The idea
The key to a week in Egypt is to fly. Cairo and the great temples of the south are about 650 km apart, and a one-hour domestic flight saves you a full day on the road. Most first-time visitors spend two days in Cairo and the rest in Luxor and Aswan, either on a Nile cruise or in hotels with a private car.
Day 1: Arrive in Cairo
Your assistant meets you at the airport, helps with the visa and takes you to your hotel. If you land early, an evening walk in Khan el-Khalili is a gentle first taste of the city.
Day 2: The pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum
Start early at the Giza Plateau, before the heat and the crowds: the Great Pyramid, the panoramic viewpoint and the Sphinx. After lunch, spend the afternoon at the Grand Egyptian Museum, where the complete treasure of Tutankhamun is displayed together for the first time. If you have an extra half day, add Saqqara and the Step Pyramid of Djoser, the oldest pyramid in Egypt (see the day trip).
Day 3: Fly to Luxor, Karnak and Luxor Temple
A morning flight to Luxor, ancient Thebes. In the afternoon, the immense temple of Karnak with its forest of 134 columns, then Luxor Temple as the lights come on. If you are taking a cruise, this is the day you board.
Day 4: The West Bank
Cross the Nile early for the Valley of the Kings, with three royal tombs included in the standard ticket, the terraced temple of Queen Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon. For an unforgettable start, add a hot-air balloon at sunrise.
Day 5: Edfu and Kom Ombo on the way to Aswan
By boat or by private car, head south along the Nile. The Temple of Horus at Edfu is the best preserved in Egypt, and the double temple of Kom Ombo stands right on the riverbank. Arrive in Aswan, the most relaxed and beautiful town on the Nile.
Day 6: Abu Simbel and Aswan
An early drive across the desert, about three and a half hours each way, to the colossal temples of Ramses II and Queen Nefertari at Abu Simbel. Back in Aswan, visit Philae, the island temple of Isis, and end the day on a traditional felucca at sunset. If you prefer, Abu Simbel can also be reached by a short flight, or you can spend the night there for the sound and light show.
Day 7: Fly back to Cairo and home
A short flight from Aswan to Cairo connects with most evening flights home. With a little more time, add a last morning in Islamic Cairo: the Citadel, the royal mummies or the old lanes of the bazaar.
Cruise or hotels?
Both work beautifully. A Nile cruise means you unpack once, wake up in a new place and enjoy the river between the temples, and all meals are included on board. Hotels and a private car give you more freedom with timings and a choice of hotels in each town. We run the same itinerary both ways: compare our classic tour with a Nile cruise and the Pharaohs' Road by land.
Practical tips
- Visa: many nationalities can get a visa on arrival or an e-visa. Check the rules for your passport before you fly.
- Money: cards work in hotels and larger shops; keep some Egyptian pounds in small notes for tips and markets.
- Dress: light, loose clothes that cover shoulders and knees are comfortable and respectful, especially in mosques and churches.
- Pace: start early every day. The best light and the coolest hours are in the morning.
Want more time?
With 9 or 10 days you can add Alexandria, a few days on the Red Sea or a night in the White Desert. Tell us your dates and interests and we will send you a private plan and a clear price within hours.