Egypt in 10 Days: Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Nile Cruise
Egypt's classic archaeology circuit with a Nile cruise — tomb selection strategy, tipping reality, and the daily schedule that beats the heat.
Egypt rewards early mornings and punishes mid-afternoon sightseeing. Here's the 10-day plan respecting the heat and getting you into tombs before the crowds.
Days 1-3: Cairo
Day 1: Arrive. Afternoon: Khan el-Khalili bazaar, Al-Muizz Street (Islamic Cairo), dinner at Naguib Mahfouz café.
Day 2: Giza pyramids at 8 AM opening. Sphinx. Solar Boat Museum. Combo ticket $40-50 depending on which tombs included. Hire a guide at gate ($30-50).
Day 3: Grand Egyptian Museum (opened 2024 — this replaced the old Egyptian Museum on Tahrir Square). Book timed entry ($25). Full day, 3-4 hours minimum.
Day 4-5: Fly to Luxor
Flight Cairo → Luxor ($75, 60 min). Avoid overnight train unless you specifically want the experience.
Day 4: West Bank. Hot air balloon at sunrise ($100/person, book day before). Valley of the Kings ($30 + $15 per royal tomb). Hatshepsut Temple ($15). Colossi of Memnon (free). Overwhelming. Drink water.
Day 5: East Bank. Karnak Temple ($20) — go at 8 AM opening before heat. Luxor Temple at sunset ($15) — it's beautifully lit at night.
Days 6-9: Nile cruise Luxor → Aswan (4 days, 3 nights)
Most cruises run Luxor-to-Aswan or vice versa. 3-star ships: $350-500/person. 5-star: $700-1,200/person. All-inclusive (meals + Nile sailing + shore excursions).
Stops typically include:
- Edfu: Temple of Horus
- Kom Ombo: Temple of Sobek (crocodile god)
- Aswan: High Dam, Philae Temple, Unfinished Obelisk
Optional extension: Abu Simbel ($100 for flight + entry) — Ramses II's massive rock-cut temples. 3 AM departure, full day.
Day 10: Fly Aswan → Cairo → home
Tipping reality
Egypt runs on baksheesh. Budget for it:
- Guide: $15-25/day if happy
- Driver: $5-10/day
- Bathroom attendants: 5-10 LE
- Cruise crew tips (typically pooled): $40-60/person for the whole cruise
- Hotel porter: 10-20 LE per bag
Set aside $100-150/person in small notes for tips. Egyptian pounds (LE) preferred.
Scams
- "Free" camel photos: They're not free. $5-10 for a photo.
- "Free" papyrus: Leads to a hard sell at a shop.
- "I'm a student, come see my family's papyrus factory": Same hard sell.
- Cab drivers quoting in USD: Always negotiate in LE. $1 gets quoted as 100 LE, actual conversion is ~30 LE.
- "Perfume oils": Some are legitimate Egyptian essential oils, most are fragrance blends. Only buy at fixed-price shops.
Cost (2 people, 10 days)
- Flights US: $1,000-1,500
- Domestic flights: $250 for 2
- Cairo hotels (3 nights): $400 total
- Nile cruise (4 days): $900 for 2 (mid-tier)
- Tips + shore excursions: $350
- Food + Abu Simbel: $400
- Sights + entries: $250
Total: $3,550-4,050 with flights.
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