8 days Egypt: Cairo + Classic Nile Cruise (Luxor-Aswan)

Trip map

Click each numbered marker to see the corresponding day.

Day by day

1. 1

   Day 1

   Arrival Cairo

   Direct flight Paris-Cairo (4h30, EgyptAir or Air France, €350-600 return depending on season). On arrival at CAI airport, two visa options: pre-printed e-visa ($25 via visa2egypt.gov.eg, faster) or visa on arrival ($25 cash exact, long queues). Driver welcome (€50-80 for the transfer). Allow 45 min to 1.5h to reach the hotel depending on Cairo's legendary traffic.

   Check in at Mena House Hotel (pyramid view) in Giza (€300-500/night, legendary 19th-century palace) or Marriott Mena House (€200-350), or in central Zamalek (green Nile island, quiet, Marriott Cairo €150-250). Quiet first evening: Nile dinner cruise (€40-60/person, tannoura dance + Sufi show, 3h) or immediate immersion at Khan el-Khalili bazaar (14th century) — Arabic coffee at the legendary El Fishawi (250 years old, €2-4 a shisha).

   Tips

   • · Visa: prefer the e-visa (visa2egypt.gov.eg, $25, 5 days before departure) to skip the arrival queue. Otherwise bring exact $25 cash (ATMs before immigration often broken).
   • · Baksheesh: bring a roll of small notes (5, 10, 20 LE = €0.10-0.40) from the airport — constant tips for porters, taxi drivers, guards (€0.50-1 enough).
   • · Uber app: works perfectly in Cairo, 3-4x cheaper than white taxis (centre-Giza ride ~€5-8). Essential to avoid haggling.
   • · Water: drink only sealed bottled water (1L = 10-15 LE = €0.20-0.30), even for brushing teeth in the first week.
   Cairo →
2. 2

   Day 2

   Giza: Pyramids + Grand Egyptian Museum

   Wake up at 6am: enter the Giza Plateau at 8am sharp to beat the heat (€25, open 8am-5pm, Khufu interior +€18, Khafre interior +€6). The three pyramids — Khufu (originally 146m, 2,560 BC, last standing of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World), Khafre (still keeps its limestone cap), Menkaure — aligned along the Nile. Walk between the complexes, then Sphinx and Valley Temple. Optional: camel ride behind the pyramids (€15-25 after firm haggling, refuse the first offer at €50) for the classic distant photo.

   Lunch at Khufu's Restaurant with Sphinx view (€35-50) or simpler at Pyramids Heritage (€15-20). Afternoon dedicated to the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) opened late 2024 (€30 adult, €15 child, dated online ticket recommended) — 100,000 pieces over 50 hectares, including the complete Tutankhamun collection exhibited integrally for the first time (5,400 objects including the gold mask). Allow 4h minimum: grand atrium with Ramses II colossus, monumental stairway with 80 statues, chronological gallery, and the Tutankhamun gallery as the highlight. Back to hotel for sound and light show at the foot of the pyramids (€20, 7:30pm French session).

   Tips

   • · GEM tickets: buy online at visit-gem.com 1-2 days ahead — on-site counter often saturated in high season (European school holidays).
   • · Khufu interior: reserved for the non-claustrophobic (1m-high corridor to walk bent over 36m, stifling heat). No objects in the King's Chamber (empty). For decorated accessible pyramids, prefer Menkaure (€6 extra).
   • · Photographers: golden hour at sunset over the plateau (5pm winter, 6:30pm summer) offers the best light. Camel rides possible until closing.
   • · Camel scam: never mount without negotiating price AND duration FIRST. Refuse "free selfies" — always charged afterwards.
   • · GEM logistics: large café inside (lunch €12-20), free bag storage. Tutankhamun gallery = 1.5h on its own, save for last.
   Giza →
3. 3

   Day 3

   Islamic and Coptic Cairo

   Morning Islamic Cairo — leave 9am for the Citadel of Saladin (12th c., €8, taxi €5-8 from Zamalek) perched on Moqattam hill. Inside, the Mohammed Ali Mosque (Ottoman style, alabaster domes, free) offers panoramic view of Cairo and distant pyramids on clear days. 1 km down the Sultan Hassan Mosque (1356, one of the great Mamluk masterpieces, €4) faces Rifa'i where the Shah of Iran is buried. Covered dress mandatory — shoulders, knees, scarf for women (often lent at entrance).

