Egypt 14-Day Itinerary: Cairo, Luxor & Hurghada

After breakfast, travel to the Giza Plateau for your first full day of sightseeing. See the Giza Pyramids from the main viewpoints, then walk closer to the stonework and hear how the royal burial complex was planned. Your guide explains the role of the temples, causeways and surrounding cemetery while leaving time for photographs and, if you choose, entry into one of the pyramids subject to ticket availability and access conditions.

Continue to the Great Sphinx, whose carved head and lion-shaped body face the ancient temple complex. The plateau can be sunny and uneven, so comfortable shoes, water and a hat are useful. The visit usually takes several hours, with the order adjusted around traffic, crowds and the heat of the day. Return to Cairo after the tour for a relaxed evening.

• Guided visit to the Giza Plateau
• Views of the pyramids and the Great Sphinx
• Return transfer to your Cairo accommodation

Today focuses on Cairo’s ancient collections and historic streets. Visit the Cairo museum with a licensed Egyptologist to see statues, jewellery, coffins and objects from different periods of Egyptian history. Your guide helps place the exhibits in context, so the visit is more than a walk past display cases. Allow several hours, since the collection is extensive and some galleries require a slower pace.

After lunch, continue through an area of historic Cairo, where mosques, old gates and traditional streets show how the city developed after the pharaonic period. The route depends on opening arrangements and traffic, but it may include time around the Citadel area or a walk through a traditional market. Expect uneven paving and busy streets in parts of the old quarter. Return to the hotel in the afternoon or early evening.

• Egyptian antiquities with a licensed guide
• Historic Cairo sightseeing after the museum
• Free evening in Cairo

Leave Cairo after breakfast for Alexandria, travelling north by road along the Nile Delta. The journey takes several hours, so we recommend carrying water and keeping essentials in a small day bag. On arrival, begin with the city’s seafront and harbour area before visiting the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, an underground burial complex where Egyptian, Greek and Roman styles meet.

Continue to the Qaitbay Citadel area, built beside the Mediterranean on the site associated with the ancient Pharos lighthouse. From the waterfront, you can pause for sea views and lunch before returning to Cairo. The city has a different character from the capital, with open coastal light, cafés and a strong connection to its Hellenistic and Roman past. The return transfer usually reaches Cairo in the evening, depending on road traffic.

• Round-trip road transfer between Cairo and Alexandria
• Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa and Qaitbay Citadel area
• Mediterranean waterfront time

Travel west from Cairo by road to Bahariya Oasis, leaving the dense city behind as the landscape changes to open desert. The drive takes much of the day, with breaks arranged along the route. On arrival, check in at the local desert accommodation and take time to rest before the afternoon visit. The oasis has palm groves, low hills and springs surrounded by wide stretches of dry land.

Later, explore the oasis area with your guide. Depending on local access and the day’s conditions, the visit may include a viewpoint over the palms, a spring or a small local museum. The evening is quiet, with dinner and time to prepare for the next day’s desert drive. Accommodation in the oasis is simpler than a city hotel, and travellers should expect a relaxed setting with fewer facilities.

• Full-day transfer from Cairo to Bahariya Oasis
• Oasis landscapes and local sightseeing
• Overnight stay in Bahariya

Set out by four-wheel-drive vehicle after breakfast for the desert areas beyond the oasis. Visit the Black Desert, where dark volcanic hills rise from the pale ground, then continue towards the chalk formations of the white desert. Wind and erosion have shaped the limestone into rounded figures and broad white outcrops. Your driver stops at suitable points for photographs and short walks, while your guide explains how the landscape formed.

After time among the formations, begin the long return journey to Cairo. The route includes a lunch stop or packed meal arrangement, depending on the schedule and local facilities. This is a demanding travel day, with several hours on the road and stretches without services, so keep sun protection, water and personal medication close at hand. Arrive in Cairo later in the evening for an overnight stay before the flight south.

• Four-wheel-drive desert excursion
• The white desert and Black Desert landscapes
• Return road transfer to Cairo

Transfer to Cairo Airport for your flight to Luxor, then continue to your hotel after arrival. Once you have settled in, begin sightseeing on the east bank of the Nile. Visit Karnak, a vast temple complex built and expanded by successive pharaohs. Walk through the great courts and hypostyle hall, where the columns carry carved inscriptions and traces of ancient colour. Your guide explains the religious processional route and the different rulers who added to the complex.

The visit is taken at a steady pace because the site covers a large area and includes exposed courtyards. Wear comfortable shoes and carry water, particularly during warmer months. After Karnak, return to the hotel for lunch or rest, with the evening free to enjoy Luxor at your own pace. Your guide confirms the next morning’s west-bank arrangements before you turn in.

• Domestic flight and transfer to Luxor
• Guided visit to Karnak
• Overnight in Luxor

Cross to Luxor’s west bank after breakfast, where the hills contain the royal burial grounds of the New Kingdom. Visit the Valley of Kings and enter the tombs included with your ticket. Painted scenes, narrow passages and decorated chambers show how the ancient Egyptians prepared their kings for the afterlife. Your guide explains the symbolism, while the exact tombs open to visitors can change according to site management and conservation work.

