Perfect 7-DAY EGYPT ITINERARY for First Visit (Cairo, Aswan, Luxor, Abu Simbel)

If you have 7 days, then I have these great ideas for how you can spend your time in Egypt. This 7-day Egypt itinerary will take you to the amazing Pyramids of Giza,  exquisitely decorated tombs in the Valley of the Kings, spectacular Karnak and Luxor Temples in Luxor, and breathtaking temples at Abu Simbel. And, the list continues with a sunrise hot air balloon ride over Luxor, and a visit to ancient pyramids in Dahshur and Saqqara.

This 7-day Egypt itinerary is one unforgettable experience after another. And, I promise you that right after you are done, you will start planning your return trip to Egypt to explore this incredible place some more.

On the first day of the 7-day Egypt itinerary, you will arrive in Cairo.

It depends on what time your flight arrives, however, my recommendation is to take it easy, check into your hotel, get ready for the next day, rest, and get a good night’s sleep.

There are lots of amazing hotels in Cairo, however, booking a hotel in Giza, near Cairo, with a view of the pyramids, will make your visit to Egypt very special.

My recommendation is Marriott Mena House. This is where I stayed and loved it.

Marriott Mena House is a stunning property on 40 acres of beautifully landscaped and meticulously maintained gardens. It is located less than half a mile from the Pyramids of Giza and you will be able to enjoy the views of the pyramids from all over the property. Plus, there is a spa, fitness center, and a pool.

The rooms are spacious and nicely decorated. All have air conditioning, a television set, a private seating area, and plenty of other amenities including a bathrobe and slippers for lounging.

The buffet breakfast, which I enjoyed every morning, offered endless possibilities and the food presentation was top-notch. Make sure to have your breakfast on the patio with the stunning view of the Pyramids in the distance. It is just the most perfect way to start your day.

Above all, I was very impressed with the customer service. It is outstanding! They will go out of their way to make your stay perfect.

This is the second day of your 7-day Egypt itinerary and today, you will visit Memphis, Saqqara, and the Pyramids of Giza.

Make sure to go to Memphis and Saqqara first and visit the Pyramids of Giza in the afternoon. Usually, especially during the winter months, there is some fog or haze in the morning and it obscures the Pyramids. You will get much better views of the Pyramids in the afternoon.

It will take you about 45 minutes to reach Memphis from Marriott Mena House in Giza. Along the way, you will get a glimpse of Cairo and its insane traffic.

Memphis is a great starting point for visiting Egypt. Founded around 3100 BC, Memphis was the first capital of the unified kingdom of Upper and Lower Egypt.

It was abandoned in the 7th century AD but remains an important archaeological site. Most of the artifacts are collected in the Memphis Open Air Museum.

In addition to the open-air museum, there is an indoor museum housing the magnificent fallen colossal limestone statue of Ramses II. I think for me, that was the highlight of the tour of Memphis.

The statue is absolutely amazing and you need to see it to appreciate all the details!

Next, is Saqqara.

Saqqara, also spelled Sakkara or Saccara in English, is the vast necropolis site of the ancient capital city of Memphis. This is the place where the building of pyramids first began in Egypt.

Saqqara boasts the world-famous Step Pyramid of Djoser.

Step Pyramid of Djoser was constructed by Imhotep. It was the first pyramid ever built in Egypt. In addition, as my guide told me, the Step Pyramid of Djoser is the oldest surviving stone building in the world! It was built in the period from 2630 to 2611 BC.

The Step Pyramid is 60 meters high (204 feet) and consists of six steps.

The Step Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara was a part of a funerary complex consisting of temples, courtyards, shrines, and living quarters for the priests.

Next, on your 7-day Egypt itinerary are the Pyramids of Giza.

The Pyramids of Giza are the most magnificent structures and the most iconic sight in the world. They are part of the Giza Pyramid Complex, which is also called the Giza Necropolis. It consists of the Great Pyramid of Giza, also known as the Pyramid of Khufu or the Pyramid of Cheops, Pyramid of Khafre, Pyramid of Menkaure, Great Sphinx of Giza, “Queens” Pyramids, and Solar Boat Museum.

Needless to say, the pyramid complex is vast, and visiting it can be overwhelming.

Here are my 4 absolute must-do and see things that you should not miss at the Pyramids of Giza:

• Head to the Panoramic Spot for the most magnificent view of the Pyramid Complex
• Go on a camel ride around the Pyramids (it is a classic), if that does not appeal to you, then go on a horse-drawn carriage ride around the complex.
• Visit the Solar Boat Museum
• Go inside the Great Pyramid of Giza

The visit to the Pyramids of Giza concludes the second day of the 7-day Egypt itinerary. My suggestion is to head back to your hotel and get some rest. If you decide to stay at Marriott Mena House, then have dinner at 139 Restaurant at the hotel with the pyramids as the backdrop.

