12 Days Classic Egypt Tour Package with Nile Cruise and Red Sea

The Great Pyramids, Nile temples, and Red Sea beaches all fit into one carefully packed 12-day private tour. You move from Cairo to Aswan by air, cruise north through ancient temple country, then trade ruins for several quiet days in Hurghada.

I like the practical setup: private transport and an Egyptologist guide remove much of the usual friction, while hotels, admissions, domestic flights, and most meals are bundled into the price. I also like the mix of major sights and downtime. The tradeoff is a fast schedule, with several long sightseeing days and only one night back in Cairo before departure.

Key points at a glance

• Three nights on the Nile: Cruise from Aswan toward Luxor, stopping at Philae, Kom Ombo, and Edfu.
• Private Egyptologist guidance: Guides named in customer feedback include Amro and Mervat, though your assigned guide may differ.
• The main ancient sights: Giza, Saqqara, Memphis, Karnak, Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings, and Hatshepsut’s temple are all included.
• Three days in Hurghada: After the temple schedule, you get free time at an all-inclusive Red Sea resort.
• A largely prepaid trip: Eleven nights of accommodation, admissions, transport, domestic flights, breakfast, nine lunches, and seven dinners are included.
• A full private experience: Only your own group participates, with hotel and port pickup and drop-off.

What the $2,400 price really covers

At $2,400 per person, this is not a cheap Egypt trip, but the price covers a great deal. You get 11 nights in five-star hotels, resorts, and a Nile cruise, plus a private vehicle, a professional Egyptologist guide, attraction admissions, airport transfers, two domestic flights, and most meals.

That matters in Egypt. A trip linking Cairo, Aswan, Luxor, Hurghada, and Cairo again can involve many separate bookings. Here, the operator handles the moving parts. You are not left arranging a taxi to the airport, a transfer from the Nile port, or a ticket to each temple.

The value is strongest if you want comfort and structure. A private guide can adjust explanations to your interests, and a private vehicle means you are not touring with a large mixed group. The package is less compelling for independent travelers who prefer budget hotels, local buses, and choosing restaurants day by day.

The price does not include gratuities for cruise staff, guides, or drivers. Set aside money for those tips. Dietary needs such as vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free meals can be accommodated when you provide the information at booking.

Cairo begins with pyramids and royal tombs

Your first day is mainly arrival day. A staff member meets you at Cairo International Airport, helps with the Egyptian entry visa, and escorts you to your hotel. That welcome is useful after a long flight, especially when you are still finding your bearings.

Day two goes straight to the headline sight: the Giza Pyramids and Sphinx. You have about two hours here, enough to see the main monuments and take the classic photographs. The Great Pyramid and its neighbors are not just picture stops. They give you a physical sense of the scale and precision of ancient Egyptian building.

Expect a busy site with open sun and plenty of walking. Comfortable shoes, water, and a hat will make the visit easier. The schedule gives you a strong first look, but it is not an unhurried day spent studying every corner of the plateau.

You then continue to Saqqara, where the Step Pyramid of Djoser marks an important change in building history. Its six rising levels developed from earlier flat-topped tombs, and the monument is generally regarded as Egypt’s earliest major stone structure. The visit lasts about two hours, giving your guide time to explain how pyramid design developed.

Memphis follows. The old capital is now an archaeological area near Mit Rahina, with the massive statue of Ramses II and an alabaster sphinx associated with Queen Hatshepsut. Memphis is less instantly dramatic than Giza, but it helps connect the monuments to the city and government that once supported them.

This is a long, information-heavy day. Giza, Saqqara, and Memphis are all worthwhile, but you may feel ancient Egypt arriving at full speed.

Cairo’s museum, churches, and market

Day three shifts from open-air monuments to Cairo’s indoor and historic quarters. You spend about three hours at the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, which holds roughly 120,000 ancient objects, with only part of the collection on display at any one time.

