip — and you only pay once the group is confirmed. Begin in Cairo with Memphis, Saqqara and Old Cairo, the Egyptian Museum and the Pyramids of Giza, then fly south to Aswan for Abu Simbel and a three-night Nile cruise sailing north through Kom Ombo and Edfu to Luxor. Cross the river to the Valley of the Kings and Karnak, then trade the temples for the Red Sea with three nights in Hurghada. Domestic flights and all sightseeing are included, so the logistics are handled end to end.

You travel with a licensed Egyptologist throughout and stay in hand-picked hotels and cruise boats across three comfort tiers, finishing with the lanes of Khan El Khalili on your final evening in Cairo.

Trip highlights

  • Arrival and departure airport transfers

  • Domestic flights Cairo → Aswan and Hurghada → Cairo

  • 4 nights Cairo hotel, 1 night Aswan, 3 nights Nile cruise (full board) and 3 nights Hurghada

  • 11 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 6 dinners — including 3 dinners at local restaurants

  • Abu Simbel, the Giza Pyramids, the Valley of the Kings and Philae Temple in one trip

Upcoming departures

No public dates are forming right now — you can start your own date on this page: pick the day that suits you, our team reviews it, and nothing is charged unless it reaches GoAhead.

Every date needs 4 travellers to be confirmed (the GoAhead). Hold a seat free — a deposit is only charged once the date confirms. Don't see your day? Start your own date on this page; our team reviews it before it opens.

Itinerary

  1. Arrival in Cairo — Welcome to Egypt. Our representative meets you at Cairo International Airport, helps with immigration formalities and luggage, and transfers you to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to settle in, with a welcome dinner together at a local restaurant in the evening. Arrival transfer · Welcome dinner at a local restaurant
  2. Memphis, Saqqara & Old Cairo — After breakfast, explore the cradle of ancient Egypt. Stand in Memphis, the country's first capital, then walk among the tombs of Saqqara and the Step Pyramid of Djoser — the world's oldest monumental stone building. After a traditional local lunch, wander Old Cairo, including the Hanging Church and the historic Coptic district. Memphis · Saqqara — Step Pyramid of Djoser · Old Cairo & the Hang
  3. Egyptian Museum & the Giza Pyramids — After breakfast, discover Egypt's most famous landmarks. Begin at the Egyptian Museum among the treasures of the pharaohs, then drive to the Giza plateau for the Great Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Valley Temple. In the evening, gather for dinner at a local restaurant. Egyptian Museum · Great Pyramids of Giza · The Great Sphinx · Dinner at a local restaurant
  4. Fly to Aswan & Abu Simbel — An early-morning flight brings you to Aswan. From there, travel south to Abu Simbel for the colossal temples of Ramses II and Queen Nefertari, carved into the mountainside above Lake Nasser and famously moved stone by stone to save them from the flood. Return to Aswan for a relaxing sail on a traditional felucca as the sun drops behind the west bank. Domestic flight Cairo → Aswan · Abu Simbel Temp
  5. Aswan Sightseeing & Board the Cruise — After breakfast, take in the Aswan High Dam that created Lake Nasser, the Unfinished Obelisk still lying in its quarry, and Philae Temple, the island sanctuary of Isis rescued from the rising waters. Board your Nile cruise, settle into your cabin and enjoy lunch and dinner on board as the boat stays overnight in Aswan. Aswan High Dam · Unfinished Obelisk · Philae Temple · Board the Nile cruise · L
  6. Sail to Kom Ombo — Begin sailing north after breakfast. Step ashore at Kom Ombo, the unusual double temple shared by the gods Sobek and Horus, standing right on a bend of the river. Return on board and continue toward Edfu, with lunch and dinner served as the banks slip by. Sailing to Kom Ombo · Kom Ombo Temple · Sailing to Edfu · Lunch and dinner on board
  7. Edfu Temple & Sail to Luxor — After breakfast on board, visit the Temple of Horus at Edfu — the best-preserved temple in Egypt, its pylon and hypostyle hall almost intact. Return to the cruise and sail on toward Luxor, passing through the Esna lock along the way. Lunch and dinner on board, with the boat moored in Luxor overnight. Temple of Horus at Edfu · Esna lock passage · Sailing to Luxor · Lunch and dinner on board
  8. Luxor's West & East Banks — Disembark after breakfast and cross to Luxor's legendary West Bank. Enter the painted royal tombs of the Valley of the Kings, stand before the terraced Temple of Queen Hatshepsut set against the cliffs, and pause at the towering Colossi of Memnon. Continue to the East Bank for the vast complex of Karnak and the elegant riverside Luxor Temple, then travel through the Eastern Desert to Hurghada and
  9. Leisure in Hurghada — The temples are behind you and the Red Sea is in front of you. Swim, dive one of the world's great reefs, take a boat out to the islands or simply stay put by the pool — the day is entirely yours. Free day at leisure in Hurghada
  10. Leisure in Hurghada — Another free day on the coast. Snorkel over the coral, wander the marina in the evening, or make the most of your hotel's facilities at your own pace. Free day at leisure in Hurghada
  11. Fly to Cairo & Khan El Khalili — After breakfast, transfer to Hurghada Airport for the flight back to Cairo. On arrival you're taken to your hotel, and in the evening you head into the lively lanes of Khan El Khalili — copper, spice and coffee houses — before a farewell dinner at a local restaurant. Domestic flight Hurghada → Cairo · Khan El Khalili bazaar · Dinner at a local restaurant
  12. Departure — After breakfast, transfer to Cairo International Airport for your departure flight. We hope you leave Egypt with unforgettable memories — and look forward to welcoming you back. Departure transfer

Included

  • Arrival and departure airport transfers
  • Domestic flights Cairo → Aswan and Hurghada → Cairo
  • 4 nights Cairo hotel, 1 night Aswan, 3 nights Nile cruise (full board), 3 nights Hurghada
  • 11 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 6 dinners — including 3 dinners at local restaurants
  • Licensed Egyptologist guide throughout
  • Guided sightseeing and entrance fees to every site in the itinerary
  • Memphis, Saqqara, Old Cairo, the Egyptian Museum, Giza Pyramids & Sphinx
  • Abu Simbel, Philae Temple, the Aswan High Dam & the Unfinished Obelisk
  • Kom Ombo & Edfu temples, Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut, Colossi of Memnon, Karnak & Luxor Temples
  • Felucca sail in Aswan and a Khan El Khalili bazaar visit

Not included

  • International flights
  • Egypt entry visa
  • Drinks and personal expenses
  • Travel insurance
  • Tipping and gratuities
  • Anything not specifically mentioned in the itinerary
  • Optional activities (e.g. hot air balloon)

Operated by an operator registered with the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism & Antiquities and verified by Sawa Tours.