Five days is the sweet spot for first-time visitors who want Cairo in depth plus one meaningful extension. You can see the Pyramids, Saqqara, Memphis, the Grand Egyptian Museum, and Old Cairo over Days 2 and 3 — and still have Day 4 for Alexandria or a focused Luxor flight. Every plan runs as a fully private tour with a licensed Egyptologist guide and no shared groups.
Five days gives you something that 4 days cannot: two full Cairo days instead of one. That extra day is the difference between rushing from the Pyramids straight to GEM and actually seeing Saqqara, Memphis, the Citadel, and Old Cairo without feeling you are ticking boxes. Day 1 is arrival, Days 2 and 3 are Cairo in genuine depth, Day 4 is your extension (Alexandria, Luxor by flight, Sharm, or deeper Cairo), and Day 5 is departure.
For first-time visitors, 5 days is the practical minimum to leave Egypt having seen both its Pharaonic depth (the Giza plateau, the Step Pyramid, the GEM) and one secondary dimension (Alexandria’s Mediterranean heritage, Luxor’s Valley of the Kings, or the Nile’s character). For return visitors, 5 focused days in Cairo and surrounding sites reveals layers that a rushed 3-day first visit could not.
EDT’s 5-day plans are not padded — every day has a clear purpose. This page collects the real 5-day options with verified pricing and honest day-by-day breakdowns so you can choose the structure that fits your travel goals.
EDT’s standard 5-day plan is Cairo and Alexandria. Day 1 arrival Cairo. Day 2 Giza Pyramids, the Great Sphinx, the Step Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara, and the Statue of Ramses II at the ancient capital of Memphis. Day 3 the Grand Egyptian Museum with its complete Tutankhamun collection, then the Citadel of Saladin and Old Cairo with the Hanging Church and the Ben Ezra Synagogue. Day 4 an overday trip to Alexandria by private vehicle: Pompey’s Pillar, the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, the Library of Alexandria, Qaitbay Citadel on the Mediterranean, and the seafront Cornish drive. Day 5 departure.
This plan gives you Egypt’s two most distinct cities in one trip — Cairo’s Pharaonic depth and Alexandria’s Greco-Roman Mediterranean character — at a pace that does not feel rushed. Starting from $550 per person for 3-star accommodation. For the complete day-by-day plan with all internal links and detailed site descriptions, see our 5-Day Cairo and Alexandria itinerary.
Days 1 to 3 give you Cairo in full: Giza Pyramids and Sphinx on Day 2, then Saqqara (Step Pyramid of Djoser) and Memphis. Day 3 the Grand Egyptian Museum and Old Cairo. Day 4 overday Alexandria — Pompey’s Pillar, Catacombs, Library, Qaitbay Citadel, and the seafront drive. Day 5 departure. This is EDT’s most-requested 5-day plan for first-time visitors who want both Cairo and Mediterranean Egypt in one trip.
Starting from $550 per person, 3-star accommodation. WhatsApp Attarious at +20 100 680 88 57 to confirm dates and receive a full quote.
If you want Luxor over Alexandria: Days 1 to 3 cover Cairo (Pyramids, GEM, Old Cairo). Day 4 fly to Luxor — West Bank in the morning (Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, Colossi of Memnon) and East Bank in the afternoon (Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple) — then return flight to Cairo. Day 5 departure. This variant compresses Luxor into one long day but covers all the major sites. Better suited to physically active travelers who want maximum coverage.
WhatsApp Attarious at +20 100 680 88 57 with your travel dates — EDT handles the domestic flight booking and Luxor ground logistics.
For travelers who want Pharaonic and Red Sea: Days 1 to 3 Cairo (Pyramids, GEM, Old Cairo), Day 4 fly to Sharm El Sheikh for a free day at the reef (snorkeling, diving, or simply the beach at Naama Bay), Day 5 depart from Sharm airport or return to Cairo. This variant is popular with couples and families who want one beach day alongside the ancient world.
WhatsApp Attarious at +20 100 680 88 57 for domestic flight options and Sharm hotel arrangements.
Five days entirely in Cairo and its surroundings, going far deeper than a standard city tour: Day 2 Giza (Pyramids, Sphinx, GEM), Day 3 Saqqara full complex including the Serapeum and nobles’ tombs, plus Memphis and Dahshur (Bent and Red Pyramids), Day 4 Old Cairo (Citadel, Coptic Quarter, Khan El Khalili Bazaar) and the Egyptian Museum at Tahrir Square for comparison with GEM, Day 5 either departure or the Fayoum oasis as a half-day. This variant suits architecture and history enthusiasts who want Cairo’s depth over its breadth.
