Compact Egypt route
Egypt itinerary: 10 days
Ten days is compact, but with a well-built route you can still experience the heart of Egypt at a calm pace: Cairo and Giza, Aswan, three nights on the Nile and Luxor, with Abu Simbel or the Red Sea as the variable. We look critically at what fits and what does not, so that the trip never becomes too full. Below you will find the route day by day, the alternatives and the version you can book as it stands.
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A compact route through Cairo, Aswan, the Nile and Luxor, with Abu Simbel or the Red Sea as options.
Suited to travellers with limited time who still want to experience Egypt in depth.
Private Egyptologists and smart timing to limit crowds and unnecessary haste.
Compact without haste
The art of a 10-day trip to Egypt is leaving things out. We choose the places that carry the trip and avoid loose excursions that add little. In practice that means three nights in Cairo rather than four, one direction on the Nile rather than two, and a single extension at most. Islamic Cairo with the Citadel of Saladin, Coptic Cairo and the Khan el-Khalili bazaar are what a fourth Cairo day adds; Alexandria, the Bahariya Oasis and the White Desert belong to the longer routes.
Why Aswan first and Luxor second
Cruise ships sail in both directions between Luxor and Aswan, but downstream from Aswan to Luxor usually takes three nights and upstream four, because the ship sails with the current. In ten days that one night matters: flying from Cairo to Aswan and sailing north leaves you two full days in Luxor at the end. The classic order Cairo, Luxor, Aswan works as well; you then travel from Luxor to Aswan overland with temple stops at Edfu and Kom Ombo, or on a four-night cruise, and finish in Aswan with Abu Simbel on day 9. We plan the order that fits your flights and the sailing schedule.
Planning around heat and crowds
Precisely on a shorter trip, good departure times, logical transfers and your own guide matter. Early starts at Giza, in the Valley of the Kings and on the way to Abu Simbel mean cooler hours and fewer coaches. From May to September temperatures in Luxor and Aswan regularly rise above 40°C; we then move visits to the early morning and build in a midday rest on board or at the hotel. October to April is the most comfortable period for this route; see our guide to the best time to visit Egypt.
Alternative 1: with the Red Sea
Would you rather end with two nights by the sea? Then the route becomes our Egypt Highlights tour, the version of this itinerary you can book as it stands: four nights in Cairo, a flight to Aswan and embarkation on the same day, a full day in Luxor on day 7, then Dendera and a transfer of about four hours to Hurghada (or a flight via Cairo to Sharm el-Sheikh) for two nights at the Red Sea. Abu Simbel becomes an optional early excursion, and the second Luxor day is what you give up for the sea. From €2,195 per person sharing a double room, including the domestic flight from Cairo to Aswan and three nights of Nile cruise with full board, excluding drinks.
Alternative 2: with Abu Simbel
Abu Simbel fits into 10 days, as in the sample route above: an early departure from Aswan with your private driver, about three hours each way, back in the afternoon and on board the ship in the evening. If you would rather not combine the long drive with embarkation day, you add a night in Aswan and take a day from Cairo or Luxor. Sometimes extra time in Aswan is worth more than squeezing everything into a full schedule; we say so honestly when we plan.
Alternative 3: a dahabiya instead of a cruise ship
A dahabiya, a two-masted sailing boat with six to ten cabins, needs four to six nights between Esna near Luxor and Aswan and departs on fixed days. In 10 days that only works if you trim Cairo to two nights and build the rest of the route around the departure day. For a trip with Cairo, Luxor and a dahabiya we usually count on 10 to 14 days in total.
When 12 days is better
Sometimes we honestly advise adding two days. That can make the difference between seeing a lot and really travelling. With 12 days you fit Alexandria, Abu Simbel and the Red Sea into a single route, as in Classic Egypt (12 days, from €2,495 per person). With 15 days, Complete Egypt adds five nights at the Red Sea (from €2,995 per person). The 10-day route remains the right choice when your time is limited and the temples, not the beach, are the reason for your trip.
How this becomes your trip
Tell us your dates, who is travelling and what matters most to you. You receive a personal reply within one working day with a few practical questions, then a day-by-day route proposal, and then a trip proposal with hotels and price. Nothing is booked before you agree. Read how we plan a trip to Egypt and what an Egypt trip costs. Your complete trip is covered by VZR Garant and the Dutch Calamity Fund.
Typical route
The places that often come together in a strong Egypt trip.
Cairo with the pyramids, the Sphinx and a focused museum visit.
Aswan as the calm start of the Nile section, with Philae and the river.
Three nights of Nile cruise past Kom Ombo and Edfu.
Luxor with Karnak, Luxor Temple and the Valley of the Kings.
Abu Simbel as a possible early excursion when the schedule allows.
Sample itinerary
One possible structure, always adapted to your pace.
Arrival in Cairo
Your driver meets you in the arrivals hall and takes you straight to your hotel. If you land before the afternoon, a quiet first encounter with the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC), including the hall of the royal mummies. Arriving late? Then the day ends with dinner in the old city.
Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum
Early to the pyramids, at the quietest time of the day. With your Egyptologist you stand in the shadow of the Sphinx and hear how these monuments came about some 4,500 years ago. If you wish, you go inside the Great Pyramid of Khufu (separate ticket). In the afternoon the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), the largest museum devoted to Egypt in the world and home to the complete Tutankhamun collection.
