Egypt in 10 days: The recommended Egypt Itinerary 10 Days
- Day 1: Cairo
- Day 2: Giza Pyramids
- Day 3: Cairo
- Day 4: Alexandria
- Day 5: Aswan
- Day 6: Abu Simbel
- Day 7: Luxor
- Days 8, 9, and 10: Hurghada
Egypt Itinerary 10 Days: A route through Egypt in 10 days is perfect if we do not have much more time. We may not feel like going to much more distant destinations if we have less than two weeks, because in the end a lot of time is lost in displacements.
it works both for a honeymoon in Egypt as if we are looking for a destination to travel to Africa with children. The majesty of the Pyramids or the Valley of the Kings leaves young and old speechless and the romanticism of seeing a starry night in the desert is simply incomparable.
So I am going to propose you a 10 days tour around Egypt with my favorite things to visit. Of course, I’m going to add some beach days in the end because I always like to end the trip at the beach.
However, there is always the option to spend more time in the desert of Cairo. This destination is ideal for tailor-made trips, with different options depending on the depth with which we want to discover it.
💡 Read some Egypt Travel Tips ” Important things to know Before you Go!”
Recommended 10 Days Egypt Packages:
- 10 Classic Days Cairo, Alexandria & Nile Cruise by Flight
- 10 Days Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor, Aswan & Sharm El Sheikh
- 10 Days Cairo, Alexandria, Siwa & Nile Cruise
- 10 Days Cairo, Luxor, Aswan & Abu Simbel
Cairo, tales of the Thousand and One Nights
Cairo is one of the cities you have to visit at least once in your life. Like Marrakech or Istanbul, it is a big city full of energy and possibilities.
Cairo is the seventh most populous city globally and the most populous in Africa. It is also a city that has been inhabited since the beginning of history (albeit with other names). Memphis, the ancient capital of the Pharaohs, was not in the place where Cairo is today but a bit further south.
The city in its present location was born in 116 A.D. founded by the Romans.
So much history can be seen in places like its Old City, a must to stroll through its alleys and the incredible Egyptian Museum. The Cairo Citadel with the Muhammad Ali Mosque shows us the splendor of the ancient Islamic city, paying attention to the Coptic quarter, where these Christians, the true descendants of the ancient Egyptians, live.
Cairo is also the best city globally, with Istanbul, for shopping. For this, nothing like the Khaan El-Khalili bazaar, with more than 900 stores and restaurants. The origin of this place dates back to no less than 1398. Nor should it surprise us because I tell you that everything is history and exoticism in Cairo.
💡 What to see in Cairo: The best things to see in Cairo
The Pyramids and the Sphinx, Wonder of the Ancient World
Indeed when you think of doing a tour of Egypt in 10 days, the Pyramids is the first thing you have thought of. And no wonder. The Pyramids of Giza are, in fact, the only surprise of the ancient world still standing. It’s normal for someone to want to behold it with their own eyes.
And I will say, moreover, that they do not disappoint. Standing in front of them in the middle of the desert (although they are very close to Cairo) is a unique experience. In addition, not far away is the step pyramid of Zoser, and I recommend visiting that one too.
Here is one of the places where we can lose more or less time. We can see the three pyramids inside or enter only one. Cheops is the most impressive for their size and the one with more queues. However, Chephren and Mykerinos are pretty similar.
The sphinx is equally impressive.
So depending on the time we have, we can see only one, two, or enter all three—the same with approaching up to the Pyramid of Zoser.
Alexandria, the great Hellenistic city of the Mediterranean
One excursion you can do from Cairo is Alexandria. I wouldn’t say it’s a must-do getaway. It is interesting, but Cairo is much more so, so you decide.
Although Alexandria was, with Rome, the most important city in the world in the Classical Era, only a few remnants of that era remain. Pompey’s Column is probably the most notable remnant before the Middle Ages. Also, the archaeological collection of the National Museum of Alexandria.
