Private Egypt 9-Day Tour with Flights and Nile Cruise from Cairo
- Duration9 days, 8 nights
- Daily
- Private
- Pickup available
- Fair, honest prices
- Real people, not bots
- Confirmed before you pay
- Secure payment
Overview
This private nine-day Egypt tour combines the country's greatest highlights in one smooth journey: the Pyramids of Cairo, a three-night Nile cruise, a hot air balloon flight over Luxor and a relaxing Red Sea stay in Hurghada. You travel with your own air-conditioned vehicle and an English-speaking Egyptologist guide, with domestic flights, hotel pickup and drop-off, two nights in a 4-star Cairo hotel, three nights on a 5-star standard Nile ship and three nights in Hurghada all included. The tour is private for your party, with a pace you can adjust, and suits couples, families and friends who want ancient Egypt and a beach finish in about a week and a half.
Highlights
- Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx with a private Egyptologist guide
- Two nights in a 4-star hotel in Cairo
- Three nights on a 5-star standard Nile cruise ship with sightseeing between temples
- Hot air balloon ride over Luxor
- Three nights in Hurghada for a Red Sea beach break
- Domestic flight tickets included
- Private air-conditioned vehicle with hotel pickup and drop-off
- Deluxe or luxury ship available as an add-on
Full Description
Cairo and the Pyramids of Giza
Cairo is where a private Egypt tour begins, and the Pyramids of Giza are its great set piece. Built around 4,500 years ago as royal tombs, the three pyramids of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure rise on the desert plateau beside the Great Sphinx, carved from limestone bedrock and about 73 metres long.
With your own guide and vehicle, you can approach the plateau early to avoid the heat, choose your photo viewpoints and spend as long as you like among the monuments. The two nights in a 4-star Cairo hotel give you time to adjust and to see more of the capital as your guide suggests. Entrance fees are paid separately, and your guide helps at each site.
The Nile cruise between Aswan and Luxor
The heart of the trip is a three-night Nile cruise on a 5-star standard ship, with cabin, meals on board and a sundeck. As the ship sails between Upper Egypt's temples you see palm groves, farmland and desert banks, and you stop at sites such as Philae, Kom Ombo and Edfu, depending on the programme your guide confirms.
Kom Ombo is a double temple for Sobek and Horus the Elder, and Edfu's Temple of Horus is the best-preserved major temple in Egypt. Cruising lets you see these monuments without the long road transfers of a land trip. Deluxe and luxury ships are available as an add-on, with larger cabins and a more refined service.
Luxor: balloon flight, Valley of the Kings and Karnak
Luxor is the world's largest open-air museum, and your hot air balloon ride at sunrise is the best way to meet it. You rise before dawn, drift above the West Bank with the Nile and the cliffs below, and watch the light spread across the temples. Flights depend on the weather and the pilot's decision.
On the ground, the Valley of the Kings holds the painted royal tombs of New Kingdom pharaohs, Hatshepsut's terraced temple lies beneath the cliffs, and Karnak, with its Great Hypostyle Hall of 134 columns, is the largest religious complex in Egypt. Your private guide makes sense of all this and sets a pace to match your energy.
Hurghada and the Red Sea
After the temples, three nights in Hurghada give you a seaside break. The Red Sea coast offers clear water, coral reefs and a warm climate for most of the year, with swimming, snorkelling and relaxing at your resort. It is an easy way to rest after a busy first week.
If you want to add excursions, such as a boat trip to the islands or a desert safari, our team can arrange them. Hurghada is also the departure point for many day trips along the coast, so this stage can be as active or as quiet as you like. Your hotel drop-off and flights are part of the plan.
How the private nine days work
A private tour means the vehicle and the Egyptologist guide are for your party only, with a flexible pace and photo stops. Domestic flights connect the stages, so you spend your time at sights rather than on long overland journeys, and our team handles the transfers around them. The pickup window is in the morning, between about 08:00 and 10:00.
Entry fees, drinks including water, and gratuities are not included. A guide in Spanish, German, Italian or French can be added. The best months for the full itinerary are October to April, when Upper Egypt is mild. Tell us your dates and group size when you book, and we will confirm the details.
