3 days Cairo, 2 days Alexandria, a full Luxor–Aswan Nile cruise with Abu Simbel, then 3–4 nights on the Red Sea. Two weeks is the sweet spot: you keep the classic Cairo-and-cruise core, add Alexandria's Greco-Roman coast, and still finish relaxed by the sea instead of rushing home. Fly the long legs, sail the Nile, and leave a couple of days flexible. Packages run this exact route from about $1,800 per person.
ROUTE: Cairo (3) → Alexandria (2) → Luxor–Aswan Nile cruise (4) → Abu Simbel → Red Sea (3–4)
BEST TIME: October – April (book Dec–Jan cruises 3+ months ahead)
DON'T MISS: Grand Egyptian Museum, Abu Simbel at sunrise, a Red Sea reef dive
Fourteen days is the trip we wish every traveler had time for. It fits the whole classic loop — Cairo, the Nile cruise, Abu Simbel — and still leaves room for Alexandria's coast and a proper stretch on the Red Sea at the end. After running this route for years, we've built it in four clean segments so you're never backtracking. Here's the full two-week plan with real 2026 costs, transport and where each segment earns its place.
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Days 1–3: Cairo & Giza
Start where the international flights land. Day one is arrival and an easy evening in Islamic Cairo — El-Moez Street and Khan El Khalili after dark. Day two is the big one: the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx from 8 AM, then Saqqara's Step Pyramid, the oldest stone building on earth. Day three belongs to the Grand Egyptian Museum — give it a full morning for Tutankhamun's complete 5,000-piece collection and the Grand Staircase, the best museum moment in Egypt right now — then Coptic and Old Cairo in the afternoon for the Hanging Church and Ben Ezra Synagogue. Three nights here is right: two feels rushed once jet lag and Cairo traffic are factored in. Pyramids of Giza guide Grand Egyptian Museum guide Cairo day tours
Local tip: don't schedule anything heavy for day one. Flights into Cairo often land late, and you want full energy for the Giza plateau the next morning before the tour buses arrive at 9:30.
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Drive or take the fast train up to Alexandria (about 2.5 hours) for a completely different Egypt — Mediterranean, Greco-Roman, breezy. Over two days see the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, Pompey's Pillar, the clifftop Qaitbay Citadel where the ancient Lighthouse once stood, and the striking modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina. Eat grilled seafood on the Corniche, wander the faded belle-époque streets, and slow right down. This is the segment most 10-day trips are forced to skip, and it's exactly what makes two weeks feel complete rather than crammed — a genuine change of light and pace before the intensity of the Nile Valley. Alexandria day tours
★ Skip the planning: this exact two-week route — Cairo, Alexandria, the full Nile cruise and the Red Sea, with flights, hotels and an Egyptologist guide — is our flagship package. See the 14-Day Cairo, Alexandria, Nile Cruise & Sharm Package 14-Day Cairo, Alexandria, Nile Cruise & Sharm Package
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Days 6–10: Nile Cruise — Luxor, Aswan & Abu Simbel
Fly Cairo→Luxor and board a full four-night Nile cruise, the heart of the trip. In Luxor cover both banks: the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut's temple on the West Bank, then Karnak and Luxor Temple on the East. Sailing south, the ship stops at Edfu and Kom Ombo while you watch village life drift past the sun deck. This slower, four-night cruise (versus the three-night version) is exactly what the extra days buy you. Luxor day tours Valley of the Kings guide Luxor & Aswan Nile cruises
Splurge on one thing in Egypt? Make it the sunrise hot air balloon over Luxor's West Bank (from $120) — it's the single best hour of the whole two weeks.
