Egypt Holidays · Style
8-Day Egypt Holidays
An 8-day Egypt holiday is the 7-day itinerary with one extra day – and that extra day makes a real difference. Most British travellers use it for a slower Nile cruise schedule or a leisurely afternoon in Luxor at the Karnak sound-and-light show. Alexandria (Pompey's Pillar, the Catacombs, the Mediterranean waterfront) isn't included in the holidays listed here, though we can add it as a day from Cairo if you ask. Alternatively, the extra night allows an overnight in Abu Simbel rather than a 4am charter flight from Aswan. Every 8-day holiday is tailor-made, with a private Egyptologist guide, internal flights and all admissions included.
7 matching holidays ·
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Day by day
An 8-day Egypt itinerary, day by day
Seven nights is enough for Cairo and the Nile between Luxor and Aswan, travelling in one direction. Here is the order our classic 8-day holiday follows.
- Day 1Arrival in CairoNight in Cairo
- Day 2Pyramids, Sphinx and Grand Egyptian MuseumNight in Cairo
- Day 3Cairo to Luxor and the East BankNight on the ship, on the Nile
- Day 4Colossi of Memnon, Valley of the Kings and HatshepsutNight on the ship, on the Nile
- Day 5Edfu and Kom Ombo templesNight on the ship, on the Nile
- Day 6Philae Temple, the High Dam and the Unfinished ObeliskNight on the ship, on the Nile
- Day 7Aswan departure and Cairo arrivalNight in Cairo
- Day 8Departure from Cairo
This is the itinerary of our 8 Days Cairo and Nile Cruise Tour.
MidPrivate Guided 8-Day Nile Cruise from Hurghada to Luxor & Aswan (Abu Simbel by Road)
Hurghada
We operate this 8-day itinerary from Hurghada to Luxor and Aswan as a licensed Egyptian Destination Management Company (licensed by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism – ETAA). You spend 7 nights on a comfortable Nile cruise with full-board dining and daily guided shore excursions led by our certified Egyptologists. Transfers Hurghada ⇄ Luxor (embark and disembark) and all cruise transfers are included, and we run the full-day Abu Simbel excursion from Aswan by private road transfer. This package includes standard archaeological site entrance fees (the Valley of the Kings ticket included here covers entrance to three tombs). Small-group or private options and a la carte upgrades (for example, a private cabin, premium tomb entrances, or domestic flights) are available on request – we tailor the trip to your preferences and advise on timing, modest dress requirements, and practical trade-offs such as early starts or walking on uneven ancient stone.
BudgetNile cruise, Luxor round trip, 8 days / 7 nights
Nile (cruise route)
This eight-day Luxor round trip follows the Nile between Luxor and Aswan, with visits to major temples and river towns. In Luxor, the itinerary includes Karnak Temple and the West Bank, including the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut Temple. Further south, sightseeing includes Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae Temple. We arrange the accommodation, transfers and guided visits with an English-speaking Egyptologist. Unlike one-way Nile itineraries, a Luxor round trip begins and ends in Luxor; the listed route also includes stops at Edfu and Kom Ombo. Standard entrance fees for guided sights listed in the itinerary are included. The specific meal plan follows the itinerary.
Mid8 Days Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and Abu Simbel Nile Cruise
Cairo
This eight-day Egypt itinerary links Cairo’s Giza Plateau and Grand Egyptian Museum with ancient sites along the Nile and at Abu Simbel. In Luxor, visit Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple and the West Bank monuments, including the Valley of the Kings and the Temple of Hatshepsut. The Nile cruise segment includes stops at Edfu and Kom Ombo before sightseeing in Aswan and an early morning visit to Abu Simbel. Unlike shorter cruise itineraries that allow little time at river temples, this programme includes visits to both Edfu and Kom Ombo. We arrange the trip on the ground as a licensed Egyptian tour operator, with English-speaking Egyptologists for guided visits.
Budget8-day Cairo and Nile cruise holiday by sleeper train
Luxor
Over eight days this holiday pairs Cairo’s great monuments with a four-night Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan, travelling between the two by overnight sleeper train rather than by air. That keeps the cost down and turns two travel days into nights on the move. In Cairo, an Egyptologist guides you around the Giza Plateau, the Great Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum. On the cruise you visit Karnak and Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut’s temple at Deir el-Bahari, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Philae and the Aswan High Dam. Standard entrance fees are included; pyramid interiors, premium tombs such as Tutankhamun and Seti I, and extras such as Abu Simbel are available on request. We arrange the hotel, the cruise cabin, the train compartments and every transfer, through trusted local partners.