   Lunch kushari (national dish, €1-2) at Abu Tarek (Champollion Street, since 1950, fast queue) — pasta, rice, lentils, fried onions, spicy tomato sauce. Afternoon Coptic Old Cairo (free entry, Mar Girgis metro) with the Hanging Church (Al-Muallaqa, 3rd-7th c., built on Roman gates), Saint Sergius Church (where the Holy Family is said to have sheltered), Ben Ezra Synagogue (9th c., where Cairo Genizah fragments were reportedly found). End of day: Khan el-Khalili bazaar (14th c.), haggling mandatory (offer 30-40% of asking price). Free Sufi tannoura at Al-Ghouri mausoleum (Wed/Sat 8pm, arrive 1h early).

   Tips

   • · Mosque dress: shoulders-knees covered mandatory. Women: scarf over hair. Men: no shorts. Shoes off (decent socks required).
   • · Khan el-Khalili haggling: golden rule, divide asking price by 3-4 to start. Avoid shops paying touts (next to Khan) — prefer artisans in the sebei3 coppersmiths' quarter.
   • · Tannoura show: free at Al-Ghouri Wed/Sat 8pm, or paid at Wikalat Al-Ghouri theatre (€8-12) — whirling dervishes + Sufi music, 1h.
   • · Safety: Cairo is safe by day. Avoid deserted alleys at night and stay in a group at the Khan after 10pm.
   • · Street food: ta'ameya (local fava-bean falafel) 5-10 LE the sandwich, foul medames (fava bean paste) for breakfast — best local healthy options.
   Cairo →
4. 4

   Day 4

   Cairo-Luxor flight + cruise boarding

   Early wake-up: airport CAI transfer (1h, allow 2h margin before flight). Internal EgyptAir flight Cairo-Luxor (1h, €80-150 depending on season, book via egyptair.com or included in operator packages). Arrive Luxor LXR around midday, cruise driver welcome, transfer Luxor port and ship boarding (standard cabins 12-16 m², with Nile balcony for upper categories). Buffet lunch on board.

   3pm departure for Karnak (€13, open 6am-5pm), the largest religious complex ever built — 2 km² of sanctuaries dedicated to Amun-Ra, sphinxes avenue restored in 2021 linking Karnak to Luxor over 2.7 km. Discover the hypostyle hall (134 columns 23m tall), Hatshepsut's obelisks, sacred lake. Sunset on the Nile from the boat (upper-deck aperitif). Evening, illuminated Luxor Temple (€8, open until 10pm) — magical atmosphere with Ramses II colossi and the sphinxes avenue bathed in golden light. Dinner on board, cruise briefing by the guide.

   Tips

   • · Karnak in late afternoon: best light + bearable heat (vs crowded morning cruise groups). Allow 2-3h minimum on site.
   • · Guard baksheesh: at every temple, guards offer to open "forbidden" zones for 20-50 LE (€0.40-1). Accept if curious, politely refuse otherwise ("la, shukran").
   • · Clothing: Luxor 25-35°C in winter, 40-48°C in summer. Hat, sunglasses, factor-50 sunscreen, 2L water minimum per person. Light scarf for dust.
   • · Photos: video permit 50 LE extra at Karnak. Tripod forbidden without special permit (200 LE).
   • · Cruise tips: ship's "common pot" is €5-10/day/person — deposited at end of cruise (crew, waiters, housekeeping). Private guide: €10-20/day.
   Luxor →
5. 5

   Day 5

   Luxor: West Bank (Valley of the Kings)

   BALLOON OPTION: 4:30am departure for dawn lift-off on the West Bank side (€120-180/person, 45-min flight, spectacular view over Valley of the Kings and Nile). Book 24-48h ahead. Regulated safety since 2013, accredited operators only (Magic Horizon, Sindbad).

