Nilo 
Egypt in 7 days
From the pyramids to Luxor
The pyramids of Giza and Cairo's new museum, and in Luxor the temples of Karnak and the Valley of the Kings, in ancient Thebes.
- Days
- 3–4
- When
- Jan–Mar · Nov–Dec
- Per person/day
- Average 70–120 USDMid-range · per person/day
Cost scope
Per person per day: accommodation, meals, urban transport, visits and a small allowance for extras. Flights excluded; larger purchases vary. Editorial estimate, not a quote.
- Days
- 2–3
- When
- Jan–Mar · Oct–Dec
- Per person/day
- Average 70–120 USDMid-range · per person/day
Cost scope
Per person per day: accommodation, meals, urban transport, visits and a small allowance for extras. Flights excluded; larger purchases vary. Editorial estimate, not a quote.
Who it is for
For anyone who wants the Egypt of the pharaohs, with its two great sets of monuments in one week.
Not for summer travellers, since the heat in Luxor pushes visits into the early hours.
The strategy
Cairo comes first, with Giza and the new museum. Luxor comes next, a short flight away, with the two banks of the river on separate days and visits early in the morning.
What you will see
- Giza pyramids and the Sphinx, Cairo. Three 4th Dynasty pyramids (about 2560–2510 BCE).
- Karnak, Luxor. Ancient Egypt's largest religious complex, with about 2 km² built and rebuilt over 1,500 years.
Day by day
Cairo
- Day 1: Giza and the new museum
- Day 3: River, Copts, and Tahrir
- Day 4: Saqqara, Dahshur, and Memphis (day trip) · if you have more time
Luxor
- Day 5: East bank: temples, museum and market
- Day 6: West bank: Valley of the Kings and mortuary temples
- Day 7: Workers, mud village and river · if you have more time
