11days
Aswan · Cairo & Giza · Luxor · Sharm El Sheikh
Wonders of the Nile & Sharm el-Sheikh
From€1,000
Nile Whims: Abu Simbel by Plane
Cairo first, then a flight straight to Abu Simbel, three nights sailing from Aswan to Luxor and a final night in Luxor. Our most affordable way to see it all.
Duration8 days / 7 nights
DestinationsAbu Simbel, Aswan, Cairo & Giza, Luxor
GuideEgyptologist (EN / ES)
From€650per person
Overview
A clever route for a modest budget. Instead of the long pre-dawn drive, you fly from Cairo to Abu Simbel, visit the temples and continue to Aswan to board your ship. That single change gives you back most of a day.
The trip starts with three nights in Cairo and a guided morning at the Pyramids and the Sphinx, with a free day to add the visits that interest you most. The cruise then sails north with the current, stopping at Philae, Kom Ombo and Edfu, and ends in Luxor, where you spend the last night in a hotel after a full day on both banks.
Flights are on a special charter with one 20 kg bag. At this price the trip fills quickly in spring and autumn, so it is worth asking early.
Highlights
- Flight to Abu Simbel: no 04:00 road convoy
- Three nights sailing the Nile with the current, Aswan to Luxor
- Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx with a guide
- Philae, Kom Ombo and Edfu from the river
- Valley of the Kings and Karnak on the last full day
Day by day
Day 1 Arrival in Cairo
Welcome to Cairo. Our team meets you inside the terminal, assists with the visa and baggage, and takes you to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours: rest after the flight or take a first walk through a city of more than twenty million people.
Day 2 The Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx
The day you have been waiting for. Your guide takes you to the plateau of Giza to see the pyramids of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure up close, then to the panoramic viewpoint where all three line up against the desert. Finish at the Great Sphinx and the Valley Temple of Khafre. Afternoon free.
Optional: entry inside a pyramid (extra ticket) or an afternoon at Saqqara and Memphis.
Day 3 Cairo at your own pace
A free day. Ask us about optional visits: the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square, the Citadel and Islamic Cairo, Saqqara and Memphis, or a day trip to Alexandria on the Mediterranean.
Day 4 Flight to Abu Simbel and embarkation in Aswan
Fly south to Abu Simbel, which saves you seven hours on the road. Visit the Great Temple of Ramses II, whose four seated statues are each twenty metres tall, and the Temple of Nefertari beside it. Continue to Aswan to board your ship. Dinner and overnight on board.
Day 5 Aswan, Philae and Kom Ombo
Morning visits in Aswan: the High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk and the island temple of Philae. After lunch the ship sails north to Kom Ombo, where you visit the double temple of Sobek and Haroeris by evening light.
Day 6 Edfu and sailing to Luxor
Early visit to the Temple of Horus at Edfu, reached by horse-drawn carriage. The rest of the day is spent sailing north, through the lock at Esna, with time to read on the sun deck and watch rural Egypt go by. Arrival in Luxor in the evening.
Day 7 Luxor: Valley of the Kings and Karnak, night in Luxor
After breakfast you leave the ship and spend the day on both banks of Luxor: the Valley of the Kings, the temple of Hatshepsut, the Colossi of Memnon, Karnak and the Temple of Luxor. Lunch at a local restaurant and check-in at your hotel for the night.
Day 8 Departure from Luxor
Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to Luxor airport for your flight home.
What is included
- Return special flight (one 20 kg bag)
- Domestic flight Cairo – Abu Simbel / Aswan
- 3 nights in Cairo with breakfast
- 3 nights on a Nile cruise, full board (drinks not included)
- 1 night in Luxor with breakfast, plus lunch at a local restaurant (drinks not included)
- Visit to the temples of Abu Simbel
- All visits, entrance fees and transfers in the itinerary
- Spanish- or English-speaking guide on all visits
- Airport assistance and air-conditioned transfers
- 24-hour phone assistance, basic travel insurance and taxes
Not included
- Egypt entry visa (we can process it for you)
- Tips for guides, drivers and crew (customary in Egypt)
- Drinks, except where stated
- Optional excursions, such as the sunrise balloon flight over Luxor
- Tickets to go inside the pyramids or the tomb of Tutankhamun
- Personal expenses
- Extended cover and cancellation insurance
Gallery
FAQ
How long is the flight to Abu Simbel?
From Cairo it is a little under two hours, usually with a short stop in Aswan. The road from Aswan, by comparison, takes three and a half hours each way.
What can I do on the free day in Cairo?
Many travellers add the Grand Egyptian Museum, Saqqara and Memphis, or the Citadel and Khan el-Khalili. We can book any of these for you with a guide.
What should I pack?
Light cotton clothing, comfortable walking shoes, a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. Bring a warm layer for evenings in winter and clothes that cover shoulders and knees for mosques and churches.
How do I book this trip?
Send us an enquiry with your dates and number of travellers. We confirm availability and the final price in writing within 24 hours, before you pay anything.
From€650
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