Trip summary: Egypt with a Nile cruise, planned for you
This luxury expedition is one of our Egypt tour packages: Cairo, a Nile river cruise in Egypt, and beach days in Hurghada. If you are looking for Egypt vacation packages that feel calm and well looked after, this is built for that. From Cairo to Luxor, the cruise route works like this: you fly Cairo to Aswan, then sail the Nile to Luxor on a 5-star Nile cruise.
- 12 Days / 11 Nights
12 days / 11 nights
Cairo, Aswan, Nile cruise, Luxor, Hurghada
3 nights on a 5-star Nile cruise
Full board, expert guides
From $4,220 per person
Double occupancy. $5,300 single.
Hotels
5-star: Steigenberger Pyramids Cairo, Ramses Hilton or similar; Hurghada Marriott Red Sea Beach or Movenpick Resort Hurghada or similar
Cruise ships
Princess Sarah, Princess Sarah II, Blue Shadow, Nile Premium or similar
Highlights
Giza Pyramids, Valley of the Kings, camel ride, felucca, Red Sea
Tour Route
- Cairo
- Aswan
- Abu Simbel
- Kom Ombo
- Edfu
- Esna
- Luxor
- Hurghada
- Cairo
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Welcome to Egypt: Meet & Assist in Cairo
Meals: Welcome drink and dinner
Your Expedition Egypt representative meets you at Cairo International Airport and walks you through formalities. A private air-conditioned deluxe vehicle takes you to your 5-star Cairo hotel, where we handle check-in and give you a full itinerary briefing, so you know exactly what each day looks like. Enjoy a welcome drink and dinner, then rest after your flight.
Pyramids of Giza, Sphinx and Sakkara
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Visit the Great Pyramids of Cheops, Chefren and Mykerinus, the Sphinx and the Valley Temple, with a camel ride at the Pyramids included. Lunch is at a quality local restaurant. In the afternoon, see Djoser's Step Pyramid at Sakkara and the ruins of Memphis. Your certified guide explains each site at a comfortable pace. The Solar Boat ticket is optional.
Cairo Sightseeing: Museum, Islamic Cairo, Khan El Khalili
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Start at the Egyptian Museum with your guide, then explore Islamic Cairo's historic streets and mosques. After lunch at a local restaurant, browse Khan El Khalili Bazaar, the city's famous market, with time for gifts and tea. A relaxed day in the city before you fly south.
Fly to Aswan: High Dam, Philae Temple, Felucca
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Fly from Cairo to Aswan, where your guide and driver meet you. Visit the High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk and Philae Temple, reached by motor boat. Enjoy a felucca ride, the traditional Nile sailboat, then transfer to your Aswan hotel for the night.
Board Your 5-Star Nile Cruise (Optional Abu Simbel)
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Choose an optional early-morning trip to Abu Simbel (about 3 hours each way by road, $150 per person, booked in advance), or relax in Aswan. Later, transfer to your 5-star Nile cruise ship, settle into your cabin and enjoy lunch and dinner onboard. You sleep onboard in Aswan, so there is no packing and unpacking.
Cruise to Kom Ombo and Edfu
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Sail to Kom Ombo and visit the temple of Sobek and Haeroris on the riverbank. Continue sailing to Edfu while you enjoy afternoon tea on the sun deck and the Nile scenery. Dinner and overnight are onboard. This is the heart of your Egypt Nile cruise: calm days on the water with expert guides at each stop.
Edfu to Luxor: Horus Temple, Karnak and Luxor Temple
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Visit the Temple of Horus in Edfu by horse carriage, then sail to Luxor. On the Luxor Nile cruise leg, tour the vast Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple with your guide, one of the most memorable days of the trip. Dinner and overnight onboard in Luxor.
Luxor West Bank, then to Hurghada
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Disembark after breakfast. Visit the Valley of the Kings (with the local taftaf ride), the Temple of Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon. Then a private air-conditioned vehicle takes you to Hurghada on the Red Sea (about 3.5 hours). Check in to your beach resort and overnight in Hurghada.
Hurghada: Red Sea Relaxation Day
Meals: Breakfast
After a busy week, enjoy the Red Sea at your own pace. Relax on the beach or add optional activities: diving, snorkeling, windsurfing, sailing or deep-sea fishing. Your resort breakfast is included, and your team is available if you want help planning the day.
Hurghada: Free Day
Meals: Breakfast
A second free day by the Red Sea. Swim, rest, or book optional sea activities. This beach time is built into the plan, so the trip feels like a vacation, not only a tour.