WhatsApp Attarious at +20 100 680 88 57 to build a custom 5-day Cairo depth itinerary for your specific interests.
Same core Cairo and Alexandria structure as the classic plan but with adjusted pacing for families: fewer sites per day, longer lunch breaks, and built-in afternoon rest time. Day 2 focuses on Giza only (Pyramids, Sphinx, and the GEM’s Tutankhamun gallery). Day 3 adds Saqqara and Old Cairo at a relaxed pace. Day 4 Alexandria overday. Day 5 departure. Good for children aged 6 and up. For younger children, EDT can adjust Day 4 to a shorter excursion within Cairo.
WhatsApp Attarious at +20 100 680 88 57 with your children’s ages and EDT will build the day schedule around their energy levels.
For the standard 5-day Cairo and Alexandria plan, the only long-distance movement is Day 4’s overday Alexandria trip. Cairo to Alexandria: approximately 220 km by the desert highway, around 3 hours drive in a private AC vehicle. Alexandria sightseeing: 5 to 6 hours covering Pompey’s Pillar, the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, the Library of Alexandria, Qaitbay Citadel, and the Cornish seafront drive. Return drive to Cairo: approximately 3 hours. An early departure from Cairo around 7:00am is standard.
Within Cairo, the main sites span the south of the city: Giza plateau (30 minutes from most hotels), Saqqara and Memphis (1 hour south), Grand Egyptian Museum (adjacent to Giza), and Old Cairo (20 minutes from the city center). All ground transport is by private AC vehicle — no public transport or self-navigation required at any point.
Starting from $550 per person for double occupancy in 3-star accommodation.
| Hotel Category | Price Per Person (double room) |
|---|---|
| 3-star hotels | From $550 per person |
| 4-star hotels | From $660 per person |
| 5-star hotels | From $850 per person |
Pricing reflects 2026 rates as of 2026-05-31. Final pricing depends on travel season, group size, and exact hotel selection. Some itineraries also offer 5-star Nile cruise accommodation included across all tiers. WhatsApp Attarious directly at +20 100 680 88 57 for an exact tailored quote — typical response time 1 hour during Egypt business hours, booking confirmation within 3 hours of receipt.
Yes, for a satisfying first visit focused on Cairo and one extension. Five days gives you two full Cairo days (Days 2 and 3), which is enough to see the Giza plateau, Saqqara, Memphis, the Grand Egyptian Museum, and Old Cairo without rushing. Day 4 adds Alexandria or a Luxor flight. If you also want Aswan, a Nile cruise, and the full Upper Egypt circuit, 8 or 10 days is the practical minimum. WhatsApp Attarious at +20 100 680 88 57 and describe your priorities — we will tell you the right duration for your specific list.
Both work well in 5 days. The Cairo and Alexandria combination (the File 03 standard plan) keeps the trip ground-based, avoiding domestic flights, and adds the Greco-Roman and Mediterranean dimension of Egypt’s story. The Cairo and Luxor combination adds a domestic flight and requires Day 4 to cover the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, and Karnak Temple in a single day — doable but fuller. Choose Alexandria if you want a more relaxed Day 4. Choose Luxor if Upper Egypt’s temples are a priority. WhatsApp Attarious at +20 100 680 88 57 to discuss which suits your travel style.
Not within a 5-day trip without cutting something significant. Abu Simbel is 280 km south of Aswan and requires either a 45-minute domestic flight from Aswan or a very early morning drive. Adding Aswan and Abu Simbel to a 5-day trip would leave no time for Alexandria, the Grand Egyptian Museum, or Old Cairo. If Abu Simbel is a priority, EDT recommends an 8-day plan: Days 1 to 3 Cairo, Day 4 fly to Aswan, Day 5 Abu Simbel + Philae + cruise boarding, Days 6 to 7 Nile cruise (Edfu, Kom Ombo), Day 8 Luxor and departure. WhatsApp Attarious at +20 100 680 88 57 to design this.
EDT’s 5-day Cairo and Alexandria plan starts from $550 per person for double occupancy in 3-star hotels, which includes accommodation for 4 nights, private guide for all touring days, private AC vehicle for all days, all entry fees, and breakfast daily. For 4-star hotels the starting price is $660 per person, and for 5-star hotels $850 per person. International flights and the Egypt entry visa ($30 USD on arrival) are not included. Tipping is customary but not mandatory.