giza pyramids and sphinx Egypt travel

5 Days Cairo, Aswan & Luxor Tour

Duration
5 Days / 4 Nights
Route
Cairo · Aswan · Luxor
Style
Private Guided Tours · Hotel Stays · Domestic Flights
Schedule
Daily Departures · Subject to Flight Availability

Overview

Egypt’s three essential cities in five days, built around evening domestic flights so that almost every daylight hour is spent sightseeing rather than travelling. See the Giza Pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo, the High Dam and the island temple of Philae in Aswan, and both banks of Luxor. Travel privately throughout with your own Egyptologist guide, with four nights of hotel accommodation and breakfast included.

Highlights

Giza Pyramids and the Great Sphinx
Grand Egyptian Museum and Tutankhamun Galleries
Aswan High Dam and Philae Temple
Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut Temple
Karnak and Luxor Temples

Itinerary

1Day 1: Arrival in Cairo: meet, assist and settle in
Our representative meets you inside Cairo International Airport, helps with the arrival formalities and transfers you privately to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to rest after your flight or to start exploring at your own pace. Overnight in Cairo.
Optional Excursion Evening Nile Dinner Cruise
2Day 2: Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum, then the evening flight to Aswan
After breakfast your private Egyptologist takes you onto the Giza plateau for the Great Pyramid of Khufu and the pyramids of Khafre and Menkaure, the panoramic viewpoint and the Great Sphinx. You continue to the Grand Egyptian Museum beside the plateau, home to the complete Tutankhamun collection. In the evening you are transferred to the airport for the short flight south, met on arrival in Aswan and taken to your hotel. Overnight in Aswan.
🍽️ Meals Included Breakfast
3Day 3: Aswan: the High Dam and Philae Temple, then on to Luxor by road
Breakfast, then a morning of Aswan’s essentials with your guide: the High Dam, and the temple of Isis at Philae, reached by motorboat to its island setting. A felucca sail on the Nile can be added here as an option. In the early afternoon you travel north to Luxor by private vehicle, following the Nile valley, and check in on arrival. Overnight in Luxor.
🍽️ Meals Included Breakfast
Optional Excursion felucca sail on the Nile
4Day 4: Luxor West and East Banks, then the evening flight to Cairo
For those who book it, an optional sunrise hot-air balloon flight over the West Bank starts the day. After breakfast you cross to the West Bank for the royal tombs of the Valley of the Kings and the terraced temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari, pausing at the Colossi of Memnon. On the East Bank you visit the vast temple complex of Karnak and, on the riverside, Luxor Temple. In the evening you are transferred to Luxor airport for the flight back to Cairo. Overnight in Cairo.
🍽️ Meals Included Breakfast
Optional Excursion Sunrise Hot-Air Balloon flight
5Day 5: Departure from Cairo
Breakfast at your hotel, then a private transfer to Cairo International Airport in good time for your onward flight.
🍽️ Meals Included Breakfast

Aswan vs. Luxor

FeatureAswan (The Nubian South)Luxor (The Ancient Capital)
Main eraPtolemaic and Nubian, plus the modern High DamNew Kingdom, at the height of pharaonic power
LandscapeGranite islands, cataracts and desert on both banksA wide green floodplain between the river and the cliffs
Signature sightPhilae, the island temple of Isis, reached by boatThe Valley of the Kings, and Karnak
VibeSlow, warm and turned towards the waterMonumental, open-air and busier
Best momentLate afternoon on the Nile, when the light goes goldSunrise over the West Bank, before the heat

Both are on this tour, back to back. Aswan is the softer, slower half of the south; Luxor is where the scale of pharaonic Egypt lands on you. Seeing them in that order is deliberate.

What’s Included

Included

  • All airport pick-ups and drop-offs required for the itinerary
  • Accommodation in Cairo for 2 nights in a 4-star hotel on a Bed & Breakfast basis
  • Accommodation in Aswan for 1 night in a 4-star hotel on a Bed & Breakfast basis
  • Accommodation in Luxor for 1 night in a 4-star hotel on a Bed & Breakfast basis
  • Domestic flight tickets from Cairo to Aswan and from Luxor to Cairo, subject to availability
  • All ground transportation by private air-conditioned vehicle
  • Private sightseeing tours as mentioned in the itinerary
  • English-speaking Egyptologist guide during all tours
  • Entrance fees to the sites listed in the itinerary
  • Daily bottled water per person
  • All taxes and service charges

Not Included

  • International flights to and from Egypt
  • Egypt entry visa
  • Any optional tours or activities not listed as included
  • Lunches, dinners, drinks and personal expenses
  • Gratuities for guides and drivers
Pricing Information

Prices are shown in US dollars per person. Seasonal supplements may apply during Christmas, New Year and Easter unless a specific seasonal price is displayed.

