Egypt 14-Day Nile Cruise and Hurghada Escape

After breakfast, travel to Giza for a guided visit to the pyramid complex and the Great Sphinx. Your guide explains how the pyramids were planned, built and used as royal monuments, while you have time to walk around the main viewpoints and take photographs. The site is open and exposed, so comfortable shoes, sun protection and water are useful.

Continue into Cairo for a closer look at the city’s ancient and Islamic heritage, depending on the day’s arrangements and opening schedules. Your guide keeps the pace practical and explains the context behind the objects and buildings rather than rushing between stops. Return to the hotel later in the day and prepare for the flight south. Luggage allowances and airport procedures are reviewed before your transfer for the next stage of the trip.

Transfer to Cairo Airport for the short domestic flight to Luxor. On arrival, our team takes you to the cruise boat for check-in and lunch or refreshments, subject to the sailing schedule. You can settle into your cabin, learn where the dining room and sun deck are located, and take a first view of the Nile from the boat.

Later, visit the Majestic Karnak Temples, a vast complex of pylons, courtyards, columns and sanctuaries built over many centuries. Your guide sets out the layout before leading you through the main areas, including the Great Hypostyle Hall where rows of towering columns create a memorable sense of scale. Continue to the Luxor Temple complexes as the light softens, then return to the boat for dinner and an overnight stay in Luxor.

Begin with the West Bank, crossing the Nile after breakfast for a morning among royal tombs and temple remains. The Historic Valley of the Kings is visited with a guide who explains how the burial valley developed and how the tombs were cut into the rock. The number of tombs open to visitors can vary, and each involves uneven ground, steps and warm conditions inside.

Continue to the nearby funerary monuments before returning to the boat for lunch and the final embarkation arrangements. Keep your cabin key and personal items close while luggage is organised by the crew. As the cruise begins, watch the riverbanks change from city streets to cultivated fields and villages. The boat sails south according to the navigation schedule, giving you a quiet afternoon on deck before dinner and an overnight stay on the Nile.

After breakfast, leave the boat for a guided visit to the Edfu Temple ruins. A short transfer brings you to the entrance, where the large gateway and relief-covered walls introduce a remarkably complete Ptolemaic temple dedicated to Horus. Your guide points out the ceremonial route, sacred spaces and carved scenes that preserve details of ancient religious practice.

Return to the boat before it continues south. The rest of the day follows the natural rhythm of a Nile cruise: lunch on board, time on the sun deck and views of farmland, date palms and small riverside communities. Passage through the locks may involve a wait while the vessel is positioned and raised or lowered, so the timing is controlled by river traffic rather than a fixed sightseeing hour. Dinner is served on board, followed by another night in your cabin.

Visit the Kom Ombo dual sanctuary after breakfast, walking from the boat to a temple set above the river. The sanctuary is unusual because it honours two gods, Sobek and Horus the Elder, with paired entrances and areas arranged around a shared axis. Reliefs show religious ceremonies, medical instruments and other details that your guide helps you read in their setting.

Return to the boat for lunch and continue towards Aswan. This section of the cruise feels more open, with rocky hills appearing beside the river as the landscape becomes drier. Spend the afternoon on deck or join the ship’s planned activities, keeping an eye on personal belongings when moving around the boat. Aswan comes into view later in the day, and the vessel remains overnight so you can visit the city’s major sights without packing up immediately.

Begin the Aswan sightseeing programme with the Aswan High Dam, a major engineering project that changed the management of the Nile and created Lake Nasser. Your guide explains its role in flood control, irrigation and electricity generation. From the viewpoints, you can see the scale of the embankment and the wide water landscape beyond it.

Continue by boat to the Philae complex on an island, where the Isis Temple shrine preserves courtyards, columns and reliefs connected with the worship of Isis. The island setting makes the approach part of the visit, and the landing area can be uneven. After the guided tour, return to the cruise boat for lunch and a relaxed afternoon in Aswan. This is a good time to enjoy the deck, review photographs or rest before the following day’s early road excursion.

