11-Day Cairo, Nile Cruise, Alexandria and Hurghada Itinerary

Your private EDT guide meets you at Cairo International Airport and transfers you to your hotel. After checking in, visit the Grand Egyptian Museum in the afternoon: the world’s largest archaeological museum holds the complete Tutankhamun collection, royal statuary, and more than 100,000 ancient artifacts across its purpose-built galleries. Evening is free for rest or an optional Nile dinner cruise.

An early start to reach the Pyramids of Giza before the crowds. Your Egyptologist walks you through the construction sequence of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure, and the symbolism of the Great Sphinx guarding the plateau. Continue south to Saqqara — Egypt’s oldest pyramid complex — where the Step Pyramid of Djoser marks the first attempt at monumental stone architecture. Return to Cairo and spend the evening exploring the lanes of Khan el-Khalili bazaar for spices, perfume, and handcrafted souvenirs.

Early morning domestic flight from Cairo to Aswan. Your guide meets you on arrival and transfers you to the Nile cruise terminal. Board your private cabin and settle in over lunch on deck. In the afternoon, visit Philae Temple — the island sanctuary of the goddess Isis, carefully dismantled and reassembled on Agilkia Island after the construction of the Aswan High Dam. Watch the sunset from the cruise deck as the Nile narrows between granite boulders at Aswan.

An early morning flight or three-hour coach to Abu Simbel — one of Egypt’s most extraordinary sites. The twin rock-cut temples of Ramesses II and Nefertari were carved directly into the sandstone cliff face and later relocated piece by piece above the rising waters of Lake Nasser. The four colossal seated statues of Ramesses II at the entrance stand 20 metres tall. The interior halls are covered in relief carvings from the Battle of Kadesh, one of the ancient world’s most documented military campaigns. Return to Aswan in the afternoon and rejoin the cruise.

Morning visits to the Aswan High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk. The High Dam reshaped the entire Nile Valley when it was completed in 1970, creating Lake Nasser and requiring the relocation of 22 ancient monuments. The Unfinished Obelisk, still lying in its granite quarry, reveals the precise technique used to carve these towering monuments: the workers abandoned it after a fracture appeared during cutting. Early afternoon, the cruise departs north and docks at Kom Ombo by evening. Visit the unique double temple dedicated jointly to Sobek the crocodile god and Haroeris the elder Horus, with a small museum displaying mummified crocodiles found on the temple grounds.

Morning dock at Edfu. A horse-drawn carriage takes you from the riverbank to the Temple of Horus at Edfu — the best-preserved Ptolemaic temple in Egypt, its outer walls still standing at full height. Your Egyptologist traces the narrative reliefs of the Horus myth through the hypostyle hall, sanctuary, and inner chambers. The carved scenes of the sacred dramatic festival performed here each year are among the most complete ritual records from the ancient world. Return to the cruise and sail through the afternoon and evening toward Luxor.

Disembark for a full morning at Karnak Temple Complex — the largest religious structure ever built, expanded by successive pharaohs across two thousand years. Walk through the Great Hypostyle Hall with its 134 massive columns decorated in original paint, past the Sacred Lake, the obelisks of Hatshepsut and Thutmose I, and into the sanctuary. Afternoon at Luxor Temple, beautifully illuminated in the late sun, linked to Karnak by the 3-km Avenue of Sphinxes. Optional evening: sound and light show at Karnak (supplement).

Cross the Nile to the West Bank — ancient Thebes’s necropolis. Enter the Valley of the Kings and descend into three royal tombs, their painted chambers preserving detailed scenes of the afterlife journey. Visit the mortuary temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari, cut directly into the limestone cliff face, and stand before the Colossi of Memnon guarding the ancient mortuary district. Optional pre-dawn activity: hot-air balloon flight over the West Bank at sunrise (supplement, subject to weather).

Morning flight from Luxor to Cairo, then drive or fly to Alexandria. Your guide meets you on arrival for an afternoon of Mediterranean highlights. Visit the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, built on the site of the ancient world’s greatest library, with its striking disc-shaped architecture and permanent exhibitions on ancient Egypt and Mediterranean history. Explore the Catacombs of Kom El-Shoqafa — a three-level Roman-era tomb complex blending Egyptian, Greek, and Roman burial imagery. End the day at the Citadel of Qaitbay overlooking the Mediterranean, built on the site of the ancient Pharos lighthouse. Dinner in Alexandria with fresh seafood at the corniche.

