Classic Egypt Discovery
Most Popular Featured Package 7 Days / 6 Nights

Classic Egypt Discovery

The traditional Grand Tour cadence — ten days, three cities, and a Nile passage that pharaohs and Victorian travellers alike agreed was the only sensible way to see Egypt.

📅 7 Days
🌙 6 Nights
📍 3 Cities
5★ Hotels
💰 $1,290 From / Person
In brief

The Classic Egypt Discovery is an Egypt tour package, spanning 7 days and 6 nights, covering 3 cities, including a Nile cruise. It features 5-star hotels. Prices start from $1,290 per person.

Overview

Why this journey

The classical Nile-cruise route has been the shape of an Egypt trip for 150 years — for good reason. Here's why we still book it this way.

Four cruise nights, not three
The extra night on the Nile lets the boat go all the way from Aswan to Luxor via Kom Ombo, Edfu, and the Esna Lock — the full ancient trade route. Three-night cruises skip either Kom Ombo or Esna to save time.
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Heritage hotels, not chains
Sofitel Old Cataract Aswan (1899) and Sofitel Winter Palace Luxor (1907) are the two hotels every serious traveller to Egypt has stayed at for a hundred years — they're not the cheapest option, but they're the reason the classical route has the register it does.
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Private guide throughout
One Egyptologist for the whole trip, not a different guide in every city. You build a rapport, you get personal answers, and the guide learns what you're actually interested in by day two.
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Time to sit on a wall
The itinerary is deliberately half an hour longer than average at every site so that after your guide finishes the formal walk-through, you have time to sit down, look at whatever caught your eye, and let the place settle into your memory.
Day-by-Day Itinerary

Your week in Egypt

Each day is carefully paced with a balance of must-see monuments, leisure time, and authentic local experiences.

1 Day
Cairo

Arrive Cairo

Airport meet-and-greet. Private transfer to your Nile-facing room at the Kempinski Nile Cairo — small classical hotel on the Corniche, twenty minutes from the airport. Nothing scheduled. Dinner in the ninth-floor Osmanly restaurant, Ottoman-Egyptian, with the Nile below.
🍽️ D 🚗 Private airport transfer
2 Day
Giza

Giza Plateau & Grand Egyptian Museum

The Giza plateau at 8am — Great Pyramid, Sphinx, the Valley Temple. Lunch at 9 Pyramids Lounge with a plateau view. Afternoon at the Grand Egyptian Museum for the Tutankhamun galleries. Evening free — dinner at Abou El Sid on Zamalek Island (classical Egyptian, the version tourists rarely find).
🍽️ B, L 🎫 Giza plateau + GEM entrances ⏱️ ~9 hours, private guide
3 Day
Aswan

Fly South to Aswan · Old Cataract

Morning flight to Aswan. Check into a heritage room at the Sofitel Old Cataract — the 1899 hotel on the granite cliff above the First Cataract. Afternoon at Philae Temple on Agilkia Island — the Isis temple UNESCO relocated when Lake Nasser rose. Sunset felucca between Elephantine and Kitchener Islands, tea served on deck. Dinner on the Old Cataract terrace.
✈️ CAI → ASW flight included 🍽️ B, D Sunset felucca sail
4 Day
Aswan → Kom Ombo

Embark · Kom Ombo at Sunset

Optional pre-dawn convoy or 45-minute flight to Abu Simbel (extra). Or a slow morning: breakfast on the terrace, a walk through the Nubian souk, coffee at the Old Cataract. Embark your cruise after lunch. The boat begins its drift north. Kom Ombo temple at sunset — the twin-god temple dedicated to Sobek the crocodile-god and Horus.
🚢 Embark MS Movenpick Sun Ray 🍽️ B, L, D 🎫 Kom Ombo entrance
5 Day
Edfu → Esna

Edfu & the Esna Lock

Edfu Temple by horse-carriage at first light — the best-preserved temple in Egypt, buried in silt for centuries which is why the roof is still on. Back on board for lunch as the cruise ships queue for the Esna Lock. Afternoon on the sun deck. Galabeya party in the evening — half kitsch, half fun, entirely traditional.
🍽️ B, L, D 🎫 Edfu Temple entrance 🎭 Galabeya party tonight
6 Day
On the Nile

A Slow Day on the River

The classical Nile day. The boat drifts north through Middle Egypt. Sugar-cane villages, water buffalo, the occasional felucca crossing your path. Breakfast in bed if you'd like. Long lunch on the sun deck. An afternoon lecture from the onboard Egyptologist on New Kingdom pharaohs. Dinner as the boat approaches Luxor.
🍽️ B, L, D Slow-day continuous cruising 📚 Egyptology lecture on deck
7 Day
Luxor East Bank

Arrive Luxor — East Bank

Disembark after breakfast. Karnak in the morning — the Hypostyle Hall of 134 columns, painted 3,400 years ago. Luxor Temple in the late afternoon, walked from Karnak along the restored Avenue of Sphinxes. Overnight at the Sofitel Winter Palace — the 1907 hotel where Howard Carter announced the discovery of Tutankhamun.
🍽️ B, L 🎫 Karnak + Luxor Temple ⏱️ ~7 hours, private guide
8 Day
Luxor West Bank

West Bank — The Valleys

Optional 4:30am hot-air balloon over the West Bank, breakfast at the landing field. Valley of the Kings for three tombs. Hatshepsut's terraced temple. Colossi of Memnon. Lunch at Al-Moudira gardens on the West Bank. Sunset back at the Winter Palace terrace bar.
🍽️ B, L 🎫 Valley of Kings + Hatshepsut 🎈 Optional balloon sunrise
9 Day
Cairo

