NB-02 · Tour Package · 9 days
Egypt Highlights: Pyramids, GEM & Nile Cruise
This 9-day itinerary provides a comprehensive and well-paced introduction to Pharaonic Egypt for first-time or returning visitors. The programme balances the essential sites of Cairo with a classic Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor, ensuring a seamless and high-quality travel experience for your clients.
Quick answer
This is a 9-day classic Egypt tour for cultural travellers and premium FIT clients, starting in Cairo and ending in Luxor. The itinerary covers the Giza Pyramids, the Grand Egyptian Museum, and a 3-night Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor with all key temples. Nourbelle DMC operates all ground services, including private guiding and transfers.
Key facts
- Duration: 9 days / 8 nights
- Route: Cairo → Aswan → Nile Cruise → Luxor
- Best for: First-time visitors, cultural travellers, premium FIT
- Format: Fully private tour, adaptable for small groups
- Accommodation: 4-star, 5-star, and 5-star deluxe options
- Guides: University-qualified private Egyptologist guides
Program overview
Our Classic Egypt 9-day tour (code: NB-02) is ideally suited for your clients, whether first-time visitors or those returning to Egypt, seeking a comprehensive and well-paced tour through the country's most iconic Pharaonic sites. This carefully curated programme offers a balanced itinerary, ensuring a seamless, high-quality travel experience consistently managed by Nourbelle DMC.
Beginning in Cairo, clients will explore the wonders of ancient Egypt, including the pyramids of Giza, before flying south to embark on a quintessential Nile cruise. The journey continues along the Nile, stopping at historic sites like Aswan, Kom Ombo, and Edfu, culminating in a deep dive into the treasures of Luxor. A dedicated leisure day in Luxor offers flexibility for relaxation or optional excursions, ensuring client satisfaction.
Operational & Trade Notes for our Partners
- Nile Cruise Expertise: Our itineraries are based on a standard 3-night cruise, with options ranging from 5-star vessels to deluxe ships and intimate dahabiyas. Leverage our extensive experience and Nile cruise allotments to secure the perfect option for your clients. Consider related options like our Luxury Egypt: Cairo & Premium Nile Cruise or Egypt Complete: Cairo, Nile Cruise & Abu Simbel.
- Seamless Logistics: We handle all in-country arrangements including domestic flights (Cairo-Aswan) and transfers. Agents are responsible for international flights, with arrival in Cairo (CAI) and departure from Luxor (LXR).
- Customisation & Extensions: This is a sample tour module designed for flexibility. It can be fully customised in terms of duration, accommodation level, and sightseeing pace to suit individual client needs. This tour also pairs well with extensions to the Red Sea or multi-destination arrangements, such as our Cairo, Nile Cruise & Hurghada package.
Plan this program
As your trusted DMC in Egypt, Nourbelle invites you to provide your clients with an unforgettable experience. To receive confidential net-rate quotations for this tour (NB-02) or any customised itinerary for your specific dates and client requirements, please request trade rates through our online quotation form.
Why this tour works for your clients
- Covers all essential Pharaonic sites in a logical, well-paced 9-day flow.
- Combines Cairo's key museums and monuments with a classic Nile cruise.
- Flexible structure with a leisure day in Luxor for relaxation or optional tours.
- Operated entirely by Nourbelle DMC for consistent quality control and 24/7 support.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1 · International Arrival → Cairo
Arrival in Cairo
Airport meet & assist · Private transfer to hotel
The Egyptian journey begins the moment your clients' flight touches down at Cairo International Airport (CAI). A uniformed Nourbelle DMC representative will greet them inside the terminal before passport control, holding a sign for easy identification. We expertly navigate the visa-on-arrival process, ensuring all paperwork is handled smoothly, before assisting with luggage collection at the baggage carousel. Once cleared, they are personally escorted to their dedicated, professional driver and a modern, air-conditioned vehicle for their private transfer. We ensure a seamless handover at their hotel for check-in. The rest of their day is at leisure. Our 24/7 operational support line is active from this moment forward.
