Discover Egypt 8-Days Cairo, Nile Cruise, Abu Simbel and Alexandria From Cairo

The boldest feature here is the route. In eight days, you see the pyramids, Abu Simbel, Alexandria, and the major Nile temples without taking domestic flights. The trip uses first-class trains, a three-night cruise, private touring in Cairo and Alexandria, and a small shared group for Abu Simbel.

I like the practical mix of transport, especially the Nile cruise with full-board meals and the chance to travel overnight by train instead of paying for extra hotel nights. I also like the range of Egyptian history covered, from Saqqara and Giza to Greek, Roman, Coptic, and Islamic Cairo. The catch is the pace: long train journeys, early starts, and many entrance fees paid separately make this a busy trip rather than a gentle holiday.

Key points to know before booking

• Abu Simbel is the big long day: Leave around 4:30 a.m., drive to the temples, and return to the ship around midday.
• The cruise runs on fixed days: It departs from Luxor on Saturday, Monday, or Thursday, and from Aswan on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, or Friday.
• The trains save money but cost time: The sitting trains take about 10 to 12 hours to Luxor and 12 to 14 hours to Aswan.
• The $1,200 price is not fully inclusive: Cairo hotels, admission fees, tips, drinks, Wi-Fi, and some meals on land are extra.
• The guides are an important part of the trip: Rocky and Abbas are named as especially caring guides, while Heba Haggag handles arrangements and communication.
• You must choose your Cairo finale: The final stop is either Khan al-Khalili Bazaar or the Citadel and Alabaster Mosque.

What $1,200 really buys you

At $1,200 per person, this is a strong value for the amount of ground covered, but you need to read the price carefully. It includes airport transfers, transport between cities, professional English-speaking Egyptology guides, the three-night Nile cruise, the Alexandria day trip, Abu Simbel transport, and two first-class sitting train journeys.

The cruise includes three nights on a 5-star ship with full-board meals. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included during the cruise portion. That matters in Egypt, where arranging reliable transport, meals, and sightseeing on your own can take a lot of time.

The price does not include your Cairo or Giza hotel, entrance fees, visa, tips, drinks, Wi-Fi, or the motorboat to Philae. Lunches on several touring days are optional and paid separately. You should also budget for the train sleeper upgrade if you do not want to sit overnight.

The biggest cost question is the admission fees. You pay them separately at nearly every major site, and you will need to pay by card except for the High Dam and the Philae motorboat, which require cash. The headline price is fair, but your final cost will be noticeably higher.

Day 1: A simple Cairo arrival

A representative meets you outside the airport arrival hall with a sign showing your name, then takes you to your Cairo or Giza hotel. This is useful after a long flight, especially because the transfer and hotel check-in are handled for you.

The first day is otherwise open. If you land early, you can add a sound and light show at the pyramids or an optional Nile dinner cruise with a show. I would treat these as extras rather than essential parts of the program, since the next day already begins the main sightseeing.

Your hotel is not included, so confirm the exact property, neighborhood, and room arrangement before you travel. All Cairo or Giza hotel arrangements are your responsibility.

Day 2: Saqqara, Giza, and the overnight train

The first full day begins at Saqqara, where the Step Pyramid of Djoser dates to about 4,800 B.C. It is an excellent starting point because it takes you to the earliest pyramid phase before you reach the more famous monuments at Giza.

The Giza Plateau follows, with the pyramids of Cheops, Chephren, and Mycerinus, plus the Sphinx. Your guide explains the site and helps with the viewing points and photos. The visit lasts about two hours, and admission is extra.

This is a full day before the overnight journey, so expect heat, walking, and a late departure. You return to your hotel, then leave around 7 p.m. for the station. The first-class sitting train to Luxor takes about 10 to 12 hours. The train to Aswan takes about 12 to 14 hours.

The sitting train is the budget-minded option, not the most restful one. You can pay extra to upgrade to a sleeper, with dinner and breakfast included. If you value sleep, the upgrade deserves serious thought. If you want to keep costs down and accept a rough night, the sitting train avoids another hotel night and domestic flight.

The cruise schedule determines your route. The cruise may begin in Aswan or Luxor depending on the sailing date, so check that detail before booking flights and hotels.

