Pyramids · Aswan temples · 5-star Nile cruise · Luxor West Bank · Red Sea resort. EDT private tours with licensed Egyptologist guide throughout.
Ten days gives you ancient Egypt’s full arc in a single, logistically clean itinerary. Cairo’s Giza Pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum come first, followed by a domestic flight to Aswan, three nights on a 5-star Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor with temple visits at every stop, and then three nights in Hurghada on the Red Sea for rest, snorkeling, and desert sunsets.
Unlike the shorter 7-day Nile cruise option that ends in Luxor and flies straight back to Cairo, this 10-day plan adds a genuine decompression phase. Days 7 and 8 in Hurghada are yours to use as you choose, with optional excursions available for both days: Giftun Island snorkeling ($50 per person) or a Bedouin desert sunset safari ($50 per person). Neither is obligatory. Many travelers treat these as recovery days between intensive site-seeing and the journey home.
This itinerary covers a lot of logistical ground: two domestic flights (Cairo to Aswan on Day 3, Hurghada to Cairo on Day 9), a 3-night Nile cruise at 5-star level, and an overland AC vehicle transfer from Luxor to Hurghada on Day 6. EDT coordinates every handover. You receive a free SIM card on arrival and 24/7 WhatsApp support for the full 10 days.
Compare this to the 10-Day Cairo, Nile Cruise, and Alexandria itinerary: that version ends with a Mediterranean cultural city day; this one ends with Red Sea resort time. Both visit the same Cairo, Nile, and Luxor temple sites. Your choice is Mediterranean culture versus Red Sea relaxation for the final stretch.
All site visits, entry fees, and transfers are private with a licensed Egyptologist guide. WhatsApp Attarious at +20 100 680 88 57 to discuss dates. Booking confirmation within 3 hours.
Your EDT representative meets you at Cairo International Airport, holding a sign with your name, and assists with immigration and customs. Private AC vehicle transfer to your Cairo hotel. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight in Cairo.
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch.
After breakfast, your licensed Egyptologist guide picks you up and drives to the Giza Plateau. You visit the Pyramid of Cheops (the Great Pyramid of Khufu, 2.3 million stone blocks), the Pyramid of Chefren, and the Pyramid of Mykerinus. Then the Great Sphinx, the legendary guardian of the plateau, and the Valley Temple of Chefren, one of the oldest stone buildings in Egypt.
In the afternoon, you move to the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), opened near the base of the Giza Plateau. The GEM houses the complete treasure of Tutankhamun, with over 5,000 artifacts including the famous gold death mask and the royal coffins, many on public display for the first time. Return to your hotel. Overnight in Cairo.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.
Morning transfer to Cairo Airport for your domestic flight to Aswan. On arrival, your guide meets you and takes you to explore Aswan. First stop is the Aswan High Dam, built between 1960 and 1970 to control the Nile flood cycle — the dam created Lake Nasser, the world’s second-largest artificial lake.
Then to the Temple of Philae, now rebuilt on Egilica Island after UNESCO’s International Campaign saved it from the rising waters of Lake Nasser in the 1970s. Philae is dedicated to Isis and Hathor. Final Aswan stop: the Unfinished Obelisk, still connected to the quarry bedrock, showing exactly how ancient Egyptians worked granite.
Transfer to your 5-star Nile cruise. Dinner and overnight on board.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.
Optional: early morning departure by AC vehicle to Abu Simbel, 280km south of Aswan. The colossal Temple of Abu Simbel was carved into sandstone cliffs by Ramses II (XIXth Dynasty). The UNESCO International Campaign relocated the entire complex to higher ground between 1964 and 1968 to save it from Lake Nasser. Four giant statues of Ramses II flank the entrance; inside, the inner sanctuary faces east so sunlight illuminates the statues twice a year (February 22 and October 22). Nearby stands the smaller Temple of Nefertari, dedicated to the goddess Hathor. Return to Aswan.