Children’s Policy
0-5.99 years
Free of charge
6-11.99 years
Pay 50% of tour price
12+ years
Pay full tour price as per adult person

Note: Child rates apply to children travelling with their parents. Where accommodation is included, a maximum of one child per room applies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is five days really enough for Cairo, Aswan and Luxor?
It is enough for the essentials, because the long distances are flown rather than driven: you fly to Aswan on the evening of day two and back from Luxor on the evening of day four, which keeps three full days for sightseeing. Expect an efficient trip with early starts rather than a leisurely one. If you would rather travel slowly, our longer classic packages spread the same sites over eight to ten days.
How do we travel between the cities?
Cairo to Aswan, and Luxor back to Cairo, are short domestic flights scheduled in the evening so they do not use up sightseeing time. Aswan to Luxor is by road in your private air-conditioned vehicle, following the Nile valley. Domestic flight timings are subject to availability and are confirmed with your booking.
What accommodation is included?
our nights in 4-star hotels on a Bed & Breakfast basis: two nights in Cairo, one night in Aswan and one night in Luxor. Hotel names will be confirmed according to availability when your booking is arranged.
Can I choose a different hotel category?
Yes. The displayed package price is based on 4-star hotel accommodation, but 3-star and 5-star options can be arranged according to your budget and preferences. We will confirm the available hotels and final price before booking.
Are entrance fees included in the package price?
Yes. Entrance fees to all sightseeing sites listed in the itinerary are included. Tickets for optional activities, special-access areas or any additional sites requested during the trip are not included unless confirmed in your quotation.
What optional extras can we add?
A felucca sail on the Nile at Aswan and a sunrise hot-air balloon flight over Luxor’s West Bank are the two most popular additions to this itinerary. Both are quoted on request and slotted into the days shown.
Is this a private tour?
Yes. Your own Egyptologist guide, driver and private vehicle throughout.
Can the itinerary be customised?
Yes, every itinerary can be tailored to your dates, pace and interests.

Why Book With Nile Empire

Local experts

An Egypt-based team that lives and breathes these journeys.

Private & tailor-made

Every trip built around your dates, pace, and budget.

Certified Egyptologists

Your own private guide at every temple and tomb.

Confirm before you pay

We confirm availability and your final price first. A deposit is only due once you are happy to proceed.

What Our Travellers Say

★★★★★
We had a fully organized two-week Egypt itinerary with Nile Empire, and the experience was completely faultless from start to finish. Every part of the journey was carefully arranged, and we were guided and assisted throughout the entire trip. The Egyptologist guides were excellent, informative, and professional, and everything throughout the itinerary ran smoothly and on time. Highly recommended for anyone planning a trip to Egypt.
Sommerstar · TripAdvisor
★★★★★
We recently completed an unforgettable Egypt trip organized by Nile Empire, and the entire experience was handled with professionalism and excellent attention to detail from start to finish. The itinerary between Cairo, Abu Simbel, Luxor, and the Nile cruise was perfectly coordinated, with quality hotels, punctual transfers, and continuous support throughout the journey. We especially appreciated how responsive and attentive the team remained during the entire stay. Our guides in Cairo and Upper Egypt were both knowledgeable, friendly, and passionate about Egyptian history, making every visit more enjoyable and meaningful. We highly recommend Nile Empire for travelers looking for a well-organized and professionally managed Egypt experience.
Abdelaziz · TripAdvisor
★★★★★
From the moment we arrived in Egypt until the day we left, Nile Empire made every part of our journey feel special and unforgettable. The team went above and beyond to ensure we felt comfortable, safe, and genuinely cared for throughout the trip. During our 7-day Egypt tour, everything was smoothly organized between Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor, and the Nile cruise. A special thank you to Soliman and Rami for their exceptional attention to detail and for making my birthday celebration truly memorable throughout the journey. The experience felt personal, warm, and professionally managed from start to finish. We would absolutely recommend Nile Empire to anyone planning a trip to Egypt.
CE · TripAdvisor
★★★★★
We booked our Egypt trip with Nile Empire based on a recommendation, and now we are happy to recommend them ourselves. From the initial planning stage until our final day in Egypt, everything was handled with professionalism, flexibility, and genuine care. The itinerary was carefully customized around our requests, including experiences like a hot air balloon ride in Luxor and scuba diving in Hurghada. Our guides and drivers were knowledgeable, friendly, and always supportive throughout the trip. Every part of the journey felt smooth, organized, and memorable thanks to Soliman and the Nile Empire team. A fantastic choice for travelers looking for a personalized Egypt experience.
Mangesh Satpute · TripAdvisor
★★★★★
Our Egypt trip with Nile Empire felt like much more than just a holiday — it was a fully personalized experience from start to finish. Everything was thoughtfully customized around our preferences, making the journey feel smooth, comfortable, and genuinely special. The accommodations, transportation, and daily planning were all very well organized, and it was clear that a lot of attention went into every detail. We especially appreciated the support throughout the trip and the flexibility of the private tours. A special thank you to our Cairo driver, our wonderful guide Mariam, and to Soliman and Rami for organizing such a memorable Egypt experience.
Priyanka Kannan · TripAdvisor
★★★★★
Our experience with Nile Empire was excellent from start to finish. Soliman helped us redesign our Egypt trip on very short notice and customized everything around our schedule, including internal flights, hotels, and a Nile cruise. We loved that all sightseeing tours were private, giving us flexibility throughout the trip. The guides, drivers, and overall organization were outstanding, and we never had to worry about anything during our stay in Egypt. The Nile cruise between Aswan and Luxor was one of the highlights of our trip, and the additional tours to Abu Simbel, Dendera, and the Nubian Village made the experience even more special. We highly recommend Nile Empire for anyone looking for a reliable and professionally organized Egypt tour.
M & S Krebs · TripAdvisor
★★★★★Rated excellent on TripAdvisorRead reviews

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