10-Day Nile Cruises
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Insider tips: Recommended 10-day Nile itineraries
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MelissaNile travel expert at TourRadar
10 Days in Egypt, incl. Cairo and Luxor
A 10-day Nile adventure from Luxor to Aswan includes 5 nights aboard a Dahabiya sailboat. Major temples including Karnak, Luxor, and Edfu, plus hidden gems like El Kab tomb complex showcase authentic river life.
- Days 1-2
Cairo & Giza
Start in Cairo with a full day at the Giza pyramid complex. Get to the pyramids before 8 AM to avoid crowds and heat. You'll need about 3 hours to explore the Great Pyramid of Khufu and Sphinx properly. In the afternoon when it's cooler visit Sakkara. The Step Pyramid here gets fewer visitors than Giza but tells an important story about how pyramids evolved.
- Days 3-4
Luxor's East & West Banks
Fly to Luxor early morning (1-hour flight). Visit the East Bank temples first. Karnak looks best in morning light while Luxor Temple really shines at sunset. For the Valley of the Kings on the West Bank get there by 6:30 AM before it gets too hot. Take lots of water and sun protection since the tombs offer little shade.
- Days 5-7
Nile Cruise Experience
Choose a traditional dahabiya sailboat instead of a big cruise ship for a more personal experience. These smaller boats can visit ports and islands that bigger ships can't reach. You'll see places like El Kab's cliff tombs and the Temple of Edfu. A recent visitor shared: "Watching local life unfold along the Nile banks from our dahabiya was magical - so different from the bigger cruise ships. We could dock at small islands and actually interact with villagers."
- Day 8
Abu Simbel
Take an early flight from Aswan to Abu Simbel (40 minutes). The temples look most impressive at sunrise and you'll beat the crowds. Pack light since you'll go back to Cairo the same day. Bring plenty of water as it gets very hot by midday.
- Days 9-10
Cairo's Cultural Heart
Visit the Egyptian Museum early to see Tutankhamun's treasures before tour groups arrive. Try a food tour through Islamic Cairo in the afternoon exploring old alleyways and markets. Use your last day to see anything you missed or shop at Khan el-Khalili bazaar before leaving.
8 Days in Egypt Nile Cruise, incl. Luxor and Aswan
The Nile reveals its secrets over 8 days visiting 5 cities from Luxor to Aswan, with 7 nights on a 5-star cruise. Six major temples including Karnak, Luxor, and Philae, plus Valley of the Kings await. Abu Simbel excursion and hot air balloon ride available.
- Days 1-2
Luxor
Begin in Luxor, the religious capital of ancient Egypt. Visit the vast Karnak Temple complex on your first afternoon. Plan to arrive before 4pm to avoid crowds and the strongest sun. "The temples were all impressive. Our guide was very knowledgeable and helped bring the ancient history to life." Day 2 offers an optional hot air balloon ride over the Valley of the Kings. It needs a 4am wake-up but delivers stunning sunrise views. Visit the Valley to explore three royal tombs where original paint colors still shine after thousands of years. Add stops at Queen Hatshepsut's temple and the Colossi of Memnon before sailing to Edfu.
- Days 3-4
Edfu to Aswan
Start with a morning visit to the Temple of Horus in Edfu. Next, sail to Kom Ombo to see its unique double temple built for two gods. In Aswan, you'll tour the High Dam and take a felucca boat ride around Elephantine Island. Visit the Philae Temple complex at sunset for the best experience. This temple was carefully moved to save it from flooding when the dam was built.
- Day 5
Abu Simbel (Optional)
Consider the day trip to Abu Simbel. While it means a 3am start and 6-hour drive each way, previous visitors say it's worth it: "DO NOT miss the add-on trip to the temples at Abu Simbel!! If you book this cruise, this is absolutely worth the extra cost and journey."
- Days 6-7
Return Journey to Luxor
Take two peaceful days sailing back to Luxor. Watch the Nile scenery glow in the late afternoon light. One traveler suggests: "Cruising on the river is one of the most relaxing experiences - don't overpack your schedule these days."
- Day 8
Departure
Head to Luxor airport. Book afternoon flights if possible to avoid morning traffic.
Egypt 8-Nights Cairo, Nile Cruise, Abu Simbel&Balloon From Cairo
The Nile's grandeur unfolds over 9 days with 4 nights on a 5-star cruise from Luxor to Aswan. Marvel at Karnak Temple, Edfu Temple, Kom Ombo, and Abu Simbel. Soar over ancient ruins in sunrise balloon rides and enjoy traditional Nubian entertainment.
