10 Day Egypt Wonders of the Pharaohs Cairo & Alexandria & The Nile & Abu Simbel

The boldest feature here is the range: in 10 days, you see the Pyramids of Giza, royal tombs at Luxor, Nubian temples near Aswan, Abu Simbel, Cairo’s old quarters, and Alexandria on the Mediterranean. The four-night Nile cruise gives the trip a slower middle section after the busy sightseeing around Cairo.

I like the small maximum group of two, which should make airport transfers, museum visits, and questions for your guide much easier. I also like the practical package design: hotels, cruise, domestic flights, many meals, entrance tickets, and transfers are bundled together, so you are not piecing Egypt together on your own.

The main consideration is pace. Abu Simbel takes about seven hours, and Alexandria is a nine-hour day from Cairo. Also, the information lists both four and five Cairo hotel nights, so confirm the exact hotel schedule and flight times before paying.

Key points to know before booking

• Only two participants maximum: This is a private-style arrangement rather than a large coach tour.
• The Nile cruise lasts four nights: You travel from Luxor toward Aswan with full-board cruise meals.
• Abu Simbel is a long day: Allow about seven hours for the temple visit and associated travel.
• The package covers the major ancient sites: Giza, Saqqara, Memphis, Luxor, the Valley of the Kings, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Philae, and Abu Simbel are all included.
• Cairo and Alexandria add variety: You get museums, mosques, markets, Roman sites, a library, and Mediterranean history alongside the pharaonic monuments.
• The price is an all-in-one figure: At $2,850 per person, value depends heavily on the quality of the included five-star hotels, cruise, flights, and private handling.

Why this Egypt itinerary works

Egypt is not a country you understand from one city or one monument. The Pyramids tell only part of the story. This route links the Old Kingdom at Giza and Saqqara with New Kingdom Luxor, Ptolemaic temples in southern Egypt, Islamic Cairo, and Greco-Roman Alexandria.

That broad sweep is the tour’s greatest strength. You do not spend all 10 days in Cairo, and you do not lose time arranging every train, transfer, ticket, and flight yourself. Look at Egypt Tours provides airport pickup, private transfers, an Egyptologist guide, domestic flights, hotel stays, and a Nile cruise.

The maximum group size is listed as two people. That matters in Egypt, where a small vehicle and direct access to your guide can make a long sightseeing day feel far less tiring. The operator has used guides including Hannah in Cairo and Remon on the Nile, while other trip arrangements have included guides named Walid and Mustafa. Your assigned guides may differ, so ask who will handle each part of your trip.

The tour begins at 8 a.m. on sightseeing days. Early starts help you cover more ground, but you should expect warm outdoor visits, long transfers, and a fair amount of walking over uneven stone.

Day 1: A simple arrival in Cairo

The first day is intentionally light. You are met at the airport and transferred to your hotel, with no major sightseeing scheduled.

That is a sensible start after an international flight. Use the evening to rest, adjust to Cairo’s pace, and prepare for an early morning. Pickup is included, which is useful because arriving at Cairo airport and finding your own transport can be more work than expected.

The package includes five nights at a five-star Cairo hotel according to the detailed inclusions. The overview, however, refers to four Cairo hotel nights. This may reflect a change in how the nights are counted around the Nile cruise, but you should get the exact hotel dates in writing.

Day 2: Giza, Saqqara, and ancient Memphis

The Pyramids of Giza get the headline, and rightly so. The complex includes the Great Pyramid, the other major pyramids, and the Great Sphinx, all set on the edge of modern Cairo.

You have about three hours at Giza with admission included. That is enough for a guided orientation and time for photographs, though the plateau can feel hurried if you want to enter a pyramid or explore every viewpoint. Entry inside individual pyramids may involve an extra ticket, so ask your guide what is covered before you commit.

The Sphinx is more compact than many people expect, but its setting makes it one of the essential stops in Egypt. Your guide can help you understand how the royal tombs, causeways, temples, and guardian statue fit together rather than treating the site as a quick photo stop.

Saqqara gives you a different picture of pyramid building. The Step Pyramid of Djoser, designed under the direction of Imhotep, marks an early stage in the development of monumental stone architecture. Its stepped form looks unlike the smooth-sided pyramids at Giza, and the site feels more spread out.

You have another three hours at Saqqara. That extra time is valuable because the area contains more than one pyramid and tomb complex. Conditions are exposed and dusty, and the quality of access can vary, so comfortable shoes and water are sensible.

The day ends at Memphis, the ancient capital of Lower Egypt. The surviving site is smaller than Giza or Saqqara, but the colossal statue of Ramses II and the alabaster sphinx make the stop worthwhile. You spend about an hour here.

This is a full morning and afternoon, but it is one of the best-planned days of the tour. You see the famous monument, an earlier pyramid, and the remains of a major capital in one sweep.

Day 3: Cairo’s museum, market, and Citadel

The Egyptian Museum gives you three hours with the country’s ancient collection. Its holdings are extensive, with about 120,000 objects in the collection and a representative selection displayed.

