Package 13 Days 12 Nights to Cairo, Luxor, Aswan & Red Sea Vacation

Egypt moves fast, then slows down. This package strings together Egypt’s biggest highlights with real time to rest, starting at the Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at The First Residence, then switching to the Oberoi Philae Nile Cruise for the Nile temples, and finishing at the Oberoi Sahl Hasheesh on the Red Sea. I especially like the clear, guided sightseeing in Cairo and Luxor, plus the way the cruise schedule builds in spa time instead of running you ragged.

Two things I’d put at the top of my list are the onboard comfort and service during the Nile portion, and the private guide setup that keeps the site visits organized. One drawback to plan for: some of the most famous interiors cost extra, including tickets to get inside the Pyramids and to enter Tut’s Tomb, plus extra charges are noted for places like the Solar Boat Museum and a room at the Egyptian Museum.

If your goal is a smooth luxury trip with mostly private logistics, this one is built for you. It’s not the cheapest way to see Egypt, but the value comes from the domestic flights, private transfers, and the included guided time at major sites, not just the hotel names.

What Makes This Trip Feel Like Value (Not Just Luxury)

• Oberoi Nile comfort with built-in breaks: spa time is scheduled, not an afterthought.
• First-class Cairo base: you start at the Four Seasons and get an airport meet-and-assist.
• Private guiding for heavy hitters: Giza, Egyptian Museum, Old and Coptic Cairo, and Luxor all come with a dedicated guide.
• Cairo to Upper Egypt by air: flying saves you a lot of hassle compared with overland transit.
• A real Red Sea finish: Sahl Hasheesh gives you downtime after nonstop ancient sites.

Arrival Day in Cairo: Four Seasons Meets Real Sightseeing Logistics

You land in Cairo, get met at the airport, and the next step is instant comfort. Your tour manager escorts you to the Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at The First Residence by an air-conditioned deluxe vehicle, and you settle in with help at check-in. Even the itinerary review is practical, because it helps you confirm pick-up times for the tours so you are not guessing later.

What I like here is that Day 1 is not just paperwork. You get a welcome drink, and you have an overnight that is designed for recovery. Cairo can be a lot, even when you are excited. Starting at a top-tier hotel reduces the friction so you can actually enjoy the next day at Giza.

One more smart detail: transfers are handled privately with bottled water included during tours and transfers, and the vehicle transfers include free Wi-Fi. That may sound small, but it makes airport time, waiting time, and between-site time easier to manage.

Giza Plateau Day: Great Pyramids, Plus the Ticket Trap to Know

Day 2 is built around the Giza Plateau and the best-known classics. You go with a private Cairo tour guide and driver to see the Great Pyramids, the Middle Pyramids, the smallest pyramid of Mykerinos, and the Sphinx. The tour also includes the Valley Temple facing the Sphinx, which is a meaningful add-on because it gives context beyond just the main monuments.

Here’s the important part for your planning: you may have admission ticket included for the visit, but the package notes additional charges for entering the Pyramids and also the Solar Boat Museum. And the overall list of what is not included specifically says that tickets to get inside the Pyramids are not included.

So what should you do? Decide early whether you want to pay for inside access. If you do, ask your guide when you arrive so you do not waste time later. If you do not, you can still have a great day on the plateau. Just know that inside tickets are the big “extra” budget line.

Egyptian Museum Plus Old and Coptic Cairo: Two Different Moods in One Day

Day 3 combines two of Cairo’s most rewarding contrasts.

First is the Egyptian Museum of Egyptian Antiques, described as a collection of more than 120,000 masterpieces spanning pre-dynastic through Pharaonic and Greco-Roman periods. You are also warned about extras: there may be an additional charge for entering the Mummies Room, even though the base museum visit is part of the plan.

Then you shift gears to Old and Coptic Cairo. Your guide takes you to Salah El Din’s Old Citadel area and the Mohammed Ali Alabaster Mosque. The mosque is highlighted for its Turkish style and for its views over Old Cairo, including toward the Pyramids. From there, the itinerary moves into Christian heritage in Coptic Cairo, focusing on early religious monuments.

I like this pairing because it changes your pace. The museum works your mind. The citadel and mosque work your sense of place. Cairo’s best days are the ones where you are not doing the same kind of sight three hours in a row.

Practical tip: this is a long day. Wear comfortable shoes and plan to slow down a bit during the transitions. You are going to walk more than you think.

Fly to Aswan and Start the Oberoi Philae Cruise: The Nile Portion That Actually Rests

Day 4 is where the trip shifts north-to-south energy. After breakfast and checkout in Cairo, you transfer to the airport and fly to Aswan. Then you are met and assisted by a Sun Pyramids Tours representative and taken to embark on the Oberoi Philae Nile Cruise.

