Comprehensive classic cultural tour · KT-BST-10
Two More Days. Four Thousand More Years.
Best of Egypt with Abu Simbel
The complete first visit: Giza, Saqqara, Dahshur, Abu Simbel, a Nile cruise and both banks of Luxor, paced so nothing feels rushed.
- 10 days / 9 nights
- Cairo · Giza · Aswan · Abu Simbel
- Private or Group
About this journey
Travelers who fly from North America, Australia or Asia rarely want to compress Egypt into a week. This ten-day journey adds what the eight-day classic leaves optional: the older pyramid fields of Saqqara and Dahshur, the colossal facades of Abu Simbel, and a full separate day for the Luxor west bank instead of a hurried half day. The order is deliberate. Cairo first, so pyramid construction makes sense chronologically before you meet Ramesses II in Nubia. Aswan next, with Philae and the option of Abu Simbel at first light. Then the cruise carries you north through Kom Ombo and Edfu to Luxor, where you have a morning for Karnak and a separate morning for the Valley of the Kings. The final Cairo day is sized to your actual flight time, not to a brochure.
Why travellers choose this itinerary
- Abu Simbel built into the plan rather than sold as a rushed add-on.
- Saqqara and Dahshur get their own day, so the pyramid story runs in order.
- Luxor's east and west banks are split across two mornings instead of crammed into one.
- The final Cairo program is chosen after your flight time is known, not before.
- A slower premium option lets you see fewer sites and spend longer inside each one.
- Long-haul travelers get one arrival rest day and no back-to-back pre-dawn starts.
Quick facts
- Duration
- 10 days / 9 nights
- Starts / ends
- Cairo → Cairo
- Destinations
- Cairo, Giza, Aswan, Abu Simbel, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Luxor
- Trip format
- Private or Group
- Group size
- Up to 16 travellers
- Activity level
- Moderate
- Recommended ages
- Suitable from around age 8 upward; well suited to mature travelers
- Best months
- October, November, December, January, February, March, April
- Languages
- English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese
- Accommodation
- 4-star (Comfort) · 5-star (Superior) · Luxury / boutique
- Room types
- Single, Double, Twin, Triple, Standard cabin, Suite on request
- Meals
- Daily breakfast; full board on the Nile cruise; lunches on touring days optional
Trip highlights
- Abu Simbel excursion
- Multi-night Nile cruise
- Optional hot-air balloon over the West Bank
- Optional Nubian village visit
Best for: Travelers who want the major highlights without rushing
Day-by-day itinerary
Every day below can be reordered, shortened or extended on a private departure.
Meet and assist at the airport, private transfer and hotel check-in.
Meals: Dinner. Overnight: Cairo.
What is included
Not included
Choose your accommodation level
The same itinerary, three levels of comfort. Pick a tier when you request your booking and we confirm the exact properties in writing before any payment.
Comfort
4-star (Comfort)
Well-located 4-star properties and standard cabins where a cruise is included. Everything essential is covered: private guiding, private transfers and daily breakfast. Chosen for travelers who would rather spend on experiences than on suites.
Standard double or twin rooms, air conditioned, with private bathroom
- Private licensed guide
- Private air-conditioned transfers
- Daily breakfast
- All listed entrance fees
- Standard room or cabin
Superior
5-star (Superior)
Our most-booked tier. 5-star hotels in prime locations, deluxe cabins on the river, and upgraded vehicles. Selected lunches and a few extras are folded in so fewer decisions are needed on the road.
Superior or upgraded rooms, upper-deck cabins where available
- Private licensed Egyptologist
- Upgraded private vehicle
- Daily breakfast and selected lunches
- All listed entrance fees
- Superior room or upper-deck cabin
- Priority check-in assistance
Luxury
Luxury / boutique
Landmark and boutique properties, suites or view rooms where available, premium or charter river accommodation, and a senior Egyptologist. Airport meet-and-greet, lounge access and special-occasion requests are handled personally.
Suites, view rooms or premium cabins, subject to availability
- Senior private Egyptologist
- Luxury vehicle with dedicated driver
- Daily breakfast, lunches and selected dinners
- All listed entrance fees
- Suite or premium cabin where available
- Airport meet-and-greet and fast-track assistance
- 24/7 direct contact with your trip manager
Transport
Airport transfers · private
Private arrival and departure transfers with a representative meeting you inside the terminal.
Ground transport · private
Modern air-conditioned private vehicle sized to your group, with a dedicated English-speaking driver and bottled water on board.
Domestic flights
Economy-class domestic flights on scheduled Egyptian carriers, including luggage assistance and airport escort at both ends.
Nile cruise vessel
Full-board accommodation aboard a licensed Nile cruise ship, with your cabin serving as your hotel between Aswan and Luxor.
Guide services
- Private licensed Egyptologist
- Dedicated Abu Simbel guide
- Local cultural host in historic Cairo
Suitability and accessibility
- Physical requirements
- Moderate: several days of 3 to 4 miles walking, two early starts, up to 3.5 hours each way by road if Abu Simbel is taken overland, and considerable open-air heat exposure between March and October.
- Recommended ages
- Suitable from around age 8 upward; well suited to mature travelers. Child pricing and reduced-pace alternatives are available on request.
- Mobility and accessibility
- Many ancient sites have uneven paving, sand, steps and no handrails, and some interiors cannot be adapted. We can arrange wheelchair-friendly vehicles, extra assistance and alternative viewing points at most locations, but a small number of tombs and interiors remain inaccessible. Tell us your requirements before booking and we will confirm in writing what is and is not possible on this route.
- Medical and pregnancy notes
- Heat, dust and long days can affect travelers with cardiac, respiratory or mobility conditions. Bring your own medication in original packaging. Pregnant travelers should seek medical advice before booking, and adventure, diving and balloon activities are generally not suitable during pregnancy.
- Dietary requirements
- Vegetarian, vegan, halal, kosher-style, gluten-free and allergy-related requirements can be catered for at hotels, on the river and on private meals when notified in advance. Severe allergies should be declared at the time of booking so we can brief every supplier.
- Weather and seasonality
- Best travel months for this route are October, November, December, January, February, March, April. Summer daytime temperatures in Upper Egypt and the desert can exceed 40C, so summer departures are re-timed to start earlier and rest through the afternoon.
- Dress and cultural notes
- Egypt is a conservative country outside beach resorts. Lightweight clothing covering shoulders and knees is appropriate at religious sites, and closed walking shoes are strongly recommended for temples and desert ground. Your guide will brief you on photography rules at each site.
Optional experiences and upgrades
Add any of these to your enquiry. Each is confirmed in writing with a price before you pay anything.
Abu Simbel by air instead of road
Available on request. Confirmed in writing with a price before you pay anything.
Price on request
Hot-air balloon over Luxor
Available on request. Confirmed in writing with a price before you pay anything.
Price on request
Premium tombs including Seti I
Available on request. Confirmed in writing with a price before you pay anything.
Price on request
Nubian village visit in Aswan
Available on request. Confirmed in writing with a price before you pay anything.
Price on request
Private felucca with refreshments
Available on request. Confirmed in writing with a price before you pay anything.
Price on request
Upcoming dates
Private departures run on any date you choose. The dates below are currently held open for shared departures.
- 10 Sept 202610 places left
- 10 Oct 20268 places left
- 10 Nov 20266 places left
- 10 Dec 20264 places left
- 10 Jan 202711 places left
- 10 Feb 20279 places left
Questions about this tour
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Demo content notice: Sample hotels, departure dates, reviews and prices shown on this page are demo content. Final pricing and named suppliers are confirmed in writing before any payment.