8 Days Essential Egypt + 5-Day Nile Cruise
Cairo and Giza, then five days cruising the Nile in 5-star comfort.
Full sightseeing days on sand and temple stone, alternating with cruise days where the boat does the moving. Tomb descents on the West Bank are stepped and warm.
About this tour
Our most complete Egypt itinerary — Cairo and Giza's ancient wonders followed by a 5-day Nile Cruise from Luxor to Aswan, visiting Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, Philae Temple, and the Aswan High Dam along the way.
Highlights
- ✦Nine Pyramids professional photoshoot
- ✦5-star Nile Cruise, Luxor to Aswan
- ✦Karnak & Luxor Temples
- ✦Valley of the Kings
- ✦Philae Temple & the Unfinished Obelisk
Itinerary
- 1
Giza Pyramids & Photoshoot
Arrival, hotel pickup, and the Giza Plateau — the Pyramids, the Sphinx, camel ride, and the Nine Pyramids professional photoshoot.
- 2
Cairo & Flight to Luxor
The Egyptian Museum and Old Cairo in the morning, then a private transfer to the airport for your flight to Luxor and embarkation on the Nile Cruise ship.
- 3
Luxor East Bank
Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple, then the ship begins sailing south toward Esna.
- 4
Edfu & Kom Ombo
Edfu Temple by horse-drawn carriage from the dock, then on to Kom Ombo's riverside temple.
- 5
Arrive Aswan
Philae Temple, the Aswan High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk, and a sunset felucca sail.
- 6
Aswan or Abu Simbel (Optional) & Disembark
A morning Abu Simbel excursion is available as an add-on before disembarking; otherwise a relaxed Nubian village visit before checking out.
- 7
Fly Back to Cairo
Return flight to Cairo, with the afternoon free for shopping or an optional extra experience.
- 8
Departure
Private transfer to the airport for your departure flight.
Where You’ll Go
The main stops, in the order you'll visit them.
Included
- ✓Professional Nine Pyramids photoshoot
- ✓Professional content creator
- ✓Air-conditioned sightseeing transport
- ✓Lunch
- ✓Camel ride
- ✓English-speaking tour manager
- ✓Entrance fees
- ✓5-star Nile Cruise accommodation
- ✓Meals aboard the cruise
Not Included
- ✕Egypt visa
- ✕Cairo hotels
- ✕Flights
- ✕Personal spending
- ✕Optional activities
- ✕Tips
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, Cairo hotels, flights, tips, personal spending and optional activities.
Private. It runs for your group alone — Air-conditioned sightseeing transport and English-speaking tour manager — 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. Full sightseeing days on sand and temple stone, alternating with cruise days where the boat does the moving. Tomb descents on the West Bank are stepped and warm. 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 8 days across 4 bases — Cairo, Giza, Luxor and Aswan. 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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