16-Day Cairo, Hurghada, Nile Cruise, and Petra Tour
Good to know
- Duration 16 days
- Group size 2–10
- Languages English, France, Germany, Italy
- Departs Everyday
- Start times 8:00 am
- Meeting point Cairo
Overview
Discover the best of Egypt and Jordan on an unforgettable 16-day tour with Book Egypt Travel. This carefully planned journey combines Cairo’s ancient wonders, a relaxing Nile cruise, the Red Sea beaches of Hurghada, and Jordan’s extraordinary archaeological and natural landscapes. Enjoy private air-conditioned transportation, comfortable accommodation, expert Egyptologist guides, and guided visits to the region’s most celebrated sites.
Begin in Cairo, where you’ll explore the Giza Pyramids, the Great Sphinx, and the Grand Egyptian Museum. Discover the city’s rich heritage as you visit historic Islamic and Coptic landmarks, including Al-Muizz Street, the Hanging Church, Khan El Khalili Bazaar, and the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization. Then travel south aboard a Nile cruise, stopping to explore remarkable riverside sites such as Philae Temple, Kom Ombo Temple, Edfu Temple, and Luxor’s Karnak Temple Complex, Hatshepsut Temple, and Valley of the Kings. You’ll also have the opportunity to visit the magnificent temples of Abu Simbel.
Continue to Hurghada to enjoy the Red Sea, with opportunities for snorkeling among colorful marine life and an optional Super Safari across the desert landscape. Your journey then extends to Jordan, where you can explore Madaba, Mount Nebo, Jerash, Petra, the Dead Sea, and the dramatic desert scenery of Wadi Rum. From ancient monuments and sacred landmarks to coastal relaxation and desert adventures, this Egypt and Jordan vacation offers a memorable way to experience the region’s history, culture, and natural beauty with Book Egypt Travel.
Highlights
- Giza Pyramids and the Great Sphinx
- Grand Egyptian Museum
- Historic Cairo:
- Al-Muizz Street,
- the Hanging Church
- Khan El Khalili
- National Museum of Egyptian Civilization
- Nile cruise through Upper Egypt
- Philae Temple in Aswan
- Abu Simbel Temples
- Kom Ombo and Edfu Temples
- Karnak Temple
- Luxor Temple
- Valley of the Kings
- Hatshepsut Temple
- Red Sea snorkeling in Hurghada
- Optional Hurghada desert Super Safari
- Madaba and Mount Nebo
- Jerash Roman ruins
- Petra and the Treasury
- Dead Sea experience
- Wadi Rum desert landscapes
What’s included
Included
- Airport pick-up at Cairo International Airport and drop-off at Amman International Airport.
- Domestic flights from Cairo to Aswan and from Hurghada to Cairo.
- Two nights at a 5-star hotel in Cairo, including breakfast.
- One night at a 5-star hotel in Aswan, including breakfast.
- Two nights at a 5-star hotel in Luxor, including breakfast.
- One night camping in Wadi Rum.
- Three nights at a 5-star hotel in Hurghada on an all-inclusive basis.
- Three nights at a 5-star hotel in Amman, including breakfast.
- Three nights aboard a Nile cruise on a full-board basis.
- Admission fees to the sites listed in the itinerary.
- Professional tour guides during the scheduled sightseeing tours.
- Meals as specified in the itinerary.
Not included
- International airfare, including the flight from Cairo to Amman.
- Egyptian entry visa.
- Optional tours and activities.
- Personal expenses.
- Gratuities.
Day by day
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01 Day 1 – Arrival in Cairo
Arrive at Cairo International Airport, where a representative will meet and assist you with arrival formalities and luggage. Transfer by private, air-conditioned vehicle to your hotel and check in. The remainder of the day is free to relax.
Optional Dinner Cruise
If your arrival time and energy allow, attend the evening show in a Dinner Cruise and This optional activity is not included unless specified.
