Egypt Discovery

Egypt Holidays · Style

Nile Cruise and Red Sea Holidays

Temples first, then the reef: a Nile cruise paired with the Red Sea is the holiday that sends you home rested rather than footsore. You sail the Luxor–Aswan stretch for the great temples, then cross by road or a short flight to Hurghada or Marsa Alam for three or four nights on the coast – snorkelling and diving on some of the clearest reef in the world, or simply the beach. It is the natural shape for travellers who want the history without giving the whole holiday to early starts and temple steps. We hold the cruise, the resort and the transfer between them as one booking, and the coast end can be as active or as quiet as you like.

2 matching holidays

The shape

What is a nile cruise and red sea Egypt holiday?

A Nile cruise and Red Sea holiday combines a three- or four-night Luxor–Aswan cruise with three to five nights on the Red Sea coast at Hurghada or Marsa Alam. The two are linked by a four-hour road transfer from Luxor or a short connecting flight. It is the temples-then-beach itinerary: the ancient sites at a measured pace, then the reef to finish, usually nine or ten days in total.

The river, then the coast

How the temples-then-reef holiday runs

  1. Days 1–4Nile cruiseA four-day Luxor–Aswan sailing: Karnak and the West Bank at Luxor, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae on the way south.
  2. Day 5To the coastDisembark at Luxor and transfer to Hurghada by road (about four hours) or a short connecting flight to Marsa Alam.
  3. Days 6–8Red SeaReef days at leisure: snorkelling and diving off Hurghada or Marsa Alam, a desert excursion, or simply the beach.
  4. Day 9Fly homeTransfer to Hurghada airport for the flight home, direct or via Cairo.

The reef end is yours to set: a PADI course, a dolphin-house snorkelling day, or nothing but a lounger and the sea.

  1. 8-day Nile Cruise from Hurghada to Luxor & Aswan – 7 nights on boardBudget

    8-day Nile Cruise from Hurghada to Luxor & Aswan – 7 nights on board

    Hurghada

    We operate this 8-day itinerary from Hurghada to Luxor and Aswan as a licensed Egyptian Destination Management Company (licensed by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism – ETAA). You spend 7 nights on a comfortable Nile cruise with full-board dining and daily guided shore excursions led by our certified Egyptologists. Transfers Hurghada ⇄ Luxor (embark and disembark) and all cruise transfers are included, and we run the full-day Abu Simbel excursion from Aswan by private road transfer. This package includes standard archaeological site entrance fees (the Valley of the Kings ticket included here covers entrance to three tombs). Small-group or private options and a la carte upgrades (for example, a private cabin, premium tomb entrances, or domestic flights) are available on request – we tailor the trip to your preferences and advise on timing, modest dress requirements, and practical trade-offs such as early starts or walking on uneven ancient stone.

    From £1,1958 Days
  2. 13-day Alexandria, Cairo, Aswan–Luxor Nile cruise and Hurghada holidayBudget

    13-day Alexandria, Cairo, Aswan–Luxor Nile cruise and Hurghada holiday

    Nile (cruise route)

    A 13-day guided holiday combining Alexandria, Cairo, a three-night Nile cruise between Aswan and Luxor, and a Red Sea break in Hurghada. We arrange domestic flights, private transfers and a dedicated Egyptologist throughout. This itinerary suits travellers who want museum and city sightseeing in Cairo and Alexandria followed by the paced sightseeing a short Nile cruise affords, then four nights for snorkeling and beach time in Hurghada. As a licensed Egyptian tour operator, we book the hotels and cruise with local suppliers and manage timings so you move comfortably between cities.

    From £1,90513 Days

Practical questions

What clients ask about this style of holiday.

  1. 01How do I get from the Nile cruise to the Red Sea?

    From Luxor it is about a four-hour road transfer to Hurghada, which we run in a private air-conditioned vehicle. For Marsa Alam, a short connecting flight is the easier option. Both are included and arranged around your cruise disembarkation so there is no waiting.

  2. 02Is Hurghada or Marsa Alam better after a Nile cruise?

    Hurghada is the quicker link from Luxor by road and has the widest choice of hotels and dive centres. Marsa Alam is further south, quieter, and has the better house reefs and the Dolphin House snorkelling sites. We match the resort to whether you want easy access or the best reef.

  3. 03How many nights should I spend on the Red Sea?

    Three nights is enough to unwind and get a couple of reef days in; four or five suits divers or anyone wanting a proper beach stay. The cruise stays at four nights either way, so the coast end is where you add or trim days.

  4. 04Can I dive or snorkel straight after the cruise?

    Yes. The reefs off Hurghada and Marsa Alam suit complete beginners and certified divers alike. We can book a guided snorkelling day, a try-dive, or a full PADI course at the resort. Note the standard 18- to 24-hour gap between your last dive and a flight home – we build the schedule around it.

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From the Cairo desk

Found the shape. Now make it yours.

Every Egypt holiday we sell is tailor-made – your dates, your party, your pace. Send a short brief or talk to the Cairo desk direct. Replies inside one working day.

Send a tailor-made briefTalk to the Cairo desk

– Suhaila & the Cairo team · 38 years · 6 offices · IATA #90255546