Visiting Egypt is one of the items on the living list of many travel enthusiasts. It is truly an amazing country worthy of that spot. If you are planning to visit for the first time, this Egypt Itinerary may come in handy in helping you plan out your trip.
I had the opportunity to spend a few months in Egypt in June 2018. While I was there for work, I found some time to explore the country a little. I visited attractions in Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel and Sharm el-Sheikh. Even though I missed out on visiting a few places, I feel satisfied with the ones I did get to visit. This guide will be based on my experiences. So, please feel free to finetune it to include places you are particular about visiting.
2-Week Egypt Itinerary
Egypt Itinerary for 2 Weeks 0r 14 Days (Overview)*
- Day 1: Arrive in Cairo
- Day 2: Visit the Pyramids and Egyptian Museum
- Day 3: Explore more of Cairo (Visit Coptic and Islamic Cairo)
- Day 4: Option #1: Enjoy a free day in Cairo and take an overnight train to Luxor; Option #2: Take a day trip to Alexandria, then an overnight train to Luxor
- Day 5: Arrive in Luxor (Explore the East Bank)
- Day 6: Explore Luxor: West Bank
- Day 7: Road Trip to Aswan – Visit the Philae Temple, Nubian Villages
- Day 8: Road Trip to Abu Simbel and overnight train to Cairo (or Overnight in Aswan if you choose to fly)
- Day 9: Fly to Sharm el-Sheikh (Fly from Aswan to Sharm el-Sheikh via Cairo, or from Cairo)
- Day 10-13: Sharm el-Sheikh
- Day 14: Flight to Cairo and onward flight home
*Scroll down below to view suggestions on how to make this a 7 day trip
Day 1: Arrive in Cairo
Depending on the flight you take from Nigeria, you may either arrive in Cairo late or tired from the journey. Feel free to check into your hotel, unwind and enjoy the rest of this day at your leisure.
During my visit, I stayed at the Holiday Inn in Maadi which was a very nice mid-range hotel, albeit far from the major tourist attractions. If you are not keen on the daily commute, you can consider several other accommodation options closer to the Pyramids. There are so many options that finding one which suits your budget would not be a problem.
PS: For information about getting a visa for Egypt and flight options from Nigeria, see this post.
Day 2: Visit the Pyramids & Egyptian Museum
Fully rested from a day of travel, begin your first official tour day with a visit to the Pyramids in Giza. Getting to the Pyramids from any part of the city is quite easy. I would suggest using Uber to get there if you are staying far away.
Plan to arrive at the Pyramid complex between 8 am and 10 am to avoid the crowds (if there are any). Tourism in Egypt has dipped and it is likely that you would not encounter a crowd even if you visit later than that. But in any case, the earlier you visit, the better.
After spending time at the Pyramids (2-3 hours should be enough), take a ride to the Egyptian Museum. You can choose to end the day here, after getting lunch. If you stay close to the Pyramids, there’s an option to watch the Light Show. Some hotels, like the Great Pyramid Inn, have a great view and you can watch the show from the comfort of your bedroom or hotel terrace.
Day 3: Explore more of Cairo (Visit Coptic and Islamic Cairo)
On your third day in Egypt, You can spend your time visiting Coptic and Islamic Cairo. Here, you can visit places like the Cairo Citadel, The Hanging Church, The Coptic Museum, St Sergius and St Bacchus Church, amongst other attractions.
During my visit, I went to the Cairo Citadel first, before taking a short ride to the Egyptian Museum and Coptic Cairo. The Mohammed Ali Mosque at the Cairo Citadel closes for prayers by noon on Fridays. You should keep this in mind as you plan your movements.
Day 4: Extra day in Cairo or Day trip to Alexandria + Overnight train to Luxor
Day Four of this Egypt Itinerary can be spent at leisure. If you are checked into a nice hotel, feel free to kick back, relax and enjoy the hotel’s amenities. If you still want to do some sightseeing in and around Cairo, consider taking a short trip to Dashur to see the Pyramids there. You could also consider taking a day trip to Alexandria.
Upon your return, pack up your bags and head to the train station for your overnight train to Luxor. It is important to book your tickets in advance, especially around the holidays, as they get sold out quickly. If possible, book a spot on the sleeper train since it is generally more comfortable. However, if you are on a budget or you can’t get a spot on the deluxe sleeper train, consider taking the overnight non-sleeper train (pictured above).
Of course, if you have no reservations about flying (I hate to) and no budget constraints (Egypt Air has fairly cheap local flights), flying to Luxor is the best option for you.
Day 5: Arrive in Luxor (Explore the East Bank)
The next stop on your 2-Week Egypt Itinerary is Luxor. Depending on when you arrive or how tired you are (if you managed to get some rest on the train), you may decide to head on straight to the attractions you wish to see. I am generally a busy traveller, so this is what I did.
As soon as I got off the train in the morning, I went with my guide to Karnak Temple – freshening up and changing in the complex’s bathroom. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this, especially if it isn’t your style. Consider arriving in Luxor a day early (i.e. spending less time in Cairo) or flying.
