Ten days is the ideal length for a first trip to Egypt: long enough to see the country properly, short enough to fit an annual holiday. The classic route, Cairo, a Nile cruise, Aswan and Abu Simbel, with an optional Red Sea finish, has been perfected by decades of travelers.

Here it is, day by day, with the tours that fit each stage.

Days 1-2: Cairo and Giza

Arrive, rest, and spend a full day at Giza: the pyramids and Sphinx in the morning, lunch, and the Grand Egyptian Museum in the afternoon. On day two, go deeper into the capital: the Citadel, Islamic Cairo's Al-Muizz Street and Khan El Khalili, or Coptic Cairo's churches.

Days 3-4: Fly to Luxor, Board Your Cruise

A one-hour flight carries you to Luxor. Visit Karnak and Luxor Temple on the East Bank, then board your Nile cruiser. The next morning, the West Bank: the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's terraces and the Colossi as your ship sails south.

Days 5-6: Edfu, Kom Ombo and Aswan

Sail through the Esna lock, ride a carriage to the Temple of Horus at Edfu, then on to the double temple of Kom Ombo. By Aswan, visit Philae by boat, see the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk, and take a felucca around the islands at sunset.

Day 7: Abu Simbel

Leave before dawn for Abu Simbel, by road through the desert or a short flight. Stand before Ramses II's colossi in the early light, and be back in Aswan for lunch and an afternoon flight or train onward.

Days 8-10: The Red Sea or Home

Fly to Hurghada or Sharm El Sheikh for reefs and rest, or fly home via Cairo. Divers add days; the exhausted go home glowing. If your time is shorter, our Cairo-based tours can compress the highlights into five to seven days.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 10 days enough for Egypt?

Yes. Ten days comfortably covers Cairo, a four-night Nile cruise, Aswan, Abu Simbel and a Red Sea taste. Even five to seven days covers the core highlights with our flight tours.

What order should I visit Egypt in?

Cairo first (international arrival), fly south to Luxor or Aswan, cruise or tour between them, then optional Red Sea extension before flying home from Cairo or Hurghada.

Should I take a cruise or do day tours?

Cruises are relaxing and romantic; private overland tours are flexible and deep. Many travelers mix both, a short cruise plus our private day tours at either end.