Use this Egypt Itinerary 10 Days with Nile Cruise to help plan your trip to Egypt, see what you can do with a 10 full day trip, and check all of those ancient Egyptian sites off of your bucket list!

Why A 10 Day Egypt Itinerary?

There is no perfect number of days for travel to Egypt, but I think 10 full days in country gives the traveler enough time to visit all of the highlights in Cairo, and to take a Nile Cruise to see Luxor, Aswan, and Abu Simbel. Plus, with this 10 day itinerary, you can always make changes and decide to take a shorter Nile Cruise in order to add on another city, like a resort on the Red Sea or Alexandria on Egypt's Mediterranean Coast.

Egypt Itinerary Customized for your Trip!

Do you want an itinerary of Egypt just like this one, but customized to your specific travel dates, what you want to see and experience in Egypt, and the type of restaurants you enjoy? Fill in this interest form, and I will reach out with options for how I can help create a fully customized itinerary for Egypt that is tailor-made for your trip.

Here is the link to the online, Egypt travel itinerary including 10 days and a Nile Cruise. Feel free to save the link to access the itinerary whenever you would like! You can even use the link to download a PDF version of the itinerary.

Want to join me on an Egypt group tour?

I have several group tours available, each including a privately-chartered Dahabiya Nile Cruise. Check out upcoming tour dates and itineraries here.

What You Need to Know Before Traveling in Egypt

At the top of the example 10 day itinerary in Egypt, you will find the "important information" section. This is essential information every traveler needs to know before visiting Egypt. Here are the most important components to prepare for your trip:

1. Passport up to date: make sure your passport does not expire within 6 months of any international travel! If it will expire, you will need to renew if before your trip, which can take up to 6 months.

2. Tipping: paying gratuities is a big part of traveling in Egypt. I created this handy guide (including a quick-reference, one page cheatsheet) with all the exact amounts you can tip in Egypt.

3. What to wear in Egypt: Egypt is a Muslim-majority country, and the norms for what to wear are different from the USA and Europe. I created this guide to recommend what you should wear when you are traveling throughout Egypt.

4. Egypt packing list: there are some items you would not think you would need in Egypt, but I created this packing list to cover everything you need to make sure you put in your suitcase!

5. Money in Egypt: did you know that you cannot exchange Egyptian Pounds back into foreign currency at the end of your trip? Or that you should not try to buy Egyptian currency before you arrive in Egypt? This article covers everything you need to know about money in Egypt.

6. Buying tickets online: tickets for almost all tourist attractions in Egypt can be purchased online in advance of your trip, although the system doesn't always work well, and often it's easier to purchase tickets in person, in Egypt, with a Visa or MasterCard. However, I share this information for those who want to pre-purchase tickets to the sites.

7. Entry visa: Americans can purchase a visa upon arrival, along with dozens of other nationalities. I wrote this guide going over everything you need to know regarding getting the visa for Egypt.

Now, let's go over the itinerary, day by day.

Day 0: USA to Egypt

Flying from the USA to Egypt takes up an entire day, so that's why I consider this day "Day 0" - in the example itinerary, I pretended I was working with guests coming from Chicago. You'll notice that they leave Chicago on a Saturday evening, and have a layover in Istanbul, landing in Cairo the following evening.

If you want help finding the best flight options from the USA to Egypt, check out this flight guide - I have 12 years of experience booking flights to and from the USA to Egypt, and I share my tips and tricks for finding the best itineraries and the best deals.

Day 1: Arrival in Egypt

In the example itinerary, the guests have a flight from Istanbul to Egypt, landing in Cairo at 7:55pm. At this point, after clearing customs and immigration, and taking a private airport transfer, the travelers wouldn't arrive to their hotel until around 11pm, so the only thing on the agenda for the first day is to check into the accommodations and sleep!

In the example itinerary, I give tons of recommendations for the hotels I like in Cairo, from classic international brands to boutique and budget-friendly options.

A note on the airport: Cairo Airport can be overwhelming for the first-time visitor to Egypt, so I recommend booking a meet-and-assist service to help you upon arrival (you can do this through any Egypt travel company). This person will be waiting for you at Cairo International Airport, holding a sign with your name on it, and then they will help you purchase your visa upon arrival, go through immigration and passport control, get your baggage, go through customs, and then exit the airport to your private airport transfer, the entire time seeing if there are ways they can expedite your time at the airport, like getting you through faster, VIP lanes at security checks.

