10 days in Egypt: itinerary

Ten days fits the classic first-trip loop: three nights in Cairo for the pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum, then the Nile Valley from Luxor to Aswan, then one night back in Cairo before the flight home. That is three hotel bases plus a cruise boat, which keeps packing and transfers manageable.

The alternative is to trade the cruise for land bases in Luxor and Aswan and use the saved nights for Alexandria or the Red Sea. Do that only if you dislike boats or travel in a group that wants a beach. Adding both the full Nile Valley and a Red Sea resort in 10 days means cutting Cairo to two nights and skipping Aswan's slow half-day — most people regret it.

Fly or take the sleeper train between Cairo and Luxor. The train leaves in the evening and arrives early, saving a hotel night; the flight is short but adds airport time at both ends. Either way, keep the last night in Cairo so a delay cannot cost you the international flight.

The route is a straight line south along the Nile, then a flight back north. Cairo sits at the top, Luxor about 650 km south, Aswan another 200 km beyond that. Almost everything you came for is within a few kilometres of the river on either side.

You do not need a car. Trains, flights, cruise boats and short taxi rides cover the whole route. The only long road leg is Luxor to Aswan if you skip the cruise, and that is a normal day transfer with two temple stops.

Days 1–3, Cairo. Land, sleep, then take the pyramids at opening time before the heat and the coaches arrive. Spend the afternoon in the Grand Egyptian Museum, which is air-conditioned and large enough to fill it. On day three, do Islamic Cairo and Khan el-Khalili in the morning and the older Egyptian Museum in Tahrir if you still have appetite for antiquities. Saqqara and Dahshur fit as a half day if you drop something else.

Day 4, Cairo to Luxor. Take the overnight sleeper train or a morning flight. Check in, rest through the hot middle of the day, then see Luxor Temple lit up after dark — it is open late and far more comfortable than at noon.

Days 5–6, Luxor. Start the West Bank at 06:00: Valley of the Kings, then the Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari. Keep the afternoon free. Next morning see Karnak before boarding the cruise boat, which usually sails in the afternoon.

Days 7–8, the cruise and Aswan. Cruise boats stop at Edfu and Kom Ombo, both worth the walk from the river. You reach Aswan on day 8, disembark, and spend the afternoon on Philae Temple and a felucca at sunset.

Days 9–10, Aswan and out. Abu Simbel is the big day trip: by road you leave around 04:00 to arrive by 08:00, or you fly and leave later. If you skip it, use the day for a Nubian village on Elephantine or the West Bank. On day 10 fly Aswan to Cairo and connect, or overnight near the airport if your flight is early.

Cairo to Luxor: the sleeper train runs overnight and saves a hotel night; a flight takes about 1 h 15 but adds two airport transfers. Book both well ahead for the October–April high season.

Luxor to Aswan: the cruise is the point of the trip for many people, and it covers Edfu and Kom Ombo without repacking. By road it is about 4 h with the two temple stops. Trains also run this stretch.

Aswan to Cairo: fly, about 1 h 30. The train back north is long and eats a day you do not have on a 10-day trip.

In the cities, use taxis or ride-hailing apps and agree the fare first. For Giza, Saqqara and the West Bank, a driver for the half day is usually cheaper and faster than piecing together rides.

Cairo: Giza for pyramid views and an early start, downtown for the Egyptian Museum, Khan el-Khalili and better-value hotels. Giza to downtown is 30–45 minutes in traffic, so pick one and stay put.

Luxor: the East Bank near Luxor Temple puts you among restaurants and the boat dock; the West Bank is quieter and closer to the tombs but needs a ferry or taxi for everything. Two nights on the East Bank is the simpler choice.

Aswan: the Corniche is central and walkable, with feluccas leaving from the riverbank. Elephantine Island is calmer but adds a boat ride each time you go out.

On the cruise, cabins are small and the boat is your hotel for three or four nights, so choose by itinerary and cabin grade rather than by deck. Book early for December to February.

Excluding international flights, a 10-day Egypt trip runs about USD 900–2,200 per person (2026 estimate). The low end means budget hotels, the sleeper train, a shared or cheap cruise and street food; the high end means four- and five-star hotels, internal flights and a mid-range cruise.

The cruise and internal flights are the two big variables. Everything else — entry tickets, taxis, meals — is inexpensive by US or European standards, though ticket prices have risen and change often, so treat any figure as a check.

Carry cash for tips and small vendors. Tipping is expected for drivers, guides and hotel staff, and a small daily amount is normal.

Swap the cruise for land bases. Stay two nights in Luxor and two in Aswan and drive between them via Edfu and Kom Ombo. You save money and gain flexibility, but you lose the slow river mornings.

Add Alexandria. One night there replaces the final Cairo night and gives you the library, the corniche and seafood. It works best from April to October and pairs with a Cairo arrival rather than the Nile leg.

Add the Red Sea. Hurghada and El Gouna are about 4 h by road from Luxor, and Sharm el-Sheikh and Dahab are separate flight-and-bus trips in Sinai. On 10 days this means cutting Cairo to two nights and dropping Aswan or Abu Simbel.

If you have less time, see the 7-day version; if you have more, the 14-day itinerary adds the Red Sea properly.