Egypt in 11 days: private Nile cruise & Red Sea
The length travellers choose most: Cairo, four nights on the Nile from Luxor to Aswan, Abu Simbel, then three days by the Red Sea.
Overview
Eleven days gives you Egypt at an easy pace: Cairo, four nights sailing upstream from Luxor to Aswan, Abu Simbel, and the last days by the Red Sea.
This program is planned as a private trip — your own vehicle, driver and licensed guide on every sightseeing day — for couples, families or several generations travelling together.
Day by day
- 1
Day 1 · Arrival in Cairo
ArrivalAirport welcome and transfer to your hotel.
Cairo airport welcome · Cairo
- 2
Day 2 · Pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum
By roadThe Giza plateau, the Sphinx and an afternoon at the Grand Egyptian Museum.
Pyramids of Giza · Great Sphinx · Grand Egyptian Museum
- 3
Day 3 · Saqqara and historic Cairo
By roadThe Step Pyramid of Djoser, the Royal Mummies Hall at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization and Khan el-Khalili.
Saqqara · National Museum of Egyptian Civilization · Khan el-Khalili
- 4
Day 4 · Fly to Luxor and board
Domestic flightMorning flight to Luxor, embarkation and Karnak in the afternoon.
Luxor · Karnak · Nile cruise
- 5
Day 5 · West Bank and Esna
On the cruiseThe Valley of the Kings and the Temple of Hatshepsut, then sailing south through the Esna lock.
Valley of the Kings · Temple of Hatshepsut · Esna lock
- 6
Day 6 · Edfu and Kom Ombo
On the cruiseThe Temple of Horus at Edfu and the riverside temple of Kom Ombo.
Edfu · Kom Ombo
- 7
Day 7 · Aswan
On the cruisePhilae Temple and a felucca sail around Elephantine Island.
Aswan · Philae Temple · Felucca on the Nile
- 8
Day 8 · Abu Simbel
By roadDisembarkation and an early drive to Abu Simbel; afternoon at leisure in Aswan.
Abu Simbel
- 9
Day 9 · North to the Red Sea
By roadA long road day to Hurghada via Luxor and Safaga, with breaks on the way.
Hurghada · Red Sea
- 10
Day 10 · Red Sea day
On footBeach time, or a snorkelling trip on a licensed boat.
Red Sea
- 11
Day 11 · Return
DepartureTransfer to Hurghada airport for your flight to Cairo or home.
Cairo airport welcome
At a glance
- Duration
- 11 days
- Cities
- Cairo & Giza · Luxor · Aswan & Abu Simbel · Red Sea
- Pace
- Relaxed
- Best for
- Couples, families, slower travellers
Licensed guide in your language, subject to availability
Included in this program
- Private vehicle, driver and licensed guide on sightseeing days
- Four nights on a Nile cruise, with meals as stated by the ship
- Domestic flight to Luxor and all planned road transfers
- Hotel nights in Cairo, Aswan and Hurghada as stated in your quote
Not included
- International flights
- Visa fees
- Personal expenses and tips
- Optional activities not in your quote
Road reality
- Cairo → Luxor: domestic flight about 1 h (road 9–10 h)
- Aswan → Luxor: 3–4 nights by Nile cruise, or about 3.5 h by road with Kom Ombo and Edfu
- Aswan ⇄ Abu Simbel: about 3.5 h each way by road (≈280 km), early start
- Aswan → Hurghada: about 7 h by road via Luxor and Safaga (≈ 500 km), or a flight connection via Cairo
- Hurghada → Cairo: domestic flight about 1 h (road 5–6 h)
Times are approximate and depend on traffic, season and schedules.
Good to know
- The Aswan–Hurghada drive is long; a flight connection via Cairo is the alternative.
- Snorkel only from licensed boats, with life jackets and a crew briefing.
- Upstream sailings (Luxor to Aswan) take one night more than downstream ones.
Gallery
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Useful for this trip
Written itinerary
Every day in writing before you pay anything.
Reference: WF-0000 · Egypt in 11 days: private Nile cruise & Red Sea
| Day 1 | Cairo airport welcome · Cairo Arrival |
| Day 2 | Pyramids of Giza · Great Sphinx · Grand Egyptian Museum By road |
| Day 3 | Saqqara · National Museum of Egyptian Civilization · Khan el-Khalili By road |
| Day 4 | Luxor · Karnak · Nile cruise Domestic flight |
| … | |
Relationship: named licensed Egyptian tourism company
Usually included / Not included · cancellation terms stated in writing
Contact us for a quote
Tell us the basics; you receive a WF reference.