The cruise day includes real sequence and downtime:

• Embarkation, then lunch
• A Nubian Museum visit by motorboat
• Spa time
• Cocktail reception with entertainment
• Dinner and overnight

This rhythm matters. Most Egypt itineraries overload the daytime and leave the evening for exhaustion. Here, the itinerary explicitly schedules spa time and an entertainment moment, so you are not constantly on a tight schedule.

Also, as a sanity check, I’d treat these “spa time” blocks as your buffer. If you want to nap, do it then. If you want to take photos from a deck, that’s the time. The cruise is set up for that kind of flexible enjoyment.

Kom Ombo, High Dam, Philae Temple: Twin Temples and Big Engineering

Day 5 starts early with sailing to Kom Ombo around 6:00 a.m., then breakfast. You tour the twin temples of Kom Ombo from about 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. This is one of the clearer “what you’re seeing and why it matters” days in the whole itinerary, because twin temples can feel confusing if someone does not explain the structure and purpose. Having a guide fixes that.

After the Kom Ombo visit, you sail back to Aswan and the afternoon adds two major landmarks:

• The High Dam
• Philae Temple

You also get another spa block and then your evening reception and dinner. If you like Egypt but hate feeling rushed, this is a nice balance: temple time, then a breather.

Edfu Temple Morning: One of Egypt’s Best-Preserved Stops

Day 6 brings you to Edfu. The plan is straightforward: sail to Edfu, breakfast, then a guided visit to the Temple of Edfu, described as the best preserved temple of the ancient world, dedicated to Horus the Falcon God. The itinerary also includes the fact that construction began in 237 B.C. and that the main temple complex took 25 years to complete.

Then you sail to Essna and continue the flow with spa time, lunch, and dinner.

One reason I like this day is that Edfu tends to reward patience. The interior and carving details are not just “look at the big statue.” When you pace yourself and avoid rushing through, it feels like a true ancient site rather than a checklist item.

Luxor Temples and Karnak Museum Time: Easy-Walking Temple Sets, Then West Bank Prep

Day 7 is another sailing transition, this time to Luxor. You have breakfast while sailing, then an afternoon focused on:

• Karnak Temple
• Luxor Museum

The itinerary also includes spa time before and after the main sightseeing block. That matters in Luxor because you are stacking major sites quickly. Your body will thank you for the planned downtime.

West Bank Day in Luxor: Valley of the Kings, Medinet Habu, and Colossi

Day 8 is the long one. You visit the West Bank of ancient Thebes early and you get a lineup of the major names:

• Valley of the Kings, including King Tut’s tomb and tombs for rulers like Ramesses the 6th
• Temple of Medinet Habu
• Deir El Madina
• Colossi of Memnon

Then you sail to Qena for lunch and more relaxed afternoon time, including another spa block. In the evening, you add the Temple of Dendara, dedicated to Hathor, Goddess of Music, Love and Joy.

This day is impressive, but it is also where I’d manage expectations. It is easy to get temple fatigue when you go in hard. The fix is to slow down during the most famous sections, not during everything. Spend extra time on one or two tomb areas you care about and let the rest be a strong overview.

Also, be aware of the extra ticket line: the package notes tickets to get inside Tut’s Tomb are not included. You can still see a lot, but inside access may be an add-on cost if you want it.

Abydos and Luxor Temple: Two Temple Vibes Before the Red Sea Change of Pace

Day 9 starts with the Temple of Abydos, visited in the morning, then you sail back to Luxor for lunch. The afternoon is lighter with free time and another spa block. Late afternoon includes Luxor Temple.

This is a great day to absorb what you saw in the West Bank and shift to something more atmospheric. Abydos has its own feel, and Luxor Temple in the evening often reads differently than during the day. You do not have to do every “extra,” and the itinerary gives you space to choose.

The 3-Hour Drive to Sahl Hasheesh: Why This Transition Feels Like a Reward

After the Nile portion, you switch worlds. Day 10 is a short drive of about 3 hours to Sahl Hasheesh, and you check in to the luxury Oberoi Sahl Hasheesh resort.

This is not just a hotel change. It is your reset. The itinerary highlights the dry and sometimes mountainous terrain along the way, then focuses on the resort experience: peace, pampering, and luxury, with the resort positioned about 30 minutes from Central Hurghada. That proximity matters because you can do day trips if you want, while still returning to quiet.

What I like here is that the itinerary is honest about the role of the resort. You get to relax after a heavy sightseeing run.

