Best Egypt Travel Packages: 11 Days in Cairo, Luxor & Aswan by Dahabiya

Arrive at Cairo International Airport, where a Memphis Tours representative will meet you inside the terminal, help with your entry visa formalities and assist with your luggage.

You’ll then be transferred by private, air-conditioned vehicle to your boutique hotel in the heart of Old Islamic Cairo, surrounded by historic mosques, lanes and traditional cafés.

Your tour manager will go over the itinerary, answer any questions and confirm pick-up times for the following days. The rest of the day is at leisure to rest or take a gentle walk nearby.

Overnight in Cairo

No meal

Visits: Arrival, airport assistance, hotel check-in.

Today’s highlights: Airport meet & assist, private transfer, boutique Old Cairo stay.

After breakfast, meet your private Egyptologist guide and drive to the Giza Plateau. Stand before the Great Pyramids of Giza, gaze up at the Sphinx and visit the Valley Temple while learning how these ancient structures were built and used.
Enjoy lunch at a quality local restaurant before continuing to Sakkara. Here you’ll visit the Sakkara Complex and the Step Pyramid of Djoser, considered the earliest large-scale stone pyramid in the world.
Return to your hotel in Cairo in the late afternoon. Your evening is free.

Overnight in Cairo

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Visits: Pyramids of Giza, Sphinx, Valley Temple, Sakkara, Step Pyramid of Djoser.

After breakfast, visit the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), now fully open to visitors. With your private guide, explore the main galleries, the grand staircase and star exhibits, including key pieces from the treasures of Tutankhamun and other masterpieces from ancient Egypt.
Continue to the Citadel of Salah El Din and the impressive Mohamed Ali Alabaster Mosque, where you’ll enjoy sweeping views over Cairo and learn about the city’s Islamic heritage.

After lunch at a local restaurant, stroll through the historic Khan El Khalili bazaar. Browse spices, brassware and handicrafts or simply soak up the atmosphere in one of the traditional coffee houses.
Return to your hotel for a relaxing evening.

Overnight in Cairo

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Visits: Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM – fully open), Citadel of Salah El Din, Mohamed Ali Mosque, Khan El Khalili bazaar.

After breakfast, check out and transfer to Cairo Airport for your domestic flight to Luxor. On arrival, you will be met and escorted to the West Bank to embark on Eyaru Dahabiya around midday.

Settle into your comfortable cabin and enjoy a freshly prepared lunch on board as you get to know the crew and your new home on the Nile.
In the afternoon, relax on deck and take in the views of the West Bank and surrounding countryside. Enjoy your first dinner on board and a peaceful night on the river.

Overnight: onboard Dahabiya (Luxor West Bank).

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Visits: Domestic flight Cairo–Luxor, embarkation on Eyaru Dahabiya.

After breakfast, cross to the West Bank to explore some of Luxor’s most important sites. Start at the Valley of the Kings, final resting place of many New Kingdom pharaohs, where you’ll visit a selection of richly decorated royal tombs.
Continue to the stunning terraced Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir El Bahari, then stop at the towering Colossi of Memnon for photos and stories of ancient Thebes.

Return to Eyaru Dahabiya for lunch and an afternoon of sailing towards Esna. Relax on deck, enjoy tea, read a book or simply watch traditional Nile life unfold along the banks. Dinner is served on board.

Overnight: onboard your Dahabiya (near Esna Lock).

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Visits: Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, Colossi of Memnon.

Enjoy breakfast as the dahabiya approaches and passes through Esna Lock, an interesting experience as the boat is raised or lowered to the next level of the river.
Go ashore with your guide to visit Esna Temple, partly sunken below modern street level and decorated with detailed astronomical and religious reliefs.
Rejoin Eyaru Dahabiya and spend the afternoon sailing south towards Hegaz Village. Take in the scenery from a deck chair, relax in the shade, or simply enjoy the gentle pace of the river. Lunch and dinner are served on board.

