10 Days in Egypt: Pyramids, the Nile and the Red Sea

You’ve got 10 days and you want pyramids, a Nile cruise and some Red Sea downtime without sprinting. This 10 day Egypt itinerary is the route we run for travellers who like depth but still want a chair on the beach at the end. It moves cleanly: Cairo, Luxor–Aswan by cruise, Abu Simbel, then Hurghada.

Route overview: Cairo, Luxor–Aswan cruise, Abu Simbel, Hurghada

Expect two internal flights on the base plan (Cairo–Luxor, Hurghada–Cairo), with an optional Abu Simbel flight pair. You’ll sightsee mostly in the cool morning — most major sites open around 7am and close mid-to-late afternoon. Best season for heavy sightseeing is October–April; the Red Sea works year-round.

Premium private tour pricing for this route typically starts from around USD 4,000–6,000 per person (sharing), depending on season, cruise category and room types. Business-class upgrades and special-access tickets are extra. For a ready-made version, see our 10-day private route.

10 day Egypt itinerary: Cairo, Nile cruise, Abu Simbel and Hurghada

Day 1 – Arrive Cairo, settle near Giza

We meet you airside, move you through the formalities, and get you to your hotel. If energy allows, take a rooftop tea in Giza for a first look at the pyramids at sunset. Keep tonight light; tomorrow starts early.

Day 2 – Giza Pyramids, Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM)

Doors open around 7am. We start inside the Giza Plateau before the tour buses arrive: Khufu’s pyramid (optional interior ticket), Khafre, Menkaure and the Sphinx. Skip the camel touts; if you want that photo loop, we arrange a short, controlled ride. Late morning we walk into the fully open GEM on the plateau. It now holds the major collection, including the complete Tutankhamun treasures and the Khufu Solar Boat. Air-conditioning helps with the midday heat.

Day 3 – Old Cairo, Tahrir Egyptian Museum and Islamic Cairo

Old Cairo first: the Hanging Church and Ben Ezra Synagogue set context for Egypt’s later layers. Then the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir — a separate, still-operating institution with important pieces that complement (not duplicate) the GEM. After lunch, we wind through Khan el-Khalili and Al-Muizz Street for metalwork, perfumes and coffee that tastes like a decision. Evening flight prep and an early night.

Day 4 – Fly Cairo to Luxor (about 1 hour), Karnak and Luxor Temple

We take a roughly 60–85 minute hop depending on routing; the nonstop Cairo–Luxor flight is about 1 hour. Afternoon at Karnak’s Hypostyle Hall, then Luxor Temple at dusk when the columns glow and the heat drops. Overnight in Luxor or board your ship if schedules align. Browse our Nile cruises for cabin styles and sailing days.

Day 5 – West Bank: Valley of the Kings and the Temple of Hatshepsut; embark cruise

Out by 7am. Three standard tombs in the Valley of the Kings, with optional add-ons for Seti I or Tutankhamun (both require separate tickets). Continue to the Temple of Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon. Board your Luxor–Aswan cruise mid-afternoon; pass the Esna Lock after dinner.

Day 6 – Edfu and Kom Ombo, sail the green bend of the Nile

Morning visit to Edfu’s well-preserved temple. After lunch, Kom Ombo and its Crocodile Museum. You’ll have long stretches on deck today — good light for photos, good time for a book.

Day 7 – Aswan: Philae, Unfinished Obelisk and felucca

We take the boat to Philae Temple on its island, then a quick stop at the Unfinished Obelisk and a look over the High Dam. Late afternoon felucca sail on the cataract waters. Sleep in Aswan on the ship or disembark to a riverside hotel if you prefer quieter nights.

Day 8 – Abu Simbel, then on to Hurghada

Go early. Fly Aswan–Abu Simbel (about 45 minutes each way) for a focused two-hour visit at the Abu Simbel temples, then back in Aswan by early afternoon. To reach the Red Sea the same day, we recommend flying Aswan–Cairo (about 1 hour 20 minutes) and Cairo–Hurghada (about 1 hour), arriving evening. If you’d rather avoid the extra flights, you can drive Aswan–Luxor (about 3.5 hours) then Luxor–Hurghada (about 4 hours), but it’s a long haul.

Day 9 – Hurghada: reef day, private boat

Take the boat, not the quad bikes. We book a private yacht to Giftun or Magawish reefs for snorkelling and a lazy lunch; divers can add a guided pair of easy sites. Back at the hotel by late afternoon. If you want ideas beyond the water, see our Hurghada day trips.

Day 10 – Hurghada morning, fly to Cairo and depart

Slow breakfast, a last swim, then the 1-hour flight to Cairo for your international connection. If your flight’s late, we can add a short Saqqara stop the previous week instead of an extra market hour.

Abu Simbel: fly or drive from Aswan

Option	Duration (round trip)	Pros	Considerations
Fly Aswan–Abu Simbel–Aswan	2 x 45-minute flights + 2–3 hours on site	Fast, comfortable, back in Aswan by early afternoon; avoids desert fatigue	Higher cost (typically from around USD 300–450 pp as an add-on); fixed flight slots
Private road transfer	About 3.5–4 hours each way (~280 km) + 2 hours on site	Flexible timing; lower per-person cost in a group of 3–4	Long desert drive; depart around 4am; heat and road weariness

Timings, tickets and what’s worth the extra

• Openings: most sites from ~7am; in peak summer some open earlier. Aim for doors at opening on Giza and West Bank days.
• Upgrades we rate: Great Pyramid interior, Seti I in the Valley of the Kings, and Nefertari in the Valley of the Queens (if we can fit it). All are separate tickets.
• What to wear: light long sleeves, a hat, strong sunscreen, good trainers or walking sandals. Shoulders and knees covered in mosques.
• Getting around: Cairo–Luxor flight about 1 hour; Cairo–Aswan about 1 hour 20 minutes; Luxor–Aswan roughly 3.5 hours by road or train; Luxor–Hurghada about 4 hours by road; Cairo–Hurghada about 1 hour by air.