Plan by place
Where to go—and how much time to give it.
Start with the shape of the journey. Our destination guides separate good combinations from days that look possible on a map but feel punishing in practice.
Begin here
Cairo & Giza
3 nights recommended
Give Giza and the museum a full day. Add historic Cairo separately rather than racing across the city.
Plan Cairo & GizaAncient Egypt in depth
Luxor
2–3 nights recommended
Stay in Luxor. An overnight visit gives the West Bank a cool early start and avoids a punishing resort day trip.
Plan LuxorTravel with the river
Nile & Aswan
4–5 nights recommended
Cruise schedules depend on locks and sailing conditions. Judge a journey by its time ashore, not only its star label.
Plan Nile & AswanReef and coast
The Red Sea
3–5 nights recommended
Use Hurghada or Sharm as a base for the water. Fly to Cairo or stay in Luxor rather than losing a day to the road.
Plan The Red SeaPlan the journey
Abu Simbel
From an Aswan base
Road trips leave very early and spend roughly six hours in transit. A later private departure can be quieter; flying saves road time.
Plan Abu SimbelBeyond the Nile
Western Desert
1–2 nights recommended
Choose an overnight journey with clear camp standards and permits rather than compressing the desert into a rushed day.
Plan Western Desert