Classic Egypt Tours
Classic Egypt Tour: 7 Days Cairo, Sharm El Sheikh & Catherine
A classic 7-day Egypt tour — Cairo, Sharm El Sheikh & Catherine, covering the country's essential sights.
per person
$1,100
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Egypt Classic Tours
15 itineraries
8 – 14 days
4.9 average
From $1,100 per person
October – AprilBest months to travel
10 daysMost booked length
PrivateEvery departure
Free cancellationUp to 30 days before
Classic Egypt tours are the standard itinerary — Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and a Nile cruise between them. Every classic tour below is private, with a licensed Egyptologist, hand-picked hotels and domestic flights included.
What makes a good classic Egypt tour
Classic itineraries are classic because they work. The order matters — Cairo first so the museum makes the temples legible, then upstream to Luxor and Aswan by cruise, then optionally a Red Sea coda to recover. Six days is a rush, eight is comfortable, ten is generous.
The order of visits changes the experience
Cairo before Luxor lets the Grand Egyptian Museum give you the vocabulary — the tomb art, the writing, the mythology — before you stand in the actual tombs. Doing it the other way around means Luxor is a blur of "who is this again."
Fly or take the sleeper train?
Fly. It's an hour Cairo-Aswan versus twelve on the train, costs about the same by the time you factor in the private cabin, and saves you a full sightseeing morning. The sleeper is a bucket-list experience if you have twelve nights and a taste for it.
How many days do you need?
Eight days for Cairo and a short cruise. Ten gives you Cairo, Luxor and Aswan properly. Twelve or more lets you add Alexandria, the Red Sea, or Abu Simbel by road.
Classic Egypt Tours
7 Days Cairo & Nile Cruise by Sleeper Train — Egypt Classic Package
Explore Cairo & Nile Cruise on this 7-day classic Egypt tour.
per person
$1,120
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Classic Egypt Tours
Classic Egypt Itinerary: 8 Days Cairo, Luxor, and Hurghada Package
8 days across Cairo, Luxor & Hurghada, a first, complete look at Egypt.
per person
$1,200
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Classic Egypt Tours
8 Days Cairo & Nile Cruise by Flight — Egypt Heritage Tour
See Cairo & Nile Cruise in 8 days on a classic Egypt tour.
per person
$1,480
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Classic Egypt Tours
Essential Egypt Tour: 8 Days Cairo, Alexandria & Nile Cruise by Flight
A classic Egypt tour visiting Cairo, Alexandria & Nile Cruise over 8 days, taking in Egypt's must-see monuments.
per person
$1,500
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Classic Egypt Tours
9 Days Cairo, Alexandria & Nile Cruise by Flight — Egypt Sightseeing Trip
Cairo, Alexandria & Nile Cruise in 9 days — a classic Egypt tour, a first, complete look at Egypt.
per person
$1,520
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Classic Egypt Tours
Classic Egypt Tour: 9 Days Cairo, Nile Cruise & Hurghada
A classic 9-day Egypt tour — Cairo, Hurghada & Nile Cruise, covering the country's essential sights.
per person
$1,600
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Classic Egypt Tours
10 Days Cairo, Alexandria, Nile Cruise & Siwa by Flight — Egypt Classic Package
Explore Cairo, Alexandria, Siwa & Nile Cruise on this 10-day classic Egypt tour.
per person
$1,950
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Classic Egypt Tours
Classic Egypt Itinerary: 12 Days Pyramids , Nile Cruise and Sharm El Sheikh
12 days across Sharm El Sheikh & Nile Cruise, a first, complete look at Egypt.
per person
$2,080
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Classic Egypt Tours
11 Days Cairo, Nile Cruise & Sharm El Sheikh by Flight — Egypt Heritage Tour
See Cairo, Sharm El Sheikh & Nile Cruise in 11 days on a classic Egypt tour.
per person
$2,100
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Classic Egypt Tours
Essential Egypt Tour: 10 Days Cairo, Luxor, Aswan & Abu Simbel (Archaeology Tour)
A classic Egypt tour visiting Cairo, Luxor, Aswan & Abu Simbel over 10 days, taking in Egypt's must-see monuments.
