10 Days in Egypt: The Complete Nile Valley Tour

Ten days in Egypt lets you go beyond Cairo and experience the full sweep of the Nile Valley — from the pyramids to the temples of Upper Egypt, with a multi-day cruise on the river itself. This itinerary ends with two days of Red Sea relaxation in Hurghada, giving you time to decompress before flying home.

Days 1–3: Cairo

Day 1 — Arrival and Giza Pyramids

Arrive in Cairo and transfer to your hotel. If your flight lands before noon, head directly to the Giza Plateau (opens 8:00 AM, general admission approximately EGP 540 / USD 11 as of 2026). Spend the afternoon exploring the Great Pyramid (interior entry EGP 1,000 / USD 20), the Sphinx, and the Valley Temple.

Dinner: Abou Tarek on Champollion Street for koshari, approximately EGP 60–80 (USD 1–2).

Day 2 — Grand Egyptian Museum and Islamic Cairo

Morning at the Grand Egyptian Museum (EGP 1,000 / USD 20 general admission, Tutankhamun galleries EGP 500 / USD 10 supplementary). Allow 3–4 hours.

Afternoon in Islamic Cairo: Khan el-Khalili bazaar, Al-Muizz Street, Qalawun Complex (EGP 100 / USD 2), Sultan Hassan Mosque (EGP 200 / USD 4).

Dinner: Naguib Mahfouz Café — mains approximately EGP 300–500 (USD 6–10).

Day 3 — Coptic Cairo, Citadel, Saqqara

Morning in Coptic Cairo: Hanging Church, Abu Serga, Coptic Museum (EGP 200 / USD 4).

Mid-morning drive to Saqqara (approximately 30 km south, taxi EGP 400–600 / USD 8–12 return). The Step Pyramid of Djoser — the world’s oldest monumental stone structure — was fully reopened after restoration. Admission approximately EGP 450 (USD 9). The nearby Serapeum (underground bull catacombs) is included in the ticket. Allow 2–3 hours for the full Saqqara necropolis.

Afternoon at the Citadel of Saladin (EGP 450 / USD 9) and sunset at Al-Azhar Park (EGP 120 / USD 2.50).

Dinner: Sequoia in Zamalek — Nile-side dining, approximately EGP 800–1,200 (USD 16–24) per person.

Cairo Hotels

• Budget: Wake Up! Cairo Hostel — from approximately EGP 800 (USD 16) per night
• Mid-range: Le Méridien Cairo Airport (if arriving late) or Steigenberger El Tahrir — from approximately EGP 3,500 (USD 70) per night
• Upscale: Four Seasons at Nile Plaza — from approximately EGP 15,000 (USD 300) per night

Day 4: Fly to Aswan

Take a morning flight from Cairo to Aswan (approximately 1.5 hours, EGP 2,500–5,000 / USD 50–100 one way with EgyptAir or Air Cairo).

Afternoon — Philae Temple and Nubian Village

Philae Temple on Agilkia Island is one of Egypt’s most photogenic temples. Motorboat from the dock costs approximately EGP 150–250 (USD 3–5) return. Admission approximately EGP 450 (USD 9 as of 2026), open 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM.

Late afternoon: visit a Nubian village by motorboat (approximately EGP 500–800 / USD 10–16 including boat and guide). Tea with a Nubian family and a walk through the painted houses is consistently one of the trip’s highlights.

Dinner: 1902 Restaurant at Sofitel Legend Old Cataract — fine dining with Nile views, approximately EGP 1,000–1,500 (USD 20–30) per person. Reservations recommended. For a budget option, Al Masry in the souk serves generous portions of grilled meats and ful for approximately EGP 150–250 (USD 3–5).

Aswan Hotels

• Budget: Keylany Hotel — from approximately EGP 800 (USD 16) per night
• Mid-range: Pyramisa Isis Aswan — from approximately EGP 2,500 (USD 50) per night
• Upscale: Sofitel Legend Old Cataract — from approximately EGP 15,000 (USD 300) per night

Day 5: Abu Simbel Day Trip

Depart Aswan at 4:00 AM for the 280-kilometre drive to Abu Simbel. Most visitors travel by minibus convoy (approximately EGP 1,200–1,800 / USD 24–36 per person). Private car runs approximately EGP 4,000–5,000 (USD 80–100) for the vehicle.

The twin temples of Ramesses II and Nefertari were relocated block-by-block in the 1960s to save them from the rising waters of Lake Nasser — one of history’s great engineering feats. Admission approximately EGP 550 (USD 11 as of 2026).

Return to Aswan by early afternoon. Spend the late afternoon on a felucca ride around Elephantine Island (approximately EGP 300–500 / USD 6–10 for 1–2 hours).

Dinner: Panorama Restaurant overlooking the Nile — grilled fish and mezze, approximately EGP 250–400 (USD 5–8) per person.

Days 6–8: Nile Cruise — Aswan to Luxor

Board your Nile cruise ship in the afternoon of Day 5 or morning of Day 6. The standard Aswan-to-Luxor cruise takes 3 nights and 4 days, stopping at the major temples en route. All meals are included on board.

