All inclusive Private 9 Days 8 Nights Cairo Luxor Aswan 5* Dleux Nile Cruise

Egypt rewards a well-planned route. This private 9-day package links Cairo, Aswan, Abu Simbel, Luxor, and the Nile Valley without making you arrange every hotel, train, transfer, or entrance ticket yourself. I especially like the private Egyptologist guide, who can explain the monuments in context, and the three-night full-board Nile cruise, which gives you time to enjoy the river between temple visits.

The main caution is that Egyptian five-star standards can vary. One guest found the Radisson Blu accommodation far below expectations, while others praised the hotels and boat. The itinerary also lists Abu Simbel as optional even though it appears in the daily schedule, so confirm exactly what your $1,400 payment covers before you go.

Six things to know before booking

An early morning stop takes you to the Temple of Horus at Edfu. This is one of Egypt’s best-preserved pharaonic temples, though it was built during the Greek period. Its large scale and surviving details make it easier to picture how a temple complex once functioned.

The schedule allows about five hours for the Edfu stop and onward sailing. After the visit, you return to the ship and continue toward Luxor. Again, the appeal is the combination of guided archaeology and unhurried river time.

The early start is the catch. You have already had a sleeper train and the Abu Simbel drive, so fatigue can accumulate. Use the sailing hours to rest rather than treating every minute on the ship as sightseeing time.

Day 8: Luxor’s major monuments in one day

Luxor is the busiest sightseeing day. You visit Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings, and the Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el Bahari.

Karnak receives about two hours. The complex is enormous, with columns, courtyards, and sacred areas spread across a large site. A guide is particularly useful here because the scale can otherwise become confusing. Two hours gives you a strong overview, but not an exhaustive inspection of every section.

Luxor Temple also receives about two hours. Its city setting gives it a different feel from Karnak, and the guide can connect the two sites as part of the ancient religious center of Luxor. You should expect plenty of walking on uneven surfaces.

In the Valley of the Kings, entrance to three tombs is included. That is a practical allowance because the tombs differ in decoration and condition, and three visits provide variety without turning the underground sections into a blur. Extra tombs may require separate arrangements, so ask your guide what is covered on the day.

The Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el Bahari completes the program. Its terraces and setting against the cliffs make it unlike the other temples on this route. The visit focuses on Hatshepsut and the god Amun, with guided touring included.

Four major sites in one day is efficient, but it is not gentle. Wear sturdy shoes, carry water, and expect heat. This is also where the private format helps most. You can ask the guide to explain a confusing relief, slow down briefly, or point out which areas deserve your limited time.

Day 9: Returning to Cairo and reaching the airport

The final day includes the overnight sleeper train from Luxor to Cairo and transfer onward to Cairo International Airport. The schedule allows about five hours for the airport portion, but actual timing depends on the rail departure, arrival, and flight schedule.

Plan your flight carefully. The package takes you back to Cairo by sleeper train, so a same-day international departure may create a tight connection. Confirm the train schedule and airport transfer timing before booking your return flight. A later departure gives you more protection against delays.

The tour ends at the airport, with no extra hotel night in Cairo listed after Luxor.

What $1,400 buys you

The value here comes from the number of major services bundled into one price. You receive:

• Two Cairo hotel nights with breakfast
• One Aswan hotel night with breakfast
• Two sleeper-train nights with half board
• Three full-board nights on the Nile cruise
• Private transfers and touring
• Qualified Egyptologist guides and tour leaders
• Entrance fees
• Bottled water
• A 30-minute camel ride
• Listed breakfasts, lunches, and dinners

For someone building this route independently, the private car services, guides, rail tickets, cruise booking, hotel reservations, and admission fees would be separate tasks. The package is particularly useful if you do not want to manage Egyptian transport changes yourself.

The five-star label needs a practical footnote. One guest described the Radisson Blu room as closer to three-star quality and complained about loud electronic music from a lobby restaurant. Other feedback praised the accommodations, boat, food, and friendly service. That mixed picture means you should confirm the exact Cairo hotel, cruise vessel, and replacement policy in writing.

The food received positive comments, and the package includes many meals. Shops for jewelry and essential oils were also part of some guided days, with advice that prices could be inflated. You can listen politely, compare prices, and remember that a shopping stop is not the same as a required purchase.

Who should book this Egypt route?

I would choose this package if you want the classic sights in a short time, prefer private guiding, and value door-to-door transfers. It is also a good fit for a first visit, since the route covers the sites most people hope to see: Giza, Saqqara, the Egyptian Museum, Coptic Cairo, Aswan, Abu Simbel, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Karnak, Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings, and Hatshepsut’s temple.

I would hesitate if you need luxury standards that match international five-star hotels at every stop. I would also hesitate if sleeper trains sound miserable to you, or if you prefer to spend several hours at one museum or monument.

Communication before arrival may be uneven, based on the available feedback, but once in Egypt several guests found communication better. Send the requested passport photocopies for every traveler, and confirm all hotel names, train arrangements, cruise details, and optional charges before departure.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if coverage and convenience matter more to you than a relaxed pace. The private guide, included transfers, broad route, and Nile cruise make $1,400 a strong value when the promised services are delivered.

Book with caution if the five-star standard is central to your decision. Get Abu Simbel’s status clarified, verify the Cairo hotel and cruise ship, and check your final train-to-flight connection. With those points settled, this is a practical way to see ancient Egypt without spending your holiday organizing every move.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The experience lasts approximately nine days and includes eight nights.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates, and private transfers are included.

Which cities and sites are included?

The route covers Cairo, Aswan, Abu Simbel, Kom Ombo, Edfu, and Luxor. Major visits include the Giza pyramids, Saqqara, the Egyptian Museum, Coptic Cairo, the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, the High Dam, Philae Temple, Karnak, Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings, and Hatshepsut’s temple.

How many nights are spent on the Nile cruise?

You spend three nights on a five-star deluxe Nile cruise from Aswan toward Luxor.

Are meals included?

Yes. The package includes breakfast at the Cairo and Aswan hotels, half board on the sleeper trains, and full board on the Nile cruise. The supplied details list five dinners, six lunches, and eight breakfasts.

Is the camel ride included?

Yes. A 30-minute camel ride around the Giza pyramids is included.

Is Abu Simbel included in the price?

The information is inconsistent. Abu Simbel appears in the sightseeing schedule with admission included, but it is also described as an optional tour. Confirm this directly before booking.

Is a visa included?

No. The visa to Egypt is not included.