Cairo and Nile Cruise Tour: 10-Day Egypt Holiday
Cairo and Nile Cruise Tour is a 10-day Egypt holiday centred on the country’s major ancient sights and the changing Nile scenery. In Cairo, our team takes you to the Giza Pyramids Complex, where the pyramids stand above the desert plateau, and the Monumental Sphinx, carved from the nearby bedrock. You have time to see both sites with a guide instead of hurrying between viewpoints, with transport arranged between visits.
The capital continues with the Cairo Egyptian Collection, home to an extensive display of pharaonic objects, statues, jewellery and funerary pieces. Your Egyptologist guide explains how the exhibits connect with the rulers and temples you will encounter later in the trip. Three nights in Cairo provide a practical base for sightseeing before you travel south, while organised transfers mean you do not have to find your way through unfamiliar stations or road routes.
Two nights on comfortable sleeping trains connect Cairo with Upper Egypt. Train travel shapes the rhythm of this itinerary: settle into your cabin, travel overnight and wake closer to the Nile Valley. The arrangements suit travellers who want to see more of Egypt without adding internal flights. Sleeping-train cabins are compact, so travellers who prefer spacious rooms throughout should bear this in mind before choosing the tour.
In Luxor, the ancient sites lie on both banks of the river. On the west bank, visit the Tombs of Kings Valley, better known as the Valley of the Kings, and see painted chambers cut into the hills. The Hatshepsut Royal Temple sits against the nearby cliffs, while the Colossal Memnon Figures mark the approach to the old royal area. On the east bank, the Karnak Sacred Complex reveals layers of pylons, courts and columns built over many centuries. Luxor Ancient Site visits follow a steady pace, leaving time to listen, take photographs and rest between stops.
The four-night cruise is the centre of the trip. A 5-star Nile vessel gives you a private cabin, shared dining areas and views from the open deck as the landscape shifts from cultivated fields to desert edges. Life on the river keeps the pace calm. Between sailing periods, our team arranges visits to Edfu Temple and the Kom Ombo Sanctuary, where carved walls and the unusual double-temple layout bring the history into focus. Meals aboard the vessel are provided according to the package arrangements.
Aswan has a quieter atmosphere and a different view of modern Egypt. The Aswan High Dam shows how the river is managed today, while the Philae Island Temple preserves sanctuaries dedicated to Isis on an island reached by boat. A traditional Felucca River Journey gives you time on the water away from the larger cruise vessel; the route depends on local sailing conditions. From Aswan, you can visit the Abu Simbel Rock Temples as part of the arranged programme, seeing their enormous seated statues and deep-cut interior chambers.
We recommend this tour for travellers who want a broad first experience of Egypt, with major museums, pyramids, royal tombs and temples included without arranging every transfer separately. It also suits couples, families with older children and small groups who value a clear schedule and guided context. The pace is active: several sightseeing days involve walking over uneven ground, steps and open sites in the sun. Tell our team about mobility needs, dietary requirements or room preferences before travel so we can explain what can be arranged.
Accommodation is divided between Cairo stays, the Nile vessel and sleeping-train cabins, giving the holiday a varied rhythm rather than one fixed hotel base. We coordinate pickups, sightseeing transport, cruise embarkation and drop-offs, while the guide keeps each day practical and explains when shade, water and suitable footwear matter. Bring a passport, sun protection and a small overnight bag for the train; larger luggage can be handled according to the final travel arrangements.
Guided visits in Luxor, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Aswan
Cairo Egyptian Collection visit
Transfers and transportation during the organised programme
Visits to the Giza Pyramids Complex and Monumental Sphinx
2 nights in comfortable sleeping-train cabins
3 nights of accommodation in Cairo
Felucca River Journey
Abu Simbel Rock Temples visit according to the programme
4 nights aboard a 5-star Nile cruise vessel
Guided sightseeing with an Egyptologist guide
Meals included according to the confirmed package arrangements
Optional activities not stated in the confirmed itinerary
Personal expenses, drinks and laundry
Egypt entry visa and personal travel insurance
Meals not specified in the package arrangements
Any service not listed under inclusions
International flights
Tipping for guides, drivers, cruise staff and other service providers
Phone charger and power bank
Small overnight bag for the sleeping train
Cash for personal expenses and tips
Sun hat, sunglasses and high-factor sunscreen
Light, breathable clothing and a warmer layer for evenings or train travel
Passport valid for the required travel period
Reusable water bottle
Any required medication and essential personal items
Comfortable walking shoes with good grip
Modest clothing for temples and religious sites
This 10-day Egypt package includes three nights in Cairo, four nights aboard a premium 5-star Nile vessel, and two nights on comfortable sleeping trains, with sightseeing arranged around the Giza Pyramids Complex, Monumental Sphinx, Cairo Egyptian Collection, and major Nile Valley temples.