Continue to the Hatshpsut temple, set against the limestone cliffs at Deir el-Bahari. Its broad terraces and long approach differ sharply from the enclosed tombs visited earlier. Allow time for the steps and open walkways, and ask your guide about transport options if you prefer to limit walking. The tour then continues past the Colossi of Memnon before returning to the east bank for a quieter evening.

• Royal tombs in the Valley of Kings
• Terraces of the Hatshpsut temple
• Colossi of Memnon and return to Luxor

Leave Luxor after breakfast and travel south to Aswan by private road transfer. The journey takes several hours, with the Nile Valley visible between towns, farmland and desert edges. We arrange stops where practical so you can stretch your legs and take refreshments. Keep your camera and a light layer accessible, as the scenery changes gradually rather than all at once.

On arrival in Aswan, check in and rest before a short orientation around the riverfront. Depending on arrival time, you may take a felucca ride or visit a local market with your guide. A felucca is a traditional sailing boat, and the trip depends on daylight and wind conditions, so another local activity may be used if sailing is not suitable. The evening is free to enjoy the calmer pace of Aswan.

• Road transfer from Luxor to Aswan
• Nile Valley scenery and travel breaks
• Optional felucca ride or local orientation

Begin the morning with a boat transfer to Agilkia Island to visit Phiala temple, a sanctuary dedicated mainly to Isis. The temple was relocated to higher ground during the construction of the Aswan High Dam, and your guide explains that modern engineering project alongside the ancient reliefs and columns. The boat crossing is short, but boarding involves steps and may require care for travellers with limited mobility.

After the temple visit, continue with an overview of Aswan’s key landmarks, including the High Dam and the area around the old granite quarries if time and access allow. The order can change to suit boat arrangements and the heat. Return to your hotel in the afternoon, leaving time to rest by the Nile or walk through the nearby streets. Keep the evening easy before the early start planned for the next day.

• Boat crossing to Agilkia Island
• Guided visit to Phiala temple
• Aswan High Dam area and free afternoon

Leave Aswan early for the road journey to Abu Simbel. The transfer takes several hours each way across the desert, but the reward is a close view of the two rock-cut temples beside Lake Nasser. At the larger temple, see the seated figures of Ramesses II and enter the decorated halls and sanctuary. The smaller temple honours Queen Nefertari and the goddess Hathor, with carved figures and painted scenes inside.

Your guide walks you through the temple entrances and explains their original location, later rescue and religious purpose. The site has exposed ground and limited shade, so wear sun protection and bring water. After the visit, return to Aswan by road and rest at the hotel. The early departure and long drive make this a full day, but the schedule leaves time to see the temples without adding another overnight away from Aswan.

• Early road excursion from Aswan
• Both temples at Abu Simbel
• Return to Aswan for the night

After breakfast, leave Aswan for Hurghada by road. This is a long transfer across the Eastern Desert, usually taking much of the day, with comfort stops arranged along the route. The scenery shifts from the Nile Valley to dry mountain ranges and broad desert plains before the Red Sea coast comes into view. Carry snacks, water and anything you need during the drive in an accessible day bag.

On arrival, check in and take the rest of the day slowly. If there is daylight, you can walk along the hotel area or sit by the sea, subject to the accommodation’s facilities and conditions. Our team confirms the following day’s arrangements, including the planned time for any boat or beach activity. There is no need to add sightseeing after this transfer; the evening is intended for rest.

• Full-day road transfer from Aswan to Hurghada
• Eastern Desert and coastal scenery
• Evening check-in and time to relax

Spend the day by the Red sea on a relaxed coastal excursion or at your hotel, depending on the selected arrangement. A typical boat outing includes transfer to the marina, a safety briefing, time on the water and stops for swimming or snorkelling where conditions and local regulations allow. Travellers who prefer to stay dry can enjoy the boat deck and the coastal views instead.

The pace is flexible, with breaks for lunch and rest during the day. Sea conditions can change, so the captain and local crew decide the safest route and activity locations. Bring swimwear, sun protection and a towel, and tell the team in advance about dietary needs or mobility concerns. Return to Hurghada in the afternoon, leaving your final evening free for a quiet meal and packing.

• Coastal leisure or boat excursion
• Optional swimming and snorkelling
• Final overnight in Hurghada

Enjoy breakfast and complete check-out according to your accommodation’s arrangements. Our team organises your transfer to Hurghada Airport or another agreed departure point, allowing extra time for traffic and airport procedures. Keep your passport, flight documents, medication and valuables in your hand luggage rather than in a suitcase that may be collected earlier.

If your departure is later in the day, luggage storage and a little free time may be possible through the hotel, subject to its policy. We can help confirm the transfer details and advise when to leave based on your flight schedule. Your 14-day itinerary ends with the airport drop-off, after a route through Cairo, the desert, Upper Egypt and the coast.

• Breakfast and hotel check-out
• Transfer to Hurghada Airport
• Departure assistance from our team