How many days in Egypt? How many days do you need in Egypt in order to experience the wonders of Ancient Egypt? To be honest, it really all depends on your personal travel style and what all you want from a trip to Egypt. Of course, it also often depends on a range of other personal circumstances.
Some people might want to spend a few weeks exploring the country but they simply don’t have the time. Others may have all the time in the world, but their budgets are going to determine the length of their stay. If you have the time, and if your budget allows for it, then we would recommend spending at least 10 to 14 days in the country.
If you also want to visit an additional destination such as Dubai, Morocco, or Jordan and Israel, then you should plan for a 14 to 21 day vacation. However, if you cannot spend this amount of time traveling, you can still have an unforgettable experience in the Land of the Pharaohs.
Book Your Trip through a Tour Operator
Yes, Egypt is a popular backpacker destination. It is also a very popular destination amongst independent travelers. Nonetheless, good quality tour packages are by far the best option if you want a stress-free vacation. A reputable tour operator can ensure that you get the most out of your trip to Egypt.
Things like cultural differences, language barriers, and general unfamiliarity with things like public transport can result in a lot of unnecessary stress. It can also result in a loss of valuable time. Booking a tour package through a reputable tour operator can remove all this stress and frustration.
How Many Days to Visit Egypt?
How long you choose to spend in the country is a personal choice. However, we would recommend a minimum of three days. The number of sites you will be able to visit is going to be limited, but you will still be able to see some of the most famous ones. Of course, the longer your stay, the more places you will be able to visit.
While a 3-day stay is certainly going to limit your opportunities, a 12-day itinerary, on the other hand, will allow you to see a spectacular range of ancient monuments. In many instances, a 12-day itinerary will also include a Nile River cruise. Most good Nile cruises also include daily guided excursions to even more famous tourist attractions located on the banks of the River Nile between Aswan and Luxor.
Okay, let’s take a look at how you can make the most of your stay in Egypt, whether you only have 3 days to spare, or whether you plan on spending a week or more in the country.
3 Days in Egypt
In our opinion, if you are only able to stay in the country for 3 days, then we would recommend that you spend those three days in Cairo or Luxor. If you choose to spend your 3 days in Cairo, your best bet would be to book a two or three day Cairo tour. Depending on what sort of tour you book, a two or three day tour package will allow you to see some of the best tourist attractions in and around Cairo, including ones such as…
- The Giza Pyramids and the Sphinx
- The Step Pyramid of Pharaoh Djozer
- The Egyptian Museum
- The Muhammad Ali Mosque
- The Khan el Khalili Bazaar
If you choose to spend your three days in Luxor instead of Cairo, we would again recommend that you book a two or three day itinerary. This should include guided tours to some of the area’s top ancient Egyptian monuments, including…
- Valley of the Kings [West Bank]
- Queen Hatshepsut’s mortuary temple [West Bank]
- Colossi of Memnon [West Bank]
- Luxor Temple [East Bank]
- Karnak Temple [East Bank]
If sightseeing is not your top priority, but instead, you just want to enjoy a relaxing break by the sea, then we would recommend heading to one of Egypt’s popular resort towns like Hurghada or Sharm El Sheikh.
4 Days in Egypt
Once again, we would recommend Cairo or Luxor as the two best destinations in Egypt if you only have four days for sightseeing. This is assuming that your main priority is going to be sightseeing.
Another exceptionally good option would be 4-day/3-night Nile River cruises. These cruises run in both directions between the cities of Luxor and Aswan.
Regardless of which direction you follow during your cruise, you will get to see the same ancient monuments. In addition to the top Luxor attractions mentioned previously, you will also get to see the following ancient temple complexes:
- Temple of Horus and Sobek [Kom Ombo]
- Temple of Horus [Edfu]
- Philae Temple [Aswan]
All 4-day and 3-night cruises offered on our own site are 5-Star cruises. They include full board, along with Egyptologist-guided tours to all the attractions mentioned in our itineraries. In addition to our Nile River cruises, we also have a variety of Lake Nasser cruises. These are also 5-Star cruises with full board and daily sightseeing excursions.
