A 12-day itinerary through Egypt’s greatest archaeological sites: Giza and Saqqara, Aswan and Abu Simbel, the temples and tombs of Luxor, Alexandria highlights and a Western Desert experience — with domestic flights, select 5-star hotel nights and one night of desert camping included.
This Cairo and Upper Egypt tour is organized around the destinations and travel services confirmed in the itinerary, so you can compare the route, inclusions and practical arrangements before making an enquiry.
Travelers comparing a Cairo and Upper Egypt tour can use the day-by-day plan below to understand the pace and sequence before requesting current availability.
The route details make this Cairo and Upper Egypt tour useful for comparing destinations, included services and the time allocated to each part of the program.
Cairo and Upper Egypt tour: Overview
Overview
This 12-day routing links Cairo, the Nile Valley and the Western Desert to present a broad sweep of Egypt’s pharaonic, Coptic and Islamic heritage.
The program moves from the Giza Plateau and Saqqara through the Nile cities of Aswan and Luxor, includes a day at Abu Simbel, and adds a Mediterranean side trip to Alexandria plus a desert outing to the Bahariya area and the White and Black Desert landscapes.
Key itinerary flow
Begin in Cairo with visits to the Giza Pyramids Complex and the Grand Egyptian Museum and allow time in Old Cairo to explore the Egyptian Museum, the historic citadel, major mosques, Coptic churches and the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization.
Domestic air connections carry you to Aswan to see modern and ancient engineering and temple sites, then a dedicated excursion reaches the rock-cut temples at Abu Simbel.
Travel along the Nile to Luxor for both the East Bank ceremonies at Karnak and Luxor Temple by night and West Bank funerary sites including the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut’s mortuary temple.
What’s included on the route
The package record lists bed-and-breakfast accommodation at 5-star hotels for several nights in Cairo, Aswan and Luxor plus one night camping in the desert on a full-board basis.
It also specifies domestic flights (Cairo–Aswan and Luxor–Cairo), a 1st-class train ticket between Aswan and Luxor, admission fees for the listed sights, airport meet-and-assist, a fluent Egyptologist guide for the tours, modern air-conditioned transport and that meals are provided as indicated in the day-by-day plan.
Visitor highlights
Expect visits to world-famous monuments: the three pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx; the Grand Egyptian Museum near the plateau; the ancient quarries and the Unfinished Obelisk in Aswan; the island temple of Philae; the monumental rock-cut Abu Simbel temples; Karnak’s vast open-air complex and Luxor Temple; West Bank sites including the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut’s Deir el-Bahari and the Colossi of Memnon.
Alexandria’s Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, Pompey’s Pillar, Qaitbay Citadel and the modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina are also in the program. The Western Desert segment mentions Bahariya Oasis and the distinctive White and Black Desert formations.
Practical points
Items explicitly excluded are tipping, personal expenses, any optional excursions, the entry visa to Egypt and international airfare. The itinerary notes where meals are included on each day.
A stated starting price in US dollars is shown in the record and is flagged for verification; availability, final price and booking conditions should be confirmed with the operator before payment.
This itinerary is designed for travelers who want a concentrated cultural and archaeological survey of Egypt’s most celebrated sites, combining museum visits, temple complexes and a taste of desert scenery within a two-week schedule.
Use this Cairo and Upper Egypt tour overview to understand the pace, destinations and key experiences before you travel.
The Cairo and Upper Egypt tour combines the confirmed stops in one practical route; check the inclusions and exclusions carefully before booking.
The Cairo and Upper Egypt tour Itinerary
Day 1: Day One:Welcome to the land of Pharaohs
Arrival day with an evening meal indicated. The program notes an overnight to follow.
Meals: Dinner
Day 2: Day Two:Trip to Giza Pyramids Complex & Museum
Visits on this day include the Giza Pyramids Complex with the Great Pyramid, the Sphinx and the Valley Temple, followed by a visit to the Grand Egyptian Museum. The itinerary also lists a stop at the Saqqara Step Pyramid. A lunch time is indicated and the day concludes with an overnight.
Meals: Lunch
Day 3: Day Three:Fly to Aswan and Visit Aswan Highlights
This day includes a domestic flight to Aswan. Listed sites include the Aswan High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk, with a lunch time and a visit to Philae Temple later in the day. The schedule finishes with an overnight.
