Tomb of Seti I (KV17) — The Most Beautiful Tomb in the Valley of the Kings

For American travelers who want to see everything Egypt has to offer — not a highlights reel, but the full picture — the 15-day tour to Egypt from the USA is the answer. Fifteen days is the threshold at which Egypt stops feeling rushed and starts feeling understood. You have time for Cairo’s ancient sites and its Islamic medieval city. You have time for Abu Simbel — the twin temples of Ramesses II carved into a Nubian cliff, 280km south of Aswan, accessible only by flight and one of the most extraordinary ancient sites on earth. You have time for the Nile cruise to unspool at its natural pace, with unhurried mornings at Edfu and Kom Ombo. And you have four nights in Sharm El Sheikh on the Red Sea to recover, snorkel the world-class reefs, and let everything settle. At $2,499 per person with daily departures year-round, this is Egypt For Travel’s most comprehensive Egypt package from the USA.

What Makes This the Best 15-Day Egypt Tour From the USA

Most Egypt packages from the USA skip either Cairo’s full depth, Abu Simbel, or the beach recovery. This one includes all three. The 5 nights in Cairo give you time to cover the Pyramids of Giza, the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), Saqqara, Memphis, Islamic Cairo and Coptic Cairo without feeling rushed. The Nile cruise covers Philae, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Karnak, the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut Temple. An additional night in Luxor allows for the Luxor Temple at night — one of the most atmospheric experiences in Egypt — before flying to Sharm for four full-board nights on the Red Sea.

Egypt Destinations Covered

Destination	Nights	Board	Key Sites
Cairo	5	Breakfast	Pyramids · GEM · Sphinx · Saqqara · Memphis · Islamic Cairo
Aswan	1	Half Board	Philae Temple · High Dam · Abu Simbel (flight)
Nile Cruise	3	Full Board	Kom Ombo · Edfu · Karnak · Valley of Kings · Hatshepsut
Luxor	1	Half Board	Luxor Temple at night · Hot air balloon (optional)
Sharm El Sheikh	4	Full Board	Red Sea beach · Coral reef snorkelling · Ras Mohammed · St Catherine’s

How This Tour Compares to Other Egypt Packages From the USA

Feature	15 Days ($2,499)	11 Days ($1,799)	7 Nights ($1,599)
Cairo nights	5 nights	3 nights	3 nights
Abu Simbel	✓ Included	Optional add-on	Optional add-on
Nile cruise	3 nights FB	3 nights FB	3 nights FB
Luxor extra night	✓ 1 night HB	No	No
Beach destination	4 nights Sharm FB	3 nights Hurghada SAI	No beach
Islamic Cairo depth	✓ Full day	Half day	Half day
Best for	First-time & deep-dive travelers	First-time with beach	Repeat visitors

Why Egypt For Travel for Your USA-to-Egypt Package

• ✓ ETA Category A Licence No. 1947 — Egypt’s highest tourism authority licence, required to operate all private tours legally
• ✓ 100% Private — you never share a vehicle or a guide with strangers. Your Egyptologist is yours alone for the entire trip
• ✓ Daily departures year-round — no fixed departure dates, no minimum group size. You travel on your schedule
• ✓ International airfare available — we can include flights from the USA upon request. Specify when inquiring
• ✓ All languages — English, Spanish, German, French, Italian, Portuguese guides available
• ✓ Flexible itinerary — every program can be customised. Add Jordan, remove a destination, upgrade hotels: your trip, your way

Frequently Asked Questions

How many days do I need to see all of Egypt?

Fifteen days is the ideal duration to see Egypt’s essential sites without rushing: 5 days in Cairo covering the Pyramids, the GEM, Saqqara and Islamic Cairo at a comfortable pace; a 3-night Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor covering the river temples; and 4 nights on the Red Sea to recover. With 8 days you see the highlights. With 11 days you add a beach recovery. With 15 days you add depth — Abu Simbel, a Luxor evening, and the full Islamic Cairo experience — and you leave feeling you have truly understood Egypt rather than rushed through it. See our Egypt Itinerary 2026 guide for a comparison of all durations.

