Ten days, three cities, one river, one water park. This is the family trip that actually works — Cairo for the Pyramids, a four-night Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan, then two nights at a Red Sea aquapark resort with 50 slides. Kids get history AND water slides. Parents get a tan.
The cruise portion is on the Farah Nile Cruise, 5-star, full board. The Red Sea portion is at the Steigenberger Aqua Magic in Hurghada — Steigenberger’s family resort with the biggest aquapark in Hurghada. Kids’ club, kids’ pool, water slides from toddler-level to teen-level. Full board included.
This is our longest family itinerary. It works for kids 5 and up. If you have less time or younger kids, book the 8-day Family Tour with Nile Cruise instead.
What you actually see
Cairo — Days 1-2. Day 1 is arrival and rest. Day 2 covers the Giza Plateau and the Grand Egyptian Museum, with a slower pace and pool time in the afternoon.
Luxor & Nile Cruise — Days 3-6. Fly to Luxor, board the Farah Nile Cruise. Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings (2 tombs instead of 3), Hatshepsut’s Temple, Edfu via horse carriage, Kom Ombo with the crocodile mummies, Aswan High Dam, Philae Temple by boat, and a felucca sail at sunset. Four nights on the ship.
Red Sea Aquapark — Days 7-8. Fly Aswan → Hurghada on Day 7. Check in at Steigenberger Aqua Magic. Day 8 is a full free day at the aquapark and the beach. Kids can do 50 slides, parents can sleep on a lounger.
Cairo — Days 9-10. Fly back to Cairo on Day 9. Overnight at Steigenberger Pyramids. Day 10 is departure.
About the Aqua Magic resort
Steigenberger Aqua Magic is on the Red Sea coast in Hurghada, 15 minutes from the airport. It’s the family resort in the Steigenberger chain.
The water park. Around 50 slides across different levels — a toddler splash zone, mid-level slides for ages 5-8, and bigger slides for ages 9+. Lifeguards are on duty. Water is heated in winter.
Kids’ club. Supervised activities for ages 4-12. Open daily. Arts and crafts, mini disco, treasure hunts. Parents can drop off kids for 2-3 hours at a time.
Pools. Multiple pools — a main pool, a kids’ pool, and an adults-only quiet pool. Pool bars serve snacks and soft drinks throughout the day.
Beach. Private beach on the Red Sea. Shallow entry (good for kids). Snorkeling from the beach is decent, not world-class.
Restaurants. Full board — breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the main buffet. Several à la carte restaurants (Italian, Asian, seafood) included in the board basis. Soft drinks, tea, coffee, and local beer/wine included. Imported alcohol is extra.
Kids’ meals. Buffet has plain pasta, chicken nuggets, fries, and kid-friendly options. High chairs available.
The hotels & ship
Steigenberger Pyramids (Cairo, 2 nights at start + 1 night at end). 5-star, family rooms. Pool, restaurants. 10 minutes from the Giza plateau.
Farah Nile Cruise (Luxor → Aswan, 4 nights). 5-star ship. Cabins with Nile views. Small pool on the sundeck. Family-friendly menu. Kids’ play area.
Steigenberger Aqua Magic (Hurghada, 2 nights). 5-star family resort. Aquapark, kids’ club, private beach. Full board + soft drinks + local alcohol.
Age recommendations
Ages 8+ — ideal. Kids this age can do everything (big slides, all temples, full days).
Ages 5-7 — doable. They’ll love the aquapark and the cruise. Some temples will be boring. We adjust by cutting some sites short and adding pool time.
Ages 3-4 — possible at the aquapark and Cairo, but the cruise is hard. Valley of the Kings, Edfu, and Kom Ombo are not toddler-friendly. Book the 5-day Cairo Family Tour instead.
Under 3 — wait a few years.
About the flights
Three economy flights included: Cairo → Luxor (Day 3), Aswan → Hurghada (Day 7, connecting in Cairo), and Hurghada → Cairo (Day 9). All EgyptAir or similar. Luggage: 23 kg checked, 7 kg carry-on per person. Kids over 2 need their own seat.
