So, you’ve always wanted to visit Egypt. You’ve got a mental image of the pyramids, maybe the Nile… and you’re starting to gather ideas of what you’d like to see. But how do you turn that dream into a smooth, meaningful journey?
Let me help you plan your trip—step by step.
Where to Start? It Often Begins with Cairo
Most international flights still land in Cairo. Some travelers opt to transfer immediately to Luxor, but speaking from experience, I can tell you that jumping on another flight right after arriving can be exhausting.
Instead, I recommend spending a few days in Cairo first. This gives you time to catch your breath, adjust, and begin absorbing Egypt’s energy at your own pace.
You can structure your itinerary to suit your own interests and schedule. Many visitors enter via one city and depart from another—for example, fly into Luxor and return home via Cairo, or vice versa.
First Stop: Cairo
Hotels in Cairo are becoming expensive, but with some searching you can still find good value. Before choosing your hotel, think about the sites you want to visit, then select your hotel based on location and convenience.
Check out my Tours in Cairo page for inspiration—it’s packed with details on the must-see sites. And keep an eye on my blog, as I update it when I can with posts or news on restorations and new openings.
As of October 2025 there are 16 galleries open at the Grand Egyptian Museum aka GEM at Giza and seeing it the same day as your trip to the Gt. Pyramid is the best idea.. However, the Antiquities Museum at Tahrir Square is still packed with many exciting artifacts and still on my “must see” list. Many of the royal mummies have been moved to the Museum of Egyptian Civilization—which is also well worth visiting.
Add-On Option: Alexandria
Alexandria pairs beautifully with Cairo. You can visit either:
- At the beginning of your trip, before heading south to Luxor
- Or at the end, if you’re flying out of Cairo
Tour Options Include:
- Day trip to Alexandria
- Overnight stay (1 night / 2 days touring)
- 2 nights in Alexandria including a full day in Rosetta, the birthplace of the Rosetta Stone
Luxor: A Place You’ll Remember
To get from Cairo to Luxor, your best options are either flying or the overnight train. I recommend flying—it’s quicker, and the price difference is minimal. The train sounds romantic, but most travellers don’t get much sleep and often need the following day just to recover.
In Luxor, we’d be delighted to welcome you to Mara House—a quiet, unique and comfortable base where you can relax, reset, and enjoy some authentic Egyptian home cooking at our Salahadeen Feast.
You’ll need at least 2.5 to 3 full days in Luxor to explore both the East and West Banks. If Luxor is on your list, consider my 3-night package with tours from Mara House — a perfect, all-in-one experience.
Next Stop: Aswan
There are several ways to travel from Luxor to Aswan:
- Private Car: You can stop at the temples of Edfu and Kom Ombo along the way. We can provide a private driver, or offer a full tour package including a guide and entry tickets.
- Train: About 3 hours, but you’ll miss the temples en route unless you do separate trips.
- 4-Night Nile Cruise: My personal favourite. Glide down the Nile under open skies, watch life unfold on the riverbanks, enjoy good food and wine, and explore sites along the way with an experienced guide. Guests often tell me they return to Egypt just for this experience.
Abu Simbel – The Finale!
To visit Abu Simbel, you’ll need to overnight in Aswan first. Here’s how to reach it:
- Overland (by car): Leave early morning and return before lunch (leaving time for Philae Temple in the afternoon), or go later in the day and return in the evening. This takes about 10 hours in total.
- Flight: While EgyptAir technically offers this route, it has been highly unreliable since 2017. Flights are often changed or cancelled at short notice, disrupting other parts of your itinerary.
Itinerary Ideas
You can arrange your trip in this order: Cairo → Alexandria → Luxor → Aswan → Abu Simbel
Or this one: Luxor → Aswan → Abu Simbel → Cairo → Alexandria → Cairo Departure
I offer a 9-night Egypt Holidays package that combines the highlights of Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, and a Nile Cruise. You can also extend your stay in any of the cities for a deeper experience.
Prefer to Travel With a Group?
If you enjoy the camaraderie and ease of group travel, check out the dates and itineraries for my own Mara House Group Tours. These tours are personally guided by me and limited to 15 people for comfort and quality. We also offer add-on tours in Cairo for those who want to see more.
Warm regards,
Mara
Mara House Luxor