11 Days in Egypt - 4 Unique Itinerary Ideas

Itinerary #1: Explore Egypt: Ancient Sites, Nile Cruise & Red Sea

This classic Nile River and Red Sea itinerary is ideal for travelers interested in combining the historical highlights of Cairo with a Nile cruise and a beach getaway in Hurghada. You'll experience a light and sound show at the Giza pyramids, visit important Islamic and Christian sites around Cairo, learn about ancient Egypt while touring the temples of Luxor with an Egyptologist, get a birdseye view of the Valley of the Kings from a hot-air balloon, and spend a couple of days in Hurghada relaxing on the beach and snorkeling in the Red Sea.

After touching down in Cairo, you'll experience the pyramids of Giza by night with a sound and light show, then return the next morning for a closer look on a guided tour. You'll also have a chance to get acquainted with Islamic architecture along El-Moez Street and visit some Christian pilgrimage sites, such as the Hanging Church built atop a fortress in the Coptic Cairo neighborhood. Then, you'll catch a flight to Aswan on Day 5, where you'll embark on your Nile River cruise. Enjoy dinner and a quiet night on board before stopping in Edfu to see detailed reliefs at the Ptolemaic temples of Kom Ombo and Horus.

When your ship arrives in Luxor, you'll meet your Egyptologist guide, who'll explain Egyptian history as you walk amid pillars carved with hieroglyphs at Karnak Temple. Spend one last night on board the ship, then wake early for your hot-air balloon ride above the famous pharaoh tombs of the Valley of the Kings. Afterward, your driver will take you to Hurghada, a resort town on the Red Sea. Here, you'll cap off your trip with snorkeling at Giftun Island and a dune buggy ride to a Bedouin camp for a barbecue. Before departure, fly back to Cairo and fit in some souvenir shopping at the buzzy Khan el-Khalili bazaar. Learn more

Itinerary #2: Egypt Ancient Highlights & Nile Cruise: Cairo, Aswan & Luxor

Archaeology enthusiasts and history buffs will appreciate the abundance of opportunities on this Cairo to Luxor highlights trip to delve into Egypt's ancient past. Highlights include visiting the Egyptian Museum and the pyramids of Giza, a cruise along the Nile River, tours of Abu Simbel and the Luxor Temple complex, and a sailing experience on a traditional wooden boat. 

Ease into your adventure with a Nile dinner cruise in Cairo, complete with music and city views. In the morning, you'll browse the world's most extensive collection of Egyptian artifacts at the Egyptian Museum before heading to the Khan el-Khalili market to practice your bartering skills. On your final day in Cairo, visit the Great Pyramid of Khufu, the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, then refresh with lemon mint juice and take in the views of the pyramids from your table at 9 Pyramids Lounge. Following this, you'll fly to Aswan for three nights, starting with a stroll amid gardens and brightly painted houses on Elephantine Island.

Catch a 40-minute flight to Abu Simbel on Day 5, where you'll stand in the presence of the massive rock-cut statue of Ramesses II before returning to Aswan to check out the Unfinished Obelisk, the largest known ancient obelisk. Next, you'll sail in a felucca (traditional boat) before setting off on your Nile cruise. Along the river, you'll stop in Edfu to see ancient inscriptions at the temples, then continue to Luxor for a walk along The Avenue of the Sphinxes and a tour of the rock-cut tombs at the Valley of the Kings. Your last day in Egypt is yours to use as you wish, perhaps sailing to Banana Island to sample local fruit. Learn more

Itinerary #3: Egypt City, Desert & Coast Adventure: Cairo, Siwa, Bahariya & Sharm el-Sheikh

This active Egypt adventure is best suited to outdoorsy travelers eager to move at a fairly quick pace to cover a lot of ground. Your adventures will include a camel ride to the Giza pyramids, a tour of the mudbrick structures of Shali Old Town, a hot springs soak at Siwa Oasis, camping under the stars in the Black Desert, marveling at mushroom-shaped rocks while on a Jeep safari in the White Desert, an overnight hike up Mount Sinai to see the sunrise, stargazing at a Bedouin camp, and snorkeling in Sharm el-Sheikh. 

Kick off your trip with a sunset dinner at a revolving restaurant atop Cairo Tower. The following morning, you'll visit the Giza Plateau for a camel ride to the iconic pyramids before touring Cairo's Christian sites, such as the Holy Cave, believed to be where Mary, Joseph, and Jesus hid when fleeing persecution. Next, your driver will whisk you to Marsa Matruh for a seaside lunch on your way to Siwa Oasis. Here, you'll tour the mudbrick structures of Shali Old Town, take a dip in natural springs, and overnight at a Bedouin camp. Then, continue into the Black Desert to see the volcanic landscapes and sleep under the stars. 

Day 6 is a Jeep excursion in the White Desert that offers the chance to spot white quartz crystals and giant mushroom-shaped rocks. After a good night's rest in a hotel in Bahariya, your driver will take you back to Cairo for souvenir shopping in a local souk (market) and a walking tour along El-Moez, famous for its Islamic architecture. Catch a flight to Sharm el-Sheikh, where you'll embark on an overnight trek up biblical Mount Sinai to watch the sunrise from the summit. Wrap up your trip with stargazing at a nearby Bedouin camp and a snorkeling excursion in Ras Mohamed National Park. Learn more

Itinerary #4: Highlights of Jordan & Egypt: Amman to Cairo

First-time visitors can experience some of the best of Egypt and Jordan on this two-country tour. In Jordan, you'll wander amid Roman ruins in Amman and Jerash, climb to the top of Ajloun castle, float in the Dead Sea, trek through the ancient city of Petra, and spend a night in Wadi Rum. Then, in Egypt, you'll visit the famous pyramids, sample the national dish, cruise along the Nile to some iconic sites such as the Temple of Edfu, and admire the rock-cut tombs and temples of the Valley of the Kings from above with a hot-air balloon ride. 

The first stop is Amman, Jordan, where you'll café-hop and shop along Rainbow Street at your own pace. Then, your private driver will take you north to Jerash to see the ruins of one of the best-preserved Greco-Roman cities before visiting Ajloun Castle for views over the forested countryside. Back in Amman, you'll tour ancient ruins, including the Citadel, in the heart of the city. Next, your driver will take you for a float in the mineral-rich waters of the Dead Sea en route to Petra. You'll have a full day of hiking at the archaeological site, followed by an evening at a Bedouin camp in the rust-red Wadi Rum desert wilderness. 

Your driver will transfer you back to Amman for your flight to Cairo, Egypt, where you'll dive into ancient history at the Egyptian Museum and sample koshary (the national dish made with rice, lentils, pasta, and tomato sauce) at a local bazaar. Spend a day touring the pyramids of Giza and the open-air museum of Memphis, where you'll find a colossal statue of Ramesses II. Then, you'll fly to Aswan and board your Nile cruise, stopping to see mummified crocodiles at the Temple of Kom Ombo and intricate carvings at the Temple of Edfu. End on a high note with a hot-air balloon ride over Luxor. Learn more

More Great Egypt Itineraries

Looking for more inspiration for your trip to Egypt? Check out these other Egypt itineraries, with outdoor adventures, cultural trips, and best-of tours to hit the highlights.