Two weeks. This is the sweet spot. Enough to not sacrifice anything. Not enough to be heavy. Pyramids, Nile, Abu Simbel, Red Sea. Everything fits. Without killing you. Here's how.
Why 14 days is the sweet spot
Seven days is tense. You are still in transit. Ten days is better. Fourteen days is the dream. You have time. You walk slowly. You read in the sun. You have coffee with an Egyptian. You exchange WhatsApp. It's a real journey. Also see our guide to the best time to visit Egypt.
With 14 days, you do:
- Cairo in two days (not just an overview)
- A 7-night cruise (Luxor to Aswan to Abu Simbel)
- Three days at the Red Sea (diving or relaxing)
- A desert day if you are brave
The complete day-by-day program
Days 1-2: Full Cairo
Day 1: Arrival, rest, aperitif on the Nile.
D2: Morning Egyptian museum (90 min), then Pyramids of Giza and Sphinx. Afternoon: Citadel of Saladin, Muhammad Ali Mosque. Evening: Khan el-Khalili Bazaar. It's heavy, but you're rested, so it's OK. For complete details, see our complete guide to Cairo.
Day 3: Transition
Morning: Saqqara (Step Pyramid). Lunch. Cairo-Luxor flight. Cruise boarding around 6 p.m. Sunset from the boat. You are exhausted. You are sleeping.
Days 4-7: Nile Cruise 7 nights
D4 morning: Valley of the Kings. The tombs of the pharaohs. You go underground. The walls are painted as they were 3300 years ago. You feel dizzy (the good one). To better prepare for your cruise, consult our complete guide to Nile cruises.
Day 4 afternoon: Boat is sailing. Medinet Habou. Temple of Ramesses III. The most intact. Almost no tourists. You alone with the gods.
D5: Karnak (morning) and Luxor temple (afternoon). Two hours of navigation between the two. You look at the Nile. The villages. Children playing football on the sand.
D6: Day of rest/navigation. You read. You are sleeping. You have a drink with other passengers. The boat sails towards Aswan slowly.
D7: Arrival Aswan in the evening. Quick visit to the dam and market. Dinner on board. Preparing for Abu Simbel tomorrow.
Day 8: Abu Simbel
Departure 4am (yes, very early). Road 280 km to Abu Simbel (3 hours). Two colossi carved into the mountain. Ramesses II seated. It's inhuman in size. It's magical.
Internal visit: the temple, the rooms, the underground sanctuary. Then return to Aswan. You are dead. But happy. Light dinner. Dodo.
Day 9: Full Aswan
You have recovered. Aswan market in detail. Spices, fabrics, perfumes. Visit the Nilometer (old instrument for measuring the level of the Nile). Felucca ride (small sailing boat) at sunset. It's poetic. Find out more about Aswan and its treasures.
Days 10-12: Red Sea
Flight Aswan-Hurghada or Marsa Alam. You arrive around noon. 5-star hotel with private beach.
Day 10 afternoon: Acclimatization. Beach. Cocktails. You've finally been reading this book since day 1.
D11: Diving or snorkeling. Coral reefs. Tropical fish. Rays. Turtles. The water is clear. You forget the surface. To organize your transport in Egypt, consult our practical guide.
D12: Free day. Beach club. Massage. Nap. Seafood dinner. You don't move.
Day 13: White desert (option)
Are you brave? Excursion to the White Desert from Hurghada (5 hours drive). White rock formations. Lunar landscape. You sleep in the desert if you are very brave. Otherwise, return in the evening. Exhaustion guaranteed. Happiness too.
Day 14: Departure
Hurghada-Cairo flight. Connection to France (usually at night). You sleep on a plane. You land tomorrow morning.