With our Lake Nasser cruises you won’t see the same attractions as you would with our Nile River cruises. Instead, you will visit several other relics of Ancient Egypt that are located along the shores of one of the world’s largest manmade lakes. Most of our lake cruises also include a visit to the breathtaking Abu Simbel Temples located near the modern-day city of Abu Simbel.
The Abu Simbel Temples were constructed during the reign of Pharaoh Ramses II. They are one of Egypt’s most recognizable ancient attractions, second only to the pyramids of Giza near Cairo.
Again, if sightseeing is not your thing, and you just want a relaxing break in the sun, we would recommend that you spend your vacation at Hurghada or Sharm El Sheikh. Both of these cities have international airports. There are regular domestic flights to and from both cities. A number or airlines also offer direct flights to both cities from a number of European cities.
5 Days in Egypt
If you are planning a 5-day vacation in Egypt, you have the same options as those which we have already discussed. This means you can enjoy some fantastic sightseen in and around Cairo, and then visit one or more other destinations in Egypt, such as Alexandria, for example.
Alternatively, you could book a 5-day/4-night Nile River cruise. These are more or less identical to 4-day Nile cruises, but with a somewhat slower and more relaxing pace. Some 5-day cruise packages will also include some free time in Luxor or Aswan. This is great opportunity to shop for some last minute souvenirs or to visit an attraction like the Luxor Museum.
Once again, you could visit Hurghada or Sharm El Sheikh for a relaxing beach holiday or enjoy some world-class snorkeling and/or SCUBA diving in the Red Sea. Alternatively, you could spend your time in the Sahara Desert visiting a few different oases. Many good and well-established tour operators will also customize their tours to suite your needs, or even help you to design your own unique tour
6 Days in Egypt
Is 6 days in Egypt long enough? For some people, 6 days will be adequate, while for others, 6 days won’t give them enough time to see all the attractions they would like to see. It really depends on your travel style and what all you expect from a vacation in Egypt.
If sightseeing is your main reason for visiting Egypt and you only have 6 days to spare, you can still enjoy a spectacular travel experience. For example, when you arrive, you could use the remainder of your first day in the country to explore a bit of downtown Cairo. This is also where you will find the world-renowned Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, also known as the Egyptian Museum.
On your second day in the country, you could visit several attractions, including the famous pyramids and the Sphinx, the wonderful Muhammad Ali alabaster mosque, and the very vibrant Khan el Khalili bazaar. You could also visit a part of Cairo known as Coptic Cairo to see places like the famous Hanging Church of Cairo and the Ben Ezra Synagogue.
If you want to explore Cairo on your own, you may not be able to visit all of these places in a day. This is especially true if you are going to be using public transport. Using taxis could also work out quite expensive. With this in mind, we would recommend that you book a professional guided tour instead.
With only 4 days left, we would recommend taking the overnight train from Cairo to Aswan or Luxor. Alternatively, you could spend another night in Cairo and the fly to Aswan or Luxor in the morning. If you have booked a 4-day/3-night Nile River cruise then you will most likely be boarding your cruise in Aswan.
If you have not booked a Nile River cruise then you would be better off heading to Luxor. There is far more to see in and around Luxor than there is in Aswan. For example, you have the Valley of Kings and Hatshepsut’s mortuary temple on the West Bank, and you have Luxor Temple and Karnak Temple on the East Bank. All of these ancient sites are conveniently located only a short distance from the city center.
If you only have 6 days to spare, Dahabiya cruises would be another excellent option and one which we would definitely recommend. The shortest duration for a Dahabiya cruise between Aswan and Luxor includes 5 nights aboard the vessel. Booking one of these cruises when you only have 6 days in the country means you will have skip sightseeing in Cairo.
7 Days in Egypt
How many days do you need in Egypt? Is 7 days sufficient to see all that Egypt has to offer? No, not really, but even if you were to spend a full month in the country you still wouldn’t be able to visit all of Egypt’s ancient sites. This is why it is so important to plan your trip carefully before you visit.
The good news is that you can still enjoy a totally unforgettable holiday in the Land of the Pharaohs even if you only have seven days. However, if you only have this amount of time, you really should consider booking a professionally crafted tour package.
