13-day Alexandria, Cairo, Aswan–Luxor Nile cruise and Hurghada holiday

The short answer

13 Days Alexandria, Cairo, Hurghada Nile Cruise Holiday is a 13-day multi-day tour covering Alexandria, Cairo, Aswan, Luxor, the Nile cruise route, and Hurghada in Egypt, operated by Discovery Tours Egypt.

• Budget
• Diving & snorkelling
• Archaeology & history
• Cultural

Snapshot

Good to know

Duration

13 Days / 12 Nights

Travel style

Private Guided Tour

Accommodation

4-Star or 5-Star Hotels & 4-Star or 5-Star Nile Cruise

Operated by

Discovery Tours Egypt

Destinations

Alexandria · Cairo · Aswan · Luxor · Hurghada · Nile (Aswan–Luxor)

Includes

4 nights Cairo hotel · 3 nights Nile cruise · 1 night Luxor hotel · 4 nights Hurghada hotel · Domestic flights Cairo–Aswan and Hurghada–Cairo · Private Egyptologist guide · Private air-conditioned transfers · Entrance fees to itinerary sights · Snorkelling excursion in Hurghada

Best for

First-time visitors to Egypt · History enthusiasts · Travelers wanting both sightseeing and beach time · Families with school-age children · Private tour travelers

Guide languages

English

Background

The facts

Suited to

Is this for you?

What lingers

• 01Three-night Nile cruise sailing the Aswan–Luxor corridor, with guided visits ashore
• 02Private Egyptologist guide throughout the 13-day itinerary
• 03Explore Alexandria and Cairo’s principal sites with guided city touring
• 04Snorkelling excursion on the Red Sea at Hurghada
• 05Domestic flights between Cairo–Aswan and Hurghada–Cairo arranged for you

Worth knowing

How this compares

Unlike a point-to-point Egypt trip, this itinerary combines Mediterranean city sightseeing, Nile Valley monuments, and Red Sea downtime in one sequence. Compared with a standard land-only tour, the domestic flights and three-night Nile cruise reduce overland travel and make the schedule more manageable. Compared with a cruise-only holiday, it includes both Alexandria and Cairo, which adds the major urban and museum sites often missed on river-only programs.

Bundled in

• ✈Domestic flight
• 🚖Airport transfer
• ◈Group Egyptologist
• 🎟All entry tickets
• ✦Abu Simbel extension
• 🎈Hot-air balloon
• ⛵Felucca ride
• 🐪Camel ride
• ✨Sound & light show
• ✦Red Sea extension
• 🚖Private transfer
• ◈Private Egyptologist

The fine print

What's included – and what isn't

Tailor it

Make it yours

The itinerary can be adjusted to private or semi-private travel depending on availability and preference. Common changes include upgrading hotel category, adding extra time in Cairo or Hurghada, or extending the Nile cruise segment with additional guided visits. Meal plans, flight routing, and sightseeing order can also be modified to suit flight schedules and personal pace.

All requests handled by your dedicated specialist before booking.

Accessibility

Who can join this

This 13-day itinerary involves substantial walking on uneven ancient stone, cobbles and sand at archaeological sites and on Nile temple quays. Expect low stone steps (10–20 steps) and steep short flights at the Giza Plateau, Luxor West Bank tombs and many temple entrances; handrails are often absent. Shore visits from the Nile cruise and the Hurghada snorkelling trip require short ladders or ramps between boats and shore. Our modern private vehicles have limited space for wheelchairs; fully folding wheelchairs can usually be carried, but standard rigid chairs and mobility scooters are not practicable on small launches and many tomb interiors. We provide meet-and-assist at airports and help with ramps and lifting where local staff and site rules allow, but some sites cannot be made step-free. If you use a mobility aid or have reduced mobility, contact us before booking so we can advise which parts of the itinerary are feasible and request supplier confirmations in advance.

Before you go

What to pack & wear

The morning of

Meeting point & timing

Where

Cairo International Airport (CAI) — Arrivals Hall (meet-and-assist)Map

On the ground

Your route

– Responsible travel

How we travel here

Discovery Tours Egypt is a licensed Egyptian tour operator and we publish supplier arrangements openly. Transfers use modern, air-conditioned minivans and Mercedes‑style coaches sized to group numbers to avoid half-empty vehicles. Domestic flights are scheduled economy sectors used only for longer distances to reduce road miles. We contract local Egyptologists, drivers, hotels and a three-night Nile cruise operator in Aswan–Luxor, and we pay suppliers directly so more revenue remains with local crews and guides. For the Red Sea snorkelling we use licensed Hurghada dive operators who use mooring buoys or no-anchor procedures where available to protect coral. We do not run large coach sightseeing; private vehicles and small cruise groups reduce idle time. If you want carbon-offset options, fewer single-use plastics, or details of community projects we support, tell us at booking and we will share current partner documentation.

