Enjoy a 5-day city break in Cairo, Egypt - an unforgettable weekend that will introduce you to the ancient and modern wonders of the city.
Discover Egypt differently with our exclusive offer combining a cruise on the Nile and a seaside stay on the Red Sea.
From the majestic temples of Upper Egypt to the legendary pyramids of Giza, set off on a fascinating journey to the heart of Pharaonic wonders.
From the timeless treasures of Cairo, a vibrant capital with an effervescent rhythm, to Luxor, once ancient Thebes, a true jewel of majestic temples and unparalleled remains, let yourself be enchanted by the incredible wealth of Egypt.
Go for a cruise on the Nile and explore, in complete peace of mind, the greatest treasures of ancient Egypt.
Direct question. A day trip to Egypt works well in four cases, and moderately in a fifth:
Price ranges for 2026, per person, all inclusive English-speaking guide + transport + temple entries (excluding optional lunch):
The price rarely exceeds these ranges with us because we work with English-speaking guides under direct management. Resort agencies add 30 to 60% intermediary margin.
Short format: 8 to 10 hours departing from your Cairo hotel. Pyramid of Cheops, Chephren, Mykerinos, Sphinx, panorama of the nine pyramids, often panorama of Giza on the desert side. Lunch of your choice - local cuisine or panoramic restaurant.
What we add at no extra cost when we organize thepyramids excursion : the village of Saqqara to see the step pyramid of Djoser (2,630 BC, the first pyramid in the world), and often Memphis - ancient pharaonic capital. Allow 25 km of road between Giza and Saqqara, 45 minutes excluding rush hour. To dig: practical guide to the pyramids of Giza and Memphis and Saqqara.
What we're watching for our customers: entry inside Khufu is optional and costs an additional 900 EGP (around 17 EUR) in 2026. Interesting if you've never visited a burial chamber, claustrophobic if you've already been to Saqqara. The Giza + panorama + Sphinx combined ticket is 750 EGP (14 EUR). The Grand Egyptian Museum, open since November 2025, requires at least 3 hours and is often worth a second day: see our guide to the Grand Egyptian Museum.
Ideal time: departure from hotel 7:30 a.m., pyramids 8:30 a.m. before the crowds, panorama 10:30 a.m., Sphinx 11 a.m., Saqqara 1 p.m. after lunch, return 5 p.m. Avoid departures at 9 a.m. - at 10:30 a.m. the light is flat and the group buses take photos from all angles.
Good to know before reading the rest: Luxor is 5 hours drive from Hurghada (290 km) and 1 hour by plane. The choice of means changes everything about fatigue, and a little about the price.
In Luxor excursion from Hurghada plane version, the day lasts 14 hours: takeoff Hurghada 6:30 a.m., landing Luxor 7:30 a.m., Karnak 8:30 a.m., lunch 12 p.m., Valley of the Kings 2 p.m., Colossi of Memnon 4 p.m., return to airport 5 p.m., takeoff 6 p.m., Hurghada 7 p.m. You sleep in your hotel bed. All-inclusive price with English-speaking guide: 340 to 420 EUR per person depending on season.
In the bus version, it's 5 hours of road convoy on the way out (departure at 4 a.m. in a security convoy from Safaga or Hurghada), 7 hours on site in Luxor west bank + east bank, then 5 hours return. 4 p.m. door to door, but the price drops to 85-140 EUR. We offer it to anyone who wants to test Luxor without breaking the budget, but we warn: it is trying.
What you see in Luxor in one day: Karnak, Luxor city, Valley of the Kings (3 tombs included in the basic ticket, supplement for Tutankhamun or Seti I), Deir el Bahari (temple of Hatshepsut), Colossi of Memnon. To go further than this list: our complete guide to Luxor and the Karnak temple in detail. If you have a free night, we highly recommend the hot air balloon over Luxor at sunrise - 180 EUR per person.
Which guide, what group size? The standard we refuse at home: tours for 40 people with forced English-speaking guides. Our standard: English-speaking guide, maximum 8 people, 16-seater air-conditioned van.
A question about an excursion?
Write to us on WhatsApp, we respond within 1 hour. Our team speaks French, we are based in Cairo, and we are never redirected to a call center.
Hurghada is your base: every morning you leave, every evening you return. The format Hurghada excursion (or excursion from Hurghada) for the day covers six serious destinations:
The most sold combination from Hurghada: 2 days Luxor + Cairo (2 internal flights, 2 nights Hurghada kept) for 680-850 EUR per person. There is nothing equivalent in public offerings because resort agencies sell separately and mark up twice.
