Egypt Tours Across Cairo, the Nile Valley & the Red Sea

Most first trips to Egypt follow the Nile. They begin in Cairo with the Pyramids of Giza and the main museums, then continue south to Luxor and Aswan. A Nile Cruise fits naturally between the two, and with a few extra days you can add Abu Simbel, Alexandria, or time on the Red Sea.

Our Egypt Tour Packages range from shorter Cairo stays to longer journeys covering several parts of the country. What is included varies by tour, but arrangements can include hotels, private transfers, domestic flights, guided sightseeing with licensed Egyptologist guides, daily breakfast, and a 3 or 4-night Nile Cruise. Private Tours and Customized Tours are available for travelers who want more control over dates, hotels, or the pace of the trip.

Egypt is not an easy destination to understand from a list of attractions alone. Cairo is busy and sprawling, Luxor feels like an open-air archaeological site, and Aswan moves at a noticeably slower pace. The Nile connects them, which is why combining these places usually makes more sense than visiting them as separate trips.

Egypt Destination Experts • Licensed Egyptologist Guides • Nile Cruise Planning • Private Touring & Transfers • Domestic Flights Arranged Where Required • Local Support Throughout Your Trip

Egypt Tours at a Glance

Starting in Cairo

For most travelers, Cairo is the first introduction to Egypt. The Pyramids of Giza and Great Sphinx are the obvious starting points, but they are only part of what can be seen around the city.

Depending on the itinerary, your time in Cairo may also include the Grand Egyptian Museum, Saqqara, Memphis, and historic areas of the city. Two or three nights works well before flying south, although an extra day is useful if you want to see more than the main sites.

Travelling the Nile: Luxor to Aswan

This is where an Egypt itinerary works differently from most of our other destinations. Rather than repeatedly packing, driving, and changing hotels, part of the journey can be made by boat.

Nile Cruises commonly sail Luxor to Aswan over 4 nights or Aswan to Luxor over 3 nights, depending on the itinerary and departure schedule. Stops along the way can include Edfu and Kom Ombo, with sightseeing in Luxor and Aswan arranged around the cruise.

In Luxor, visits typically include Karnak Temple and the Valley of the Kings, along with other sites on the East and West Banks. Aswan has a different atmosphere altogether, with Philae Temple, the Nile islands, and a more relaxed waterfront setting.

Is Abu Simbel Worth Adding?

If your schedule allows it, yes. Abu Simbel is south of Aswan, so it needs additional travel time rather than being something you simply stop at along the Nile Cruise route.

The temples were built during the reign of Ramesses II and moved to their present location in the 1960s to protect them from the rising waters created by the Aswan High Dam. Some of our Egypt Tours include Abu Simbel in the itinerary; on others, it can be added separately.

How Many Days Do You Need in Egypt?

For Cairo alone, four or five days can work well. If this is your first visit and you also want to see Luxor and Aswan, allowing around eight to ten days gives you much more room to include a Nile Cruise without moving every day.

With additional time, Alexandria can be added from Cairo, while Hurghada or another Red Sea destination works well at the end of a cultural tour if you want a few quieter days before flying home.

The important thing is not to add places simply because they fit on a map. Cairo, a Nile Cruise, Luxor, Aswan, and Abu Simbel already make for a full first trip.

When to Visit Egypt

October through April is generally the easier period for long days of archaeological sightseeing, particularly in Luxor and Aswan. December through February are popular months, so hotels and Nile Cruises can also be busier during this period.

Egypt can still be visited during the summer, but temperatures in Upper Egypt are much higher. Sightseeing often needs to start earlier in the day, while Red Sea resorts operate throughout the year.

Adding Egypt to a Longer Trip

Egypt also works well as the final or starting country in a regional itinerary. The important part is allowing enough time in each country rather than adding another border crossing simply to fit more places into the same holiday.

See our Turkey & Egypt Tours, Greece & Egypt Tours, or Turkey, Greece & Egypt Tours if you are considering a multi-country journey.