Is Abu Simbel worth the extra effort from Aswan?

Yes — unambiguously. Abu Simbel is the most visually dramatic ancient site in all of Egypt. The two temples of Ramesses II — carved directly into a Nubian sandstone cliff 3,200 years ago, relocated 65 metres uphill by UNESCO in the 1960s to save them from the rising waters of Lake Nasser — are routinely described by visitors as the most extraordinary thing they saw in Egypt, eclipsing even the Pyramids in impact. The temple interior’s painted reliefs are as vivid as the day they were painted. The four 20-metre seated statues of Ramesses II flanking the entrance are monumental beyond description. The early morning flight from Aswan (4:00 AM departure, back by noon) is entirely worth it. Most 8-day and 11-day Egypt packages do not include Abu Simbel. This 15-day tour does.

What is the difference between Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada for the beach extension?

Sharm El Sheikh sits on the Sinai Peninsula at the meeting point of the Gulf of Aqaba and the Gulf of Suez, with the clearest water and the most celebrated coral reefs in Egypt — visibility regularly exceeds 30 metres underwater. It also offers the unique combination of beach and sacred Sinai sites: St Catherine’s Monastery (the world’s oldest continuously operating Christian monastery, founded 565 AD) and Moses Mountain (Mount Sinai, where Moses received the Ten Commandments). Hurghada is more relaxed, more family-friendly, and easier to reach from Luxor by short flight. Both are excellent. This 15-day tour uses Sharm; our 11-day all-inclusive package uses Hurghada. Egypt For Travel can adapt either program to your preference.

What is the best time for Americans to visit Egypt?

October to April is ideal — temperatures of 18–28°C in Cairo and on the Nile, 22–26°C on the Red Sea. This covers the most popular American travel windows: US Thanksgiving (late November), Christmas, New Year, and spring break (March–April). The complete Best Time to Visit Egypt guide covers every month in detail. Summer (June–August) is hot — 38–42°C in Luxor and Aswan — but perfectly manageable with early morning starts and good planning, and prices are at their lowest.

Do I need a visa to visit Egypt from the USA?

American citizens can obtain a tourist visa on arrival at Cairo Airport for $25 USD — no advance application required. Alternatively, apply online at visa2.egypt.gov.eg for the e-visa ($25 single entry). Both are valid for 30 days. Full detail in our Egypt Visa Requirements 2026 guide. The Sinai Peninsula (Sharm El Sheikh) has a separate Sinai-only entry stamp available free of charge at Sharm Airport — however, as you are already travelling on a full Egypt visa from Cairo, no additional documentation is needed.

Embark on an unforgettable Egypt-Morocco Tour with our 14-day itinerary. Begin your journey in Cairo, where you'll marvel at the ancient wonders of the Pyramids of Giza and explore the vibrant city. Then, fly to Aswan to start your Nile Cruise vacation, visiting Philae Temple and sailing to Kom Ombo and Edfu. Continue to Luxor, where you'll explore the Valley of the Kings and Karnak Temples before flying back to Cairo. From there, fly to Casablanca to start your Moroccan adventure. Discover the bustling markets of Casablanca and the historic landmarks of Rabat before journeying to Fez and Marrakech. Explore Fez's Medina and Marrakech's iconic sites, including Menara Garden and Djemaa El Fna. Finally, return to Casablanca for your departure, concluding your Egypt Morocco Vacation.

Egypt For Travel’s 11-day all-inclusive Egypt tour from the USA is the complete Egyptian journey — ancient history, the world’s greatest river cruise, and a Red Sea beach recovery, all in one seamlessly arranged private package. It begins in Cairo with the pyramids and ends on a sun lounger in Hurghada. Everything between is one of the most concentrated sequences of extraordinary experiences available anywhere on earth. From $1,799 per person, daily departures year-round, with a licensed Egyptologist guide from the moment you land at Cairo Airport to the moment you transfer to Hurghada International Airport.

