Tour 01 · 10 days
Egypt Highlights: 10-day private tour
The great Egyptian route: from the pyramids of Giza to the temples of Luxor, with three nights on the Nile.
Egypt Highlights is a 10-day private tour by Egypt Travel Planner through Cairo, Aswan and Luxor, with a three-night Nile cruise and two nights at the Red Sea, from €2,195 per person sharing a double room, including the domestic flight and a private English-speaking Egyptologist.
About this tour
Egypt Highlights
Egypt Highlights is our route for the great classics in ten days: the pyramids of Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum, the Temple of Philae at Aswan, three nights on a Nile cruise, the royal tombs and temples of Luxor, and two nights at the Red Sea to finish. You travel at your own pace, with a private English-speaking Egyptologist as your personal guide. You never wait for a group, and you decide how long you stay at each site.
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 1-4
- AswanDay 5-6
- LuxorDay 7-8
- Red SeaDay 8-10
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
Transfer from the airport and check-in at your hotel. If you arrive before mid-afternoon, a quiet first encounter with the NMEC, including the hall of the royal mummies. If you arrive late, dinner in one of the finest restaurants of the old city centre (not included in the price).
Pyramids of Giza & the Grand Egyptian Museum
An early start at the pyramids, at the quietest time of day. With your guide you stand in the shadow of the Sphinx and learn how these monuments were built some 4,500 years ago. 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 complete Tutankhamun collection. Lunch included.
The forgotten pyramids & the first capital
Memphis, for a thousand years the capital of ancient Egypt, opens the day. Then Saqqara, with the Step Pyramid of Djoser, the oldest stone pyramid ever built. Dahshur rounds off the day with the Red Pyramid and the Bent Pyramid: impressive, usually pleasantly quiet, and all yours to explore with your own guide. Lunch included.
Citadel of Saladin, Coptic Cairo & Khan el-Khalili
The Citadel high above the city, for a panorama that explains Cairo at a glance. Coptic Cairo, with its early Christian churches and the spot where, according to tradition, the Holy Family found refuge. The day ends in the bazaars of Khan el-Khalili, the best place to feel the rhythm of the city.
Flight to Aswan · High Dam, Philae & 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 Agilkia Island in the reservoir between the old Aswan Dam and the High Dam) and the Unfinished Obelisk, a rare window on how the stonemasons of the pharaohs worked. In the evening you board your Nile cruise ship.
Temples of Kom Ombo & Edfu: the Nile cruise begins
On board the cruise ship. 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 drifts slowly past.
Valley of the Kings, Karnak & Luxor Temple
The morning on the West Bank of Luxor: the Valley of the Kings, with more than 60 tombs. The standard ticket covers three painted royal tombs; the tombs of Tutankhamun and Seti I can be added with a separate ticket. Then the Temple of Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon. In the afternoon: the immense Temple of Karnak, one of the largest religious complexes ever built. In the evening: Luxor Temple under floodlights, when the stone glows orange.
Temple of Dendera & transfer to the Red Sea
One last temple: Dendera, dedicated to Hathor, goddess of love and beauty. The ceiling of one of its chapels holds one of the finest star maps of antiquity. Then a transfer to Hurghada or Sharm el-Sheikh for two nights by the water. We help you choose the resort that suits you best.
Beach, snorkelling & relaxation
A free day at the Red Sea. Snorkel on the reef, lie on the beach or take a boat trip to the islands. After eight full days, this is the rest day that rounds off the trip.
Last morning & flight home
A free morning. Transfer to the airport and your flight home.
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
- Lunch on the excursion days in Cairo (day 2 and day 3)
- 3-night Nile cruise Aswan-Luxor (full board, drinks excluded)
- 4 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.
- Day trip to Abu Simbel from Aswan: early departure with your private driver, back in the afternoon
- Day trip to Alexandria from Cairo (+1 day)
- Bahariya Oasis & the White and Black Desert before the Nile route (+2 days)
- Extended stay at the Red Sea, with snorkelling or diving
- Nile dinner cruise in Cairo (day 4)
- Hot-air balloon flight over Luxor at sunrise
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?
Is the Nile cruise included in the price?
Yes. The Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor (3 nights, full board) is fully included in the price. You sail on a comfortable cruise ship with your own cabin; this is the one part of the trip where you share the vessel with other guests. If you would prefer a small traditional sailing boat, read about the dahabiya Nile cruise as an alternative.
Can we visit Abu Simbel as well?
Yes, gladly. Abu Simbel can be done from Aswan as an early day trip with your private driver, about three hours each way, and you are back during the afternoon. It is one of the most impressive sights in all of Egypt and well worth the day.
Who is this trip best suited to?
This trip suits travellers visiting Egypt for the first time (or for the first time in depth) who want to combine the great highlights with calm and comfort. Ten days is a good length for Cairo, Aswan, the Nile cruise and Luxor. For a closer look at how ten days fit together, see our 10-day Egypt itinerary.
How much walking is there each day?
An average day involves 3 to 5 km (2 to 3 miles) on foot, sometimes more at the large temple complexes. We always adapt the pace to you and your travelling companions. If anyone in your party is less mobile or needs more rest, let us know beforehand and we adjust the programme accordingly.
Can this trip be made shorter?
Yes. We can leave out the Red Sea days or shorten the Cairo days, which brings the trip down to 7 or 8 days. The other way round, the trip can also be extended with the White Desert, Alexandria or extra temple days.
Other routes
Discover more routes.
Read on
Practical information for this tour.
Egypt itinerary: 10 days
A compact route for travellers who want to experience the heart of Egypt properly, day by day.
Dahabiya Nile cruise
Small and quiet on the Nile: the stylish alternative to the classic cruise ship between Luxor and Aswan.
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.
Egypt visa
E-visa, visa on arrival, cost and validity: everything for a smooth entry.
Ready to start?
Let's talk about your Egypt Highlights 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