Day 2: Saqqara and the Grand Egyptian Museum

For the first full day of sightseeing, Saqqara and the Grand Egyptian Museum are great introductions to ancient Egypt. Saqqara is the first major pyramid built in Egypt that is still standing, and it gives an awe-inspiring glimpse into the architecture marvels travelers will experience later on. A lunch stop at Zooba, a restaurant specializing in Cairene street food (in an upscale, hygeniec atmosphere) is the perfect transition to the Grand Egyptian Museum, which still is not fully opened, but all 12 main galleries have opened, and hopefully by December 2025 the museum will be complete, with the King Tut galleries and the Solar Boat Museum opened to the public. Dinner at Taboula Garden City is how I would finish the first full day in Cairo - my favorite Lebanese restaurant in Egypt's capital city.

Day 3: Cairo to Luxor, Nile Cruise, and Luxor's East Bank

This morning has a super early flight - this was the only morning flight option available when I checked, but oftentimes closer to a trip date there will be other domestic flight options that will appear, so I recommend booking flights 3-6 months in advance to be able to check all the flight options and to find alternative timings.

As soon as the travelers get on the ground in Luxor, it'll be time to visit the best site on the East Bank of Luxor, Karnak Temple, the largest religious complex in Egypt. After taking in Karnak, check into Kemet Dahabiya and enjoy lunch on board, before taking in Luxor Temple lit up beautifully at night. If you have time, you can squeeze in Luxor Museum, which has evening hours and is open late into the night.

Note that I gave this Dahabiya Nile Cruise as an example. Kemet is often run as a private charter, so they may not have availability for these exact dates. If you would like to plan a customized itienrary and include a Dahabiya Nile Cruise, I can offer up several options after filling in the interest form on my website. If you want to read more about a Dahabiya Nile Cruise and how it differs from a large Nile Cruise ship, check out this article I wrote sharing everything you need to know.

Here are some other great options for Dahabiya Nile Cruises:

Dahabiya Minya or Abundance

These dahabiya yachts are affordable, reliable, and offer great service and value. They are run by a German-Egyptian couple, and include all meals, tour guiding services (with a local Egyptologist for all the ancient sites), and drinks (except alcohol). They offer regular Nile Cruises, but only go as far as Esna (a city one hour south from Luxor), so you will need to arrange for a hotel stay in Luxor and for extra time there for sightseeing.

Merit Dahabiya

Merit is a family of four dahabiya yachts, each one unique. They run a set, 5-night itinerary, hitting all of the highlights in Luxor, Aswan, and the sites along the way like Edfu Temple and Kom Ombo Temple. These yachts also include all meals and sightseeing during your trip, with Egyptologist guides for all ancient site visits.

Want recommendations for sightseeing, hotels, and restaurants in Luxor? Check out my Luxor Travel Guide.

Day 4: Hot Air Balloon and Luxor's West Bank

This day starts off with a sunrise hot air balloon ride over Luxor's West Bank, giving you the chance to see some of Luxor's ancient monuments by air. A sunrise hot air balloon ride over the west bank is one of my top-recommended experiences in Egypt. If you want me to arrange a hot air balloon, including transfers to/from your accommodation in Luxor, send me an email!

After finishing the hot air balloon ride and enjoying breakfast, travelers will visit the main sites on Luxor's West Bank: the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's Temple, and the Colossi of Memnon.

The Valley of the Kings is the most amazing site in all of Egypt after the Giza Pyramids and Sphinx, because it contains astonighing tombs for dozens of ancient Egyptian pharaohs, many containing beautiful original reliefs and artwork that has original color remaining.

The Valley of the Kings main ticket gives you entry to three tombs, and then you can purcahse additional tickets to visit the tombs of Seti I, Ramses V/VI (a combined tomb), King Tut, and Ay.