Travel by road to the Massive Abu Simbel monuments, usually as an early excursion so the visit can be completed before the strongest heat of the day. The two rock-cut temples were built by Ramesses II and relocated in the twentieth century when the waters of Lake Nasser rose. Inside, your guide explains the carved halls, royal images and the temple dedicated to Queen Nefertari.

After time to explore the temple facades and interiors, return to Aswan. The drive is long and passes through an arid landscape, so bring water, sun protection and any medication you need during the journey. Back in Aswan, complete cruise disembarkation and meet the team for the next transfer. Depending on the vessel’s departure arrangements, there may be time for lunch or a short rest before the evening transfer or overnight accommodation in Aswan.

After breakfast, leave Aswan for the road transfer to Hurghada on the Red Sea. The journey crosses changing scenery, moving from the Nile Valley into the Eastern Desert before reaching the coast. Your driver plans comfort stops where practical, but the transfer takes much of the day, so carry snacks, water and a small bag with items you may need during the drive.

Arrive in Hurghada and check in to your accommodation. The rest of the day is deliberately light: settle into your room, walk along the seafront or rest after the overland journey. Our team confirms the arrangements for your Red Sea activities and explains the meeting point for the following day. Dinner is free to arrange according to your preference, with restaurants and cafés available in the resort area.

Spend the day on a Red Sea boat excursion, leaving Hurghada’s marina after the crew’s safety briefing. The route depends on sea conditions and the day’s operating plan, with time for swimming, snorkelling or simply relaxing on deck. If you choose to snorkel, guides explain how to use the equipment and how to enter the water safely from the boat.

Lunch and soft drinks are commonly served on board, with the exact arrangements confirmed locally. The boat day has a slower pace than the archaeological visits, but sun exposure can still be considerable; use reef-conscious sun protection, drink water and take breaks in the shade. Return to Hurghada later in the afternoon and enjoy a free evening. Travellers who prefer to stay dry can appreciate the views from the deck without joining the water activities.

Today is free for an unhurried day beside the Red Sea. Sleep in, spend time at the beach or pool, and choose a short walk along the promenade when the temperature is more comfortable. The open schedule gives you room to recover after the cruise and long transfer, with no required sightseeing or early departure.

You can also arrange an optional local activity through our team, such as a glass-bottom boat outing or another marine experience, subject to availability and sea conditions. Ask before booking about the duration, pickup point and what equipment is supplied. Keep a hat, water and light clothing with you, and follow local beach and boat guidance. The evening is free for a relaxed meal and a final look at Hurghada’s coastal atmosphere.

Use another full day to enjoy Hurghada’s coastal setting. Travellers can choose a relaxed beach day or arrange a further water-based excursion, depending on their interests and the local conditions. Snorkelling trips usually include a safety explanation, equipment guidance and stops selected by the boat crew. You do not need to be an experienced swimmer to enjoy time on board, but you should discuss any concerns with the guide before entering the water.

For a quieter plan, remain near the resort, read beside the water or take a short coastal walk. Avoid overfilling the day after the active travel earlier in the itinerary. Our team remains available to help with practical questions, including transfers, meeting points and what to bring. Return to your accommodation in time to organise luggage for departure and keep travel documents together.

Your final full day is set aside for the part of Hurghada you most enjoyed. Take a last swim if conditions allow, revisit the seafront or choose a calm morning at the beach before the afternoon heat. If you plan a water activity, allow enough time to return, shower and pack without rushing; schedules can change with marine conditions.

Our team confirms the next day’s airport transfer and departure details. Check your room carefully for chargers, passports, medication and small purchases, and keep fragile items in your hand luggage where possible. The evening is free for dinner near the resort or a quiet night in. Since the following day includes travel, an early rest will make the airport transfer easier.

Have breakfast and complete check-out according to the accommodation’s departure procedure. Your transfer to Hurghada International Airport is arranged around your flight schedule, with the exact pickup time confirmed by our team. Keep your passport, travel documents and essential medication accessible rather than packed in checked luggage.

At the airport, allow time for check-in, baggage handling and security procedures. If you have a later flight, our team can advise on practical luggage arrangements and how to use the remaining time safely near your accommodation. The tour ends at the airport, after your journey through Cairo, the Nile Valley, Aswan and the Red Sea coast.