Overnight: onboard Dahabiya at Hegaz Village.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Visits: Esna Temple, Esna Lock (sailing through).

This morning, sail to Edfu and disembark to visit the Temple of Horus, one of Egypt’s best-preserved temples from the Greco-Roman period, with towering pylons and vivid reliefs.
Reach the temple by a short horse-drawn carriage ride through the streets of Edfu, giving you a glimpse of everyday town life.
Return to the dahabiya and continue sailing to Bassawa Island over lunch. In the afternoon, go ashore to visit a local family, see their home and small farm, and learn about daily life along the Nile. Dinner is served on board in this tranquil riverside setting.

Overnight: onboard Dahabiya at Bassawa Island.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Visits: Edfu Temple, Edfu town (by carriage), Bassawa Island village visit.

After breakfast, arrive at Gebel El-Silsila, where huge sandstone blocks were once quarried for many of Egypt’s famous temples. Visit the rock-cut Temple of Horemoheb and, if you wish, take a short walk up for panoramic views of the Nile.
Continue sailing to Kom Ombo while enjoying lunch on board. In the afternoon, walk to the unusual double temple of Kom Ombo, dedicated to Sobek, the crocodile god, and Horus the falcon. Explore the symmetrical layout and visit the small Crocodile Museum.
Return to the dahabiya for dinner as you sail towards Aswan.

Overnight: onboard Dahabiya near Fares Village.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Visits: Gebel El-Silsila, Temple of Horemoheb, Kom Ombo Temple, Crocodile Museum.

Arrive in Aswan, a city known for its relaxed atmosphere and beautiful Nile scenery. After breakfast, visit the ancient granite quarries to see the Unfinished Obelisk and learn how these enormous monuments were carved.

Then take a short motorboat ride to the island of Agilkia to explore Philae Temple, dedicated to Isis and Hathor, one of Egypt’s most picturesque and beloved temples.

Return to Eyaru Dahabiya for lunch and enjoy a leisurely afternoon on board or some free time in Aswan. Dinner and overnight on the dahabiya.

Overnight onboard Dahabiya in Aswan.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Visits: Unfinished Obelisk, Philae Temple, Aswan city (free time).

Enjoy a flexible day in Aswan. You can explore the colourful souk, visit a Nubian village, take a felucca ride (optional) or relax by the water and enjoy the city’s laid-back vibe.
Alternatively, you may join an optional overland excursion to Abu Simbel (at extra cost), where the colossal rock-cut temples of Ramses II and Nefertari stand on the shores of Lake Nasser – one of Egypt’s most impressive sights.
Lunch and dinner are served on the dahabiya. Spend your final evening on board enjoying the Nile and sharing memories with fellow guests.

Overnight onboard your Dahabiya in Aswan.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Visits: Aswan (free day) and/or optional Abu Simbel excursion.

After your last breakfast on Eyaru Dahabiya, say goodbye to the crew and disembark in Aswan. You will then be transferred to Aswan Airport for your flight back to Cairo.
Upon arrival in Cairo, a Memphis Tours representative will meet you and escort you by private vehicle to your hotel. The rest of the day is free for final shopping, one more Egyptian meal or simply relaxing before your journey home.

Overnight in Cairo

Meals: Breakfast

Visits: Disembarkation in Aswan, domestic flight Aswan–Cairo, transfers.

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel and check out at the agreed time. Your Memphis Tours representative will pick you up and transfer you to Cairo International Airport in good time for your international flight.

Assistance with luggage and formalities is provided to ensure a smooth and comfortable end to your Egypt journey.

Meals: Breakfast

Visits: Airport transfer and international departure.

Note: Eyaru Dahabiya operates on a fixed weekly schedule, sailing every Saturday from either Luxor or Aswan. While the embarkation point (Luxor or Aswan) may vary depending on the boat’s rotation, your itinerary is adjusted accordingly. So you’ll still experience all the planned visits and won’t miss any included highlights.