Giza & the Sphinx
On day 2
5.0 on TripadvisorPrivate tour 9 Days Egypt with Alexandria & Nile Cruise
Cairo, a night in Alexandria, a sleeper train to Luxor and 4 nights on a Standard category ship down to Aswan.
- Duration
- 9 days / 8 nights
- Route
- Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor, Aswan
- Nile cruise
- 4 nights Luxor to Aswan, Standard category, full board
- Transport
- Private vehicle, sleeper train, Nile cruise, one domestic flight
From, per person$1,2456 or more travellers · 3-star hotels
- Starts any day
- Free quote, no obligation
- Change anything you like
Why travellers choose this trip
Alexandria adds a Mediterranean day to the usual route. The drive from Cairo is about 220 km, so we go by road and sleep one night in the city. The next evening you board the sleeper to Luxor.
The ship is a Standard category ship on the 4-night route to Aswan. It sails on fixed weekly days, and the sleeper leaves on day 4 so that you are on board at the right time. Dinner and breakfast are served on the train, and we confirm the departure time when we book.
This plan suits visitors who have a week and a half and want a city by the sea as well as the river. It does not suit anyone who wants a long Cairo stay, because Cairo gets two nights only.
Alexandria
The Qaitbay Citadel and the Bibliotheca Alexandrina
Sleeper train
An overnight train from Cairo to Luxor
Luxor
The Valley of the Kings, Karnak and Luxor Temple
Standard Nile ship
4 nights on a Standard category ship, full board
Philae & High Dam
Before the flight back
Your route
1Cairo2 nights
2Alexandria1 night
3LuxorBoard cruise
4AswanDisembark
Day-by-day itinerary
- 1
Day 1 · CairoArrival in Cairo
Arrival. You are met at arrivals and taken to the hotel in the private air-conditioned vehicle. You check in and rest.
Rest of the day. A short briefing covers the drive to Alexandria on day 3, so you know what to pack for the night there. Lunch and dinner are not included today, and the guide can suggest places near the hotel. Your guide and driver handle the luggage from the terminal to the vehicle. Bottled water is provided.
- ReceptionMeet and assist at the airport
- Pick-upPrivate transfer to your hotel
- MealsNone included
Overnight in Cairo - 2
Day 2 · CairoGiza and Saqqara
Morning. At Giza you see the three Fourth Dynasty pyramids and the Great Sphinx. Your private Egyptologist guide explains who built them and why, and the entrance fees for the sites on the plan are included. The vehicle waits between stops.
Afternoon. The afternoon is at Saqqara, which served as the burial ground of the ancient capital Memphis. Lunch is not included, so the guide helps you choose a place. You return to the same hotel in Cairo, so there are no bags to move tonight.
- GuideYour private guide
- TransportPrivate air-conditioned vehicle
- Entrance feesIncluded for the sites of the day
- MealsBreakfast
Overnight in Cairo - 3
Day 3 · AlexandriaRoad to Alexandria
Morning. You check out and leave Cairo in the private vehicle, with your guide and luggage in the car with you. The road runs about 220 km to the coast. Alexander the Great founded the city in 331 BC, and your guide gives you the background on the city.
Afternoon. You arrive by lunchtime. Lunch is not included, and the guide helps you choose a place. You then visit the Qaitbay Citadel, built in 1477 on the site of the old Pharos lighthouse. The entrance fee is included. You check in to your hotel in Alexandria and sleep there.
- GuideYour private guide
- TransportPrivate air-conditioned vehicle
- Entrance feesIncluded for the sites of the day
- MealsBreakfast
Overnight in Alexandria - 4
Day 4 · CairoLibrary, then the night train
Morning. The Bibliotheca Alexandrina, opened in 2002, is the morning visit. It has shelf space for eight million books. Your guide takes you through it, and the entrance fee is included. You check out of the hotel first.
Afternoon. Lunch is not included, and the guide helps you choose a place. You drive back to Cairo in the private vehicle. We confirm the departure time when we book, so the library visit is not rushed.
Evening. You board the evening sleeper to Luxor in a two-berth compartment, and dinner is served on board. This is the day with the least rest, so keep a small bag within reach.
