Egypt Itinerary 7 Days at a Glance
This 7-day Egypt itinerary runs north to south: Cairo and Giza, then Luxor, then Aswan and Abu Simbel, with a flight home via Cairo on Day 7.
The plan below is the land version. See the 10 best places to visit in Egypt alongside this plan.
| Day | Route | Sleep |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrive Cairo, light walk only if morning landing | Giza |
| 2 | Giza Plateau morning, Grand Egyptian Museum afternoon | Giza |
| 3 | Cairo sights, then fly to Luxor | Luxor East Bank |
| 4 | Luxor West Bank, sunset felucca | Luxor East Bank |
| 5 | Luxor to Aswan by road or train | Aswan Corniche |
| 6 | Abu Simbel day trip | Aswan Corniche |
| 7 | Aswan morning, fly to Cairo, fly home | Home |
Day 1: Arrive in Cairo, Sleep in Giza
Day 1 is arrival only, with nothing fixed. Take a light walk if you land in the morning. Sleep in Giza.
Day 2: Giza Plateau and the Grand Egyptian Museum
Day 2 pairs the Giza Plateau in the morning with the Grand Egyptian Museum in the afternoon. Allow 3-4 hours on the plateau and at least 3 hours for museum highlights, or 6 hours and more for a full visit. Book museum entry ahead on the Grand Egyptian Museum site.
Day 3: Cairo to Luxor
Day 3 moves you from Cairo to Luxor. Option A takes a late flight plus a Cairo morning: Saqqara and Dahshur, or the Egyptian Museum plus Coptic Cairo. Option B takes a morning flight and adds Luxor Temple in the evening.
Day 4: Luxor West Bank
Day 4 is the West Bank. The Valley of the Kings takes 3 hours for the standard 3-tomb ticket, or 4-5 hours if you add Tutankhamun and Seti I. Add Hatshepsut Temple at about 1 hour and the Colossi of Memnon as a 10-minute photo stop. Rest in the afternoon, then take a sunset felucca. A balloon flight is an optional sunrise start.
Day 5: Luxor to Aswan
Day 5 moves you to Aswan; pick one route. Option 5A drives the road with Edfu Temple at about 2 hours and Kom Ombo at about 1 hour, for 9-10 hours door-to-door. On this option, Philae moves to Day 7. Option 5B takes the train at about 3-4 hours, then runs the Aswan half-day set, for 4-5 hours in total.
Day 6: Abu Simbel
Day 6 is Abu Simbel; pick one way to get there. By road, depart about 04:00 for 280 km, 3-3.5 hours each way, 9-11 hours door-to-door, with about 2 hours at the site. On the road option, Philae moves to Day 7. By flight, 45 minutes in the air, 3-4 hours door-to-door return, with an afternoon Philae set possible.
Day 7: Aswan and Fly to Cairo
Day 7 is Aswan plus the flight to Cairo. If Philae is still owed, run the morning Philae set of 4-5 hours, then head to the airport. If Philae is done, take a light morning: a felucca sail, Gharb Soheil, or the souk, then the airport. Allow 3-4 hours door-to-door, plus a buffer before onward flights.
Transfer Times Between Cities
Use door-to-door times, not air times, when you plan connections.
| Route | Distance | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Cairo Airport to Giza | 35-45 km | 45 min-1 hour, up to 1.5 hours in traffic |
| Cairo to Luxor, flight | 509 km | 1h-1h15 air, 3-4 hours door-to-door |
| Cairo to Aswan, flight | 695 km | 1h20-1h30 air, 3.5-4.5 hours door-to-door |
| Luxor to Aswan, road | 220-230 km | 3-4 hours driving, plan 4 hours |
| Aswan to Abu Simbel, road | 280 km | 3-3.5 hours each way |
| Aswan to Cairo, flight | 695 km | 1h26-1h28 air, 3-4 hours door-to-door |
The sleeper train suits one night only, not a tight schedule. Southbound sleepers leave Cairo Upper Egypt Station at Bashtil, not Ramses. Check times on Seat61, train travel in Egypt before you book.
Nile Cruise or Land Trip
Pick the cruise departure day first, then build the trip around it. Each ship sails on two fixed days per week; confirm with the operator before you book flights.
Cruise option 1 is a 4-night Luxor to Aswan cruise inside seven days. Day 3 boards about 12:00, Day 4 West Bank and sail via Esna, Day 5 Edfu and Kom Ombo, Day 6 Aswan Philae set, Day 7 Abu Simbel plus the flight home via Cairo. Day 7 is tight by road, so it needs the flight option or a late flight. Day 3 must match the ship's Luxor sailing day.
Cruise option 2 is a 3-night Aswan to Luxor cruise with the same Day 3 boarding-day lock. Abu Simbel does NOT fit in cruise option 2: either drop it, add a Day 8, or take a pre-dawn optional extra.
Cruise prices run from about $399 for 3 nights for a classic 5-star cruise, per October 2026 cruise listings. Check before you go.
Where to Sleep Each Night
Pick one base per city and do not split it. In Cairo for Nights 1-2, Giza is the default, with Downtown or Zamalek as the alternative. In Luxor for Nights 3-4, the East Bank near Luxor Temple and the Corniche is the default. In Aswan for Nights 5-6, the Corniche and East Bank are the default. Pack one checked-size bag plus a daypack.
10-Day Variant: Add the Red Sea
The Red Sea does NOT fit in seven days. It belongs in a 10-day variant, with Day 8 as a transfer day. 10-day option A runs Days 1-6 as the 7-day plan, with Day 7 for Philae if owed plus an Aswan night. Day 8 transfers Aswan to Hurghada by road at 7-8 hours, or by two flights at 4-6 hours plus layover. Day 8 is a transfer day, not a beach day. Days 9-10 are Hurghada beach days; Day 10 flies home. 10-day option B adds the Red Sea after a cruise via Luxor, with Day 7 unable to reach Abu Simbel from Luxor. Day 8 transfers Luxor to Hurghada by Go Bus at about 4 hours and about $7-$22, per CheckMyBus in October 2026, or by private car at 3-4 hours. Without the Red Sea, a 10-day trip adds one night in Luxor and one night in Cairo.
If You Have Only 3 Days
Three days allows Cairo and Giza only: Day 1 arrive plus a light walk, Day 2 Giza plus the Grand Egyptian Museum, Day 3 Saqqara and Dahshur, or the Egyptian Museum plus Coptic Cairo. Cairo plus Luxor in three days is rushed: Day 1 Giza plus museum highlights, Day 2 fly to Luxor plus the West Bank in the afternoon, Day 3 Karnak plus Luxor Temple plus the flight back.
Booking Lead Times
Book ahead using these lead times.
- Grand Egyptian Museum: 2-4 weeks ahead as a safe bet, with a minimum of 24-72 hours per other operators. Weekends and holidays sell out days or weeks ahead.
- Cruises: 2-3 months ahead in the October-April peak.
- Abu Simbel road trips and flights: weeks ahead in peak season.
- Sun Festival: 2-3 months ahead or more.
Check safety advice for Egypt before you book.
Sources
- Seat61: Train travel in Egypt - sleeper timetables, stations, fares, booking.
- Grand Egyptian Museum: gem.eg - museum site, hours, Buy Tickets link.
Ranges from October 2026 listings. Check before you go.
