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
LuxuryUltra-Luxury
12 days · 11 nights · Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel, Alexandria
Egypt Connoisseur 12-Day Curated
Michelin-trained chefs, private historians
★ 5 · 34 reviews—Private journeyFrom $10090 pp
All tours are private. Your group only — no strangers, no shared coaches, no fixed departures.
Journey highlights
- ★Stand before the Great Pyramid of Giza, last surviving ancient wonder
- ★Encounter the Sphinx face-to-face on the Giza Plateau
- ★Discover Tutankhamun's treasures at the Egyptian Museum
- ★Walk the colossal hypostyle hall of Karnak Temple in Luxor
- ★Witness sunrise over the Valley of the Kings
About this journey
This 12-day ultra-luxury luxury introduces you to the very best of Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel, Alexandria, 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 ultra-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
Twelve days curated for the traveller who has done Cairo and Luxor before and is looking for the second-tier sites done at first-tier comfort. Dahabiya cruise rather than five-star floating hotel; Sofitel Old Cataract rather than standard Aswan property; Egyptologist-led private boat at Abu Simbel rather than the convoy. Smaller scale, higher specificity.
Historical context
Dahabiyas — the lateen-sail river houseboats that 19th-century travellers like Florence Nightingale and Amelia Edwards used — were displaced in the 1980s by the floating-hotel cruisers. A small fleet has been rebuilt to the original specifications. With 8–12 cabins they reach moorings the big boats can't and stop at Esna, El-Kab, and Gebel el-Silsila — Middle Egyptian sites the cruisers blow past.
What you'll experience
- Dahabiya five-night cruise Esna → Aswan with stops at El-Kab and Silsila
- Two nights Sofitel Old Cataract Aswan
- Private morning at Karnak — inside the gate before public opening
- Private boat to Abu Simbel rather than convoy or commercial flight
- Two-night Cairo with private Egyptian Museum tour after public hours (when scheduled)
- Saqqara including the recently-opened Bubasteion cat-mummy gallery
Insider tip from your guide
The dahabiya leg is the trip. Ask for the front upper-deck cabin if available — the wind from the bow is the difference between sleeping with AC and sleeping with the windows open. The boats with original 1890s teak decks are M/S Nour El Nil and M/S Donia.
Best for
Repeat Egypt travellers ready for the second layerCouples who want intimate scale (8 cabins) over big-cruiser amenitiesPhotographers — dahabiya pace is the only way to shoot the river itselfReaders of Amelia Edwards' 'A Thousand Miles up the Nile'
Day-by-day itinerary
Meet your representative at Cairo Airport, private transfer to hotel. Welcome briefing with your Egyptologist guide. Evening at leisure.
What's included
- ✓Private airport transfers (arrival & departure)
- ✓All accommodation (11 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
- ✓All meals (full board)
- ✓Premium 5-star hotel category
- ✓Private guide throughout (no group sharing)
- ✓Champagne welcome at hotel
- ✓Exclusive after-hours site access where available
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 — mostly transfers and short walks, accessible for most fitness levels
Cancellation Policy
Free cancellation up to 90 days before departure. 50% refund 60-89 days. 25% refund 30-59 days. No refund within 30 days. (Special policies apply to Christmas/NYE/peak holiday departures.)
Deposit Required
20% at booking, balance 30 days before departure
Frequently Asked Questions
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