Eight days is a strong starting point for exploring Egypt from north to south. You have enough time to spend three days in Cairo and around Giza, fly south to Aswan, travel up the Nile to Luxor, and still return with a day for Alexandria or a final walk through Islamic Cairo. Most EDT guests who take 8 days tell us they wish they had booked 10.
Below you will find a day-by-day overview of what a typical private 8-day Egypt itinerary looks like, followed by all our currently bookable 8-day private tours with full pricing.
Your Egyptologist guide meets you at Cairo International Airport and transfers you to your hotel. After checking in, you head directly to the Giza Plateau for your first look at the Pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure, plus the Great Sphinx of Giza. The afternoon is yours to explore at your own pace. Evening welcome dinner in Cairo.
The day begins at Saqqara, where the Step Pyramid of Djoser was the world’s first large-scale stone monument built over 4,600 years ago. You continue to the ruins of ancient Memphis, Egypt’s first capital. The afternoon takes you to the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) at Giza for the complete treasures of Tutankhamun. Evening return to your Cairo hotel.
Morning in Islamic Cairo: the Citadel of Saladin, the Muhammad Ali Mosque with commanding views over the city, and a walk through Khan El Khalili Bazaar. After lunch, your guide transfers you to Cairo Airport for your domestic flight south to Aswan.
Your full day in Aswan starts at Philae Temple, dedicated to the goddess Isis and relocated stone by stone to save it from the rising Nile. You visit the Aswan High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk in its ancient quarry. Late afternoon: a felucca sailboat ride around Elephantine Island at sunset.
Two great options on day five. Option A: An early morning drive or flight to Abu Simbel, Egypt’s most dramatic temple complex, built by Ramesses II and relocated 65 meters uphill to save it from the rising waters. Option B: Board a private Nile cruise ship for the journey north, stopping at the Ptolemaic temples of Kom Ombo and Edfu.
Morning in Luxor: Karnak Temple, the world’s largest ancient religious complex covering 100 hectares and built over 2,000 years by successive pharaohs. Then Luxor Temple in the afternoon, still standing in the middle of the modern city and illuminated beautifully at night.
Cross to the West Bank for the Valley of the Kings, where 63 royal tombs were carved into the limestone cliffs including the tomb of Tutankhamun. Continue to the mortuary temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahri and the Colossi of Memnon. Board the overnight sleeper train to Cairo at around 10pm.
Your train arrives in Cairo early morning. Option A: Continue directly to Alexandria for a day visit to the Citadel of Qaitbay, the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, and the seafront. Option B: Spend your final morning in Old Cairo visiting the Coptic quarter and Ben Ezra Synagogue before your evening departure.
Route: Cairo (Days 1-3) to Aswan by domestic flight (Days 3-5) to Luxor (Days 5-7) to Cairo by overnight sleeper train (Day 8).
Transport used: 1 domestic flight (Cairo to Aswan), 1 overnight sleeper train (Luxor to Cairo), private air-conditioned road transfers throughout. Your guide stays with you from airport arrival on Day 1 to your final hotel or airport drop-off on Day 8.
Distance covered: Roughly 1,200 km from Cairo south to Aswan and back north. The internal flight and sleeper train handle the long legs so your days stay focused on the sites.
EDT’s 8-day private Egypt tours start from $1,100 per person (double occupancy, 3-star hotels). Prices vary by travel season, group size, and hotel category.
All prices include your private Egyptologist guide, private air-conditioned transport, domestic flight where shown, all site entry tickets, and hotel pickups. International flights and Egypt visa are not included. Final pricing depends on exact travel dates and group size. WhatsApp Attarious for an exact tailored quote.
Eight days covers the main highlights: Cairo and Giza, Aswan, and Luxor, with time for Abu Simbel or Alexandria as a day option. You will not feel rushed on the core route. To add the Western Desert, Sinai, or the Red Sea, plan for 10 or more days.
A standard 8-day EDT itinerary uses one domestic flight from Cairo to Aswan and one overnight sleeper train from Luxor back to Cairo. All other movement uses private air-conditioned road transfers. Your Egyptologist guide travels with you throughout.
EDT’s 8-day private Egypt tours start from $1,100 per person in double occupancy at 3-star hotels, and $1,200 to $1,400 per person for 4 and 5-star hotels. The per-person price decreases as your group grows. WhatsApp Attarious for an exact quote based on your dates and group size.
Yes. Every EDT itinerary is a starting point, not a fixed schedule. You can add or remove sites, choose your hotel tier, swap the domestic flight for an extra train journey, or adjust the daily pace. Most customization requests are confirmed within a few hours.