Quick answer
The ideal Egypt itinerary for a first visit is 10 to 14 days: 3 nights in Cairo for the pyramids and Grand Egyptian Museum, a flight to Luxor, a 4-night Nile cruise to Aswan, a day trip to Abu Simbel, and optionally a few days on the Red Sea. Seven days covers the highlights at a fast pace; 21 days adds Alexandria, the Western Desert and beach time.
How many days do you need in Egypt?
Plan 10 to 14 days in Egypt for a first visit, not including the 20–26 hours of travel from Australia each way. That gives you three days in Cairo and Giza, a full Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan, Abu Simbel, and some breathing room. With 7 days you can see the highlights but will be moving every day. With three weeks you can add Alexandria, the desert oases and the Red Sea.
Two principles shape every good Egypt itinerary. First, fly the long legs: Cairo to Luxor or Aswan is about 1 hour 10 minutes by air versus 8–12 hours by road or train. Second, start early: sightseeing is best from opening time until late morning, leaving afternoons for rest, especially outside winter.
What is the best 7-day Egypt itinerary?
In 7 days, focus on Cairo and Luxor, with a short 3-night cruise or a stay in Aswan only if you fly in and out efficiently. This is a fast plan for travellers on a stopover or with limited leave.
- Day 1 – Cairo: arrive, airport meet-and-assist, transfer to a Giza hotel with pyramid views.
- Day 2 – Giza and the GEM: Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx at opening time; afternoon at the Grand Egyptian Museum.
- Day 3 – Saqqara and Islamic Cairo: Step Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara, then Khan el-Khalili bazaar and the Citadel. Evening flight to Aswan.
- Day 4 – Abu Simbel and Aswan: early trip to Abu Simbel; board a 3-night cruise in the afternoon, or visit Philae Temple.
- Day 5 – Kom Ombo and Edfu: sail north, visiting Kom Ombo and the Temple of Horus at Edfu.
- Day 6 – Luxor: Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's temple, Karnak and Luxor temples.
- Day 7 – Depart: optional dawn balloon flight, then fly Luxor to Cairo for your international connection.
A closely related option is our Essential Egypt (8 days).
What is the best 10-day Egypt itinerary?
Ten days allows the classic route at a comfortable pace: 3 nights Cairo, 4-night Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan, and 2 nights Aswan with Abu Simbel.
- Day 1 – Arrive Cairo: meet-and-assist, transfer to your hotel; rest after the long flight.
- Day 2 – Pyramids and Sphinx: Giza plateau at opening, inside a pyramid if you wish, panoramic viewpoint; afternoon free.
- Day 3 – Grand Egyptian Museum: a full morning in the Tutankhamun galleries and Grand Staircase; afternoon in Islamic Cairo.
- Day 4 – Saqqara and Memphis: Step Pyramid and Old Kingdom tombs; evening flight to Luxor.
- Day 5 – Luxor East Bank: Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple; board your Nile cruise.
- Day 6 – Luxor West Bank: Valley of the Kings, Deir el-Bahari, Colossi of Memnon; sail to Esna.
- Day 7 – Edfu and Kom Ombo: Temple of Horus at Edfu, then sunset at Kom Ombo.
- Day 8 – Aswan: Philae Temple, High Dam, felucca around Elephantine Island; disembark.
- Day 9 – Abu Simbel: early departure to the temples of Ramesses II and Nefertari; afternoon Nubian village visit.
- Day 10 – Depart: fly Aswan to Cairo for your international flight home.
Alternatively, swap the cruise for a sailing boat with our 10-day dahabiya journey.
What is the best 14-day Egypt itinerary?
Two weeks is the ideal length: the full classic route plus extra time in Luxor and either Alexandria or the Red Sea. This version finishes at the beach, which helps you recover before the long flight home.
- Day 1 – Arrive Cairo.
- Day 2 – Giza: pyramids, Sphinx and the Valley Temple of Khafre.
- Day 3 – GEM: Grand Egyptian Museum; evening sound-and-light show or dinner with pyramid views.
- Day 4 – Saqqara, Dahshur and Memphis: Step Pyramid, the Bent and Red pyramids.
- Day 5 – Islamic and Coptic Cairo: Citadel, Sultan Hassan Mosque, Hanging Church, Khan el-Khalili; fly to Luxor.
- Day 6 – Luxor West Bank: dawn balloon flight, Valley of the Kings, Medinet Habu.
- Day 7 – Luxor East Bank: Karnak, Luxor Temple; board cruise.
- Day 8 – Esna and Edfu.
- Day 9 – Kom Ombo, sail to Aswan.
- Day 10 – Aswan: Philae, felucca, Nubian village.
- Day 11 – Abu Simbel; fly to Cairo, connect to Hurghada, or overnight Aswan.
- Days 12–13 – Red Sea: El Gouna or Hurghada; snorkelling at Giftun Islands, beach time.
- Day 14 – Depart via Cairo or Hurghada.
See our Egypt and Red Sea (14 days) or the Luxury Egypt (14 days), which swaps the beach for extra nights at Aswan's Old Cataract.
What is the best 21-day Egypt itinerary?
