10 Days in Egypt

Highlights

• Valley of the Kings — the burial tombs of pharaohs including Tutankhamun. Walk into 3 tombs (included in $12/adult entry, free under 6). Tutankhamun''s tomb is $8 extra and worth it. The painted walls are 3,300 years old and still vivid
• Karnak Temple — the largest ancient religious complex ever built. Hypostyle Hall has 134 columns, each 23m tall. $12/adult. Walk through at sunset when the stone glows gold. Kids are genuinely awed by the scale
• Luxor Temple — right in the centre of town, illuminated at night. $8/adult. The avenue of sphinxes connecting it to Karnak (3 km) has been recently excavated and reopened
• Hatshepsut Temple — the dramatic colonnaded temple of Egypt''s female pharaoh, carved into a cliff face. $8/adult. The architecture is astonishing — 3,500 years old and looks modern
• Hot air balloon over the West Bank — sunrise flight over the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, and the Nile. $80-120/person, age 6+. One of the world''s great balloon flights
• Colossi of Memnon — two giant 18m seated statues in the fields, free to visit. Quick photo stop en route to the Valley of the Kings

Local tips

• Do the West Bank in a single morning — hire a private driver ($30-40) and hit Valley of the Kings at 6am opening (before the heat), then Hatshepsut Temple, then Colossi of Memnon. Back to the hotel by noon. Karnak and Luxor Temple are better in the late afternoon/evening light.
• The hot air balloon is the trip''s splurge moment — floating over the pharaohs'' tombs at sunrise is a core memory. Book with a reputable company (Sindbad, Magic Horizon) and go on your first Luxor morning as a weather backup for Day 2.
• Luxor in summer (June-September) hits 45°C+ — spring and autumn are ideal. If visiting in summer, do all outdoor activities before 10am and after 4pm. Midday is for the hotel pool.

Highlights

• Sailing the Nile — watching Egypt''s palm-fringed banks, feluccas, and ancient temples drift past from the sun deck. The cruise itself is the experience. Pool, buffet meals, and evening entertainment on board
• Edfu Temple (Temple of Horus) — the best-preserved temple in Egypt, 2,300 years old. Horse carriage from the dock to the temple ($5/carriage). Included in cruise itinerary. The falcon-headed god Horus is carved everywhere
• Kom Ombo Temple — unique double temple dedicated to two gods (Sobek the crocodile god and Horus). Crocodile mummy museum on site. Included in cruise. Sunset at Kom Ombo is atmospheric
• Aswan — Philae Temple on its island (boat to the island $5/pp + $8 entry), Nubian Village visit by motorboat ($15-20/person), Aswan souk (spice-heavy, less pushy than Cairo). The most relaxed Egyptian city
• Felucca sailing in Aswan — traditional Nile sailing boat around Elephantine Island and Kitchener''s Botanical Garden. $10-15/boat per hour. Aswan''s felucca sailing is calmer and more scenic than Cairo''s
• Abu Simbel day trip — Ramesses II''s colossal temples, moved block-by-block in the 1960s to save them from the dam. 3h drive each way from Aswan ($40-60/person by minibus) or 45-min flight ($120/pp). Worth the early start

Local tips

• Book a mid-range cruise (Sonesta St George, Movenpick, or similar) — $200-300/person/night full board including all meals, temple visits with Egyptologist guide, and transfers. Budget ships cut corners on food and guides; luxury ships are $500+/night and not proportionally better for families.
• The cruise is 3 nights Luxor → Aswan (southbound). Some cruises also offer 4-night Aswan → Luxor (northbound) or 7-night round trips. 3 nights is the sweet spot for families — enough to see all temples without kids getting bored on board.
• Abu Simbel is a 3h drive from Aswan each way — the convoy leaves at 4am. It''s a long day but the temples are the most impressive in Egypt after the Pyramids. For families with kids under 8, the early start may not be worth it. Alternative: fly (45 min each way, $120/pp).

Highlights

• Red Sea snorkelling — Hurghada sits on one of the world''s best coral reefs. Snorkelling trips to Giftun Island ($30-50/person, full day, includes lunch and 2-3 reef stops). Glass-bottom boats for non-swimmers ($20/person)
• All-inclusive resort time — Hurghada''s resorts include pools, water slides, private beaches, kids'' clubs, buffet meals, and evening entertainment. After 8 days of temples and history, the kids need pool days
• Semi-submarine coral viewing — see the reef from 3m below the waterline without getting wet. $30-40/person, 2h. Perfect for younger kids who aren''t confident snorkellers
• Desert safari quad biking — ATV rides through the Eastern Desert, Bedouin camp visit, tea and sunset. $30-50/person, 3h. Fun for older kids and parents
• Orange Bay — private beach island with calm shallow water, perfect for young kids. Day trip by speedboat ($20-30/person including beach access)
• Hurghada Marina — evening stroll along the boat-lined marina, restaurants, ice cream shops, souvenir stalls. The family-friendly evening walk

Local tips

• Book an all-inclusive resort — Hurghada all-inclusives are extraordinary value at $100-180/night for a family room with all meals, drinks, activities, and pool/beach access. After the cruise (all meals included) and budget Cairo eating, ending with all-inclusive is effortless.
• The Red Sea coral is genuinely world-class — Hurghada snorkelling is comparable to the Great Barrier Reef at a fraction of the price. Giftun Island is the best family snorkel trip. Book through the hotel for reliable operators.
• Two nights is enough for the beach wind-down — the resort and snorkelling are the only agenda. Rest, swim, eat, repeat. Fly out rested rather than exhausted.