Cairo & Nile Cruise: 8 Days Pyramids to Aswan

What lies inside the tombs of the Valley of the Kings?

You arrive at Cairo Airport and a representative meets you, handles check-in, and walks you through the week ahead. You spend two days in Cairo seeing the Pyramids, the Egyptian Museum, and the old bazaar, then fly to Luxor to board a five-star cruise that takes you downriver for four nights, stopping at the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's Temple, Edfu, Kom Ombo, and Aswan's monuments. All flights, hotels, meals on the cruise, transfers, and an English-speaking guide are included in the price.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Arrival and hotel check-in in Cairo

• Meet representative at Cairo Airport
• Transfer to hotel by air-conditioned car
• Check in and receive tour information

Day 2 — Giza Pyramids and Cairo sightseeing

• Visit Great Pyramids and the Sphinx
• Visit Valley Temple of King Chefren
• Tour Egyptian Museum artifacts
• Visit Hanging Church and Ben Ezra Synagogue
• Shop at Khan El Khalili Bazaar
• Return to hotel in Cairo

Day 3 — Fly to Luxor and Nile cruise begins

• Check out and transfer to Cairo Airport
• Fly to Luxor and transfer to Nile cruise
• Lunch on board the cruise
• Visit Karnak and Luxor Temples
• Dinner and overnight on board

Day 4 — Valley of the Kings and sail to Edfu

• Breakfast on board
• Visit Valley of the Kings tombs
• Visit Temple of Queen Hatshepsut
• See Colossi of Memnon statues
• Return to cruise for lunch
• Sail to Edfu
• Dinner and overnight on board

Day 5 — Edfu and Kom Ombo temple visits

• Breakfast on board
• Visit Temple of Horus at Edfu
• Sail to Kom Ombo Temple
• Visit Kom Ombo Temple
• Lunch on board
• Sail to Aswan
• Dinner and overnight on board

Day 6 — Aswan sightseeing and temples

• Breakfast on board
• Visit Aswan High Dam
• Visit Unfinished Obelisk
• Visit Philae Temple
• Return to cruise
• Lunch and dinner on board

Day 7 — Return to Cairo and hotel stay

• Breakfast on board
• Transfer to Aswan Airport
• Fly to Cairo and transfer to hotel
• Overnight in Cairo hotel

Day 8 — Departure from Cairo

• Breakfast at hotel
• Check out from hotel
• Transfer to Cairo Airport
• Final departure

The Experience

How do you fit the Pyramids, the Valley of the Kings, and a five-day cruise down the Nile into one trip without spending half your time arranging logistics? This eight-day tour handles the flights, the transfers, the hotels, and the guide—you just show up at Cairo Airport and move through Egypt on a fixed schedule. Day one is arrival and hotel check-in; day two you're at Giza seeing the Great Pyramids of Cheops, Chephren and Mykerinus, the Sphinx, and then the Egyptian Museum where the Tutankhamun collection sits behind glass. That same afternoon you visit Old Cairo—the Hanging Church, Ben Ezra Synagogue, and Khan El Khalili Bazaar, which has been selling spices and textiles since 1382.

Then you fly to Luxor and board a five-star Nile cruise. The boat becomes your hotel for four nights, and the itinerary moves you downriver in a rhythm that feels unhurried even though you're covering serious ground. Day three you visit Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple after lunch on board. Day four takes you to the Valley of the Kings—the tombs of Tutankhamun, Ramesses VI, and others carved into the rock—then to the Temple of Hatshepsut, which is built into the mountainside itself, and the Colossi of Memnon, the twin statues that photograph well from almost any angle. Day five is the Temple of Horus at Edfu and the Temple of Kom Ombo, where two gods shared one sanctuary. The cruise sails between stops, so you eat breakfast on deck, lunch after a site visit, and dinner as the Nile passes by your cabin window.

Aswan is the last stop. You visit the High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk (1,168 tonnes and still in the quarry where it cracked), and the Temple of Philae, built for the goddess Isis. Then you fly back to Cairo for one final night before heading to the airport. All domestic flights are included—Cairo to Luxor, Luxor to Aswan, Aswan back to Cairo. All transfers from the airports are in a private air-conditioned car. Meals are included throughout: breakfast at the hotels in Cairo, lunch and dinner on the cruise, and bottled water during the days you're out visiting temples. The guide speaks English and meets you at each stop.

What’s included

Your eight days include hotel accommodations in Cairo for three nights with daily breakfast, a four-night stay on a five-star superior Nile cruise on full board, all domestic flights (Cairo to Luxor, Luxor to Aswan, Aswan to Cairo), private air-conditioned transfers to and from airports and hotels, all entry fees to temples and monuments, guided tours in Cairo with an English-speaking guide, bottled water during excursions, meet-and-greet service at Cairo Airport, and all service charges and taxes.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Reflections Travel

Is this one for you?Right for travelers who want Egypt's main sites—Pyramids, Valley of the Kings, temple ruins, and the Nile itself—without arranging flights, hotels, or guides separately. The eight-day span is what makes visiting both Cairo and a full Nile cruise possible in one trip.

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Top questions

What's included in the price?

Hotel accommodations in Cairo (3 nights) and on the 5-star Nile cruise (4 nights), all meals mentioned in the itinerary, domestic flights between Cairo, Luxor, and Aswan, all transfers by private air-conditioned vehicle, entry to all temples and monuments, and an English-speaking guide for tours in Cairo.

How long is the Nile cruise?

Five days and four nights, sailing from Luxor to Aswan with stops at Karnak, Valley of the Kings, Edfu, Kom Ombo, and Aswan.

Do I need a visa for Egypt?

A current valid passport is required on the day of travel. Visa requirements depend on your nationality; check with the Egyptian embassy for your country.

Are meals included?

Yes. Breakfast is included at hotels in Cairo, and all meals are included on the cruise (lunch and dinner daily). Lunch is also provided during sightseeing in Cairo.

Is this tour wheelchair accessible?

The tour is wheelchair accessible. Infants can travel in a pram or stroller, and specialized infant seats are available. Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness.

Can children join this tour?

Yes, children can join. They must be accompanied by an adult at all times.