Morning in Alexandria or a return to Cairo. Domestic flight from Cairo to Hurghada (~1 hour). Transfer to your Red Sea hotel and enjoy a free afternoon on the Red Sea coast. Options include swimming and snorkeling from the beach, a glass-bottom boat trip over the coral reef, a Giftun Island excursion (supplement, approximately $50 per person), or a desert quad biking and sunset experience (supplement, approximately $50 per person). Dinner at the hotel or at a Hurghada seafront restaurant. This is the one relaxation day in an otherwise culture-intensive circuit — use it as you choose. Note: Day 10 logistics (flight timing, hotel, and optional activities) are confirmed by Attarious based on your travel dates and group size.

Breakfast at the Red Sea hotel. Transfer to Hurghada International Airport for your departure flight. Hurghada serves direct international routes to many European cities, making it a natural end point for the circuit. If your flight is late afternoon, you have time for a final morning swim or an early visit to the Hurghada Marina. Your EDT guide coordinates all departure logistics. Safe travels.

This 11-day plan is derived from EDT’s operational 10-day Cairo, Nile cruise, and Alexandria pattern, with one Hurghada day appended. Because Hurghada accommodation, domestic flight availability, and Red Sea weather conditions vary by season, date, and hotel occupancy, EDT provides this as a suggested framework rather than a fixed bookable product with a single price. Attarious confirms exact routing, specific hotels, confirmed pricing, and availability when you contact us with your travel dates. The framework gives you a realistic preview of what the trip looks like; the confirmed quote is what you actually book.

One Hurghada day gives you a half-afternoon on the Red Sea coast, a beach swim or snorkel, and a sunset. For most travelers on a cultural circuit who simply want a taste of the Red Sea before flying home, one day is satisfying. You will not be able to do a full diving course, multi-day island hopping, or a deep-water dive in one afternoon. If those are priorities, a 12 or 13-day pattern with 2 to 3 nights in Hurghada is a better fit. Ask Attarious to compare: the 10-day Cruise and Alexandria pattern (no Hurghada) versus this 11-day plan versus a Hurghada-extended 12-day option, so you can decide based on what matters most to you.

Yes, fully. The 11th day can be structured as an Abu Simbel day trip inserted earlier in the itinerary (Day 4 from Aswan, before the cruise boards), a Memphis, Saqqara, and Dahshur Cairo south day (Day 2, so the historical arc runs from Old Kingdom to New Kingdom), a Sinai Peninsula excursion to St Catherine’s Monastery or the summit of Mount Sinai, or an extended Alexandria day with a visit to Montaza Palace and Pompey’s Pillar. The routing shifts depending on which extension you choose. WhatsApp Attarious at +20 100 680 88 57 to discuss which option fits your priorities.

For two travelers sharing a room in 3-star hotels and a 3-star Nile cruise cabin, the anchor estimate is $1,950 per person. For two travelers in 4-star accommodation, approximately $2,120. For five-star throughout, approximately $2,350. Solo travelers pay a single supplement of typically $200 to $400 depending on the hotel tier. These are extrapolated estimates based on EDT’s 10-day pricing; confirmed pricing depends on your specific travel dates, flight costs, hotel availability, and the Abu Simbel flight choice. WhatsApp Attarious for a fixed quote.

If beach and Red Sea relaxation are not priorities for you, the 10-day pattern is the right choice: it is slightly tighter in pacing, covers the same cultural circuit, and costs meaningfully less. The 11th Hurghada day adds value specifically if you want a beach transition before departure, if Hurghada serves as a more convenient international departure point than Cairo, or if Red Sea swimming or snorkeling is something you actively want. Ask Attarious to compare both itineraries side by side with pricing for your dates, so you can make the decision with full information.

October through April is the optimal season for the full circuit. The Nile cruise segment is most comfortable in the cooler months when deck time is pleasant and temple walks do not require 6 AM starts to beat the heat. Alexandria is pleasant year-round on the Mediterranean. Hurghada beach conditions are excellent year-round; July and August bring extreme heat inland but the Red Sea remains swimmable. Abu Simbel on Day 4 requires an early morning departure from Aswan regardless of season to arrive before the midday heat. The Sun Festival alignment at Abu Simbel occurs twice yearly (February 22 and October 22) when sunlight penetrates to the inner sanctuary: if your dates align, this is worth planning around. WhatsApp Attarious for seasonal advice on your specific travel window.