Three weeks lets you see almost everything: Cairo, Alexandria, Siwa Oasis, the White Desert, the Nile, Abu Simbel and the Red Sea.
- Day 1 – Arrive Cairo.
- Days 2–4 – Cairo: Giza, GEM, Saqqara, Dahshur, Islamic Cairo and the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (royal mummies).
- Days 5–6 – Alexandria: Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Qaitbay Citadel, catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa, seafood on the Corniche.
- Days 7–9 – Siwa Oasis: long drive west; Shali fortress, Oracle of Amun, salt lakes, desert springs.
- Days 10–11 – White Desert: 4WD to Bahariya and the chalk formations of the White Desert; overnight camp under the stars; return to Cairo.
- Day 12 – Fly to Luxor: Karnak and Luxor Temple.
- Day 13 – Luxor West Bank; board cruise.
- Days 14–16 – Nile cruise via Esna, Edfu and Kom Ombo to Aswan; Philae and felucca.
- Day 17 – Abu Simbel.
- Days 18–20 – Red Sea: snorkelling, diving or simply resting.
- Day 21 – Depart.
This mirrors our Ultimate Egypt (21 days). The desert section is best from October to April. See the Siwa Oasis and White Desert guides.
Should I include a Nile cruise in my itinerary?
Yes, for almost every itinerary of 8 days or more. A 4-night Luxor to Aswan cruise covers Luxor, Esna, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Aswan with no hotel changes, and the days on deck are the restful heart of the trip. If you prefer land-based travel, you can stay in Luxor and Aswan hotels and drive between them (about 3 hours), stopping at Edfu and Kom Ombo along the way. Read our Nile cruises guide to compare options.
For a quieter, more intimate experience, a dahabiya sails from Esna to Aswan over 4–5 nights and stops at small sites the big ships skip, such as El Kab and Gebel el-Silsila. In the 10-day plan above, swap days 5–8 for a dahabiya and stay a night in Luxor first. Whichever you choose, make sure the cruise days line up with your domestic flights, as ships depart on fixed days of the week.
How should Australians adapt an Egypt itinerary?
- Allow a recovery day: with a 20–26 hour journey and a 7–9 hour time difference, keep day one light.
- Consider a Gulf stopover: breaking the trip in Dubai, Doha or Abu Dhabi for a night or two eases jet lag. See flights from Australia to Egypt.
- Combine with Europe or Jordan: if you are already flying long-haul, a 4-day Cairo stopover can be added to a Europe trip.
- Families: slow the pace, add pool time and a felucca. Our family adventure is built for this.
- Honeymooners: add a balloon flight and a few nights on the Red Sea; see the Egypt honeymoon.
How do you get around Egypt between destinations?
Fly between Cairo and the south, cruise or drive between Luxor and Aswan, and drive to the Red Sea and Alexandria. Typical journey times:
| Route | Best option | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| Cairo – Luxor | Domestic flight | About 1 hr 10 min |
| Cairo – Aswan | Domestic flight | About 1 hr 20 min |
| Luxor – Aswan | Nile cruise, or private car | 3–4 nights by ship; about 3 hrs by road |
| Aswan – Abu Simbel | Private car or flight | About 3.5 hrs each way by road |
| Luxor – Hurghada | Private car | About 4 hrs |
| Cairo – Alexandria | Private car or train | About 2.5–3 hrs |
| Cairo – Siwa | Private car (via the coast) | A long full day, about 9–10 hrs |
Within cities, a private driver is the most efficient way to move between sites. Overnight sleeper trains between Cairo and Luxor or Aswan are an experience in themselves but are less comfortable and slower than flying.
What are the most common Egypt itinerary mistakes?
- Too little time in Luxor: it has the densest concentration of monuments in Egypt. One extra night is always worth it.
- Skipping the GEM: allow at least half a day; see our Grand Egyptian Museum guide.
- Taking the overnight train to save money, then losing a day to fatigue.
- Forgetting Abu Simbel because it isn't on the cruise route; build in a dedicated day.
- Over-scheduling afternoons in hot months.
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Frequently asked questions
Is 7 days enough for Egypt?
Seven days is enough to see Giza, the Grand Egyptian Museum, Luxor and Aswan at a fast pace, but 10–14 days is much more comfortable.
Is 2 weeks in Egypt too long?
No. Two weeks is ideal for a first visit, allowing the classic Cairo–Nile–Abu Simbel route plus time in Luxor and on the Red Sea.
Should I start my Egypt trip in Cairo or Luxor?
Most international flights arrive in Cairo, so start there, then fly south to Luxor and cruise to Aswan, flying back to Cairo at the end.
How do you get from Cairo to Luxor?
Fly (about 1 hour 10 minutes) for the fastest option, or take the overnight sleeper train (around 9–10 hours). Driving takes most of a day.
Can I add the Red Sea to an Egypt itinerary?
Yes. Hurghada and El Gouna are a short flight from Cairo or about 4 hours by road from Luxor, making them easy to add at the end. See the Red Sea guide.
How many days do you need in Cairo?
Three full days: one for Giza, one for the Grand Egyptian Museum, and one for Saqqara and Islamic Cairo.