I recommend purchasing the additional tickets to go into the tomb of Ramses V and VI, since this ticket is the cheapest one of all the extra tickets (currently less than $5 USD), and this tomb does not have as many tourists inside, since many of them don't know about the need to purchase the additional ticket at the visitor center (or online) before heading to the part of the valley where the tombs are. The tomb of Ramses V and VI has some of the best preserved reliefs and color of all the tombs in the Valley of the Kings, making it well worth the extra stop and extra ticket.

I alo think the Tomb of King Tut is a must for anyone visiting Egypt, since the discovery of Tutankhamun's Tomb was the main event reigniting the world's fascination with ancient Egypt, and this tomb is also the only one in the Valley of the Kings where you can see the mummified remains of the pharaoh still inside - that's right, King Tut's mummy is inside his tomb at the Valley of the Kings, and you can see it in real life!

Seti I's Tomb is magnificient, but the steep price tag makes it only worth it for the traveler who is serious about visiting as many tombs in the Valley of the Kings as possible - it's also one of the largest tomb in the Valley of the Kings, so it takes a lot of effort and energy to climb up and down the 100+ stairs leading to the burial chamber.

I don't recommend the extra ticket for Ay's tomb, since it's far-flung (it's in separate area from the rest of the tombs that you need to drive out to) and it's also not well preserved inside.

For the three tombs that are included with the entry ticket, see the tombs I recommend in this article.

Hatshepsut's Temple, the next stop on the agenda, is a unique mortuary temple built for Egypt's most powerful female pharaoh. The interesting reliefs on the temple walls, focusing on trading missions to exotic lands, make this stop a must. The temple is very close to the Valley of the Kings, making it an easy visit before or after seeing the tombs of the Pharaohs.

The Colossi of Memnon is a free, quick, photo-op stop, before heading back to your Dahbiya Nile Cruise, where you'll enjoy lunch and begin cruising south from Luxor toward Aswan.

Either today or the next day, you will go through the lock at Esna, which is an interesting experience, where you will raisie up several meters and then continue cruising south on the Nile River.

Day 5: Edfu Temple

With a 5-night Dahabiya Nile Cruise, travelers get to really slow down and enjoy the beauty of the Nile River. The only sightseeing item on the agenda for today is the magnificient Temple of Horus in Edfu, Egypt's best preserved temple.

Edfu Temple is dedicated ot the ancient Egyptian God, Horus, and it was built over 1,000 years after the Temples of Karnak, Luxor, Hatshepsut, and many of the monuments in Luxor, which is one of the reasons why it is so well preserved (it was also completely covered with sand for many years, aiding its conservation).

The dock for Edfu Temple is on the West Bank (west side) of the Nile River, and then travelers can either take a horse-drawn carriage or hire a driver to take them to Edfu Temple. I always prefer organizing a private vehicle, since the horses used to take tourists to and from the temple are often not fed or cared for properly, and the drivers can be difficult to deal with.

Since it's a light day of sightseeing, with only one stop on the agenda, the rest of the day is spent relaxing, taking in the gorgeous views of the Nile River. The area between Luxor and Aswan is full of local villages, lush agricultural fields, and local Egyptian fishing, swimming, and enjoying life on the Nile.

Day 6: Kom Ombo Temple

Kom Ombo Temple will be the highlight of this day, a Graeco-Roman temple with beautiful reliefs, located smack dab on the Nile River (you just walk off the cruise and then you are at the temple!).

Kom Ombo is dedicated to two gods - Sobek, the crocodile god, and Horus, the falcon god. Since this special temple is dedicated to two different gods, the temple is divided in two, with symmetrical constructions, one for each god, featuring the same architecture, and just changing out the reliefs depicted on the walls, tailored to which god the side of the temple is dedicated to.

Especailly interesting at Kom Ombo are two reliefs, one showing the ancient Egyptian calendar, and another showing various medical implements used in ancient times.

There is also a small museum dedicated to crocodiles located right outside of the temple area, near the ext to the Nile Cruise ships dock. This museum contains dozens of crocodile mummies (wrapped up, but still really interesting to see up close) and different depictions of crocodiles and the god Sobek, along with information about the ancient Egyptians' views and relationships to the crocodiles of the Nile River. And don't worry, there aren't any crocodiles in the Nile River anymore, at least none that are north of the Aswan High Dam!

