Almost everyone arrives in Egypt with the pyramids in mind and leaves talking about something else. Giza is extraordinary and it takes half a day. The trip people remember is the stretch of Nile between Luxor and Aswan, where the density of surviving monuments has no equivalent anywhere, and where the river is still the only sensible way to travel between them.

The short answer

A good Egypt itinerary has three parts: Cairo and Giza for two or three days, the Nile between Luxor and Aswan for four or five, and the Red Sea for the rest. Ten to twelve days covers it comfortably. Travel between October and April, and if you can, avoid the Christmas and Easter peaks.

Cairo: less time than you think, more than one museum

The pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx sit on the edge of the city, close enough that the contrast between motorway and monument is part of the experience. Saqqara, with the step pyramid of Djoser, is older and usually far quieter, and it is the site that makes the architectural progression make sense. Islamic Cairo and the bazaars are a different city again, and worth an evening rather than a rushed hour.

Two or three days is right. Cairo is enormous and traffic is punishing, and travellers who allocate five days usually spend two of them in a car.

The Nile: the part that changes people

Luxor stands on the site of ancient Thebes, and it is really two places. On the east bank, the temple complexes of Karnak and Luxor, Karnak being the larger and the one whose hypostyle hall tends to silence people. On the west bank, the Valley of the Kings, where the tombs are cut into rock and the painted colour survives with an intensity photographs never convey.

Between Luxor and Aswan the river passes Edfu and Kom Ombo, and the reason to travel it by boat rather than road is not comfort but rhythm. Fields, palms and mudbrick villages slide past at walking pace, and the temples arrive one at a time instead of as a checklist. Aswan itself is softer than Luxor, with granite islands and Nubian villages, and it is the launch point for Abu Simbel, the colossal temple that was cut apart and relocated in the 1960s to save it from the rising waters of Lake Nasser.

The Red Sea is not an afterthought

Temple days in Egypt are physically demanding: early starts to beat the heat, a lot of walking on stone, and a steady stream of information. By day seven most travellers have had enough of antiquity, and this is exactly where the Red Sea earns its place.

The reef is genuinely world class, with coral in good condition and visibility that holds up year round, and it is reachable from the Nile route without a long transfer. Snorkelling is enough to see the best of it, so this is not a diving-only proposition. Sequencing matters: put it at the end, never at the beginning.

That structure is what our Egypt, from the Nile to the Red Sea itinerary is built around.

When to go

October to April is the season, and the reason is simple: Upper Egypt in summer is genuinely dangerous heat for sightseeing, and no itinerary can design around it. December and January are the most comfortable for walking, with cool evenings and low sun that suits both photography and stamina. March, April, October and November are warmer but still workable, and the Red Sea is at its best then.

Two things worth checking before fixing dates. The Christmas and New Year period is the peak of the Egyptian year and prices reflect it. And the dates of Ramadan shift each year, which changes opening hours and the rhythm of the country. Neither is a reason to avoid travelling, but both are reasons to plan knowingly.

Practical points that change the trip

• Start early. The major sites are far more pleasant before nine in the morning, in heat and in crowd terms both.
• A guide is not optional here, it is the difference between looking at carvings and reading them. Egyptology rewards explanation more than almost any other heritage.
• Domestic flights between Cairo and Upper Egypt save a full day each way, and are always included in our circuits when the itinerary needs them. International flights never are, and we arrange them separately through our flight desk.
• Dress for temples rather than for beaches when you are on the Nile. It is a matter of comfort as much as respect.

Frequently asked questions

How many days do you need in Egypt?

Ten to twelve days works well: two or three in Cairo, four or five on the Nile between Luxor and Aswan, and the rest on the Red Sea. Under a week forces you to choose between the monuments and the coast.

When is the best time to visit Egypt?

October to April. Summer heat in Upper Egypt makes sightseeing genuinely difficult. December and January are the most comfortable for walking the temple sites, though they are also the busiest and most expensive weeks of the year.

Is a Nile cruise worth it?

Yes, mainly because it changes the pace rather than the comfort. Travelling by river spaces the temples out, removes long road transfers, and gives you the landscape between the sites, which is a large part of what Egypt actually looks like.

Can you combine the pyramids and the Red Sea in one trip?

Yes, and most travellers should. The Red Sea is reachable from the Nile route without a long transfer, and placing it at the end of the itinerary balances several demanding days of monuments with time to stop.

Planning it

Full details on the Egypt page. Tell us your dates and how much walking suits you, and we will pace the temple days accordingly rather than assume everyone wants the same trip. Request your quotation.