Day 3: Aswan, the High Dam, and Philae

If your cruise starts in Aswan, you are met at the railway station and taken by air-conditioned van to the ship. Check-in is before lunch, and lunch is served on board. If the train arrives early, sightseeing can begin before the official noon check-in, so you are not left waiting in the lobby.

The High Dam gives you a useful look at modern Egypt. Built in the 1960s, it controls flooding and generates electricity. The stop takes about 45 minutes, and the admission charge is separate.

Philae is the more memorable visit. You take a small motorboat to the island temple dedicated to Isis, a Graeco-Roman site with a dramatic setting. The boat is not included and must be paid for in cash.

Back on the ship, dinner, a folkloric show, and an overnight stay in Aswan complete the day. The cruise gives you a fixed base, regular meals, and time to watch the river from the deck instead of changing hotels every night.

Day 4: The early start for Abu Simbel

Abu Simbel is the reason many people accept this tour’s demanding schedule. Pickup is around 4:30 a.m., and the trip is made in a small shared group. You reach the site around 8 a.m. and spend time at the rock-cut temples built for Ramesses II and Queen Nefertari.

The enormous seated figures and the temple interiors make this one of Egypt’s major sights. The temples were dismantled and rebuilt when Lake Nasser rose, an important piece of modern preservation that your guide can explain on site.

The outing takes about eight hours, and admission is extra. If severe weather cancels the visit, the stated refund is $30 per person. That is worth noting because Abu Simbel is a major part of the trip, yet the refund does not replace the experience.

You return to the ship around 1 p.m. for lunch, then sail to Kom Ombo. The temple is dedicated to both Horus, the falcon god, and Sobek, the crocodile god. The nearby Crocodile Museum adds a small but unusual stop before you return to the ship and continue toward Edfu.

Day 5: Edfu and the river from the deck

After breakfast, a horse carriage takes you to the Temple of Horus at Edfu with your guide. The temple is described as one of the best-preserved Egyptian temples, so it is easier to picture how a major religious complex once looked.

You then return to the ship for a slower part of the day. Lunch, afternoon tea, and time on the sundeck break up the sightseeing. Watching the Nile banks pass by is one of the tour’s simple pleasures, and it gives your feet a rest after the temple visits.

The ship passes through the Esna lock before reaching Luxor. In the evening, you visit Luxor Temple, which is lit after dark and sits in the center of town. The site shows layers of Egyptian, Christian, and Islamic use, giving you a glimpse of how the city changed over time.

Dinner and a belly dancing show follow on board. You spend the night in Luxor.

Day 6: Luxor’s West Bank and Karnak

Day six packs some of Egypt’s finest monuments into one morning and afternoon. After breakfast, you check out and cross to the West Bank, beginning at the Valley of the Kings.

The pharaohs of the New Kingdom cut tombs into the hills to hide royal burials and their possessions. Entrance fees are separate, and the exact tombs available can vary. Expect heat, uneven ground, and a great deal of walking.

The Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari follows. Its terraces fit against the cliffs and tell the story of one of Egypt’s most famous female rulers. A photo stop at the Colossi of Memnon completes the West Bank section. Lunch at a local restaurant is optional.

In the afternoon, you visit Karnak, one of the largest temple complexes in Egypt. Its Great Hypostyle Hall contains 134 towering columns covered with carved scenes and inscriptions. The visit lasts about 90 minutes, but the site is large enough that you could easily spend longer there.

After Karnak, you go to Luxor station for the evening first-class sitting train back to Cairo. This is another 10 to 12-hour rail journey, so the trip’s final stretch is tiring. The sleeper upgrade would again make the return more comfortable.

Day 7: Alexandria by road from Cairo

After the train reaches Cairo, you are picked up for the drive to Alexandria. The road journey takes about three hours each way, making this a 12-hour day.

Alexandria adds a different chapter to the trip. At the National Museum, you see Greek and Roman material. The Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa lead underground through decorated burial chambers, while the Roman Theater provides another look at the city’s ancient past.

The Citadel of Qaitbay gives you views from 15th-century fortifications. You also have time at the New Alexandria Library, where the visit is more relaxed and self-guided. Lunch is optional and not included.

