Cornelius Amann
October 06, 2026
5/5
Egypt, the Nile and the Red Sea
12 days from Cairo to the Red Sea: Giza at opening, a night at Abu Simbel, three nights on the Nile, a Luxor balloon and a guided reef day.
12 days · Cairo to Hurghada · up to 12 guests
The pyramids of Giza, seen from the plateau Photo: Warren LeMay, CC0 1.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pyramids_of_Giza,_Giza,_GG,_EGY_(47113315194).jpg)
The facts
At a glance
- Length
- 12 days, 11 nights
- Start and end
- Cairo to Hurghada
- Group size
- 7 to 12 guests
- Activity level
Moderate
Two to four hours on your feet most days, on sand, uneven stone and steps, often in strong sun. The Red Pyramid passage is steep and low, and you can wait outside. The reef day needs basic swimming; life vests are provided.
- Meals included
- 11 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 3 dinners
- Room of your own
- + CAD 1,100
- Season
- October to April
Highlights
Why this trip
- Giza at opening, then the Grand Egyptian Museum a few minutes away
- Saqqara and Dahshur, the quiet pyramids, with a climb inside the Red Pyramid
- A night at Abu Simbel and the temples at sunrise, not a 3 am convoy
- Three nights on the Nile, Philae by motorboat and a felucca at golden hour
- A dawn balloon over Luxor's West Bank, included
- A guided reef day at the Giftun Islands on the Red Sea
What makes this trip different
Free time is part of the plan
Free time and choices are marked on the days they fall.
Solo without the penalty
A room of your own is + CAD 1,100.
Day by day
Itinerary
Tap any stop on the map to open that dayClick any stop on the map to open that day
Arrive in Cairo
Cairo International Airport to your hotel near Giza
- Meals on your own
- Stay in Giza
Your trip starts at Cairo International Airport (CAI). We meet you in the arrivals hall and drive you across the city to your hotel on the Giza side, close to the pyramid plateau, which is your base for the first three nights. Staying out here instead of downtown cuts tomorrow's drive to the pyramids to minutes, so the early entry is easy and you skip the worst of Cairo's traffic twice. The rest of the day is yours to rest after the flight.
Evening
In the early evening you meet your See Sight Tours guide and the group for a short briefing on the days ahead: how we time each site for light and crowds, how the single tipping kitty works, and what to pack for the desert, the river and the reef.
Included
- Pick-up at Cairo International Airport (CAI)
- Welcome briefing with your guide
Free time: Rest of the day free
Giza at opening and the Grand Egyptian Museum
The pyramid plateau, then the museum next door
- Breakfast
- Stay in Giza
We are at the Giza plateau gate when it opens, while the light is soft and before the big tour coaches arrive. With a licensed Egyptologist you walk around the Great Pyramid of Khufu, built about 4,500 years ago and the only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World still standing. Then a short drive to the panorama viewpoint, where all three pyramids line up across the desert, and down to the Great Sphinx, seen from beside the Valley Temple of Khafre.
Afternoon
After lunch the Grand Egyptian Museum is a few minutes away: a colossal statue of Ramesses II greets you in the atrium, the grand staircase is lined with royal statues, and dedicated galleries show Tutankhamun's tomb treasures together. Late afternoon is free.
Included
- Giza pyramids and the Great Sphinx with a licensed Egyptologist
- Panorama viewpoint on the plateau
- Grand Egyptian Museum, including the Tutankhamun galleries
Free time: Late afternoon free
Saqqara, Memphis and Dahshur, then Islamic Cairo
The quiet pyramids south of Giza, and an evening in the old city
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Giza
Today is the quiet side of the pyramid age. South of Giza, Saqqara is home to the Step Pyramid of Djoser, designed by the architect Imhotep around 4,700 years ago and often called the oldest large stone building in the world. At nearby Memphis, once the capital of ancient Egypt, a colossal statue of Ramesses II lies in an open-air museum among palm groves. At Dahshur the Bent Pyramid changes angle partway up, and you can climb down a long, low passage into the chambers of the Red Pyramid, usually with only a handful of other visitors.