The museum can feel crowded and visually dense. That is where your Egyptologist guide becomes especially useful. Rather than trying to read every label, you can focus on major objects and ask about the pieces linked to royal burial, daily life, religion, and Tutankhamun.

The itinerary highlights the treasures of King Tutankhamun. Check the current display arrangements before departure, since museum collections and galleries can change. The important point is that this stop gives you context for the tombs and temples you see later in Luxor.

Khan Al-Khalili follows with about an hour in Cairo’s historic market district. It is a good place to watch street life, browse small goods, and practice polite bargaining. One hour is not enough for a leisurely market wander, so consider this an introduction rather than a shopping expedition.

The final visit is the Citadel of Saladin and the Mosque of Muhammad Ali. The Citadel served as a seat of government and royal residence for centuries. The mosque’s Ottoman design and elevated setting provide a sharp contrast to the pharaonic sites.

You have two hours here. Dress modestly for the mosque, and expect to remove your shoes if required. The day combines objects, streets, and Islamic architecture, which keeps Cairo from becoming one long succession of ancient stones.

Days 4 and 5: Luxor’s temples and royal tombs

After Cairo, you fly south to Luxor. The package includes domestic flights between Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, and Cairo, though the exact timing is not supplied. Confirm baggage rules and flight departure times because they affect how much time you get at the monuments.

Luxor Temple is an east-bank complex built around 1400 BCE. Its columns, courts, and monumental entrance make it especially effective in the late afternoon or evening, when the stone can take on a warmer color. The scheduled visit lasts about one hour.

Karnak deserves more time, and the itinerary gives it two hours. This huge complex grew over many centuries and was dedicated mainly to Amun. Its scale is difficult to grasp from photographs, especially in the columned halls where the stone forest seems to continue far beyond the first row.

The next day moves to Luxor’s west bank, the burial zone for many New Kingdom rulers. At the Valley of the Kings, your standard ticket permits entry to three tombs, with Tutankhamun’s tomb excluded from that ticket. An additional ticket is required for Tutankhamun’s tomb.

The tomb interiors are the real prize here. Painted scenes and hieroglyphs survive in dark chambers below the hills, but heat, crowds, humidity, and touching can harm the decoration. Follow the no-flash rules and avoid leaning against walls. The valley is hot and exposed, so cover your shoulders, wear a hat, and carry water.

The Temple of Hatshepsut has a very different feel. Its broad terraces rise against the cliffs, and the layout reflects the ambition of Egypt’s female ruler. Your guide can explain the complicated succession story involving Hatshepsut, Thutmose II, and Thutmose III, though some popular retellings simplify the politics.

You spend about an hour at the temple, followed by a stop at the Colossi of Memnon. These two enormous statues of Amenhotep III have watched over the Theban Necropolis for roughly 3,400 years. The stop is brief, but it gives you a striking sense of scale and makes an easy photograph.

The four-night Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan

The Nile cruise is the trip’s change of rhythm. Instead of packing and unpacking every night, you spend four nights aboard a five-star luxury boat with full-board meals.

Cruising lets you see the river corridor between major temple visits. It also gives you a quieter period after Cairo’s traffic and the long walking days in Luxor. The exact ship name, cabin details, sailing schedule, and onboard facilities are not provided, so request those before booking.

A traditional galabeya party is included as an onboard evening activity. You can dress in traditional clothing, join the music and dancing, and enjoy a social night without leaving the ship. The experience is lighthearted rather than archaeological, but it adds a welcome change to the formal temple visits.

Meals listed with the package include seven lunches, four dinners, and nine breakfasts. The cruise is full board, while the Cairo hotel stay is described as bed and breakfast. Confirm which meals are provided on flight days and during the Alexandria excursion.

Day 6: Kom Ombo and Edfu

Kom Ombo is unusual because it is a double temple. One side honored Sobek, the crocodile god, while the other was linked to Horus and related deities.

The visit lasts about two hours. The layout gives your guide a useful way to explain how different cults shared one complex. The crocodile connection also makes this stop memorable for families and younger visitors.

Edfu Temple, dedicated to Horus, receives three hours. Built during the Ptolemaic period and preserved by desert sand, it is one of Egypt’s best-preserved temples. The roof remains intact, which gives the interior a darker, more enclosed mood than the open courts at Karnak.

The two stops work well together. Kom Ombo offers a rare double design and a link to crocodile worship, while Edfu gives you a nearly complete temple with strong reliefs and a clear processional route.

Day 7: Abu Simbel and Philae

Abu Simbel is the most demanding day of the southern portion. The schedule allows about seven hours, and the temples lie about 230 kilometers southwest of Aswan near Lake Nasser and the Sudanese border.

The long journey is worth considering carefully. Abu Simbel’s rock-cut temples, built for Ramses II and his queen Nefertari, are among Egypt’s most dramatic monuments, but this is not a quick add-on. You should choose this tour because you want to see Abu Simbel badly enough to accept a very long day.