Visiting Kom Ombo Temple when there are not large tour groups is one of the reasons I love taking a Dahabiya Yacht instead of a large Nile Cruise ship - with a Dahabiya, travelers will arrive at the ancient sites at different times than the large ships, meaning they will have the temples almost to themselves, while the tourists on the large Nile Cruise ships might be squeezed into the temples with hundreds of other tourists, all trying to see the same thing at the same time.

Tonight, you will cruise south until your Dahabiya Nile Cruise arrives in Aswan, where it will be docked to the north of downtown, close to the new Aswan bridge.

Day 7: Abu Simbel

In my opinion, the best way to visit Abu Simbel Temples is by vehicle, so you don't have to worry about the long drive to the airport (45 minutes from where the Dahabiya boats dock), going through airport security, and possible delays making you stressed out about the time you have available at the temple.

Abu Simbel is a masterpiece, built by Ramses the Great (Ramses II), with a large temple featuring four colossal statues of Ramses, and the inside chock-full of reliefs depicting Ramses in battle and making offerings to the gods.

Next to the large temple is a smaller one, dedicated to Ramses the Great's "most beloved" wife, Nefertari. This is actually my favorite part of the Abu Simbel complex, since it contains stunning depictions of Nefertari making various offerings to goddesses such as Hathor and Isis.

Something amazing about the Abu Simbel Temple complex is that every piece of stone was moved from the original location of the temples, in an area that is now underwater in Lake Nasser, thanks to the construction of the Aswan High Dam. UNESCO organized a worldwide effort to preserve the temple by chopping it into pieces and then artifically creating a moutain similar to the original one the temple was built onto, then carefully assemblign and grafting the original temple onto the new artificial mountain, keeping it for future generations to be able to visit. Seeing the gargantuan temple, and reflecting on this engineering feat, adds even more interest to the story of the ancient temple.

For visiting Abu Simbel from a Dahabiya Nile Cruise, I recommend having a hot breakfast at 6am, and then leaving at 6:45am with a packed lunch. You'll arrive to Abu Simbel around 11am, when all the morning crowds have already left! This can be a game-changer for how you experience the site, since having large crowds there means the small interior of the temples get extremely cramped. If you arrive at Abu Simbel after these larger groups have gone, you'll be able to move comfortably through the interior of both temples, and can take much better photos. You'll be back to your Dahabiya Nile Cruise in time for dinner and a relaxing evening getting some rest after the long day of sightseeing and driving.

Day 8: Aswan

After five nights on your Dahabiya Nile Cruise, it'll be time to check out from your luxury floating hotel, and explore Aswan before heading back to Cairo. In Aswan, the top site is Philae Temple - this gorgeous temple sits on an island, and is beautifully well-preserved.

Philae Temple is one temple, like Abu Simbel, that was taken apart and picked up, piece by piece, and moved to another location to save it from being submerged once the High Dam was constructed. Visiting this temple in real life and seeing marks where massive blocks of stone were cut, moved, and reconstructed make the experience even more memorable.

Aside from Philae Temple, I think the High Dam, Unfinished Obelisk, and Nubian Museum are the best sites to visit in Aswan.

The High Dam is an important site to understand the modern history of Egypt, since it had many consequences, positive and negative, for Egypt and the Egyptian people, especially the Nubian people (a people traditionally from what is now southern and Northern Sudan) who were displaced by the High Dam's construction, since it flooded many of their homes and villages. Despite the destruction caused by the High Dam, it now delivers tons of electricity to people throughout Egypt, it created the resevoir, Lake Nasser, Egypt's largest source of fresh water, and it also stopped the unpredictable floods of the Nile River, allowing Egyptians living in the Nile River Valley more agricultural seasons and less dependence on the rivers' flooding to irrigate crops.

The Unfinished Obelisk is a granite quarry that was used by the ancient Egyptians to build obelisks, massive monoliths dedicated to the gods. The particular obelisk the site refers to was started by the Pharaoh Hatshepsut, and abandoned when it developed a large crack. If completed, it would have been the largest obelisk ever made. The site does a great job illustrating how the ancient Egyptians carved obelisks out of granite and also transported them to various temples and cities thorughout the land.