For your first day in Luxor (and fifth in Egypt), explore the Luxor and Karnak Temples. You can also check out the Luxor Museum as well and then, spend the rest of the day at your leisure.
Accommodation Option in Luxor to Consider: I stayed at Jolie Ville Hotel & Spa, Kings Island in Luxor and I loved it. It is in the midrange in terms of prices, however, there are many budget accommodation options in Luxor.
Day 6: Explore the West Bank
Spend Day 6 exploring sites in the West Bank. Visit Hatshepsut Temple, the Valley of the Kings and the Colossi of Memnon. Have lunch aboard Felucca and spend the rest of the day at your leisure.
Day 7: Road Trip to Aswan – Visit the Philae Temple, Nubian Villages
The road trip to Aswan takes about 3 hours. (My tour guide mentioned that it could take up to 6 hours if you go through a different route). If you have more flexibility in terms of time and mobility, you should stop by the Temple of Edfu before continuing on to Aswan. Once you arrive in Aswan, head to the Philae Temple. Then spend the rest of the day cruising on the Nile River and visiting the Nubian village.
If you are going to join a tour bus to Abu Simbel, it’s best to go to bed early as these buses leave as early as 3-4 am!
Day 8: Road Trip to Abu Simbel + Overnight Train to Cairo
Set out early in the morning to head to Abu Simbel. If you don’t have the luxury of hiring a private taxi, join the early morning shuttle to Abu Simbel. Your hotel will be able to book you a seat on one. The ride to Abu Simbel takes about 3 hours and most tour buses allow visitors to explore the twin temples for about 2.5 hours before heading back to Aswan.
If you arrive in a private car, you can spend as much time as you’d like. Head back to Aswan after taking in the sights of the majestic temples. There’s also an option to see the Aswan Dam before you head back.
If you have less than 14 days to spend in Egypt, you can end your tour here. Take the overnight train or flight back to Cairo.
Day 9-13: Fly to & Spend Time in Sharm el-Sheikh
The last stop on this Egypt Itinerary is Sharm el-Sheikh. End your holiday on the gorgeous beaches of Sharm el-Sheikh. I’d recommend splurging a little for your accommodation here. Find a resort, preferably with a beachfront and spend your days leisurely. During our visit, we stayed at the gorgeous Stella Di Mare Beach Hotel and I can easily recommend it. See this post for ideas about what to do in Sharm el-Sheikh.
PS: One place I would have loved to visit – had I known about it – was the Al Mustafa Mosque. If you have some time to stop by, I think this might be worth your while.
Day 14: Flight to Cairo & Home
The flight back to Cairo takes only one hour. So if you have a late international flight, you can leave Sharm el-Sheikh on the morning of your flight. Otherwise, you should leave with a late flight on Day 13.
Suggestions for a 7-Day Trip
Suggestions for a 7-Day Egypt Itinerary (Option #1)
- Day 1: Arrive in Cairo
- Day 2: Visit the Pyramids and Egyptian Museum
- Day 3: Explore more of Cairo (Visit Coptic and Islamic Cairo)
- Day 4: Fly to Sharm el-Sheikh
- Day 5: Sharm el-Sheikh
- Day 6: Spend the morning in Sharm el-Sheikh and Late flight to Cairo
- Day 7: Onward flight home
Suggestions for a 7-Day+ Egypt Itinerary (Option #2)*
- Day 1: Arrive in Cairo
- Day 2: Visit the Pyramids and Egyptian Museum
- Day 3: Explore more of Cairo (Visit Coptic and Islamic Cairo) + Overnight train to Luxor
- Day 4: Arrive in Luxor (Explore the East Bank)
- Day 5: Explore Luxor: West Bank
- Day 6: Road Trip to Aswan – Visit the Philae Temple, Nubian Villages
- *Day 7: Road Trip to Abu Simbel + Late afternoon flight to Cairo.
*This 7-day Egypt itinerary will work well if you have a super late flight home. If you don’t, consider spending an extra night in Cairo upon arrival or spend more time in Cairo and cities close by and save Southern Egypt for another trip.
So, there you have it., A perfect Egypt Itinerary to help you begin planning your one to two-week trip. If you have been to Egypt before, please share your itinerary in the comment section below. And if you are in the middle of planning one, let me know if you have any questions. I will be more than happy to respond as best as I can!
Interesting article. I’m wondering why you didn’t post a picture of the Great Sphinx of Giza? Didn’t you visit it? Also, please update your website’s SSL certificate. Your blog is to good to have a ‘Not secure’ sign placed on it. Keep up the good work.
Thanks for your comment, Muoozi. I do have a picture of the Sphinx in the article. Perhaps you missed it.
Point taken on the SSL certificate. I’ll update in due time.
For some reason Im not getting your new posts in the mail…. anyways Alexandria is worth a couple of days! Great recommendations!
Thanks for your comment, Andy! Not sure what the issue with subscription is at the moment, but I will check from my mind.
I didn’t get to visit Alexandria during my time in Egypt. Do you have a post on it? By the way, I love your blog’s new look!