If you are still up to more exploring and you are looking for things to do at night in Cairo, then catch the Sound and Light Show at the Great Pyramid Complex. You will be able to see the pyramids beautifully illuminated.

Today, after checking out of your hotel, you will head to the airport and catch an early flight to Aswan. Once in Aswan, you will visit a beautiful Temple of Philae on Agilkia Island, and make a quick stop to see Aswan High Dam. Next, you will continue to see the incredible Abu Simbel Temples. Lastly, you will embark on the River Nile Cruise.

The flight from Cairo to Aswan is about 1 hour long. However, I need to mention that it is really important that you arrive at the airport at least 3 hours before your flight. It took me a long time to get through the security. The lines were long and there was very little organization.

When I landed in Aswan, my tour guide was waiting for me at the airport and escorted me to the waiting car with a driver. In no time, we were on our way to the Temple of Philae on Agilkia Island.

The Temple of Philae on Agilkia Island is, simply put, an unmissable destination while visiting Egypt. It has such an architectural wealth ranging from monuments erected from the eras of the Pharaohs to the Caesars, that you cannot miss it!

In addition, Philae Island was believed to be one of the burial places of Osiris. Also, the temple of Philae was dedicated to the goddess Isis, the wife of Osiris and mother of Horus. The temple of Philae was venerated starting from the Ptolemaic Kingdom period, through the Aegyptus period, all the way to the Coptic period. The pilgrims would come from all over the Mediterranean to worship the goddess Isis.

It took us (my driver, tour guide, and I) about 15-20 minutes by car to reach Marina Philae Temple from the Aswan Airport. Next, my guide and I hired a small boat that took us to Agilkia Island where the Temple of Philae is located.

My favorite structure on the island was the impressive kiosk of Trajan or Pharaoh’s Bed. It consists of 14 massive columns connected with screen walls. The columns have beautifully carved floral capitals.

The highlight of your visit will be the Sanctuary of the Temple of Isis. In the middle of the sanctuary is a pedestal. It once supported the statue of the goddess Isis and a barque in which it traveled.

The next stop is the Aswan High Dam.

The Aswan High Dam was started in 1960 and completed in 1970. It is one of the largest embankment dams in the world. It holds back 132 cubic kilometers (31.7 cubic miles) of water in Lake Nasser.

The dam eliminated the annual cycle of flood and drought. It allowed reclaiming of thousands of acres of desert land for cultivation. The dam’s 12 turbines can generate 10 billion kilowatt-hours annually.

The dam was built from Soviet loans as well as from proceeds from Suez Canal.

Hands down, one of the must-see sights when visiting Egypt is the Abu Simbel Temple Complex!

The Abu Simbel Temple Complex is located 287 km (178 mi) southwest of Aswan. It takes about 3 hours to reach the temples. However, it is all worth it, and it will be the highlight of your trip to Egypt.

My tour company took care of transportation to Abu Simbel and supplied me with a driver and a tour guide. I spent the entire 3-hour time window talking to my tour guide about the Abu Simbel Temples and the history of Egypt. Before I knew it, I arrived at Abu Simbel.

The Abu Simbel Temple Complex consists of two temples: the Great Temple built to honor Ramses II and the Small Temple constructed to honor Ramesses II’s chief consort, Nefertari.

Both temples were carved out of solid rock.

The facade of the Great Temple is incredible! It is 35 meters (115 feet) long and 30 meters (98 feet) high. The entrance to the temple is flanked by four enthroned colossal statues of Ramses II. Each statue is 20 meters (65 feet) high.

The inside of the temple is even more impressive. There are four pillars on each side with colossal statues of Ramses II. Each statue is 10 meters (33 feet) high.

The Great Temple of Abu Simbel is famous for being built along the axis of the sun. As a result, twice a year, on February 22 and October 22, the sunlight reaches 55 meters (180 feet) into the innermost room of the temple and illuminates three of the four sitting statues.

Next to the Great Temple of Abu Simbel, is the Small Temple. It was built by Ramses II for his wife Nefertari and dedicated to the goddess Hathor.

The facade of the Small Temple is adorned with six colossal statues of Queen Nefertari as goddess Hathor and Ramses II.

As you step inside, you will find yourself inside a large hall supported by six pillars. Each pillar has the head of goddess Hathor carved on top of it. The walls are decorated with scenes showing Ramses II and Queen Nefertari making offerings to various Egyptian gods.