A good quality tour package can help to ensure that you can make the most of whatever time you have in the country. You won’t waste time at the airport waiting for transport to your hotel. You also won’t waste time waiting around for transport to the different attractions you want to visit.
A professionally crafted Egypt itinerary should run like clockwork. This means that you won’t need to worry about delays, hassles, or stress. When you arrive at the airport you are met by a tour representative and a driver and you are immediately driven to your hotel. You are picked up from your hotel ahead of any tours and you are then driven to the various attractions in air-conditioned vehicles.
If your chosen itinerary includes a Nile cruise, you will most likely fly to Aswan or Luxor for embarkation. Again, any and all necessary transport will be included in the cost of you holiday package.
With only 7 days available, you could also choose to skip any sightseeing in Cairo, and you could make your way directly to Aswan or Luxor for a Nile cruise. Most regular Nile cruises range from 3 nights to 5 nights. However, longer cruises are also available, such as the 7-day/6-night Oberoi Philae Nile cruise. This is a luxury Nile cruise. It is one of several luxury Nile cruises offered on our website.
8 Days in Egypt
Whenever possible, people should aim to spend at least 8 days in Egypt. When you have 8 days to spare, you can enjoy fantastic sightseeing in Cairo, a short 3-night Nile cruise, and even a relaxing two or three day break on the Red Sea coast. In fact, our own 8-day Nile Cruise and Stay vacations are among our most popular travel packages.
Eight day tours are neither too long nor too short. Also, because of their relatively short duration, they are also be surprisingly affordable.
While a tour package that includes a cruise on the River Nile would always be a primary recommendation for people who plan to spend 8 days in Egypt, there is no shortage of other options as well.
Egypt’s coastline is home to some of the best dive sites in the world, so SCUBA diving enthusiasts could spend a few days sightseeing, and then enjoy a few days of SCUBA diving and/or snorkeling before flying back home.
Those visitors who don’t want to spend most of their holiday sightseeing could also spend a few days enjoying various other fun activities. Quad biking and/or camel trekking in the Sahara are just two such activities. Professionally guided 4×4 desert safaris are another option to make the most out of your stay in Egypt.
No matter what your tastes are, or what your budget is, an 8-day vacation in Egypt can be a vacation you will remember forever.
9 Days in Egypt
With 9 days to enjoy in Egypt, it just keeps on getting better and better. At the time of writing, we did not have any 9-day Egypt packages offered on our site. Instead, we have 10-day packages for those travelers who feel that 8 days simply isn’t long enough. Of course, this is not to say you can’t book and enjoy a 9-day travel itinerary.
If 9 days is the perfect duration for you, then you could choose an 8-day Egypt itinerary and request that an additional day be added. This extra day could, for example, be used for a day trip to the rock-cut temples of pharaoh Ramses II at Abu Simbel. Alternatively, you could use the additional day for a day trip to Alexandra, or even to the Lost City of Petra in Jordan.
You could also utilize the extra day for a trip into the Sahara to see the charming Bahariya Oasis, where you could even spend the night. Last but not least, you could plan your own customized Egypt itinerary with the help of our easy-to-use Egypt travel planner.
10 Days in Egypt
If you have always dreamed about immersing yourself in the history of Ancient Egypt, a 10-day Egypt itinerary is a perfect means of doing just that. The best thing of all is that you can explore many of the best relics of Ancient Egypt at a leisurely pace as well.
With 10 days to spare, you can see the mighty pyramids and more in Cairo. After Cairo you can head to Aswan or Luxor for a wonderful 5-Star cruise on the River Nile. As mentioned earlier, a good cruise will see you enjoying almost daily Egyptologist-guided excursions.
During these tours you can expect to visit places like the Valley of Kings and Hatshepsut Temple on the West Bank at Luxor, and places like Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple on the East Bank. You can also look forward to visiting places like the breathtaking Philae Temple and even the Aswan High Dam.
Many of our own 10-day itineraries also include a visit to the legendary Abu Simbel temples. With some of our itineraries, visiting Abu Simbel is a part of the schedule. With other itineraries, this might instead be offered as an optional add-on tour.
