15 Days in Egypt - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas

Itinerary #1: Ultimate Egypt: Cairo, Nile River Cruise & the Red Sea

This classic Egypt itinerary is perfect for travelers wanting a blend of history, culture, and adventure. First-time travelers to the country will enjoy a comprehensive introduction to Egypt, starting with exploring the bustling city of Cairo, a cruise down the Nile, beach time on the Red Sea, and hiking to the summit of Mount Sinai. You'll check off Egypt's iconic sights, from discovering the pyramids of Giza on a camel to marveling at King Tut's treasure in the Egyptian Museum and relaxing in Sharm el-Sheikh. 

Your adventure begins in Cairo, the capital of Egypt. Here, you'll explore the pyramids of Giza by camel, the ancient necropolis of Saqqara, and the ancient capital of Memphis. An Egyptologist will guide you through the Egyptian Museum and Coptic Cairo before an evening folk music and dance show. Tour Islamic Cairo's Alabaster Mosque the following day. Then, fly to Aswan to see the UNESCO-listed Abu Simbel before setting sail on a Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor, making several stops to wander riverside temples such as the Temple of Kom Ombo and Edfu. In Luxor, explore the Karnak and Luxor temples.

Marvel at the sunrise over Luxor from a hot-air balloon on Day 9 before disembarking your boat and touring the iconic Valley of the Kings before flying to Sharm el-Sheikh for four nights, a resort town known for its beautiful beaches and offshore coral reefs. You'll wander Red Sea beaches, trek up Mount Sinai for an overnight adventure, take snorkeling trips to White Island and Ras Mohamed National Park, sail on the Red Sea, and ride a camel to a Bedouin camp deep in the desert before stargazing with an astronomy guide. After a dinner cruise on the Nile, return to Cairo to visit Al-Manial Palace and Museum for further insights into Egyptian culture. Learn more

Itinerary #2: Egypt's Highlights & Hidden Corners: Cities, Oases, Nile Cruise & Red Sea

Swap out Sharm el-Sheikh for Siwa and Hurghada on this alternate highlights and hidden corners itinerary, where you'll explore bustling cities and ancient temples to serene oases and coastal towns. Experience the rich history of Cairo, Alexandria, and Luxor, discover the tranquil beauty of the Siwa Oasis, enjoy a cruise along the Nile, snorkel the Giftun Islands, and wrap up with a sunset desert safari in Hurghada. Highlights include visiting the Giza Pyramid complex, a dip in the Cleopatra Spring, and a mesmerizing Egyptian dance show.

With four days in Cairo, you'll venture to Gezira Island in the Nile River to take in a sunset from Cairo Tower, visit the Giza Plateau's Giza pyramid complex, enjoy a day trip to Alexandria to see Pompey's Pillar and the Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa, and tour Cairo's National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC), its Citadel stronghold, and the pedestrian-only Al-Muizz Street. Then, on Day 5, it's time to set out west for the Siwa Oasis in the Western Desert, stopping at El-Alamein Military Museum and the coastal town of Marsa Matrouh for lunch. Day 6 sees you exploring Siwa and its springs, museums, a fortress, and dunes before spending the night in a Bedouin camp.

You'll return to Cairo for a food and walking tour, then fly south to Aswan to board your three-night Nile cruise. Take a boat to Philae Temple, dedicated to the Egyptian goddess of love and magic, and then cruise to Edfu temple via the Temple of Kom Ombo. You'll visit the East Bank of Luxor Temples with an Egyptologist and explore the Valley of the Kings and the complex of mortuary temples, Deir el-Bahari. On Day 11, head to Hurghada on the Red Sea, where you'll snorkel around the Giftun Islands to look for tropical fish and dolphins and go on a sunset desert safari trip by quad bike. Return to Cairo for a dinner cruise before your departure. Learn more

Itinerary #3: Adventurous Egypt: City, Desert, River & Coast

On this active adventure, you'll cover Egypt's traditional highlights, from the bustling streets of Cairo and the Giza pyramids to a Nile River cruise from Luxor to Aswan. You'll also enjoy a day wandering the "Rose City" of Petra, Jordan. Embrace the wilds of the Black and White deserts with an overnight camping experience and discover the underwater wonderland of the Red Sea with snorkeling tours to the Blue Hole, Ras Abu Gallum, and Blue Lagoon.

You'll start in Cairo to check out the highlights before climbing aboard your camel on Day 2 to ride in the shadow of the pyramids of Giza, followed by touring the Egyptian Museum and Coptic Cairo's Fortress of Babylon. Then, fly south to Luxor and board a Nile River cruise, touring the decorated pillars of Karnak temple and the Avenue of the Sphinxes before setting sail. Catch a Luxor sunrise from a hot-air balloon on Day 4 and board your cruise once more, stopping en route to visit the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Horus in Edfu, and the Temple of Kom Ombo in Aswan. Here, sail on a felucca for panoramic views of Elephantine Island, then return to Cairo.

