Nine days. Two days in Cairo, four nights on the Nile from Aswan to Luxor, then a four-hour drive to Hurghada for two days on the Red Sea. Cairo gets you the Pyramids. Aswan and Luxor get you the temples and the river. Hurghada gets you nothing to do but swim, eat, and sleep — which is exactly what you want after a week of moving.
The Nile cruise portion is on the Farah Nile Cruise, a 5-star ship on the Aswan → Luxor route. Full board (breakfast, lunch, dinner) is included. Drinks — including water at meals — are extra. The Hurghada portion is at the Marriott Beach Resort, also full board with soft drinks included.
Note on this itinerary: The cruise runs Aswan → Luxor. This is the reverse of most Nile cruise routes (which go Luxor → Aswan). We chose it because it lets us drive from Luxor to Hurghada directly — 4 hours — instead of flying back to Cairo first. Saves you a full travel day. The final return from Hurghada to Cairo is a 5-6 hour drive.
What you actually see
Cairo — Days 1-2. Giza Plateau at 8 AM when gates open. Three pyramids, the Sphinx, the Valley Temple. Then the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) with the Tutankhamun galleries. Day 2 covers the Citadel of Saladin, Coptic Cairo (Hanging Church, Ben Ezra Synagogue), and Khan el-Khalili bazaar.
Aswan — Day 3. Early flight from Cairo (1 hour). Board the Farah Nile Cruise. Afternoon: Aswan High Dam and Philae Temple (boat ride to the island). Evening: felucca ride on the Nile, then Nubian dinner and show on board. Ship stays docked in Aswan overnight.
Aswan & Kom Ombo — Day 4. Morning: optional Abu Simbel (extra cost — see notes). Or Unfinished Obelisk if you skip Abu Simbel. Noon: sail to Kom Ombo. Afternoon: Kom Ombo Temple — two temples in one, dedicated to Sobek (crocodile god) and Horus. Sail overnight to Edfu.
Edfu & Luxor — Day 5. Morning: Edfu Temple — the best-preserved temple in Egypt, buried under sand until 1860. Sail to Luxor. Cross the Esna Lock. Arrive Luxor evening. Ship docks overnight in Luxor.
Luxor East Bank — Day 6. Karnak Temple at 9 AM — the Hypostyle Hall with 134 columns. Then Luxor Temple in the afternoon. Best photos of Luxor Temple in late afternoon light or after dark when it’s illuminated. Ship docks overnight in Luxor.
Luxor West Bank → Hurghada — Day 7. Valley of the Kings at 7:45 AM. Ticket covers 3 tombs — we pick Ramses III, Ramses IX, Merenptah. Tutankhamun ($20) and Seti I ($25) extra. Then Hatshepsut’s Temple and the Colossi of Memnon. Lunch. Disembark. Drive to Hurghada (4 hours, 290 km) via the Safaga road. Arrive Marriott Beach Resort around 6 PM.
Hurghada — Day 8. Full free day. Sleep in, swim, eat. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the Marriott included (full board). Soft drinks included. Alcohol extra. Optional activities: snorkeling to Giftun Island ($40-60), diving ($70-100 for certified), glass-bottom boat ($30).
Day 9 — Drive to Cairo, Departure. Breakfast. Check out. Drive Hurghada → Cairo (5-6 hours, 450 km). Arrive Cairo in the afternoon. Transfer to Cairo International Airport for your international departure.
About the Nile cruise
The Farah Nile Cruise is a 5-star ship. 4 nights, all cabins with Nile views. Restaurant, bar, sundeck with pool, fitness room, spa. Entertainment most evenings — Nubian shows, Galabeya party, belly dance.
Full board means breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included. Drinks (water, soft drinks, alcohol) are NOT included. Budget $15-25 per person per day for water and soft drinks, more if you drink alcohol. You can refill your own bottle from the ship’s filtered supply at the front desk.
About the Hurghada Marriott
The Marriott Beach Resort is on the Red Sea coast, 15 minutes from Hurghada International Airport. Private beach, two pools, three restaurants, dive center on-site. Full board: breakfast, lunch, and dinner included. Soft drinks (water, soda, juice) included. Alcohol is extra.
About the flights & drives
One flight is included: Cairo → Aswan on Day 3 (1 hour, economy, EgyptAir). Luggage: 23 kg checked, 7 kg carry-on per person.
Two drives are included: Luxor → Hurghada on Day 7 (4 hours, 290 km). Hurghada → Cairo on Day 9 (5-6 hours, 450 km). Both in a private air-conditioned vehicle with a driver. We stop once on each drive for bathrooms and coffee.