Saqqara, Dahshur and Memphis
Memphis, capital of the Old Kingdom, opens the day. Then Saqqara with the Step Pyramid of Djoser, the oldest stone pyramid ever built, and Dahshur with the Red Pyramid and the Bent Pyramid: impressive and usually pleasantly quiet. The evening is free in Cairo.
Flight to Aswan: High Dam, Philae and the Unfinished Obelisk
An early flight from Cairo to Aswan. The atmosphere changes at once: calmer, more colourful, warmer. You visit the High Dam, the temple of Philae (dedicated to Isis, on the island of Agilkia) and the Unfinished Obelisk, which shows how the stonemasons of the pharaohs worked. Towards sunset, a felucca sail around Aswan. Night in a hotel in Aswan.
Abu Simbel and embarkation
An early start for Abu Simbel, about 280 road kilometres south of Aswan and around three hours each way with your private driver; you are back in the course of the afternoon. In the evening you board your Nile cruise ship for three nights downstream to Luxor. Prefer a slower day? Then skip Abu Simbel and spend the day in Aswan; see the alternatives below.
Kom Ombo and Edfu
A day on board. The double temple of Kom Ombo, dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek and the falcon god Haroeris. Then the spectacular temple of Horus at Edfu, one of the best preserved temples in all of Egypt. The Nile slides slowly past.
Esna lock, Karnak and Luxor Temple
The ship passes the lock at Esna and moors in Luxor. In the afternoon the vast temple of Karnak, one of the largest temple complexes of antiquity. In the evening Luxor Temple under floodlights, when the stone glows orange.
The West Bank and the Valley of the Kings
You leave the ship after breakfast. The morning on the West Bank of Luxor: the Valley of the Kings, with well over 60 tombs, where the standard ticket covers three painted royal tombs; the tombs of Tutankhamun (KV62), Seti I (KV17) and Ramesses V/VI (KV9) are separate tickets. Then the temple of Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon. Night in a hotel in Luxor.
Dendera, or a quiet morning
A last temple: Dendera, dedicated to Hathor, goddess of love and beauty; the ceiling of its chapel holds one of the finest star maps of antiquity. Or start the day with a hot-air balloon over Luxor at sunrise and keep the afternoon free by the pool.
Flight home
A free morning. Transfer to the airport in Luxor for your flight home, direct or via Cairo depending on your international connection.
Practical
What fits
Cairo, Aswan, the Nile and Luxor fit well into 10 days. Abu Simbel is possible, but demands tight planning: an early start on the day you board the ship.
What we leave out
A Red Sea finish or many extra temples quickly make 10 days too full. The sea only fits if you keep the rest compact, as Egypt Highlights does; otherwise we advise travelling longer.
Price indication
A compact private tour often starts a little lower than a 14-day trip, but domestic flights and guides remain the deciding factors. Egypt Highlights, our bookable 10-day route, starts from €2,195 per person.
See what is possible first
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Frequently asked questions
Is 10 days enough for Egypt?
Yes, 10 days is enough if you choose a compact route with Cairo, Aswan, the Nile and Luxor. For the Red Sea or more depth, a longer trip is more pleasant.
Can I visit Abu Simbel in 10 days?
Yes, but it requires good planning: an early start from Aswan, about three hours each way, back in the afternoon. Sometimes extra time in Aswan is worth more than squeezing everything into a full schedule.
Is a Nile cruise possible in 10 days?
Yes, in most cases: a classic cruise of three nights from Aswan to Luxor fits well, provided the departure days and the route connect with the rest of the trip. A dahabiya of four to six nights only fits if you trim Cairo.
Is this sample itinerary the same as Egypt Highlights?
Almost: Egypt Highlights follows the same line through Cairo, Aswan, the Nile and Luxor, but ends with two nights at the Red Sea instead of Abu Simbel and a second day in Luxor. Egypt Highlights can be booked as it stands; the sample route above and every variation on it we plan for you individually.
What does a 10-day Egypt trip cost?
Egypt Highlights, our bookable 10-day route, starts from €2,195 per person sharing a double room. Included are hotels with breakfast, private transport and all transfers, a private English-speaking Egyptologist on all excursions, entrance fees per programme, the domestic flight from Cairo to Aswan and three nights of Nile cruise with full board. Not included are international flights, visa, tips, travel insurance, personal expenses, drinks on the cruise and dinners in the hotels. Every trip is calculated individually, in euro.
Can this trip be done privately?
Yes, all our trips are private: your own Egyptologist, your own driver and no group. Private trips work particularly well on short routes, because timing and pace are easier to control.
Do I fly within Egypt on this route?
Yes, once: from Cairo to Aswan. Long distances such as Cairo to Aswan are covered by domestic flight; all other transfers are with your own driver in an air-conditioned car, and public buses and shared taxis are not part of our trips.
What is the best time of year for 10 days in Egypt?
October to April is the most comfortable. In the warmer months we plan more early visits.
Read on
Egypt Highlights (10 days)
Private tour through Cairo, Luxor and Aswan with the great sights of ancient Egypt.
How to plan a trip to Egypt
Route, season, duration, budget and the choices that shape your trip, in the order you should make them.
Dahabiya Nile cruise
Small and quiet on the Nile: the stylish alternative to the classic cruise ship between Luxor and Aswan.
Best time to visit Egypt
Month by month: when Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and the Red Sea are at their most comfortable.
How much does a trip to Egypt cost?
Realistic prices for a private tour: hotels, Nile cruise, guides, flights and the extras people forget.
Talk to us about your Egypt trip
Tell us what you are looking for. We will think along on route, duration, hotels, guides and budget, with no obligation.
Start your enquiry