Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1 Arrival in Cairo
Morning Arrivée à Louxor & installation
Arrive in Luxor by domestic flight from Cairo (1h, ~€80-150) - most travelers connect through CAI. Direct flights from Europe are rare. Luxor Airport (LXR) is 6 km from the center. A taxi runs 100-150 EGP (~€3-4). Check into your hotel on the east bank (temple side). Drop your luggage, hydrate, and enjoy a karkadeh (iced hibiscus tea) before the afternoon among the pharaohs.
Afternoon Temple de Karnak
Explore the largest religious complex of ancient Egypt, built over 2,000 years by 30 successive pharaohs. The Great Hypostyle Hall, with its 134 columns 23 meters high covered in hieroglyphics, is one of humanity's architectural wonders. The avenue of ram-headed Sphinxes leads to the Temple of Amun-Re.
Evening Felouque sur le Nil
Sound and Light Show at the Pyramids - the Sphinx "narrates" the history of ancient Egypt while the pyramids are illuminated in changing colors.
Day 2 Cairo - Islamic & Coptic
Morning Vallée des Rois
Explore Islamic Cairo: Al-Azhar Mosque (oldest university, 970 AD), Khan el-Khalili bazaar (medieval market), and the Citadel of Saladin with its panoramic views.
Afternoon Temple d'Hatchepsout
Visit Coptic Cairo: the Hanging Church (oldest in Egypt), the Coptic Museum, and Ben Ezra Synagogue. Christianity in Egypt predates Islam by 600 years.
Evening Colosses de Memnon & dîner
Dinner cruise on the Nile through Cairo. Egyptian cuisine, belly dancing show, and the city skyline reflected in the river.
Day 3 Luxor - East Bank
Morning Musée de Louxor
Fly to Luxor. Visit Karnak Temple, the largest religious complex ever built: 134 massive columns in the Hypostyle Hall, 2,000 years of pharaonic construction.
Afternoon Embarquement croisière - Edfou
Walk (or horse carriage) from Karnak to Luxor Temple along the Avenue of Sphinxes - a 2.7 km processional way lined with over 1,000 sphinx statues, recently restored.
Evening Dîner sur le Nil
Sunset from a felucca (traditional sailing boat) on the Nile. Watch the West Bank glow golden while sipping hibiscus tea on the water.
Day 4 Luxor - West Bank
Morning Temple d'Edfou
Cross to the West Bank for the Valley of the Kings: over 60 royal tombs carved deep into the limestone. Tutankhamun's tomb, Ramesses VI, Seti I - 3,300 years of pharaonic art.
Afternoon Navigation & Temple de Kom Ombo
Visit Hatshepsut's Mortuary Temple (Deir el-Bahari), an architectural masterpiece built into the cliff face. Then the Colossi of Memnon (two 18 m pharaoh statues).
Evening Soirée nubienne à bord
Hot air balloon over the West Bank at sunrise (book for tomorrow). Dinner in Luxor: Oriental cuisine in a garden restaurant on the East Bank.
Day 5 Aswan - Nubian Gateway
Morning Temple de Philae
Train or fly to Aswan. Visit the Philae Temple (dedicated to Isis), relocated to Agilkia Island after the Aswan Dam construction - an engineering marvel saving ancient heritage.
Afternoon Village nubien de Gharb Seheil
Explore the Nubian villages on the West Bank: colorful houses painted in bright blues, yellows, and oranges. Visit a Nubian home, drink hibiscus tea, meet the crocodiles.
Evening Coucher de soleil sur Éléphantine
Felucca sunset on the Nile at Aswan. The Nile is most beautiful here - smooth water, feluccas with white sails, and Elephantine Island.
Day 6 Abu Simbel & Departure
Morning Temple d'Abou Simbel
Early morning drive (3h) or flight to Abu Simbel: Ramesses II's colossal temple with four 20 m seated statues. The entire complex was moved 65 m uphill in the 1960s to save it from the dam.
Afternoon Haut barrage d'Assouan & obélisque inachevé
Return to Aswan. Visit the Unfinished Obelisk (the largest ever attempted, abandoned 3,500 years ago - reveals how obelisks were carved) and the Aswan souk.
Evening Transfert vers Assouan ou Le Caire & vol retour
Head to Aswan Airport (ASW), 25 km south of the city (30-40 min by taxi, ~200-300 EGP). Most international journeys require a connection through Cairo (CAI) - 1h30 domestic flight. Verify schedules in advance as ASW → CAI flights are infrequent. If your international connection is late, an overnight in Cairo may be needed. Allow 3h margin between CAI arrival and a long-haul international flight. Ma'a salama Misr.