Egypt’s story spans millennia: from the Old Kingdom architects who raised the Giza Pyramids to the priests and builders who lined the Nile with temples of unfading stone. In Cairo, modern life hums around medieval lanes and café courtyards; in Aswan, the river slows and the granite hills glow at sunset; in Luxor, entire neighborhoods sit atop ancient Thebes.

Fun fact: the Nile flows south-to-north, so “Upper Egypt” is actually downriver on the map—Luxor and Aswan lie in Upper Egypt, while Cairo anchors the north. Expect hearty street eats like koshary and taameya (Egyptian falafel), sugary basbousa for dessert, and mint tea served as warmly as the welcome.

Practical notes: US, EU, and many nationals can get an e-visa online; carry small cash for tips and taxis, and dress modestly for mosques. Winter (Oct–Apr) is peak season with comfortable days and cool nights. During Ramadan, hours shift but sightseeing still runs; it’s a special time to experience evening iftar across the country.

Cairo

Cairo is a city of layers: Pharaonic stone to Fatimid gates to Belle Époque balconies, all stitched together by the Nile. Spend your days between the Giza Plateau and the city’s glittering museum galleries, then barter for brass and spices in Khan el-Khalili as oud music drifts through the lanes.

• Top sights: Giza Pyramids and Sphinx, Saqqara and Dahshur pyramids, the new Grand Egyptian Museum, Islamic Cairo (Al-Muizz), Coptic Cairo, Cairo Citadel.
• Where to eat: Koshary Abou Tarek (the national dish, stacked with lentils and crispy onions), Zooba (playful takes on Egyptian classics), Abou El Sid (slow-cooked molokhia and stuffed pigeons), Naguib Mahfouz Restaurant (Khan el-Khalili institution).
• Stay near the Pyramids for sunrise silhouettes or in Zamalek for leafy streets and cafes. Browse stays on VRBO Cairo and Hotels.com Cairo.
• Getting in: Search flights to Cairo on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Day 1: Arrive in Cairo, Sunset Over the City

Afternoon: Arrive in Cairo and settle into your hotel. If you’re in Zamalek, grab a pick-me-up at Eish + Malh (Downtown) or Mandarine Koueider for fresh juices and pastries.

Evening: Catch golden hour at Al-Azhar Park for sweeping views over minarets and the Citadel. Dinner options: Naguib Mahfouz Restaurant for classic mezze in Khan el-Khalili or Abou El Sid (Zamalek) for slow-cooked stews and stuffed vine leaves.

Day 2: Giza Pyramids, Sphinx, and a Camel Ride (Full-Day Tour)

Spend a full day on the plateau with a guide who brings the stones to life. This comprehensive experience includes going inside a pyramid, lunch, and a camel ride with those postcard skyline views.

Book: Top Rated Giza Pyramids, Sphinx, Camel ride, lunch & inside pyramids

Post-tour dinner ideas near Giza: 139 Pavilion at the Marriott Mena House (terrace with pyramid views) or Abou Shakra for mixed grills and tahini.

Day 3: Saqqara, Dahshur, and the Grand Egyptian Museum

Morning: Fuel up with coffee and eggs at Eish + Malh, then head south to Saqqara to see Djoser’s Step Pyramid—the prototype for Giza. Continue to Dahshur for the Bent Pyramid and Red Pyramid with far fewer crowds.

Afternoon: Return to Giza for the new Grand Egyptian Museum, opening galleries and grand atrium pieces like the colossal Ramses II statue. A guided visit helps you navigate the highlights and Tutankhamun displays as they roll out.

Book: Grand Egyptian Museum

Evening: Dinner in Zamalek: Zooba (taameya sandwiches, hawawshi) or Sachi (elegant Mediterranean plates). Nightcap along the Nile corniche.

Day 4: Islamic & Coptic Cairo, Nile by Night

Morning: Start in Coptic Cairo: the Hanging Church, Abu Serga (built atop a cave linked to the Holy Family), and the Coptic Museum’s carved ivories. Coffee break at a nearby café near Mar Girgis station.

Afternoon: Walk Al-Muizz Street under Mamluk facades, visit Al-Azhar and Sultan Hassan mosques, then dive into Khan el-Khalili’s alleys. Pause at the 18th‑century Café El Fishawy for mint tea and people-watching.

Evening: Toast your Cairo finale with dinner and live entertainment on the Nile.

Book: 2-Hour Nile River Dinner Cruise From Cairo

Aswan

Aswan is Egypt in slow motion—sailboats skimming the river at sunset, granite quarries, and Nubian villages painted in bright colors. Temples here feel intimate: Philae rises from an island like a mirage, and the Old Cataract’s terrace suspends time at golden hour.

• Top sights: Temple of Philae, Unfinished Obelisk, Nubian Museum, Elephantine Island, Abu Simbel (day trip), felucca sailing.
• Food to try: river fish grilled over coals, Nubian stews spiced with fenugreek, and hibiscus karkadé over ice.
• Where to stay: Riverside rooms on Elephantine Island or garden villas in town. Browse VRBO Aswan and Hotels.com Aswan.

Day 5: Fly to Aswan, Island Temples and Nubian Flavors

Morning (travel): Fly Cairo → Aswan (~1.5 hours, often $70–140 one-way). Search options on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Check in and sip karkadé on the river.

Afternoon: Visit Philae Temple by boat—its reliefs glow in soft light. Stop at the Unfinished Obelisk quarry to see how ancient engineers worked Aswan granite.

