Welcome to the land of pharaohs! Our 8-Day Egypt Tour provides the perfect balance of iconic history and relaxing river travel. This itinerary crafts a journey specifically for first-time visitors who want to see the essential highlights of Ancient Egypt without rushing. You explore the wonders of Cairo before embarking on a luxurious Nile Cruise that links the majestic temples of Luxor and Aswan.
Your incredible Egypt itinerary begins in the bustling capital city of Cairo. After arriving at the airport, you’ll transfer to your hotel and prepare for the journey back in time.
Upon your arrival at Cairo International Airport (), your dedicated Tour Manager meets you and assists you with visa and baggage formalities. A private, air-conditioned vehicle then transfers you to your 5-star hotel in the city. After checking in, the rest of your day is at leisure. Take some time to relax, perhaps enjoy the hotel amenities, or step out to capture your first glimpse of this bustling metropolis. Your Tour Manager reviews your itinerary and confirms all pick-up times for the exciting week ahead.
Your Egyptian adventure starts with a day dedicated to the Pyramids. Accompanied by your expert Egyptologist, you head to the Giza Plateau, home to the sole remaining wonder of the ancient world. You marvel at the sheer scale of the Great Pyramid of Khufu and walk right up to its base. Your guide explains the architectural brilliance and mystery behind the construction of the Pyramids of Khafre and Menkaure. Afterward, you visit the enigmatic Great Sphinx and the adjacent Valley Temple, where ancient pharaohs ritually purified themselves.
After a traditional Egyptian lunch, the afternoon features a visit to the spectacular Grand Egyptian Museum () (or the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities, depending on opening status). Here, you will be immersed in five millennia of history and explore the world’s largest collection of Egyptian artifacts, including the legendary treasures of the boy-king Tutankhamun.
After an early breakfast, you check out and a private vehicle transfers you to the airport for a short, scenic domestic flight to Luxor, the site of ancient Thebes. Upon arrival, a local representative meets you and transfers you directly to the dock to board your luxurious 5-star Nile cruise ship.
Following lunch on board, your guide leads you on a tour of Luxor’s spectacular East Bank. First, explore the massive Karnak Temple Complex, a vast sanctuary dedicated to the Theban Triad, where you wander through the colossal Great Hypostyle Hall containing 134 massive columns. Next, visit the beautifully lit Luxor Temple (often visited near sunset or at night for a magical atmosphere), which the kilometer-long Avenue of Sphinxes connects to Karnak. After your tour, return to the ship to settle in and enjoy your first elegant dinner sailing on the Nile.
The heart of your 8-Day Egypt Tour is the unforgettable voyage down the historic Nile River. Aboard the Nile Cruise, you’ll travel in comfort and style, stopping at the most spectacular temples of Ancient Egypt.
Today dedicates itself to the legendary West Bank of Luxor. Following breakfast, you cross the Nile to the Valley of the Kings, the royal necropolis where pharaohs, including Tutankhamun, received secret burials. You descend into three tombs adorned with vividly painted mythological scenes. Next, visit the uniquely modern-looking Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, a massive structure built into the cliffs. On the way back, stop for a photo opportunity at the giant Colossi of Memnon, the two towering statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep .
Return to the cruise ship for lunch as you begin sailing south towards Edfu. Enjoy a leisurely afternoon on the sun deck, watching the timeless scenes of the Nile Riverbanks pass by.
This morning, the ship docks in Edfu. A traditional horse-drawn carriage () transports you to the beautifully preserved Temple of Horus, one of the most complete Egyptian temples, which showcases stunning relief sculptures detailing the mythical conflict between Horus and Seth.
Return to the ship and sail further south toward Kom Ombo. Upon arrival, you visit the unique Temple of Kom Ombo, where symmetry divides the temple and dedicates it to two gods: Sobek, the crocodile god of fertility, and Horus the Elder, the falcon god. This duality offers a rare glimpse into the ancient Egyptian pantheon. The evening finds you cruising toward Aswan.
Enjoy breakfast aboard the ship, which docks in the serene southern city of Aswan. Your tour begins with a visit to the colossal Aswan High Dam, an engineering marvel that revolutionized Egyptian agriculture and controlled the annual flooding of the Nile. Next, explore the Unfinished Obelisk quarry to gain insight into the ancient stoneworking techniques.
The highlight of the day features a short boat ride to Agilkia Island to visit the stunning Philae Temple of Isis. Workers meticulously relocated this temple piece-by-piece to save it from the rising waters of the Nile, a true testament to international conservation efforts. In the afternoon, enjoy a relaxing felucca () ride around the scenic Elephantine Island, soaking in Aswan’s unique Nubian atmosphere.
The final days of your comprehensive Egypt Itinerary are spent soaking up the relaxed, Nubian atmosphere of Aswan and heading back to Cairo for your flight home.
After your final breakfast on the Nile cruise, you will disembark in Aswan.
Optional Excursion: For an unforgettable final ancient sight, you choose the optional excursion to Abu Simbel. This early morning trip (by road or short flight) takes you to the two enormous rock temples of Ramses and his Queen Nefertari, another stunning relocation project.
