Experience the very best of Egypt on our classic 8 day Egypt tour with Nile cruise. This carefully planned journey blends Cairo’s timeless wonders with a relaxing 3-night sail through Upper Egypt — connected by smooth domestic flights, so you spend your week among pyramids and temples, not on long road journeys. It’s the perfect choice if you want history, comfort, and unforgettable views in one seamless trip. Ready to compare other durations? Explore our full range of 8-day Egypt tour packages.
Your adventure begins in Cairo, where you’ll stand before the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx, then come face-to-face with the treasures of Tutankhamun at the Grand Egyptian Museum. Then fly south to Aswan to board your elegant 5-star Nile cruise down to Luxor. Along the way, visit the pearl of the Nile, Philae Temple on its scenic island; the twin Temple of Kom Ombo dedicated to Sobek and Horus; and the Temple of Horus at Edfu, the most intact temple in all of Egypt. In Luxor, discover the magnificent tombs of the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Hatshepsut, and mighty Karnak, the largest temple complex in the world. Back in Cairo, a full final day awaits with the Citadel of Saladin, the churches of Coptic Cairo, and the bustling lanes of Khan El-Khalili bazaar.
This 8 day Cairo and Nile cruise tour is ideal if you want Egypt’s top highlights with expert planning and zero stress: professional Egyptologist guides at every site, comfortable hotels, full-board cruising, and all domestic flights included. Choose Egypt Best Vacations, and turn 8 days in Egypt into a lifetime of memories.
Welcome to the land of pharaohs and pyramids! As your plane touches down at Cairo International Airport, a representative from “Egypt Best Vacations” will be waiting for you inside the arrival terminal with a warm smile. You’ll breeze through the arrival and visa formalities with their expert help, then hop aboard your comfortable transfer, leaving the bustle of the airport behind. Arrive at your hotel feeling refreshed and ready to begin your 8 day Egypt tour with Nile cruise.
Meals Plan: No Meals Included
Your adventure truly begins when our expert tour guide picks you up from your hotel for a day among Egypt’s greatest icons: the Great Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx, and the Grand Egyptian Museum.
At the Giza Plateau, explore the Great Pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure alongside the enigmatic Sphinx. Khufu’s Great Pyramid — the only ancient wonder of the world still standing — awaits you. Are you ready to discover it from the inside? (Optional ticket.) Your Egyptologist guide will explain how the pyramids were built, why they were built, and the mysteries that still surround them.
Savor your lunch at a local restaurant, then proceed to the Grand Egyptian Museum. Explore the world’s largest collection of ancient Egyptian treasures in one stunning modern complex. You’ll stand face-to-face with the full Tutankhamun collection and enjoy immersive galleries that bring Egypt’s history to life. Then, head back to your hotel.
Meals Plan: Breakfast & Lunch
A majestic Nile cruise vacation awaits! Today your Egypt 8 day itinerary shifts south. Transfer to Cairo Airport and fly to Aswan to begin your 3-night Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor.
Meet your guide just outside the arrival terminal to begin your Aswan tour. Your first stop is the High Dam, a massive engineering marvel built in the 1960s to protect Egypt from floods and generate hydroelectric power. Then take a motorboat to the beautiful Temple of Isis on Agilika Island. Built primarily during the Ptolemaic period, it is one of the most incredible temples in Egypt — famously relocated stone by stone by UNESCO after the dams were built. End your tour at the granite quarry of the Unfinished Obelisk, where you’ll learn how the ancient Egyptians carved their obelisks and statues of gods and kings. Then, transfer to your Nile cruise ship. Overnight in Aswan.
Optional tour: Nubian Village in Aswan
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Enjoy a free morning on board your ship, or join our optional excursion to Abu Simbel’s phenomenal temples, carved into the mountainside by Ramses II.
Around lunchtime, your cruise sets sail for Kom Ombo. Disembark to visit the unique Twin Temple of Sobek, the crocodile god, and Horus, the falcon god. Built over the ruins of an earlier New Kingdom temple, it was begun under Ptolemy VI and added to by successive rulers right through the Roman period — Tiberius, Domitian, and Caracalla among them — roughly 400 years of building in all. Enjoy a short visit to the fascinating Crocodile Museum before returning to your ship and sailing on to Edfu. Overnight in Edfu.
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Before breakfast, take a horse-drawn carriage to the Temple of Horus in Edfu — the most intact temple in Egypt, fully inscribed with reliefs and hieroglyphs on its walls inside and out. Built between 237 and 57 BC, it took the Ptolemies nearly two centuries to complete.
Return to your ship and sail from Edfu to Luxor via the Lock of Esna. Upon arrival in Luxor, explore mighty Karnak Temple, the largest religious complex ever built, covering around 100 hectares. Its vast halls, towering columns, and sacred sanctuaries reveal the greatness of Thebes during the New Kingdom. Then continue to the majestic Temple of Luxor, one of the most beautiful ancient temples in Egypt. Built mainly by Amenhotep III and Ramses II, it was dedicated to the rejuvenation of kingship and the glory of ancient Thebes. Both temples honored the Theban Triad: Amun, Mut, and Khonsu.
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Disembark from your Nile cruise ship after breakfast to explore Luxor’s west bank. Begin with the magnificent tombs of the Valley of the Kings, where the pharaohs of the New Kingdom were buried in tombs cut deep into the mountain to hide them from grave robbers. Your guide will recommend the best three tombs among those open to visitors.
Then continue to the unique Temple of Hatshepsut. Hatshepsut began as regent for Thutmose III and went on to rule as a crowned king in full pharaonic regalia — with his regnal years still running alongside hers. Her temple is famous for its grand terraces and elegant design, set dramatically against the cliffs of Deir El-Bahari. End your west bank tour at the Colossi of Memnon: these two giant statues of Amenhotep III once stood in front of the main gate of his vast mortuary temple, and remain among the most famous landmarks of ancient Thebes.
As the Luxor chapter of your journey draws to a close, bid farewell to the Valley of the Kings and the Nile’s golden embrace. Transfer to Luxor Airport for a quick flight back to Cairo, then on to your hotel.
Optional tour: Sunrise Hot Air Ballooning over Luxor
Meals Plan: Breakfast Only
After breakfast at the hotel, visit the Citadel of Saladin, founded in 1176 by the great Sunni Muslim leader to protect Cairo from the Crusaders. Admire the Alabaster Mosque of Muhammad Ali Pasha, the citadel’s most prominent feature. Continue to the Coptic Cairo district to visit the Hanging Church, one of the most famous Christian landmarks in Old Cairo, known for its beautiful wooden ceiling, historic icons, and unique location above the Babylon Fortress.
Proceed to Abu Serga Church, one of the oldest churches in Old Cairo and a major stop on the Holy Family route in Egypt — tradition says the Holy Family stayed in a cave beneath the church during their journey. End your Coptic Cairo tour at the Ben Ezra Synagogue, one of the most important Jewish landmarks in Old Cairo, famous for the Geniza documents that revealed valuable details about daily life in the medieval Middle East.
Finish your day at the historical Khan El-Khalili bazaar, one of the oldest and most famous bazaars in the Middle East — a vibrant maze of narrow lanes, colorful shops, handmade souvenirs, spices, jewelry, and lively cafés. Then return to your hotel for the final night of your 8 day Cairo and Nile cruise tour.
Meals Plan: Breakfast Only
As the sun rises over Cairo one last time, your 8 days in Egypt draw to a close — whispers of ancient wonders mixing with the promise of future journeys. After breakfast, transfer to Cairo Airport for your final departure.
Meals Plan: Breakfast Only
