Egypt Christmas Itinerary: 13-Day Nile Cruise
Description
Our 13-day Egypt Christmas itinerary brings together major ancient sites, Mediterranean history, desert scenery and a five-day Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan. You start in Cairo at the Pyramids of Giza, walking around the three great monuments before viewing the Sphinx from the nearby lookout. At the Egyptian Museum, our guide puts the collection in context, from royal statues and burial objects to treasures from different periods of Egyptian history.
The route then follows the Mediterranean coast to Alexandria, shaped by Greek, Roman and Egyptian rule. You visit Qaitbay Citadel beside the harbour, the Catacombs of Kom El Shokafa, Pompey’s Pillar and the modern Alexandria Library. Montazah Palace provides a quieter coastal stop, with gardens and sea views. In Alamein, the focus is the World War II Museum and the history of the North Africa campaign, giving the trip a wider view of Egypt beyond pharaohs and temples.
Siwa Oasis changes the pace. The road crosses a wide desert landscape to the Great Sand Sea, where the dunes and open horizon feel far removed from the cities. At Bir Wahid, you can relax in naturally warm water after a desert excursion, depending on local conditions and the day’s arrangements. In the Siwan village of Shali, traditional mud-brick buildings show how the oasis community grew around its springs and palm groves. Cleopatra’s Spring is another familiar stop, with time to see the water and the surrounding oasis scenery.
After Siwa, the trip continues to Luxor for the Nile cruise. On the West Bank, the Valley of the Kings holds decorated royal tombs cut into the desert hills, while Hatshepsut Temple rises in terraces below the cliffs. The Colossi of Memnon make a brief roadside stop, and Luxor Temple takes on a different feel later in the day, when its avenue, columns and statues are lit. Across the river, Karnak Temple needs time to explore. Its courtyards, obelisks and Great Hypostyle Hall are easier to understand with a guide explaining how the complex changed over many centuries.
- See the Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx and the Egyptian Museum in Cairo
- Visit Alexandria, Alamein and the desert springs of Siwa Oasis
- Cruise the Nile with stops at Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae
- Continue to the High Dam and Abu Simbel temples from Aswan
A Nile cruise keeps the main southern visits together and avoids repeated long road transfers. At Edfu Temple, a horse-drawn carriage transfer is commonly used between the boat and the entrance, subject to local arrangements. Kom Ombo Temple sits beside the river and has a distinctive double design dedicated to two different gods. In Aswan, you reach Philae Temple by boat on an island, while the High Dam shows how a modern engineering project changed farming, settlements and navigation along the Nile.
The journey to the Abu Simbel temples starts early, but the scale of the rock-cut façades and the decorated interior chambers makes the visit worthwhile. Our team coordinates the transfers, local transport and guiding, leaving you to focus on the sites rather than arrange each connection yourself. Meals and accommodation follow the selected package, while the cruise gives you time to rest between guided visits. Christmas is a popular travel period, so the pace is active and some departures include long drives or early mornings.
This tour suits travellers who want a broad first visit to Egypt and are comfortable moving between cities, desert roads and historic sites. It may be less suitable if you prefer a slow beach holiday or have difficulty with uneven ground, steps, heat or extended vehicle journeys. We can explain the walking involved before booking and advise on suitable preparations. Bring comfortable shoes, sun protection and a light layer for cool desert evenings; the exact pickup and transfer details are confirmed with your travel documents.
Included
Assistance from our local team throughout the tour
Transfers and transport during the itinerary
Meals specified in the confirmed package
Five-day Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan
Accommodation as stated in the selected package
Visits and excursions listed in the itinerary
Guided sightseeing with a licensed Egyptologist where scheduled
Excluded
Personal spending, drinks and meals not listed in the package
International flights
Egypt entry visa and personal travel insurance
Any increase in entrance fees or transport costs imposed after booking
Optional activities or services not included in the confirmed itinerary
Gratuities for guides, drivers and cruise staff
Don't forget
Passport and any required visa documents
Sun hat, sunglasses and high-factor sunscreen
A camera or phone with spare battery or power bank
Comfortable walking shoes with good grip
Small day bag and refillable water bottle
Light, breathable clothing with a warmer layer for desert evenings and the cruise
Personal medication and basic travel essentials
Frequently Asked Questions
The 13 days Egypt Christmas itinerary includes planned sightseeing in Cairo, Alexandria, Siwa and Upper Egypt, along with the five-day Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan and visits to the Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx and the Egyptian Museum.
