Tour · 12 days
Classic Egypt: 12-day private tour
Twelve days across the full mosaic of Egyptian civilisation: from the Mediterranean to Nubia, with Alexandria and Abu Simbel.
Classic Egypt is a 12-day private tour by Egypt Travel Planner through Cairo, Alexandria, Aswan, Abu Simbel and Luxor, with a three-night Nile cruise and two nights at the Red Sea, from €2,495 per person sharing a double room, including the domestic flight and a private English-speaking Egyptologist.
About this tour
Classic Egypt
From the Mediterranean coastline of Alexandria to the rock temples of Ramesses II in Nubia: this is the route that spans the full breadth of Egyptian civilisation. Twelve days with Cairo as your base, a day trip to Alexandria, a city shaped by Greeks and Arabs alike, a flight to tranquil Aswan, an early morning at Abu Simbel and three nights on a Nile cruise to Luxor. Then two nights of rest beside the crystal-clear water of the Red Sea. With a private English-speaking Egyptologist you travel with depth, personally and without haste.
The route
Your route on the map.
This is how the stops on this tour relate to each other. The dotted line follows the order of the programme. All transport along the way is arranged for you.
- CairoDay 1-5
- AlexandriaDay 4
- AswanDay 5-8
- Abu SimbelDay 6
- LuxorDay 9-10
- Red SeaDay 10-12
Itinerary
Day by day.
Every itinerary is a proposal. Your pace, your interests, your trip: this is the base we build on.
Arrival & the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization
Arrival in Cairo and transfer to your hotel. A first visit to the NMEC, a calm, impressive introduction to the journey ahead. The hall of the royal mummies leaves no one unmoved.
Pyramids of Giza & the Grand Egyptian Museum
The pyramids early in the morning, and the Sphinx. If you wish, you can go inside the Great Pyramid of Khufu (separate ticket, not included). In the afternoon: the Grand Egyptian Museum, the largest museum in the world devoted to ancient Egypt and home to the Tutankhamun collection. Optional: a Nile dinner cruise in the evening.
The earliest pyramids & Memphis
The Step Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara, the oldest stone pyramid in the world. The Red Pyramid and the Bent Pyramid at Dahshur, impressive and on most days pleasantly quiet. Memphis to round off the day.
Day trip to Alexandria: the Mediterranean face of Egypt
By train or private transfer to Alexandria on the Mediterranean. The Bibliotheca Alexandrina, a modern reimagining of the great library of antiquity. The Citadel of Qaitbay, on the spot where the Lighthouse of Alexandria once stood. The Graeco-Roman amphitheatre. A city that feels completely different from Cairo.
Citadel & Khan el-Khalili, then flight to Aswan
Morning: the Citadel of Saladin and the bazaars of Khan el-Khalili. Afternoon: transfer to the airport for the flight to Aswan. Arrival and check-in with a view of the Nile.
Day trip to Abu Simbel: the temples of Ramesses II
An early departure with your private driver to Abu Simbel, some 280 km (175 miles) south of Aswan. The four colossal statues of Ramesses II, each twenty metres high, have guarded the entrance to the temple for 3,200 years. Inside: wall reliefs of astonishing precision. Back in Aswan during the afternoon.
Temple of Philae & Nubian culture
The Temple of Philae on Agilkia Island, moved there stone by stone to save it from the rising water. Dedicated to Isis, and still a place of quiet beauty. In the afternoon, a walk through a Nubian village.
Temples of Kom Ombo & Edfu: the Nile cruise begins
On board and under way. Kom Ombo and the Temple of Horus at Edfu are the highlights of the day. The Nile is at its most beautiful in the evening: wide water, palm trees along the bank, the sky turning pink above the sand hills.
Valley of the Kings, Karnak & Luxor Temple
Morning: the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon. The standard ticket covers three painted royal tombs; the tombs of Tutankhamun and Seti I can be added with a separate ticket. Afternoon: the Temple of Karnak, one of the largest religious complexes ever built. Evening: Luxor Temple in the evening light.
Temple of Dendera & transfer to the Red Sea
The Temple of Hathor at Dendera, with its remarkably well-preserved painted reliefs, astronomical ceilings and underground crypts. Then a transfer to Hurghada or Sharm el-Sheikh for two nights by the water.
Beach & snorkelling at the Red Sea
A free day by the water. The Red Sea reef is among the finest in the world: crystal-clear water, colourful coral and fish within arm's reach. Relaxation after ten full days.
Last morning & flight home
Transfer to the airport and your flight home. Twelve days that begin on the Mediterranean and end on the Red Sea, and in between: four thousand years of civilisation.
Clear about what you get
Included & not included.
