Egypt in 14 Days: The Pyramids, a Nile Cruise, Abu Simbel & the Red Sea
Two weeks that bring together the great sights of Egypt and real time to rest. Begin with three nights in Cairo for the Pyramids of Giza, Saqqara and a full day at the Grand Egyptian Museum. Fly to Aswan for Philae Temple and a three-night Nile cruise north to Luxor, with Abu Simbel by air, Kom Ombo and Edfu along the way. Two nights in a Luxor hotel give you the Valley of the Kings and Karnak without hurry, then you cross the desert to the Red Sea for three slow days by the water.
This is our most relaxed way to see Egypt. Domestic flights replace every long journey except one scenic drive to the coast, there are two or three nights in each base, and the beach days come just when you need them. You end with two easy days in Old Cairo before flying home. Depending on the package you choose, you stay in high-end 4-star hotels, a premium cruise ship and a beach resort, or in some of the finest 5-star hotels, Nile boats and Red Sea resorts in Egypt.
Moments That Await You
Your journey can be tailored to your dates, interests and preferred pace.
Your Private Tour
-
Our Prices
Your Route & Stays
Your journey begins with three nights in Cairo, close to the pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum. You then fly south to Aswan, join your Nile cruise and sail downstream past Kom Ombo and Edfu to Luxor, with a morning flight to Abu Simbel and back. After two nights in a Luxor hotel, a private drive of about four hours takes you to the Red Sea coast, and a short flight returns you to Cairo for the last two nights. Cruise days may be rearranged to fit the ship’s sailing schedule. You spend 13 nights in hand-picked hotels and aboard a selected Nile cruise:
- 3 nights in Cairo, close to the pyramids
- 3 nights aboard a Nile cruise, from Aswan to Luxor
- 2 nights in Luxor, in a hotel on the Nile
- 3 nights at a beach resort on the Red Sea coast
- 2 final nights in Cairo
Signature Experiences
- The Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx and the Step Pyramid at Saqqara with your private Egyptologist
- A full, unhurried day at the Grand Egyptian Museum
- Philae Temple by boat and three nights on a Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor
- A short flight to the colossal temples of Ramesses II at Abu Simbel
- Kom Ombo, Edfu and Luxor Temple as the lights come on
- The Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut’s temple and Karnak from a Luxor hotel on the Nile
- Three slow days on the Red Sea, with clear water and coral reefs
- Coptic Cairo, the Citadel and the lanes of Khan el-Khalili
Your Journey, Day by Day
Welcome to Egypt. Your representative meets you at Cairo Airport and your private driver takes you to your hotel, where you can settle in and rest after the flight. Nothing is planned today, so take the evening gently. If you arrive in good time, a quiet dinner overlooking the Nile is an easy way to begin. Your local team is on hand for anything you need, and your Egyptologist will be in touch to go over tomorrow’s plans.
Meet your private Egyptologist after breakfast and start early at the Pyramids of Giza, before the heat and the crowds. Walk around the Great Pyramid of Khufu, take in the view of all three pyramids from the desert plateau, and stand in front of the Great Sphinx. Later, a drive of about 40 minutes brings you to Saqqara and the Step Pyramid of Djoser, the oldest of Egypt’s pyramids, with finely carved tombs nearby. You are back at the hotel by mid-afternoon for a swim or a rest.
Spend an unhurried day at the Grand Egyptian Museum with your Egyptologist. The grand staircase is lined with colossal statues, and the galleries hold the complete treasures of Tutankhamun, shown together for the first time, including his gold mask and chariots. Take a long lunch on site, then continue with the halls that interest you most. There is no need to see everything. In the evening, dinner with a view of the pyramids is a fitting end to your first days in Cairo.
A morning flight of about an hour and a quarter takes you to Aswan, where the Nile runs between granite islands and golden dunes. Your guide meets you and takes you by small boat to Philae, the island temple of Isis, rebuilt stone by stone above the rising waters. Then board your Nile cruise for a late lunch and settle into your cabin. Late in the afternoon, a felucca sail around Elephantine Island, included in your tour, is the nicest way to see Aswan.
Instead of the long desert road, a short morning flight of about 45 minutes takes you to Abu Simbel. Your guide meets you for the great temple of Ramesses II, its four colossal statues facing the sunrise, and the smaller temple of Queen Nefertari beside it. Fly back to Aswan around midday for lunch on board as the ship sets sail. In the late afternoon you stop at Kom Ombo, a riverside temple shared by the crocodile god Sobek and the falcon god Horus. Flight times are confirmed in your proposal.
In the morning visit the Temple of Horus at Edfu, the best preserved temple in Egypt, with its tall pylon and quiet sanctuary. Back on board, spend the middle of the day on deck as the ship sails north past fields, palms and mud-brick villages. You reach Luxor in the afternoon, and in the evening your guide takes you to Luxor Temple as the floodlights come on and the avenue of sphinxes glows. Dinner is on board. Visit times follow the cruise schedule.
After breakfast you leave the ship and cross to the west bank, still cool in the early morning, for the Valley of the Kings. Your ticket covers several royal tombs, and the painted walls are still bright after more than three thousand years. Continue to the terraced temple of Queen Hatshepsut and stop at the Colossi of Memnon on the way back. Check in to your hotel on the Nile in time for a late lunch and a quiet afternoon by the pool.
Early risers can float over the west bank in a hot-air balloon at sunrise, an optional extra we can arrange. After breakfast your guide takes you to Karnak, a vast complex of temples built over two thousand years, where the columns of the great hypostyle hall rise above you like a stone forest. Take your time with the sacred lake and the obelisks. The afternoon is free: a spa treatment, a nap, or tea on a terrace above the river.
