Egypt itinerary: 14 days from the pyramids to the Red Sea, day by day
The short answer: The 10-day route with room to breathe: three days in Cairo, two nights in Aswan with Abu Simbel, a three-night cruise to Luxor, two nights in Luxor for the West Bank beyond the kings, then the road to Hurghada for three nights on the Red Sea.
The fourteen days
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.
- The tour
- Historic Cairo in a day · from USD 60 per person
- Night
- Cairo or Giza
Day 3The first pyramidsSaqqara
Saqqara, Memphis and Dahshur.
- The tour
- Saqqara, Memphis and Dahshur · from USD 45 per person
- Night
- Cairo or Giza
Day 4Fly to Aswan, then a feluccaAswan
A morning flight, and an afternoon sail to Elephantine Island and the botanical garden.
- The tour
- Aswan by felucca · from USD 34 per person
- Night
- Aswan
Day 5Abu SimbelAbu Simbel
Ramesses II's two rock temples above Lake Nasser, back to Aswan in the afternoon.
- The tour
- Abu Simbel from Aswan · from USD 115 per person
- Night
- Aswan
Days 6–8Three 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 9Disembark and slow downLuxor
Leave the ship after breakfast; the afternoon is free.
- Night
- Luxor
Day 10Luxor beyond the kingsLuxor
The Tombs of the Nobles, the tomb-builders' village of Deir el-Medina and Medinet Habu. Start the day with a balloon at dawn if you like.
- The tour
- Luxor's other West Bank: Nobles, Deir el-Medina, Medinet Habu · from USD 92 per person
- Night
- Luxor
Day 11Across the desert to the seaLuxor to Hurghada
Just under four hours by road to Hurghada, and the afternoon on the beach.
- Night
- Hurghada
Day 12Giftun IslandThe Red Sea
A boat day with two reefs and the island's beach.
- The tour
- Giftun Island snorkelling · from USD 39 per person
- Night
- Hurghada
Day 13Dolphin House, or nothing at allThe Red Sea
A snorkelling boat to the reef dolphins often visit, or a day that is only rest.
- The tour
- Dolphin House snorkelling · from USD 48 per person
- Night
- Hurghada
Day 14HomeHurghada
Fly home from Hurghada, directly or by way of Cairo.
The 9 tours in this plan start from USD 1,163 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 tripLuxor to Hurghada: just under four hours by road, from the site's own transit data (Travelmath). The order is our judgement.
Why end on the coast
- The sea after the sites: in our judgement three nights on the coast are rest; fewer are mostly travel.
- Luxor is the nearest Nile city to Hurghada, so the road is short and no flight is needed.
- Two nights in Luxor after the cruise give you the West Bank beyond the Valley of the Kings, which the cruise day does not reach.
Ways to change it
The desert instead of the sea
Replace the coast with [two days in the White Desert](/tours/white-desert-camping-2-days-from-cairo) from Cairo, and fly home from there.
Sharm instead of Hurghada
Fly to Sharm el-Sheikh for Ras Mohammed and a night climb of Mount Sinai. Check the visa rules for the Sinai stamp first.
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.
