- 4.9/5 438 Latest reviews
- Destination: Egypt
- Duration: 16 Days
- Tour Type: Private & Bespoke
- Tour Style: In-Depth
About This Trip
An Egypt private tour of 16 days is one of the most complete ways to experience this extraordinary country. You move from Cairo's legendary pyramids through rarely visited desert oases, cruise the remote waters of Lake Nasser, explore Luxor's ancient temples, and finish on the Red Sea coast — all with a personal Egyptologist guide and private vehicle at every step. This is not a group tour with fixed schedules. Every day is shaped around you.
Summary
DAY
PLACE
HIGHLIGHTS
1 - 4
Cairo
Pyramids, Sphinx, Grand Egyptian Museum, Imhotep Museum
5
Minya
Beni Hassan, Museum of Akhenaten, Tell El Amarna
6
Faiyum
Wadi EL Rayan, Wadi EL Hitan
7 - 9
Lake Nasser Cruise
Abu Simbel: Temple of Nefertari
Kasr Ibrim: Nubian Monuments
Wadi el Sebou: Wadi el Sebou Temple
10 - 13
Luxor
Valley of the Kings, Luxor Temples, Dendera Temple
14 - 15
Sharm El Sheikh
Beach Holiday by the Red Sea
16
Cairo
Departure
Itinerary
- Day 1: Arrival in Cairo
Your Egypt private tour begins on arrival at Cairo International Airport.
A representative meets you, assists with immigration, and transfers you to your hotel by private car. The rest of the day is yours — rest after the flight or take a first walk through the city streets.
- Cairo
- Day 2: Cairo – Grand Egyptian Museum Visit
The Grand Egyptian Museum is one of the most significant cultural openings of this decade. Your private guide walks you through over 100,000 artefacts, from the complete Tutankhamun collection to the solar boat of Khufu.
The museum’s scale is immense. A private guide is essential here — without one, you can easily spend hours without context. With one, every object tells a story.
For background on the museum’s collection, the [Grand Egyptian Museum official site](https://gem.gov.eg) provides detailed information on current exhibitions.
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- Cairo
- Day 3: Cairo – Pyramids Exploration
Spend a full day on Egypt’s most iconic ground. Begin at Saqqara, where the Step Pyramid of Djoser — the world’s oldest stone monument — rises from the desert. Visit the Imhotep Museum inside the complex, one of the most underrated stops on any Egypt private tour.
In the afternoon, move to the Giza Plateau. Stand at the base of Khufu’s pyramid. Walk to the Sphinx and hear the legends that have surrounded it for 4,500 years.
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- Cairo
- Day 4: Cairo – Memphis & Dahshur Monuments
Visit Memphis, Egypt’s ancient capital during the Old Kingdom period, before heading to Dahshur. Here you see the Bent Pyramid and the Red Pyramid — Egypt’s first true smooth-sided pyramid, built by Pharaoh Sneferu around 2600 BCE.
Dahshur is far less visited than Giza, which is precisely why it belongs on a serious Egypt private tour. You can often explore the Red Pyramid’s inner chambers almost entirely alone.
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- Cairo
- Day 5: Cairo – Minya Excursion – Return to Cairo
Drive three hours south to El Minya for one of the most rewarding off-the-beaten-path days of this Egypt private tour.
Visit the Beni Hassan necropolis, cut into limestone cliffs above the Nile. These Middle Kingdom tombs date from roughly 2100–1650 BCE and contain some of Egypt’s most vivid painted scenes of daily life.
Continue to Tell El Amarna, the short-lived capital founded by the pharaoh Akhenaten — one of history’s most fascinating and controversial rulers.
Return to Cairo by evening.
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- Cairo
- Day 6: Fayoum Adventure – Wadi El Rayan & Wadi El Hitan
Head 90 km southwest of Cairo to the Fayoum oasis region. Begin at Wadi El Rayan, a protected area with desert lakes and waterfalls, before continuing to Wadi El Hitan — the Valley of the Whales.
Here, hundreds of fossilised whale skeletons lie scattered across the desert floor, marking a moment 40 million years ago when this land was a shallow sea. A 4×4 jeep drives you through the site.
Wadi El Hitan is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most extraordinary natural experiences on any Egypt private tour itinerary.
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- Cairo
- Day 7: Cairo to Abu Simbel – Embark on Lake Nasser Cruise
Depart early from your Cairo hotel and transfer privately to the airport for your flight to Abu Simbel, connecting through Aswan. Upon arrival, a representative will welcome you and escort you to board your Lake Nasser cruise ship. After settling in, enjoy a guided visit to the iconic Abu Simbel Temples, including the Great Temple of Ramses II and the Temple of Nefertari.
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- Nile River Cruise
- Day 8: Exploring Lake Nasser on Cruise
Today, embark on a scenic cruise along Lake Nasser, following a less-traveled route that reveals hidden Nubian treasures. Your first stop is Kasr Ibrim, a remarkable site that remains in its original location and survived the flooding caused by the construction of the Aswan High Dam.
After enjoying lunch on board, continue your journey to visit the Temple of Amada, recognized as the oldest Egyptian temple in Nubia. Later, sail onward to Wadi el Sebou, soaking in the serene beauty and historic significance of the area.
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- Nile River Cruise
- Day 9: Lake Nasser Cruise – Arrival in Aswan
Start your morning with breakfast on board, followed by a visit to Wadi el Sebou Temple, famously called the Valley of the Lions due to the rows of sphinxes leading up to the temple’s forecourts.