Budget8 Days Cairo and Nile Cruise Tour
Nile (cruise route)
A guided 8-day holiday combining three nights in Cairo with a four-night Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator and arrange private transfers and an Egyptologist throughout; domestic flights are booked separately. Sightseeing follows a paced rhythm: Giza Plateau and the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo, Luxor East and West Bank temples, sailing stops at Edfu and Kom Ombo, and Philae Temple, the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk in Aswan. A visit to Abu Simbel can be arranged as an optional extra. We arrange hotel check-in nights in Cairo and full-board cruise accommodation, so you move between land and river sections without carrying luggage long distances.
MidLuxor to Aswan Solar Eclipse 2027 Nile Cruise
Nile (cruise route)
A 7-night, 8-day Nile cruise aboard Nefertiti Cruise from Luxor to Aswan, sailing 31 July to 7 August 2027, with the 2027 total solar eclipse viewed from the sun deck while moored in Luxor on Day 3, alongside Egyptologist-guided visits to the West Bank, Karnak Temple, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae.
Premium7-Night Cairo to Aswan Nile Cruise and Solar Eclipse 2027 Package
Cairo
Two nights Cairo, two nights Luxor, eclipse on Day 3. The short fly-in shape for travellers who can't take eleven days off.
Practical questions
What clients ask about this style of holiday.
01Should I choose a 7-day or 8-day Egypt holiday?
Eight days is worth the extra night if you want a slower Nile cruise pace, or would like us to add Alexandria (the Mediterranean port city most short trips skip). If your priority is to see the main sights and head home, seven days is enough. Many of our British travellers add the eighth day specifically for an overnight in Abu Simbel – much more atmospheric than the dawn flight from Aswan.
02What does the eighth day on an 8-day Egypt holiday usually add?
Most British clients use the extra night for one of four shapes: an overnight in Abu Simbel rather than the 4am charter flight, a more leisurely cruise day with a full afternoon at Kom Ombo or Edfu, a free afternoon in Luxor for the Karnak sound-and-light show, or a half-day in Alexandria from Cairo – that last one is arranged on request and isn't in the holidays listed on this page. We tailor the eighth day to the brief – tell us your priority and we shape around it.
03How much does an 8-day Egypt holiday cost from the UK?
Prices on this page currently start from £1,186 per person (8 days, two sharing); each card shows its own from-price. Add 25–35% for Christmas, New Year and the school half-terms. UK flights are separate – typically £450–£700 from London or the regional hubs.
04Is the Nile cruise on an 8-day holiday longer than the 7-day version?
Yes – the standard 8-day itinerary uses a 4-night cruise sailing south from Luxor to Aswan, versus the 7-day's 3-night sailing north from Aswan. The extra night unlocks a full afternoon at Edfu and Kom Ombo (rather than back-to-back morning calls) plus an unhurried late arrival in Aswan with a felucca-sail at sundown on the same evening.
05Is Egypt safe for UK travellers on an 8-day holiday?
Yes. Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, the Nile cruise route and the Red Sea resorts are all clear of FCDO 'against travel' advisories. The North Sinai border and Libyan frontier are flagged at higher levels and we never run trips there. Tourist police are visible at every monument and our Egyptian offices provide 24/7 in-country support throughout your holiday.
06What is included in the from-price of a holiday?
Whatever appears under "Included" on that holiday's page. In most cases that means hotels, the Nile cruise if the holiday has one, entrance fees for the sites on the itinerary, an English-speaking Egyptologist and transport. A number of holidays include internal flights or the sleeper train as well, so do check the one you are looking at. Flights from the UK are not included.
07How early should I book an Egypt holiday?
If you are travelling over Christmas and New Year, try to have the booking confirmed roughly six months beforehand, and the same goes for Easter. Cairo hotels are difficult to secure over Eid. For the total solar eclipse in August 2027 there is very little left, so if we find you space it is worth taking.
08What deposit do you ask for?
Between about 25% and 50% of the holiday price. The season decides it, along with whether train or flight tickets are included.
09What happens if I need to cancel?
You can cancel. How much is refunded depends on how near to departure you are. Our cancellation and refund policy page gives the terms in full. Cancellation and refund policy
Worth reading next
- A sample 8-day Egypt holidayThe week set out in more detail, ready to be changed to suit you.
- Luxor round-trip Nile cruisesSeven nights on the river, starting and finishing in Luxor, with no Cairo.
From the Cairo desk
Found the shape. Now make it yours.
Every Egypt holiday we sell is tailor-made – your dates, your party, your pace. Send a short brief or talk to the Cairo desk direct. Replies inside one working day.
– Suhaila & the Cairo team · 38 years · 6 offices · IATA #90255546