Red Sea Days at Oberoi Sahl Hasheesh: Optional Adventures, Plus Evening Entertainment

Days 11 and 12 are dedicated to resort time with optional add-ons. The itinerary mentions optional experiences such as:

• Diving and snorkeling experiences in the Red Sea
• Canyon and cave adventures in the sandy desert region
• Jeep safaris and quad biking tours

It also calls out an evening excursion into Hurghada featuring sound, lighting, dance, music, and traditional entertainment.

Then Day 11 adds a second evening highlight: Arabian Night, Alf Leila Wa Leila, described as an evening built around 1001 Nights themes in a setting with domes, pillars, towers, gates, fountains, and marble paths.

I like that the schedule gives you a choice. If you want water and wildlife, you can lean toward snorkeling or diving. If you want motion on land, safaris and quad biking are there. If you want pure rest, the itinerary also supports that.

Price and Value: Where the Money Goes, and What You Still Pay Separately

This package lists a price of $8,315.00 per person for about 13 days and 12 nights, and it’s built around higher-end lodging and guided experiences.

Here is what you are paying for that feels real:

• Luxury bases: Four Seasons in Cairo, an Oberoi Nile cruise, Oberoi at Sahl Hasheesh
• Domestic flights: Cairo to Aswan, plus Hurghada to Cairo (for your return)
• Private transfers by air-conditioned deluxe vehicles, including free Wi-Fi on transfers
• A private tour guide and entrance fees to sites as indicated on the itinerary
• Bottled water during tours and transfers

And here are the big “budget watch” items the package flags:

• International airfare is not included
• Entry visa for Egypt is not included
• Tickets to get inside the Pyramids and to get inside Tut’s Tomb are not included
• Additional charges may apply for specific museum rooms and the Solar Boat Museum
• Optional tours are not included
• Beverages, tipping kitty, and the gala dinner are not included

My practical advice: treat the base price as covering the spine of your trip, then plan a secondary budget for the ticketed interior experiences and any add-ons you want on the Red Sea side. If you only plan to see the exterior monuments, your extra costs may stay smaller. If you want the inside access, it adds up.

Who This Trip Suits Best (And Who Might Be Happier Elsewhere)

This is a strong fit if you want:

• Luxury lodging and smooth logistics
• A guided, structured route through Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, and the Red Sea
• A cruise experience with downtime built in, not just temple marathons
• Private guiding and private vehicle transfers for most legs

You might consider a different setup if you want a slower, more independent trip with lots of free time in each city. This itinerary is organized, and while it includes spa and free-time blocks, the days are still designed around major sites.

Also note: while the package mentions group discounts, it is described as a private tour/activity where only your group participates. That usually means you get a more personal rhythm than a big group bus tour, which is part of why people rate it so highly.

Should You Book This 13-Day Egypt and Red Sea Package?

I’d book it if you want Egypt with fewer logistics headaches and higher comfort, especially if the Oberoi Nile cruise and Oberoi Sahl Hasheesh resort are the kind of experience you will actually enjoy.

If you decide to book, do two things early:

1) Plan for the extra ticket costs for pyramid interiors and Tut’s Tomb access, because those are the most likely surprises.

2) Pick your Red Sea vibe ahead of time, snorkeling and diving if that’s your thing, or safaris and quad biking if you want land adventure.

If you get the balance right, you end up with a trip that moves through Egypt’s must-sees, then gives you a real breather on the Red Sea. That combination is hard to beat.

FAQ

How many days is this Egypt vacation, and how many nights?

It’s listed as 13 days and about 12 nights.

Where does the trip take you?

The itinerary covers Cairo, Aswan, Luxor, and then the Sahl Hasheesh area on the Red Sea.

What’s the starting point and meeting time?

Pickup is offered, and the meeting points list a start time of 7:30 am.

Are domestic flights included?

Yes. Domestic flight Cairo to Aswan and Hurghada to Cairo are included.

What accommodations are included?

You’ll stay at Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at The First Residence in Cairo, travel on the Oberoi Philae Nile Cruise, and stay at Oberoi Sahl Hasheesh Hotel at the end.

Are entrance fees included for the main sites?

Entrance fees are included to sites indicated on the itinerary. However, the package also notes extra charges for entering the Pyramids and for the Solar Boat Museum, and an additional charge for the Mummies Room at the Egyptian Museum.

Do I need extra tickets for the Pyramids or Tut’s Tomb?

Yes. Tickets to get inside the Pyramids and tickets to get inside Tut’s Tomb are not included.

Are meals and drinks included?

The itinerary lists meals by day (for example breakfast and some lunches and dinners), but beverages are not included.

Are optional tours included on the Red Sea portion?

No. Any optional tours are not included.

Is international airfare included?

No. International airfare is not included, and the Egypt entry visa is also not included.