To expand to the full destination: see our guide to Hurghada and the Red Sea. To combine Nile + Red Sea: Nile + Hurghada cruise in 2026.
From Sharm, Cairo is a 1-hour flight - it's actually faster than from Hurghada (same kilometers but more frequent flights). The format Sharm excursion (or excursion from Sharm el Sheikh) focuses on four days:
What we see a lot among our Sharm clients: the 2-day Cairo + Sainte Catherine combo. 720-900 EUR per person - all your domestic flights within Egypt are arranged and included by SEV - with a night in Dahab + return to Sharm. Intense but unbeatable format for those who have 10 Red Sea days and only one weekend available for culture.
To learn more about Sharm: Sharm el Sheikh tourist guide 2026. For Dahab: Dahab, backpacker paradise.
You are based in Cairo for 5 to 10 days: what day excursions are worth it? Each Cairo excursion per day meets a different traveler profile.
Alexandria : 2h30 drive by motorway, Bibliotheca Alexandrina library, catacombs of Kom el Choqafa, citadel of Qaitbay, corniche at the end of the day. Return to Cairo 9 p.m. Count 80-130 EUR per person privately. Our complete guide to Alexandria gives opening hours museum by museum.
Saqqara + Dahshur + Memphis : 30 km south of Cairo, this is where we see the step pyramid of Djoser (-2,630), the red pyramid of Snefrou and the rhomboidal pyramid. The combined ticket is 300 EGP (6 EUR). More informative about Pharaonic history than Giza alone. See Dahshur and the red pyramid.
Fayoum + Wadi el Rayan + Wadi el Hitan : oasis southwest of Cairo, 2 hours drive, Fayoum Falls waterfall, UNESCO Whale Valley. Ideal for travelers who have already done the classics. 120-180 EUR per person. See Fayoum oasis and Wadi el Hitan.
White Desert + Bahariya : it's not a strict day - it's a 2 days 1 night in 4x4 with bivouac under the stars. We add it here because most customers who request it believe that it lasts for one day. No. Count 280-380 EUR per person, departure from Cairo 7 a.m., return following day 7 p.m. See white desert and Bahariya.
For the city itself: visit Cairo in 2026 and Cairo in 3 days.
If you spend 2 nights in Aswan - or better, if you stop there on a cruise - theAbu Simbel excursion remains the most significant in Egypt. Two options:
What many don't know: the excursion from Aswan can be combined with the temple of Kalabsha on Lake Nasser (moved by UNESCO as Abu Simbel) and sometimes Philae if you extend the day. See our complete guide to Abu Simbel and temple of Philae.
For couples: the sound and light show at Philae in the evening perfectly completes the Abu Simbel day. See sound and light in Egypt.
Understand why two Egypt day trips on the same site display 35 EUR or 120 EUR, this includes four variables:
Our standard: English-speaking guide, private 16-seater van, full board on long days, all main entrances included except for options indicated. Quote on WhatsApp within 24 hours with line by line details.
Short rule: October to April = ideal for all cultural excursions. May to September = uncomfortable in temples in the afternoon, good for Red Sea.
The pyramids and Luxor excursions are difficult in July-August (45°C in Giza at 2 p.m., 48°C in the Valley of the Kings). We then organize them to leave at 5 a.m., return 1 p.m. before the furnace. Conversely, a Hurghada or Giftun Island snorkeling day is at its best in May-September - water at 28°C, 30 m visibility.
Cruise season (October-April): pay attention to the most popular months. Christmas/New Year and Easter saturate internal Hurghada-Louxor flights and Abu Simbel slots. Book 45 days in advance. To cross with the rest of the country: our guide when to go to Egypt in 2026.
Ramadan 2026 runs from February 17 to March 18. Consequence on excursions: adapted hours (some museums close at 3 p.m.), local restaurants during the day less available. See Ramadan and trip to Egypt.
Want a combined 2 to 3 excursions from your hotel?
We build a tailor-made program in 24 hours. From Hurghada, Sharm, Marsa Alam or Cairo, we adjust the pace, internal flights and English-speaking guides.
| Basis | Best day trip | Door to door duration | Price / person |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cairo | Pyramids + Saqqara + Memphis | 9am | 55-95 EUR |
| Cairo | Alexandria (day) | 12 p.m. | 80-130 EUR |
| Hurghada | Luxor by plane | 2 p.m. | 340-420 EUR |
| Hurghada | Cairo by plane | 3 p.m. | 380-480 EUR |
| Sharm el Sheikh | Cairo by plane | 3 p.m. | 360-450 EUR |
| Sharm el Sheikh | Mount Sinai dawn | 10 a.m. night | 80-130 EUR |
| Aswan | Abu Simbel plane | 6am | 280-340 EUR |
To expand to longer terrestrial formulas: see our tailor-made Egypt tours. For the cruise version: Nile cruises. On the security side: security Egypt in 2026.