per person
$2,150
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Classic Egypt Tours
13 Days Cairo, Alexandria, Nile Cruise & Hurghada Tour — Egypt Sightseeing Trip
Cairo, Alexandria, Hurghada & Nile Cruise in 13 days — a classic Egypt tour, a first, complete look at Egypt.
per person
$2,450
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Classic Egypt Tours
Classic Egypt Tour: 12 Days Cairo, Alexandria, Nile Cruise & El Bahariya Oasis
A classic 12-day Egypt tour — Cairo, Alexandria & Nile Cruise, covering the country's essential sights.
per person
$2,533
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Classic Egypt Tours
15 Days Cairo, Alexandria and Nile Cruise with Abu Simbel — Egypt Classic Package
Explore Cairo, Alexandria, Abu Simbel & Nile Cruise on this 15-day classic Egypt tour.
per person
$2,550
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Classic Egypt Tours
Classic Egypt Itinerary: 14 Days Cairo, Alexandria, Nile Cruise & Hurghada Tour
14 days across Cairo, Alexandria, Hurghada & Nile Cruise, a first, complete look at Egypt.
per person
$3,600
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Compare
How the itineraries stack up
The honest version — this is what your budget actually changes.
| Level | Duration | Hotels | What's different | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value4★ | 8 – 10 days | 4★ properties | The essentials, done properly. Clean rooms, licensed guides, no shortcuts. | $1,100 |
| Mid-range4★ superior | 10 – 12 days | 4★ superior + deluxe cruise | Bigger rooms, better food, and named-brand cruise boats. | $2,350 |
| Luxury5★ | 12 – 14 days | 5★ Cairo & Luxor · luxury cruise | Suites, fine dining, resident Egyptologist on the cruise. | $3,600 |
All prices are per person and fall with group size. Send us the number and we'll quote it exactly.
Why book with us
What sits inside the price
Egypt is cheap to book badly. These four are the difference, and they are written into every confirmation we send.
Licensed Egyptologists only
A Ministry licence and a degree in Egyptology. No drivers doubling as guides.
IncludedOne price, quoted upfront
Entry tickets, transfers, guiding and taxes are in the number you approve.
No extrasHotels we have slept in
Inspected in person, named on your voucher. If a room isn't what we promised, we move you.
InspectedOne number, 24/7
The same WhatsApp thread from enquiry to airport, staffed by the person who planned your trip.
24 / 7Traveller reviews
What guests say
Collected from TripAdvisor and Google. We publish the critical ones too.
4.9
345+ reviews on TripAdvisor & Google
“Our guide Hoda knew every corner of the Valley of the Kings and got us in before the coaches arrived. Fourteen days and not one wasted morning.”
“Our flight to Aswan was cancelled the night before. The team rebooked us, moved the hotel and messaged at 1am to confirm. We didn't lose a single site.”
“The boat is comfortable rather than glamorous — be clear on that. But the guiding was the best of the three trips I have taken to Egypt.”
Before you go
Travel tips for Egypt
The things guests ask us on the phone, answered properly. Written by the team who meet you at the airport.
When to travel
October to April for the archaeology. May to September for the Red Sea, at roughly two-thirds of the price.
November – FebruaryPeak season. Luxor sits at 23–25°C, ideal for tombs and temples. Busiest and priciest — book about three months ahead.
March – April, October – NovemberOur own favourite. 29–35°C, noticeably thinner crowds, and prices below the December peak.
May – September41°C in Upper Egypt by lunchtime. Excellent for Hurghada and Sharm, hard work in the Valley of the Kings unless you finish by eleven.
Nights get cold8°C in Luxor in January is normal, and cruise sun decks are chilly after dinner. Bring a jacket — nobody expects to need one.
What we'd book. Late October or early November for a first trip — warm enough for the coast, cool enough for the tombs, six weeks clear of the Christmas crowds.
Visas & entry
Most nationalities can get a visa on arrival or apply online before travelling. Your passport must be valid for at least six months from your arrival date.
