BudgetDay Trip
Stopover
Cairo Stopover: Pyramids in 24 Hours
Private departurePyramids of Giza, Sphinx, Egyptian Museum
1 days·★ 4.7
From · per person
$54indicative · exact quote in 24h
Nile CruiseLuxury
8 days · 7 nights · Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel
7-Night Nile Cruise Round Trip from Luxor
Extended cruise with Abu Simbel excursion
★ 4.8 · 542 reviews—Private journeyFrom $3090 pp
All tours are private. Your group only — no strangers, no shared coaches, no fixed departures.
Journey highlights
- ★Sail the legendary Nile aboard a deluxe cruise vessel with full board
- ★Visit Karnak and Luxor Temples — the largest religious complex on earth
- ★Explore Valley of the Kings tombs including Tutankhamun's resting place
- ★Marvel at Edfu and Kom Ombo — the best-preserved Ptolemaic temples
- ★Experience Aswan's Philae Temple, High Dam, and Nubian culture
About this journey
This 8-day luxury nile cruise introduces you to the very best of Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel, crafted by Egypt Stay & Tours' specialists with over 20 years of Egypt expertise. From the moment your private chauffeur greets you at the airport to your final farewell, every detail has been considered. You'll travel with an expert Egyptologist (or local equivalent) who brings ancient history to life, stay in carefully selected luxury accommodations, and experience moments most travellers miss.
Unlike generic group tours, this itinerary is fully customisable. Add experiences, extend stays, upgrade hotels, or adjust the pace — we tailor every journey to suit your style. With 24/7 in-country support, transparent pricing, and direct relationships with all suppliers (including our own seven hotels in Egypt), you'll experience Egypt the way it should be experienced: seamlessly, authentically, and without compromise.
Egyptologist's note
What this trip really shows you
The classic seven-night Nile cruise: Luxor → Esna → Edfu → Kom Ombo → Aswan → and back, with the Abu Simbel optional excursion at the southern end. Seven nights is the longest standard cruise length and gives you both the Karnak/Luxor full-day and a relaxed Aswan stop with time for the Nubian villages, the Unfinished Obelisk, and the High Dam — content the shorter four-night cruises usually compress.
Most guests sleep three nights aboard going south and three nights coming back, with two full days in Aswan in the middle. The slower pace also means the temples at Edfu and Kom Ombo are visited at sensible hours rather than at the 06:00 sprint that the four-night itinerary forces.
Historical context
The Esna lock — installed when the Esna barrage was built in 1908 and modernised in 1995 — is the Nile valley's only working pound lock and is the bottleneck that controls cruise traffic between Luxor and Aswan. The lock is also why Nile cruises sail in convoy at fixed times rather than when the captain feels like it.
What you'll experience
- Spend two full days in Aswan, not the standard half-day
- Visit Edfu and Kom Ombo at proper visiting hours rather than dawn
- Cross the Esna lock — the bottleneck controlling all Nile cruise traffic
- Have a Luxor full-day for both the East Bank (Karnak, Luxor temples) and West Bank (VOK, Hatshepsut)
- Optional Abu Simbel excursion (flight or convoy) at the southern end
- Watch the Nile sunset from your balcony or the sun deck for an hour, not for ten minutes
Insider tip from your guide
If you can choose your cabin side, take the port (left) side for the southbound leg and the starboard (right) side for the northbound — both will give you the better Nile-bank view because the more interesting villages and palms are usually on the west bank in either direction.
Best for
Travellers who want a cruise-first itinerary, not a city-first oneRepeat visitors who already covered Cairo and now want to slow-sailCouples who prefer balcony-cabin time to coach timeGuests with seven-plus days but who do not need Cairo again
Day-by-day itinerary
Morning domestic flight to Luxor. Afternoon at Karnak Temple complex — the largest religious site ever built. Evening Sound & Light show at Karnak.
What's included
- ✓Private airport transfers (arrival & departure)
- ✓All accommodation (7 nights) on bed & breakfast basis
- ✓All sightseeing and excursions per itinerary
- ✓Expert local guide
- ✓All entry fees to monuments and sites
- ✓All transportation in private air-conditioned vehicle
- ✓Bottled water during tours
- ✓All taxes and service charges
- ✓24/7 emergency support during your trip
- ✓Lunch on touring days
- ✓Welcome dinner on day 1
- ✓Domestic flights (where included in itinerary)
- ✓VIP fast-track at airports
- ✓Nile cruise accommodation with full board (all meals included)
What's not included
- —International flights to/from your home country
- —Egypt entry visa (USD $25 on arrival or e-visa available)
- —Travel insurance (mandatory — we can recommend providers)
- —Personal expenses (laundry, phone calls, minibar)
- —Optional excursions and activities
- —Tips and gratuities for guides, drivers, and hotel staff (USD $8–12 per person per day suggested)
- —Drinks with meals (unless specifically stated)
- —Anything not specified in 'Inclusions'
Practical information
Practical Information
Best Time to Visit
October to April (cooler weather, peak season)
Departure Dates
Daily departures · Year-round
Languages Available
English, Arabic, German, French, Italian, Spanish (on request)
Physical Rating
Easy to moderate — comfortable for most travellers, some walking on uneven surfaces at sites
Cancellation Policy
Free cancellation up to 60 days before departure. 50% refund 30-59 days. No refund within 30 days. (Christmas/NYE/peak holiday departures: 90 days for full refund.)
Deposit Required
20% at booking, balance 30 days before departure
Frequently Asked Questions
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