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Circuits
Classic Egypt: Cairo, Luxor & Aswan
The essential Pharaohs circuit: Giza, the Nile, Karnak, the West Bank and Philae — eight days, unhurried.
The journey
Journey overview
A short, well-paced introduction for travellers with limited time — or a perfect prelude before a Nile cruise.
We keep hotel transfers private, visit Giza when the light is kind, and leave space in the afternoons so Cairo does not feel like a checklist. The Grand Egyptian Museum (or the historic museum, if you prefer) is given the hours it deserves.
Day by day
Detailed itinerary
Day 1
Arrive Cairo
A private meeting in the arrivals hall at Cairo International — your name, not a group sign — then a car to the hotel. We choose Nile-side or Zamalek for the view and a calmer evening, not for a checklist of monuments.
The rest of the day is deliberately empty. If you land in daylight, a first walk along the river is enough; if you land late, we protect your sleep. There is no temple on arrival day.
We confirm tomorrow’s start time the same evening, including how early Giza needs to be in summer. Bottled water is in the car from the first transfer.
Day 2
Giza, Memphis & Saqqara
Morning on the Giza plateau at a sensible hour — earlier in summer, a little later in winter when the light is kinder. The three pyramids of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure, time with the Sphinx that is not a photograph from a moving bus, and a panoramic stop away from the densest coaches.
A pyramid interior is optional: steep, hot, unforgettable for some, skippable for others. We never put it on the mandatory list. After the plateau, we continue south to Memphis, the first capital, and Saqqara, where the Step Pyramid of Djoser begins stone architecture in Egypt.
Lunch is included on this day. We aim to be back in Cairo before the worst of the evening traffic. Comfortable shoes, a hat and water matter more here than anywhere else on a first circuit.
Day 3
Grand Egyptian Museum & Islamic Cairo
Morning in the Grand Egyptian Museum — a collection that needs hours, not a corridor dash. Tutankhamun, the royal boats, and the galleries you actually care about, chosen with your Egyptologist rather than every hall in sequence.
Afternoon in historic Cairo: the Citadel of Saladin and the Mosque of Muhammad Ali. Shoulders and knees covered inside. Khan el-Khalili is optional if you want the souk; it is easy to skip if you have had enough stone and people.
Return to the hotel in the late afternoon. The evening is free. Drink bottled water; Cairo’s tap water is not for visitors.
Day 4
Depart, or continue
Breakfast at the hotel, then a private transfer to Cairo International timed to your flight, not to a group departure. We stay with you until check-in when connections are tight.
If you are continuing — Luxor, a Nile cruise, the Red Sea, or a quieter Fayoum day — we connect the same car and the same briefing. Arrival-day rest is behind you; today is only logistics.
Keep passport, visa approval and insurance certificate in your cabin bag. Egypt’s airports are orderly but slow at peak hours.
What’s in the price
Inclusions & exclusions
Included
- Private vehicle and driver throughout
- French- or English-speaking Egyptologist guide on cultural days
- Accommodation as listed (or equivalent)
- Breakfast daily; other meals as specified per day
- All listed entrance fees
- Airport, hotel and boat transfers
- Bottled water on touring days
Not included
- International flights
- Egypt entry visa
- Drinks, laundry and personal expenses
- Tips for guides, drivers and hotel staff
- Travel insurance (mandatory)
- Optional activities (balloon, extra tombs, diving)
Good to know
Practical notes
Passport valid six months beyond entry. Comfortable walking shoes for Giza and the Citadel. Modest dress for mosques.
Good to Know
Questions about this trip
Straight answers from the planning team — ask anything else and we reply within a working day.
How is this circuit paced?
Cairo Highlights is a starting point. Cairo, Luxor and Aswan need enough days so temples and museum hours do not pile up. We keep Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum on separate mornings, split Luxor’s East and West Banks, and leave Aswan slower (Philae, a felucca hour). Extra nights, a Nile cruise, or a Red Sea finish are added when you send your dates.
Are domestic flights included?
When the itinerary uses a domestic flight (for example Cairo–Luxor or Aswan–Cairo), it is listed under inclusions. We need passport names 72 hours before those flights. International flights to Egypt are not included unless the page says so.
Can we add a Nile cruise or the Red Sea?
Yes. Many guests add cruise nights between Luxor and Aswan, or a few quiet days on the Red Sea after the temples. We keep transfers, hotels and the boat in one booking so the days connect without a scramble.
What is a typical day on the ground?
Cultural days start reasonably early (especially in summer), with a licensed Egyptologist, bottled water and private car. Lunch is listed when it is included. Afternoons are often lighter so the itinerary does not become a checklist. Temple interiors, extra tombs and a pyramid climb are optional extras, not obligations.
How far in advance should I book?
For winter (October–April) and event dates — festivals, concerts, the 2027 eclipse — book as soon as you can. Shoulder season can often be arranged with a few weeks’ notice. Hotels in Luxor for 2 August 2027 sell out early.
Can this itinerary be customised?
Yes. Cairo Highlights is a starting point. We adjust days, hotels, meals and extras (Abu Simbel, balloon, a pyramid interior) once we know who is travelling and what you want to skip.
How do payments work?
Published trips can be reserved on the site. For a custom amount we send a secure payment link. You receive written confirmation, inclusions and our cancellation terms before you travel.
Who will be our guide?
A licensed Egyptologist or local specialist, in French or English as you prefer. We introduce them before the day whenever we can. Drivers are not substitutes for guides at ticketed sites.
What about visas, packing and insurance?
Most visitors need a tourist visa (e-visa or on arrival). Pack light layers, modest dress for mosques, and sun protection. Comprehensive medical insurance with evacuation is required and not included. Full notes: visa, packing, health and insurance pages.
Still have a question about Cairo Highlights?
Plan with confidence