Philae is a calmer visit. You cross the Nile by motorboat to reach the island temple complex, once an important center for Isis worship. The site includes additions from pharaonic, Greek, Roman, and Byzantine rulers, so it brings several periods together in one place.

Philae was moved block by block to Agilika Island during the UNESCO rescue project connected with construction of the Aswan High Dam. That relocation story adds another layer to the visit. Admission is listed as free, but the motorboat transfer is part of the planned visit, so confirm whether any local boat charge is expected.

Day 8: Returning to Cairo

After breakfast, you check out of the cruise and fly back to Cairo. A transfer takes you to your hotel, leaving the day for rest.

This is a useful buffer after Abu Simbel and the cruise. Do not assume it is a full sightseeing day. The schedule describes relaxation in Cairo, so use it to catch up on sleep, repack, or revisit an area if your flight arrives early and your guide confirms that time is available.

Day 9: Alexandria’s Roman and Mediterranean side

Alexandria is a long day trip, lasting about nine hours. It adds a different chapter to the journey, with Roman remains, coastal fortifications, a modern library, and a local lunch.

Pompey’s Pillar is linked to the Serapeum and was built in honor of Emperor Diocletian in the late fourth century. The catacombs are the larger attraction, with three underground levels cut into the rock and used as a Roman cemetery.

The Qaitbay Citadel occupies the site associated with Alexandria’s ancient lighthouse. The current fortress is much later, but the location connects the medieval city with the famous Pharos tradition.

The Bibliotheca Alexandrina provides a modern counterpoint to the ancient sites. The itinerary includes the visit, but admission is listed as free, so confirm which areas are available on your date.

Lunch at a local restaurant is included. Past arrangements with this operator have also included guides showing visitors local food and spices, so ask your guide for suggestions if you want to make lunch more than a simple fuel stop.

The drawback is the road time. Alexandria is rewarding, but nine hours makes for a tiring final sightseeing day, especially after several early starts.

Day 10: Airport transfer and departure

The final day has no sightseeing. According to your flight details, the team escorts you to the airport for departure.

Airport handling is one of the practical reasons to consider a package like this. The operator has built airport pickups and transfers into the trip, and guides or managers may help keep domestic connections and hotel changes organized. Still, confirm your departure transfer time the evening before.

What $2,850 per person really buys

At $2,850, this is not a budget Egypt trip. The value comes from the amount of coordination included: five-star Cairo accommodation, four nights on a luxury Nile cruise, domestic flights, entrance tickets, an Egyptologist guide, airport transfers, many meals, and a two-person maximum.

Buying these pieces separately can create a long list of decisions and possible transport problems. The package also gives you support during a destination where airport procedures, road transfers, and ticket arrangements can take patience.

The price is harder to judge without the hotel names, cruise ship name, travel dates, and flight schedules. Five-star labels can vary from one property to another, and a cabin’s position on a cruise ship can affect noise and comfort. Ask for those details before booking.

Tipping for guides and drivers is not included. Set aside extra cash for that cost, and ask the company for its suggested tipping amounts so you are not guessing at the end.

Who should book this Egypt tour?

You should consider it if you want the major ancient sites in one trip and prefer a guide to handle the details. It suits first-time visitors, couples, parents traveling with an adult child, and anyone who values a small group more than free time.

It is less suitable if you want long, unplanned stays in Cairo, leisurely time at each monument, or a relaxed Alexandria visit. The schedule is full, and Abu Simbel plus Alexandria require stamina.

Before booking, ask four practical questions: What are the hotel and cruise names? Are Tutankhamun’s tomb and pyramid interiors extra? What are the domestic flight times and baggage limits? Why does the description list both four and five Cairo hotel nights?

Should you book it?

I would book this tour if your priority is coverage and convenience. You get Egypt’s essential monuments, the Nile, Abu Simbel, and Alexandria without managing a complicated chain of flights, transfers, tickets, and hotels yourself.

I would hesitate only if you dislike early mornings and long road days. For a first visit, the combination of a small group, Egyptologist guides, included transfers, and a four-night Nile cruise gives the $2,850 price a reasonable case, provided the hotel and ship details meet the standard promised.

Cancellation is generous if you act early: cancel at least six full days before the start for a full refund. A cancellation two to six days ahead receives 50 percent, while cancellations less than two full days before departure are nonrefundable.

FAQ

How long is the Egypt tour?

The tour lasts approximately 10 days, beginning with airport pickup in Cairo and ending with an airport transfer on Day 10.

What is included in the $2,850 price?

The package includes five nights at a five-star Cairo hotel, four nights on a luxury Nile cruise, an Egyptologist guide, activities and admission tickets, domestic flights, private round-trip transfers, seven lunches, four dinners, and nine breakfasts.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is two participants. Group discounts are also listed as a feature.

Are flights included?

Yes. Domestic flights between Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, and Cairo are included. The exact flight times are not provided.

Is Abu Simbel included?

Yes. Abu Simbel is scheduled for Day 7, with about seven hours allocated to the visit and associated travel.

Are guide and driver tips included?

No. Tipping for the guide and drivers is not included in the tour price.