The cruise sails north to Kom Ombo in the afternoon. Visit Kom Ombo Temple, a rare double temple dedicated to Sobek (the crocodile god, god of fertility and medicine) and Haroeris (Horus the Elder). The temple’s symmetrical layout is unique in ancient Egypt. The cruise continues sailing to Edfu. Overnight on board.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.
Morning arrival at Edfu. Visit Edfu Temple (the Temple of Horus), the best-preserved temple complex in Egypt. Built during the Ptolemaic period over 180 years, Edfu’s pylons, hypostyle hall, and inner sanctuary are almost entirely intact. The detailed carvings tell the myth of Horus defeating Set. Return to the cruise and continue sailing north to Luxor.
Afternoon and evening on board as the Nile passes through Upper Egypt’s farmland. Evening stop to visit Luxor Temple, built by Amenhotep III and completed by Ramses II. The temple’s avenue of sphinxes stretches 3km north to Karnak. Return to the cruise. Overnight on board.
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch.
Optional: early morning hot air balloon flight over the Nile Valley and Luxor West Bank (extra cost, pre-booking required). After breakfast, disembark from your cruise. Your Egyptologist guide accompanies you to the West Bank.
Valley of the Kings: enter 3 royal tombs from the New Kingdom, decorated with vivid religious texts and scenes from the journey to the afterlife. Temple of Queen Hatshepsut (Deir el-Bahari): the three-terraced mortuary temple of Egypt’s most successful female pharaoh, set against the limestone cliffs of the Theban Hills. Photo stop at the Colossi of Memnon, the two 18-metre sandstone statues of Amenhotep III that once guarded his mortuary temple.
Then to Karnak Temple Complex, the largest religious site in the ancient world. The Great Hypostyle Hall contains 134 stone columns, the tallest reaching 24 metres. After Karnak, private AC vehicle transfer from Luxor to Hurghada (approximately 3-4 hours along the desert highway). Check in to your Hurghada hotel. Overnight in Hurghada.
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner (Half Board).
A free day on the Red Sea to relax at your hotel’s beach or pool at your own pace.
Optional Giftun Island excursion ($50 per person extra): boat departure from Hurghada marina to Giftun Island in the Hurghada Marine National Park. Two snorkeling stops in protected coral reef areas with colorful reef fish and the chance to swim near dolphins. Lunch on board. Water sports activities available on the island. Return to your hotel in the afternoon. Overnight in Hurghada.
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner (Half Board).
Another free Red Sea day to use as you choose.
Optional Bedouin desert safari ($50 per person extra): Toyota Land Cruiser 4×4 transfers you approximately 30km into the Eastern Desert of Hurghada to a traditional Bedouin village. Visit the village to learn about Bedouin life and traditions. Camel ride to a hilltop position in time for the desert sunset. BBQ dinner with mineral water and soft drinks included under the open desert sky. Return by starlit desert roads to your hotel. Overnight in Hurghada.
Meals: Breakfast.
After breakfast, transfer to Hurghada Airport for your domestic flight to Cairo. Arrive Cairo Airport and transfer to your Cairo hotel. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight in Cairo.
Meals: Breakfast.
After breakfast, your EDT guide meets you in the hotel lobby and transfers you to Cairo International Airport, assisting with immigration and customs for your departure. Your 10-day Egypt journey is complete.
This itinerary crosses Egypt by air, river, and road:
Total logistics: 2 domestic flights + 1 Nile cruise + 1 overland vehicle transfer. EDT coordinates every handover. All accommodation check-ins and guide handovers are pre-arranged.
| Hotel Category | Price Per Person | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| 3-Star Hotels | $1,520 USD | Double occupancy |
| 4-Star Hotels | $1,640 USD | Double occupancy |
| 5-Star Hotels | $1,850 USD | Double occupancy |
Note on cruise accommodation: The Nile cruise is a 5-star vessel with full board regardless of which land hotel category you book. The cruise tier is not affected by your hotel choice.
Optional excursions (not included): Abu Simbel: contact for price. Giftun Island snorkeling: $50 per person. Desert sunset safari: $50 per person. Luxor balloon: contact for price.