All in all, visitors should be able to enjoy a fantastic experience if they are able to spend 10 days in Egypt. This is particularly true if they book a professionally designed tour package. Even if you don’t want to book a 10-day package, we would still recommend booking professionally guided tours to the various attractions you would like to see.
Having a professional Egyptologist guide with you when you visit places like the mighty pyramids of Giza and other ancient Egyptian monuments can really add a lot of value to your trip. It can give you a much greater understanding and appreciation of the country’s ancient history.
Again, if you can afford to book a Nile River cruise, it is something you should really consider doing. There really isn’t any better way to experience the magic of Ancient Egypt than by way of a Nile River cruise. You will get to see some of the best ancient sites in Luxor, such as Luxor Temple, along with the best sites in Aswan.
During your cruise, you also get to see other ancient sites such as the Twin Temples of Kom Ombo and the breathtaking Edfu Temple. Edfu Temple is Egypt’s best-preserved ancient cult temple. Some cruise itineraries will also include a visit to Esna Temple, and of course, you may also visit the Abu Simbel temples with their gigantic statues of Ramses the Great and his wife, Queen Nefertari.
12 Days in Egypt
If you are still wondering how many days in Egypt are needed for an unforgettable trip, you need look no further. Based on our own experience in the field, 12-day Egypt travel packages are among the most popular packages.
All of our 12-day tour packages include a Nile River cruise. Several also include a second destination as well, such as Dubai, Jordan, or Morocco. Our Egypt and Jordan tours are particularly popular. In fact, our Egypt, Jordan and Jerusalem Tour is one of our best-selling tour packages. This is actually a 13-day tour, but what’s one more day when you’re having so much fun?
If a 12-day tour sounds appealing to you but you only want to visit Egypt, then it would be a good idea to look for and a travel package that includes private guided tours in Cairo, a Nile River cruise, and a few day on the coast at Hurghada or Sharm. Unbelievable sightseeing and quality relaxation time are guaranteed to leave you with lifelong memories.
With 12 days to spare, there are really so many options and opportunities available. If you believe 12 days in Egypt is right for you, your best bet would be to look for a 12-day Egypt itinerary that best fits your needs. If need be, you can always request certain changes be made to the itinerary. Most reputable tour operators will be more than happy to do this for you.
Extended Egypt Tours & Egypt Multi-Country Tours
While we have only been looking at holidays of up to 12 days, there are many excellent travel packages that include more than 12 days. Two-week [14 days] package tours to Egypt are also incredibly popular. However, many of these tend to be multi-country Middle East tours, with Egypt being the primary destination.
If you believe one of these longer and more immersive tours would better suite your needs, you can see an excellent selection on our site at NileCruiseHolidays.com.
Top Must See Attractions
How many days in Egypt are needed in order to see the country’s top and most popular attractions? It really depends on how many attractions you would like to visit. You could see some of the top attractions in Cairo, Luxor, Aswan & Abu Simbel in as little as 4 or 5 days.
However, trying to see all this in such a short space of time is going to mean you will constantly be on the move. The only time you will have for relaxing will be in the evenings. It’s a matter of quality vs. quantity. Trying to cram too much into a limited amount of time is not something we would recommend.
Only you can decide which ancient monuments are the most important to you. To help you choose, here are TEN of the most popular and most visited ancient Egyptian sites:
- The Giza Pyramids & the Sphinx – the mighty pyramids not far from Cairo’s city center.
- The Egyptian Museum – located in the heart of Cairo, Egypt’s capital city.
- The Valley of Kings – located on Luxor West Bank.
- Queen Hatshepsut Temple – a mortuary temple also on the West Bank at Luxor.
- Karnak Temple Complex – the ruins of an ancient city of temples, on the East Bank at Luxor.
- Luxor Temple – located on the East Bank close to the Karnak Temple complex.
- Edfu Temple – a temple dedicated to Horus, located near the modern-day city of Edfu.
- Kom Ombo Temple – an ancient twin-temple complex located near modern-day Kom Ombo.
- Philae Temple – one of the last ancient Egyptian temples built, located near the city of Aswan.
