Plan the whole trip
Cairo and a Nile cruise: how to plan the whole trip
Give Cairo two or three nights and the Nile three to seven. Most first trips start in Cairo for the pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum, take a short flight south, then sail between Luxor and Aswan. Three nights in Cairo plus a four-night cruise from Luxor is a complete first visit in a week; ten nights adds the Luxor West Bank and a spare night in Aswan.
Cairo
How many nights in Cairo?
Three nights is the sweet spot: two full days for the big sights and one spare for jet lag or a slower afternoon.
With one full day you can see the pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx in the morning and the Grand Egyptian Museum in the afternoon. A second day covers Saqqara and Memphis, or Islamic Cairo and the Khan el-Khalili bazaar, or Coptic Cairo and the royal mummies. Two nights works for people who mainly came for the river; four suits anyone who wants Alexandria or a desert night as well.
See things to do in Giza, where to stay in Cairo and three days in Cairo.
Order
Cairo before the cruise, or after?
Before, for most people. Arrive, rest and see Cairo first, then let the boat be the calm part of the trip.
Starting in Cairo means jet lag lands on the busiest city of the trip, while the boat gives you a slower finish. It also follows the story: the Old Kingdom pyramids first, then the New Kingdom temples of Luxor and the later temples upriver.
Go to the river first if your international flight arrives in Luxor or Aswan, or if your cruise date only fits that way round. In that case, keep a night in Cairo at the end so a delayed domestic flight cannot cost you the flight home. For the flight, train and road options between Cairo and the river, see getting from Cairo to your boat.
Trip shapes
Four ways to combine Cairo and the Nile
| Length | Shape | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| 7 nights | 3 nights Cairo, then a 4-night cruise Luxor to Aswan | Fly home from Aswan via Cairo. The tightest trip that still feels unhurried. |
| 8 nights | 3 nights Cairo, 4-night cruise Luxor to Aswan, 1 night Aswan | The extra night in Aswan buys Abu Simbel or a slow day at Philae and the islands. |
| 10 nights | 3 nights Cairo, 1 night Luxor, 4-night cruise, 1 night Aswan, 1 night Cairo | Room for the Luxor West Bank before boarding and a last night in Cairo before a morning flight. |
| 12 to 14 nights | 3 nights Cairo, 7-night cruise round trip from Luxor, 2 to 3 nights Cairo | Every temple between Luxor and Aswan, at the pace of the river. |
A four-night cruise sails Luxor to Aswan; a three-night cruise sails Aswan to Luxor and is the same route with less time at each stop. See 4-night cruises, 3-night cruises and 7-night cruises, or our guide to how many days you need.
Departures
Which cruise departure lines up with Cairo
Cruises leave on fixed weekdays, so pick the boat first and build the Cairo nights around its sailing day.
| Boat | Sails | Fits |
|---|---|---|
| Sonesta St George | Mondays from Luxor, 4 nights | Fly Cairo to Luxor on Monday morning |
| Historia | Mondays from Luxor, 4 nights; Fridays from Aswan, 3 nights | Fits a Friday or Monday start |
| The Oberoi Zahra | Tuesdays and Saturdays | Two starts a week for a smaller, quieter ship |
| Jaz Regent | Mondays from Luxor, 4 nights; Fridays from Aswan, 3 nights | A comfortable mid-range ship on the same rhythm |
| Sonesta Star Goddess | Saturdays from Luxor, 4 nights; Wednesdays from Aswan, 3 nights | All-suite ship for a weekend start |
See Sonesta St George, Historia, the Oberoi Zahra, Jaz Regent and Sonesta Star Goddess. For a smaller boat, a dahabiya fits the same way: see a 10-day trip built around a dahabiya.
Prices
What the Nile part costs
Nile cruise ships run about US$120 to US$1,500 per person per night and dahabiyas about US$140 to US$1,500, depending on the boat, the cabin and the season. Cairo hotels range just as widely. Tell us your dates and the style you want and we will price the whole trip, Cairo included.
Asked often
Cairo and the Nile, answered
- How many days do I need for Cairo and a Nile cruise?
- Seven nights covers it: three in Cairo and a four-night cruise from Luxor to Aswan. Ten nights adds a night in Luxor before the boat and a spare night in Aswan or Cairo.
- Should I visit Cairo before or after my Nile cruise?
- Before, for most travellers: jet lag falls on the city, and the boat is the relaxing end of the trip. If you do the river first, finish with a night in Cairo before your flight home.
- Can a Nile cruise start in Cairo?
- A handful of long cruises sail all the way from Cairo, but almost every Nile cruise runs between Luxor and Aswan. Travellers fly from Cairo to Luxor or Aswan to join the boat.
- How many nights in Cairo is enough?
- Two full days covers the pyramids, the Sphinx, the Grand Egyptian Museum and one of Saqqara, Islamic Cairo or Coptic Cairo. Three nights gives you those days plus time to rest.