Dock in Aswan, Egypt's most relaxed city, for a gentler couple of days: the island Temple of Philae reached by motorboat, the High Dam that created Lake Nasser, and a late-afternoon felucca sail around Elephantine Island to a Nubian village for hibiscus tea in a painted house. Then wake at 4 AM for Abu Simbel — Ramses II's colossal rock temples, moved block by block up the cliff when Lake Nasser rose in the 1960s, arguably the greatest rescue operation in archaeology. Reach it by the sunrise road convoy or a short flight; either way it's the emotional peak of the trip before you fly on to the coast. Aswan day tours Abu Simbel temples guide
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Days 11–14: Red Sea Wind-Down
Fly to Hurghada or Sharm El Sheikh and trade temples for reefs. Three or four nights here is the reward for a hard-working first ten days: snorkel or dive the Red Sea's famous coral, take a boat out to Giftun Island, try a desert quad safari, or just read by the pool. Even confirmed non-divers should get in the water once — the reefs start metres from shore and the fish life is extraordinary. Hurghada is the easier flight connection and better value; Sharm El Sheikh has the more dramatic diving at Ras Mohammed. Fly home from the coast via Cairo. Hurghada day toursScuba diving in Egypt
Prefer a different last act? Two strong alternatives: swap the Red Sea for a slower cruise plus laid-back Dahab, where diving is cheaper and the vibe is barefoot Bedouin; or replace the beach days with the Western Desert — Bahariya Oasis and a night camping in the surreal White Desert — or a long haul out to Siwa. Adventurous travelers with an extra day sometimes bolt on Jordan and Petra instead. Egypt trip cost guide
Not sure which month suits you? Ask a local.
We'll tell you honestly what the weather and crowds are really like for your travel dates.
5★ deluxe or Dahabiya cruise, private Egyptologist, beachfront resort, every flight included
Budget separately for tipping (about $5–10 a day — a real part of Egyptian service culture), inside-the-pyramid tickets, the balloon ride, dive gear and drinks. International flights are extra on all tiers. Best time to visit Egypt
★ Short on time? our 12-day package covers Cairo, the full Nile cruise and Abu Simbel — the same core, minus the extra Red Sea nights. Compare the 12-Day Egypt Tour Package 12-Day Egypt Tour Package
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Getting Around: Flights, Cruise & Road
Cairo → Alexandria: fast train or private car (about 2.5 hrs each way) — no need to fly.
Cairo → Luxor: fly (1 hr) rather than the overnight train, to protect your cruise start.
Luxor → Aswan: this is what the Nile cruise is for — you sightsee while you travel.
Aswan → Abu Simbel: sunrise road convoy (3 hrs each way) or a 45-minute flight.
Aswan/Luxor → Red Sea: fly via Cairo, or a 4–5 hr road transfer from Luxor to Hurghada.
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When to Go
October to April is peak season for both the Nile Valley and the Red Sea: warm days, cool evenings, ideal water. December–January is busiest — book cruises 3+ months ahead. May and September are hot but quieter and cheaper; June–August tops 40°C in Luxor and Aswan, though the Red Sea stays swimmable and beach resorts run year-round. Egypt month by month
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Can You Do This Itinerary Without a Tour?
Partly. Cairo and Alexandria are manageable independently with Uber and the train. The Nile Valley is where a package earns its money: the four-night cruise, Abu Simbel convoy timing, West Bank transport and the flight-to-coast logistics are genuinely fiddly to self-arrange — and usually cost more pieced together than bundled. Over 14 days those savings and the private Egyptologist add up fast. Private vs group tours in Egypt
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Fourteen days is close to ideal. It comfortably fits Cairo, Alexandria, a full Nile cruise with Abu Simbel and a Red Sea wind-down without rushing — the extra days over a 10-day trip go straight into slower cruising and beach time. 12-day Egypt itinerary
Budget roughly $1,800–$2,400 per person for a complete package, $2,800–$3,800 mid-range, and $5,000+ for luxury, excluding international flights. Independent travel can run cheaper, but packages usually beat piecing the same 14-day route together yourself.
Cairo first (flights land there), then Alexandria, fly to Luxor for a four-night Nile cruise to Aswan, add Abu Simbel, and finish on the Red Sea. Ending by the sea beats ending in Cairo traffic.
Yes — two weeks is exactly when Alexandria fits. Its Greco-Roman and Mediterranean character is a genuine change of pace from Pharaonic sites, and it's the segment shorter trips are forced to cut. 10-day Egypt itinerary
Absolutely — that's the whole point of 14 days. You keep the complete Cairo-and-cruise core and still get 3–4 nights diving or relaxing at Hurghada or Sharm at the end. how many days you need in Egypt
Tourist areas are heavily protected and millions visit safely each year. Use the same common sense as any busy destination, and stick to organized transport for the desert and Abu Simbel convoys. Egypt itineraries hub
