Cairo, Nile Cruise & Alexandria: 8-Day Guided Tour
The Cairo, Nile Cruise & Alexandria 8-day guided tour brings Egypt’s major ancient sites together in one well-organised holiday. You start at the Giza Pyramids, where your guide explains how the monuments were built and used, then see The Great Sphinx on the same plateau. Your time in Cairo also includes the Egyptian Museum, with galleries containing royal statues, funerary objects and items associated with King Tutankhamun.
Alexandria shows you another side of Egypt. Its Mediterranean setting, long history and Greco-Roman links give the city a different feel after Cairo’s ancient monuments. Our team arranges the transport and guided sightseeing, leaving you to focus on the waterfront, historic landmarks and the city’s changing layers rather than local connections. The pace works well for travellers who want context at each stop, not just a quick set of photographs.
After Cairo and Alexandria, you travel to Luxor and board a four-night Nile cruise. On Luxor’s east bank, you visit Karnak Temple, a large complex of pylons, columns and open courtyards, then Luxor Temple, where the columns are particularly atmospheric later in the day. On the west bank, the Valley of the Kings takes you into selected royal tombs cut into the desert hills. The Temple of Queen Hatshepsut and the nearby Statues of Memnon follow.
Life on the cruise slows the pace. Between guided excursions, you can watch villages, farmland and the desert edge pass by from the deck, eat the meals arranged onboard and rest in air-conditioned accommodation. The itinerary stops at Edfu Temple, reached by a local transfer, and Kom Ombo Temple, beside the river and dedicated to two different deities. Your licensed Egyptologist guide explains the reliefs and layout before you explore at a comfortable pace.
Aswan brings the river section to its final sites. The Aswan High Dam shows the scale of modern water management in Egypt, while a Felucca Sailing Adventure gives you a quieter view of the river and nearby islands when conditions allow. You also visit the Temple of Philae, reached by boat and dedicated mainly to Isis. An Abu Simbel excursion is included in the planned sightseeing, taking you to the great rock-cut temples near the southern border.
We run the tour with planned transfers, local assistance and a guide who explains the major history as well as the practical details at each site. It suits first-time visitors, couples, families with older children and travellers who prefer coordinated transport and sightseeing. Expect regular walking on uneven ground, steps at some temples and time in strong sun, so the tour is less suitable for anyone who needs a fully step-free itinerary. Tell our team about mobility needs before travelling so we can discuss the arrangements.
Accommodation covers three nights across Cairo and Alexandria, followed by four nights on the Nile cruise, with meals and sightseeing provided as stated in the final itinerary. Bring comfortable shoes, sun protection, a refillable water bottle and modest clothing for temples and religious sites; your guide will confirm the meeting point for each excursion.
4-night Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan
Guided sightseeing with a licensed Egyptologist where relevant
Abu Simbel excursion as scheduled
Felucca Sailing Adventure and boat transfer to the Temple of Philae
Entrance fees for the sites listed in the itinerary
Meals as specified in the final itinerary
Accommodation for 3 nights in Cairo and Alexandria
Planned transfers between destinations and sightseeing locations
International flights
Personal expenses, drinks and laundry
Egypt entry visa and travel insurance
Optional activities not listed in the itinerary
Gratuities for guides, drivers and cruise staff
Passport and any required visa documents
A light layer for air-conditioned vehicles and evenings on the cruise
Refillable water bottle
Light, modest clothing for temples and religious sites
Any prescribed medication and personal essentials
Comfortable walking shoes with good grip
Sun hat, sunglasses and high-factor sunscreen
This 8-day Egypt tour includes guided sightseeing in Cairo and Alexandria, accommodation during the Cairo and Alexandria stay, four nights on a Nile cruise, and transfers between the main destinations listed in the itinerary. Visits include the Giza Pyramids, the Great Sphinx, the Egyptian Museum and Alexandria, with a licensed guide explaining the sites and their history.
The river journey covers the main temples and landmarks along the Nile. Please check the booking details for the exact inclusions, such as meals, domestic travel, entrance tickets and any optional excursions.
The Nile cruise section follows a full sightseeing programme, including the Valley of the Kings, Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, Statues of Memnon, Edfu Temple, Kom Ombo Temple, Aswan High Dam, Temple of Philae, Abu Simbel and a felucca sailing adventure. The order can vary according to the cruise schedule and local operating conditions.
Expect early starts on some sightseeing days, walking over uneven ground and time on the coach between sites. We keep the pace practical, with guided visits followed by time to rest on board the cruise.
Our team arranges the planned pickups and transfers between Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor, the Nile cruise and Aswan as part of the tour logistics. Pickup details are confirmed with your booking information, and your guide or local representative helps you move between the airport, accommodation, sightseeing locations and cruise arrangements where included.
Travel times can be long because Egypt’s main archaeological sites are spread across several cities. Please provide accurate arrival details and let us know about any mobility or luggage concerns before travel.
The tour can suit families and many travellers with average fitness, but it includes walking, steps, uneven surfaces, heat and early starts at major archaeological sites. Children can enjoy the Giza Pyramids, the Egyptian Museum and the Nile cruise, while the temples and tombs require close supervision and comfortable walking shoes.
Some areas at the Valley of the Kings, Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, Edfu Temple and Temple of Philae are difficult for wheelchairs or travellers who cannot manage steps. Tell us your needs before booking so our team can explain the practical limitations and available assistance.
Pack lightweight, breathable clothing, comfortable walking shoes, sun protection and a light layer for cooler mornings or evenings. Shoulders and knees should be covered when visiting religious sites, so bring loose trousers or longer skirts and a top that covers the shoulders. A hat, sunglasses, reusable water bottle and personal medication are also useful.