Overnight in Cairo.
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02 Day 2 – Giza Pyramids, Grand Egyptian Museum
After breakfast, meet your Egyptologist guide and visit the Giza Plateau.
Giza Pyramids Complex
Explore the royal burial complex built for the pharaohs Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure. The plateau also includes temples, causeways, and smaller tombs.
The Great Pyramid
Built for Pharaoh Khufu, this is the largest pyramid at Giza and the only surviving wonder of the ancient world.
The Great Sphinx
See the monumental statue with a lion’s body and a human face, carved from the bedrock of the Giza Plateau.
Valley Temple
Visit the temple associated with the Pyramid of Khafre and the rituals carried out as part of his funerary complex.
After lunch, continue to:
Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM)
Explore the museum’s galleries and monumental displays, which present artifacts from across ancient Egyptian history.
In the evening,transfer to your hotel.
Overnight in Cairo.
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03 Day 3 – Historic Cairo and Flight to Aswan
After breakfast, visit:
National Museum of Egyptian Civilization
Discover exhibits tracing Egypt’s history from ancient times to the modern era, including the Royal Mummies Hall.Egyptian Museum
Explore its collection of statues, jewelry, funerary objects, and other artifacts from different periods of ancient Egyptian history.The Hanging Church
See this historic Coptic church, built above the remains of a Roman fortress gateway. Its icons and decorated wooden features reflect Egypt’s Christian heritage.
Ben Ezra Synagogue
Visit the historic synagogue associated with the Cairo Geniza, a collection of manuscripts that offers insight into Jewish and Mediterranean life over many centuries.
After lunch, continue to:
Al-Muizz Street
Walk along a historic street lined with mosques, houses, and monuments from Cairo’s medieval Islamic period.
Khan El Khalili Bazaar
Explore the market’s lanes, shops, and cafés, known for traditional crafts, spices, jewelry, and souvenirs.
Transfer to Cairo Airport for your domestic flight to Aswan. On arrival, transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Aswan.
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04 Day 4 – Aswan Sightseeing and Nile Cruise Embarkation
After breakfast, visit:
Aswan High Dam
Learn how the dam regulates the Nile’s flow and created Lake Nasser. The site offers views of the reservoir and surrounding landscape.
Unfinished Obelisk
See the enormous obelisk still attached to the granite quarry where it was carved. A crack in the stone led workers to abandon it, leaving visitors a view of ancient stoneworking methods.
Philae Temple
Take a motorboat to Agilkia Island to visit this temple dedicated mainly to the goddess Isis. The complex was relocated to protect it from rising waters.
Board your Nile cruise and check in. Enjoy lunch and dinner on board. Overnight on the cruise.
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05 Day 5 – Abu Simbel
Travel to Abu Simbel for a visit to:
Abu Simbel Temples
Explore the two temples carved into the rock by order of Pharaoh Ramses II. The Great Temple is known for its colossal entrance statues, while the smaller temple is dedicated to Queen Nefertari and the goddess Hathor.
Return to the cruise. The Abu Simbel visit and cruise sailing plan will be arranged around the confirmed cruise schedule. Overnight on board.
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06 Day 6 – Kom Ombo and Edfu
Visit the riverside temples as the cruise sails north.
Kom Ombo Temple
Explore the unusual double temple dedicated to Sobek, the crocodile god, and Horus the Elder. Its reliefs include scenes of religious ceremonies and ancient medical instruments.
Edfu Temple
Visit one of Egypt’s best-preserved temples, dedicated to the falcon-headed god Horus. Its monumental entrance and carved walls tell stories connected with the mythological conflict between Horus and Seth.
Enjoy meals on board. Overnight on the cruise.
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07 Day 7 – Luxor East Bank
After breakfast, disembark in Luxor and visit:
Karnak Temple Complex
Explore the vast religious complex developed over many centuries. Its highlights include monumental gateways, obelisks, courtyards, and the Great Hypostyle Hall.