Important note on pricing: The $1,650 base price is based on double occupancy in low season (May-September). Peak season (October-April) is $1,950-2,200 per person, and cruise availability is limited. Flight prices also change — booked 3+ months out, the flight is about $100-140 per person. Last-minute (under 3 weeks), it can reach $200-250 per person. We’ll quote you the exact price before confirming. We don’t markup flights or cruises — you pay what the supplier charges. Once your booking is confirmed, the price is locked.
The hotels & ship
Steigenberger Pyramids (Cairo, 2 nights). 5-star, pyramid views from some rooms. 10 minutes from the Giza plateau. 45 minutes from downtown in normal traffic.
Farah Nile Cruise (Aswan → Luxor, 4 nights). 5-star ship. Cabins with Nile views. Restaurant, bar, sundeck pool, spa. Full board (drinks excluded).
Hurghada Marriott Beach Resort (Hurghada, 2 nights). 5-star, private Red Sea beach. Full board + soft drinks. 3 restaurants, 2 pools, dive center.
What’s included
- 2 nights at Steigenberger Pyramids (Cairo)
- 4 nights on Farah Nile Cruise (Aswan → Luxor, full board)
- 2 nights at Hurghada Marriott Beach Resort (full board + soft drinks)
- One economy flight: Cairo → Aswan (Day 3)
- Two private drives: Luxor → Hurghada (Day 7), Hurghada → Cairo (Day 9)
- Daily breakfast
- Lunch on all tour days
- Dinner on cruise and Hurghada nights
- All entrance fees (Giza Plateau, GEM, Citadel, Coptic Cairo, High Dam, Philae, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Karnak, Luxor Temple, Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut)
- Private A/C vehicle in Cairo
- English-speaking Egyptologist guide (Cairo, Aswan, Luxor)
- Airport transfers in Cairo, Aswan
- Bottled water during tours
What’s not included
- International flights
- Visa ($25 on arrival for most nationalities)
- Drinks on the cruise (water, soft drinks, alcohol) — budget $15-25 per person per day
- Alcohol at the Marriott Hurghada
- Dinner in Cairo (2 nights)
- Tips for guide, driver, and cruise crew ($10-15 per person per day land, $5-8 cruise)
- Abu Simbel day trip ($350-400 by flight, $100-130 by road)
- Optional Hurghada activities (snorkeling $40-60, diving $70-100, glass-bottom boat $30)
- Extra tombs in Valley of the Kings (Tutankhamun $20, Seti I $25)
- Optional hot air balloon in Luxor ($120-150)
- Travel insurance
Honest notes
Day 9 is a long drive. Hurghada → Cairo is 5-6 hours, 450 km. We leave after breakfast (8 AM) and arrive around 2 PM. If your international flight leaves Cairo in the evening, this works. If it leaves in the afternoon, tell us and we’ll leave at 6 AM to be safe. If it leaves in the morning, you’ll need an extra night in Cairo — tell us before booking.
Day 7 is also long. West Bank tombs in the morning (7:45 AM), lunch, then the 4-hour drive to Hurghada. You arrive around 6 PM, tired. That’s the trade-off — but you have all of Day 8 to rest.
Drinks on the cruise are extra. Full board covers food only. Water with meals costs around $3-5 per bottle. Soft drinks $4-6. Beer $8-10. Wine $10-15 per glass.
Abu Simbel is optional. Not included in the $1,650 price. If you want it, we schedule it on Day 4 morning. Flight: $350-400 per person. Road convoy: $100-130 per person. Tell us before arrival.
Hurghada is a resort town. Everything is built for tourists — the shops, the restaurants, the dive centers. If you want authentic Egyptian life, this isn’t it. If you want a beach with good weather and a clean hotel, it’s perfect.
Best time of year: October to April for Cairo and Upper Egypt — cooler. Hurghada is warm year-round, but July and August are 40°C+. Best overall: October, November, March, April.
Who this is for
- Travelers who want history AND beach in one trip
- Couples who want a mix of culture and relaxation
- Anyone who doesn’t mind two long drives (Luxor→Hurghada, Hurghada→Cairo)
- People who prefer fewer flights and more road time
Who this is not for
- Travelers who hate long drives (book the flight-based version)
- Anyone who wants maximum history — the 10-day version adds Alexandria
- Families with kids under 6 (the drives are long, the cruise pace is slow)
- Travelers who want a dedicated dive resort (book Hurghada separately)
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