This is a worthwhile side trip if you want more than pharaonic Egypt, but it is not easy. You have already spent two nights on trains and several long days at monuments. If you need a slower trip, Alexandria is the first day I would reconsider. If Greek, Roman, and modern Egyptian culture matter to you, it earns its place.

Day 8: Tutankhamun, Coptic Cairo, and your final choice

The last day begins at the Egyptian Museum. You see the Tutankhamun exhibit, including the famous golden mask, along with royal mummies and thousands of objects from the New Kingdom and other periods.

Two hours gives you a useful introduction, but not enough time to read every label. Stay close to your guide at the start, then use any free time to focus on the objects that interest you most.

After an optional lunch, the tour moves to Coptic Cairo. The Hanging Church and the Church of St. George the Martyr were built into the remains of the Babylon Fortress. The Church of St. Sergius follows, giving you a compact look at Cairo’s Christian heritage.

For the final stop, you choose between Khan al-Khalili Bazaar and the Citadel with the Alabaster Mosque of Muhammad Ali Pasha. The bazaar is the better choice if you want market streets, colors, aromas, and time to browse. The Citadel is better for city views and Islamic architecture.

Your representative then takes you to the airport according to your flight details. Confirm your departure time carefully, since the final day includes several visits before the transfer.

Guides, group size, and the human side

The tour uses English-speaking Egyptology guides and limits the full group to a maximum of 20 people. Cairo and Alexandria touring is private, while the Abu Simbel trip is shared with a small group.

The named guides, Rocky and Abbas, receive especially warm praise for being caring, genuine, and helpful with practical matters. Heba Haggag is also singled out for quick, accommodating communication and for keeping arrangements organized. These details matter in Egypt, where train timings, cruise check-in, permits, and hotel transfers all need close coordination.

Ask in advance which guide will cover each day and how the group arrangements work. The itinerary changes from private touring to shared transport, so you should not assume every excursion has the same format.

Who should book this trip?

I would recommend it to a first-time Egypt visitor who wants the major sights arranged in one package and does not mind early mornings or long rail journeys. It works especially well if you want to avoid domestic flights and prefer a guide to handle the connections.

It suits couples and small groups who can share rooms. A group of three receives one triple room, while anyone wanting a private room must book as a single person. Child pricing applies only when a child shares with two paying adults, with a maximum of one child per room under that rule.

I would hesitate if you want leisurely museum visits, long afternoons at the hotel, or full control over meals and sightseeing. The schedule is demanding, and the extra admission fees can make the trip cost more than the initial price suggests.

Free cancellation is available when you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not refunded.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if your priority is seeing a lot of Egypt in a short time, with Abu Simbel and Alexandria included rather than treated as separate add-ons. The cruise, transfers, guides, and rail planning provide real value, and the route avoids domestic flights.

Before paying, confirm the cruise departure date, your Cairo hotel, the entry-fee budget, the train class, and the price of the sleeper upgrade. If you accept the long days and plan for the extras, this is a lively, efficient introduction to Egypt. If comfort and free time matter more than coverage, choose a slower program with fewer cities.

FAQ

Is the Cairo hotel included?

No. The tour includes airport transfers and accommodation on the 5-star Nile cruise, but your Cairo or Giza hotel is not included.

How many nights are spent on the Nile cruise?

You spend three nights on the cruise, with full-board meals beginning with lunch and ending with breakfast.

Are domestic flights included?

No. Domestic flights are not included. The route uses first-class sitting trains between Cairo and Luxor or Aswan.

How long do the train journeys take?

The train from Cairo to Luxor takes about 10 to 12 hours. The train from Cairo to Aswan takes about 12 to 14 hours. A sleeper upgrade is available for an additional charge.

What days does the Nile cruise depart?

A cruise departing from Luxor operates on Saturday, Monday, or Thursday. A cruise departing from Aswan operates on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, or Friday.

Is the Abu Simbel trip private?

No. The Abu Simbel excursion is made in a small shared group. Pickup is around 4:30 a.m., and the total trip takes about eight hours.

Are entrance fees included?

No. Entrance fees for the listed sights are paid separately. You must pay most entrance fees by card, while the High Dam fee and the Philae motorboat require cash.

Can I choose between Khan al-Khalili and the Citadel?

Yes. On the final day, you choose either Khan al-Khalili Bazaar or the Citadel and Alabaster Mosque.