After lunch, transfer to your Luxor hotel to rest.
Luxor Temple
Visit this temple in the heart of the city, known for its statues, colonnades, and role in ancient royal ceremonies. Overnight in Luxor.
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08 Day 8 – Luxor West Bank
After breakfast, explore the West Bank.
The Valley of the Kings
Visit selected royal tombs carved into the hills and decorated with scenes and texts connected with ancient Egyptian beliefs about the afterlife. The tombs open to visitors can vary.
Hatshepsut Temple
See the terraced memorial temple of Queen Hatshepsut, built against the cliffs at Deir el-Bahari. Its reliefs include scenes from the queen’s reign.
After lunch, visit:
Colossi of Memnon
Stop at the two monumental statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III, which once stood at the entrance to his memorial temple.
Overnight in Luxor.
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09 Day 9 – Transfer to Hurghada
After breakfast, travel by private, air-conditioned vehicle from Luxor to Hurghada. Check in at your all-inclusive hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. Overnight in Hurghada.
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10 Day 10 – Hurghada Snorkeling Excursion
[caption id="attachment_19108" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Snorkeler at Agincourt Reef Calypso Reef Cruises | what is snorkelling and scuba diving[/caption]
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before heading out for a snorkeling trip in the Red Sea.
Red Sea
Discover coral reefs and marine life in the clear waters off Hurghada. The excursion provides time to swim and snorkel, subject to weather and sea conditions.
Return to your hotel. Overnight in Hurghada.
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11 Day 11 – Hurghada Super Safari
Spend the day on a desert excursion.
Eastern Desert and Bedouin Village
Travel across the desert by quad bike as part of the Super Safari. Visit a Bedouin village to learn about local customs and enjoy the desert scenery.Return to your hotel. Overnight in Hurghada.
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12 Day 12 – Flight to Cairo and Transfer to Amman
Transfer to Hurghada Airport for your domestic flight to Cairo. Continue to Cairo Airport for your separately arranged international flight to Amman.
Upon arrival at Queen Alia International Airport, meet your representative and transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Amman.
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13 Day 13 – Salt, Jerash, and Ajloun
After breakfast, travel north to visit:
Salt
Walk through the historic center, known for traditional stone buildings and old streets.
Jerash
Explore the remains of the Roman city, including its Oval Plaza, colonnaded streets, temples, theatres, and monumental gateways.
Ajloun Castle
Visit the hilltop fortress built during the Ayyubid period. Its towers and elevated position helped protect the region and oversee important routes.
Return to Amman for dinner and overnight.
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14 Day 14 – Mount Nebo, Madaba, Bethany, and Shobak
After breakfast, travel south to visit:
Mount Nebo
Visit the mountain traditionally associated with Moses and enjoy views across the Jordan Valley.
Madaba and St. George’s Church
Explore Madaba, known for its Byzantine mosaics, and see the church’s famous mosaic map of the Holy Land.
Bethany Beyond the Jordan
Visit the archaeological site traditionally associated with the baptism of Jesus. The area includes remains of churches and baptism-related structures.
Shobak Castle
Explore the remains of this Crusader fortress, set on a hill overlooking the surrounding countryside.
Continue to Petra. Dinner and overnight in Petra.
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15 Day 15 – Petra, Little Petra, and Wadi Rum
Spend the day exploring Petra with a local guide.
The Siq
Walk through the narrow gorge that forms the dramatic entrance to the ancient city.
The Treasury
Admire Petra’s best-known façade, carved directly into the sandstone cliff.
Street of Facades
See a row of rock-cut tombs along Petra’s main route.
Royal Tombs
View the large tombs carved into the cliffs, each with distinctive façades.
Roman Theatre
See the theatre carved partly into the mountainside and later adapted during the Roman period.
Colonnaded Street
Walk along the remains of Petra’s main thoroughfare, once lined with columns and public buildings.