The route also covers the main archaeological sites named in the itinerary. Hotel accommodation, meals, entrance tickets, guides and domestic transfers can vary by booking option, so check the inclusions shown with your selected package.
This 13-day Egypt itinerary has a varied pace: Cairo and Alexandria sightseeing comes first, followed by Alamein and Siwa, then a five-day Nile cruise with temple visits between Luxor and Aswan before the Abu Simbel temples.
In Alexandria, you can see the Quitbay Citadel, the Cata Komb of Kom El Shokafa, Pompey Pillar, Alexandria Library and Montazah Palace. The route also visits Alamein and the World War II Museum, then continues to Siwa’s Great Sand Sea, the spring of Bir Wahid, Shali village and Cleopatra’s spring.
Pickup and transfers are arranged around your confirmed arrival details, connecting your accommodation, sightseeing stops, the Siwa section and the Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan without requiring you to arrange each journey independently.
Our team confirms the practical details before travel, including the meeting point, transfer arrangements and cruise embarkation instructions. The Luxor sightseeing sequence normally includes Karnak Temple, the Valley of the Kings, Luxor Temple, the Colossi of Memnon and Hatshepsut Temple.
This 13-day Egypt tour can suit families, but travellers should expect early starts, walking on uneven archaeological ground, steps, heat in desert areas and time spent moving between destinations; limited mobility may require private arrangements or assistance.
The cruise provides a slower base between sightseeing days, while sites such as the Pyramids of Giza, the Valley of the Kings, Edfu Temple, Kom Ombo Temple and Abu Simbel involve walking and may have uneven access. Tell us about mobility needs before booking so we can advise you accurately.
For Egypt at Christmas, bring light layers for cool mornings and evenings, comfortable walking shoes, sun protection, modest clothing for temples and villages, and a light jacket for the desert and Nile cruise.
A hat, sunglasses, reusable water bottle, personal medication and a small day bag are useful. Bring swimwear if you plan to use hotel or cruise facilities, and extra protection for the Great Sand Sea, the spring of Bir Wahid and Cleopatra’s spring. Conditions can vary by location.
You can request the 13 days Egypt Christmas itinerary by providing your preferred travel dates, traveller details and accommodation preferences; our team then confirms the available arrangements and sends the booking conditions before payment.
Cancellation rules depend on the selected package, travel date, accommodation and cruise arrangements, so review those terms before confirming. Christmas travel can involve stricter supplier conditions, and changes to flights or personal plans may carry separate charges.
Reviews
Why travelers choose A1Toureg
- Transparent pricing with no unexpected fees.
- Reserve today and pay on the day of your tour on most excursions.
- Free cancellation on selected tours.
- Organized with trusted licensed Egyptian partners.
- Fast confirmation and personal assistance.
- Comfortable transportation for every journey.
- Support in English, German, French, Italian, Russian & more.
- We're with you every step of the way.
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.
Keep things flexible!
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before activity starts
Ways You Can Pay!
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.
Your Itinerary
Arrive in Cairo and meet our representative after passport control and baggage collection. We arrange your transfer to the hotel, help with the practical details of check-in, and explain the plan for the following days. The pace stays light after your journey, with time to rest, settle in and enjoy your first evening in Egypt.
Christmas travel can bring busy airports and changing arrival times, so we keep this day flexible rather than adding a demanding sightseeing visit. Your guide can answer questions about local customs, clothing, currency and meeting points. If your arrival is early and you feel ready to go out, our team can suggest a nearby place for dinner or a short walk, depending on your location and energy.
