15 Day Egypt Tour: Pyramids, White Desert, Nile Cruise and Abu Simbel
Overview
Two weeks is the point at which Egypt stops being a list of monuments and becomes a country. This private 15 day egypt tour covers three things most itineraries make you choose between: the pharaonic sites, the Western Desert, and a slow sail down the Nile — ending with a night in Abu Simbel village rather than a dash there and back.
The 15 day egypt tour runs Cairo, White Desert, Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel. Fifteen days sounds long until you count what is in it, and then the surprise is how unhurried it is: one major site a morning, and enough hotel nights in each place that you never repack twice in a day.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Days 1 to 4 - Cairo: Saqqara, Memphis, Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum
Four nights in Cairo, which is the minimum the city deserves. Saqqara and Memphis, where the Step Pyramid of Djoser is the oldest stone building on earth. Giza and the Sphinx. The Grand Egyptian Museum with the complete Tutankhamun collection. The Citadel, Coptic Cairo and the lanes of Khan el-Khalili. One site a morning, not three.
Days 5 to 7 - Bahariya Oasis, the Black Desert and two nights in the White Desert
West into the Western Desert. Bahariya Oasis, then Crystal Mountain and the Black Desert, and two nights camping among the chalk formations of the White Desert. No settlement within a hundred kilometres, meals cooked over the fire, and a night sky most travellers have never actually seen. A hot spring stop in Bahariya on the way back.
Day 8 - Fly south to Luxor: Karnak and Luxor Temple
A short domestic flight from Cairo to Luxor and straight into the east bank: Karnak, two thousand years of construction by thirty pharaohs, and Luxor Temple at the end of the Avenue of Sphinxes.
Days 9 to 12 - The Theban west bank and a dahabiya sail to Aswan
The Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut on the west bank, then aboard the dahabiya. Four nights sailing south with stops the big ships cannot make: El Kab, the Temple of Horus at Edfu, the quarries at Gebel el-Silsila, Kom Ombo shared between a crocodile god and a falcon god, and the market at Daraw.
Days 13 to 14 - Philae, the High Dam and an overnight at Abu Simbel
Aswan: the High Dam and the island Temple of Isis at Philae. Then 280 kilometres south to Abu Simbel, where you stay the night rather than driving back, which means the temples at sunset, the Sound and Light show, and the facade at first light before the day convoy arrives.
Day 15 - Departure
Transfer to Aswan airport for your onward flight, or back to Cairo if you are flying home from there. Tell us your schedule and we build the last day around it.
Highlights
- Three completely different Egypts in one trip: city, desert and river
- The only itinerary we run that includes both the White Desert and Abu Simbel
- Four nights under sail on a traditional dahabiya, not a 150-cabin ship
- A night in Abu Simbel village, so you see the temples at sunrise
- Licensed Egyptologists at every site, one local team for all 15 days
- Every entrance fee in the itinerary already included
- One direct WhatsApp contact from arrival to departure
Included & Excluded
- 4-star hotel nights in Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and Abu Simbel with breakfast
- 2 nights camping in the White Desert with dome tents, mattresses and winter sleeping bags
- 4 nights full board on a traditional dahabiya between Luxor and Aswan
- Private air-conditioned transport throughout, including the 4x4 desert vehicle
- Licensed Egyptologist guides at every site
- Entrance fees to every monument in the itinerary
- All meals as listed, plus bottled water throughout
- 24/7 assistance from our local team
- All taxes included
- International and domestic flights
- Egypt entry visa
- Drinks other than the water provided
- Optional hot-air balloon over Luxor
- Gratuities and tips
- Anything not mentioned in the Included list
Why Choose Us
Local Egyptologist experts
Every trip is guided by a licensed Egyptologist who knows the sites in depth, not just a driver.
Private, not group
Your itinerary, your pace — no joining a bus full of strangers.
Honest, upfront pricing
The price you are quoted is the price you pay, with no hidden extras.
Real local support
A local Luxor-based team you can reach directly by phone or WhatsApp, before and during your trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a 15 day Egypt tour too long?
Not for this route. A seven-day trip covers Cairo and a short cruise. Fifteen adds the Western Desert, a proper four-night sail and a night at Abu Simbel — three things a short trip has to leave out.
Can the days be adjusted?
Yes, before booking. This is a private departure, so the balance between Cairo, desert and river is yours to set. Tell us what you care about most.
Is the desert camping comfortable?
It is simple and well equipped: dome tents, thick mattresses, blankets and winter sleeping bags, a toilet tent and meals cooked at camp. There is no shower until the hot spring stop in Bahariya. We are honest about this because it is the one part of the trip people should decide on knowingly.
What fitness level does it need?
Low. No trekking, no long climbs. We have run it for guests from their twenties to their eighties.
What is included in the price?
All accommodation with meals as listed, private transport throughout including the 4x4, licensed Egyptologist guides at every site, every entrance fee in the itinerary, and 24/7 support.
What is not included?
International and domestic flights, the Egypt entry visa, drinks, the optional Luxor balloon and gratuities.
When is the best time to go?
October to April. The desert leg is what sets the season; the rest of the route works year-round.
How do I book?
Contact us with your dates and party size. We confirm availability and send a quote with no obligation.
Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Giza panorama by kallerna (CC BY-SA 3.0); White Desert by Vyacheslav Argenberg (CC BY 4.0); dahabiya by Fatma Hasham (CC BY-SA 4.0); Karnak by Tsyganov Sergey (CC0); Abu Simbel by Arian Zwegers (CC BY 2.0).