The Nubian Museum is a great stop in order to see ancient Egyptian and Nubian statues and artifacts. At several points throughout Egypt's history the Nubian people ruled as pharaohs, and it's interesting to see how they adopted much of the same iconography and styles of ancient Egyptian art when depicting themselves as rulers of Egypt.

Having lunch at Solaih Nubian Restaurant after finishing at Philae Temple is a great way to continue enjoying the view of the floating temple while you try local Nubian food.

Want a complete overview of Aswan, including what hotels, restaurants, and sites there are to see? Check out this in-depth Aswan travel guide!

After finishing the day in Aswan, fly back to Cairo in the evening. Note that there might be an earlier flight avaialble closer to the trip date, so I put in the evening flight as an example only. Often there are afternoon flights that become available closer to the trip date, and flying our around 3pm or 4pm would be preferable to later in the evening, so that when you arrive back to Cairo, it won't be super late and you can get a good night's sleep before starting your next day of sightseeing.

Day 9: Giza Pyramids, Sphinx, and Khan el Khalilii Souq and Bazaar

It's time to visit the most amazing site in all of Egypt - the Giza Pyramids and Sphinx! This is the last remaining ancient wonder of the world, and taking in the Pyramids is a once-in-a-lifetime bucket list experience for sure. 

In between seeing the pyramids and heading over to the Sphinx, stop for lunch at either the 9 Pyramids Lounge (more affordable restaurant with a perfect view) or Khufu's (a fine dining culinary experience, albeit a more limited view).

That afternoon and evening, explore the UNESCO World Heritage site of Moez Street and the hustle and bustle of Cairo's largest market, the Khan el Khalilii Souq and Bazaar. Dinner at Zeeyara Rooftop gives the best food in the entire neighborhood, combined with a breathtaking view of Cairo's skyline.

Day 10: Flex Day

For the final day in Egypt, I have a ton of different recommendations for what a traveler could do. I think picking three of these options would be a great last day in Egypt, or opting to do a day trip to Alexandria to see Egypt's second largest city, and the capital of the Mediterranean coastline.

Coptic Cairo

Coptic Cairo is a medieval, walled area of Cairo that contains the ruins of a Roman Fortress, several important Christian Churches, a Jewish Synagogue (that is sometimes closed), and is supposedly one of the places Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus hid while fleeing from King Herod. It is a great place to visit to understand part of Egypt's rich Christian heritage and history.

I recommend visiting the Hanging Church,  Abu Serga (the Cavern Church), and the Ben Ezra Synagogue (if it is open), and if you have more time, the Church of St. Barbara, the St. George Cathedral, and the Coptic Museum are great additional activities.

Except for the Coptic Museum, nothing in Coptic Cairo requires a ticket.

The Egyptian Museum (old museum) Cairo in Tahrir Square

The Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square is the original museum of Egyptian antiquities, and has thousands of artifacts, despite some of the objects from this museum being moved to the yet-unopened Grand Egyptian Museum and the NMEC.

This museum will never close, and it is currently being remodeled gallery by gallery while remaining open.

Cairo Citadel (Salah Al-Din Citadel)

Visit the Cairo Citadel, most importantly the Mosque of Mohammad Ali (the largest and most beautiful mosque in all of Cairo), and also check out the panoramic view of greater Cairo.

Men may be asked to have pants covering up knees. Woman may be asked to cover hair, and also have shoulders, cleavage, midriff, and knees covered. You can always put some scarves in a backpack to use if you need to cover up at the mosque.

The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization

The highlight here is the Mummy Gallery, where 22 royal mummies of the Pharaohs reside. This museum also does a great job showcasing all the major time periods in Egypt, and includes objects like the earliest known human remains found along the Nile River, and other artifacts from the Pharaonic, Coptic, and Islamic periods.

Shopping in Zamalek

Zamalek has dozens of art galleries, gift stores selling handmade goods, and shops selling various food and cosmetic products that can be taken home. My favorite places to stop in Zamalek are (with links to their locations on Google Maps):

1. Fair Trade Egypt (see the YouTube video). This is a must for anyone wanting something authentic and handmade from Egypt.