A private vehicle then transfers you to Aswan Airport for your return domestic flight back to Cairo. Upon arrival, a local representative meets and transfers you to your 5-star hotel for your final night in Egypt.
Enjoy a final breakfast at your hotel. Depending on your international flight schedule, you find time for some last-minute souvenir shopping or an optional final tour (e.g., Islamic Cairo or the Citadel). Your Tour Manager provides a private, air-conditioned transfer from your hotel to Cairo International Airport () for your final departure, carrying countless memories of the land of the Pharaohs.
Enjoy hand-selected, premium accommodations throughout your journey for maximum comfort and relaxation.
Your 8-day itinerary creates maximum efficiency, minimizing travel time and maximizing sightseeing.
The package covers the full cost of entering all the iconic historical sites listed in the itinerary.
Egypt remains a well-established and safe destination for tourism. The government prioritizes visitor safety, and dedicated Tourism Police heavily monitor tourist areas—including the Giza Plateau, the Nile River, and all major temple sites. As with any major global city, observe basic precautions against pickpocketing, but major crime rates against tourists remain extremely low. Our private transfers and dedicated guides ensure you travel securely and efficiently between all destinations.
Yes, all foreign visitors require a visa to enter Egypt. Citizens of many countries, including the , , nations, Canada, and Australia, can obtain a Visa on Arrival at Cairo International Airport for a fee of (USD) in cash. Alternatively, you can apply for an online prior to departure. We strongly recommend checking the specific requirements for your nationality well in advance of your trip.
In tourist areas like the hotels, cruise ship, and the Giza Plateau, standard comfortable clothing is fine. However, out of respect for the local culture, particularly in Cairo and when visiting mosques or churches, we recommend:
Comfortable, flat walking shoes are an absolute necessity for walking on uneven terrain at the temple sites.
The ideal time to visit Egypt is during the winter months (October to April). During this period, temperatures are pleasantly warm and comfortable for sightseeing (averaging to ). The summer months (May to September) are extremely hot, especially in Luxor and Aswan, where temperatures can exceed ().
Tipping, known locally as baksheesh, is a deeply ingrained custom in Egypt due to low service wages. It is expected for almost every service provided. We recommend setting aside approximately to USD per person, per day to cover tips for drivers, bellhops, restaurant staff, and smaller tips for your guide. You may also give a generous lump sum tip to your Egyptologist guide and cruise staff at the end of the trip for excellent service.
While your 8-Day package is comprehensive, we offer a selection of incredible optional excursions for those who wish to delve deeper into Egypt’s treasures and culture. These activities are not included in the base price and can be added at the time of booking or during your trip.
On your final day, choose to visit the truly magnificent rock temples of Ramses and his beloved Queen Nefertari, located south of Aswan near the Sudanese border. These massive temples, carved into the mountainside, were painstakingly relocated piece-by-piece to save them from the rising waters of Lake Nasser, a stunning feat of modern engineering. This excursion is available either by a private road convoy (a very early start) or a short domestic flight, with estimated costs ranging from to USD per person for the road option.
Start your day in Luxor with an unforgettable sunrise flight over the West Bank. Soar silently above the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Hatshepsut, and the Colossi of Memnon as the ancient landscape is bathed in the golden light of dawn. This once-in-a-lifetime aerial perspective offers unparalleled photographic opportunities and is generally priced between and USD per person.
After dinner on the cruise ship, take a spectacular evening tour to the Karnak Temple Complex. As darkness falls, the vast temple is dramatically illuminated with colored spotlights, and a narrated history of the site unfolds through speakers, bringing the stories of the Pharaohs and the gods to life. This mesmerizing show creates a mystical atmosphere and is typically available for to USD per person.
If your flight schedule permits, we recommend a final cultural deep-dive into the historical heart of the city. Visit the imposing Citadel of Saladin and the majestic Mosque of Muhammad Ali before losing yourself in the labyrinthine alleys of the Khan el-Khalili Bazaar, one of the oldest markets in the Middle East. This guided activity, including private transport, usually costs between and USD per person.
I never had a more positive experience and educational time than this tours. Learning about a variety of kings and queens was amazing! The tour guide was super nice and helped me and my friend every step of the way! Including bargaining for a few souvenirs! I will never forget
I had a 12 hour stay in Cairo- and had made no plans on how to spend it until 8pm the night before departure. I emailed Egypt Fun Tours in a panic and they responded immediately. They made it incredibly easy to arrange a tour and we made arrangements via
Last year (2010) my wife and I did a 20 day trip in Egypt, mostly Do-It-Yourself. However, one of the first things we did was a trip to Bahariya oasis and to the White Desert — not so easy to do yourself, so we needed an agency. After e-mail back-and-forths
We believed that 6 days would not be enough time to see everything. It felt like we did a 12-day tour in just 6 days. Hamada did a fantastic job of showing us around his stunning country. Highly recommended.
Hamada was incredible! So knowledgeable and kind. He had information about every item, street corner, and relic we looked at. Any questions we had, he had answers! He even made sure to give us tips while walking through the crowds so that we would feel more comfortable when being approached