Three hours is useful here. You can see royal sculpture, burial objects, and everyday pieces without trying to absorb the entire collection. Ask your guide to focus on the sections that match your interests. A good explanation can turn a crowded display case into a clear story about a ruler, a burial custom, or a religious symbol.

Next comes Coptic Cairo, a compact area of Old Cairo that includes the Babylon Fortress, the Hanging Church, the Coptic Museum, and the Greek Church of St. George. This part of the tour broadens the picture beyond pharaohs. You see how Cairo’s Christian communities shaped the old city and its monuments.

The day ends at Khan el-Khalili, Cairo’s famous bazaar. Allow yourself time to browse, but keep your expectations practical. This is a commercial market as well as a historic district, so you will encounter shopping pressure and souvenir stalls. Your private guide can help you move through it with less hassle.

Flying to Aswan and visiting Philae

On day four, you fly from Cairo to Aswan and board the Nile cruise. The exact cruise vessel is not specified in the package, though previous bookings have included the Blue Shadow and Concerto Nile cruises. That detail is worth confirming before you pay if the ship matters to you.

The first major stop is Philae Temple, reached by boat on the island of Agilika. The original monuments were moved stone by stone during a UNESCO rescue project when the construction of the Aswan High Dam threatened to cover them with water.

Philae is dedicated mainly to Isis and carries layers from the Egyptian, Greek, Roman, and Byzantine periods. Its island setting gives the visit a different feel from the landlocked monuments around Cairo. You have about three hours, a generous amount of time for the main temple areas and the story of the rescue project.

The cruise lasts three nights. That provides a welcome change of pace after Cairo. Instead of packing and unpacking every day, you watch the river corridor pass by and use the ship as your base.

Kom Ombo and Edfu reveal two very different temples

Day five brings two of the Nile’s most memorable temple visits. Kom Ombo is unusual because it is a double temple, with separate areas dedicated to Sobek, the crocodile god, and other deities including Hathor and Khonsu.

The plan allows about two hours at Kom Ombo. Your guide can point out how the paired design reflects different religious functions. The temple dates mainly from the Ptolemaic period, between 180 and 47 BC, so it also shows how later rulers continued to build in an older Egyptian style.

The Temple of Horus at Edfu receives about three hours. Built between 237 and 57 BC, it is one of Egypt’s best-preserved ancient temples. Sand protected much of the structure after the old religion was suppressed, and the roof remains intact.

That roof changes the mood of the visit. The enclosed spaces, carved walls, and surviving details give you a clearer sense of how a functioning temple once felt. Edfu is one of the places where a private Egyptologist can add real value, since the symbols and scenes can otherwise become a blur of carved stone.

Luxor packs a remarkable amount into one day

Day six is the most demanding sightseeing day. It includes Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut’s temple, and the Colossi of Memnon.

Karnak needs time. The complex grew over centuries and is dedicated mainly to Amun. Even with a two-hour visit, you will see only part of it, but the scale of the columns and courtyards gives you a strong impression of Egypt’s religious power.

Luxor Temple follows with another two hours. Located on the east bank of the Nile, it was built around 1400 BC and served as a major southern sanctuary. Its setting inside the modern city makes the ancient and present-day worlds feel unusually close.

After crossing to the west bank, you reach the Valley of the Kings. The general ticket allows entry to three tombs, but Tutankhamun’s tomb requires a separate ticket. The tombs are not all alike, so your guide can help you choose among the included options.

Photography restrictions and preservation concerns matter here. Carbon dioxide, humidity, friction, and constant foot traffic affect the painted walls, and flash photography can be prohibited. Follow the rules and take in the color and detail with your eyes rather than trying to photograph every chamber.

Hatshepsut’s temple at Deir el-Bahari has a different shape from the tombs. Its terraces rise against the cliffs, and its story brings royal power, gender, and political memory into the day. Some images and names connected with Hatshepsut were later damaged or removed, adding another layer to the site.

