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Great Egypt Itineraries: How Many Days to Spend?

Sunset panorama of the Great Pyramids of Giza, Egypt
Smooth, Seamless, and Truly Exceptional A 10/10 Egypt Experience
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How many days to spend in Egypt?

The Nile is the longest river in the world.
Enjoy a tranquil cruise along the Nile and explore the unique tombs and pyramids
Ancient ruins of Karnak temple in Egypt
Discover the ruins of Karnak and explore the Valley of the Kings

Regardless of how long you spend in Egypt, you still have the chance to experience the best of the country. A quick, four or five-day window to explore Egypt allows you to cover the mesmerizing cities of Cairo, Alexandria, and Aswan without tiring yourself out.

With about a week to spare, you can cast your net further afield and add destinations like Saqqara to your Egypt itinerary. Give yourself more than a week if you want to cruise down the River Nile from Aswan to Luxor, discover the ruins of Karnak and explore the Valley of the Kings. For a well-rounded overview of the country that brings you face to face with almost all its major highlights, we recommend a ten-day trip.

Alexandria is a Mediterranean port city in Egypt.
Walk along the Stanley bridge and enjoy the open sea view in Alexandria
Cairo is the capital of Egypt.
Cairo is known to have some of the oldest and most beautiful mosques in the world

Although five days might not sound like much, the duration is enough to cover Egypt’s major attractions. No trip to the country is complete without spending at least a day in Cairo. Browsing through the collection of the famous Museum of Egyptian Antiquities is a must while in the city, so is a stroll down the historic Tahrir Square, located at the heart of this sprawling metropolis.

There is no way you could miss out on the pyramids of Giza while in the capital. Up next on your itinerary should be Alexandria, a glittering jewel of the Mediterranean that is home to the Library of Alexandria and the towering Pharos Lighthouse among other attractions.

If you are wondering how long to stay in Egypt for a quick overview, we recommend 5 days in Egypt. For more inspiration, check out our list of 5-day tours in Egypt.

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Luxor Temple Egypt
Dedicate an entire day to discovering Luxor, whose ruins and monuments preserve eons of history
Mortuary Temple Of Hatshepsut, Egypt
Walk up the massive ochre terraces leading to the Temple of Hatshepsut, a masterpiece of ancient architecture

You might want to add one or two more destinations to our five-day Egypt itinerary and make it a week-long affair. Add Saqqara to your itinerary while in the capital city. Often overshadowed by their brethren in Giza, the pyramids of Saqqara are nevertheless a sight to behold. While there, do not forget to see the Pyramid of Djoser.

Next, fly from Cairo to Aswan and take an express train up to Luxor. The journey itself is just a four-hour affair maximum. However, you can alight at Kom Ombo and Edfu stations to explore these places thoroughly and make the most of your trip. Dedicate an entire day to discovering Luxor, whose ruins and monuments preserve eons of history. Walk up the massive ochre terraces leading to the Temple of Hatshepsut, a masterpiece of ancient architecture, and travel back in time in the Valley of the Kings.

Check out our guideline on spending one week in Egypt for more information. Browse through our 7-day Egypt holidays for tour options that are ready to be booked.

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Ships in Aswan, Egypt
Spend a day exploring Aswan
Statues in front of Abu Simbel temple in Aswan Egypt
Abu Simbel, a complex consisting of rock-cut temples

 A ten-day Egypt tour could simply be an expansion of the seven-day itinerary above. Set aside two more days to explore Cairo and tick Memphis and Dehshur off your bucket list. A visit to Khan el-Khalili bazaar is a must during your stay in the capital. Take a stroll down the lanes of Coptic Cairo and see its Hanging Church, which has been around since the third century AD, as well as the Greek Church of Saint George and the Babylon Fortress.

Spend a day exploring Aswan and dedicate the next day to Philae and Abu Simbel. The latter, a complex consisting of rock-cut temples, has been in existence for over three millennia now. You can then drive down to Luxor, a city that was once the capital of Egypt and the center for the worship of the god Amun.

Go through our guide on 10 days in Egypt for more information. You can also browse through our list of 10-day Egypt tours for inspiration and ideas.

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Entrance in the national park Ras Mohammed, Egypt
Ras Muhammad National Park, a haven for nature lovers located across the Gulf of Suez
View of Alexandria harbor
Alexandria has a history that goes back to the time of Alexander the Great

Kick-off your two-week Egypt tour from Alexandria, whose history goes back to the time of Alexander the Great. Gaze at the Mediterranean from the city’s waterfront Corniche, formally called the 26 of July Road, and take in all the attractions that this place has to offer. Head south from Alexandria to Hurghada for some me-time on the beach. Sail to the Giftun Islands known for their swathes of powder sands and go offroad driving through the acacia-studded wadis that make up the Eastern Desert.

Ras Muhammad National Park, a haven for nature lovers located across the Gulf of Suez from Hurghada, is a must if you are a nature lover. Those that prefer scuba diving will be hard pressed to find a location better than Elphinstone Reef, whose coral-studded seascape is considered by many to be the best scuba diving location in Egypt.

From there you can continue to Cairo and carry out your onward journey to Aswan and Luxor as per the ten-day itinerary. For more ideas and inspiration, check out our 14-day Egypt tours listing. For an in-depth guide, go through 2 weeks in Egypt.

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Planning a trip to Egypt?

The answer to how many days you should spend in Egypt will highly depend on the activities and destinations you would like to cover. The duration of your Egypt itinerary is also dictated largely by your budget. For an insightful, professional guidance on duration related questions or a customized trip to Egypt, contact our travel experts. If you would like to book a package trip or join a group, check out our tours in Egypt.

More information:
Best time to visit Egypt
4-day Egypt tours
6-day Egypt tours
8-day Egypt tours
9-day Egypt tours
12-day Egypt tours

Plan a trip to EgyptWe offer different tour types. You can also chat with a local travel specialist if you want a customized tour to Egypt.
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