After visiting the Abu Simbel Temple Complex, I was escorted back to Aswan where I boarded the Livingston Cruise Ship.

The cruise ship was booked through my travel agency. It was advertised as a luxury cruise ship and claimed to have a 5-star rating. In my opinion, it was comfortable and clean, but not a 5-star luxury cruise ship.

This is day 4 of the 7-day Egypt itinerary and today you will disembark your cruise ship early in the morning and visit the Temple of Kom Ombo and the Crocodile Mummy Museum. Next, you will continue cruising along the River Nile until you reach Edfu and then visit the Temple of Horus at Edfu.

Start your day as early as possible and head to the Temple of Kom Ombo. Not only you will beat the crowds and have the place pretty much to yourself, but you will be able to see the temple beautifully illuminated.

I met my guide in the lobby of the cruise ship at 6 am and we walked over to the temple. Sure enough, there was not a soul around and I was able to take some great photos.

When you visit the Temple of Kom Ombo you absolutely cannot miss the relief with the ancient Egyptian calendar, and the relief showing medical and surgical instruments, or possibly some ritualistic instruments as well. The relief is thought to be the first representation of medically related instruments.

Once you are done exploring the Temple of Kom Ombo, stop at the Crocodile Mummy Museum.

It is full of the coolest things to see including a large number of crocodile mummies of different ages and sizes, mummified crocodile eggs, and fascinating pilgrims’ offerings.

Plus, you will learn all about the crocodile god Sobek – god of the Nile and creator of the world.

After the visit to the Temple of Kom Ombo and the Crocodile Mummy Museum, get back to your cruise ship and have some breakfast!

Afterward, my recommendation is to find a nice, peaceful spot on the deck of your ship and soak in the scenery. Pretty soon, you will be passing by Gebel el-Silsila.

Gebel el-Silsila is an important passage because it marks the point at which the underlying bedrock changes from limestone to sandstone.

From the New Kingdom till Greco-Roman times, huge quantities of sandstone were quarried here.

Moreover, Gebel el-Silsila was an important place of worship. Each year, at the beginning of the season of inundation, pilgrims came to Gebel el-Silsila to make offerings and sacrifices to different gods to ensure a prosperous year.

Next and the final stop of the day is a visit to the Temple of Horus at Edfu.

As my guide told me, the only way to get from the cruise boat to the Temple of Horus at Edfu is by a horse-drawn carriage. He explained to me that the roads leading to the temple are so narrow that they do not support any vans or buses. So, the tourist transport operation relies solely on horse-drawn carriages.

The Temple of Horus at Edfu is considered to be the most complete and the best preserved ancient temple structure in Egypt. It was dedicated to the falcon-headed god Horus.

Once you cross an impressive pylon, you will find yourself in the middle of a spectacular courtyard surrounded on three sides by a covered colonnade of thirty-two columns.

However, what will truly amaze you are two Hypostyle Halls and the Naos. 

The Naos is surrounded by many chapels, storerooms, and corridors. Each of them had a different function.

The most interesting place is the room which was used to make the perfumes used in rituals. The walls of this room are covered with detailed instructions for obtaining different scents.

In my opinion, day 5 is one of the most exciting days of the 7-day Egypt itinerary. It is jam-packed with awesome activities and exploration of famous archaeological sites in Luxor.

My recommendation is to start your day super early and go on a sunrise hot air balloon ride over Luxor. Hands down, it was an amazing experience for me! And, I assure you that you will love it as well. After the hot air balloon ride, return to your cruise ship and have breakfast.

Next, you will explore the Valley of the Kings, and Temple of Hatshepsut, and finish off your day with a stop at Colossi of Memnon.

Start off your day with a sunrise hot air balloon ride over Luxor. Honestly, there is nothing more spectacular like watching the sunrise while taking in the majestic views of the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Hatshepsut, and floating above the glittering river Nile and splendid Karnak Temple Complex.

Trust me, you will love it! You will drift peacefully through the sky, while the sun is gradually revealing the panoramic views of the world’s most important archaeological sites.

Now, make sure to check out my post: Hot Air Balloon Ride Over Luxor – A Bucket List Experience to find out how to select a balloon company and ensure that you are booked for the morning flight. Also, find out how much it costs. And, finally, read how to have the best experience and check out my pictures and see why I loved it!

Right after the sunrise hot air balloon ride, I returned to my cruise boat and my tour guide and a driver were already waiting for me to take me to the Valley of the Kings.

It took us about 15 minutes to reach the entrance to the Valley of the Kings.

Honestly, having a driver and a tour guide is the best option for visiting the Valley of the Kings. This option gives you total flexibility. You can decide how many tombs you are going to visit and which ones you might select.