Afterward, continue sailing toward Aswan. Enjoy dinner on board while being entertained by a lively Nubian cultural show, celebrating the music and traditions of the region.
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- Nile River Cruise
- Day 10: Aswan to Luxor
Disembark in Aswan and transfer by private vehicle to Luxor, with an optional stop at Esna Temple along the way.
Arriving in Luxor, check in and take the afternoon to rest. Luxor holds the largest concentration of ancient monuments on earth — two full days are ahead.
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- Luxor
- Day 11: Luxor – Abydos & Dendera Excursion
Drive three hours north from Luxor to Abydos, one of Egypt’s most sacred ancient cities. The Temple of Seti I here is considered by many Egyptologists to have the finest painted reliefs in the country — detailed, well-preserved, and overwhelming in scale.
On the way back, stop at Dendera Temple. Dedicated to Hathor, goddess of love and beauty, this is one of Egypt’s best-preserved temple complexes. The original colours inside some chambers still survive.
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- Luxor
- Day 12: Luxor – West Bank Exploration
A full day on the Luxor West Bank is one of the highlights of any Egypt private tour.
Begin at Deir El-Medina, the village where the artisans who built the royal tombs once lived. Continue to the Ramesseum — the mortuary temple of Ramses II — and to Howard Carter’s house, where the archaeologist lived during his 20-year search for Tutankhamun’s tomb.
Visit Medinet Habu, with its vivid reliefs depicting battle scenes, then finish at the Valley of the Kings. With a private guide, you can enter the lesser-visited tombs that hold the finest paintings — tombs that group tours often miss entirely.
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- Luxor
- Day 13: Luxor – Flight to Sharm El Sheikh
Karnak Temple is the largest religious complex ever built. Construction continued under successive pharaohs for over 1,000 years. The Great Hypostyle Hall — with 134 towering columns — remains one of the most awe-inspiring spaces in the ancient world.
After Karnak, transfer to the airport for the flight to Sharm El Sheikh via Cairo.
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- Sharm El Sheikh
- Day 14: Sharm El Sheikh – Relaxation and Beach Day
Nestled along the stunning Red Sea coastline, Sharm El Sheikh welcomes visitors with its golden sunshine and crystal-clear waters, drawing tourists from around the world. The vibrant coral reefs here are especially famous, making it a favorite destination for snorkelers and marine enthusiasts.
Spend the day at your leisure, enjoying the sun, lounging on the beach, or exploring the underwater world through snorkeling at your own pace.
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- Sharm El Sheikh
- Day 15: Sharm El Sheikh – Leisure by the Sea
Spend another relaxing day in Sharm El Sheikh, soaking up the sun and enjoying the serene beaches. Take your time to unwind, swim in the clear waters, or simply relax and savor the tranquil coastal atmosphere.
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- Sharm El Sheikh
- Day 16: Sharm El Sheikh – Departure to Cairo
A final morning in Sharm El Sheikh before your transfer to the airport and onward flight home.
Your Egypt private tour ends here — but the Grand Egyptian Museum, the Lake Nasser temples, the Wadi El Hitan fossils, and the Luxor tombs won’t fade quickly from memory.
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Accommodation Options
The hotels listed below have been carefully selected based on customer feedback. You can either choose the ones you'd like to stay in or allow our travel experts to recommend options tailored to your specific requirements.
Cairo 6 Nights
- 4.0
Top Choice
Steigenberger Hotel El Tahrir
Address: 2 Kasr Al Nile Bridge, Ismailia, Qasr an Nile, Cairo Governorate, Egypt
- 5.0
Top Choice
Hyatt Regency Cairo West
Address: KM 22 Cairo-Alexandria Desert RD Pyramids Heights Business Park, Giza 8655 Egypt
- 4.0
Hilton Cairo Zamalek Residences
Address: 21 Mohamed Mazhar Street, Zamalek, Cairo, Egypt
- 5.0
Intercontinental Cairo Semiramis
Address: Nile Corniche, Qasr Ad Dobarah, Qasr El Nil, Cairo Governorate 11511, Egypt
Nile River Cruise 3 Nights
- 4.0
Top Choice
MS Blue Shadow I
A stay on the M/S Blue Shadow Nile Cruise offers a welcoming and comfortable experience. Guests can relax under the sun, explore the ancient temples of the Pharaohs, and savor freshly prepared traditional cuisine.
- 4.0
MS Amwaj Livingstone
Experience the Nile River and its rich historical surroundings with the comfort and luxury of the Amwaj Nile Cruise service.
- 5.0
MS Concerto II
MS Concerto II Nile Cruise Ship is a 5-star vessel designed to provide a comfortable and high-quality cruising experience
Luxor 3 Nights
- 4.0
Top Choice
Steigenberger Nile Palace
Address: Khaled Ben El-Walid St., Luxor 85111 Egypt
- 5.0
Top Choice
Sofitel Winter Palace Luxor
Address: 17 Cornish El Nile Street, Luxor 11432 Egypt
Sharm El Sheikh 3 Nights
- 5.0
Top Choice
Savoy Sharm El Sheikh
Address: SOHO Square, El-Shaikh Zayed St, Sharm Al Shiekh, South Sinai Governorate 8765302, Egypt
- 4.0
Movenpick Resort Sharm El Sheikh
Address: Naama Bay, Sharm El Sheikh 6019, Egypt
- 5.0
Park Regency Sharm El Sheikh Resort
Address: 58, Gardens Bay, South Sinai Governorate, Egypt
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