A day-by-day 14-day Egypt itinerary through Cairo, the White Desert, a Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor and the Red Sea, with variations for Alexandria and Jordan.
Two weeks in Egypt is enough for Cairo and the pyramids, one night in the White Desert, three nights on a Nile cruise and four nights on the Red Sea. This plan follows our 14-day luxury program. Domestic flights, such as Cairo to Aswan, are booked separately and are not part of the program price.
Key takeaways
- The route has three parts: Cairo and the White Desert on Days 1 to 5, a Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor on Days 6 to 9, and the Red Sea at Hurghada on Days 9 to 13.
- Abu Simbel is the longest day: a start around 4 am and about three hours each way by road from Aswan.
- Only one night is in a camp: Day 3, in a fully equipped camp in the White Desert.
- Two variations exist: a 12-day honeymoon program that adds Alexandria, and a 13-day Egypt and Jordan program that adds Petra.
The 14 days at a glance
| Day | Where | Main sights |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cairo | Arrival, hotel transfer |
| 2 | Giza | Pyramids, Sphinx |
| 3 | Bahariya Oasis, White Desert | Black Desert, desert camp |
| 4 | White Desert, Cairo | Sunrise, drive back |
| 5 | Cairo | Royal Mummies, Citadel, bazaar |
| 6 | Aswan | Philae, Unfinished Obelisk |
| 7 | Abu Simbel, Kom Ombo | Abu Simbel, Kom Ombo Temple |
| 8 | Edfu, Esna, Luxor | Edfu Temple, Luxor Temple |
| 9 | Luxor, Hurghada | Balloon, Karnak, Valley of the Kings |
| 10 | Hurghada | Free beach day |
| 11 | Hurghada | Orange Bay snorkeling |
| 12 | Hurghada | Sunset quad safari |
| 13 | Hurghada, Cairo | Flight to Cairo |
| 14 | Cairo | Departure |
Days 1 and 2: Cairo and the Giza pyramids
Day 1 is arrival, with a private transfer to a 5-star hotel and an optional welcome dinner of Egyptian grills. Day 2 is the Giza day: the plateau with the three great pyramids of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure, the Sphinx, a horse or camel ride for the panoramic view, lunch by the pyramids and a papyrus museum stop. The program lists a 45-minute quad ride by the pyramids as included, plus an optional Nile dinner cruise with belly dance and a tanoura (whirling-skirt dance) show. The day's title also names Saqqara, the pyramid field south of Giza.
Days 3 and 4: The White Desert
Day 3 starts with an early drive from Cairo to Bahariya Oasis. A 4x4 safari then crosses the Black Desert and its volcanic peaks, with a hike for the view, a swim in a hot spring, the crystal mountain and sandboarding before sunset. You drive on to the White Desert protected area, where the rock formations look like giant mushrooms. The night is in a fully equipped camp, with a barbecue dinner, Bedouin tea (the Bedouin are Egypt's nomadic desert communities), a bonfire and stargazing. Day 4 brings sunrise, breakfast at camp, a dip in a second hot spring and a stop at local shops for dates and honey before the drive back to Cairo. Our White Desert National Park guide covers the area.
Days 5 and 6: Old Cairo, then the flight to Aswan
Day 5 starts at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Fustat, home of the Royal Mummies hall, then the Citadel of Salah al-Din with the Muhammad Ali Mosque. In Old Cairo you see the Khan al-Khalili bazaar, Al-Azhar Mosque, Al-Muizz Street (if open) and El Fishawy cafe, which the program calls the oldest in Cairo. Lunch is koshari, a rice, lentil and pasta dish. On Day 6 you fly to Aswan for Philae Temple by ferry, the Unfinished Obelisk and a perfume factory with a welcome drink. You then board the cruise on a full-board basis (all meals) and visit a Nubian village and the crocodile house by boat.