• Licensed local Egyptologists

  ETAA-credentialed, on payroll

• Fair wages on the ground

  Drivers + guides paid above market

• Site preservation

  We follow MoTA visitor caps and no-touch protocols

• Carbon-aware itineraries

  Domestic flights only when train/road is impractical

·In summary

Asked & answered

Frequent questions

1. 01How long is the 13-day Alexandria, Cairo, Aswan–Luxor Nile cruise and Hurghada holiday?

   The tour runs for 13 days from arrival in Cairo to departure from Cairo. It combines Alexandria and Cairo city sightseeing, a three-night Nile cruise between Aswan and Luxor, and four nights in Hurghada on the Red Sea. The pace mixes museum and city visits with a short cruise segment and beach time; we provide a private Egyptologist throughout and arrange domestic flights and transfers so you move between cities comfortably.
2. 02What time are airport pickups and how will transfers be arranged?

   We meet you at Cairo International Airport with a meet-and-assist service and provide private transfers throughout. Exact pickup times depend on your international flight arrival and domestic flight schedules; we confirm times with you before travel. All inter-site transfers, domestic flights (Cairo–Aswan and Hurghada–Cairo) and private air-conditioned vehicles for excursions are included in the itinerary.
3. 03Which entrance fees and excursions are included, and what is excluded?

   Entrance fees to all sights listed in the itinerary are included, as is the Hurghada snorkelling excursion. Domestic flights, private Egyptologist guide, transfers, accommodation and service charges are included. Excluded items are tipping for guides, drivers and cruise staff, the Egypt entry visa, international airfare to and from Egypt, and any items not explicitly listed in the inclusions.
4. 04Is this itinerary suitable for people with limited mobility or specific accessibility needs?

   Many sites include uneven ancient stone, steps and soft sand, so accessibility varies by site. Tell us your exact mobility needs before booking. We can suggest adjustments, replace certain visits, and coordinate vehicles; however some temple approaches, tomb interiors and older cruise decks have limited ramp access and cannot accommodate full wheelchair access.
5. 05What level of fitness is required and how much walking should I expect?

   Expect several hours of walking on most sightseeing days, often on uneven stone, steps and loose sand. Temple complexes, Karnak and the Valley of the Kings involve standing, climbing short flights of stairs and sometimes long paved approaches. If you have reduced stamina we can adapt the pace, add vehicle time, or advise which days to rest.
6. 06Are children welcome and are there age-related considerations?

   Children are welcome but note the itinerary includes early starts, long days and narrow tomb passages. Let us know ages at booking so we can advise suitable rooming and child-friendly options. Supervise children at Nile quays, cruise decks and Hurghada beaches; some museum galleries and tombs may be unsuitable for very young children.
7. 07What should I bring and what clothes are appropriate for temples, mosques and the Red Sea?

   Bring sturdy walking shoes, a sunhat, high-SPF sunscreen, sunglasses, a refillable water bottle and light layers for cooler evenings. For temples and mosques wear modest clothing covering shoulders and knees; avoid sleeveless tops and short shorts. Pack swimwear, reef-safe sunscreen and a towel for Hurghada; a small daypack is useful for museums and temple visits.
8. 08Can I take photos at the main sites and are any sites restricted?

   Photography is allowed at most sites, but restrictions apply in some museum galleries and tombs. Flash, tripods and video equipment are sometimes prohibited inside museums and tombs; on-site staff will advise. Photography is permitted outside Abu Simbel; drone use is prohibited at most archaeological sites and requires prior authorisation which we can help clarify.
9. 09When is the best time of year for this combined itinerary (Alexandria, Nile cruise, Hurghada)?

   October to April is generally the best period, with milder daytime temperatures in Cairo, Luxor and Aswan and pleasant sea conditions for snorkelling. Summers (June–August) bring high heat in Upper Egypt and stronger sea thermals. Unlike short coach day trips, this itinerary spaces visits so you can rest during the hottest hours.
10. 10Do I need an early start for Abu Simbel and how is that visit arranged?

    Yes — the Abu Simbel visit requires a very early start, often before dawn (typically around 03:00–04:00) for a morning viewing. We arrange a private transfer to Abu Simbel and return you to the cruise or hotel in the late afternoon. The site is part of the Nubian Monuments UNESCO listing; expect time for photography and a short on-site museum visit.

If plans change

Cancellation

More than 30 days

Full refund less a £50 admin fee

15–30 days

50% refund

Within 14 days

No refund – date changes considered case by case