- Temples of Abu Simbel – located near Abu Simbel, about a 4-hr drive from Aswan.
In terms of visitor numbers, the Giza Pyramids lead the pack, while the Karnak Temple complex and the Abu Simbel Temples typically share second place. The Egyptian Museum also attracts a vast number of tourists, and especially those with an interest in ancient Egyptian history.
Other very popular sites include the Step Pyramid at Saqqara, and the ruins of Memphis in what has been designated as an open air museum.
Fun Activities to Consider
- Camel Ride or Camel Trekking – camel rides and camel trekking is available in several location around the country, including at the Giza Pyramids.
- Hot Air Balloon Ride – visitors can enjoy a sunrise and/or sunset hot air balloon ride in Luxor to to enjoy breathtaking views of Luxor’s ancient tombs, temples and ruins.
- Quad Biking – quad-bike rides and adventures are available in several locations around the country, including at the Giza Pyramids.
- SCUBA Diving & Snorkeling – Egypt’s Red Sea coastline is home to numerous dive sites, some of which are considered to be among the best in the world.
- Desert Camping – desert camping is available several locations, with the most popular being the White Desert and the Black Desert.
Visa Requirements for Tourists
Apart from the citizen of a very small number of countries, everyone needs a visa to visit Egypt. The citizens of many countries are able to obtain a tourist visa on arrival at any international airport in the country, and also at certain land border crossings. They can also apply for their visas online prior to traveling to the country.
Citizens of several other countries need to apply for their Egypt visa at an Egyptian embassy or consular office prior to traveling to the country. In most cases, this process only involves filling out an application form, submitting the required documents, and paying the necessary fee. However, the citizens of some countries may also need to attend a visa interview.
If you are from a country whose citizens are required to obtain an Egypt visa prior to visiting Egypt, we would recommend that you get in touch with a local visa agent. This is especially true if you are required to attend a visa interview. We would also recommend using an agent that has experience in obtaining Egyptian tourist visas.
Egypt Visa Waiver Program
Can you visit Egypt without a visa? If so, how many days in Egypt can you enjoy without a visa? While many people may not be aware of it, it is possible for some people to visit without a visa. However, if you visit Egypt under the visa waiver program, travel in the country will be restricted.
People visiting under the visa waiver program are only allowed to travel within the Sinai region, and they can only stay in the country for a maximum of 14 days. If you wish to take advantage of the visa waiver program you will need to enter the country via Hurghada International Airport or Sharm El Sheikh International Airport.
Because you are not permitted to travel outside of the Sinai region, sightseeing opportunities are extremely limited. If you only want to enjoy a relaxing break near the sea on the Red Sea coast, and you don’t intend staying more than 14 days, then you might want to consider taking advantage of the visa waiver program.
On the other hand, if you want to visit Egypt’s famous ancient sites and/or enjoy the magic of a Nile river cruise, then the visa waiver program is of no use to you.
How Many Days Do you Need in Egypt?
If you only want to explore some ancient attractions in Cairo or Luxor, then a short three or four day Egypt itinerary should be ample. If you are will to skip sightseeing in Cairo, then you could also book a 4-day/3-night Nile River cruise. This will allow you to visit several ancient monuments even though you don’t have a lot of time to spare.
If you want to explore Cairo and go for a sightseeing cruise on the River Nile, then we believe you should plan on spending at least 7 or 8 days in Egypt, or even 10 days if your budget and schedule allow for it.
For multi-destination tours that include Egypt and another nearby destination like Jordan or Dubai, then we would recommend at least 12 to 14 days for your vacation, possibly even longer.
Start Planning a Dream Trip Today
It is never too early to begin planning your trip to Egypt. Visit us today at NileCruiseHolidays.com to check out a fantastic selection of high quality tours and cruises in the Land of the Pharaohs. All of our tour packages are fully customizable and can be tailored to meet your own exact needs.
If you don’t see the sort of travel package you are looking for on our site, you can also design you own Egypt itinerary from scratch in just 3 easy steps using our user-friendly Egypt Travel Planner.
Based on the information you provide, we will let you know how many days in Egypt you need. We will also send you a draft itinerary and price quote for you to examine.