Afternoon
Lunch is at a local restaurant on the way back, then a rest. After dark we head into Islamic Cairo to walk Al-Muizz Street, past medieval mosques and madrasas, to the lanes of Khan el-Khalili.
Included
- Saqqara and the Step Pyramid of Djoser
- Memphis open-air museum
- Dahshur: the Bent Pyramid and the Red Pyramid
- Evening walk on Al-Muizz Street and in Khan el-Khalili
Your choice: Climb down the passage into the Red Pyramid / Stay outside and walk around the Dahshur pyramids Included in the price.
Free time: Mid-afternoon rest at the hotel
Fly to Aswan and drive to Abu Simbel
Cairo to Aswan by air, then south through the desert
- Breakfast
- Stay in Abu Simbel
- Drive about 3.5 h
Morning
A morning flight takes you south from Cairo to Aswan, about an hour and a half in the air, and your vehicle is waiting at the airport. From there the road runs about 280 km south through the desert of Lower Nubia to Abu Simbel, roughly three and a half hours with a break on the way, while your guide tells the story of the Nubian monuments and the dams that flooded this valley. Unlike most trips, you do not come and go in one long day with a 3 am start: you sleep in Abu Simbel, close to the shore of Lake Nasser.
Evening
In the evening the sound and light show plays across the temple facades, and the sky over the desert is usually clear and full of stars.
Included
- Flight from Cairo to Aswan
- Drive from Aswan to Abu Simbel
- Abu Simbel sound and light show
Free time: Late afternoon free by Lake Nasser
Abu Simbel at sunrise, then onto the Nile
The temples at opening, back to Aswan and a felucca at golden hour
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Aswan (on board)
- Drive about 3.5 h
The temples are a short walk from your hotel, so you are there when the site opens, as the early sun lights the four seated colossi of Ramesses II, each about 20 m tall, on the facade that faces east across the lake. Inside, the halls run deep into the rock; next door, the smaller temple honours Queen Nefertari and the goddess Hathor. Both temples were cut into blocks and moved higher up the hill in the 1960s to escape the rising lake, in an international rescue led by UNESCO.
Afternoon
Then the drive back to Aswan and on board your Nile boat in time for lunch.
Evening
Late in the afternoon a felucca sails you past Elephantine Island and Kitchener's Island at golden hour, with sunset on the water.
Included
- Great Temple of Ramesses II and the Temple of Nefertari and Hathor at opening
- Drive from Abu Simbel to Aswan
- Felucca sail around Elephantine and Kitchener's islands
Free time: Early afternoon free on board
Philae, a Nubian village and Kom Ombo
By motorboat to Philae, tea on the West Bank, then sailing north
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Edfu (on board)
- By boat
An early start for Philae, the temple of Isis, reached by a small motorboat across the water between the old Aswan Dam and the High Dam. Arriving close to opening means calm water, soft light on the pylons and room to walk the colonnades. The whole temple was taken apart and rebuilt on Agilkia Island in the 1970s, after the old dam left it under water for much of the year. A short stop at the High Dam, then across the Nile to Gharb Soheil, a Nubian village of brightly painted houses, for tea in a family home: a named, unhurried visit, not a shop stop.
Evening
Back on board for lunch, the boat sails north, and at dusk you step off at Kom Ombo, a double temple for the crocodile god Sobek and the falcon god Haroeris, before the boat sails on to Edfu overnight.
Included
- Philae Temple by motorboat, at opening
- Aswan High Dam
- Tea with a family in the Nubian village of Gharb Soheil
- Kom Ombo temple and the Crocodile Museum at dusk
Free time: Midday free on deck while the boat sails
Edfu and a day on the river
The Temple of Horus at opening, then the Esna lock
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Luxor (on board)
- By boat
The boat moors overnight at Edfu, so the visit comes first thing, before the heat: the Temple of Horus, finished in the Ptolemaic period a little over 2,000 years ago, is the best-preserved temple in Egypt, with its great pylon, open courtyard and roofed inner halls still standing. Then the rest of the day belongs to the river.