After breakfast, travel to the Giza Plateau for your first full sightseeing day. Walk around The Pyramids of Giza, where your guide explains how the royal complexes were planned and built. You have time for photographs from the main viewpoints before visiting The Sphinx, whose carved face and lion body face the ancient pyramid field. Any interior pyramid visit is arranged separately according to opening conditions and your preference.
Continue into central Cairo for The Egyptian Museum. Its galleries contain statues, jewellery, coffins and everyday objects gathered from sites across Egypt, and your guide helps place the most important pieces in context. Allow several hours for the two visits, with a lunch break between them. Traffic can make the return transfer slower than the outward journey, so the evening is left free for dinner and rest.
Leave Cairo after breakfast for Alexandria, travelling north through the Nile Delta. The first visits introduce the city's Roman and Ptolemaic history. At the Catacombs of Kom El Shokafa, descend into an underground necropolis where Egyptian, Greek and Roman artistic details appear together. Nearby, Pompey Pillar is a single red-granite column left from the Serapeum complex, and the visit is brief but gives useful context for Alexandria's ancient religious landscape.
Continue to the seafront for the Qaitbay Citadel, built on the site traditionally linked with the ancient Pharos lighthouse. After lunch, visit the modern Alexandria Library, whose circular design and cultural spaces reflect the city's continuing connection with learning. Finish at Montazah Palace and its gardens, where you can walk beside the Mediterranean if conditions allow. Return to Cairo in the evening; the road journey takes several hours.
Travel west from Alexandria towards Siwa, stopping at Alamein on the Mediterranean coast. The World War II Museum explains the North African campaigns through maps, photographs, vehicles and personal accounts. Your guide gives the historical background before you continue across the desert road. This is a long transfer day, so we plan regular breaks and time for lunch along the route.
Arrive in Siwa later in the day and check in. The oasis feels markedly different from the coastal cities, with date palms, salt lakes and low desert horizons shaping the landscape. Keep the evening quiet, or take a short walk with your guide if there is enough daylight. The next day includes off-road desert travel, so comfortable clothing, sun protection and a filled water bottle are useful.
Begin with a guided look at the old Siwan village of Shali, built from salt-and-mud brick and shaped by centuries of oasis life. Continue to Cleopatra’s spring, a natural pool where travellers can see how water supports settlement in the middle of the desert. Your guide explains the oasis irrigation system and the role of palms, olives and small farms in local life.
Later, travel by four-wheel-drive vehicle into the Great Sand Sea. The route crosses dunes and open desert before reaching the spring of Bir Wahid, where the warm water contrasts with the surrounding sand. There is time for a swim if you wish, followed by a desert sunset stop and a return to Siwa. Off-road conditions can make the day feel bumpy, and the order of stops may change to suit daylight and local conditions.
After breakfast, leave Siwa for the long road transfer back towards Cairo. The journey crosses the same broad desert region in reverse, with rest stops arranged along the way. Keep this day practical: carry snacks, water and any medication in your hand luggage, and expect several hours on the road before reaching the airport or your Cairo connection.
Continue by domestic flight to Luxor when the travel schedule allows. On arrival, our representative transfers you to your accommodation or to the cruise embarkation point, depending on the vessel's operating arrangements. There is no major sightseeing planned today, giving you time to recover from the Siwa transfer and flight. Your guide will confirm the next morning's meeting arrangements and explain how luggage is handled during the cruise.
Start on Luxor's west bank, where the royal burial landscape stretches below the Theban hills. Visit the Valley of the Kings and enter the tombs included in your site ticket; the tombs open on a rotating basis, so the selection can vary. Continue to Hatshepsut Temple, whose terraces rise against the cliffs and show how architecture, ritual and royal presentation worked together.
Pause at the Colossi of Memnon before crossing to the east bank. There, visit Karnak Temple, taking time to walk through its courts, pylons and columned spaces. Later, board the Nile cruise vessel, complete check-in and settle into your cabin. The ship may begin sailing according to its navigation schedule, and the first evening is a good chance to watch the riverbank pass by while the crew explains meal and shore-excursion arrangements.