- GuideYour private guide
- TransportPrivate air-conditioned vehicle
- Entrance feesIncluded for the sites of the day
- MealsBreakfast, Dinner
Overnight on the train - 5
Day 5 · LuxorWest bank, board the ship
Morning. You reach Luxor in the morning, and breakfast on the train is included. Your guide and driver meet you. The Valley of the Kings is first, then Hatshepsut's temple, whose three terraces rise against the cliffs. The valley entrance is included, but the tombs of Tutankhamun, Seti I and Ramses VI need separate tickets and are not included.
Afternoon. Check-in on the ship begins at 12:00. The driver takes you and your luggage to the ship, where you stay four nights on full board. Lunch and dinner are on board.
- GuideYour private guide
- TransportPrivate air-conditioned vehicle
- Entrance feesIncluded for the sites of the day
- MealsNone included
Overnight on the ship - 6
Day 6 · LuxorKarnak and Luxor Temple
Morning. Karnak is the morning visit, after breakfast on board. Its precinct of Amun-Re has an obelisk that stands 29 m tall. Your guide leads you through, and the entrance fee is included.
Afternoon. Luxor Temple follows. Lunch is on board, as the cruise is full board.
Evening. The ship sails when you are back on board, and dinner is served on board. Your luggage stays in your cabin. Your guide stays with you at both sites and answers questions as you go. Bottled water is provided. The ship sails on fixed weekly days, and drinks and extras on board are paid on board.
- GuideYour private guide
- TransportPrivate air-conditioned vehicle
- Entrance feesIncluded for the sites of the day
- MealsNone included
Overnight on the ship - 7
Day 7 · EdfuEdfu
Visit. The Edfu temple lies on the west bank of the Nile and was finished in 57 BC under Ptolemy XII. Your guide takes you through the pylon and the courts to the inner sanctuary, and explains what each part was for. The entrance fee is included.
On the river. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are on board. The ship continues up the river, and you sleep in the same cabin tonight. Bottled water is provided for the visit. The ship sails on fixed weekly days, so the stop follows its schedule. Drinks and extras on board are paid on board and are not included.
- GuideYour private guide
- TransportPrivate air-conditioned vehicle
- Entrance feesIncluded for the sites of the day
- MealsNone included
Overnight on the ship - 8
Day 8 · AswanKom Ombo, arrival in Aswan
Morning. The double temple at Kom Ombo is the stop for the morning. Your guide explains the two halves of the building, and the entrance fee is included. Breakfast is on board.
Afternoon. The ship then makes the 50 km run to Aswan. Lunch and dinner are on board. Tomorrow you leave the ship, so pack your bags tonight. Your cabin is yours until tomorrow morning. The ship sails on fixed weekly days, and drinks and extras on board are paid on board and are not included. Bottled water is provided for the visit, and your guide stays with you at the temple.
- GuideYour private guide
- TransportPrivate air-conditioned vehicle
- Entrance feesIncluded for the sites of the day
- MealsNone included
Overnight on the ship - 9
Day 9 · CairoPhilae, High Dam, flight
Morning. Cabins are cleared by 8:00, after breakfast on board. The driver loads your luggage. Philae and the High Dam come before lunch, with your guide explaining both. The boat and entrance fees are included.
Departure. Lunch is not included, and the guide helps you choose a place. The flight from Aswan to Cairo is a short domestic one, and it is included. We choose the departure to suit your international flight and confirm it when we book.
- Drop-offPrivate transfer to the airport or station
- GuideYour private guide
- TransportPrivate air-conditioned vehicle
- Entrance feesIncluded for the sites of the day
- MealsBreakfast
Departure
How much does this 9-day trip cost?
| Per person, by group size | 3-star hotels | 4-star hotels | 5-star hotels |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single traveller | $1,990 | $2,345 | $3,045 |
| Sharing a double room 2 travellers | $1,555 | $1,830 | $2,380 |
| 3 to 5 travellers | $1,370 | $1,610 | $2,095 |
| 6 or more travellers | $1,245 | $1,465 | $1,905 |
In US dollars, per person, for a private trip. The price in your written quote, made for your dates and group, is the one that counts. International flights are not included. Choose a hotel level in the booking box to see the total for your group.
Where you’ll stay
Cairo · 2 nights
Hotel with breakfast.
Alexandria · 1 night
Hotel with breakfast.
Sleeper train · 1 night
An overnight sleeper train between the cities.