Great Temple
Explore the remains of a large complex in the city center, including surviving columns and platforms.
Guests may use their free time to hike to Ad Deir (the Monastery) or visit a panoramic viewpoint.
Little Petra
Visit this smaller Nabataean site, known for its narrow passages and carved façades.
Continue to Wadi Rum for a traditional Bedouin dinner and overnight at the camp.
Please note: Petra involves considerable walking over uneven ground and steps. Visiting the Monastery requires a long stair climb.
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16 Day 16 – Wadi Rum, Dead Sea, and Departure
After breakfast, enjoy a two-hour 4×4 Jeep tour.
Wadi Rum
Explore the desert’s sandstone mountains, open valleys, and rock formations, with stops at selected viewpoints.
Continue to the Dead Sea.
Dead Sea
Relax at the beach and experience floating in the highly mineralized water. Beach facilities depend on the selected resort.
Transfer to Queen Alia International Airport for your departure flight. The Dead Sea visit depends on your flight time; an evening departure is needed to include it comfortably.
Availability
This tour departs on the following days. Send us your preferred date and we will confirm availability for you.
- Everyday
Room & Cabin Occupancy and Single Supplement
- All tour prices are based on two guests sharing a twin or double room/cabin, unless otherwise stated.
- Guests requesting a private room or private cabin will be required to pay a single supplement.
- For Nile cruises, the single-cabin supplement is normally an additional 70% of the per-person twin-sharing rate.
- Hotel single-room supplements vary depending on the hotel, travel dates, availability, and season.
- Single rooms and cabins are subject to availability and final confirmation.
- The exact single supplement will be clearly stated in your quotation and booking confirmation.
- If one traveler cancels and the remaining guest occupies the room or cabin alone, the applicable single supplement may be added to the booking.
By confirming your booking, you acknowledge and accept the applicable room/cabin occupancy and single-supplement conditions.
Read the full Booking, Payment & Cancellation PolicySingle supplements may vary by supplier and are always confirmed before payment.
Frequently asked questions
What Are Egypt’s Festivals and Public Holidays?
Egypt celebrates a variety of public holidays and festivals, both religious and national. Among the most significant are the holy month of Ramadan, a time of fasting and spiritual reflection for Muslims, which ends with the joyful celebration of Eid Al-Fitr. Other major holidays include Eid Al-Adha, Islamic New Year, and Mawlid Al-Nabi (the Prophet’s birthday). On the national and cultural side, Christmas (January 7), New Year’s Eve, Revolution Day (July 23), and Sinai Liberation Day (April 25) are widely observed. These festivals offer visitors a rich cultural experience and a deeper look into Egypt’s heritage.
Is it safe to go on a tour in Egypt right now?
Egypt offers a wide range of tours to suit every travel style, interest, and budget. Some of the most popular options include a 6-day tour covering Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, and Abu Simbel; an 8-day package that explores Cairo, Luxor, Abu Simbel, and Hurghada; a 9-day journey combining Cairo, a Nile Cruise, and Alexandria; and a 10-day tour featuring Cairo, Aswan, Luxor, and Hurghada. Whether you're drawn to ancient history, cultural landmarks, or relaxing by the Red Sea, there's a tour perfectly tailored for you.
How Much a trip to Egypt costs?
Tour prices in Egypt vary based on length, comfort, and inclusions. Budget tours start around $600–$900 USD for a week, mid-range packages range from $1,000–$1,800, and luxury tours can exceed $2,000 USD. Prices usually include hotels, guided tours, and domestic transport, but not international flights.
What are the visa requirements for Egypt?
To visit Egypt, most travelers require a visa. Citizens from over 180 countries, including the U.S., UK, Canada, and EU nations, can apply for a 30-day tourist visa. This can be obtained either online via Egypt’s official eVisa portal or on arrival at Egyptian airports for a fee of approximately $25 USD. However, travelers heading to Sharm El Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba, or Taba resorts can enter visa-free for up to 15 days, here’s the www.visa2egypt.gov.eg
How long should my passport be valid to travel to Egypt?