Visa on arrivalUS$25 in cash at Cairo, Hurghada, Sharm and Luxor airports. Single-entry, 30 days.
e-Visa (recommended)Apply at visa2egypt.gov.eg 7 days before travel. US$25, single-entry.
Passport validitySix months from arrival, plus one blank page for the entry stamp.
Sinai-only exemptionFree 15-day permit for Sharm airport if you're not leaving South Sinai. Ask on arrival.
Money & tipping
The currency is the Egyptian pound (EGP). US dollars and euros are widely accepted at hotels and cruise boats; local shops and cafés want EGP.
ATMsWidely available in Cairo, Luxor and the resort towns. Withdraw EGP for local spending; the exchange rate is fine.
Guide tippingUS$10–15 per person per day is the norm. Driver US$5. Restaurant staff 10% if not on the bill.
Cruise crewUS$70–100 per person for a 4-night cruise, pooled and split by the boat manager on the last night.
Card acceptanceHotels and 4★+ restaurants take Visa and Mastercard. Small shops and cafés want cash.
What to wear
Layered light clothing during the day, something warmer for the desert at night, and a scarf if you're visiting mosques or churches.
At the sitesClosed shoes with grip (the tombs are steep), a hat, sunglasses and sun cream.
At the mosquesShoulders and knees covered. Shoes off at the door — a light scarf handles it.
On the cruiseSmart casual at dinner, swimwear on the sun deck, light layers for the top deck at sunset.
In summerCotton or linen. Loose fit. Colours don't matter — locals wear everything from black to bright.
Health & safety
Egypt is generally safe for tourists, especially in the main destinations. Standard travel-health precautions apply.
WaterBottled only, and included on every day tour. Ice at hotel and cruise restaurants is fine.
Travel insuranceComprehensive cover is a condition of booking. Must include diving and ballooning if you're adding those.
MedicalCairo and Sharm have international hospitals (As-Salam, Sharm International). Pharmacies open late, most staff speak some English.
EmergencyOur WhatsApp is answered day and night. If it's a medical situation we call an ambulance for you and meet you at hospital.
Customs & etiquette
Egyptians are famously hospitable, and small courtesies go a long way. The below is the minimum.
PhotographyAsk before photographing people. Never photograph military or police installations.
RamadanSites stay open with shorter hours. Many restaurants close during the day; hotels serve normally.
AlcoholAvailable in hotels, cruise boats, and licensed restaurants. Not sold in supermarkets during Ramadan.
HagglingExpected at Khan El Khalili and the papyrus/perfume shops. Start at 40% of the asked price. Not expected at supermarkets, restaurants or hotels.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
A classic Egypt tour combines Cairo, Luxor and Aswan with a Nile cruise between them. Every classic tour is private, with a licensed Egyptologist, hand-picked hotels and domestic flights included, along with entry tickets and air-conditioned transport. You receive a written itinerary before you commit so you know exactly what is covered.
Six days is a rush that hits the highlights, eight is comfortable, and ten lets you add a Red Sea coda to unwind at the end. The classic order matters: Cairo first so the museum makes the temples legible, then upstream to Luxor and Aswan by cruise. We will recommend a length based on your dates and interests.
Cairo first is deliberate. Seeing the Egyptian Museum and the Giza plateau gives you the context that makes the temples at Luxor and Aswan far more meaningful when you reach them. The itinerary then moves upstream by cruise, which is both the most scenic and the most logical way to link the sites.
Yes. Our classic packages include the domestic flights between Cairo and Upper Egypt, so you are not spending a night on the sleeper train unless you specifically prefer it. This keeps more of your trip on the ground at the sites. Hand-picked hotels and the Nile cruise are also part of the package.
Every classic tour is fully private, guided by a licensed Egyptologist, with no strangers on your itinerary. Prices are per person in USD and fall as your group size grows. Book through our enquiry form or on WhatsApp for a fast reply, with a written itinerary provided before you commit and free cancellation more than 30 days before departure.
Something different in mind?
Tell us what you most want to see. A consultant in Cairo replies with a draft itinerary and a real price within one working day.