Afternoon
From the sun deck you watch farms, palm groves, water buffalo and mudbrick villages slide past, and in the afternoon the boat waits its turn to pass through the lock at Esna, where traders in rowing boats sometimes call up to the deck. Nothing else is planned.
Evening
Sunset is from the deck, and the boat reaches Luxor, where it moors for the night.
Included
- Temple of Horus at Edfu, at opening
- Sailing through the Esna lock
Free time: Afternoon free on deck
Karnak at opening and Luxor Temple after dark
The east bank of Luxor, with a free afternoon
- Breakfast
- Stay in Luxor
Karnak opens early and we are there at opening, when the sun comes in low through the 134 columns of the Great Hypostyle Hall and lights the carvings, hours before the tour coaches fill the courts. Karnak grew over about 2,000 years of building by pharaoh after pharaoh, and your Egyptologist walks you from the hall to the sacred lake and the obelisk of Hatshepsut. Then you leave the boat and check into your Luxor hotel for two nights.
Afternoon
The afternoon is free: sleep, swim or stroll the Corniche along the river. After dark, when the air is cool, you walk through Luxor Temple under floodlights, to where the Avenue of Sphinxes sets off on its way to Karnak.
Included
- Karnak Temple with a licensed Egyptologist, at opening
- Luxor Temple after dark
Free time: Afternoon free
Balloon at dawn and the West Bank
Over the Theban hills by balloon, then the Valley of the Kings
- Breakfast
- Stay in Luxor
This is the one very early start of the trip, and it is worth it.
Morning
Before dawn you cross to the West Bank, and your hot-air balloon lifts off as the sun rises over the Nile, drifting above green fields, the Colossi of Memnon and the bare cliffs that hide the Valley of the Kings. The balloon is included in the price. If wind grounds the flights, we try again the next morning before the drive to the coast. You land straight into the West Bank day: the Valley of the Kings near opening, with entry to three royal tombs and to Tutankhamun's, then the terraced Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari and a stop at the Colossi.
Afternoon
Lunch, then the afternoon is free at the hotel to sleep or swim.
Included
- Sunrise hot-air balloon flight over the West Bank
- Valley of the Kings, three tombs plus the tomb of Tutankhamun
- Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari
- Colossi of Memnon
Free time: Afternoon free
Activity: Pick-up before dawn for the balloon, the only pre-dawn start of the trip
Across the desert to the Red Sea
Luxor to the coast near Hurghada
- Breakfast
- Stay in Hurghada
- Drive about 4 h
Morning
A slow morning after yesterday's early start: breakfast, and nothing before mid-morning. Then the drive east to the Red Sea, roughly 290 km and about four hours. The road follows the Nile north to Qena, then turns into the Eastern Desert and climbs through bare, rust-coloured mountains, with a break on the way, before dropping to the coast at Safaga and running north. Your hotel is on the coast near Hurghada, with a beach and calm water for swimming, and it is your base for the last two nights.
Afternoon
You arrive in the afternoon with time for a first swim.
Evening
Dinner tonight is on your own; your guide can point you to good fish restaurants close by.
Included
- Drive from Luxor to the Red Sea coast
Free time: Late afternoon and evening free
A guided reef day at the Giftun Islands
By boat into the Giftun Islands protected area
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Hurghada
- By boat
Today the Red Sea is organised, not just free time.
Morning
A boat from a licensed dive centre takes the group out from Hurghada to the reefs of the Giftun Islands, a protected area, leaving in the morning before the wind picks up. A local snorkel guide briefs you on reef etiquette and leads each swim over hard and soft corals, with parrotfish, anemonefish and, with luck, a turtle. Masks, fins and life vests are provided, and less confident swimmers can stay close to the guide or the boat ladder.
