The pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum, then the Nile between Luxor and Aswan by dahabiya, five hours from London.
Almost everything you come to Egypt to see lies within a few miles of the Nile. We start in Cairo, with the pyramids of Giza at opening time and a long morning in the Grand Egyptian Museum, home to the Tutankhamun galleries.
Then we fly south to Luxor for the temples of Karnak and the tombs of the Valley of the Kings, and sail upstream to Aswan. A dahabiya, a traditional sailing boat with a handful of cabins, moors at quiet banks and visits Edfu and Kom Ombo at off-peak hours.
The honest caveats: the sites are busy, touts are persistent and Upper Egypt is fiercely hot from May to September. Parts of the country are subject to FCDO travel warnings, so we keep to the main Nile Valley and coast.
The experiences we plan most often, with the months they are at their best.
Arrive at Giza when the gates open, before the heat and the coaches, and go inside the Great Pyramid while it is quiet. A private Egyptologist makes sense of the Sphinx and the valley temple. For a view across all three pyramids, walk or ride out to the desert plateau behind them.
Near the Giza plateau, the Grand Egyptian Museum brings together the Tutankhamun galleries, the Grand Staircase lined with colossal statues and a museum of Khufu's boats. Allow at least half a day and book timed tickets in advance. Go on a weekday morning and start with Tutankhamun, before the crowds arrive.
Dahabiyas carry a small number of guests under sail, taking four or five nights between Esna and Aswan. They moor at islands and small villages that large cruise ships cannot reach, and time temple visits to avoid the crowds. Days are slow: reading on deck, swimming off a sandbank, dinner on the shore.
Luxor holds Karnak and Luxor Temple on the east bank and the royal tombs on the west. Visit the Valley of the Kings at opening time, add the painted tomb of Nefertari when it is open, and see Karnak at dusk. A dawn hot-air balloon flight over the west bank is worth the early start.
Ramesses II's temples at Abu Simbel were moved block by block in the 1960s to escape the rising waters of Lake Nasser. Fly or drive from Aswan early. Around 22 February and 22 October, the rising sun lights the inner sanctuary, drawing large crowds; other mornings are calmer.
After the Nile, a few days on the Red Sea coast are an easy add-on. Marsa Alam, in the south, has quieter reefs, dugongs in some bays and turtles at Abu Dabbab. The sea stays warm for much of the year, which makes the coast a useful summer alternative to the hot Nile Valley.
In Cairo, stay near Giza for early starts at the pyramids and museum, or in Zamalek for city life. In Luxor and Aswan, a historic hotel on the Nile adds a lot. On the river, choose a dahabiya for intimacy or one of the smaller, well-run cruise ships for more cabin space.
We match each trip in Egypt to hotels, lodges and villas chosen for the way you travel. Tell us what matters and a specialist will suggest two or three that fit.
Ask for hotel suggestionsEgypt is a winter destination. From October to April the days are warm and dry, the light is soft and sightseeing is comfortable. Nights in the desert and on the river can be surprisingly cold in December and January, so bring layers.
From May to September, Upper Egypt is extremely hot, and many dahabiyas stop sailing. Cairo is manageable with early starts, and the Red Sea comes into its own. Ramadan moves about 11 days earlier each year; sites stay open but hours can change.
Cairo, the pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum, then Luxor and a four-night dahabiya upstream to Aswan, with Abu Simbel at the end. 9 nights.
Fly direct to Cairo. Visit the pyramids at opening time, spend a morning at the Grand Egyptian Museum and explore Islamic Cairo and the Khan el-Khalili.
Fly to Luxor for Karnak, Luxor Temple and the Valley of the Kings, with an optional dawn balloon flight.
Board at Esna and sail upstream for four nights, stopping at Edfu, Gebel el-Silsila and Kom Ombo, and mooring at quiet islands.
Fly from Aswan to Abu Simbel at dawn, then return via Aswan and Cairo for the flight to London.
Practical notes checked against their sources. For entry and safety, the FCDO advice for Egypt (opens in a new tab) is always the authority.
EgyptAir flies direct from Heathrow to Cairo in under five hours, and there are direct flights from Gatwick to Luxor in about five and a half. Domestic flights link Cairo with Luxor and Aswan in about an hour.
UK passport holders normally need a visa for Egypt. Read the FCDO entry requirements (opens in a new tab) before you book, and check the regional safety advice on the main FCDO Egypt page.
Read the FCDO entry requirements for Egypt (opens in a new tab)
Check TravelHealthPro (opens in a new tab) before you go. Drink bottled water, be careful with salads and ice early in the trip, and take the sun seriously even in winter.
The currency is the Egyptian pound. Egypt is largely cash-based outside hotels, so carry a mix of large and small notes. Cards work in hotels and larger restaurants.
A local SIM card bought on arrival is the easiest way to stay connected. Hotels and most cruise boats have wifi, though it can be slow on the river.
Tipping, or baksheesh, is standard practice in Egypt, especially in tourism. Keep small notes for guides, drivers, boat crews and site attendants. We include current guidance with your documents.
A dahabiya is a small sailing boat with a handful of cabins, a relaxed pace and moorings away from the crowds. Cruise ships are larger, with pools and more facilities, and follow a fixed schedule with other ships. For couples and small groups we usually prefer a dahabiya; families with teenagers sometimes enjoy the space of a ship.
The main tourist areas of Cairo, the Nile Valley and the Red Sea resorts see large numbers of visitors each year. The FCDO advises against travel to some border and Sinai regions, so we plan around those and use trusted guides and drivers. Check the FCDO page before booking and again before you travel.
A week covers Cairo and Luxor at a rush. Nine or ten nights lets you add a dahabiya to Aswan and Abu Simbel without early starts every day. Add three or four nights on the Red Sea if you want beach time at the end.
Children who love history often find Egypt thrilling: the pyramids, mummies and tombs make school topics real. Keep days short, avoid summer heat and choose hotels with pools. A Nile trip suits older children best; younger ones may prefer a mix of Luxor and the Red Sea.
Tell us a little and a specialist will reply with ideas, dates that work and a price. Best months: October to March.
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