The itinerary also covers guided visits to the Tombs of Kings Valley, Karnak Sacred Complex, Luxor Ancient Site, Hatshepsut Royal Temple, Colossal Memnon Figures, Edfu Temple, Kom Ombo Sanctuary, Aswan High Dam, Philae Island Temple, and Abu Simbel Rock Temples. Exact inclusions such as meals, entrance tickets, guide services, and transfers are confirmed in your booking details.
The 10-day Egypt tour has a full sightseeing pace but balances three Cairo nights, four nights cruising the Nile, and two nights on sleeping trains so you can travel between regions without losing extra daytime to long overland transfers.
In Cairo, you visit the Giza Pyramids Complex and Cairo Egyptian Collection before travelling south to Aswan. The cruise then follows the Nile towards Kom Ombo Sanctuary, Edfu Temple, and Luxor, with time for the main temples and an excursion to Abu Simbel Rock Temples. Some days begin early because of the heat and site opening times.
Our team arranges the scheduled pickups, transfers, and drop-offs needed between your Cairo accommodation, transport stations, sleeping trains, Nile vessel, and sightseeing locations, with the meeting details confirmed before your arrival.
On the southern itinerary, transfers connect the train journey with Aswan sightseeing, including the Aswan High Dam and Philae Island Temple, while cruise arrangements cover visits to Kom Ombo Sanctuary and Edfu Temple. Pickup details can depend on your arrival information, so send us your flight and accommodation details when booking.
This Cairo and Nile cruise tour can suit families and active older travellers, but it requires walking on uneven ground, steps at ancient sites, boarding and leaving a cruise vessel, and managing train travel during two overnight journeys.
The Giza Pyramids Complex, Monumental Sphinx, Karnak Sacred Complex, and Luxor Ancient Site involve outdoor walking, while a Felucca River Journey can require careful boarding. Travellers with limited mobility should tell our team before booking so we can review the route, vessel access, train arrangements, and possible adaptations; some locations cannot provide step-free access.
For this Cairo and Nile cruise holiday, pack light, breathable clothing that covers shoulders and knees for religious and historic sites, comfortable walking shoes, sun protection, a refillable water bottle, and a light layer for cooler evenings or air-conditioned transport.
Bring a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, personal medicines, and a small bag for day excursions. Modest clothing is especially useful when visiting temples and local communities, including the area around Hatshepsut Royal Temple and Philae Island Temple. A small overnight bag can make the sleeping-train portions easier.
You can request the 10-day Cairo and Nile cruise package by sharing your preferred travel dates, traveller details, and arrival information with our team; we then confirm the itinerary, availability, inclusions, and payment terms before your booking is finalised.
Cancellation and amendment rules depend on the travel date, transport and cruise arrangements, and the terms provided with your booking confirmation. Review those conditions before making payment, and contact us as early as possible if your plans change so we can explain the available options.
Your unforgettable Egypt journey starts with a booking you can trust.
* Available on selected tours. Flights, cruises and special bookings may have different cancellation policies.
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before activity starts
If you choose to pay online, a secure payment link can be provided after booking. For assistance or alternative payment options, please contact us via WhatsApp.
All our tour operators are licensed and verified by Egyptian tourism authorities.
Learn more about our licensed partners →
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before activity starts
If you choose to pay online, a secure payment link can be provided after booking. For assistance or alternative payment options, please contact us via WhatsApp.
All our tour operators are licensed and verified by Egyptian tourism authorities.
Learn more about our licensed partners →
Your Itinerary
Arrive in Cairo, where our representative meets you at the airport and helps with the first practical steps of your holiday. After passport control and luggage collection, you transfer to your hotel in the city. The journey time depends on traffic and your arrival point, so the evening is kept light.
Use the remainder of the day to rest after your flight or take a gentle first look at Cairo near the hotel. Our team confirms the arrangements for the following days, including sightseeing, transport and the overnight train to Aswan later in the itinerary.
Overnight: Cairo hotel.
After breakfast, travel to the Giza Pyramids Complex for your first full day of sightseeing. Your guide explains how the pyramids were planned, built and used as royal tombs while you walk through the main viewpoints around Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure. There is time for photographs and for a closer look at the limestone details around the plateau.
Continue to the Monumental Sphinx, carved from the bedrock with the body of a lion and the head of a king. Your guide places the monument within the wider Giza landscape and explains the role of the nearby temples. The visit involves walking over uneven ground, with pauses arranged at the main viewing areas.
Return to Cairo after the plateau visit. The rest of the afternoon is free for lunch, rest or optional time in the city.
Begin with the Cairo Egyptian Collection, where galleries hold statues, jewellery, coffins and everyday objects from several periods of Egyptian history. Your guide helps you focus on the most important rooms and explains how the exhibits connect with the temples and tombs you will see farther south. Allow time for a careful visit rather than rushing through every display.
