12-Day Egypt Grand Tour
Cairo, a full Nile cruise, and the Red Sea — the complete country, at an unhurried pace.
Twelve days that alternate deliberately — sand and temple stone on sightseeing days, then a Nile cruise and three unstructured Red Sea days to recover.
About this tour
The full country in twelve days: Cairo and Giza, a four-night Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan, and a closing stretch on the Red Sea coast to actually rest before flying home. Built for travelers who want everything without compressing it into a week.
Highlights
- ✦The Pyramids of Giza and the Egyptian Museum
- ✦A 4-night Nile cruise, Luxor to Aswan
- ✦Abu Simbel
- ✦3 days on the Red Sea coast to unwind
Itinerary
- 1
Arrival in Cairo
Airport pickup and rest.
- 2
Giza & Saqqara
The Pyramids, the Sphinx, and Saqqara's Step Pyramid.
- 3
Egyptian Museum & Old Cairo
The Egyptian Museum, Coptic Cairo, and Khan el-Khalili.
- 4
Fly to Luxor, board the cruise
Karnak and Luxor Temples, then boarding the Nile cruise ship.
- 5
West Bank & sail to Edfu
Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut Temple, then sailing south.
- 6
Edfu & Kom Ombo
The Temple of Horus and the twin temple of Kom Ombo, arriving in Aswan.
- 7
Aswan & Abu Simbel
Philae Temple and the High Dam, with an optional Abu Simbel add-on.
- 8
Disembark, fly to Hurghada
Transfer to the Red Sea coast.
- 9
Red Sea rest day
Beach or reef day, no scheduled sightseeing.
- 10
Red Sea rest day
A second free day on the coast.
- 11
Fly back to Cairo
Return transfer and a final evening in Cairo.
- 12
Departure
Airport transfer for the international flight home.
Where You’ll Go
The main stops, in the order you'll visit them.
Included
- ✓All transport in a private air-conditioned vehicle
- ✓Private English-speaking Egyptologist throughout Cairo/Nile Valley
- ✓Nile cruise cabin accommodation, full board
- ✓Domestic flights where needed
- ✓Entrance fees
Not Included
- ✕Egypt visa
- ✕Hotels in Cairo and Hurghada
- ✕International flights
- ✕Tips
- ✕Personal spending
Make It Yours
Experiences travelers often add to this itinerary.
Before You Book
The things travelers ask us most about this tour.
Yes — entrance fees for the sites on this itinerary are in the price, so there is nothing to buy at the gate. What you would still pay for separately are your Egypt visa, hotels in Cairo and Hurghada, international flights, tips and personal spending.
Private. It runs for your group alone — all transport in a private air-conditioned vehicle and private English-speaking Egyptologist throughout Cairo/Nile Valley — so the pace is yours and nobody waits on a coach filling up. We do not merge bookings into larger groups.
Prefer to join a small group? See Weekly Trips →A fair amount, but nothing strenuous. Twelve days that alternate deliberately — sand and temple stone on sightseeing days, then a Nile cruise and three unstructured Red Sea days to recover. If someone in your group has limited mobility, tell us before you book — we can usually adjust the route or the pace rather than have you find out on the day.
It runs 12 days across 5 bases — Cairo, Giza, Luxor, Aswan and Hurghada. The day-by-day breakdown is on this page, and start times flex around your flights and how early you like to begin.
Yes. Travellers on this itinerary most often add ATV Quad Bikes at Pyramids' Sahara Desert, Quiet Nile Felucca Tour and Food Tour, and any of them can be built into the day rather than booked separately. You can also swap a site, change the pace, or start from a blank page if none of this is quite right.
Customize this tour →What travellers said
Reviews of Egypt Eye from travellers who did something similar.
“The Pyramid and Sphinx tour with our photographer absolutely incredible from start to finish. Our photographer provided deep and engaging insights about the Pyramids, temples, and Sphinx throughout the tour, bringing ancient history to life with passion and clarity. He went above and beyond—not just as a guide, but even helping us negotiate with local vendors, which made the experience even more enjoyable and stress-free. The itinerary was…”Read the full review on Airbnb
Rohan
1 Day Giza Tour
“The all inclusive Pyramids and Sphinx experience with our guide (and Ru) was exceptional! Communication about pick up and itinerary of activities were clear and timely. Also, entrance to the sites was very easy and efficient. No hassle or waiting in long lines! Ru was an exceptional guide! She’s very knowledgeable and speaks excellent English, which made the exchange of information very fluid and easy. I learned SO much! Additionally, they were…”Read the full review on Airbnb
Bernard
1 Day Giza Tour
“This tour exceeded all my expectations and provided a truly exceptional experience. On the day I originally booked, I wasn’t feeling well, but the team was incredibly understanding and accommodated me by rescheduling for the following day. Their flexibility and kindness set the tone for the rest of the experience. The private nature of the tour made it even more enjoyable, as everything was tailored to my pace and preferences. My guide, our…”Read the full review on Airbnb
Thien
1 Day Giza Tour
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