Egypt in 21 days — Nile, desert and Red Sea
Three weeks across Egypt: Cairo, Alexandria, Fayoum and the White Desert, Aswan and Abu Simbel, a Nile cruise, Luxor, Dendera and Abydos, and the Red Sea.
Overview
Three weeks lets you combine the great monuments with Egypt’s landscapes: the fossil valley of Wadi El-Hitan, a night in the White Desert, a Nile cruise and slow days by the Red Sea. The pace stays comfortable, with lighter days after early starts.
Day by day
- 1
Day 1 · Arrival in Cairo
ArrivalAirport welcome and transfer.
Cairo airport welcome · Cairo
- 2
Days 2–3 · Pyramids, museum and Saqqara
By roadGiza and the Grand Egyptian Museum, then Saqqara and Dahshur.
Pyramids of Giza · Great Sphinx · Grand Egyptian Museum · Saqqara · Dahshur
- 4
Day 4 · Historic Cairo
On footThe Royal Mummies Hall, Historic Cairo, Coptic Cairo and Khan el-Khalili.
National Museum of Egyptian Civilization · Historic Cairo · Khan el-Khalili · Coptic Cairo
- 5
Day 5 · Alexandria
By roadA day on the Mediterranean.
Alexandria · Bibliotheca Alexandrina · Qaitbay Citadel
- 6
Day 6 · Fayoum
By roadWadi El-Rayan and the whale fossils of Wadi El-Hitan.
Fayoum · Wadi El-Rayan · Wadi El-Hitan (Valley of the Whales)
- 7
Days 7–8 · White Desert
By roadBahariya, the Black Desert and a night in a desert camp, then back to Cairo.
Bahariya Oasis · Black Desert · White Desert
- 9
Days 9–10 · Aswan
Domestic flightFlight to Aswan, Philae, a felucca and a Nubian village.
Aswan · Philae Temple · Felucca on the Nile · Nubian village
- 11
Day 11 · Abu Simbel
By roadAn early road trip to the temples of Ramesses II and Nefertari.
Abu Simbel
- 12
Days 12–14 · Nile cruise
On the cruiseThree nights sailing to Luxor via Kom Ombo, Edfu and the Esna lock.
Nile cruise · Kom Ombo · Edfu · Esna lock
- 15
Days 15–16 · Luxor
By roadKarnak and Luxor Temple, the West Bank, Medinet Habu and an optional balloon flight.
Karnak · Luxor Temple · Valley of the Kings · Temple of Hatshepsut · Medinet Habu · Sunrise balloon (optional)
- 17
Day 17 · Dendera and Abydos
By roadThe temples of Hathor and Seti I.
Dendera · Abydos
- 18
Days 18–20 · Red Sea
By roadRoad to Hurghada, a boat day to the Giftun Islands and El Gouna.
Hurghada · Giftun Islands · El Gouna
- 21
Day 21 · Return
DepartureAirport transfer for your flight.
Cairo airport welcome
At a glance
- Duration
- 21 days
- Cities
- Cairo & Giza · Alexandria · Desert & oases · Aswan & Abu Simbel · Luxor · Red Sea
- Pace
- Balanced
- Best for
- Long holidays, travellers who want depth
Licensed guide in your language, subject to availability
Included in this program
- Domestic flight and all planned road transfers, with 4×4 in the desert
- Three nights on a Nile cruise, with meals as stated by the ship
- Licensed guides on sightseeing days
- Hotel and camp nights as stated in your quote
Not included
- International flights
- Visa fees
- Personal expenses and tips
- Optional activities not in your quote
Road reality
- Cairo ⇄ Alexandria: about 3 h each way by road (≈220 km)
- Cairo ⇄ Fayoum: about 2 h each way by road; the last stretch to Wadi El-Hitan is a desert track
- Cairo ⇄ Bahariya: about 4.5–5 h each way by road (≈ 370 km); desert sections by 4×4
- Cairo → Aswan: domestic flight about 1 h 25 min (road 12 h+, not recommended)
- Aswan ⇄ Abu Simbel: about 3.5 h each way by road (≈280 km), early start
- Aswan → Luxor: 3–4 nights by Nile cruise, or about 3.5 h by road with Kom Ombo and Edfu
- Luxor ⇄ Dendera and Abydos: about 1 h to Dendera and 3 h to Abydos by road
- Luxor → Hurghada: about 4 h by road (≈290 km)
- 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 order can change around domestic flight schedules.
- Plan the desert section between October and April.
Gallery
You may also like
14 daysGrand Egypt in 14 days
Everything in one journey: Cairo, Saqqara, Alexandria, Aswan and Abu Simbel, a Nile cruise, a Luxor balloon at sunrise and the Red Sea.
Cairo & Giza · Alexandria · Aswan & Abu Simbel · Luxor · Red Sea
30 daysThe grand journey: Egypt in 30 days
A month across Egypt: Cairo, Alexandria and El Alamein, Siwa, Fayoum, the White Desert, Middle Egypt, Abydos and Dendera, Luxor, a Nile cruise, Aswan, Abu Simbel and the Red Sea.
Cairo & Giza · Alexandria · Desert & oases · Luxor · Aswan & Abu Simbel · Red Sea
11 daysEgypt 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.
Cairo & Giza · Luxor · Aswan & Abu Simbel · Red Sea
Useful for this trip
Written itinerary
Every day in writing before you pay anything.
Reference: WF-0000 · Egypt in 21 days — Nile, desert and Red Sea
| Day 1 | Cairo airport welcome · Cairo Arrival |
| Days 2–3 | Pyramids of Giza · Great Sphinx · Grand Egyptian Museum · Saqqara · Dahshur By road |
| Day 4 | National Museum of Egyptian Civilization · Historic Cairo · Khan el-Khalili · Coptic Cairo On foot |
| Day 5 | Alexandria · Bibliotheca Alexandrina · Qaitbay Citadel By road |
| … | |
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.