7-Day Private Egyptologist Tour: Cairo, Luxor & Nile Cruise

The full sweep of ancient Egypt, one guide, seven days, your way.

A 7-day private guided tour of Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and the Nile, with a licensed Egyptologist who meets you at the airport and stays with you through departure. You spend two days at the Giza Pyramids and Grand Egyptian Museum, then fly to Aswan for a three-night private-cabin Nile cruise south to Luxor, visiting the temples of Kom Ombo, Edfu, Karnak and Luxor, the Valley of the Kings, and Hatshepsut. All sightseeing is private: no group tours, no set itineraries you don't control, and your guide adjusts the pace to match your interests. Domestic flights between Cairo and Aswan, hotel accommodation in Cairo, and tipping are optional add-ons. The office in Cairo is reachable on WhatsApp 24/7 throughout the week.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Cairo – Welcome to Egypt

• Meet Egyptologist at Cairo Airport
• Transfer to hotel
• Rest and plan upcoming days

Day 2: Giza Pyramids & Egyptian Museum

• Visit Great Pyramid of Khufu base
• See the Great Sphinx
• View panoramic pyramid alignment
• Lunch at local restaurant
• Tour Grand Egyptian Museum

Day 3: Fly to Aswan – High Dam, Philae Temple & Nile Cruise Begins

• Fly to Aswan
• Visit High Dam
• Boat to Philae Temple
• Board Nile cruise

Day 4: Kom Ombo & Edfu Temples, sailing to Luxor

• Sail north on Nile
• Visit Kom Ombo Temple
• Visit Temple of Edfu
• Watch riverbank life from deck

Day 5: Luxor West Bank – Valley of the Kings & More

• Cross to Luxor West Bank
• Enter Valley of the Kings tombs
• Visit Temple of Hatshepsut
• See Colossi of Memnon

Day 6: Luxor East Bank: Karnak & Luxor Temple, fly to Cairo

• Disembark Nile cruise
• Visit Karnak Temple complex
• Visit Luxor Temple
• Fly back to Cairo

Day 7: Departure from Cairo

• Transfer to Cairo Airport
• Optional stop at Khan el-Khalili
• Depart Egypt

The Experience

You land at Cairo Airport and your Egyptologist meets you there, transfers you to your hotel, and answers your questions about the week ahead: no rushing into sightseeing on arrival day. The next morning you stand at the base of the Great Pyramid of Khufu, 2.3 million blocks stacked 4,500 years ago, then move to the Sphinx and a viewpoint where all three pyramids line up. The Grand Egyptian Museum opens in the afternoon. Tutankhamun's complete collection sits together there for the first time, and lunch is included. You set the rhythm at each site: linger at the tombs, skip the camel ride if you want, or take it. Your guide follows your lead.

On day three you fly to Aswan and board your private-cabin Nile cruise. Before sailing, you see the High Dam and take a short boat to Philae Temple, the island sanctuary of Isis that was moved stone by stone to save it from the rising water. Over the next two days the boat sails north and you go ashore at Kom Ombo (the unusual double temple shared between the crocodile god Sobek and the falcon god Horus, with mummified crocodiles still on display), and at Edfu, the best-preserved temple in Egypt, its pylon and falcon statues nearly intact after 2,000 years. Between stops you watch riverbank life from the deck.

Luxor is your final destination. You cross to the West Bank, the realm of the dead, and enter the Valley of the Kings where royal tombs cut deep into rock still show painted ceilings vivid after 3,000 years. You stand below the terraced Temple of Hatshepsut, Egypt's most powerful female pharaoh, and pause at the Colossi of Memnon. Two 18-metre stone statues that have guarded the plain for 3,400 years. On your last morning you disembark and visit Karnak, the largest temple complex ever raised, where 134 giant columns crowd the Great Hypostyle Hall, then Luxor Temple in the heart of town. A final flight returns you to Cairo and your guide takes you to the airport, or if your departure is late, suggests a last stop or time in Khan el-Khalili before you go.

What’s included

• Entrance fees to all sites.
• private Egyptologist guide in English, Spanish, Italian, French or another language.
• all airport and hotel transfers in air-conditioned vehicles.
• three nights' accommodation on board your selected Nile cruise.
• lunch on day two at the Grand Egyptian Museum.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for pregnant travelers

Operated by Egypt Day Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're arriving in Cairo without a car and want expert guidance from the moment you land. Your Egyptologist handles all the logistics, adjusts the pace to you, and the same person stays with you the entire week, so you're never figuring out what comes next or how to get there.

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Top questions

What's included in the 7-day tour price?

The tour includes all entrance fees to the sites, your private Egyptologist guide throughout the week, all airport and hotel transfers in air-conditioned vehicles, and three nights' accommodation on board your selected Nile cruise. Domestic flights between Cairo and Aswan and between Luxor and Cairo are optional and can be booked for an additional cost. Hotel accommodation in Cairo can also be arranged for an extra fee.

Do I need to arrange my own flights between Cairo, Aswan and Luxor?

The domestic flights between Cairo and Aswan and between Luxor and Cairo are not included in the tour price, but your guide can book them for you at an additional cost. This is the most practical way to move between the cities within the week.

What is the Grand Egyptian Museum and why is it special?

The Grand Egyptian Museum opened in November 2025 and houses Tutankhamun's complete collection displayed together for the first time. You visit it on your second day in Cairo, in the afternoon after the Giza Pyramids and the Sphinx.

Can I go inside the Great Pyramid or take a camel ride at Giza?

Both are optional. Entry inside the Great Pyramid costs about $11 USD and a camel ride costs about $15 USD. Your guide will explain the options and you decide whether to add them on the day.

Is Abu Simbel included in the tour?

A flight to Abu Simbel is optional and can be arranged during your time in Aswan. Your guide can book it for you if you want to see the colossal temples carved into the mountainside.

What happens if I have questions or problems during the week?

The office in Cairo is available on WhatsApp 24/7 throughout your trip, so you can reach someone immediately if you need help, have questions, or want to adjust plans.