And, to finish with the Hellenistic period, the Catacombs of Kom el Shofaga, from the second century A.D., are also worth a visit.
In medieval times if we find different very interesting places like the Citadel of Qaitbay, the fifteenth century. Also, the promenade along the coast is quite nice, the Mosque of Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi and the Royal Museum of Jewelry.
Finally, I was impressed by the Library of Alexandria, a building of 2002 that aims to transfer to modernity what was the great center of knowledge of classical times.
Aswan, the city of the great dam
Aswan is another must on a 10-day tour of Egypt. The city is located on the banks of the dam of the same name and is a port of destination for cruises that travel through the desert to the temples of Luxor.
In addition, you can see the unfinished obelisk in the same city. Located in the ancient quarries, explain how the Egyptians built their great monuments.
The island of Elephantine, the temple of Philae on the island Agikia, and the World Heritage Site is also worth visiting. The temple of Philae was rescued stone by stone so that it was not flooded with the construction of the dam and is spectacular.
If we have time to spare, we can see the Nubian villages or the tombs of the princes, less flashy than that of the Kings and Queens but equally interesting.
I also liked the Aswan market very much, although it is much smaller than the souks of Cairo.
Abu Simbel, tombs of the great pharaohs
In Abu Simbel, we find southern Egypt’s two most famous temples. That of Ramses II and that of his favorite wife, Nefertari. Its majesty makes it seem that they were there for millennia, but as the temple of Philae was moved stone by stone to avoid flooding by the Aswan Dam.
Also, in this area, we find the beautiful temple of Kom Ombo. In this case, it is not a temple of the earliest times but the Ptolemaic dynasty, to which Cleopatra belonged and who were of Macedonian origin, descendants of one of the generals of Alexander the Great.
Dedicated to Sobek and Horus, the visit is worthwhile.
Finally, in this area, we can not forget the temples of Edfu. This is the second-largest set of temples in Egypt after Karnak. Dedicated to Horus, it is located next to the river and the city of Edfu. It is a very well preserved temple, which gives us an idea of how these ceremonial enclosures were.
Luxor, the avenue of sphinxes
The last stop to see temples and tombs in the desert I recommend do in Luxor. In the same city, we find the Temple of Luxor directly. This city is the ancient Thebes, which was the capital of Egypt for millennia.
Between the temple of Luxor, attached to the city center, and the temple of Karnak, the largest in Egypt and the second-largest in the world after Angkor Wat, we find the Avenue of the Sphinxes. It is one of the most incredible walks I have traveled between two temples with a lot of history and millennia behind them.
In the vicinity of Luxor, we also find the Valley of the Kings, with attractions such as the tomb of Tutankhamun. In the area, there is also the Valley of the Queens, and this place is undoubtedly the best place to see different ancient temples.
💡 Things To Do In Luxor: Top Luxor Attractions
Hurghada, the paradisiacal beaches of the Red Sea
In my tips for traveling to Egypt, I have already recommended you to combine the archaeological visits with the beach. After so many temples and tombs, you feel you deserve to spend a day or two doing nothing.
After the heat of the desert, taking a dip in the waters of the Red Sea is a real treat. And if you miss the activity, the diving and snorkeling are incredible. There are all kinds of fish and coral reefs to see here.
It looks like the icing on the cake with plenty of top vacation resorts to me—a well-deserved end to an adventure through one of history’s great empires.
When to travel to Egypt?
The best time to travel to Egypt is autumn and spring. Egypt is a place you can go to at any time. However, during the summer, the desert can be pretty harsh. While Alexandria or the Red Sea will have a pleasant temperature, we can have more than 40 degrees in Abu Simbel or the Valley of the Kings.
In winter, the cold also reaches the desert, so spring, the highest season, or autumn, the lowest season, is the best time to make this trip.
I hope it has been helpful for you. You already know that I can organize the 10-day tour of Egypt wholly tailored to your needs, adding or removing things as you prefer.