Let's type Egypt excursion, Egypt day trip or excursion to Egypt in Google, we are looking for the same thing: a well-timed day with a English-speaking guide, private transport, entrances included, and return to the hotel or liner on time. Our team encrypts everything within 24 hours on WhatsApp.
Turnkey tours prepared by the SEV team, reservation on quote by WhatsApp - English-speaking advisor within 1 hour.
Karnak, Luxor, Valley of the Kings on day trips, English-speaking guide.
Philae, Haut Barrage, Kalabsha and Abu Simbel in targeted excursions.
4-day mini-tour Cairo + pyramids + museum, concentrated excursion format.
5 days of guided excursions around Cairo and Giza.
Cultural excursion targeted at the temples of Abydos and Dendera from Luxor.
If it's your first time: Giza pyramids + Saqqara from Cairo (9h, 55-95 EUR). If you are in Hurghada: Luxor by plane (2 p.m., 340-420 EUR). If you are in Aswan: Abu Simbel by plane (6 hours, 280-340 EUR). These three are unbeatable in terms of discovery/fatigue.
Yes, by plane it's comfortable (14 hours door to door, 340-420 EUR), by bus it's tiring (16 hours, 85-140 EUR, morning security convoy). We recommend flying unless you have a very tight budget, especially in summer.
Private with English-speaking guide + air-conditioned van + Saqqara + Memphis: 55 to 95 EUR per person for 2 participants, decreasing from 4 people. In standard English-speaking group: 35 EUR. Temple entrances included except for the Khufu interior option (17 EUR).
Yes, by plane only. Departure 5:30 a.m., flight 1 hour, 8 hours on site (pyramids + museum or Grand Egyptian Museum), return 8 p.m. 360-450 EUR per person. On the way it’s 9 hours there and 9 hours back - don’t do it.
From Marsa Alam: Luxor by bus (3h30 - shorter than from Hurghada, 70-120 EUR), Port Ghalib Dolphin House (65-90 EUR), desert quad (40-60 EUR), and Abu Simbel by 4x4 group (long, 180-240 EUR). To dig: Marsa Alam guide.
Yes for Alexandria and Safaga. A group visa exemption exists for accompanied cruise stopovers, but it depends on your company. The classic visa at 30 USD on arrival covers all cases. See Egypt visa for French in 2026.
From 9-10 years old yes, provided you wake up for 4 hours. Below, the 14-hour day and the heat in Karnak are too harsh. We then instead offer 2 nights in Luxor with flight or night train - more expensive but more humane. See Egypt family trip.
In our packages: yes for long days (Louxor from Hurghada, Cairo from Sharm, Abu Simbel). No for short days (pyramids 9 hours, Saqqara 6 hours) - we leave the choice to the customer. Lunch added: 12 to 25 EUR depending on restaurant.
In a group of 40 with English-speaking guide: 35-60 EUR, fixed pace, no personalized photo stop, crowded temples at the same times as all groups. Private with English-speaking guide: 85-180 EUR, tailor-made pace, early departure possible to avoid the crowds. Our clients almost systematically choose private with 2 participants.
October to April for cultural excursions (climate 20-28°C). May to September for Red Sea excursions (water at 28°C, visibility 30 m). Avoid July-August for Luxor and pyramids in the afternoon - 45°C in the temples.
Yes and this is our best-selling combination 2026: 7 nights Luxor-Aswan cruise then 5 nights Hurghada with 1 Cairo excursion by plane from Hurghada. Allow 10 to 14 days total. See Nile + Hurghada cruise.
Standard Sem Élégant Voyage: round-trip transport from your hotel, English-speaking guide, entrances to the main temples, mineral water on board the van. All domestic flights within Egypt are arranged and included by SEV. Not included: your flight to Egypt, Egypt visa, tips, lunch on short excursions, optional entries (Tutankhamun, Nefertari, Khufu interior).
Ready to book your day trip to Egypt?
Write to us now on WhatsApp, we'll block your dates before they leave. Response within 1 hour, English-speaking team in Cairo, firm quote within 24 hours with line by line details.