Tour Overview — At a Glance

Duration	11 Days / 10 Nights
Cairo	3 nights · Hotel · Breakfast included
Aswan	1 night · Nile-view hotel · Half board
Nile Cruise	3 nights · 5-star ship · Full board
Hurghada	3 nights · Hotel · Soft all-inclusive
Departures	Daily year-round
Guide	Licensed Egyptologist throughout — ETA Category A Licence No. 1947
Price from	$1,799 per person

12-Day Egypt Private Tour 2026 — Cairo, Nile Cruise & Sharm El Sheikh from $1,749

Egypt’s classic combination of ancient wonders and Red Sea paradise — now with the luxury of an extra beach day. Our 12-day Egypt private tour takes you from the Pyramids of Giza to a magnificent Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor, finishing with four full days of crystal-clear water, coral reefs, and total relaxation in Sharm El Sheikh. More history, more sun, more Egypt.

Every aspect is 100% private. Your own licensed Egyptologist guide. Your own private air-conditioned vehicle. Overnight sleeper train Cairo to Aswan included. Domestic flights Luxor to Sharm El Sheikh and Sharm El Sheikh to Cairo both included. 4 nights full board at your Sharm resort.

Detail	Information
Duration	12 Days / 11 Nights
Tour Type	Egypt Private Tour
Departures	Every day of the year
Guide Languages	English · Spanish · German · Portuguese
Destinations	Cairo (2 nights) · Sleeper Train · Nile Cruise Aswan–Luxor (3 nights) · Fly to Sharm (4 nights) · Fly back to Cairo
Transport	Overnight sleeper train Cairo–Aswan · Flights: Luxor–Sharm & Sharm–Cairo
Price from	$1,749 per person
Sharm board	4 nights full board at your Sharm El Sheikh resort

What You Will Experience

In Cairo (Days 1–2): Sound & Light Show at the Giza Pyramids on arrival evening. The Pyramids of Giza, the Great Sphinx, and the Valley Temple. The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) and the Egyptian Museum. Then board the overnight sleeper train to Aswan — saving a hotel night while travelling in comfort through the Egyptian night.

On the Nile (Days 3–8): Board your Nile cruise in Aswan. Visit Philae Temple, the High Dam, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Valley of the Kings, Temple of Hatshepsut, Karnak Temple, and Luxor Temple.

In Sharm El Sheikh (Days 9–12): Fly from Luxor to Sharm El Sheikh. Four days of the world’s finest snorkelling and diving in the crystal-clear waters of the Red Sea. Coral reefs, marine life, pristine beaches, and total relaxation at your full-board resort.

Perfect for: couples · families · anyone wanting to combine Egypt’s ancient wonders with the best Red Sea diving destination in the world.

The 11-day Egypt and Jordan tour is Egypt For Travel's most complete two-country itinerary — the full experience of everything both ancient civilisations offer in one seamless journey. In Egypt: the Pyramids of Giza, the Grand Egyptian Museum, and a 4-night Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan covering Karnak Temple, the Valley of the Kings, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae. In Jordan: two full days at Petra with the Siq, Treasury and Monastery, a Wadi Rum desert overnight and the Dead Sea. Eleven days. Two countries. 5,000 years of human history in one private journey.

11-Day Egypt & Jordan — At a Glance

Duration	11 Days / 10 Nights
Nile Cruise	3 nights full board — Standard: Radamis II · Deluxe: MS Mayfair
Petra	2 full days — Siq, Treasury, Monastery, Royal Tombs, Wadi Rum
Departures	Daily year-round
Standard from	$1,999 per person (triple, May–Sep)
Deluxe from	$2,449 per person (triple, May–Sep)

 

M/S Mayfair Nile Cruise 2026 — Honest Review, Itinerary & Prices from $975

Bottom line: The M/S Mayfair is Egypt For Travel’s flagship Nile cruise ship — the benchmark against which every other vessel in the fleet is measured. It was conceived as the first modern luxury Nile cruise ship and remains the only ship where every single cabin, from the most basic Deluxe to the Executive Suite, has its own private veranda or French window with balcony rail. You do not need to pay extra for a balcony on the Mayfair — it is standard in every room. That single feature, combined with award-winning service, bathtub cabins throughout, and premium bedding, makes the Mayfair the best overall Nile cruise experience available in Egypt For Travel’s fleet.