Budget for 14 days
Comfort budget (couple)
Cairo Hotel 2 nights (4 stars): £220
Nile cruise 7 nights (4 stars): £2,150 (1400 per person)
Red Sea Hotel 3 nights (4-5 stars): £350
Internal flights (2): £280
Entrances + Abu Simbel: £230
Diving/snorkeling: £150
Meals + transport: £310
Total per person: £3,380
Luxury budget (couple)
Cairo Hotel 2 nights (5 stars): £310
Nile cruise 7 nights (5 stars dahabiya): £3,690 (2400 per person)
Red Sea Hotel 3 nights (5 stars): £580
Internal flights (2): £280
Entrances + Abu Simbel VIP: £310
High-end diving: £270
Gastronomy restaurant meal: £460
Total per person: £5,640
Economical budget (torque)
Cairo Hotel 2 nights (3 stars): £120
Nile cruise 7 nights (3 stars): £1,390 (900 per person)
Red Sea Hotel 3 nights (3 stars): £180
Internal flights (2): £280
Entrances + Abu Simbel: £230
Simple snorkeling: £60
Local meal: £220
Total per person: £1,880
Hurghada vs Marsa Alam for the Red Sea
| Criterion | Hurghada | Marsa Alam |
|---|---|---|
| Distance Aswan | 580 km (2 hours flight) | 260 km (45 min flight) |
| City size | Big tourist town | Small quiet village |
| Coral reefs | Good, sometimes overdived | Better, fewer people |
| Restaurants/nightlife | Numerous nightclubs | Basic, quieter |
| Hotel budget | £80-£120 (4*) | £60-£90 (4*) |
| Ideal for | Young couples, action | Calm couples, divers |
Comparison: 7 days vs 10 days vs 14 days
| Appearance | 7 days | 10 days | 14 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhythm | Fast | Good | Quiet |
| Abu Simbel | No | Maybe | Yes definitely |
| Red Sea | No | No | 3 days |
| Rest days | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Average budget | £1,390 | £2,000 | £3,460 |
Tips that make the difference
Abu Simbel on excursion. Not on a Nile cruise. For what ? The 7+ night cruises that go to Abu Simbel take two whole days off the boat (day 8: 4 a.m., day 9: late return). You are dead. Better: 7-night standard cruise, then 24-hour excursion from Aswan. You are rested. You benefited better.
The Red Sea after Aswan. Not before. Logically, you are exhausted after the Nile. The beach is the perfect rest. Psychologically, it’s a real transition. You need.
Marsa Alam rather than Hurghada. Less far, better reefs, quieter. People returning from Hurghada talk about nightclubs. People returning from Marsa Alam talk about leopard rays and turtles. Choose.
A full day Aswan between Nile and Abu Simbel. Not just a glance. Market, felucca, Nilometer. You understand Aswan. It's a real city, not just a port of departure.
Cruise 7 nights minimum over 14 days. Not 5 nights. On the Nile, this is the main experience. Give it time. 5 nights is too short. 7 nights is about right.
FAQ: Is 14 days too much?
14 days isn't too much anyway?
No. You are tired the first three days (lag + rhythm). Days 4-11 you are fluid. Days 12-14 you slow down (this is normal, you are traveling). It's healthy.
And the holidays? We can't all take 14 days!
True. If you have just 10 days, skip Abu Simbel and the Red Sea. Do Cairo + Nile complete (7 nights). It's perfect too. 14 days is a luxury, not a necessity.
Can you do the White Desert without being very sporty?
Yes. You drive 5 hours in a 4x4, you walk quietly for 2-3 hours, then return. It's not a climb. It's a ride. 70 year olds do it. It's just hot.
How much does diving in the Red Sea cost?
Single dive (PADI): £50-£60. Deep diving (if certified): £60-£90. Snorkeling (without certification): £20-£30. All prices include equipment and guide.
Abu Simbel or White Desert? Do you have to choose?
With 14 days you have both if you are organized. Abu Simbel on day 8 from Aswan. White Desert on day 13 from Hurghada. Feasible. Slightly exhausting. Memorable.
Where exactly is the 7-night cruise?
Luxor (embarkation) → Karnak → Medinet Habou → navigation → Aswan (disembarkation). "Long" option (rare): to Abu Simbel. The most common: Luxor-Aswan classic.
Do you need a diving certification?
No. You can do a “Discovery Dive” on site. £60-£80. An instructor shows you. You go down 10-12 meters max. No need for prior certification. But snorkeling is just as good and less tiring.
We organize everything for you
14 days is a real trip. Not a guided tour. You have flexibility. You have time. You think. And you call us when you have questions (Abu Simbel necessary? Red Sea not too touristy? Realistic budget?).
We know each boat. We know every hotel. We know each guide. No middlemen. Directly with the owners. This is why we can give you the boat that suits you. The hotel that suits you. The guide who speaks your language AND understands what you are really looking for.
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