An Egypt honeymoon: the Nile, a balloon at dawn and the Red Sea, day by day
The short answer: Pair the monuments with slow days: two nights in Cairo, a night in Aswan with a felucca at sunset, three nights on the Nile to Luxor, a balloon at dawn, and three nights on the Red Sea. Holding hands is generally fine in public, the UK advice says, but other displays of affection are frowned upon outside the resorts.
Twelve days for two
Day 1The pyramids and the Grand Egyptian MuseumGiza
The plateau and the Sphinx, then the museum beside it.
- The tour
- Giza Pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum · from USD 60 per person
- Night
- Cairo or Giza
Day 2Historic CairoCairo
The Citadel, Coptic Cairo, and Khan el-Khalili at the end of the day.
- The tour
- Historic Cairo in a day · from USD 60 per person
- Night
- Cairo or Giza
Day 3Fly south, and a felucca at sunsetAswan
A morning flight to Aswan, then a sail to Elephantine Island and the botanical garden.
- The tour
- Aswan by felucca · from USD 34 per person
- Night
- Aswan
Days 4–6Three nights on the NileAswan to Luxor by river
Philae and the High Dam, then Kom Ombo and Edfu, then the Luxor day from the ship.
- The tour
- Nile cruise, Aswan to Luxor, 3 nights · from USD 670 per person
- Night
- On board
Day 7Disembark, and nothing plannedLuxor
Leave the ship after breakfast; the rest of the day is yours.
- Night
- Luxor
Day 8A balloon at dawnLuxor
Over the West Bank at sunrise, back for breakfast, and a slow afternoon.
- The tour
- Hot-air balloon over Luxor at sunrise · from USD 119 per person
- Night
- Luxor
Day 9Across the desert to the seaLuxor to Hurghada
Just under four hours by road to Hurghada.
- Night
- Hurghada
Day 10Giftun IslandThe Red Sea
Two reefs and an island beach, or a boat of your own for the day.
- The tour
- Giftun Island snorkelling · from USD 39 per person
- Night
- Hurghada
Day 11A day for the two of youThe Red Sea
Nothing booked.
- Night
- Hurghada
Day 12HomeHurghada
Fly home from Hurghada, directly or by way of Cairo.
The 6 tours in this plan start from USD 982 per person together. That is the sum of their starting prices at the lowest group rate; solo travellers and couples pay more, and hotels on nights no tour covers, domestic flights and visas are not in it. Your written quote confirms the price.
Open this plan in Your tripThe order and the free days are our judgement. Luxor to Hurghada: just under four hours by road (Travelmath).
Choices worth making together
A cruise or a dahabiya
A dahabiya is a smaller sailing boat on the same river. See [Dahabiya or Nile cruise?](/guides/dahabiya-or-nile-cruise) for what really differs.
A photographer for a morning
Our [photoshoots page](/photoshoots) explains how a session at a temple or on the Nile works.
Sharm instead of Hurghada
For Ras Mohammed and a night climb of Mount Sinai. Check the visa rules for the Sinai stamp first: see [day trips from Sharm](/guides/day-trips-from-sharm-el-sheikh).
Good to know
- Affection in public: the UK advice says holding hands is generally fine, other physical affection in public is frowned upon, and behaviour accepted in resorts may not be accepted elsewhere.
- Alcohol: drinking anywhere other than licensed restaurants, bars, private homes or certain tourist resorts is illegal, the UK advice says.
- Timing: see the best time to visit. In our judgement, spring and autumn give warm sea days without the summer heat on the Nile.
Where to go from here
Sources and review
Reviewed on by Deluxe Trips Egypt. Official statements are attributed to their source; where we give a judgement, we say so. This guide names no school, boat or hotel.
Photo: Ovedc, CC BY-SA 4.0
