Cairo, Aswan & Hurghada 7-Day Private Tour

After leaving Giza, we transfer into central Cairo for the Egyptian Museum. The museum visit gives you a broad introduction to Egypt’s ancient history before the later stops in the itinerary. Rather than trying to cover every gallery, your guide focuses on the collections and objects that best explain royal life, religious practice and burial customs.

You can expect a measured indoor visit with time to look at statues, funerary objects, jewellery and other artefacts. Gallery layouts and access to individual displays can change, so the exact route is confirmed on the ground. The museum is a useful counterpoint to the monuments outside: here, you see the smaller objects and inscriptions that help explain how the large sites were used.

Allow time for the transfer between the plateau and the museum, particularly when Cairo traffic is heavy. Once the visit ends, we continue to the Old Kingdom sites outside the city.

Our private vehicle leaves Cairo for Memphis, the former capital associated with the early dynasties. The open-air and indoor displays include large statues and carved remains, giving you a sense of the city’s religious and political importance without requiring a long walk between scattered ruins.

We then continue to Sakkara, where the Step Pyramid of Djoser marks an important change in pyramid design. Your guide explains how earlier mastaba tombs developed into a stepped stone monument and identifies the surrounding courtyards, tombs and ceremonial structures. Ground conditions vary, and some areas involve sand or uneven paths.

The final stop is the Dahshour Pyramids. The Red Pyramid and Bent Pyramid show different stages in the development of the smooth-sided pyramid. There is time for photographs and, where access permits, a closer look at the exterior. A simple meal stop can be arranged during this longer touring section before the transfer to the next region.

We arrange the internal transfer from Cairo to Aswan as part of the custom seven-day plan, using the transport option confirmed for your dates. After arrival, our guide meets you for the sightseeing route. The first stop is the High dam, where you look across the vast reservoir and hear how the structure changed flood control, irrigation and settlement patterns along the Nile.

We continue by boat to Phiala temple, set on an island and reached by a short crossing. The temple complex was moved to higher ground during the dam project, and its courtyards, pylons and reliefs remain clearly arranged for a guided visit. Boat schedules and crossing conditions can affect the exact timing.

Keep essentials in a small day bag, including water, a hat and comfortable footwear. After the island visit, we return to the Aswan shore and continue to the next activity without repeating the earlier sites.

Later in the Aswan section, you Sail with Felucca on a traditional Nile sailing boat. The ride is paced around the wind and local navigation conditions, so the route and duration may vary. From the water, you see the riverbanks at a slower pace and have a quiet break from road transfers. Your crew and guide explain boarding arrangements before you step onto the boat.

The itinerary then allows for the road transfer to Abu Simbel temples. This is an early-start excursion in most custom plans because the journey is long and the site is best visited with enough time for both major temples. On arrival, your guide leads you around the façades, courtyards and decorated inner rooms, explaining their connection with Ramesses II and the relocation project.

Carry breakfast or snacks if advised by our team, as meal timing depends on the transport schedule. After the visit, you return to Aswan or continue according to the confirmed internal routing.

We transfer onward to Luxor, where the east-bank route begins with Karnak temple. The complex is large, so your guide selects a practical walking route through the main gateways, columns and sacred areas. The Hypostyle Hall is a major focus, with its forest of stone columns and surviving inscriptions. Allow time for a steady walk on stone surfaces.

We pause for lunch at a local restaurant or another suitable stop included in the day’s arrangements. Menus and timing depend on the route, and your guide can help with local choices and dietary requests shared in advance.

After lunch, we visit Luxor temple, where the avenue, pylons, statues and columned courts show how the city’s religious centre developed over several reigns. The two east-bank sites work well together because the guide can compare their different roles without sending you back across the city. We then prepare for the west-bank transfer.

The west-bank visit starts at the valley of Kings, where selected royal tombs lead down into the limestone hillside. Your ticket access determines which tombs are open, and your guide explains the painted scenes, burial beliefs and construction methods before you enter. The ground can be hot, uneven and steep in places.

We continue to Hatshepsut temple, built into the cliffs with broad terraces and long approach lines. Nearby, the Colossi of Memnon provide a brief outdoor stop for photographs and an explanation of the statues’ original setting. The route then moves to Medinet Habu, known for its substantial walls and detailed reliefs.

We finish with the Ramesseum and the valley of the Queens, where the guide adjusts the visit to the available time and open tombs. Water, a hat and shoes with firm soles make this multi-stop section more comfortable.

The custom route uses a separate transfer section for Dendera temple, north of Luxor, before connecting the Nile Valley with the western desert. Your guide leads you through the temple’s columned halls, reliefs and astronomical ceiling details. The visit requires road time, so the exact order may be adjusted around transport connections and site opening arrangements.

The desert extension continues toward Bahariya oasis, where the landscape changes from cultivated river valley to palms, escarpments and open desert. From there, we travel into The white desert to see the pale chalk formations shaped by wind and erosion. Travellers should expect rougher tracks, limited shade and a slower vehicle pace.

For travellers choosing Camping in the white desert, the overnight camp is set up in the designated desert area, with basic facilities and a meal arranged by the local desert team. Those returning the same day leave after the desert visit for the agreed drop-off. Our team confirms the final transfer plan because this section cannot be completed as a practical same-day excursion from Luxor or Aswan.