View itineraryCairo Egypt
2 miGiza Egypt
11 miSaqqarah Egypt
300 miLuxor Egypt
8 miValley of the Kings Egypt
60 miEdfu Egypt
33 miKom Ombo Egypt
27 miAswan Egypt
144 miAbu Simbel Egypt
139 miPhilae Egypt
4 miAswan Egypt
425 miCairo Egypt
Nile 10 Day Tour Packages You'll Love
Geluxe: Egypt: Pyramids, Temples & the Nile
Luxury Nile cruise Luxor & Aswan for 7 nights includes tours
Egypt 8-Nights Cairo, Nile Cruise, Abu Simbel&Balloon From Cairo
Experience 9-day aboard Luxury Dahabiya Cruise
Egyptian Highlights Tour
Cairo, Nile Valley & Red Sea Resort - 10 days (10 destinations)
Stunning Egypt Tour Package 10 Days and 9 Nights From Cairo
Egypt Highlights — 9-Day Journey
Amazing 8 nights Visit Cairo, Nile Cruise, Abu Simbel & Hot Air Balloon
Taste of Egypt 2026
What people love about 10-day Nile river cruises
- Luxury Nile cruise Luxor & Aswan for 7 nights includes tours
A great tour with fantastic visits, MAC made the trip with his Knowledge and personality. I would 100% rerun to see the sites
- Egypt 8-Nights Cairo, Nile Cruise, Abu Simbel&Balloon From Cairo
It was an amazing Experience with Amazing tour guide
- Egyptian Highlights Tour
I understood from the outset that "5 Stars" in Egypt would not be up to the standard of 5 Stars I would expect in Australia. However, I took issue with a few things. 1. I booked with 'Fez Travel' but my tour operator was Encounters Travel. I realised when booking all tours with different companies looked exactly the same, but this was not explained to me and I could very well have missed my Guide at the airport as he was holding an Encounters Travel sign. 2. On the first day, one of the sights (Memphis) was missed off our itinerary (even though it was right where we were at Saqqara). We went back to see it on our last day but this meant a 90 minute round trip for a 30 minute visit in 42 degree heat, and obviously ate into our time spent at the Museum because it was Ramadan and everything was closing early in the afternoon. 3. The hotel in Cairo was lovely, the breakfast buffet was very impressive, but compared with the 'breakfast box' provided for the early morning starts, the packed meal was very disappointing. Really just bread and cheese (no butter), with a piece of dry fruit bread/cake and a piece of fruit. Juice and water, but these had to be consumed prior to the flight because there are liquid restrictions even on domestic flights in Egypt. 4. Our cruise ship was the H/S Moondance. The staff were lovely and very gracious regarding my feedback, but made sure to point out they are just staff and have no control over the way the ship is managed. There was zero complimentary drinking water on this ship. (The hotel in Cairo provided one 600ml bottle per day). Coffee with breakfast was only Nescafe, not even filter coffee. You could purchase espresso (but not particularly nice espresso). Everything seemed geared towards "English" guests, although no one on our cruise was English. It seems very Egyptian for men to be liberal with compliments towards women on their beauty but honestly the staff need to know this is not always welcome or appropriate. The meals were of good quality, I would have preferred more traditional Egyptian cuisine. The night we had this was the best food on the whole trip. The breakfasts were good when they had the buffet, but on the morning of Abu Simbel, I did not go and so myself and the 5 others left behind were given a pre-prepared plate, without any query as to what we would like to have on this plate (which surely would not have been difficult if there's only 6 of us!!). And again, on the morning we departed at 5am to fly back to Cairo, a breakfast box that would have been just bread and cheese, if it hadn’t been for our guide who went out of his way to ensure we had a boiled egg, extra fruit, some butter (!!) etc. 5. My main feedback about the structure of the tour would be that after the Philae Temple/Aswan Dam (Day 6), it would be IMMENSELY preferable to fly back to Cairo that night, in order to wake at 7am the next day, have a proper breakfast in the Cairo hotel, then go to the Museum. There was nothing to do that night in Aswan and absolutely no need to stay on the cruise ship another night, and have to get up at 4am (AGAIN). 6. All the guides and our tour manager were EXCELLENT. The guides were so knowledgeable and obviously passionate. Factor in that you need to tip your guides around $10USD/day (or more). They deserve it! I feel like I was a very demanding guest and my guides did everything they could to try and make me happy - so thank you! 7. Lastly, do not buy anything - ANYTHING - without your guide present. You will be getting ripped off. Flat out.