Afternoon
Lunch is on board, with a stop at a sandy island beach.
Evening
Back by late afternoon, the evening is free for a farewell dinner together or a quiet night.
Included
- Reef boat trip to the Giftun Islands with a snorkel guide
- Snorkel gear
- Protected-area entry fee
Your choice: Guided snorkelling at the Giftun reefs / A try-dive with a dive instructor Included in the price.
Optional experiences
- A try-dive with a dive instructor
Free time: Evening free
A free morning and home
Hurghada International Airport (HRG)
- Breakfast
Morning
Your last morning on the Red Sea is free, with no wake-up call: a final swim, a long breakfast or a walk along the shore. Your guide sees you through checkout and rides with you to Hurghada International Airport (HRG) for your flight.
Evening
Hurghada has domestic flights to Cairo for long-haul connections home and direct flights to many European cities, so plan a departure in the afternoon or evening and keep the morning for the sea. If you would rather end the trip in Cairo, ask us and we can book the domestic flight and a night near Cairo airport. That rounds off twelve days with the pyramids, three nights on the Nile, Luxor from the air and a day on the reef.
Included
- Drop-off at Hurghada International Airport (HRG)
Free time: Morning free
- Cairostart
- Giza3 nights
- Abu Simbel1 night
- Aswan (on board)1 night
- Edfu (on board)1 night
- Luxor (on board)1 night
- Luxor2 nights
- Hurghada2 nights
- Overnight stop
- Day trip
- By boat or train
Wildlife and weather: October to April is the cool season. From May to September, Luxor and Aswan are very hot, with daytime highs often near or above 40°C. The Red Sea is warm enough to snorkel all year, most comfortably in spring and autumn. Turtles are sometimes seen on the reef day; we cannot promise them. Balloon flights depend on the wind.
Before you book
Right for you?
Good for you if you want
- Seeing the big sites at quiet times
- Travellers who like early mornings and free afternoons
- First trips to Egypt
- An easy swim or snorkel to finish
Not for you if you want
- Late starts every day
- Step-free access at every site
- Travel in the summer heat
Book flights after we confirm your seat.
11 nights
Where you'll stay
Your hotels are named in your trip confirmation.
- Giza3 nights
- Abu Simbel1 night
- Aswan (on board)1 night
- Edfu (on board)1 night
- Luxor (on board)1 night
- Luxor2 nights
- Hurghada2 nights
One price
What's in the price
Included
Accommodation
- 11 nights: 3 near Giza, 1 in Abu Simbel, 3 on a small Nile cruise boat, 2 in Luxor and 2 on the Red Sea coast near Hurghada
Transport
- Pick-up at Cairo International Airport (CAI)
- Flight from Cairo to Aswan
- All drives in a private air-conditioned vehicle with drinking-water refills
- Nile boat from Aswan to Luxor, the felucca sail and the motorboat to Philae
- Drop-off at Hurghada International Airport (HRG)
Activities
- Giza pyramids, the Great Sphinx and the panorama viewpoint
- Grand Egyptian Museum
- Saqqara, Memphis and Dahshur
- Evening walk on Al-Muizz Street and in Khan el-Khalili
- Abu Simbel temples and the sound and light show
- Philae, the High Dam and tea with a Nubian family
- Kom Ombo and Edfu temples
- Karnak and Luxor Temple
- Sunrise hot-air balloon over the West Bank
- Valley of the Kings with Tutankhamun's tomb, the Temple of Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon
- Guided reef boat day at the Giftun Islands with snorkel gear
Meals
- Breakfast daily
- All meals on the Nile boat
- Lunch on days 3 and 11
Your guide
- Your See Sight Tours guide for all 12 days
- Licensed Egyptologist guides at the archaeological sites
- A snorkel guide on the reef day
Not included
- International flights to Cairo and from Hurghada
- Egypt visa
- Travel insurance
- Lunches and dinners not listed
- Drinks
- The tipping kitty and any tip for your guide
- The optional try-dive
Extras
- Room of your own
- CAD 1,100
When you can go
Dates and prices
Pick your start date when you request to book. We confirm your departure within 24 hours.