Meals: — · Overnight: Cairo
Day 2 · Cairo
Giza Pyramids & Grand Egyptian Museum
Giza Plateau: Great Pyramids & Sphinx · Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM)
Following breakfast, your clients will be met at their hotel by their private Egyptologist guide for an unforgettable day. Nourbelle arranges a comfortable, air-conditioned transfer to the Giza Plateau, the last surviving wonder of the ancient world. Here, the guide will bring the stories of the Pharaohs to life while exploring the Great Pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure, and the enigmatic Sphinx. After ample time for exploration and photos, the tour continues to the magnificent Grand Egyptian Museum. We handle all pre-arranged entrance fees, allowing your clients to bypass queues and immerse themselves in the world's largest Pharaonic collection, including Tutankhamun’s treasures.
Meals: B · Overnight: Cairo
Day 3 · Cairo → Aswan
Fly to Aswan & Nile Cruise Embarkation
Domestic flight to Aswan · Nile cruise check-in · Aswan High Dam · Temple of Philae
The day begins with a coordinated private transfer from the hotel to Cairo's domestic airport, where our representative assists with check-in for the flight to Aswan. Upon landing, another Nourbelle representative will be waiting to greet your clients and escort them to the Nile cruise ship for a smooth embarkation process. After settling in and enjoying lunch on board, the afternoon's excursions commence. The tour, led by their Egyptologist guide, includes the immense Aswan High Dam, a marvel of modern engineering, followed by a motorboat journey across the water to the stunningly relocated Temple of Philae on Agilkia Island.
Meals: B, L, D · Overnight: Nile Cruise (Aswan)
Day 4 · Aswan → Kom Ombo → Edfu
Sailing to Kom Ombo & Edfu
Morning sailing · Temple of Kom Ombo
A leisurely morning awaits as the cruise ship sets sail from Aswan, heading downriver towards Kom Ombo. This is a perfect opportunity for your clients to relax on the sun deck, take a dip in the pool, and absorb the timeless scenery of the Nile Valley. They'll watch as lush green riverbanks dotted with traditional villages drift by. In the afternoon, the ship moors directly beside the Temple of Kom Ombo. Your clients will disembark with their Egyptologist guide to explore this unique Greco-Roman temple, symmetrically dedicated to the crocodile-god Sobek and the falcon-god Horus. Afterwards, they rejoin the cruise to continue sailing towards Edfu.
Meals: B, L, D · Overnight: Nile Cruise (Edfu)
Day 5 · Edfu → Luxor
Edfu Temple & Arrival in Luxor
Temple of Edfu · Sailing via Esna Lock
After breakfast, an exciting local experience awaits. Nourbelle coordinates horse-drawn carriages to transport your clients from the ship to the Temple of Horus at Edfu, Egypt's most impeccably preserved pharaonic temple. The Egyptologist guide will reveal the stories carved into its towering walls and pylons. Returning to the vessel for lunch, the afternoon is spent leisurely sailing towards Luxor. A highlight of this journey is navigating the Esna Lock, a fascinating feat of engineering that guests can observe from the sun deck. As the ship is raised or lowered, it offers a unique glimpse into modern river life before the final journey to Luxor.
Meals: B, L, D · Overnight: Nile Cruise (Luxor)
Day 6 · Luxor
Luxor's West Bank & Hotel Check-in
Cruise disembarkation · Valley of the Kings · Temple of Hatshepsut · Colossi of Memnon
Following a final breakfast on board, your clients will disembark and meet their Egyptologist guide. We manage the luggage, ensuring it is securely transferred directly to their Luxor hotel while they begin their tour of the legendary West Bank. The day is dedicated to the afterlife of the Pharaohs, starting with the Valley of the Kings, where they will descend into several magnificent royal tombs. The tour continues to the breathtaking, cliff-side Temple of Queen Hatshepsut. The day’s sightseeing concludes with a photo opportunity at the imposing Colossi of Memnon. Afterwards, we provide a private transfer to their hotel for check-in.
Meals: B · Overnight: Luxor
Day 7 · Luxor
Luxor's East Bank
Karnak Temple Complex · Luxor Temple
This morning's tour, operated by Nourbelle with a private vehicle and Egyptologist guide, focuses on Luxor's vibrant East Bank. The journey begins at the Karnak Temple Complex, a staggering "city of temples" built over centuries. Your clients' Egyptologist guide will navigate them through the grounds, explaining its complex history and leading them into the awe-inspiring Great Hypostyle Hall with its forest of 134 massive columns. The tour then proceeds to Luxor Temple. We time this visit for the late afternoon, allowing clients to experience its captivating atmosphere as the setting sun illuminates the reliefs and colonnades, before transferring them back to their hotel.