Keep your passport, travel documents and valuables secure, and bring a small day bag for site visits. The Nile cruise is relaxed, but you should still pack clothing suitable for guided walks, temple visits and a felucca sailing adventure.
You can request the 8-day Cairo, Nile Cruise and Alexandria tour through our booking process, after which our team confirms the itinerary, traveller details, accommodation and transfer arrangements. Availability, payment stages and any required documents depend on your travel dates and the services included in your booking.
Cancellation terms vary according to the booking conditions and how close the cancellation is to departure. Read those conditions before paying, and contact us promptly if your plans change so we can explain the options that apply to your reservation.
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 arrival arrangements before your transfer to the hotel. The drive gives you a first look at the city’s broad avenues, neighbourhoods and busy streets. After check-in, the rest of the day is free to rest after your journey.
Your guide will confirm the schedule for the following days and explain how the transfers work. Depending on your arrival time, you may have the chance to take a short walk near the hotel or enjoy a relaxed meal. Keep your passport and essential items with you during transfers, and allow time to settle in before the sightseeing begins.
After breakfast, meet your guide for a full day of ancient Egyptian history. Begin at the Giza Pyramids, where you can walk around the pyramid plateau, view the monuments from several angles and hear how the royal tombs were planned and built. Your guide will explain the differences between the three main pyramids and point out the remains of the surrounding funerary complex.
Continue to the Great Sphinx, carved with a lion’s body and a royal head, before travelling into central Cairo for the Egyptian Museum. Inside, the collection includes statues, jewellery, burial objects and royal treasures, including items associated with King Tutankhamun. The visit involves walking through several galleries, so comfortable shoes and water are useful. Return to the hotel after the tour for your second night in Cairo.
Travel by road to Alexandria, Egypt’s Mediterranean city, for a day away from Cairo. The journey takes several hours each way, so an early start is practical. On arrival, your guide introduces the city’s long connection with Greek, Roman and Egyptian history while you visit the principal sights included in the day’s programme.
Spend time near the Mediterranean waterfront and explore the city at a measured pace, with breaks arranged between visits. Alexandria has a different character from Cairo: its sea air, broad Corniche and later history give the day a clear change of scene. After lunch, continue sightseeing before the return drive to Cairo. You will arrive at the hotel in the evening, with the next day’s transfer to southern Egypt explained by our team.
After breakfast, transfer to Cairo airport for the flight to Luxor. On arrival, our team takes you to the port and helps with embarkation on your Nile cruise. Once settled on board, begin exploring the east bank with your guide at Karnak Temple, a vast complex of pylons, courtyards, columns and sacred precincts built and expanded by successive pharaohs.
Continue to Luxor Temple, where the avenue, obelisks and columned court show how royal architecture changed over time. The temple is especially atmospheric later in the day, when the stonework takes on warmer tones. Return to the cruise ship for dinner and your first night on board. Cruise schedules can vary with navigation conditions, so your guide will confirm the exact order of visits locally.
Begin with a morning crossing to Luxor’s west bank, where the landscape changes from the cultivated Nile valley to dry desert hills. Visit the Valley of the Kings, the burial ground of New Kingdom rulers. Your guide explains how the tombs were cut into the rock and decorated with scenes intended to protect the pharaoh in the afterlife. The tombs open to visitors can change, and your guide will advise which entrances are available.
Continue to the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, built in terraces against the cliffs at Deir el-Bahari. Its ramps and colonnades make the setting easy to understand from the approach. Stop at the Statues of Memnon before returning to the ship for lunch and time to rest. The cruise then begins its southbound sailing, with meals and the passing Nile scenery enjoyed from the deck.
The ship continues south along the Nile, passing fields, villages and strips of palm-lined farmland. After breakfast, travel from the riverbank to Edfu Temple, usually by the local transport arranged for cruise travellers. The temple is dedicated to Horus and remains one of Egypt’s best-preserved large sanctuaries. Walk through its monumental gateway, open court and columned halls while your guide explains the reliefs and the temple’s religious role.
Return to the ship and continue sailing towards Kom Ombo. Later, visit Kom Ombo Temple, which has an unusual double design dedicated to Sobek and Horus the Elder. Its riverside position makes the visit distinct from the earlier temples. Allow time for the walk from the ship and bring sun protection, as much of the route is outdoors. Return on board for dinner and the third night of the cruise.
An early departure takes you by road to Abu Simbel, where the rock-cut temples of Ramesses II and Queen Nefertari face the shores of Lake Nasser. The journey is long, but the scale of the façades and the decorated interior chambers make this a significant final excursion from Aswan. Your guide walks you through the temples and explains their relocation during the construction of the dam.
Return to Aswan for visits to the Aswan High Dam and the island sanctuary known as the Temple of Philae, reached by boat. Later, enjoy a calm Felucca Sailing Adventure around the islands, subject to sailing conditions. It is a slower way to see the river after a full day of touring. Return to the cruise ship for your fourth and final night on board.
After breakfast, complete checkout and disembark from the cruise. Our team assists with your luggage and coordinates the transfer for your onward journey from Aswan. Depending on your departure plans, this may be a transfer to Aswan airport or another arranged connection within Egypt.
Keep your travel documents, medication and valuables in your hand luggage, and allow extra time for the port-to-airport transfer. If your departure is later in the day, our team can confirm the practical arrangements and where your luggage will remain between checkout and departure. Your guided Cairo, Alexandria and Nile itinerary ends after the transfer.