Passport validity: Ensure your passport is valid for at least 6 months from your intended arrival date in Egypt.
What do I need to pack for my tour to Egypt?
You will need to pack lightweight, breathable clothing, a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, comfortable walking shoes, a reusable water bottle, a scarf or shawl (for sun and temple visits), and a basic first aid kit. Don’t forget your passport, travel documents, and any personal medications.
What is the best time to visit Egypt?
The best time to visit Egypt is during the cooler months from October to April, when temperatures are mild and comfortable for sightseeing. Avoid the peak summer months (June to August) as it can get extremely hot, especially in desert and southern regions.
How is the summer time weather in Egypt?
Summer in Egypt (June to August) is very hot, with temperatures often exceeding 40°C (104°F), especially in desert areas and southern cities like Luxor and Aswan. Coastal areas like Alexandria and the Red Sea are a bit cooler with sea breezes.
What about Winter Time in Egypt?
Winter in Egypt (December to February) is mild and pleasant, with daytime temperatures around 20–25°C (68–77°F). Nights can be cool, especially in the desert, so light jackets are recommended. It's a great time for sightseeing and outdoor activities.
What is the best advice for a solo traveler visiting Egypt?
For solo travelers in Egypt, stick to group tours, avoid going out alone at night, dress modestly, use trusted transport, and keep your belongings secure. Stay aware, stay connected, and respect local customs for a safe and enjoyable trip.
What is the best advice to a family with kids visiting Egypt?
For families with kids visiting Egypt, it’s best to choose family-friendly tours with shorter travel times, plenty of breaks, and activities suitable for children. Stay in comfortable accommodations, keep hydrated, protect from the sun, planning ahead and pacing the itinerary will ensure a fun and safe experience for everyone.
Is transportation easy to use in Egypt?
Transportation in Egypt includes buses, trains, taxis, ride-hailing apps like Uber and Kareem, and domestic flights for longer distances. In cities, taxis and minibuses are common, while Nile cruises offer a unique travel experience. Traffic can be busy and chaotic, so it’s best to use trusted transport services or arranged tours for convenience and safety.
What are the major festivals and holidays in Egypt?
Egypt’s major national holidays include Revolution Day (July 23), Labor Day (May 1), and Sinai Liberation Day (April 25). Key festivals are Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, and Coptic Christmas (January 7). Dates for Islamic holidays change yearly based on the lunar calendar.
What should a woman traveler know before going to Egypt?
For foreign women traveling to Egypt, dress modestly, avoid walking alone at night, use trusted transport, stay in well-reviewed accommodations, and be aware of local customs to ensure a safe and comfortable trip.
What fun things can I do while visiting Egypt?
There are some fun things to do while visiting Egypt: explore the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx, take a Nile River cruise, visit ancient temples in Luxor and Abu Simbel, snorkel or dive in the Red Sea, wander the bustling markets of Cairo, and enjoy traditional Egyptian cuisine.
What activities are popular for tourists in Egypt?
Popular activities for tourists in Egypt include visiting the Pyramids of Giza, cruising the Nile River, exploring Luxor’s temples and tombs, diving in the Red Sea, touring ancient sites like Abu Simbel, and shopping in vibrant markets like Khan El Khalili.
What language do people speak in Egypt?
The main language in Egypt is Arabic, specifically Egyptian Arabic. English and French are also commonly spoken in tourist areas and by educated Egyptians.
What is a must-try traditional meal in Egypt?
The most traditional food in Egypt is Koshari, a popular dish made of rice, lentils, pasta, and topped with spicy tomato sauce and crispy fried onions. Other traditional favorites include Ful Medames (stewed fava beans) and Ta’ameya (Egyptian falafel).
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