By the way, the guides are not allowed inside the tombs. But, it is not the problem. My guide spent time with me before I entered each tomb. He highlighted the important facts about each of the Pharaohs and pointed out what to pay attention to. In addition, he had pictures of the inside areas of the tombs, so it made it easier for me to remember what I should pay close attention to once I entered the tomb.

What you need to know is that the Valley of the Kings is a valley nestled on the west bank of the River Nile at Luxor and for a period of nearly 500 years, from the 16th to the 11th century BC, known as the New Kingdom of Ancient Egypt, the Valley of the Kings was home to the tombs of the Pharaohs.

There are around 65 tombs that have been excavated in the Valley of the Kings so far. However, only 11 tombs in the Valley of the Kings are open to the public.

Although all the artifacts inside the tombs were looted a long time ago, you will be still amazed by the beautifully decorated walls and ceilings inside the tombs!

My recommendation is to at least visit the three tombs that are included in the general ticket: Ramses III, Ramses IV, and Tausert-Sethnakht. However, you should splurge and buy one extra ticket and visit the tomb of Seti I which, in my opinion, unquestionably, is the most spectacular tomb in the Valley of the Kings.

Next, we are heading to the Temple of Hatshepsut, also known as Djeser-Djeseru (Holy of Holies), which is a mortuary temple built by Pharaoh Hatshepsut and dedicated to herself and god Amun.

The Temple of Hatshepsut is built into a cliff face and consists of a series of terraces lined with columns that can be reached by long ramps. The temple grounds are vast and there is so much to see. However, do not miss the Southern Colonnade with the scene showing two obelisks being transported by water. These are the two obelisks that Hatshepsut had erected at the Karnak Temple.

Next, head to the Temple of Hathor, and make sure to stop at the Punt Colonnade with the scenes about the expedition spearheaded by Hatshepsut. It shows the ships that sailed to the Land of Punt and it depicts the inhabitants of the fairway land.

The final stop of the day is the Colossi of Memnon.

The Colossi of Memnon is a pair of giant statues made out of quartzite sandstone. Each statue stands about 18 meters high (65 feet) and depicts Amenhotep III, a pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty (the New Kingdom) who reigned during the 14the century BC.

Although they look as if they are standing randomly in the middle of nowhere, they actually used to guard the entrance of the first pylon of the Mortuary Temple of Amenhotep III.

The Mortuary Temple of Amenhotep III was one of the largest temples built in Egypt.

Today, you will disembark the River Nile Cruise and check into your hotel in Luxor. Next, you will visit Luxor and Karnak Temples and finish your day watching the Light and Sound Show at the Karnak Temple.

Where to stay in Luxor?

I stayed at Hilton Luxor Resort and Spa and I loved it and I am recommending it. The hotel is modern, spacious, beautifully decorated, and meticulously maintained. The hotel grounds are in pristine order.

I used the hotel spa and it was excellent. By the way, the use of spa facilities is complimentary. In addition, I had all my meals at the hotel. There were more choices for dining than I could manage to try.

Last but not least, make sure to head to the infinity pool overlooking the River Nile.

The Luxor Temple is one of the most beautiful temples located on the East Bank of the River Nile in Luxor.

Construction of the Luxor Temple was begun by one of the great builders of ancient Egypt, the Pharaoh Amenhotep III.

Pharaohs Tutankhamun, Horemheb, Merenpetah, Seti I, Ramses III, Ramses IV, Ramses VI, and even Alexander the Great incorporated many more small additions to the Temple of Luxor. However, the major expansion effort took place during the reign of another great builder of ancient Egypt, Ramses II.

The Luxor Temple was dedicated to Amon, king of the gods, his consort Mut, and their son Khons.

When visiting the Luxor Temple, you will be amazed by the magnificent Courtyard of Ramses II. The Courtyard is surrounded by a double row of papyrus columns with beautiful bud capitals. In-between the columns are impressive statues of Ramses II.

However, the Colonnade of Amenhotep III is one of the most stunning things to see at the Luxor Temple! This long long corridor is lined by 14 columns with open papyrus capitals. Hands down, it is probably one of the most impressive things to see at the Luxor Temple.

Next, we are off to see the massive Ancient Egyptian Karnak Temple Complex. From the beginnings of the 11th Dynasty, pharaoh after pharaoh rebuilt, expanded, restored, or changed the existing structures at the Temple of Karnak. Their goal was to make a mark on Egypt’s most important temple. It was a way to ensure immortality.

At the heart of the Karnak Temple Complex lies the Temple of Amun, dedicated to the king of the gods. It is surrounded by a number of smaller temples, chapels, and sanctuaries dedicated to other deities.