Meals: Lunch
Day 4: Day Four:Tour to Abu Simbel Temples
A full-day excursion to the Abu Simbel Temples is specified. A lunch time is listed and an overnight is noted at the end of the day.
Meals: Lunch
Day 5: Day Five:Luxor East Bank Tour
Travel to Luxor for visits to the Karnak Temple complex. A lunch time is included and the day features Luxor Temple in the evening. The day ends with an overnight.
Meals: Lunch
Day 6: Day Six:Luxor West Bank Tour
Explore Luxor’s West Bank sites: the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple (Deir el-Bahari) and the Colossi of Memnon. A lunch time is listed and the day concludes with an overnight.
Meals: Lunch
Day 7: Day Seven:Tour to Dendara & Abydos Temples
Visits to Dendera Temple and Abydos Temple are indicated, with a lunch time and an overnight at the day’s end.
Meals: Lunch
Day 8: Day Eight:Fly to Cairo & Visit Old Cairo Attractions
Return by domestic flight to Cairo. The day’s listed visits cover the Egyptian Museum, Salah El-Din Citadel and the Mohamed Ali Mosque, plus Coptic sites such as the Hanging Church and the Ben Ezra Synagogue.
The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, Al Muizz Street and Khan El Khalili Bazaar are also on the program.
Day 9: Day Nine:Tour to Alexandria Landmarks
A day trip to Alexandria includes the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, Pompey’s Pillar, Qaitbay Citadel and the Bibliotheca Alexandrina.
Day 10: Day Ten:Tour to Bahariya Oasis
The itinerary lists a visit to Bahariya Oasis as the start of the Western Desert segment. Specific local sites are not itemized in the day record.
Day 11: Day Eleven:Continue the Desert Trip
Continuation of the desert program with reference in the record to White Desert and Black Desert landscapes in the highlights. The record indicates a desert camping night elsewhere in the included list.
Day 12: Day Twelfth:End Your 12 Days Cairo & Upper Egypt Tour
Program end — the record lists this as the final day of the 12-day tour.
Before booking this Cairo and Upper Egypt tour, review the confirmed services below and ask for any current operational details that are not stated in the record.
What Is Included
- Five nights’ bed-and-breakfast accommodation at 5-star hotels in Cairo (as stated in the record).
- Two nights’ bed-and-breakfast accommodation at 5-star hotels in Aswan (as stated in the record).
- Three nights’ bed-and-breakfast accommodation at 5-star hotels in Luxor (as stated in the record).
- One night of desert camping on a full-board basis.
- 1st-class train ticket from Aswan to Luxor.
- Domestic flights listed as Cairo–Aswan and Luxor–Cairo.
- All charges and taxes.
- Meals as identified in the day-by-day itinerary.
- Meet-and-assist service at airports.
- A fluent Egyptologist tour guide during the scheduled tours.
- Admission fees to the sights listed in the itinerary.
- Modern air-conditioned vehicles for tours and transfers.
What Is Not Included
- Tipping (not included).
- Personal expenses.
- Any optional tours (not included).
- Entry visa to Egypt.
- International airfare.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cairo and Upper Egypt tour
Review these practical questions about the Cairo and Upper Egypt tour before contacting Gateway Pharaoh.
What is included in the price for this 12-day tour?
The record specifies 5-star bed-and-breakfast accommodation in Cairo, Aswan and Luxor for the stated number of nights, one night of desert camping on a full-board basis, 1st-class train between Aswan and Luxor, domestic flights Cairo–Aswan and Luxor–Cairo, site admission fees listed in the itinerary, airport meet-and-assist, a fluent Egyptologist guide, modern air-conditioned vehicles and charges and taxes. Meals are provided as listed in the daily plan.
Which major sites are visited on this itinerary?
Sites listed in the itinerary include the Giza Pyramids Complex, the Grand Egyptian Museum, Saqqara Step Pyramid, Aswan High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk, Philae Temple, Abu Simbel Temples, Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, Colossi of Memnon, Dendera and Abydos Temples, Alexandria’s Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, Pompey’s Pillar, Qaitbay Citadel and the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, plus Bahariya Oasis and Western Desert formations.
Are domestic flights and train tickets included?
Yes. The record shows domestic flights (Cairo–Aswan and Luxor–Cairo) and a 1st-class train ticket from Aswan to Luxor are included.
