Pyramids, Pharaohs & the Nile — Cairo to Abu Simbel
October to February for comfortable temperatures (20-25°C)
$48-455 per day depending on cruise and hotel level
Pyramids of Giza, Valley of Kings, Abu Simbel, Nile Cruise
Arrive at Cairo International Airport, transfer to hotel
Cairo
Explore Khan el-Khalili Bazaar & Al-Muizz Street
Islamic Cairo
Dinner at Naguib Mahfouz Café, walk Al-Azhar Park
Cairo
💡 Pro Tip:
Book a hotel in Zamalek or Downtown Cairo for easy access to main sites. Avoid exchanging money at the airport.
Great Pyramids of Giza & The Sphinx (arrive at 8 AM opening)
Giza
Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) — world's largest archaeological museum
Giza
Sound & Light Show at the Pyramids
Giza
💡 Pro Tip:
Hire an official guide at the gate ($20-30) to avoid hassle from unlicensed ones. Don't ride the camels near the Pyramids — overpriced and often mistreated.
Coptic Cairo — Hanging Church, Ben Ezra Synagogue, Abu Serga
Old Cairo
Egyptian Museum (Tahrir Square) — Tutankhamun's treasures
Downtown Cairo
Nile dinner cruise with live entertainment
Nile River
💡 Pro Tip:
The Egyptian Museum at Tahrir is still worth visiting even after GEM opened — it's less crowded and has a special atmosphere.
Flight from Cairo to Luxor (1 hour)
Luxor
Karnak Temple Complex — Great Hypostyle Hall, Avenue of Sphinxes
Luxor East Bank
Luxor Temple illuminated at night — magical experience
Luxor East Bank
💡 Pro Tip:
Book the earliest flight to maximize your day. Luxor Temple at night is one of Egypt's most beautiful sights.
Valley of the Kings — visit 3 tombs (Ramesses VI, III, Merenptah)
Luxor West Bank
Hatshepsut Temple at Deir el-Bahari & Colossi of Memnon
Luxor West Bank
Traditional Egyptian dinner in Luxor, visit Luxor Museum
Luxor
💡 Pro Tip:
Arrive at Valley of the Kings at 6 AM opening — it gets extremely hot by 10 AM. No photos allowed inside tombs.
Sunrise hot air balloon over the West Bank ($80-150)
Luxor
Board Nile cruise ship, begin sailing toward Esna Lock
Nile River
Dinner on board, watch the Nile at sunset from the deck
Nile River
💡 Pro Tip:
Book the balloon directly through your hotel for the best price. Bring a warm layer — it's cold at altitude before sunrise.
Temple of Horus at Edfu — best preserved ancient Egyptian temple
Edfu
Sail to Kom Ombo — double temple dedicated to Sobek & Horus
Kom Ombo
Continue sailing, stargazing from the deck
Nile River
💡 Pro Tip:
Edfu temple is reached by horse carriage from the dock — negotiate price before boarding (should be ~50 EGP).
Arrive in Aswan, visit Philae Temple (Isis Temple) by motorboat
Aswan
Nubian Village visit — colorful houses, hospitality, baby crocodiles
Aswan
Sunset felucca sailing around Elephantine Island
Aswan
💡 Pro Tip:
The Nubian village visit is a highlight — bring small gifts (pens, notebooks) for the children. Try hibiscus tea.
4:00 AM departure by minibus to Abu Simbel (3.5 hour drive)
Abu Simbel
Great Temple of Ramesses II & Temple of Nefertari
Abu Simbel
Return to Aswan, explore Aswan Souq, Unfinished Obelisk
Aswan
💡 Pro Tip:
The Abu Simbel convoy departs at 4 AM sharp — don't be late! The drive through the Sahara at dawn is beautiful.
Aswan High Dam & Lake Nasser viewpoint
Aswan
Last-minute shopping at Aswan Souq — spices, hibiscus, scarves
Aswan
Flight from Aswan to Cairo, connect to international departure
Aswan/Cairo
💡 Pro Tip:
Buy spices and hibiscus at the souq — much cheaper than Cairo. Karkade (hibiscus tea) makes a great souvenir.
✓ Pros:
Perfect weather 20-25°C, comfortable for sightseeing, peak season for cruise ships
✗ Cons:
Higher prices, more crowded at major sites
✓ Pros:
Warm but pleasant, fewer tourists, good prices, wildflowers in oasis regions
✗ Cons:
Getting hotter toward April, occasional sandstorms (khamsin)
✓ Pros:
Lowest prices, nearly empty sites, Abu Simbel sun festival (Oct 22)
✗ Cons:
Extreme heat 40-45°C in Upper Egypt, exhausting for sightseeing
| Category | Budget | Mid-Range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flights (Cairo-Luxor-Aswan) | $80-120 | $80-120 | $150-200 |
| Accommodation (9 nights) | $90-180 | $400-900 | $2000+ |
| Nile Cruise (3-4 nights) | $150-250 | $400-800 | $1500+ |
| Meals & Drinks | $80-150 | $200-400 | $600+ |
| Entry Fees & Guides | $80-120 | $150-250 | $300+ |
| TOTAL (per person) | $480-820 | $1230-2470 | $4550+ |
Internal flights (Cairo-Luxor, Aswan-Cairo) are cheap ($40-80) and save 10+ hours vs train
The overnight sleeper train is romantic but can be unreliable — fly if short on time
Uber works great in Cairo — much better than negotiating with taxi drivers
A 3-4 night Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan covers key temples en route
In Luxor, hire a private driver for the West Bank ($25-35 for a half-day tour)
Abu Simbel tourist convoy is the cheapest option ($25-35 round trip from Aswan)
Touching or climbing on ancient monuments (serious offense, hefty fines)
Exchanging money with street vendors (use ATMs or banks only)
Accepting 'free gifts' at tourist sites (they'll demand payment after)
Drinking tap water (always use bottled — even for brushing teeth)
Skipping Abu Simbel because of the early wake-up (it's absolutely worth it)
Wearing shorts/tank tops to mosques or conservative areas
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