2. Nefertari: Nefertari sells handmade Egyptian beauty products, essential oils, skincare products, and more!

3. Abo Auf: Delicious nuts and dried fruits, packaged so that they can be easily taken home and given as gifts!

4. Diwan: Bookstore with lots of gift options as well

5. Sami Amin: Handmade leather goods, like bags, purses, belts, etc. closed on Sundays

Dahshur

Dahshur is an amazing pyramid complex and is usually very quiet in terms of tourists. Enjoy! Check out this blog post before you decide to go to learn more.

Memphis

Memphis, one of the ancient Egyptian capitals, is a quick stop (30 minutes maximum) to see a colossal statue of Ramses II (the Great), and it has lots of other ruins of statues and stelae scattered throughout an enclosed area.

Bellies en Route Street Food Tour

Gus can book you a food tour visiting all of downtown's must-try street and local food vendors. This is a walking tour, and about 4-5 hours in total. You can read more on their website.

Alexandria Day Trip from Cairo

Visiting Alexandria as a day trip from Cairo involves a lot of driving (around 3 hours each way), but it's a great way to see Egypt's second larges city. If you end up choosing to visit Alexandria, I recommend leaving around 6am (get a breakfast box from your hotel) so you can arrive right around the time the sites open. Visit these sites:

The Roman Catacombs (Kom el Shaqafa)

Descend into an ancient Roman catacombs, and explore the interesting ways the Romans blended ancient Egyptian art and iconography with their own in these underground tombs.

The Roman Ampitheatre Ruins (Kom el Dikka)

Explore the most intact Roman theatre ruins in all of Egypt, discovered under what used to be a public garbage dump! Now this site also houses several gargantuan artifacts found from the remains of Alexandria's ancient, sunken, capital city.

The Library of Alexandria (closed on Frdiays)

The Library of Alexandria is a modern wonder, built with the cooperation of a worldwide coalition, in order to create a center for research and learning in Alexandria just like the ancient library of Cleopatra's day.

Tickets must be purchased in person, at the library ticket office

Qaitbey Citadel

The Qaitbey Citadel is an Islamic-era fortress that was built on the ancient site of the Lighthouse of Alexandria. It is an interesting structure with commanding views of the Mediterranean Sea and downtown Alexandria.

Then, for a late lunch/early dinner seafood feast, either choose Farag Fish Restaurant (my favorite, super local spot!) or White and Blue Restaurant in the Greek Nautical Club (the best sea views, and great food, but more touristy).

Day 11: Egypt to USA

Leaving Egypt is the only item on the agenda for the final day, technically making this an 11-day trip, with 10 full days in Egypt (if you count the first arrival day). You will notice that when leaving Egypt in the morning, a traveler will arrive back to the USA that same day in the afternoon, thanks to the time zone difference!

Frequently asked questions about planning an Egypt itinerary

How many days are enough for Egypt?

10 days is a great amount of time for travelers who want to experience Cairo, Aswan, Luxor, Abu Simbel Temple, and include a Nile Cruise. A 7 day trip is enough for a land-based tour (or a tour with a large Nile Cruise ship) featuring Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, and Abu Simbel, although it will be pretty rushed! 

Which month is best for an Egypt trip?

I think that November - April have the best weather for visiting Egypt, but these months also feature the most crowds, so visiting May - October is a great way to have the sites almost to yourself, but you'll have to deal with sweltering temperatures, especially in the south like Luxor and Aswan. Check out this article for a full breakdown of when is the best time to visit Egypt.

Should I do a Dahabiya Nile Cruise or a large Nile Cruise Ship?

For travelers who want to experience the tourist sites with as few crowds as possible, and want a more personalized, authentic experience, then a Dahabiya Yacht is definitely the way to go! These boats bypass the cramped schedules of the large Nile Cruise ships, giving travelers access to places like Kom Ombo Temple and Edfu Temple when they are almost empty, versus the larger Nile Cruise ships, which all must stick to the same timetable, landing at these sites when there are already hundreds of other tourists there.

However, a large Nile Cruise ship is the better option for a traveler who is more on a budget, someone with kids who wants a boat that has a swimming pool, or someone with a more limited amount of time in Egypt.

What do you think of this 10 Day Itinerary? What questions do you have about travel to Egypt? Leave a comment and let me know!