Nile cruise · 4 nights
Standard category ship, full board. See the ships
What’s included
Included
- Meet and assist at the airport
- Private air-conditioned vehicle for all transfers
- 3 hotel nights with breakfast (Cairo 2, Alexandria 1)
- Sleeper train Cairo to Luxor, two-berth compartment, dinner and breakfast on board
- 4 nights on a Standard category Nile ship, full board
- Domestic flight Aswan to Cairo
- Sightseeing and entrance fees as listed in the itinerary
- Private Egyptologist guide
- Bottled water, taxes and service charges
Not included
- International flights and Egypt visa
- Extra-ticket tombs (Tutankhamun, Seti I, Ramses VI) and other optional tickets
- Optional tours and drinks
- Drinks and extras paid on board
- Tips
Booking policies
Important information
- International flights, the Egypt visa, extra-ticket tombs, optional tours, drinks and tips are not included.
- Programs can start on any day. We may change a time, route or hotel for reasons we cannot control, and offer you the closest alternative.
- You need a valid passport and the right visa for your nationality. Apply on the official Egyptian eVisa portal.
- Tell us about any health, mobility or diet need before you book, so that we can plan around it.
Payment and deposit
- Prices are in US dollars and the price in your written quote is the one that counts.
- The deposit is 30 percent of the total price (50 percent for trips that start from 18 December to 5 January).
- The balance is due 15 days before arrival. If you book later than that, the full amount confirms the booking.
- Payment instructions come with your written quote.
Cancellation and refund
Send every cancellation by email so that we can confirm it in writing. The charge is a percentage of the tour price, and anything you paid above it is refunded.
| Days before arrival | Normal dates | 18 Dec to 5 Jan |
|---|---|---|
| Until 61 days | 20% | 35% |
| 60 to 31 days | 35% | 50% |
| 30 to 15 days | 50% | 75% |
| 14 to 1 days, or no-show | 100% | 100% |
A bank and payment fee of 6 percent is deducted from every refund. Full rules: terms and policies.
Children
- Children under 3 travel free.
- Children from 3 to 11.99 years pay 50 percent of the tour price.
- From 12 years, travellers pay the adult price.
Please give the age of every child at the time of travel when you ask for a quote.
Travel tips
Good to know before you go
Best time
October to April is the comfortable season. The Christmas and New Year weeks (18 December to 5 January) sell out first.
Visa
Many passports get an e-Visa online or a visa on arrival in Cairo. Check yours before you fly.
What to pack
Light layers, a hat, sunscreen and closed shoes. Cover shoulders and knees for mosques and churches.
Money & tipping
Cards work in hotels; carry small notes for tips. Tipping is expected but not included.
Traveller reviews
What our travellers say
A Fantastic Tour of Egypt
“The entire trip was seamlessly executed.”
Best tour guide!!
“He made our trip to the pyramids and Alexandria fun and memorable.”
Amazing 2 week trip
“My friends and I spent two weeks in Egypt and he was with us every step of the way.”
FAQ
Questions about this trip
Still unsure? Message us on WhatsApp and a real person from our team will answer.
Why go by road to Alexandria?
A private car leaves when you are ready. Your guide and luggage stay with you.
Is the lighthouse still there?
No. The Qaitbay Citadel stands on the site of the Pharos.
Is day 4 a long day?
Yes. A morning in Alexandria, a drive back to Cairo and a night train. It is the day with the least rest.
How is this different from the 9-day Alexandria plan with flights?
This one uses the sleeper train and a Standard category ship, and it has one Alexandria night.
Add a day
Day tours you can add to this trip
13 Hours Cairo, Fayoum, Wadi El Hitan
Wadi El Hitan Whale Valley Private Day Tour from Cairo
- Private guide and car
- Free enquiry, no payment now
- Quote usually within 24 hours
14 Hours Alexandria, Cairo, Rosetta
Rosetta (Rashid) and Alexandria Private Day Tour from Cairo
- Private guide and car
- Free enquiry, no payment now
- Quote usually within 24 hours
5 Hours Luxor
Karnak & Luxor Temples Private Day Tour
- Private guide and car
- Free enquiry, no payment now
- Quote usually within 24 hours
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Tell us your dates. We’ll send a day-by-day plan and a clear price.
Free and no obligation, from our team in Giza.