Important note on pricing: The $2,000 base price is per person, double occupancy, low season (May-September). Peak season (October-April) is $2,400-2,700 per person. Kids under 12 sharing a room with two adults get 25% off the land portion. Infants under 2 travel free (no seat). Christmas/New Year and Easter weeks are higher — book early. We quote you the exact price before confirming.
What’s included
- 2 nights at Steigenberger Pyramids (Cairo, start)
- 4 nights on Farah Nile Cruise (Luxor → Aswan, full board)
- 2 nights at Steigenberger Aqua Magic (Hurghada, full board + soft drinks + local alcohol)
- 1 night at Steigenberger Pyramids (Cairo, end)
- Three economy flights: Cairo→Luxor, Aswan→Hurghada, Hurghada→Cairo
- Daily breakfast
- Lunch on all tour days
- Dinner on cruise nights (4) and Hurghada nights (2)
- All entrance fees (Giza Plateau, GEM, Karnak, Luxor Temple, Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut, Edfu, Kom Ombo, High Dam, Philae)
- Private A/C vehicle in Cairo
- Kid-friendly English-speaking guide
- Airport transfers in Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Hurghada
- Bottled water during tours
- Aquapark access at Steigenberger Aqua Magic
- Kids’ club access at Steigenberger Aqua Magic (ages 4-12)
What’s not included
- International flights
- Visa ($25 per person, including kids)
- Drinks on the cruise (water, soft drinks, alcohol) — budget $15-25 per person per day
- Dinner in Cairo (Days 1, 2, 9)
- Tips for guide, driver, and cruise crew ($10-15 per person per day land, $5-8 cruise)
- Abu Simbel (not recommended for kids under 10)
- Extra tombs in Valley of the Kings
- Hot air balloon (not suitable for kids under 6)
- Spa services at Aqua Magic
- Travel insurance (get one that covers kids’ medical needs)
Honest notes
Day 7 is a travel day. Disembark in Aswan, fly to Cairo, connect to Hurghada, check in. You arrive in the late afternoon. Kids will be tired. This is the trade-off for combining a Nile cruise and a Red Sea resort in 10 days. Day 8 is the full aquapark day.
There’s no direct Aswan → Hurghada flight. The route connects in Cairo. Total travel time on Day 7 is 6-7 hours. We mention it so you know.
The Aqua Magic is not a quiet resort. It’s loud, busy, and full of kids. That’s the point. If you want a quiet Red Sea resort, we can swap to a different property — but you lose the aquapark.
The Valley of the Kings is hot. Even in winter, tomb interiors reach 30°C. We do 2 tombs instead of 3 for families. The tuf-tuf (golf cart) ride to the tombs is a hit with kids.
Food at the Aqua Magic. The main buffet is included and has a huge range — pasta, pizza, grilled meats, rice, salads, desserts. Kids’ corner with plain options. À la carte restaurants (Italian, Asian) are included but require reservations — book at check-in.
Kids’ club hours. Usually 9 AM – 12 PM and 2 PM – 5 PM, plus evening mini disco at 7 PM. Ages 4-12. Under 4 must be supervised by a parent.
Water temperature. The aquapark pools are heated in winter (Nov-Feb). The Red Sea itself drops to 21-22°C in winter — swimmable but cool. Summer water is 28-30°C.
Day 10 timing depends on your flight. If your international flight leaves Cairo in the late afternoon or evening, we can arrange a short activity in the morning (Saqqara, or the Egyptian Museum). If it leaves in the morning, direct transfer to the airport.
Who this is for
- Families with kids 5-14 who want both history and beach time
- Parents who want kids’ club drop-off time to relax
- Families who don’t mind one long travel day (Day 7) for a big payoff
- Anyone who wants a full 10-day family trip without repacking every 2 days
Who this is not for
- Families with kids under 5 (the cruise pace is too slow for them)
- Anyone who wants a quiet, adult-oriented resort
- Families who hate water parks and slides
- Travelers who want a pure historical tour (book the standard 8 or 10-day version)
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