Days 7 and 8: Abu Simbel, Kom Ombo and Edfu to Luxor
Day 7 begins around 4 am with a breakfast box and about three hours by road each way to Abu Simbel. You see the Great Temple with its four colossal statues of Ramses II and the Small Temple of Hathor and Nefertari. The guide explains the site from outside the temples. In the afternoon the ship sails, stopping at Kom Ombo Temple and the Crocodile Museum at sunset, and spends the night at Edfu. Day 8 visits Edfu Temple by tuk-tuk (a small three-wheeled taxi), then passes the Esna lock, where ships pass between river levels. You reach Luxor in the evening for Luxor Temple. Our Abu Simbel temples guide covers the site.
Days 9 and 10: Luxor's west bank and the road to Hurghada
Day 9 opens with a sunrise hot air balloon flight, shared with other guests. After breakfast you see Karnak Temple on the east bank, then the west bank: the Temple of Hatshepsut, the Valley of the Kings and the Colossi of Memnon. After lunch in Luxor you travel on to Hurghada, a resort town on the Red Sea. Day 10 is free for the beach, with optional water sports, spa or diving. The resort stay is an all-inclusive package.
Days 11 and 12: Orange Bay and a desert sunset
Day 11 is the Orange Bay trip: hotel pickup at 7:30 AM, then a boat trip from 8 AM to 4 PM. You snorkel over a coral reef, with a water-sports stop, a buffet lunch aboard, free drinks, and masks and life jackets provided. The program mentions a chance to see dolphins, and scuba diving on the yacht is optional. Day 12 has the pool, lunch at the resort, then a quad bike safari at sunset with a tea stop at a Bedouin village and views of the Red Sea mountains. Horse riding on the beach is an optional extra.
Days 13 and 14: Back to Cairo and departure
On Day 13 you check out after breakfast and fly from Hurghada to Cairo, where you relax at the hotel. An optional local experience and food tour is listed. On Day 14 a private transfer takes you to the airport for your flight home.
Who this itinerary suits
It suits first-time visitors who want the pyramids, the temples of the Nile and a beach in one trip. It asks for early starts and one night in a camp, so it is less suited to travelers who want late mornings or a hotel bed every night.
What to change if you want something different
- You want Alexandria or the Tutankhamun galleries. The 12-day honeymoon program swaps the desert and Hurghada for Sharm El-Sheikh, adds Alexandria and lists the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, home of the Tutankhamun galleries.
- You want Jordan. The 13-day Egypt and Jordan program covers Cairo and the Nile in Days 1 to 7, then Jerash, the Baptism Site, the Dead Sea, Petra, Wadi Rum and Amman in Days 8 to 13. See how to split the days between Egypt and Jordan.
- You are still choosing a length. Our guide to choosing an Egypt itinerary compares the shorter plans.
Frequently asked questions
Does a 14-day Egypt itinerary include Jordan?
Not this one, because the 14-day luxury program stays in Egypt. For Egypt and Jordan in two weeks, the 13-day program covers both and leaves one spare day.
Does the 14-day program include travel days to and from Egypt?
The program is 14 days, from arrival on Day 1 to departure on Day 14. International flights are not part of the program, so add your own travel days when you plan time off.
Which days have early starts?
Day 3 (early drive to Bahariya Oasis), Day 7 (around 4 am for Abu Simbel), Day 9 (sunrise balloon) and Day 11 (7:30 AM pickup for Orange Bay).
What is the best season for this route?
Winter is the gentlest. In December the average high is 24.3°C (76°F) in Luxor and 23.2°C (74°F) in Hurghada, while July reaches 41.4°C (107°F) in Luxor and Aswan and 35.0°C (95°F) in Hurghada. In January, Luxor's average night low is 5.9°C (43°F), so pack warm layers for the desert camp.
Do US travelers need a visa?
Yes. A single-entry tourist e-visa costs $30 on the official Egyptian portal, paid by card, and a digital visa bought at Cairo airport costs $36 from August 1, 2026. Your passport must be valid for at least six months after arrival and have one blank page.