Quick Facts — M/S Mayfair
Ship Category	Ultra Deluxe 5-Star — Award-Winning Flagship
Total Cabins	72 cabins (56 Deluxe · 16 Executive Suites)
Defining Feature	Private veranda or French window in EVERY cabin — standard, not upgrade
Bathrooms	Bathtub & shower in every cabin (all categories)
Route	Luxor → Aswan (4 nights)  |  Aswan → Luxor (3 nights)
Departures	Every Monday from Luxor  ·  Every Friday from Aswan
Price from	$975 per person
Board Basis	Full board + tea & coffee tray in every cabin
Luxury Level	Ultra Deluxe — The highest standard in Egypt For Travel’s fleet
Award	Award-winning flagship — first modern luxury Nile cruise ship
Honeymooner Suitable	Exceptionally — Executive Suite with veranda is the finest honeymoon cabin on the Nile
Best For	Travelers wanting the best Nile cruise experience · honeymooners · anniversary celebrations · travelers for whom the ship experience matters as much as the temples

Is the M/S Mayfair Worth the Premium Price?

Yes — if the ship experience matters as much as the temples. Every Nile cruise ship visits the same Valley of the Kings and the same Karnak Temple. The Mayfair’s $975 price versus the King of Thebes at $599 does not buy you better temples — it buys you a fundamentally different onboard experience. Standing on your own private veranda watching the Nile and the desert cliffs pass in the early morning light while you have coffee from your in-cabin tea tray — that is a Mayfair moment that no other ship in Egypt For Travel’s fleet can match as standard. The Executive Suite adds butler-level personal service on top of this. If this is a once-in-a-lifetime Egypt trip, the Mayfair is the right investment.

Who Is the M/S Mayfair Best For?

✓ Travelers for whom the ship experience is as important as the temples. If you want to remember the Nile cruise itself — not just the sites — the Mayfair is the ship.
✓ Honeymooners wanting the most romantic Nile cruise experience available. The Executive Suite veranda at sunset is incomparable.
✓ Anniversary and special occasion travelers for whom the Nile cruise is the centrepiece of the celebration.
✓ Experienced Nile cruise travelers returning to Egypt who have done standard and mid-range ships and want the next level.
✓ Travelers who specifically want a bathtub and a private outdoor space as standard — not as an expensive upgrade.

Who Should NOT Book the M/S Mayfair?

✗ If budget is a genuine constraint, the M/S Nile Paradise at $699 offers bathtub cabins and a Master Suite with private balcony — approaching Mayfair quality at a $276 per person saving.
✗ If a gymnasium, beauty salon, Jacuzzi, or sauna are important to you, the M/S Royal Viking at $699 has all of these plus French-window balcony cabins and Jacuzzi suites at a significantly lower price.
✗ If you want Spanish-speaking Egyptologist guides, the M/S Magic 1 is the right ship regardless of budget.

Egypt For Travel Expert Assessment

“The Mayfair is the ship we recommend when a guest says: ‘I want the best.’ Not the most facilities — the best experience. The private veranda in every cabin is genuinely transformative. Watching the Egyptian desert pass from your own outdoor space as you sail south toward Aswan is a different kind of travel than sitting behind a cabin window. The Executive Suite adds a level of personal service — premium bedding, elevated in-cabin amenities, and attention from the crew — that feels genuinely like a 5-star hotel. The Mayfair earns its flagship status every departure.”
— Egypt For Travel Operations Team — ETA Category A Licence No. 1947

Cabin Categories — Deluxe vs Executive Suite

Category	Qty	Features	Best For
Deluxe Cabin	56	French window/veranda · bathtub · tea tray · all amenities	Most travelers — the veranda experience at base price
Executive Suite	16	Larger space · premium bedding · elevated personal service · veranda	Honeymooners · special occasions · anyone wanting the very best

What You Will See — Sites Visited

Luxor East Bank: Karnak Temple · Luxor Temple · Avenue of Sphinxes.

Luxor West Bank: Valley of the Kings (3 tombs) · Temple of Hatshepsut · Colossi of Memnon.

Nile Stops: Edfu Temple · Kom Ombo Temple.