Included in the tour
- Private transport throughout the trip
- Private English-speaking Egyptologist as your guide on all excursions
- Domestic flight Cairo-Aswan
- 3-night Nile cruise Aswan-Luxor (full board, drinks excluded)
- 5 nights in a boutique or luxury hotel in Cairo (4 or 5 star), breakfast included
- 2 nights in a hotel at the Red Sea (4 or 5 star), breakfast included
- Entrance fees for all monuments and museums in the programme
- All transfers, including airports
- Your personal contact at Egypt Travel Planner is easy to reach throughout your trip
Not included
- International flights to and from Cairo or the Red Sea
- Travel insurance
- Drinks on board the Nile cruise
- Dinners in the hotels (breakfast included)
- Personal expenses
- Tips for your guide, driver and local staff
- Egyptian visa (applied for online; we help you with it)
- Optional tickets, such as the interior of the Great Pyramid or the tomb of Tutankhamun
Extensions
Optional additions.
Give your trip an extra dimension. All options are planned on request and woven seamlessly into the programme.
- Nile dinner cruise in Cairo (day 2)
- Bahariya Oasis & the White and Black Desert (+2 days, 1 night in a desert camp)
- Snorkelling or diving at the Red Sea
- Excursions from Sharm el-Sheikh: Ras Mohammed National Park, the Blue Hole at Dahab
- Hot-air balloon flight over Luxor at sunrise
- Extra nights at the Red Sea
Why Egypt Travel Planner
Planned for you.
Not for a crowd.
No off-the-shelf tour: we plan every route for you alone, with your own driver and your own Egyptologist.
Private Egyptologists as your guides
No group tour, no compromises. You travel with a certified, English-speaking Egyptologist who tells the stories that match your interests.
Fully tailor-made
Every day in this programme is a proposal, not an obligation. Pace, hotels and excursions are adapted entirely to you.
One personal contact
From your first question until your flight home, the same person looks after you and is easy to reach. No call centres, no delays.
Financially protected
Your trip is covered by VZR Garant and the Dutch Calamity Fund, the statutory guarantee schemes of a European tour operator. You book with financial certainty.
Lars Janssen
Founder & Egypt travel specialist
Your personal travel planner
Lars plans this trip personally.
Lars knows the route, the hotels and the people on the ground. He puts your trip together himself and stays in direct contact while you travel. Ask your question and you will always get a personal answer.
“The service is excellent; we got quick answers to changes even though we booked shortly before departure, and the price was lower than with other providers. Lars thinks along with you and comes up with good alternatives. We had a wonderful trip.”
“Everything was perfectly organised from start to finish! A fantastic travel company, they were very helpful and everything was open for discussion. We are coming back next year. Highly recommended.”
These reviews come from the Google profile of Origins Travel Group, the company behind Egypt Travel Planner, and are translated from Dutch. So far they are about our tours in Oman. The same team plans your trip to Egypt. We show a selection. Read all reviews on Google.
Read all 36 reviews on GoogleFrequently asked questions
Got a question?
What is the difference from the 10-day route?
The 12-day route adds a day trip to Alexandria and includes Abu Simbel as a fixed part of the programme rather than an option. You also have a little more room in Cairo and Aswan. If you do not want to miss Alexandria and Abu Simbel, this is the better choice; otherwise Egypt Highlights covers the classics in ten days.
Is Alexandria worth it?
Yes, Alexandria is well worth the day. The city is a completely different world from Cairo: Mediterranean, cosmopolitan, with a fascinating mix of Graeco-Roman and Islamic history. The Bibliotheca Alexandrina alone justifies the visit, but the city is more than that: the street life, the harbour, the Corniche.
How far is Alexandria from Cairo?
About 220 km (135 miles), two to two and a half hours by private car or two hours by express train. The transfer is included in the price, and you are back in good time for a relaxed evening in Cairo.
Is Abu Simbel included or optional?
Abu Simbel is a fixed part of the 12-day route (day 6), including your private driver and the entrance fee. This is one of the reasons travellers deliberately choose this route over the 10-day one.
Can I skip the Red Sea?
Yes. If you would rather spend more time in Luxor or Aswan, or fly home earlier, we adjust the route. The Red Sea days are the easiest part to detach.
Other routes
Discover more routes.
Read on
Practical information for this tour.
Dahabiya Nile cruise
Small and quiet on the Nile: the stylish alternative to the classic cruise ship between Luxor and Aswan.
How much does a trip to Egypt cost?
Realistic prices for a private tour: hotels, Nile cruise, guides, flights and the extras people forget.
Tipping in Egypt
How much to tip your guide, driver, hotel staff and on a Nile cruise, and whether to use euros, dollars or pounds.
Best time to visit Egypt
Month by month: when Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and the Red Sea are at their most comfortable.
Ready to start?
Let's talk about your Classic Egypt trip.
Tell us what you are looking for. We will think along on route, duration, hotels, guides and budget, with no obligation. No standard tour, no commitment. Just a conversation.
Reply within one working day · No obligation · VZR Garant & Calamity Fund