Fly Back to Cairo
Meals: Breakfast
Transfer to Hurghada airport and fly to Cairo. Your representative meets and assists you on arrival and transfers you to your Cairo hotel for the night. Use the afternoon to pack, shop or relax.
Final Departure
Meals: Breakfast
After breakfast and check-out, a private vehicle takes you to Cairo International Airport for your flight home. We stay in touch until you have safely checked in.
What's Included — and What's Not
The price includes
- Meet and assist service upon arrival and departure.
- All airport/hotel transfers by private air-conditioned vehicle.
- 4 nights Cairo accommodation with breakfast.
- 1 night Aswan accommodation with breakfast.
- 3 nights 5-star Nile Cruise on full board.
- 3 nights Hurghada accommodation with breakfast.
- Total 20 meals: 10 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 3 dinners.
- Luxor to Hurghada transfer by private air-conditioned vehicle.
- Domestic flights Cairo to Aswan and Hurghada to Cairo.
- Certified professional tour guides.
- All sightseeing tours and entrance fees as per itinerary.
- Camel ride at Pyramids, felucca in Aswan, horse carriage at Edfu.
- Taftaf at Valley of the Kings and motor boat to Philae Island.
- All service charges and taxes.
Not included
- International airfare.
- Entry visa to Egypt.
- Optional tours not listed in itinerary.
- Personal expenses.
- Tipping (gratuities for guides, drivers, and cruise crew).
Travelers Who Took This Trip
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Read Before You Go
Book It or Make It Yours
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Customize Your TripFrequently Asked Questions
How do I get the Egyptian visa, and what does it cost?
The entry visa is not included in the trip price. Your representative meets and assists you when you arrive at Cairo International Airport. Americans need a visa to enter Egypt. A single-entry tourist visa is commonly reported at $25, which you can apply for online on the official e-visa portal, or buy on arrival at the airport, and it is valid for up to 30 days. Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months from your date of entry. Please confirm the current fee and rules on the official Egyptian e-visa portal before you travel.https://visafeecalculator.com/egypt/tourist-visa/united-states/
2) Can I add extra nights or change the trip?
Yes. This is our suggested trip, and changes to days, hotels or cities are available on request. For example, you can ask for extra nights in Cairo before or after the trip, or more days by the Red Sea. You can also design your own trip with our trip builder. Request a free consultation, and our team goes through the itinerary with you and fits it to your dates, your pace and your budget. No booking or payment is required to enquire.
3) What if my plans change? Can I cancel or change my booking?
Your plans can change, and we plan for that. You can cancel free of charge up to [__] days before your arrival date and receive a [full / %] refund. If you cancel later than that, [refund terms]. If you would rather keep your trip, you can **change your dates once at no charge up to [] days before arrival**, subject to availability. Your domestic flights and Nile cruise cabin are reserved in your name, so [state whether they are refundable or have their own terms]. To start, call +1 (615) 337-2658 or message us on WhatsApp, and our team handles the details. A consultation request is not a booking, so you can talk to us first with no obligation.
Steven Anderson
February 5, 2024 · ★★★★★
An Amazing 12-Day Egypt Adventure Expedition Egypt gave our family of six an unforgettable 12-day trip! We explored Cairo’s Pyramids and historic sites, enjoyed a luxurious seven-night Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan, and relaxed on Hurghada’s beautiful Red Sea beaches. Everything was well-organized, from the ancient temples and tombs to snorkeling and beach time. The trip exceeded our expectations, and we highly recommend Expedition Egypt!
Kevin Mitchell
July 15, 2025 · ★★★★★
The historical sites were amazing, but I think the days in Hurghada were my favorite way to end the vacation. After exploring Cairo and visiting temples along the Nile, it was great to have time for the beach and just relax. The whole trip offered much more variety than I expected, and the arrangements made traveling between destinations easier.
Richard Coleman
January 4, 2026 · ★★★★★
There were so many memorable moments on this trip, from the first view of the pyramids to sailing along the Nile and exploring the temples. I enjoyed learning about the history without having to worry about organizing every detail myself. The quieter days in Hurghada were a welcome break, and the team's communication helped everything feel straightforward. I'm glad I made the trip.
Thomas Walker
March 8, 2026 · ★★★★★
Planning a trip across several cities can be complicated, so I liked having the flights, transfers, and tours arranged ahead of time. The guide in Luxor was excellent, and I could have spent hours exploring the temples. We also appreciated being able to contact the team when questions came up. Overall, a great experience with a nice balance of activity and downtime.