Want your own dates? We can book the same hotels, transport and city tours for you to travel independently.
Before you book
Booking terms
Nothing is charged now. Full terms and the cancellation schedule come with your confirmation.
Business addresses
See Sight Tours Trips (USA): 3172 N Rainbow Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89108, United StatesSee Sight Tours Trips (Canada): 5305 50 Avenue, #1091, Red Deer, AB T4N 4B6, Canada+1-888-961-6584Guest reviews
What guests say
Reviews from guests on our day tours.
Jane
October 06, 2026
5/5
Susan
October 06, 2026
5/5
Tom L
October 05, 2026
5/5
MandL83
October 05, 2026
5/5
Darren O
October 05, 2026
5/5
Good to know
Questions
What does the trip include?
11 nights of hotels and Nile boat cabins, the Cairo to Aswan flight, every transfer in our own air-conditioned vehicle, your See Sight Tours guide for all 12 days, licensed Egyptologists at the sites, every entry ticket on the day plan including Abu Simbel and Tutankhamun's tomb, the Luxor balloon flight, the felucca sail, the Giftun reef boat day and the meals listed each day.
Why do we sleep at Abu Simbel?
Most trips visit Abu Simbel in one day from Aswan, leaving around 3 am and driving about three and a half hours each way for a short visit. We drive down the day before, see the sound and light show, sleep a short walk from the temples and visit at opening, rested, with the early sun on the facade.
How early are the starts?
Several mornings start early so we reach Giza, Abu Simbel, Philae, Edfu and Karnak at opening, before the heat and the coaches. Only one start is before dawn: the Luxor balloon on day 9. To balance the early mornings, most afternoons are free and day 10 starts slowly.
What is the Red Sea part like?
Two nights in a beach hotel on the coast near Hurghada, with a full guided reef day: a boat from a licensed dive centre to the Giftun Islands, a snorkel guide in the water with you, gear and lunch on board. You do not need to dive. A try-dive with an instructor is available at extra cost.
Are there shopping stops?
No unlisted ones. The only visit to a home is tea with a Nubian family in Gharb Soheil, named on day 6, and nobody is asked to buy anything. Khan el-Khalili is an evening walk through the old bazaar, and shopping there is up to you.
How does tipping work?
Tips for drivers, boat crew and the local helpers along the way go into one kitty, collected by your guide at the start, so you are not reaching for change all day. We tell you the amount before you book. A tip for your See Sight Tours guide is optional and never expected.
When is the best time to go?
October to April, when Cairo, Luxor and Aswan are cooler. From May to September the south is very hot. The Red Sea is warm enough to snorkel all year. On 22 February and 22 October, the Abu Simbel sun festival dates, the temples are very crowded, so we plan around them unless you ask for them.
Do I need a visa for Egypt?
Canadian passport holders need a visa for Egypt, available as an e-Visa online before you travel or on arrival at Cairo airport. Rules and fees change, so check the official sources before you fly. The visa is not included in the price.
How big is the group?
The small-group trip runs with 7 to 12 guests, so the group fits in one vehicle and moves through each site together without waiting for a coach.
Can we travel privately or on our own?
Yes. Besides the small group, the trip comes as a private trip for your party only, on a date you choose. If you would rather travel on your own on your own dates, ask us from the dates section: we can book the same hotels, Nile boat, flight and site visits for you to travel independently.
How much does it cost?
Prices are per person sharing a room, with taxes, and differ by style: small group or private. The small group starts from CAD 4,830 per person, and a room of your own is from CAD 1,100 more. Pick your start date when you request to book, and we confirm your trip within 24 hours. Nothing is charged until then.
See Sight Tours has been providing travel services across North America since 2006. Operating in 20 cities across Canada and the USA, the company specializes in small group tours that offer personalized, high-quality experiences for travelers.
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