Fly Back to Cairo

Morning flight to Cairo. Afternoon free — the Manial Palace on Rhoda Island (an under-visited Turkish-Egyptian jewel-box), the Museum of Islamic Art (recently reopened after restoration), or nothing at all. Farewell dinner on the Nile Maxim dinner-cruise.
✈️ LXR → CAI flight included 🍽️ B, D 🚢 Nile dinner cruise
10 Day
Cairo

Departure

Private transfer to the airport, allowing for a late-morning departure with a proper breakfast beforehand.
🍽️ B 🚗 Private airport transfer
What's in the Price

Transparent inclusions

What's Included

  • Meet & Greet at Cairo airport with VIP fast-track
  • All airport and inter-city transfers in private A/C vehicles
  • 2 nights in Cairo (Marriott Mena House 5★ or similar)
  • 3 nights aboard 5-star Nile cruise (full board, all meals)
  • 1 night in Luxor (Sofitel Winter Palace 5★ or similar)
  • Domestic flights: Cairo → Aswan & Luxor → Cairo
  • Licensed English-speaking Egyptologist guide throughout
  • All sightseeing & monument entrance fees as per itinerary
  • Daily bottled water during touring
  • Welcome and farewell dinners
  • 24/7 WhatsApp support during your trip

Not Included

  • International flights to/from Egypt
  • Egypt entry visa ($25 visa-on-arrival)
  • Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
  • Optional Abu Simbel excursion ($150/person)
  • Optional hot-air balloon flight ($120/person)
  • Beverages at meals (water included)
  • Tips for guides, drivers, and cruise crew
  • Personal expenses (laundry, souvenirs, spa)
  • Anything not explicitly listed in "What's Included"
Your Journey

Cairo to Luxor

A perfectly-paced loop covering Egypt's most iconic destinations.

🏛️
Cairo
2 Nights · Days 1-2
🌴
Aswan
Embark · Day 3
🐊
Kom Ombo
Day 4
🦅
Edfu
Day 5
🏺
Luxor
3 Nights · Days 5-7
Where You'll Stay

Hand-picked accommodations

All hotels are 5-star with prime locations, exceptional reviews, and the personal touches we look for: pool access, easy transfers, and rooms with views.

3 nights (split)

Kempinski Nile Cairo

📍 Cairo · A small classical hotel on the Corniche in…
1 night

Sofitel Old Cataract Aswan

📍 Aswan · The 1899 heritage hotel on the granite cliff…
Aswan → Luxor

MS Movenpick Sun Ray

📍 4-night Nile cruise · A 5-star cruise ship with French-window cabins, top-deck…
2 nights

Sofitel Winter Palace Luxor

📍 Luxor · The 1907 Belle Époque hotel on the Corniche…
Pricing

Transparent pricing

All prices are per person, USD. Children 0-5 free, ages 6-11 receive 50% off.

Season Per Person
Double
Solo
Traveler
Per Person
Triple
🌿 Low Season May–Aug
$1,290/person $1,690solo $1,190/person
❄️ High Season Sept–Apr
$1,490/person $1,990solo $1,390/person
🌷 Easter Week
$1,690/person $2,290solo $1,590/person
🎄 Christmas / New Year
$1,890/person $2,590solo $1,790/person
👶Infants 0-5 years: FREE 🧒Children 6-11: 50% off adult price 💵Group of 10+? Ask for special rates 🔒20% deposit secures your booking
Optional Extras

Customize your experience

Make this trip uniquely yours with these popular add-ons. All can be arranged at booking or once you arrive.

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Hot-Air Balloon over Luxor
Sunrise flight over the Valley of the Kings — bucket-list moment.
+ $130 /person
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Abu Simbel Day Trip
Visit the colossal temples of Ramses II — transport included.
+ $180 /person
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Camel Ride at the Pyramids
Sunset camel walk with photographer. Touristy but iconic.
+ $45 /person
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Upgrade to 5★ Suites
Premium suites at every hotel + cruise.
+ $320 /person
🍽️
All Lunches & Dinners
Full board upgrade — every meal covered.
+ $220 /person
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Private Vehicle Throughout
Your own AC SUV with English-speaking driver.
+ $410 /group
Guest Reviews

From travelers who took this trip

★★★★★

"The most magical week of our lives. Watching the sun rise over Karnak from our balcony on the Soleil — there are no words. The team thought of everything, from…"

EM
Emma & Marcus Thompson homepage,boat,cruise_program · May 2026
★★★★★

"We've cruised the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, the Mekong. Nothing comes close to the Nile aboard the Soleil. The Egyptologist guide, the dining, the temple visits — everything operated at a…"

RO
Robert & Helen Wilson homepage,boat · May 2026
★★★★★

"As a solo traveler, I was nervous about a cruise. Aswan Luxor Cruises and the Soleil team made me feel taken care of every single day. The Egyptologist became a…"

JE
Jennifer Liu homepage · May 2026
FAQ

Common questions

Is Egypt safe for tourists right now? +

Yes — tourist destinations are very safe. We've operated continuously since 2010 with over 12,000 travelers without incident.

What's the best time of year to visit? +

October to April is ideal — daytime temperatures of 22-28°C. Summer is hot but offers the best prices.

Do I need a visa? +

Most nationalities can get a visa-on-arrival at Cairo airport for $25 (USD cash recommended).

Can the itinerary be customized? +

Absolutely — every detail can be adjusted. About 60% of our clients customize at least something.

What's the deposit and cancellation policy? +

20% deposit secures your booking. Free cancellation up to 60 days before departure.

What about food allergies and dietary needs? +

All partner hotels and cruise ships accommodate vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal, and kosher needs with advance notice. Please inform us at booking.

How much should I tip? +

$10/day for your guide, $5/day for your driver, and $30-40 total for cruise crew.

Destinations

Destinations on this trip

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