Meals: B · Overnight: Luxor
Day 8 · Luxor
Flexible Day in Luxor with Optional Tours
Day at leisure · Optional tours available
We have intentionally scheduled this day in Luxor at leisure, providing a welcome pause and the flexibility for your clients to customize their experience. They can relax and enjoy the hotel's amenities, or explore Luxor's markets independently. For those seeking more adventure, Nourbelle's local operations team is on hand to arrange high-quality optional excursions. Popular choices include an optional breathtaking hot-air balloon flight at sunrise over the West Bank's monuments, or an optional full-day trip to the beautifully preserved temples of Dendera and Abydos. All arrangements, including guides and private transfers, can be seamlessly booked through our local representative.
Meals: B · Overnight: Luxor
Day 9 · Luxor → International Departure
Departure from Luxor
Private transfer to airport
On the final day, your clients will enjoy breakfast before their departure. Nourbelle ensures a seamless and stress-free conclusion to their journey. Based precisely on their international flight schedule, we will arrange a punctual private transfer in an air-conditioned vehicle to Luxor International Airport (LXR). Our dedicated airport representative will be waiting to assist them upon arrival at the terminal. We provide hands-on support with check-in procedures and navigating airport formalities, personally escorting your clients as far as the passport control checkpoint. This final touch ensures they depart with ease and fond memories of their trip.
Meals: B · Overnight: —
Meal basis: B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner. Confirmed in your quote.
Included
- Meet and assist service upon arrival and departure
- All airport and hotel transfers in a private, air-conditioned vehicle
- Accommodation for 3 nights in Cairo and 2 nights in Luxor on a bed & breakfast basis
- Accommodation for 3 nights on a 5-star Nile cruise on a full board basis
- One domestic flight: Cairo to Aswan
- Private guided tours with a licensed Egyptologist guide
- All entrance fees to sites mentioned in the itinerary
- Bottled water during all tours and transfers
Not included
- International airfare
- Entry visa for Egypt
- Travel insurance
- Any optional tours or activities
- Gratuities (tipping)
- Personal expenses
Trade notes
- Flights: This itinerary requires one domestic flight (Cairo-Aswan), which we include in our net rates. International flights are to be booked by the agent; arrival is in Cairo (CAI) and departure from Luxor (LXR).
- Nile Cruise: The programme is based on a standard 3-night cruise. We offer a wide range of vessels from standard 5-star to deluxe ships and smaller, more intimate dahabiyas. Let us know your client's preference.
- Flexibility: This is a sample itinerary. It can be fully customised in terms of duration, accommodation level, and sightseeing pace to suit FIT client needs.
- Extensions: This tour combines well with extensions to the Red Sea resorts (Hurghada or Marsa Alam), Jordan, or Morocco. We can facilitate all multi-destination arrangements.
- Net Rates: To receive a confidential net-rate quotation for your specific dates and client requirements, please submit a request through our online quotation form, referencing tour code NB-02.
Price upon request — net rates are shown after your agency is approved.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Grand Egyptian Museum visit included?
Yes. A guided visit to the Grand Egyptian Museum, including the Tutankhamun galleries, is part of Day 2. Nourbelle arranges timed entry tickets and an Egyptologist guide; opening hours and gallery access are reconfirmed before travel.
What is the difference between a Nile cruise ship and a dahabiya?
Standard Nile cruise ships are larger vessels (typically 50-70 cabins) offering a full range of hotel-like facilities. Dahabiyas are smaller, traditional sailing boats (typically 6-12 cabins) offering a more intimate and tranquil experience, often with the ability to moor at smaller, less accessible sites.
How do my clients obtain their visa for Egypt?
Most nationalities can obtain a visa on arrival at Cairo airport. Our meet-and-assist service guides clients through this process. Alternatively, clients can pre-apply for an e-visa online. We can advise on the best procedure based on nationality.
Are the guides private for my clients?
Yes, for our private tours, all land-based sightseeing in Cairo and Luxor is conducted with a private Egyptologist guide and vehicle. During the Nile cruise portion, guiding is typically done in small groups organised by the cruise line, but private guiding can be arranged on request.