You finish at the Colossi of Memnon, two enormous statues of Amenhotep III that have stood in the Theban Necropolis for about 3,400 years. The stop lasts only 20 minutes, but it is an easy place for a quick photograph before returning to the road or ship.

This day covers a lot. If you prefer slow archaeology, the schedule may feel rushed. If you want the essential Luxor sights in one strong push, it delivers.

Hurghada gives the schedule room to breathe

On day seven, you leave Luxor by road for Hurghada, a drive of about three hours. After arrival, lunch, and hotel check-in, the emphasis changes from ancient sites to rest.

Days eight through ten are free days at the resort. The package describes Hurghada as all-inclusive and includes time to use the hotel facilities and relax on the Red Sea coast. No extra sightseeing is required, which is important after the packed Cairo and Luxor sections.

I like this pause. Egypt’s monuments demand attention, and three unscheduled days keep the trip from becoming one long march through temples and museums. You can spend the time by the water, at the resort, or simply catching up on sleep.

The tradeoff is that the beach portion is not a guided Red Sea program. The included plan does not list snorkeling, diving, boat trips, or a specific resort activity. If you want organized water sports, ask what is available and what costs extra before you arrive.

The final Cairo night and practical details

On day eleven, you fly from Hurghada back to Cairo and stay overnight. This final hotel night gives you a buffer before your international flight, rather than forcing a same-day connection from the coast.

On day twelve, staff escort you to Cairo International Airport according to your departure time. The airport transfers at both ends are included, which makes the final morning simpler.

This is a private tour for your group only. Most people can participate, and the operator lists no health restrictions. Still, expect walking, heat, uneven ground, stairs, and long sightseeing days at the major archaeological sites. The package also notes access to public transportation in some areas, though the main touring is by private vehicle.

Confirmation is provided at booking. The cancellation policy offers a full refund when you cancel at least six full days before the start time. A cancellation two to six days out receives a 50 percent refund, while cancellation less than two days before the start time is nonrefundable. Poor weather can lead to a new date or full refund.

Who should book this Egypt package

I would choose this trip if you want Egypt’s major sights without managing the transport yourself. It suits first-time visitors who value a private guide, five-star lodging, and a clear route from Cairo to Aswan, Luxor, and Hurghada.

It also works well for couples and small family groups. The private format lets you ask questions, move at your own pace within the daily plan, and avoid a large coach group. The guide names Amro and Mervat appear in past customer feedback, with both praised for making the ancient sites easier to understand. Your guide may be someone else, so confirm the assignment if that is important to you.

I would hesitate if you want a slow, flexible trip or a deep focus on one period of Egyptian history. The itinerary is full in Cairo and Luxor, and the long Luxor day leaves little room for wandering.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want the big Egyptian experience in one package: Giza, Cairo’s old quarters, a three-night Nile cruise, Luxor’s major temples, and three days at the Red Sea. The $2,400 price is easier to justify because it includes five-star accommodation, admissions, domestic flights, private transport, most meals, and guiding.

Before booking, confirm the exact hotels, cruise ship, tipping expectations, and what all-inclusive means at the Hurghada resort. If those details suit you, this is a strong choice for a comfortable first visit. If you prefer independent travel, the fixed pace and bundled structure may feel too tight.

FAQ

Are domestic flights included?

Yes. The package includes a flight from Cairo to Aswan and a flight from Hurghada to Cairo.

How many nights of accommodation are included?

The package includes 11 nights in five-star hotels, resorts, and a Nile cruise.

Is the tour private?

Yes. Only your own group participates, with private vehicle transport and a professional Egyptologist guide.

Are meals included?

Breakfast is included on all 11 mornings. The package also includes nine lunches and seven dinners.

Is admission to the sights included?

Yes. Entry fees for the sights listed in the itinerary are included. The general Valley of the Kings ticket covers three tombs, while Tutankhamun’s tomb is excluded from that ticket.

What is not included in the price?

Gratuities for cruise staff, guides, and drivers are not included. Dietary needs can be accommodated if you provide them as special requirements when booking.