After a relaxed breakfast your driver takes you east across the desert to the Red Sea, about four hours with a coffee stop along the way. The road climbs through the bare, reddish mountains of the Eastern Desert before the sea appears, a deep blue against the sand. Check in to your beach resort near Hurghada in time for lunch, then spend the afternoon by the water. From here on, the days are yours.
A whole day with nothing planned. The Red Sea is one of the clearest seas in the world, and the reefs start just off the shore at many resorts, so a mask and snorkel are often all you need to see corals and bright fish. You can also simply read on a lounger, swim, or book a massage. If you would like a boat trip to the offshore reefs or a dive, we are happy to arrange one as an optional extra.
Another quiet day on the coast. Sleep late, have a long breakfast and spend the day as you wish. The lagoons and marinas of El Gouna, a short drive north, make a pleasant outing for lunch or an evening stroll, which your local team can arrange. By now the busy temple days feel far away, and you have time to look back over the journey. Dinner is at your leisure, perhaps by the sea under the stars.
After breakfast your driver takes you to Hurghada Airport for a flight of about an hour to Cairo. In the afternoon your guide shows you Coptic Cairo, the oldest Christian quarter of the city. Visit the Hanging Church, built above the gate of a Roman fortress, and the small lanes around it, where tradition says the Holy Family sheltered. Then return to your hotel for a relaxed evening.
A late breakfast, then your guide takes you up to the Citadel of Saladin and the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, whose domes and minarets look out over the whole city. Walk down through Islamic Cairo to Khan el-Khalili, the great bazaar, for spices, lamps and a mint tea at one of the old cafés. You are back at the hotel by mid-afternoon to pack and rest before a last dinner in Cairo.
Enjoy a last breakfast at your hotel. Depending on your flight time, there may be a little time to relax before your private driver takes you to Cairo Airport. We say goodbye there and hope you leave with the pyramids, the quiet of the Nile and the colors of the Red Sea still fresh in your mind. If you would like to return one day, we would be glad to plan a tailor-made journey to quieter corners of Egypt.
Inclusions & Optional Experiences
Included in Your Private Tour
- Personal planning and support before and during your journey
- 13 nights in the accommodation category you choose
- Private car and driver throughout, including arrival and departure airport transfers
- Local guides for the sightseeing described in your confirmed itinerary
- Daily breakfast, plus the meals specifically listed in the day-by-day programme
- All entrance tickets to the monuments and sites in the itinerary, plus applicable local taxes
- Domestic flights: Cairo–Aswan, Aswan–Abu Simbel–Aswan and Hurghada–Cairo (economy class)
- Three-night Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor with breakfast, lunch and dinner on board
- Boat trips: the boat to Philae Temple and a felucca sail in Aswan (wind permitting)
- Private Egyptologist for the agreed sightseeing
- Abu Simbel excursion by scheduled flight from Aswan, with private transfers and your guide
- Private road transfer from Luxor to the Red Sea coast
- Premium Luxury includes lunches; VIP All-Inclusive includes all meals during the land tour
- The exact hotels, rooms, transport and experiences are confirmed before booking
Not Included / Arrange Separately
- International flights, visas and travel insurance
- Alcoholic drinks, tips and personal purchases
- Meals not included in your selected package
- Optional experiences and upgrades not included in the written proposal
Good to Know Before You Go
General
Yes. Your driver, vehicle and guides are for your party only, and the route is tailored with you before you book. Hotels, restaurants, cruise ships, domestic flights and monuments are of course shared with other guests; exclusive access is only included when it is listed in your proposal.
Every package uses carefully selected properties. The Luxury Package uses high-end 4-star and standard 5-star hotels; Premium Luxury moves up to hand-picked 5-star hotels and boutique stays; and VIP All-Inclusive uses the most luxurious properties available at each stop, with suites where possible. Your proposal names every hotel, cruise ship and room type before you book.
October to April is the most comfortable time, with warm, sunny days and cool evenings, especially in Luxor and Aswan. December and January are the busiest months. Summer is very hot in Upper Egypt, so we plan early starts and long, restful middays if you travel then.
Yes, and it is the most relaxed way to see the country for the first time. You see the pyramids, the Grand Egyptian Museum, Aswan, Abu Simbel and Luxor with a Nile cruise in between, then rest on the Red Sea before two easy days in Old Cairo. Some mornings start early to avoid the heat, and we can adjust the pace before you book.
Absolutely. These itineraries are a starting point, designed for a first visit. Share your interests, travel dates and preferred style of stay, and we can add nights, change the route, include special experiences or upgrade your hotels. Returning to Egypt? Ask us about a tailor-made journey to quieter regions. Your written proposal confirms everything.
Send us your preferred dates, the number of travelers and the kind of trip you would enjoy. Your travel specialist will confirm the route, hotels, included services and total price. A 30% deposit secures your reservations, and the payment schedule is set out in your proposal.
Your written proposal sets out the deposit, payment dates and cancellation terms before you book. Refunds depend on those agreed terms and on the arrangements reserved for your journey. We are always happy to explain anything you would like clarified.
Prices are per person in USD for the complete 14-day private tour, based on two adults sharing a double or twin room. Groups of four adults save approximately 20% per person and groups of six approximately 30%. VIP prices are starting prices. Your final quote confirms any seasonal supplements, optional upgrades and all included services.
