Home › Journeys › Cairo, Luxor & the Nile › 8 days
Cairo, Luxor & the Nile: 8-Day Plan You Can Actually Do
Last updated:
The 8-day version for November: every day fits real transit, opening hours and daylight. Prefer more or fewer days? 6-day plan · 7-day plan · 8-day plan · best time to go.
Use this plan → Customize this plan →
8
days
900 km
distance
19.8 h
in transit
13
curated stops
💡 Good to know for this plan
- Winter is the season: 25°C days at the temples instead of the 40°C+ of high summer.
- Light days: day 2, day 3 have one stop and time left over. Local tours and day trips are the way to fill them — each day links to what is bookable in its own town.
Day 1 Cairo
- Transit
- none
- Finish
- ~16:00
- Temperature
- 12.4°C–24.9°C
- Rainy days
- ~2
- Daylight
- 10.5h
09:00
Historic Cairo and the Egyptian Museum egymonuments.gov.eg map ↗
Start with the Egyptian Museum's original collection, then choose a confirmed historic-Cairo district rather than racing across the whole capital.
360 min · Cairo · Individual admissions, guides, boats and transport are separate; check current access
15:00
Day 2 Around Cairo
- Transit
- none
- Finish
- ~09:50
- Temperature
- 12.4°C–24.9°C
- Rainy days
- ~2
- Daylight
- 10.5h
09:00
Time to spare on this day
One stop and a free afternoon. We don't book activities, but these partners do.
Day 3 Giza
- Transit
- 1h39
- Finish
- ~11:30
- Temperature
- 12.4°C–24.9°C
- Rainy days
- ~2
- Daylight
- 10.5h
10:40
Time to spare on this day
One stop and a free afternoon. We don't book activities, but these partners do.
Overnight here
e.g. accommodations near the entrance to the pyramids · Marriott Mena House
Day 4 Around Giza
- Transit
- none
- Finish
- ~15:00
- Temperature
- 12.4°C–24.9°C
- Rainy days
- ~2
- Daylight
- 10.5h
09:00
Giza Plateau circuit egymonuments.gov.eg map ↗
Give the pyramids and Sphinx a full, heat-aware visit instead of treating the plateau as a quick photo stop.
300 min · Giza · Individual admissions, guides, boats and transport are separate; check current access
14:00
Overnight here
e.g. accommodations near the entrance to the pyramids · Marriott Mena House
Day 5 Luxor
- Transit
- 11h30
- Finish
- ~15:00
- Temperature
- 12.2°C–27.6°C
- Rainy days
- ~0
- Daylight
- 10.7h
10:00
Karnak and Luxor Temple circuit experienceegypt.eg map ↗
Read ancient Thebes through Karnak and Luxor Temple, leaving enough time for the columns, courts and Sphinx Avenue context.
240 min · Luxor · Individual admissions, guides, boats and transport are separate; check current access
14:00
Sofra sofra.com.eg map ↗
Taste rich Egyptian dishes amid antique-inspired decor.
60 min · Luxor · LE20-110 (price listed 2019)
open: 11AM-midnight
Overnight: aboard reserved Egyptian National Railways overnight train to Luxor
Day 6 Around Luxor
- Transit
- none
- Finish
- ~16:00
- Temperature
- 12.2°C–27.6°C
- Rainy days
- ~0
- Daylight
- 10.7h
09:00
Luxor West Bank royal tombs circuit egymonuments.gov.eg map ↗
Enter selected royal tombs at opening time, then pair the valley with one nearby mortuary temple without overloading the exposed day.
360 min · Luxor · Individual admissions, guides, boats and transport are separate; check current access
15:00
Overnight here
e.g. Bob Marley Peace Hotel · The Bob Marley House - Sherief Hotel
Day 7 Edfu
- Transit
- 3h18
- Finish
- ~15:20
- Temperature
- 13.7°C–29.4°C
- Rainy days
- ~0
- Daylight
- 10.8h
12:20
Edfu Temple circuit egymonuments.gov.eg map ↗
Use the full Edfu stop for the pylons, courts and Horus reliefs of one of Egypt's most complete temple complexes.
180 min · Edfu · Individual admissions, guides, boats and transport are separate; check current access
Day 8 Aswan
- Transit
- 3h18
- Finish
- ~17:20
- Temperature
- 13.7°C–29.8°C
- Rainy days
- ~0
- Daylight
- 10.8h
12:20
Philae and Aswan heritage circuit egymonuments.gov.eg map ↗
Cross to Philae for the island temple, then keep the rest of the day in Aswan with one confirmed Nubian-heritage stop.
240 min · Aswan · Individual admissions, guides, boats and transport are separate; check current access
🔍 Check before you book
Every stop is a real, sourced place, but opening hours change, roads close and businesses move. Check anything you're paying for before you book.