This is one of my top-selling, expertly designed multi-night tours of Egypt. It is a 9-night Journey including a Nile Cruise with the essential sites of Egypt.
Cairo · Luxor · Aswan. 10 Days in Egypt – 9 nights – 8 days of tours.
9 Nights – Signature Egypt Tour Itinerary
Personal Note from Mara: I know we are all different. But here is what sightseeing is about for me. When I go into a temple, a tomb or a medieval monument whether it be at home in Ireland or at home in Egypt (yes, I am torn between the two sometimes) I need to know the story. The human story of the people who built it, lived, worked and maybe died in it or for it. It gives me connection. The guides in Egypt, for the most part, all learn the same information. But my guides try a little harder and work with me to add more depth and meaning to your experience. So, I have spent many years drawing on facts but also on my own imagination to write the stories you will find on this website, tied to their respective temples, tombs or gods. The stories come from deep inside me and I hope that reading them adds colour to your journey through Egypt. I encourage you to see Egypt with me and my amazing guides. We promise you a deeper understanding of Egypt and its culture by the time you leave us.
CAIRO – Gateway to Egypt
Day 1 | Arrive Cairo
We meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. Time to rest and settle in.
Day 2 | Giza, GEM
Morning exploration of the Giza Plateau, followed by the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM).
Day 3 | Saqqara, Serapeum, Muezz St. (Old Cairo), Khan El Khalili
Morning visit to Saqqara and the Serapeum, then onto Old Cairo and a chance to explore Khan El Khalili before transferring to the airport for the flight to Luxor.
LUXOR & BEYOND
Helicopter Mystery at Abydos
Karnak: A River of Time
Dorothy Eady – Omm Sety
Day 4 | Abydos & Dendera
Full-day excursion north to Abydos and Dendera, which are, without doubt, Egypt’s best-preserved and most meaningful temple complexes. Return to Luxor. Overnight in Luxor.
Day 5 | West Bank Luxor & Board Nile Cruise
Explore Luxor’s West Bank, including five key sites – Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, Nobles Tombs, Medinet Habu Temple, Colossi of Memnon and Workers Village. Lunch on board your Nile cruiser, then return by motorboat to the West Bank to complete the tour day. Overnight on board.
Day 6 | Karnak & Luxor Temples (from the Cruise)
Morning visits to Karnak and Luxor Temples. Sail south around lunchtime, allowing the afternoon to unfold at river pace. Overnight on board.
Day 7 | Edfu & Kom Ombo
Temple visits en route, balanced with relaxed sailing and time on board.
Love: Ramses & Nefertari
Moving Abu Simbel
Philae: The Story of Isis
Day 8 | Abu Simbel
Today we visit the magnificent Temples of Ramses II and his Queen Nefertari at Abu Simbel.
Day 9 | Aswan | Philae Temple
Tour to Philae Temple and the Unfinished Obelisk, then fly to Cairo. Transfer to your hotel.
Day 10 | Departure or Optional Extensions
Fly home or extend your stay with additional Cairo or regional experiences.
What’s Included
- 9 nights accommodation – 3 nights in Cairo incl breakfast, 2 nights in Luxor incl breakfast, 4 nights full board on Nile Cruise Luxor to Aswan
- 8 days tours
- Private Visit to the Gt. Pyramid
- Two internal flights – Cairo to Luxor and Aswan to Cairo
- Licensed Egyptologist guide throughout
- All site entry tickets and permits detailed in the itinerary
- Air-conditioned ground transport
- Airport arrival and departure transfers
- The accommodation venues included are Cairo – The President Hotel and Le Passage Airport Hotel; Luxor is at Mara House and the Nile Cruiser is Concerto Plus. However, if you would like to stay in any high end hotel I will be happy to upgrade you for the difference in price.
HOW MIGHT YOU ENHANCE YOUR TRIP?
This itinerary is a foundation itinerary. For those with limited time it covers all the basics and includes what few other operators include – the private visit to the Gt. Pyramid. If you can spare more time in Egypt I would strongly suggest adding days and nights at the end of the trip – perhaps an overday to Alexandria where you can visit the Citadel of Qaitbay, the National Museum (very different to the other museums you will see), the Catacombs, Pompey’s Pillar and Amphitheatre and maybe even the Royal Jewellery Museum – would you go to London and not go to see the Crown Jewels?
If you read my stories of Medieval Cairo, the Muhammad Ali Dynasty, to name but a few, you should want to return to Cairo, perhaps for short breaks or weekend trips many times over without going back over the basics included in this itinerary. Most visitors have no idea of the depth of interesting history and monuments available to them in Cairo – I do! And I absolutely am hooked on it all! Especially for parents who want their children to experience history – repeat visits to Cairo are a must.
For those with both time and money to spend on luxury experiences – I don’t mean the luxury hotels – I mean the luxury of being able to afford private visits and exclusive experiences – here is a small sample of what we can do together:
https://marahouseluxor.com/opening-closed-doors-the-exclusive-access-tours/
Available Start Dates:
The start dates are dependent on the cruise dates – if the following dates are unsuitable please do still contact me to discuss your preferred options.
- 2026 Sept 8
- 2026 Sept 22
- 2026 Oct 6
- 2026 Oct 20
- 2026 Nov 3
- 2026 Nov 17
- 2026 Dec 1
- 2027 Feb 2
- 2027 Feb 16
- 2027 March 2
- 2027 March 16
- 2027 March 30
Do you like this itinerary – Start planning your trip below
Last updated 14 June, 2026 by Marie Vaughan