7-Day Egypt Itinerary: Cairo + Nile Cruise

Quick answer: This 7-day Egypt itinerary covers the must-see highlights without rushing, with detailed day-by-day plans, restaurant recommendations, and budget guidance.

Best for: First-time visitors who want to maximize sightseeing while still tasting local culture.

Day 1 — Arrive in Islamic Cairo

Land at Cairo International Airport and settle in before the crowds shape your first afternoon in Islamic Cairo. Wander the medieval spine of Al-Muizz Street, a kilometre of intact Mamluk mosques, madrasas and sabils running toward the Bab Zuweila gate — climb its minaret for a rooftop view over the old city if it’s open. Dive into the lantern-lit lanes of the Khan el-Khalili bazaar, trading since 1382, then rest your feet at El Fishawy, a coffeehouse pouring mint tea since 1773. Order a glass of hibiscus karkadeh or a plate of koshari, Egypt’s beloved lentil-rice-pasta comfort dish, for roughly 60–120 EGP (about $1–3). Take the metro or a metered Uber rather than street taxis — it’s cheaper and spares you the haggling. Insider tip: browse the bazaar first, note prices, and buy on your way back once you’ve gauged the going rate.

Day 2 — Pyramids & Grand Museum

Reserve the morning for the Giza Plateau, arriving by 8am to beat heat and coaches. The general site ticket runs about 700 EGP (roughly $15); entering the Great Pyramid of Khufu costs extra and sells out, with limited timed slots released daily, so book online ahead. Walk out to the panorama point for the classic three-pyramid line-up, then meet the Great Sphinx in the valley temple below. Nearly all sites now take card only, so carry a travel card. In the afternoon cross to the Grand Egyptian Museum, fully opened in 2025 just 2km from the pyramids — foreign adult entry is about 1,450 EGP (roughly $30). Its headline draw is the complete Tutankhamun treasure, all 5,000-plus pieces shown together for the first time, plus Khufu’s reassembled solar boat. Insider tip: pre-book a timed GEM slot; walk-up sales for foreigners are no longer offered.

Day 3 — Fly South to Luxor

Catch an early EgyptAir hop from Cairo to Luxor — the flight is barely over an hour and one-way fares often start around $60–110. Transfer to your Nile cruise ship, your floating base for the next nights, and take lunch aboard. Spend the cooler late afternoon on Luxor’s East Bank exploring the vast Karnak Temple complex, whose Great Hypostyle Hall bristles with 134 giant columns; entry is about 300 EGP (roughly $6). As the sun drops, walk the restored Avenue of Sphinxes toward Luxor Temple (around 200 EGP, about $4), which glows under floodlights after dark and is magical at night. Insider tip: Luxor is walkable and calèche-friendly, but agree the horse-carriage price before climbing in. Try grilled pigeon (hamam) or a tagen stew at a local eatery if you dine off-ship.

Day 4 — West Bank & Sail to Edfu

Rise before dawn for an optional hot-air balloon flight over the West Bank — sunrise drifts above the temples and desert cliffs run roughly $60–100 per person and should be pre-booked. On the ground, descend into the royal tombs of the Valley of the Kings; the base ticket covers three tombs for about 500 EGP (roughly $10), while Tutankhamun’s tomb costs a separate add-on. Continue to the dramatic terraces of the Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari and pause at the towering Colossi of Memnon. Bring small change, sun cover and water — the valley is exposed and hot even in winter. Back aboard by early afternoon, your ship casts off and begins sailing south toward Edfu, the Nile-side fields and palm groves sliding past the deck. Insider tip: photography inside some tombs needs a separate camera pass, so ask before shooting.

Day 5 — Edfu, Kom Ombo, Aswan

Reach Edfu and ride a horse-drawn calèche through town to the Temple of Horus, the best-preserved major temple in Egypt, its falcon-god statues and towering pylon still crisply carved; entry runs about 450 EGP (roughly $9). Sail on to Kom Ombo, a rare double temple perched right on the riverbank and shared between the crocodile-god Sobek and falcon-headed Haroeris — its small Crocodile Museum displays mummified crocs unearthed nearby. Both stops are usually included in cruise programs, but confirm and tip your Egyptologist guide. As the ship glides the final leg into Aswan, the Nile narrows between granite boulders and Elephantine Island — the prettiest stretch of the river. Insider tip: this is the classic sundeck evening; claim a lounger for the golden-hour approach and try ful medames or fresh Nile-perch at dinner. Card payment is standard at all temple gates.

Day 6 — Philae & Nubian Aswan

Devote the day to Aswan, Egypt’s laid-back Nubian south. Take a short motorboat from Shellal dock to the island Temple of Philae, dedicated to Isis and rescued from the rising lake stone by stone — entry is around 450 EGP (roughly $9). See the engineering scale of the Aswan High Dam and the abandoned Unfinished Obelisk in its ancient granite quarry, where you can trace how pharaohs cut colossal stone. In the afternoon sail a traditional felucca around Elephantine Island and the Botanical Garden at golden hour — expect to negotiate roughly 200–400 EGP (about $4–8) per boat, so agree the price first. Cross to a colourful Nubian village on the west bank for home-cooked food and mint tea. Insider tip: Nubian cooking leans on tagen stews and dukkah-spiced dishes — sweeter and more aromatic than northern fare, and worth seeking out.

Day 7 — Abu Simbel at Dawn

Set the alarm early: tourist vehicles to Abu Simbel gather at a checkpoint outside Aswan to travel the roughly 3–3.5-hour desert road, most departing around 4am. The reward is Ramses II’s Great Temple, its four 20-metre seated colossi hewn from the cliff, and the neighbouring temple to his queen Nefertari — both famously relocated above the waters of Lake Nasser in the 1960s. Entry is about 600 EGP (roughly $12); you’ll have around two hours before the return drive. Back in Aswan, connect to an afternoon EgyptAir flight to Cairo (about 1.5 hours) to link with onward international connections. Insider tip: sit on the left of the coach going out for the best first glimpse of the temples across the lake, and carry your passport — checkpoints verify it. If your timing lines up with the February or October sun-alignment dates, the dawn light penetrates deep into the inner sanctuary.