Evening: Dinner on the water at Al Dokka (simple, delicious fish and tahini) or dress up for 1902 Restaurant at the Old Cataract (old-world elegance). Post-dinner tea on the hotel terrace is a rite of passage.

Day 6: Abu Simbel Sunrise (Full-Day Excursion)

Pre-dawn departure for Abu Simbel (about 3 hours by road each way), where colossal statues of Ramesses II guard the doorway. The temples were relocated stone-by-stone to save them from Lake Nasser—an engineering epic story. Return mid-afternoon for a restorative felucca sail at sunset.

Dinner ideas: Makka Restaurant (local grills and mezze) or a casual Nubian home-cooked set menu in a village on Elephantine Island.

Luxor

Luxor is a vast open-air museum: the West Bank’s Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut’s terraces, the East Bank’s temple axis from Karnak to Luxor, and villages rooted in generations of archaeology. Sunrises here—especially from a hot air balloon—are unforgettable.

• Top sights: Valley of the Kings, Temple of Hatshepsut, Medinet Habu, Luxor Temple, Karnak Temple, Luxor Museum, hot air balloon at dawn.
• Where to eat: Sofra (vintage dining room and classic dishes), Al-Sahaby Lane (rooftop by Luxor Temple), Marsam (West Bank garden lunches near the tombs), 1886 Restaurant at the Winter Palace (white tablecloths and history).
• Where to stay: East Bank for easy temple access, West Bank for quiet village life. See VRBO Luxor and Hotels.com Luxor.

Day 7: Aswan → Luxor via Kom Ombo and Edfu

Morning (travel): Depart Aswan by private car to Luxor with temple stops (about 4.5–5 hours total). Visit Kom Ombo (twin temples to Sobek and Horus overlooking the river) and Edfu (one of Egypt’s best-preserved sanctuaries). Expect ~$120–180 for a car/driver day trip for your group.

Afternoon: Arrive in Luxor and check in. Stroll the corniche and step into Luxor Temple as the sandstone turns amber.

Evening: Dinner at Sofra (try the rabbit molokhia or fattah) or Al-Sahaby Lane (tajins with temple views). For dessert, Wenkie's has homemade ice cream and a good espresso.

Day 8: West Bank Temples and Tombs (Full-Day Tour)

Devote a day to the necropolis: the Valley of the Kings (consider the tombs of Seti I or Tutankhamun as add-ons), Hatshepsut’s colonnaded terraces at Deir el-Bahari, and the Medinet Habu complex with vivid painted reliefs. Cap it off at the Colossi of Memnon.

Book: Full Day Tour of Luxor West Bank Temples and Tombs (Private)

Lunch ideas: Marsam’s garden on the West Bank (simple, fresh spreads) or a felucca picnic arranged by your guide. Evening free for a quiet riverside walk.

Day 9: Karnak, Luxor Museum, and Souq

Morning: Enter Karnak through the Avenue of Ram-headed Sphinxes and follow the axis to the Hypostyle Hall’s forest of columns. Take time at the Open Air Museum for reconstructed shrines.

Afternoon: Explore Luxor Museum—compact and excellently curated—then browse the souq for handwoven scarves and alabaster (buy from workshops that demonstrate carving). Coffee at Aboudi Café near the temple.

Evening: Consider the Karnak Sound & Light show if you enjoy theatrical storytelling. Dinner at 1886 Restaurant in the Winter Palace for a grand finale, or keep it relaxed with grilled fish at a local seafood spot.

Day 10: Dawn Balloon or Easy Morning, Fly Out

Morning: Optional hot air balloon over the West Bank at sunrise—fields, desert, and temples unfold below. Otherwise, sleep in and enjoy a leisurely breakfast and a last stroll along the corniche.

Afternoon (travel): Fly Luxor → Cairo (~1h10m, often $60–120). Connect to your international flight. Compare fares on Trip.com and Kiwi.com.

Practical Food & Coffee Shortlist by City

• Cairo breakfast/coffee: Eish + Malh (Downtown), 139 Pavilion (pyramid views), Cake Café (Zamalek). Lunch: Koshary Abou Tarek; Zooba. Dinner: Abou El Sid; Naguib Mahfouz Restaurant (Khan el-Khalili); Sachi (Zamalek).
• Aswan: Tea on the Old Cataract terrace; lunch at Al Dokka; grills at Makka; fine dining at 1902 Restaurant.
• Luxor: Coffee at Aboudi Café; lunch at Marsam (West Bank); dinners at Sofra, Al-Sahaby Lane, or 1886 Restaurant.

Getting Around and Safety Tips

• Transport: Domestic flights are fast and affordable; search on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Private drivers are excellent for Aswan–Luxor with temple stops.
• Tickets: Keep small bills for site tickets; some tombs (e.g., Seti I) require separate, higher-fee tickets—worth it for the color.
• Etiquette: Dress shoulders/knees covered for mosques; ask before photographing people; tip site guardians and boatmen modestly.
• Connectivity: Purchase a local SIM at the airport. ATMs are common; cards accepted at major hotels and museums.

Optional Add-Ons if You Have Extra Time

• Alexandria from Cairo: Sea air, Greco-Roman sites, and the modern Bibliotheca. Consider a guided day: Alexandria Day Trip From Cairo

  

• Nile cruise: If you prefer to sail between Aswan and Luxor instead of driving, multi-day options abound and include guided temple stops.

In ten days you’ll stand beneath the Giza Pyramids, trace hieroglyphs by the Nile, and dine in century-old salons and riverside terraces. Egypt rewards curiosity—this plan balances its icons with quiet moments, great food, and the glow of desert light you’ll remember for years.