12days
Abu Simbel · Aswan · Cairo & Giza · Lake Nasser
Legends of the Nile & Lake Nasser – Special Flight from Madrid
From€2,000
Nile Cruise with Dendera, Red Sea & Cairo
Twelve days that balance temples and beach: a four-night cruise, the temple of Dendera, three all-inclusive nights in Hurghada and Cairo to finish.
Duration12 days / 11 nights
DestinationsAswan, Cairo & Giza, Dendera & Abydos, Hurghada
GuideEgyptologist (EN / ES)
From€1,200per person
Overview
Two weeks of nothing but temples can be a lot. This trip gives you a rest in the middle. After four nights on the Nile from Luxor to Aswan, you take the train back north along the river, spend a night in Luxor and visit the temple of Dendera on the way to the coast.
Then come three all-inclusive nights in Hurghada, where the coral reefs start a few metres from the shore. Snorkel, dive or simply do nothing; the resort takes care of meals and drinks. A short flight takes you to Cairo for the final three nights, with the Pyramids and a free day.
The whole trip runs on a special flight with a 20 kg bag. It is a good choice for couples and families who want the history and a proper holiday in the same trip.
Highlights
- Four nights on the Nile from Luxor to Aswan
- The temple of Hathor at Dendera and its astronomical ceiling
- Train journey along the Nile from Aswan to Luxor
- Three all-inclusive nights on the Red Sea in Hurghada
- The Pyramids of Giza to finish
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 Luxor
Disembark in Aswan and travel north to Luxor by train (or by road, depending on schedules), a journey of around three hours along the river. Free afternoon and night in Luxor, at a hotel or on board a moored ship.
Day 6 Temple of Dendera and the Red Sea
Drive north to Dendera and its temple of Hathor, famous for the blue astronomical ceiling and the relief of Cleopatra on the rear wall. In the afternoon, continue by road to Hurghada and check in at your all-inclusive resort.
Day 7 The Red Sea at leisure
A day with nothing to do but enjoy the resort, the beach and the water. The reefs off Hurghada are among the most accessible in the world; snorkelling trips to the Giftun Islands or a glass-bottom boat are easy to arrange locally.
Day 8 The Red Sea at leisure
A day with nothing to do but enjoy the resort, the beach and the water. The reefs off Hurghada are among the most accessible in the world; snorkelling trips to the Giftun Islands or a glass-bottom boat are easy to arrange locally.
Day 9 Hurghada to Cairo
Transfer to Hurghada airport for the short flight to Cairo. Our team meets you on arrival and takes you to your hotel.
Day 10 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 11 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 12 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 (20 kg checked bag)
- Domestic flight Hurghada – Cairo (20 kg checked bag)
- Economy-class train Aswan – Luxor
- 4 nights on a Nile cruise, full board (drinks not included)
- 1 night in Luxor at a hotel or on a moored ship, with breakfast
- 3 nights in Hurghada, all inclusive
- 3 nights in Cairo with breakfast
- Visit to the temple of Dendera
- All visits, entrance fees and transfers in the itinerary
- Spanish- or English-speaking guide on all visits
- 24-hour phone assistance, 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
Is the Red Sea warm enough to swim in winter?
Yes. The water in Hurghada stays around 22 °C even in January and February, and the air is usually sunny and mild.
What is included in the all-inclusive stay?
All meals at the resort plus water, soft drinks and local alcoholic drinks. It starts with dinner on arrival and ends with breakfast on your last day.
Is the trip suitable for children?
Yes. Children usually love the Pyramids, the felucca rides and the Nile cruise. Tell us their ages and we will check child prices and family cabins or rooms.
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.
From€1,200
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