Cairo, Luxor and Aswan by overnight train. Egypt's three greatest cities in eight days, with a private guide at every site and room in your budget for the extras that matter.
Your Journey Route
This eight-day circuit covers the three cities that define Egyptian tourism, travelling between them by overnight train for a genuine, cost-effective adventure. Cairo gives you the Giza Plateau and the Grand Egyptian Museum. Overnight train to Luxor, where Karnak, the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut's temple occupy two full days. Overnight train to Aswan for Philae Island, the Unfinished Obelisk and a Nubian felucca sunset. Back to Cairo overnight, one final morning, then home. Everything is private and guided. Nothing is rushed.
Private airport transfer and hotel check-in. An orientation walk around the neighbourhood helps you find your bearings. If time allows, an early evening stroll through Khan el-Khalili bazaar is a memorable first hour in Cairo. Optional Nile felucca at sunset.
The Giza Plateau at dawn is a different world from the midday crowds. Three pyramids, the Great Sphinx and the Valley Temple with a private Egyptologist at your side. Then the Grand Egyptian Museum for Tutankhamun's gallery. Return to the hotel, pack for the south, and board the overnight sleeper train to Luxor at the station.
Arrive Luxor in the morning from the overnight train. Your guide meets you at the station. The Karnak Temple complex, the largest ancient religious site ever built, occupies the morning with a two-hour guided visit. Luxor Temple, smaller but equally atmospheric, is best at sunset. Hotel check-in.
The West Bank of Luxor holds the ancient world's greatest concentration of royal tombs. Three tombs in the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's mortuary temple carved into the cliff face at Deir el-Bahari, and the Colossi of Memnon on the flood plain. Evening: board the overnight sleeper train south to Aswan.
Arrive Aswan from the overnight train. Philae Island and the Temple of Isis, reachable only by motorboat. The Unfinished Obelisk, abandoned in the ancient granite quarry still lying where a crack appeared 3,500 years ago. The High Dam overview gives you the scale of modern Egypt against the ancient. The Nubian felucca sunset sail is one of the most peaceful moments of the journey.
For those who have pre-booked the Abu Simbel add-on: a 4am departure by convoy for the 3-hour desert drive to Ramesses II's four colossal statues at sunrise. An extraordinary morning. For those staying in Aswan: the Aswan bazaar market, Elephantine Island, and a free morning to explore at your own pace. Evening: board the overnight sleeper train back to Cairo.
Arrive Cairo in the morning. The Egyptian Museum of Antiquities on Tahrir Square houses the original gold death mask of Tutankhamun. Old Cairo's Coptic circuit follows: the Hanging Church built over a Roman fortress tower, and the Ben Ezra Synagogue, one of the oldest in Egypt.
Breakfast and hotel check-out. If time allows before your flight, a final browse through Khan el-Khalili for last-minute gifts. Private transfer to Cairo International Airport for your international departure.
Pre-dawn 4am departure from Aswan, 3-hour desert drive to Ramesses II's four colossal statues. Arriving in golden-hour light before the other tours. Genuinely unforgettable.
Sunrise over the Valley of the Kings from above. The temples, the Nile and the Eastern Desert spread out below in the early light. The iconic Egypt photograph.
Dinner hosted by a Nubian family on the Nile bank in Aswan, with traditional food, music and conversation. An insight into one of Africa's most ancient cultures.
Swap the Aswan–Luxor overnight train for a 3-night 5-star Nile cruise with full board. Kom Ombo and Edfu added to your itinerary. Contact us for the upgrade price.
The boy pharaoh's burial chamber requires a separate ticket from the Valley of the Kings general entry. Limited daily access; pre-book to guarantee access.
A private felucca from Aswan for a 2-hour sunset sail with tea and snacks. Pink granite rocks, the Aga Khan Mausoleum and the golden cliffs in the last light.
Yes, entirely private. "Budget" refers to the price tier and hotel category, not a group tour. You will have a private Egyptologist guide and private vehicle at every point. Hotel stars are lower than our premium tours, but all properties are clean, comfortable and well-reviewed.
Egypt's overnight trains between Cairo, Luxor and Aswan have air-conditioned sleeper cabins with fold-down beds and bedding provided. The cabins seat 2 per compartment. Dinner and breakfast are typically included on the train. It is a classic, comfortable way to travel.
Yes. You can upgrade any hotel to a 4 or 5-star property, or replace any overnight train leg with a domestic flight. You can also upgrade the Aswan-to-Luxor section to a 5-star Nile cruise for a small premium. Contact us for a custom quote.
For most visitors, yes. The temples of Ramesses II and Nefertari at Abu Simbel are genuinely awe-inspiring and require a full-day excursion from Aswan. The pre-dawn departure means you arrive in golden-hour light with fewer crowds. We highly recommend adding it.
October to April. Luxor and Aswan can exceed 40°C in summer, making outdoor touring very difficult. Winter (Dec–Feb) brings clear skies and temperatures of 18–25°C.
Yes, with a single supplement for solo occupancy. As a private tour with a guide present throughout, solo travel on this itinerary is comfortable and safe.
Most nationalities receive an Egypt tourist visa on arrival for US$25 (cash). The e-visa at visa2egypt.gov.eg is also available and avoids queues.
Yes. We can add or remove days, add a Nile cruise, adjust hotel tiers, or extend to the Red Sea or Alexandria. Contact us on WhatsApp with your requirements.
Maximum Egypt in minimum budget, without skimping on guides or access to the best sites.
Private, guided, and built for travellers who want depth over comfort star counts.
The essential Egypt circuit. Everything that should be on a first Egypt trip, in the right order.
Eight days. Three cities. No filler days. The most efficient way to see Egypt properly.
Every journey we build is private, guided and crafted around you. Tell us your travel dates and group size and we'll send you a personalised itinerary within 24 hours.