Moreover, there are endless halls, a sacred lake, pylons, colossi, and obelisks.

To start off, you will be amazed by the Avenue of the Criosphinxes (sphinxes with the head of a ram) which line the processional way leading to the Temple of Karnak.

For me, the highlight of the entire tour of the Temple of Karnak was the Great Hypostyle Hall. It was built by Seti I and completed by Ramses II. The hall covers an area of about 50,000 sq ft. It contains 134 gigantic stone columns with beautiful capitals.

Moreover, the center aisle is flanked by seven rows with nine columns in each row on either side. These columns stand 10 meters high.

What a great way to finish off your day with the Sound and Light Show at the Karnak Temple!

The show goes on for about an hour and a half and recounts the history of Thebes (Luxor) and covers the lives of several pharaohs who contributed to the construction of the temple complex.

However, the entrance ticket allows you to see the temple complex beautifully illuminated. And, that is why you must go! You will be amazed at how incredible the temple complex looks at night with the structures and statues lit up.

Today is the last day of the 7-day Egypt itinerary. You will check out of your hotel in Luxor and take an early flight to Cairo.

Once you are in Cairo, you will go on a tour of Islamic and Coptic Cairo. Next, you will visit the Egyptian Museum, and end the day with a stroll through Khan el-Khalili Bazaar.

Most international flights leave Cairo late at night. However, if your flight is scheduled for the next day, then my recommendation is to say at Le Méridien Cairo Airport. What I like about this hotel is that it is connected to the airport through Terminal 3. So all you have to do is take a walkway from the hotel and you will be at the airport in about 15 minutes.

I took an early flight from Luxor to Cairo. The flight was just about 1 hour long. When I landed, my tour guide was waiting for me right at the gate. He quickly escorted me to the waiting car with a driver, and we were off to explore Islamic and Coptic Cairo.

My recommendation is to start your tour of Islamic and Copic Cairo at Salah El Din Citadel. It is one of Cairo’s main landmarks situated in the heart of medieval Cairo and encompasses hilltop battlements and a bastion begun by Salah El Din in 1176 AD.

After that visit Mohamed Ali Mosque, which was constructed between 1830 and 1848 by Egypt’s first modernizing ruler, Mohamed Ali Pasha.

Next visit the oldest of Cairo’s Coptic churches: the Hanging Church, Ben Ezra Synagogue, and Church of Abu Serga.

Of all the places that I have visited on an Islamic and Coptic tour of Cairo, I have been the most impressed by the architecture of the Hanging Church.

The Hanging Church is also referred to as the Suspended Church or Al-Moallaqa. It is called the Hanging Church because it was built on the southern gate of the Roman Fortress. The wooden roof is in the shape of Noah’s ark.

Next, we are heading to the Egyptian Museum.

I have to admit that the visit to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo is simply overwhelming! The Museum houses the world’s largest collection of Pharaonic antiquities consisting of more than 120,000 items (with a representative amount on display and the remainder in storerooms). To see it all, would take you days!

However, I honestly have to say, the visit to the Egyptian Museum was the highlight of the Cairo tour.

My recommendation is to focus just on King Tut’s Rooms. The most famous item is the gold mask of the 18th-dynasty Pharaoh Tutankhamen. It was discovered by Howard Carter in 1925 in tomb KV62 in the Valley of the Kings.

One of the most amazing items in the Egyptian Museum and part of King Tut’s Rooms is the gold chest that contained four canopic jars.

Next, we are going to visit Khan el-Khalili Bazaar. Hands down, a visit to Khan el-Khalili Bazaar is an essential Cairo experience!

In a labyrinth of alleyways, you will find spice and perfume markets, antique and fabric shops, and many carpet vendors. In addition, there is a multitude of stands selling a variety of souvenirs. So, this is a perfect occasion to try your bargaining skills.

Above all, soak in the chaotic atmosphere and feel like you stepped back in time because Khan el-Khalili is one of the most historic places in the world.

The bazaar was built in 1382 by the Emir Djaharks el-Khalili, who was the Master of the Stables of Sultan Barquq (1382-1389). Djaharks el-Khalili demolished the Fatimid family mausoleum located in the heart of the city and in its place he erected a large khan (caravansary) which became known as Khan al-Khalili.

This concludes your 1-week Egypt Itinerary. However, if you have more time to spend in Cairo, then you should consider going on a day trip to Dashur!

Dahshur is a royal necropolis and it is famous for its two pyramids, which are the Bent Pyramid and the Red Pyramid. Both pyramids are one the oldest, largest and best preserved in Egypt.