12days
Aswan · Cairo & Giza · Hurghada · Luxor
Essences of Egypt with Oases, White Desert & Red Sea
From€1,350
Legends of the Nile – Special Flight
The essential Egypt at the lowest price: a direct special flight, a Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan and the Pyramids of Giza.
Duration8 days / 7 nights
DestinationsAswan, Cairo & Giza, Luxor
GuideEgyptologist (EN / ES)
From€500per person
Overview
Our entry-level trip, and still a complete one. A direct special flight lands you in the Nile Valley, so there is no connection in Cairo on day one. You spend three or four nights on a cruise between Luxor and Aswan, with Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae, then fly to Cairo for the Pyramids and the Sphinx.
Hotels are well located and comfortable rather than lavish, and the cruise is full board. Abu Simbel is not included, but it can be added as a road trip from Aswan; if you know you want it, Legends of the Nile & Abu Simbel already has it built in.
A good choice if this is your first time in Egypt and you want to see the highlights without overspending.
Good to know: on some departure dates the cruise sails from Aswan to Luxor instead, so the order of the visits is reversed. The visits themselves stay the same.
Highlights
- Direct special flight to the Nile Valley
- Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan, full board
- Karnak, the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut
- Edfu, Kom Ombo and the island temple of Philae
- The Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx
Day by day
Day 1 Arrival in Luxor and embarkation
Fly to Luxor. Our representative meets you at the airport, helps with the entry formalities and drives you to your Nile ship. Settle into your cabin, have dinner on board and, if you still have energy, step out on deck: the temples on the East Bank are floodlit after dark.
Day 2 Luxor: Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut and Karnak
An early start on the West Bank, before the heat. Your guide takes you into three tombs in the Valley of the Kings, where the colours on the walls still look freshly painted, then on to the terraced temple of Queen Hatshepsut and the two Colossi of Memnon. After lunch on board, cross to the East Bank for Karnak, a sanctuary built and rebuilt over two thousand years, and the Temple of Luxor. The ship then sets sail south towards Esna.
Optional: a hot-air balloon flight over the West Bank at sunrise.
Day 3 Edfu and Kom Ombo
A horse-drawn carriage takes you to the Temple of Horus at Edfu, the most complete temple in Egypt, with its roof and pylon still standing. Lunch while sailing past palm groves and mud-brick villages, then a sunset visit to Kom Ombo, the double temple of Sobek and Haroeris, and its small museum of mummified crocodiles. The ship continues to Aswan.
Day 4 Aswan: High Dam, Philae and a felucca on the Nile
Morning visit to the High Dam, which created Lake Nasser, and the Unfinished Obelisk still lying in its granite quarry. A motorboat then takes you to the island temple of Philae, dedicated to Isis and moved stone by stone to save it from the rising waters. The afternoon is free; we recommend a felucca sail around Elephantine Island and the Aga Khan Mausoleum.
Day 5 Aswan to Cairo
Breakfast on board and disembarkation. Transfer to Aswan airport for the flight to Cairo, where our team takes you to your hotel. Free evening; Khan el-Khalili and its cafés are a good place to start.
Day 6 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 7 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 8 Departure from Cairo
Breakfast and, depending on your flight time, a last coffee in the city. Transfer to Cairo airport with assistance for your flight home.
What is included
- Return special flight (one 20 kg bag)
- Domestic flight Aswan or Luxor – Cairo
- 4 or 3 nights on a Nile cruise, full board (drinks not included)
- 3 or 4 nights in Cairo with breakfast
- 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 in Egypt
- Airport taxes and basic travel insurance
Not included
- Egypt entry visa (we can process it for you)
- Tips for guides, drivers and crew (customary in Egypt)
- Drinks, except where stated
- Excursion to Abu Simbel (available as an optional extra)
- 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
Can I add Abu Simbel?
Yes, as an optional road excursion from Aswan. Alternatively, choose Legends of the Nile & Abu Simbel, which includes it for a small difference in price.
Where does the special flight depart from?
Special flights usually depart from Madrid and other Spanish cities on fixed days. Tell us where you are travelling from and we will confirm options and dates.
Is Egypt safe for tourists?
The main tourist areas are well protected and millions of visitors travel safely every year. Our team is with you from arrival to departure, and you have a 24-hour phone line throughout the trip.
Can this itinerary be customised?
Yes. We can add nights, upgrade hotels or the cruise ship, arrange a private guide or include extra excursions. Send us your ideas and we will adapt the quote.
From€500
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