Egypt in 7 Days: Cairo, Nile Cruise & Alexandria Tour Budget Holiday

In the morning, you will enjoy breakfast and check out from your hotel in Cairo. You will then meet your private Egyptologist tour guide to begin your 7 Days Budget Tour to Cairo, Nile Cruise & Alexandria by exploring some of the most famous monuments of ancient Egyptian civilization.

Your first stop will be the Giza Pyramid Complex, one of history’s oldest landmarks, dating back over 4,000 years. Here, you will witness the three great pyramids, six smaller pyramids, the Great Sphinx, and the Valley Temple, all built to honor the pharaohs and preserve their legacy for eternity.

The Great Pyramid of Khufu is the last intact structure of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, built in 2580 BC, over 4,500 years ago. Constructed with 2,300,000 limestone blocks over 20 years, it rises 147 m (481 ft), making it the tallest building in the world for 3,800 years. Its complex interior design continues to fascinate travelers from across the globe.

The Great Sphinx, with the body of a lion and the head of a man, probably King Khafre, stands 73 m (240 ft) long and 19 m (66 ft) high. It represents wisdom and power and is the oldest monumental statue in existence.

The Valley Temple, a mortuary temple from Egypt’s Old Kingdom, was where mummification rituals took place. Made entirely of limestone and granite, it houses magnificent diorite statues of Khafre and remains one of the best-preserved monuments of ancient Egypt.

Next, visit the Grand Egyptian Museum, a modern gateway to the treasures of 5,000 years of Egyptian history. Spanning 490,000 square meters, it features one of the largest conservation centers in the Middle East, advanced research labs, and educational facilities. Marvel at masterpieces like the Hanging Obelisk, the 11-meter Colossus of Ramses II, and the complete Tutankhamun collection of over 5,000 artifacts.

Enjoy lunch at a Pyramid/Nile view restaurant, then continue to the Egyptian Museum, built in 1901. Here, you will explore one of the world’s greatest collections of archaeological treasures, featuring artifacts of various sizes, shapes, and materials, spanning millennia of Egyptian history.

At the end of the day, you will be transferred to Cairo Airport to catch your flight to Aswan. Upon arrival, check in to your 5★ deluxe Nile cruise and spend the night onboard.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Flight: From Cairo to Aswan
Overnight: Onboard the Nile Cruise

In the early morning, you will enjoy breakfast and continue your Cairo, Nile Cruise & Alexandria tour by exploring the most mesmerizing Aswan tourist attractions.

Start with the Aswan High Dam, constructed between 1960 and 1970 with the help of the Moscow-based Hydro Project Institute. This monumental structure was built to control Nile flooding, generate hydroelectricity, and provide water storage for irrigation in its reservoir, Lake Nasser. Following its construction, the Abu Simbel and Philae Temple sites were at risk of being submerged, but were miraculously saved by UNESCO in one of the most challenging archaeological rescue missions in history.

Next, visit the Unfinished Obelisk, a one-of-a-kind monument commissioned by Queen Hatshepsut Temple (1508–1458 BC). Intended to stand at the entrance of Karnak Temple alongside the Lateran Obelisk (now in Rome), this obelisk, known as "Tekhenu" meaning “to pierce the sky,” would have reached 42 m in height and weighed 1,200 tons. It was cracked during construction and remains in its original location, showcasing the ancient methods of obelisk construction.

Then, explore Philae Temple dedicated to the goddess Isis, the goddess of love and beauty. The temple illustrates the myth of Osiris, where Osiris is killed by his brother Set, resurrected to rule the underworld, and later avenged by Isis and their son Horus, the sky god. During the 1960s, the temple was relocated to Agilkia Island as part of a UNESCO-led rescue mission following the creation of Lake Nasser after the High Dam’s construction.

At the end of the day, you will return to the Nile cruise to enjoy lunch and dinner, followed by an overnight stay onboard.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Onboard the Nile Cruise

In the morning, you will enjoy breakfast onboard the cruise and then head to explore the Kom Ombo Temple with your tour guide. Known as "The Hill of Gold," this temple was built during the Greco-Roman period between 205 BC and 180 BC under the reign of Ptolemy V. Kom Ombo Temple is famous for its unique double design, divided into two identical sections: one dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek and the other to the falcon sky god Horus.

After the visit, return to the cruise for lunch and continue sailing to Edfu Temple. This temple is one of the last temples built during the Ptolemaic era (237 BC – 57 BC) and served as the official worship house of the sky god Horus. It was constructed on the site where, according to the Osiris Myth, the battle between the devil god Set and Horus took place. The architecture and interior of Edfu Temple are breathtaking, showcasing a beautiful blend of Greek and Egyptian design.

