The trick to a good first week in Egypt is the order. Do the Pyramids and Luxor while you still have energy, then finish with three slow days on the Red Sea instead of a rushed last-day temple run. That’s how this itinerary works: two nights in Cairo, one in Luxor and three in Hurghada.
You see the Giza Pyramids, Saqqara and Memphis, spend a full day in Luxor for the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut, Karnak and Luxor Temple, then drive across the Eastern Desert to the beach. We run it as our 7-day Cairo, Luxor and Hurghada tour, from $850 per person (October 2026).
It suits first-timers, couples and families who want history and a beach. It’s not for you if Aswan or a Nile cruise is on your list – a week isn’t long enough for those as well.
| Day | Where | What happens | Overnight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cairo | Airport welcome and private transfer to your hotel | Cairo |
| 2 | Cairo | Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx, Saqqara and Memphis | Cairo |
| 3 | Luxor | 6 AM pickup, flight to Luxor, Valley of the Kings (3 tombs), Hatshepsut, Karnak and Luxor Temple | Luxor |
| 4 | Luxor → Hurghada | 9 AM road transfer to the Red Sea, afternoon at the beach | Hurghada |
| 5 | Hurghada | Free day | Hurghada |
| 6 | Hurghada | Free day | Hurghada |
| 7 | Hurghada → Cairo | Flight to Cairo, met on arrival – end of services | – |
All the sightseeing sits in the first three days. Day 3 is the long one: an early flight and both banks of Luxor in a single day.
Day 1: arrival. Our representative meets you inside Cairo International Airport, helps with the visa counter, passport control and luggage, and 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. You finish in Memphis, Egypt’s first capital, with the fallen colossus of Ramesses II. Lunch is included.
Plan for Day 3: Pickup for the Luxor flight is at 6:00 AM, so Day 2 is a night to eat early and sleep.
The flight from Cairo takes about an hour, and your guide meets you on arrival.
Morning on the West Bank: three tombs in the Valley of the Kings, then the Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari.
Afternoon on the East Bank: after lunch, Karnak, the largest temple complex of ancient Egypt, and Luxor Temple at the end of the Avenue of Sphinxes. You sleep in Luxor.
Evening in Luxor: Luxor Temple takes visitors until 7 PM and is floodlit after dark. If you have energy left after dinner, walk along the Corniche past it.
Day 4: to the Red Sea. At about 9:00 AM a private car drives you from Luxor to Hurghada, roughly four hours across the Eastern Desert. You arrive for lunch and an afternoon at the beach; from here the hotel is full board.
Days 5–6: your time. Both days are free. Some options:
| Option | What it’s like |
|---|---|
| Beach and pool | Snorkel the hotel reef and do nothing at all |
| Giftun Island boat trip | White-sand beaches and some of the clearest water near Hurghada |
| Diving tour in Hurghada | Try-dives for beginners and reef trips for certified divers |
| Morning buggy safari | A few hours of dune driving in the desert behind the city |
| El Gouna or Makadi Bay | An evening in a lagoon town, or a quiet bay with good snorkelling |
Dive on Day 5, not Day 6: You fly on Day 7. Dive guidelines advise leaving 18–24 hours between your last dive and a flight, so put the diving or boat trip on Day 5.
After breakfast you fly from Hurghada to Cairo, about an hour in the air, and our team meets you on arrival. That’s the end of the services, so book your flight home from Cairo for the afternoon or evening.
Hurghada also has an international airport. If you’d rather fly home directly from the Red Sea, tell us when you book and we’ll adjust Day 7.
| Included | Not included |
|---|---|
| 2 nights in Cairo, bed and breakfast | International flights |
| 1 night in Luxor, bed and breakfast | Egypt entry visa |
| 3 nights in Hurghada, full board | Optional trips in Hurghada |
| Flight Cairo → Luxor | Tips |
| Private air-conditioned transfers in Cairo, Luxor and Hurghada | Drinks and personal spending |
| Meet and assist at every stop, licensed guide | |
| Entry fees for every visit in the itinerary, taxes and service charges |
Check when you book: the tour page lists the Cairo–Luxor flight as included; ask us to confirm the Hurghada–Cairo flight on Day 7 in your quote.
Book this week: our 7 Days 6 Nights Cairo, Luxor and Hurghada package covers hotels, the Luxor flight, private transfers, guides and entry fees, from $850 per person (October 2026).
Is 7 days enough for Egypt?
It’s enough for the Pyramids, Luxor’s main sites and a real beach break – not for Aswan, Abu Simbel or a Nile cruise as well. For those, see our longer Egypt tour packages.
How do you get from Luxor to Hurghada?
By private car, included. The drive takes about four hours and leaves Luxor around 9:00 AM.
Is one day in Luxor enough?
For the highlights, yes, but it’s a full day. Ask us about adding a night if you want a slower pace.
Hurghada or Sharm El Sheikh?
Hurghada pairs better with Luxor because you can drive there. If you prefer Sharm, see our Cairo and Sharm El Sheikh week.
Do I need a visa?
Most nationalities do; many can get it online or on arrival. Check our Egypt visa guide.
For a first visit, yes. You see the Pyramids, Saqqara and Luxor’s great tombs and temples, then have three days to rest by the sea – and you go home less tired than after a week of temples.
It’s the wrong week if you want Aswan and a Nile cruise, or if early starts are a problem (Day 3 begins at 6 AM). For a slower version, our 9-day Cairo, Luxor and Hurghada tour adds two more days.
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