Itinerary
- Arrival and hotel pickup in CairoPrivate pickup and check-in at your 4-star Cairo hotel for the first of two nights.
- Pyramids of Giza and SphinxA guided day among the pyramids and the Great Sphinx, with extra Cairo sights as time allows.
- Flight south and Nile cruiseDomestic flight to Upper Egypt, then boarding your 5-star standard ship for three nights.
- Temples on the NileGuided visits such as Philae, Kom Ombo and Edfu between sailings, as the programme sets.
- Luxor balloon and West BankSunrise hot air balloon ride, then the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut's Temple.
- Karnak and onward to HurghadaVisit Karnak, then continue to the Red Sea for three nights of rest.
- Hurghada beach daysFree time on the Red Sea coast with optional excursions arranged by our team.
- Drop-off and departurePrivate transfer to your hotel or airport as arranged, at the end of the nine days.
What's included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Private air-conditioned vehicle
- Expert English-speaking Egyptologist guide
- 2 nights in a 4-star hotel in Cairo
- Domestic flight tickets
- 3 nights on a 5-star standard Nile cruise ship
- 3 nights in Hurghada
- Hot air balloon ride
Not included
- Entry fees
- Drinks including water
- Tips
Not suitable for
- Wheelchair users, due to steps, gangways and uneven ground at the sights
- Travellers who cannot manage early starts, including the pre-dawn balloon flight
- Anyone uncomfortable in a balloon basket or at height
Meeting point
Pickup is from your hotel in Cairo in the morning, between about 08:00 and 10:00 on the first day, within the eligible area. Our team confirms the exact pickup time on WhatsApp after booking and shares details of each stage of the tour. Please send your flight details and hotel name when you book so we can plan the first day.
Important information
- Bring your passport; it is needed for hotels, domestic flights and boarding the ship
- Entry fees are not included; your guide helps with tickets at each site
- Drinks, including water, and gratuities are not included
- The balloon flight depends on the weather and the pilot's decision
- The programme can change with flight times, sailing conditions and opening hours
- Wear comfortable shoes and modest clothing with shoulders and knees covered; bring a hat and sun cream
- Pack swimwear for Hurghada and a warm layer for the dawn balloon flight
- Spanish, German, Italian or French guides can be added on request
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers to what travellers ask us most, before they book.
Is this a shared or a private tour?
It is a private tour. The vehicle and the English-speaking Egyptologist guide are for your party only. On the Nile ship you travel as a guest of the cruise.
Can we change the itinerary or the pace?
Yes, within the fixed flights and the ship's sailing schedule. Your guide can adapt the time at each site and add photo stops.
How many people can join, and how many fit in the vehicle?
The tour is for your own party. Tell our team how many people are travelling and we will confirm the right vehicle and cabins.
Is the price per person or per group?
The booking panel on this page shows the current price of the option and how it is calculated for your party, so you see the total before confirming.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, along with private transport in an air-conditioned vehicle.
What is included?
Hotel pickup and drop-off, private transport, an English-speaking Egyptologist guide, two nights in a 4-star Cairo hotel, flight tickets, three nights on a 5-star standard Nile ship, three nights in Hurghada and a hot air balloon ride. Entry fees, drinks and gratuities are not included.
How long is the tour?
Nine days and eight nights: two in Cairo, three on the Nile and three in Hurghada.
Is it suitable for children and people with reduced mobility?
Children are welcome, and the beach days suit families. The sites involve steps and uneven ground, so the tour is not suitable for wheelchair users.
What should we bring?
Passport, comfortable shoes, modest light clothing, hat, sun cream, swimwear, a warm layer for the balloon and cash for tickets and tips.
What is the best time of year for this tour?
October to April is the most comfortable for Upper Egypt and still warm on the Red Sea. Summer is very hot in the south.
Can I upgrade the Nile ship?
Yes. Deluxe and luxury ships are available as an add-on at booking; the programme stays the same with better cabins and service.
How do I book and confirm?
Choose your date on this page and send your request. Our team confirms on WhatsApp within minutes.
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