After lunch, return to the hotel to collect your luggage and prepare for the overnight journey. Depending on the railway schedule, the evening transfer takes you to the station for the sleeper train to Aswan. Staff assist with boarding and show you to your compartment, where you settle in for the long journey through Upper Egypt.
Overnight: Sleeper train to Aswan. Train arrangements and onboard services can vary, so keep essential items in a small overnight bag.
Arrive in Aswan and transfer to the port or your cruise vessel, depending on the train schedule and boarding arrangements. After breakfast and a chance to settle in, visit the Aswan High Dam. The guide explains how the dam changed flood control, electricity generation and the movement of ancient monuments during the creation of Lake Nasser.
Continue by boat to Philae Island Temple. The island setting gives the visit a different pace from Cairo: you approach across the water, then walk through courtyards and halls dedicated to Isis and related deities. The temple complex was relocated to higher ground to protect it from rising water.
Later, take a Felucca River Journey around the islands and shoreline, subject to sailing conditions. Return to the vessel for dinner and your first night on the Nile.
Set out early by road for the Abu Simbel Rock Temples, allowing several hours for the round trip from Aswan. The temples were cut into the cliffs for Ramesses II and Nefertari. Your guide points out the colossal entrance figures, the deep interior halls and the reliefs that record royal ceremonies and military victories.
The return to Aswan usually takes place around midday or in the afternoon, depending on the road schedule. Keep water, sun protection and a small bag with you; the visit includes outdoor walking and the transfer is a substantial part of the day.
Rejoin the Nile vessel and enjoy the slower rhythm of cruising. The remainder of the day is set aside for meals, deck views and rest as the ship begins its journey downstream.
The vessel continues north along the Nile, with time to watch riverside villages, cultivated fields and desert edges pass from the deck. When the ship reaches Kom Ombo, walk to the Kom Ombo Sanctuary with your guide. This unusual temple was dedicated to two groups of gods, and its reliefs include medical instruments, offering scenes and details linked to the temple’s religious role.
Return to the vessel and continue toward Edfu. A short transfer by local vehicle or carriage may be used to reach Edfu Temple from the riverbank, according to the day’s arrangements. Inside, the large pylons, processional route and well-preserved inscriptions make the temple easy to read as a complete sacred complex.
Board again after the visit. The cruise schedule may place the visits at different times, but both excursions are completed with the vessel’s movement and docking plan in mind.
After breakfast, leave the vessel for the Luxor Ancient Site and begin on the west bank, where royal burial grounds meet the desert hills. Visit the Tombs of Kings Valley and enter selected open tombs according to the day’s access arrangements. Your guide explains the painted scenes, burial beliefs and the careful planning behind the passages and chambers.
Continue to Hatshepsut Royal Temple, built in terraces against the cliffs. The long approach, sculpted reliefs and upper courtyards show how the temple presented the queen’s authority. Stop at the Colossal Memnon Figures before crossing to the east bank.
Finish at the Karnak Sacred Complex, where pylons, courts, obelisks and the great hypostyle hall reveal the scale of ancient Thebes. Return to the cruise vessel for your final night aboard, with time to pack before disembarkation.
After breakfast, complete the cruise check-out and leave the vessel in Luxor. Our team coordinates the transfer and luggage arrangements so you can continue without carrying bags through the sightseeing areas. If the schedule allows, there may be free time for a final view of the river or a relaxed meal before the evening train.
The rest of the day is arranged around the sleeper-train departure to Cairo. Keep your passport, travel documents, medication and valuables in your hand luggage. Once aboard, settle into your compartment and watch the landscape change as the train travels north through the Nile Valley.
Overnight: Sleeper train to Cairo. This is the second train night of the package and completes the south-to-north travel section before your final Cairo stay.
Arrive in Cairo by sleeper train and transfer to your hotel. After checking in, take time to freshen up and rest following the overnight journey. The day is intentionally less structured, giving you space to revisit a favourite part of the city, browse local shops or enjoy a meal at your own pace.
Our team remains available to confirm your airport transfer and answer practical questions about the final day. You can also use this time to organise photographs, pack souvenirs and keep your documents together for departure.
If you prefer a quieter afternoon, remain near the hotel and recover from the journey. Cairo traffic can make city travel slow, so any independent outing should allow plenty of time for the return.
Enjoy your final breakfast in Cairo, with departure timing set according to your flight. Our driver collects you from the hotel and transfers you to the airport, allowing extra time for city traffic, luggage check-in and airport procedures.
Before leaving the hotel, check that you have your passport, travel documents, medication and personal belongings. If your flight is later in the day, our team can confirm the practical arrangements for storing luggage or waiting at the hotel, subject to the hotel’s policies.
Your 10-day Egypt itinerary ends at Cairo airport. The journey has taken you from the pyramids and museum collections to Aswan, the temples along the Nile and the royal monuments of Luxor, with guided transfers and overnight travel arranged between the main stages.