7-Day Cairo Nile Cruise Itinerary: Private Tour with Egyptologist

  • Private tours only
  • Cairo + Aswan + Luxor
  • Nile cruise included

7-Day Cairo and Nile Cruise Itinerary

Join a private 7-day Egypt tour that combines Cairo’s iconic monuments with a 4-night Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor. You see the Great Pyramid, the Sphinx, and the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo, then fly south to Aswan and board your private Nile cruise ship. Sailing north through Kom Ombo and Edfu, you arrive in Luxor to visit the Valley of the Kings and Karnak Temple before flying back to Cairo. Every transfer, every guide, and every shore excursion is private.

This itinerary is the most popular 7-day route in Egypt. You cover the two greatest monument zones in the country, and the Nile cruise adds a pace and perspective that no land-based itinerary can match. Seven days gives you enough time to absorb each site without rushing.

  • Private licensed Egyptologist guide throughout all 7 days
  • Full-day Cairo: Giza Pyramids, Great Sphinx, and Grand Egyptian Museum
  • 4-night Nile cruise Aswan to Luxor with full-board meals
  • Philae Temple, Kom Ombo, Edfu, and optional Abu Simbel
  • Valley of the Kings, Karnak Temple Complex, and Luxor Temple
  • Both internal flights included: Cairo to Aswan and Luxor to Cairo
  • All entrance fees to all sites listed in the itinerary

Day-by-Day 7-Day Nile Cruise Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Cairo

Your EDT representative meets you at Cairo International Airport and transfers you to your hotel. The afternoon is free to settle in. If you arrive with energy, an early-evening walk through Khan El Khalili bazaar is a short drive from most central hotels.

Day 2: Cairo — Giza Pyramids, Sphinx, and Grand Egyptian Museum

Your Egyptologist guide joins you after breakfast for a full day in Cairo. You visit the Giza Plateau: the Great Pyramid of Khufu, Pyramid of Khafre, Pyramid of Menkaure, and the Great Sphinx. After Giza, you continue to the Grand Egyptian Museum, including the complete treasures of Tutankhamun. Return to your hotel for a final Cairo evening before the flight south.

Day 3: Fly Cairo to Aswan — Philae Temple and Board Cruise

Morning flight from Cairo to Aswan (approximately 1 hour, included). Your guide meets you at Aswan Airport. First stop: the Temple of Philae, reached by motor boat across Lake Nasser. You then visit the Unfinished Obelisk in the granite quarries. Late afternoon you board your Nile cruise ship at the Aswan dock. Dinner on board as the ship prepares to sail north.

Day 4: Aswan — High Dam, Optional Abu Simbel, and Kom Ombo

Morning visit to the Aswan High Dam, the engineering project that created Lake Nasser. Today is also the ideal day to add Abu Simbel — the twin rock temples of Ramesses II and Nefertari, 280 km south of Aswan (by early road transfer or short flight, available on request). Late afternoon: the ship docks at Kom Ombo for the double temple dedicated to Sobek and Horus.

Day 5: Edfu Temple and Sailing to Luxor

Morning stop at Edfu for a horse-drawn carriage ride to the Temple of Horus, the best-preserved temple in Egypt. The afternoon and evening are spent sailing north through the Nile Valley toward Luxor, with sandstone cliffs on both banks.

Day 6: Luxor — Valley of the Kings, Karnak, Luxor Temple, and Fly to Cairo

Full day in ancient Thebes. West Bank morning: the Valley of the Kings (three royal tombs), Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari, and the Colossi of Memnon. East Bank afternoon: Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple in the early evening light. Evening flight from Luxor to Cairo (included). Transfer to your hotel on arrival.

Day 7: Cairo — Departure

Your final morning in Cairo is free. Your EDT driver transfers you to Cairo International Airport in time for your departure flight.

Where This 7-Day Nile Cruise Takes You

This 7-day tour covers two of Egypt’s greatest destination zones. Cairo and Giza (Days 1-2) concentrate the Old Kingdom monuments and Egypt’s most important museum collection. Aswan and the Nile Valley (Days 3-6) take you 900 kilometres south into Upper Egypt, where temples rise from the desert and the Nile narrows between sandstone cliffs. The cruise route follows the same waterway that connected ancient Memphis with the sacred city of Thebes for three thousand years.

What's Always Included

  • Private licensed Egyptologist guide throughout
  • All airport transfers and internal transport
  • Internal flights: Cairo to Aswan (Day 3) and Luxor to Cairo (Day 6)
  • 4-night Nile cruise Aswan to Luxor with full-board meals and shore excursions
  • All site entrance fees listed in the itinerary

What's Not Included

  • International flights to and from Egypt
  • Egypt entry visa (available on arrival for most nationalities)
  • Abu Simbel upgrade: road transfer or flight (available on request)
  • Gratuities for guides, drivers, and cruise crew
  • Personal purchases and items of a personal nature

7-Day Nile Cruise Tour Pricing

Accommodation Level From Price Hotels + Cruise
3-Star $1,400 pp Comfortable 3-star Cairo hotel + standard Nile cruise ship
4-Star $1,520 pp Superior 4-star Cairo hotel + deluxe Nile cruise ship
5-Star $1,650 pp Luxury 5-star Cairo hotel + premium Nile cruise ship

Final pricing depends on travel season, group size, and exact hotel and cruise selection. WhatsApp us for a personalised quote.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Nile cruise private or shared?

Your guided shore excursions are fully private. Your Egyptologist works exclusively with your group for all 7 days. The cruise ship carries other passengers, but you are never grouped with other travellers for any excursion or transfer.

Can I add Abu Simbel to this itinerary?

Yes. Abu Simbel can be added on Day 4 from Aswan. Options include an early-morning road transfer (approximately 3.5 hours each way) or a short domestic flight. Ask when booking.

What does the 4-night Nile cruise include?

Your cabin, all meals (full board: breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily), and all guided shore excursions are included. The ship has a sun deck, lounge, and dining room. A 3-star cruise ship is comfortable; 4-star and 5-star ships offer larger cabins and upgraded dining.

Can I extend this tour beyond 7 days?

Yes. Popular extensions include Alexandria (2 days), an extra day in Luxor, or a beach day in Hurghada. All extensions are private and built around your schedule.

What is the best time of year for this Nile cruise?

October through April is the most comfortable period. Temperatures in Luxor and Aswan are 18-28 degrees Celsius. Summer months reach 40-45 degrees Celsius in Upper Egypt, but tours operate year-round with early morning starts.

Are both domestic flights included in the price?

Yes. The Cairo to Aswan flight (Day 3) and the Luxor to Cairo flight (Day 6) are included in all three pricing tiers. Flights are operated by EgyptAir.


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