Solo travelers and groups: Solo supplement and group discount rates are available. WhatsApp Attarious at +20 100 680 88 57 for a tailored quote.
Prices correct as of 2026-06-07. Prices are subject to change based on hotel availability and domestic flight schedules. For an updated quote, WhatsApp Attarious at +20 100 680 88 57 or email info@egyptdaytours.com. Booking confirmation within 3 hours.
The transition from the Nile cruise to Hurghada was seamless — EDT handled every transfer. We went from Karnak Temple in the morning to the Red Sea pool by evening. Both optional excursions were worth every dollar.
Giftun Island was the highlight we did not expect. After six days of temples and history, the snorkeling on Day 7 felt like a completely different holiday. The desert BBQ on Day 8 was magical. Highly recommend both add-ons.
The 5-star cruise was outstanding and full board means you eat very well for three days on the Nile. The guide’s knowledge at Edfu and Kom Ombo went beyond anything we read in guidebooks. Already planning to come back for the longer Jordan extension.
The 10-day Cairo, Nile Cruise, and Hurghada itinerary ends with 3 nights at a Red Sea resort for snorkeling and relaxation. The Alexandria version ends with a Mediterranean city day covering Roman ruins, the Catacombs, Qaitbay Citadel, and the seafront.
Hurghada suits travelers who want ancient Egypt followed by unstructured beach and water time. Alexandria suits those who prefer cultural exploration right through Day 10. Both visit the same Cairo, Nile, and Luxor sites. Your choice is purely about the last three days. WhatsApp Attarious at +20 100 680 88 57 to compare both options before booking.
Abu Simbel on Day 4 is listed as optional and is not included in the base price. It requires a 3-4 hour round trip by AC vehicle from Aswan, approximately 280km south. The colossal Temple of Abu Simbel, built by Ramses II and relocated by UNESCO in the 1960s, is one of the most dramatic sites in Egypt. If your schedule allows an early start on Day 4, it is worth the addition.
EDT can arrange the Abu Simbel excursion as an add-on to any booking. WhatsApp Attarious at +20 100 680 88 57 to add it and get a current price.
The Nile cruise is a 5-star vessel regardless of whether you book the 3-star, 4-star, or 5-star land hotel package. The cruise accommodation tier is fixed and does not change based on your Cairo or Hurghada hotel selection. All 3 nights on board are full board, meaning breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included.
This is one of the key value points of EDT’s 10-day Hurghada package: even the lowest-priced 3-star land option still gives you a 5-star floating hotel for the Nile cruise segment.
The 7-day Cairo and Nile cruise itinerary ends in Luxor and flies back to Cairo on Day 7. You see the same ancient sites but return home immediately after Luxor with no transition time. This 10-day version adds 3 nights at the Red Sea in Hurghada, giving you two genuinely free days (Days 7 and 8) plus optional Red Sea excursions.
The practical difference: the 7-day itinerary is intensive site-seeing from Day 2 through Day 6 with no break. The 10-day Hurghada version inserts a beach and desert decompression phase before the final Cairo overnight and departure. For travelers with more than 7 days available, the 10-day structure produces a much better travel experience.
Both optional excursions cost $50 per person each and both deliver good value for the experience.
Giftun Island (Day 7): A boat trip to the Hurghada Marine National Park with two snorkeling stops in protected coral reef areas known for colorful reef fish and dolphins. Lunch on board. Recommended for anyone who enjoys marine life or snorkeling, even beginners.
Desert sunset safari (Day 8): A 30km desert drive by Toyota Land Cruiser 4×4, a Bedouin village visit, camel ride, hilltop sunset over the Eastern Desert, and a BBQ dinner under the stars. Recommended for travelers who want to see a side of Egypt beyond the ancient monuments.
WhatsApp Attarious at +20 100 680 88 57 to pre-book either or both excursions. They can be added after booking.
Meal inclusions by segment:
Additionally, lunch is included on Day 2 (Cairo sightseeing), Day 3 (Aswan tours), Day 4 (Kom Ombo), Day 5 (Edfu), and Day 6 (Luxor tours) as part of the guided tour inclusions.