After gazing upon the Alexandria Library's many books on a day trip, you'll transfer southwest to the Bahariya Oasis for a night. You'll set out with a guide to explore the rock formations of the Black Desert, where you'll climb Gebel al-Ingleez (English Mountain) and swim in a cold spring before seeing the otherworldly dunes and limestone rock formations of the White Desert and camping beneath the desert stars. On Day 11 (from Cairo), you'll fly east to the resort town of Dahab on the Red Sea to ferry to Petra, Jordan, and snorkel to the Blue Hole, Ras Abu Gallum, and the Blue Lagoon. Learn more

Itinerary #4: Highlights of Egypt & Jordan: Cairo, Nile Cruise, Hurghada, Wadi Rum, Petra, Amman & the Dead Sea

This fast-paced itinerary of Egypt and Jordan offers a mix of activities, from exploring ancient cities and temples in Cairo, Aswan, and Petra to cruising down the Nile, snorkeling in the Red Sea, and embarking on a desert safari in Wadi Rum. You'll have cultural experiences like watching a traditional Egyptian folk performance, sailing to Aswan's landmarks aboard a traditional wooden sailboat, and brushing up on ancient history with a cruise down the Nile to explore the Valley of the Kings and tours of Coptic and Islamic Cairo.

In the bustling capital of Cairo, you'll attend a traditional tanoura folk dance performance at Wekalet El Ghoury. The following day, explore the Egyptian Museum's artifacts and Old Cairo's churches and mosques before a Nile cruise in Aswan. For three days, cruise to landmarks in Aswan, like the Aga Khan Mausoleum and the temples of Abu Simbel, Kom Ombo, and Edfu. Discover Luxor's East Bank and Valley of the Kings and transfer to Hurghada on the Red Sea. After a day of snorkeling around the Giftun Islands, tour the desert via Jeep and camel and visit a Bedouin village before beach time in Hurghada.

Fly to Cairo and tour its Islamic section, including the 12th-century Cairo Citadel and Prince Mohamed Ali Palace. The next day, fly to Amman, Jordan, and take a Jeep tour amid Wadi Rum's dunes. Then, spend the day discovering the ancient city of Petra and its Monastery and Royal Tombs. Drive to Amman via the King's Highway, stopping at castles and Madaba, the "City of Mosaics." Take a guided tour of Amman, starting at the Amman Citadel, then transfer to your hotel near the Dead Sea, where you'll enjoy floating in its salty waters on your final full day ahead of returning to Amman the next day for your departure. Learn more

Itinerary #5: Egypt & Morocco Highlights: Cairo, Nile River, Fes, Marrakesh & More

This multicountry trip of Egypt and Morocco takes you through Egypt's ancient landscapes, cruising the Nile, discovering the Giza pyramid complex, and exploring the bustling city of Cairo. Then, fly to Morocco for a visit to the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, a culinary tour of Fes, a visit to the Agafay Desert, and a full-day tour of Marrakesh. With hot-air balloon rides, historical tours, and plenty of local cuisine, this itinerary is perfect for travelers wanting to see the best of these two countries at a fast pace.

In Egypt's capital, Cairo, you'll learn about Egyptian religious history at sites like the Coptic Museum before heading to the Giza Plateau to see the three main pyramids and the Great Sphinx. Fly to Luxor on Day 3 to board a Nile Cruise and tour historical sites like Luxor Temple, once connected to Karnak by the Avenue of Sphinxes. As you cruise, explore the UNESCO-listed Valley of the Kings, stopping to admire the hieroglyphics at the temples of Edfu and Kom Ombo. Disembark in Aswan and see the Aswan Botanical Garden before enjoying Cairo's museums and historic neighborhoods and flying to Morocco on Day 8.

In Casablanca, admire the beautiful Hassan II Mosque that overlooks the Atlantic. Afterward, head to Fes el-Bali, Fes' medieval medina, for your food and walking tour through three different souks and tour the Bab Boujloud gate, ancient buildings, and the historic Jewish quarter the next day. Continue south to the Agafay Desert via historic Meknes, where you'll spend a night in a desert camp before heading to the red city of Marrakesh to wander through buzzy Jemaa el-Fna Square. After a full-day tour of Marrakesh's medina, mosques, and museums, thrill to a hot-air balloon ride followed by a respite in Jardin Majorelle before catching your onward flight. Learn more

More Great 15-Day Egypt Itineraries

Looking for more inspiration for your trip to Egypt? Check out these other 15-day Egypt itineraries, with outdoor adventures, cultural trips, and best-of tours to hit the highlights.