   At 7am official West Bank visit. Valley of the Kings (€27 entry including 3 tombs, +€4 per extra tomb, Tutankhamun +€27, Seti I +€13) — necropolis of New Kingdom pharaohs (18th-20th dynasties, 1550-1070 BC). 63 identified tombs, 8-12 open in rotation. Priority: Ramses VI (KV9, astronomical ceiling), Ramses III (KV11, music scenes), Merenptah (KV8). Tutankhamun (KV62) — the mummy is there but the room is small and the treasure is at the GEM. Photos now allowed (+€5 permit).

   Late morning Deir el-Bahari (Hatshepsut Temple, €12) — terraced temple set against the cliff, restored by Polish mission. Valley of the Queens (€13) then Colossi of Memnon (free, 18m, fragments of Amenhotep III funerary temple). Back to boat for lunch. Sailing Luxor → Esna in afternoon (lock passage in evening, hawkers throwing goods from feluccas show).

   Tips

   • · Go early: 7am opening, by 10am temperature +35°C inside tombs (no ventilation). Visit 3-4 tombs max otherwise visual and physical saturation.
   • · Tutankhamun: room is tiny (4 people max), treasure is at GEM. Prefer Seti I supplement (KV17) — the most beautiful tomb, paintings intact 3,200 years.
   • · Balloon: magical but reserved for the non-fragile (landing sometimes rough). Cancellation possible if windy — full refund.
   • · Water and snacks: no sales in the valley. Bring 2L water, dried fruit, biscuits. Flip-flops or sandals for the heat.
   • · Student rates: valid ISIC card = 50% discount on all Egypt entries. Get one before departure.
   Luxor →
6. 6

   Day 6

   Esna → Edfu → Kom Ombo

   Morning Esna lock passage (show: vendor boats throw scarves and galabias from 5m below the deck — "madame, beautiful price!"). Breakfast on the upper deck facing the rural Nile — buffalo, date orchards, farmers casting chebka (fishing nets).

   10am arrival Edfu. Typical horse carriage (usually included in the cruise, otherwise €5 return) to the Edfu Temple (€10), the best-preserved in all of Egypt (dedicated to Horus, 2nd c. BC, 137m long, 36m high, hieroglyphs intact). 1.5h guided tour — interior walls tell the entire mythology of Horus vs Seth, it's the most complete "bible" of ancient Egypt.

   Resume sailing after lunch — landscapes of palm groves and Nubian villages, photos on deck. 4pm arrival Kom Ombo — unique temple as dedicated to two deities (Sobek the crocodile and Haroeris-Horus, €9). 5 min walk from the dock, on a promontory facing the Nile. Visit at sunset for golden atmosphere. The adjacent Crocodile Museum (free with ticket) displays 22 mummified crocodiles. Evening on board: galabia party (Bedouin dress, costumes lent by crew, oriental dance, themed dinner).

   Tips

   • · Edfu carriage: if not included, negotiate €5 return per carriage (4 people). Refuse carriages without their visible health ticket — animal welfare often neglected.
   • · Kom Ombo sunset: best photo moment (warm light on white limestone). Arrive 5pm for 30 min walk before dusk.
   • · Galabia party: disco atmosphere, kitsch but fun. To buy a real galabia (not the boat costume), wait for Aswan or Khan el-Khalili (€15-25 embroidered cotton).
   • · Edfu carriage tip: €1-2 to the driver on top of fare, especially if he treated his horse well. Avoid the full-speed round trips demanded by groups (cruel).
   • · Crocodile museum: small (15 min) but fascinating — all sizes of mummified crocodiles, gold scales intact.
   Aswan →
7. 7

   Day 7

   Aswan: Philae + felucca

   Breakfast with Aswan view — Egypt's most African city (Nubian population, dry hot climate even in winter, Elephantine Island facing the dock). Morning Philae Temple (€14 with mandatory shuttle boat, 10-min crossing). Temple relocated block by block in the 1970s by UNESCO to escape Lake Nasser waters (High Dam), reassembled stone by stone on nearby Agilkia island. Dedicated to Isis (mother-goddess), it was one of Egypt's last pagan temples (closed in 553 by Justinian). Hieroglyphs still visible, Ptolemaic-Roman architectural blend.