Visit Luxor Temple after breakfast, following the processional route through its entrance, courts and columns. The temple's layout changed across several reigns, and your guide points out the parts connected with royal ceremony and the ancient avenue leading towards Karnak. This visit is usually completed before the ship's sailing schedule becomes the priority.
Return to the vessel and spend the rest of the day travelling south on the Nile. From the deck, you can see cultivated fields, villages, palm groves and stretches of desert beyond the river's narrow green edge. Meals are served on board, while the exact sailing time depends on navigation and the queue at the locks. By evening, the ship is generally near Edfu, ready for the following day's temple visit. Comfortable shoes are helpful for the transfer between the boat and the shore.
Travel from the ship to Edfu Temple, commonly reached by a short horse-drawn carriage ride or local transfer arranged at the landing point. The temple is dedicated to Horus and remains one of Egypt's most complete ancient sanctuaries. Walk through the large pylon, open court and covered halls while your guide explains the reliefs and the temple's role in worship.
Return to the vessel and continue sailing south. Later, visit Kom Ombo Temple—sometimes written as Kom combo in tour searches—built on high ground beside the river. Its unusual double design honours two deities, and the reliefs include medical instruments and a ceremonial calendar. The visit is often timed around sunset, when the river and temple walls take on softer light. After returning to the ship, enjoy dinner and continue towards Aswan.
Arrive in Aswan and take a motorboat across the water to Philae Temple, located on an island after the original sanctuary was relocated during the construction of the dams. The approach by boat gives you a clear view of the island setting before you walk through the gateways, courts and columns. Your guide explains the temple's connection with Isis and the international effort that protected it from rising water.
Continue to the High Dam, a major modern engineering project that changed flood control, electricity production and agriculture along the Nile. From the viewpoint, you can see Lake Nasser on one side and the river's course towards Aswan on the other. Return to the cruise vessel for lunch and a quieter afternoon. Depending on the ship's schedule, there may be time to sit on deck, visit a local market with your guide or rest before tomorrow's early excursion.
Leave Aswan early for the road journey to the Abu Simbel Temples. The drive takes several hours each way, so breakfast arrangements and departure details are confirmed the evening before. On arrival, walk towards the rock-cut facades of the temples of Ramesses II and his queen, Nefertari. Inside, your guide explains the reliefs, the religious purpose of the chambers and the relocation project that saved the monuments when Lake Nasser rose.
Allow enough time to examine both temples at a steady pace before returning to Aswan. The desert road is exposed, with limited services between towns, so bring water, sun protection and comfortable walking shoes. After the return transfer, settle back into your accommodation or cruise cabin for the evening. The long excursion is the day's main focus, with no additional sightseeing added at night.
Enjoy breakfast in Aswan and complete check-out according to your accommodation or cruise schedule. There may be a little free time for a final view of the Nile or a short supervised walk, depending on your departure arrangements. Our team helps with luggage and confirms the transfer route before you leave for the airport.
Fly back to Cairo and transfer to your hotel for the final night. Keep the afternoon flexible: the previous day's Abu Simbel excursion is long, and flight schedules can affect the available time. You can use the evening to pack, enjoy a relaxed meal or ask our guide for practical help with airport arrangements. If you plan to buy gifts, leave room in your luggage and check any airline baggage limits before departure.
Have breakfast and check your departure details with our team. We arrange your transfer to Cairo International Airport, allowing time for the drive, check-in, security and passport procedures. The recommended departure buffer depends on your flight time and the day's traffic, so the exact pickup is confirmed locally rather than fixed in advance.
Before leaving the hotel, check drawers, charging points and the safe for passports, phones and other belongings. Keep travel documents and medication in your hand luggage. Our representative remains available to help with the transfer and any last practical questions until you reach the airport. Your 13-day Egypt Christmas itinerary ends with your flight home.