Keep sailing back to Luxor and enjoy your overnight stay onboard the cruise. Dinner will be served onboard.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Onboard the Nile Cruise

On day five, you will enjoy your breakfast and check out from the Nile Cruise. You will then be accompanied by your tour guide and board a private air-conditioned vehicle to explore the most incredible Luxor tourist attractions.

Start your day with the Valley of the Kings, a tunnel to the afterlife and a staircase to the heavens for the greatest kings and queens of Egypt's New Kingdom (1570-1070 BC). This archaeological wonder became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. It contains 63 tombs filled with mesmerizing artifacts, decorations, and the remains of pharaohs such as Ramses I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, IX, X, Amenhotep I, Hatshepsut, and the famous boy-king Tutankhamun.

Next, visit Queen Hatshepsut Temple, the finest example of the allure and grandeur of the New Kingdom. Also known as Deir El-Bahari or formerly Djeser-Djeseru (Holy of Holies), it was designed in 1479 BC by Hatshepsut’s chancellor Senenmut and took 15 years to construct. The temple’s design is inspired by Classical Architecture, and it contains some of the most impressive statues and decorations in all of Egypt.

Then, see the Colossi of Memnon, two colossal quartzite sandstone statues standing 18 m (60 ft) high and weighing 720 tons each, representing Amenhotep III (1386-1350 BC). The statues were damaged by an earthquake in 27 BC but rebuilt in 199 AD. They became famous during the Greco-Roman period for the phenomenon called The Vocal Memnon, where the wind passing through the statues at dawn created a mysterious singing sound.

Lunch Time – Enjoy a lunch on an island as part of a boat trip on the Nile River.

After lunch, end your Luxor tour with a visit to Karnak Temple, one of the holiest archaeological sites in the world and one of the largest man-made open-air museums. Known as Ipet-isu (The Most Selected of Places) and Pr-Imn House of Amon, this site served as the center of religious worship for the entire ancient Egyptian kingdom for over 4000 years. The complex is mainly dedicated to the Theban triad – God Amun, his wife Mut, and his son Khonsu – but also honors other gods such as Osiris, Montu, Ptah, and Isis. Covering 2 miles of land, Karnak houses over 25 temples and chapels, numerous obelisk monuments, sanctuaries, and columns that depict the heroic tales of the Pharaohs.

Finally, transfer to Luxor Airport to catch your flight to Cairo, where you will check in to a 5 hotel* for your overnight stay.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Flight: Luxor to Cairo
Overnight: Cairo Hotel

In the early morning, enjoy your breakfast and drive to the Bride of the Mediterranean Sea, Alexandria, to continue your Cairo, Nile Cruise & Alexandria tour with your private Egyptologist tour guide. Explore the top Alexandria tourist attractions, starting with the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa. The catacombs are a masterpiece of Greco-Roman art fused with ancient Egyptian culture, built as a necropolis in the 2nd century AD. They feature three levels filled with Greek and Roman artifacts, earning them the title of one of the seven wonders of the Middle Ages.

Next, visit Pompey's Pillar, a monolithic Roman column standing 28 m tall and 2.7 m wide, made of pure red granite. Its western upper side features a Greek inscription dedicated to Emperor Diocletian. The pillar got its name because, in the Middle Ages, the crusaders mistakenly believed the remains of the great Roman general Pompey were located at its top.

Enjoy a delicious seafood lunch at a local restaurant.

After lunch, explore Qaitbay Citadel, a magnificent fortress built in 1477 by Sultan Al-Ashraf Saif Al-Din Qa'it Bay on the site of the legendary Lighthouse of Alexandria. The citadel incorporates stones salvaged from the destroyed lighthouse, which was once the third longest surviving ancient wonder of the world. Its Islamic architectural decorations make it a unique historic masterpiece.

Finally, visit theAlexandria Library, one of the largest and most advanced libraries in the world, built to commemorate the ancient Library of Alexandria. It houses the world’s sixth-largest Francophone library, with books in Arabic, English, and French, along with art galleries and a collection of some of the rarest books in the world.

At the end of the day, transfer back to your Cairo hotel by private air-conditioned car for your overnight stay.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight: Cairo Hotel

On your final day, enjoy your breakfast at the hotel. Afterwards, our representative will transfer you to Cairo Airport, marking the end of your 7 Days Egypt Tour. From here, you will return home safely, carrying with you the memories of an unforgettable journey across Egypt’s ancient wonders and mesmerizing landscapes.

Meals: Breakfast