Cairo, Aswan & Nile Cruise: Pyramids, Valley of Kings, Flights

From Cairo’s pyramids to Luxor’s tombs by river and sky

You’ll wake up in Cairo with pyramids outside your window, then fly south for days drifting along the Nile past ancient temples and quiet villages. With a private guide handling every detail—from museum tickets to hotel pickups—you’ll have space to soak up stories (and sunlight), taste real Egyptian tea, and wander through tombs that feel almost untouched by time.

What’s included

Your journey includes airport transfers at any hour, all domestic flights between Cairo, Aswan and Luxor, four nights’ accommodation in comfortable hotels with breakfast in Cairo plus three nights aboard a 5-star Nile cruise ship with full board meals each day. A private Egyptologist guide leads every major site visit from Giza Pyramids to Valley of the Kings—and yes, lunch stops are built into most days so you never go hungry along the way.

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Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Arrival and airport assistance

• Arrive at Cairo International Airport
• Meet representatives and complete formalities
• Meet Egyptologist guide and tour briefing

Day 2 — Pyramids and Egyptian Museum tour

• Breakfast at hotel
• Visit the Pyramids of Giza
• Optional lunch and local drinks break
• Drive to El Tahrir Square
• Visit the Egyptian Museum
• Return to hotel for overnight

Day 3 — Fly to Aswan and Nile cruise start

• Fly to Aswan and meet assistance
• Embark Nile Cruise before lunch
• Visit the Unfinished Obelisk
• Visit the Aswan High Dam
• Optional excursion to Temple of Philae

Day 4 — Abu Simbel optional and sail Kom Ombo

• Optional tour to Abu Simbel Temple
• Drive back to Aswan
• Sail to Kom Ombo
• Visit Kom Ombo Temple
• Sail to Edfu

Day 5 — Edfu Temple visit and sail Luxor

• Arrive early at Edfu
• Visit Temple of Edfu
• Sail and enjoy lunch on board
• Arrive Luxor
• Optional visit to Luxor Temple or walking tour

Day 6 — West Bank Luxor sightseeing

• Breakfast and check out from cruise
• Visit Valley of the Kings
• Visit Temple of Hatshepsut
• See Colossi of Memnon
• Optional visit to Karnak Temple
• Flight to Cairo or overnight in Luxor

Day 7 — Fly back to Cairo

• Breakfast at hotel or cruise
• Transfer to Luxor International Airport
• Fly to Cairo
• Transfer to hotel in Cairo for overnight

Day 8 — Departure from Cairo

• Breakfast at hotel
• Transfer to Cairo International Airport
• Fly home

The Experience

The first thing I remember is the sound—Cairo traffic outside my hotel window, all horns and voices before breakfast. Our guide, Ahmed, met us in the lobby with this easy smile and a story about his grandmother’s favorite tea. He handed us sweet black tea (the kind that sticks to your teeth) before we even saw the Giza Pyramids. Standing there, sand in my shoes and camels snorting behind me, I tried to take one of those classic pyramid photos but kept laughing because my finger blocked half the frame. Ahmed didn’t mind—he just showed me how to say “shukran” properly (I still can’t roll the ‘r’ right).

The Egyptian Museum was next—cool inside but packed with school kids and this faint scent of old paper and dust. There’s something strange about seeing Tutankhamun’s mask after years of textbooks; it feels smaller than you’d think but somehow heavier too. We flew south after that (the flight is short, maybe an hour?) and landed in Aswan where the air felt different—drier, almost humming with heat. The Nile cruise ship was waiting for us like some floating hotel from another era. My cabin had a tiny balcony; at night I’d lean out and listen to water slap against the hull while distant music drifted over from shore.

Days on the river blurred together in a good way. We stopped at Kom Ombo Temple just as sunset hit—the stone glowed orange and our guide explained how Sobek was both feared and worshipped here. I touched one wall (probably not allowed) and it was warm from the sun. There were kids selling postcards by the dock; one tried to trade me a scarab for my baseball cap. In Luxor, we crossed early to the West Bank—the Valley of the Kings is quieter than I expected, almost hushed except for our footsteps echoing down painted corridors. The tombs are so deep you lose track of time underground.

I still think about Hatshepsut’s temple—those columns rising out of desert cliffs—and how our group fell silent for once just looking up at them. Lunches were always something simple: grilled chicken or falafel on deck with strong coffee after (no Wi-Fi on board, which forced us all to actually talk). By the end I felt sunburned and dusty but weirdly at home among strangers who started as fellow travelers and ended up as friends—or at least breakfast companions who shared sunscreen.

Top questions

How long is the Cairo, Aswan & Nile Cruise tour?

The tour lasts 7 nights (8 days) including Cairo stays and Nile cruise.

Are domestic flights between Cairo, Aswan & Luxor included?

Yes, economy class internal flights are included in your booking.

Is there a private guide throughout the tour?

A private Egyptologist guide accompanies you during sightseeing and all sailing days on the Nile cruise.

What type of accommodations are provided?

You’ll stay in 4-5 star hotels in Cairo and on a superior 5-star full-board Nile cruise ship.

Are meals included during the cruise?

Yes, full board meals are included while on the Nile cruise; breakfasts are included at hotels.

Can I visit Abu Simbel during this trip?

An optional excursion to Abu Simbel is available for an extra fee during your time in Aswan.

Is hotel pickup included on arrival?

Yes, airport pickup on arrival in Cairo is included any time you land.

Will I have free time or optional activities?

Your guide will suggest optional excursions like Philae Temple or Karnak Temple if you want more sightseeing.