Overview

This 9-day itinerary is Egypt's most complete circuit: ancient monuments, Nile temples, and Red Sea reefs in one seamless journey. You begin in Cairo with a private tour of the Giza Plateau and the Grand Egyptian Museum, then fly to Luxor to board a 4-night Nile cruise sailing south through the temples of Karnak, Edfu, Kom Ombo, and Philae at Aswan. The tour closes with two nights in Hurghada — a short drive from Aswan across the Eastern Desert — where a snorkelling excursion to the Giftun Island Marine Protected Area and a glass-bottom boat trip reveal the Red Sea's reef ecosystem.

Tour Highlights

◆ Private Egyptologist guide throughout — no group coach tours 

◆ Giza Pyramids, Great Sphinx & Grand Egyptian Museum on Day 2.

◆ 4-night Nile cruise: Luxor → Karnak → Edfu → Kom Ombo → Aswan 

◆ Valley of the Kings — entrance to 2 royal tombs included 

◆ Philae Temple of Isis accessed by motorboat at Aswan 

◆ Snorkelling at Giftun Island Marine Protected Area, Hurghada 

◆ Glass-bottom boat section for non-swimmers 

◆ All domestic flights, transfers, and entrance fees included

Day-by-Day Itinerary 

Day 1: Arrive Cairo

 Private airport transfer to your hotel. Welcome briefing with your guide — itinerary review, currency, and practical orientation. Early dinner recommended. Overnight: Cairo (4-star, Kempinski Nile Hotel or similar). 

Day 2 Cairo — Giza Plateau & Grand Egyptian Museum 

Morning: Giza Plateau — the three royal pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure, the Great Sphinx, and the Valley Temple of Khafre. Afternoon: Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) — the Tutankhamun galleries, Royal Mummies Hall, and Ramesses II Corridor. Evening: Khan el-Khalili bazaar at your leisure. Overnight: Cairo. 

Day 3 Fly Cairo → Luxor — Valley of the Kings & Board Cruise

 Morning flight to Luxor (1 hr). West Bank: Valley of the Kings (2 royal tombs of your choice), Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari, Colossi of Memnon. Early afternoon: board your 4-star Nile cruise ship, settle in, and have lunch on board. Overnight: cruise ship, moored in Luxor.

Day 4 Luxor — Karnak & Luxor Temple 

Morning: Karnak Temple Complex — the Great Hypostyle Hall (134 sandstone columns), Sacred Lake, Avenue of the Sphinxes. Afternoon: Luxor Temple, a mile south of Karnak along the riverbank. The cruise sails south during the evening. Overnight: cruise ship (underway). 

Day 5 Edfu & Kom Ombo Temples 

Morning: Edfu — Temple of Horus, Egypt's best-preserved Ptolemaic temple, approached from the Nile by horse carriage. Afternoon: Kom Ombo — the double temple of Sobek (crocodile god) and Haroeris, set dramatically on a bend in the river. Continue sailing south. Overnight: cruise ship (near Aswan). 

Day 6 Aswan — High Dam, Philae & Felucca 

Disembark for Aswan sightseeing. Morning: Aswan High Dam (informational overview on its engineering and impact), Philae Temple of Isis on Agilkia Island (reached by motorboat), Unfinished Obelisk in the granite quarry. Afternoon: felucca sailing around Elephantine Island and past the Aga Khan Mausoleum. Optional: Nubian village visit by motorboat. Overnight: cruise ship or Aswan hotel. 

Day 7 Aswan → Hurghada (Private Transfer)

 Disembark the cruise. Private air-conditioned vehicle: Aswan to Hurghada via the Eastern Desert road (~5.5 hours). The route passes through the Sahara highlands before descending to the Red Sea coast — a scenic drive in its own right. Arrive in Hurghada late afternoon. Check in to your beach resort. Evening at leisure — first glimpse of the Red Sea. Overnight: Hurghada (4-star beach resort, Steigenberger Al Dau Beach or similar). 

Day 8 Hurghada — Red Sea Snorkelling & Glass-Bottom Boat 

Full-day snorkelling excursion departing Hurghada Marina to Giftun Island Marine Protected Area — home to hard and soft coral gardens, sergeant fish, parrotfish, and occasional reef shark sightings. The glass-bottom boat section runs parallel for non-swimmers or those who prefer a dry viewing option. Optional (own cost): jeep safari into the Eastern Desert at sunset with a Bedouin tea stop. Overnight: Hurghada. 

Day 9 Hurghada → Departure

Morning at leisure: beach, pool, or a final swim. Transfer to Hurghada International Airport. Domestic flight to Cairo for international connections. Note: if your international flight departs the same evening, a day-use room at a Cairo hotel can be arranged on request.

Best Time to Visit: October to April (peak season). The Red Sea is swimmable year-round, but monument touring is most comfortable below 35°C. July–August is not recommended for this itinerary due to extreme heat at Giza and Luxor.

Note: The Aswan–Hurghada road transfer (Day 7) is approximately 5.5 hours. Depart Aswan no later than 09:00 to arrive before sunset. An alternative routing via Luxor–Hurghada (4 hours) is available if cruise disembarkation is in Luxor — please inform your booking coordinator at the time of reservation.