Cruise Pricing (per person, per night, as of 2026)

• Budget (3-star): from approximately USD 80–120 per night — MS Nile Dolphin or similar
• Mid-range (4-star): from approximately USD 150–250 per night — MS Mayfair or Steigenberger Minerva
• Luxury (5-star): from approximately USD 400–800 per night — Sanctuary Sun Boat IV, Oberoi Philae, or AmaDahlia

Day 6 — Kom Ombo Temple

The ship sails north from Aswan. First stop is Kom Ombo Temple, uniquely dedicated to two gods — the crocodile god Sobek and the falcon god Horus. The on-site Crocodile Museum displays mummified crocodiles found nearby. Admission approximately EGP 300 (USD 6 as of 2026). Most cruise ships dock at Kom Ombo in the late afternoon, and visiting at sunset is memorable.

Day 7 — Edfu Temple

Temple of Horus at Edfu is the best-preserved temple in Egypt. The ship docks at Edfu and you travel by horse carriage (approximately EGP 100–200 / USD 2–4) or electric vehicle to the temple. Admission approximately EGP 360 (USD 7). The scale of the main pylon — 36 metres high — is staggering.

The ship continues sailing through the lock at Esna (no stop, you watch from deck) toward Luxor.

Day 8 — Arrival in Luxor, West Bank

Dock in Luxor early morning. Full day on the West Bank:

• Valley of the Kings — general admission EGP 600 (USD 12) for 3 tombs. Supplementary tickets: Tutankhamun EGP 600 (USD 12), Seti I EGP 1,400 (USD 28). Open 6:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
• Temple of Hatshepsut — EGP 360 (USD 7), carved into the cliffs at Deir el-Bahari
• Colossi of Memnon — free, two 18-metre statues at the entrance to the West Bank

Return to the ship for lunch. Afternoon at Karnak Temple Complex (EGP 450 / USD 9) — walk the Great Hypostyle Hall with its 134 columns, then south along the restored Avenue of Sphinxes to Luxor Temple (EGP 360 / USD 7), which is spectacular after dark.

Disembark from the cruise.

Day 9–10: Hurghada — Red Sea

Getting to Hurghada

Private transfer from Luxor to Hurghada takes approximately 3.5 hours via the desert highway and costs approximately EGP 2,500–3,500 (USD 50–70) for the vehicle. Some travellers fly (approximately EGP 2,000–4,000 / USD 40–80, 30 minutes) but the road is straightforward and scenic.

Day 9 — Beach and Snorkelling

Settle into your resort and spend the day on the Red Sea. Most Hurghada resort hotels offer all-inclusive packages that include beach access, pools and basic water activities.

For dedicated snorkelling, book a boat trip to Giftun Island (approximately EGP 1,000–1,500 / USD 20–30 per person including lunch, departing from Hurghada marina). The coral reefs and marine life here are among the best in the northern Red Sea.

Dinner: If not on all-inclusive, Moby Dick in the Sigala district serves excellent seafood at approximately EGP 400–700 (USD 8–14) per person.

Day 10 — Diving or Desert Safari, Fly Home

Morning options:

• Introductory scuba dive: approximately EGP 2,500–3,500 (USD 50–70) per person for a 2-dive trip with equipment — operators like Red Sea Diving Safari and Jasmine Diving are well-regarded
• Desert quad safari: approximately EGP 800–1,200 (USD 16–24) for a 2-hour sunset quad ride into the Eastern Desert with a Bedouin camp stop

Afternoon flight from Hurghada to Cairo (approximately EGP 2,000–4,000 / USD 40–80, 1 hour) for your international departure.

Hurghada Hotels

• Budget: Bella Vista Hurghada — from approximately EGP 1,500 (USD 30) per night, all-inclusive
• Mid-range: Steigenberger Al Dau Beach — from approximately EGP 4,000 (USD 80) per night, all-inclusive
• Upscale: Oberoi Sahl Hasheesh — from approximately EGP 12,000 (USD 240) per night

Budget Summary

Category	Budget	Mid-Range	Upscale
Hotels (5 nights on land)	EGP 7,500 (USD 150)	EGP 17,500 (USD 350)	EGP 57,000 (USD 1,140)
Nile cruise (3 nights)	EGP 12,000 (USD 240)	EGP 22,500 (USD 450)	EGP 60,000 (USD 1,200)
Food (non-cruise days)	EGP 3,500 (USD 70)	EGP 7,000 (USD 140)	EGP 14,000 (USD 280)
Sightseeing	EGP 5,000 (USD 100)	EGP 7,000 (USD 140)	EGP 10,000 (USD 200)
Flights + transport	EGP 8,000 (USD 160)	EGP 12,000 (USD 240)	EGP 20,000 (USD 400)
Total	EGP 36,000 (USD 720)	EGP 66,000 (USD 1,320)	EGP 161,000 (USD 3,220)

All prices approximate as of 2026.

Practical Tips

• Cruise booking: Book at least 4–6 weeks ahead during peak season (October–March). Many cruises include guided excursions at temple stops, which saves arranging entry tickets independently.
• Tipping on cruises: A tip of approximately EGP 500–1,000 (USD 10–20) per person for the crew is customary at the end of the cruise, placed in a communal envelope.
• Red Sea packing: Bring reef-safe sunscreen, a rash guard, and water shoes. Coral cuts are common and slow to heal.
• Hurghada airport: Hurghada International Airport has direct flights to many European cities. Some travellers skip the return to Cairo and fly home directly from Hurghada.