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Cairo, Luxor & the Nile: 8-Day Plan You Can Actually Do

Last updated: 2026-09-15

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.

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days

900 km

distance

19.8 h

in transit

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.

Before you go · check live details

This is a planning draft. Check these changing details for your dates before booking or travelling.

Arrange the return boat for Philae before you go.
This draft includes a boat-dependent visit to Philae. Arrange the departure point, return pickup and fare before travelling; temple admission is separate. The plan does not book or confirm a boat. If no suitable boat is available for your date, change this visit.
Check source ↗
Check monument access and the forecast for your dates.
Check official hours, the tickets needed for your chosen interiors, tomb rotations and restoration closures. In hot weather, visit exposed sites early and use indoor or shaded alternatives.
Check source ↗
Choose and book the overnight train to Luxor before travel.
This draft assumes an overnight train from Cairo or Giza to Luxor. Reserve a service for your dates and confirm the departure station, class or berth, luggage rules and arrival day. Check the booking channel available for your nationality. No ticket or place is reserved by this plan; adjust the following day if your confirmed train differs.
Check source ↗
Arrange cars and drivers for the road transfers before travel.
This draft assumes separately arranged transfers for Cairo–Giza, Luxor–Edfu and Edfu–Aswan. Agree the vehicle, driver, pickup, luggage and drop-off with your provider. Allow for current traffic and road conditions. No car or driver is supplied or booked by the plan; revise the day if the arranged transfer needs different timing.
Check source ↗

Day 1 Cairo

1 curated stop

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

Koshary Abou Tarek search map ↗

Relish famous koshary, a filling mix of pasta, tomato sauce, dried onions, chickpeas, and lenses.

60 min · Cairo · Medium LE20, Large LE25, Special LE30, rice with milk LE5 (price listed 2018)

Overnight here

e.g. Grand Nile Tower · Cecilia Hostel

Find a stay → Tours & tickets for the evening →

Day 2 Around Cairo

1 curated stop

Transit: none
Finish: ~09:50
Temperature: 12.4°C–24.9°C
Rainy days: ~2
Daylight: 10.5h

09:00

Mohammed Ali Mosque read more map ↗

Stand inside a grand citadel mosque with regal tombs.

50 min · Cairo

Time to spare on this day

One stop and a free afternoon. We don't book activities, but these partners do.

Tours & day trips here →

Overnight here

e.g. Grand Nile Tower · Cecilia Hostel

Find a stay →

Day 3 Giza

1 curated stop

Transit: 1h39
Finish: ~11:30
Temperature: 12.4°C–24.9°C
Rainy days: ~2
Daylight: 10.5h

10:40

Grand Egyptian Museum gem.eg read more map ↗

Discover a vast collection of artifacts, reshaping Egyptology's future.

50 min · Giza

open: Sun-Tue Thu Fri 09:00-18:00, Wed Sat 09:00–21:00

Time to spare on this day

One stop and a free afternoon. We don't book activities, but these partners do.

Tours & day trips here →

Overnight here

e.g. accommodations near the entrance to the pyramids · Marriott Mena House

Find a stay →

Day 4 Around Giza

1 curated stop

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

El Gizawy restaurant search map ↗

Savor local specialties with a view of the pyramids, popular with locals.

60 min · Giza

Overnight here

e.g. accommodations near the entrance to the pyramids · Marriott Mena House

Find a stay → Tours & tickets for the evening →

Day 5 Luxor

1 curated stop

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

1 curated stop

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

Kam Thai search map ↗

Relish modest Thai flavors in a cozy, personal cafe.

60 min · Luxor · Mains LE40-80 (price listed 2019)

open: Mon-Fri 1PM–9PM

Overnight here

e.g. Bob Marley Peace Hotel · The Bob Marley House - Sherief Hotel

Find a stay → Tours & tickets for the evening →

Day 7 Edfu

1 curated stop

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

Overnight here

e.g. Horus Hotel · Massa Hotel

Find a stay → Tours & tickets for the evening →

Day 8 Aswan

1 curated stop

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

16:20

Nubian House search map ↗

Relax with sheesha and tea, soaking in breathtaking sunset views.

60 min · Aswan

🔍 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.

Sources (11)

Historic Cairo and the Egyptian Museum — egymonuments.gov.egPublished facts; original paraphrase, no reproduced article prose
Wikivoyage — Cairo/DowntownCC BY-SA 4.0 (facts extracted; prose not redistributed)
Wikivoyage — Cairo/Islamic CairoCC BY-SA 4.0 (facts extracted; prose not redistributed)
Wikivoyage — Cairo/GizaCC BY-SA 4.0 (facts extracted; prose not redistributed)
Giza Plateau circuit — egymonuments.gov.egPublished facts; original paraphrase, no reproduced article prose
Karnak and Luxor Temple circuit — experienceegypt.egPublished facts; original paraphrase, no reproduced article prose
Wikivoyage — Luxor/East BankCC BY-SA 4.0 (facts extracted; prose not redistributed)
Luxor West Bank royal tombs circuit — egymonuments.gov.egPublished facts; original paraphrase, no reproduced article prose
Edfu Temple circuit — egymonuments.gov.egPublished facts; original paraphrase, no reproduced article prose
Philae and Aswan heritage circuit — egymonuments.gov.egPublished facts; original paraphrase, no reproduced article prose
Wikivoyage — AswanCC BY-SA 4.0 (facts extracted; prose not redistributed)

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