   Lunch on board. Afternoon Elephantine Island — Nubian village with houses painted blue/yellow/pink, colourful market, donkeys and playful children. Visit Aswan Nubian Museum (€4, closes 5pm) to understand pre-Arab culture. Optional: Kitchener Botanical Garden on neighbouring island (€4, 600 tropical species brought from India).

   5pm: sunset felucca (traditional lateen-sail boat, €20-40/group for 1-2h, negotiate on the dock near Old Cataract Hotel). Aswan's most iconic moment — white sails billowing on the Nile, pink granite rocks, mausoleum of Aga Khan III on the west bank. Nubian dinner on Elephantine Island (€15-25/person, Nubian Beach or Solia Dome restaurant) — spiced meats, date rice, iced hibiscus.

   Tips

   • · Philae: visit in morning (8-10am, soft light, few people). Shuttle boat is included — refuse boatmen claiming it's extra.
   • · Felucca: negotiate firmly — 40 LE/person (€1) is local rate, €20-40/group is tourist rate. Bring a layer (cool wind after 6pm in winter) and a scarf (possible sand).
   • · Aswan market (souk sharia el-Souk): best market of the trip for spices (saffron, hibiscus, cumin), cotton galabia €15-25, silver jewellery.
   • · Old Cataract Hotel: 19th-c. palace where Agatha Christie wrote "Death on the Nile" — come for tea on the terrace €15-25/person (Nile + Elephantine Island view).
   • · Iced hibiscus (karkadeh): national drink, 5-10 LE the glass, everywhere. Also try mint tea and Arabic coffee.
   Aswan →
8. 8

   Day 8

   Aswan → Cairo → Paris return

   Final breakfast on board. Cruise disembarkation 8-9am depending on the boat. Abu Simbel day option (if late evening Paris flight): Aswan → Abu Simbel flight (30 min, €100-180), 3h on site for the two colossal Ramses II and Nefertari temples, return Aswan. Allow 6h total — only feasible if the Cairo-Paris flight departs after 10pm.

   Standard: Aswan ASW airport transfer (15 min, €5-10). EgyptAir Aswan-Cairo flight (1h30, €60-180) midday. Cairo connection (2-3h layover possible if same booking) or airport change depending on your booking. Return Paris flight (4h30, evening arrival).

   Last tip — keep €20-30 in small LE bills for airport tips (porters, occasional customs). CAI duty-free cells: last-minute souvenirs (dried hibiscus, authentic papyrus with certificate at Atlas Papyrus, Memphis perfumes, alabaster statues). Avoid "antiquities" — always fake or problematic at French customs. End of trip.

   Tips

   • · Abu Simbel: if this 8th day is free, go for it. Otherwise plan the 10-day itinerary that integrates it properly. 5:45am flight from Aswan, 11am return.
   • · Papyrus: buy ONLY from "government certified" shops — streets sell tinted banana paper (€5 instead of authentic €25-100 papyrus). Atlas Papyrus in Cairo is the reference.
   • · French customs: no issue for papyrus, hibiscus, perfumes. Forbidden: archaeological stones (even fake, hard to explain), coral, tortoise shell, ivory.
   • · Final tips: €5-10 to airport porter, €5 to transfer driver. Always small bills.
   • · LE exit: limit return exchange (high commission and unfavourable rate). Better: spend remaining LE on water, snacks, last souvenirs before security.
   Aswan →

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