Is international airfare included?
No. International airfare is explicitly listed among the exclusions.
Is tipping or personal spending covered?
No. Tipping and personal expenses are listed as excluded from the package.
Does the tour include a night in the desert?
Yes. The record specifies one night of camping in the desert on a full-board basis.
What museums are on the program in Cairo?
The itinerary lists the Grand Egyptian Museum, the Egyptian Museum (Tahrir), and the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization among Cairo visits.
Is a guided Egyptologist included during the tours?
Yes. The record states a fluent Egyptologist tour guide is provided during the tours.
When you are ready to plan this Cairo and Upper Egypt tour, contact Gateway Pharaoh for the current operational details shown in the booking record.
Explore more Egypt travel ideas on Gateway Pharaoh and our Giza travel guides and Cairo travel guides.
For general information about Egypt’s cultural heritage, consult the UNESCO World Heritage information for Egypt.
Overview
Overview
This 12-day routing links Cairo, the Nile Valley and the Western Desert to present a broad sweep of Egypt’s pharaonic, Coptic and Islamic heritage. The program moves from the Giza Plateau and Saqqara through the Nile cities of Aswan and Luxor, includes a day at Abu Simbel, and adds a Mediterranean side trip to Alexandria plus a desert outing to the Bahariya area and the White and Black Desert landscapes.
Key itinerary flow
Begin in Cairo with visits to the Giza Pyramids Complex and the Grand Egyptian Museum and allow time in Old Cairo to explore the Egyptian Museum, the historic citadel, major mosques, Coptic churches and the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization. Domestic air connections carry you to Aswan to see modern and ancient engineering and temple sites, then a dedicated excursion reaches the rock-cut temples at Abu Simbel. Travel along the Nile to Luxor for both the East Bank ceremonies at Karnak and Luxor Temple by night and West Bank funerary sites including the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut’s mortuary temple.
What’s included on the route
The package record lists bed-and-breakfast accommodation at 5-star hotels for several nights in Cairo, Aswan and Luxor plus one night camping in the desert on a full-board basis. It also specifies domestic flights (Cairo–Aswan and Luxor–Cairo), a 1st-class train ticket between Aswan and Luxor, admission fees for the listed sights, airport meet-and-assist, a fluent Egyptologist guide for the tours, modern air-conditioned transport and that meals are provided as indicated in the day-by-day plan.
Visitor highlights
Expect visits to world-famous monuments: the three pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx; the Grand Egyptian Museum near the plateau; the ancient quarries and the Unfinished Obelisk in Aswan; the island temple of Philae; the monumental rock-cut Abu Simbel temples; Karnak’s vast open-air complex and Luxor Temple; West Bank sites including the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut’s Deir el-Bahari and the Colossi of Memnon. Alexandria’s Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, Pompey’s Pillar, Qaitbay Citadel and the modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina are also in the program. The Western Desert segment mentions Bahariya Oasis and the distinctive White and Black Desert formations.
Practical points
Items explicitly excluded are tipping, personal expenses, any optional excursions, the entry visa to Egypt and international airfare. The itinerary notes where meals are included on each day. A stated starting price in US dollars is shown in the record and is flagged for verification; availability, final price and booking conditions should be confirmed with the operator before payment.
This itinerary is designed for travelers who want a concentrated cultural and archaeological survey of Egypt’s most celebrated sites, combining museum visits, temple complexes and a taste of desert scenery within a two-week schedule.
Trip Highlights
- Explore the Giza Pyramids Complex, home to the three great pyramids and the Great Sphinx on the Giza Plateau.
- Visit the Grand Egyptian Museum, a major archaeological museum sited near the pyramids.
- See Aswan landmarks including the Aswan High Dam, Philae Temple and the Unfinished Obelisk.
- Take a dedicated excursion to the monumental Abu Simbel rock-cut temples of Ramses II.
- Experience Luxor’s monumental East Bank (Karnak, Luxor Temple) and West Bank funerary sites (Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut).
- Day trip to Alexandria to visit the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, Pompey’s Pillar, Qaitbay Citadel and the Bibliotheca Alexandrina.
- Include a Western Desert segment to Bahariya Oasis and the White and Black Desert landscapes, with one night of desert camping provided.
