Most one-week Egypt trips are Cairo, Luxor and a beach. This one swaps the beach for the Western Desert: a 4×4 drive through the Black and White Deserts and a night at a desert camp, between the Pyramids at the start of the week and the Valley of the Kings at the end.
Day by day, you see the Giza Pyramids, Saqqara and Memphis; spend two days on the desert trip from Bahariya Oasis; fly to Luxor for the West Bank tombs, Karnak and Luxor Temple; and finish in Coptic and Islamic Cairo. We run it as our 7-day Cairo, Bahariya and Luxor tour, from $850 per person (October 2026).
It suits active travellers who don’t mind 6–7 AM starts and a night of basic camping. If you’d rather have slow mornings by a pool, the Cairo, Luxor and Hurghada week further down is the better fit.
| Day | Where | What happens | Overnight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cairo | Airport welcome and private transfer to your hotel | Cairo |
| 2 | Cairo | Giza Pyramids, Sphinx, Saqqara and Memphis | Cairo |
| 3 | Western Desert | Drive to Bahariya, then 4×4: Black Desert, Crystal Mountain, Agabat Valley, sunset in the White Desert | Desert camp |
| 4 | Desert → Cairo | Sunrise, breakfast at camp, back in Cairo around 2 PM | Cairo |
| 5 | Luxor | Early flight, Valley of the Kings (3 tombs) and the Temple of Hatshepsut | Luxor |
| 6 | Luxor → Cairo | Karnak and Luxor Temple, evening flight to Cairo | Cairo |
| 7 | Cairo | Coptic Cairo, Islamic Cairo, the Citadel and Khan El Khalili, then the airport | – |
Every day has something big in it, and three of them start before 7:30 AM. The trade-off is that you see three very different sides of Egypt – pyramids, open desert and the Theban tombs – in a single week.
Day 1: arrival. Our representative meets you inside Cairo International Airport and helps with the visa counter, passport control and luggage, then a private car takes you to your hotel.
Day 2: Giza, Saqqara and Memphis. Pickup is at 8:00 AM. You start on the Giza Plateau with the pyramids of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure and the Sphinx, then drive about 27 km south to Saqqara for the Step Pyramid of Djoser. The day ends at Memphis, Egypt’s first capital, with the fallen colossus of Ramesses II. Lunch is included.
Plan your evening: Pack a small overnight bag on Day 2 and leave your suitcase at the Cairo hotel – the desert pickup the next morning is at 7:00 AM.
Day 3: into the Western Desert. The drive to Bahariya Oasis is about 350 km and takes around four hours. There you switch to a 4×4 and leave the road:
After sunset you drive to the camp at El Haiz for dinner and a night in a tent. For more of the region, from the other oases to Siwa, see our guide to Western Desert attractions.
| At camp | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Sleeping | Tents with mattresses and blankets |
| Food | Dinner and breakfast, simple Bedouin-style cooking |
| Bathrooms | Very basic – this is camping, not a hotel |
| Night temperature | From December to February it can drop close to freezing |
Day 4: back to Cairo. Get up for sunrise, then breakfast and the drive back via Bahariya. You’re in Cairo by about 2 PM with the rest of the day free.
What to pack for the desert night: A warm layer, a hat, a torch and wet wipes. Sand gets into everything, so a zip bag for your phone and camera helps.
Day 5: Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut. Pickup at 6:00 AM for the one-hour flight to Luxor. Your guide meets you and takes you straight to the West Bank: three tombs in the Valley of the Kings, then the Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari. Lunch is included and you sleep in Luxor.
Day 6: Karnak and Luxor Temple. After breakfast you cross to the East Bank for Karnak, the largest temple complex of ancient Egypt, and Luxor Temple at the end of the Avenue of Sphinxes. In the evening you fly back to Cairo.
In the Valley of the Kings: The standard ticket covers three tombs, and which ones are open changes. Tutankhamun’s tomb needs a separate ticket, so tell your guide in the morning if you want it.
Pickup is at 8:30 AM. In Coptic Cairo you see the Hanging Church, the Church of Abu Serga, St Barbara and the Ben Ezra Synagogue. In Islamic Cairo you visit the Mosque of Amr Ibn Al-As, the Mosque-Madrassa of Sultan Hassan, the Al-Rifa’i Mosque, the Citadel and the Mosque of Muhammad Ali.
You finish in Khan El Khalili for last souvenirs, then we drive you to the airport.
Choose an evening flight: Book a flight home that leaves in the evening or at night, so the Day 7 tour isn’t cut short.
| Included | Not included |
|---|---|
| 4 hotel nights in Cairo and 1 night in Luxor, bed and breakfast | International flights |
| 1 night at the desert camp, full board | Egypt entry visa |
| 4×4 in the Black and White Deserts | Extra tickets such as Tutankhamun’s tomb |
| Domestic flights Cairo–Luxor–Cairo | Tips |
| Private air-conditioned transfers | Drinks and personal spending |
| Airport meet and assist, licensed guide | |
| Entry fees for every visit in the itinerary, taxes and service charges |
Book this week: our 7 Days 6 Nights Cairo, Bahariya Oasis and Luxor package covers hotels, the desert camp, the 4×4 trip, domestic flights, guides and entry fees, from $850 per person (October 2026).
Is 7 days enough for Egypt?
It’s enough for Cairo’s highlights, the desert and Luxor’s main sites, but not for Aswan, Abu Simbel or a beach as well. For those, see our longer Egypt tour packages.
Is the desert night safe?
You travel with an experienced local driver and sleep at a camp used to visitors. Keep your passport handy for routine checkpoints.
How cold does the desert get at night?
From December to February it can drop close to freezing after midnight. In spring and autumn the nights are cool and pleasant.
Is it suitable for children?
Older children usually love the 4×4 and the camp. The long drives and basic facilities are harder with very young kids.
Is a museum included?
Not in this itinerary. Ask when you book if you want to add the Grand Egyptian Museum.
Do I need a visa?
Most nationalities do; many can get it online or on arrival. Rules change, so check our Egypt visa guide.
Yes, if you want more than temples. Few one-week trips combine the Pyramids, a night in the open desert and the Valley of the Kings, and the desert days are the ones that feel least like a standard tour.
It’s not the right week if you want slow mornings and pool time, or if basic camping puts you off. Our 7-day Cairo, Luxor and Hurghada package swaps the desert for the Red Sea. And if the desert is the main reason you’re coming, our 3-day Bahariya and White Desert tour gives you more time out there.
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