Aswan: Philae Temple · Aswan High Dam ·

M/S Mayfair vs the Fleet

Ship	Price	vs Mayfair
M/S Nile Paradise	$699	$276 cheaper. UV windows, bathtubs, Master Suite balcony. No veranda standard in every cabin.
M/S Royal Viking	$699	$276 cheaper. Jacuzzi suites, sauna. French window balcony rail. No veranda in Deluxe cabins.
Steigenberger Minerva	$699	$276 cheaper. Beauty salon, gym, meeting room. No private veranda.
M/S Mayfair	$975	Private veranda in EVERY cabin as standard. Award-winning. The best.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes the M/S Mayfair the best Nile cruise ship?

The M/S Mayfair holds two distinctions that no other ship in Egypt For Travel’s fleet can claim. First, it is the only ship where every cabin — even the base Deluxe — has a private veranda or French window with balcony rail. On every other ship, a private outdoor space is either unavailable or available only in the most expensive suites. On the Mayfair it is standard. This means every guest — regardless of cabin category — can step outside and experience the Nile directly from their own private space. Second, it is the award-winning flagship that established the concept of the modern luxury Nile cruise ship. Its standards of housekeeping, food quality, and personal service set the reference point for the entire category. Combined with bathtub en-suite bathrooms in every cabin, a tea and coffee tray in every room, and 16 Executive Suites with elevated personal service — the Mayfair genuinely earns its position as the finest Nile cruise experience in this fleet.

Is the M/S Mayfair good for a honeymoon?

The M/S Mayfair is the finest honeymoon Nile cruise ship in Egypt For Travel’s fleet — and one of the best honeymoon experiences in Egypt full stop. The Executive Suite with private veranda gives honeymooners their own outdoor space on the Nile — watching the sun rise over the desert from your private terrace on the morning you arrive at Aswan is a moment that stays with a couple forever. Egypt For Travel can arrange honeymoon cabin decoration, a special welcome champagne or wine, and rose petals in the cabin on request. Contact us at booking to arrange. For the best honeymoon Egypt package combining Cairo and the Mayfair, our 8-day and 11-day honeymoon packages are available — contact us for a personalised quote.

What is the difference between the Deluxe cabin and the Executive Suite on the Mayfair?

Both the Deluxe cabin and the Executive Suite on the M/S Mayfair include: private veranda or French window with balcony rail, bathtub and shower en-suite, satellite TV with Wi-Fi, telephone, safe deposit box, tea and coffee tray, hairdryer, and individually controlled air conditioning. The Executive Suite offers additional space, premium bedding, elevated personal service from a dedicated crew team, and enhanced in-cabin furnishings and amenities. For couples who simply want the veranda experience with full comfort, the Deluxe cabin is exceptional. For travelers who want the very best of everything — including premium service attention throughout the cruise — the Executive Suite is the right choice. Contact us for current pricing on both categories.

Ready to book the Mayfair? Executive Suites book out early in peak season. WhatsApp us now to check availability. We respond within 2 hours. ETA Category A Licence No. 1947.

MS Moon Dance Nile Cruise 2026 — Honest Review, Itinerary & Prices from $639

Bottom line: The MS Moon Dance is a comprehensive 5-star Nile cruise ship offering an exceptionally wide range of wellness and leisure facilities at $639 per person. Its combination of Jacuzzi, sauna, spa, gym, beauty salon, and fitness centre — all on one ship — is rarely matched at this price point. With 60 cabins and 8 suites, a swimming pool and sun deck bar, board games, and laundry service, the Moon Dance delivers the complete Nile cruise package. Departing every Saturday from Luxor and every Wednesday from Aswan — a schedule that makes it ideal for travelers arriving in Egypt mid-week or wishing to combine the cruise with a weekend in Cairo.

Quick Facts — MS Moon Dance
Ship Category	5-Star Nile Cruise
Total Cabins	60 cabins · 8 suites
Wellness Facilities	Jacuzzi · sauna · spa · gym · fitness centre · beauty salon
Route	Luxor → Aswan (4 nights)  |  Aswan → Luxor (3 nights)
Departures	Every Saturday from Luxor  ·  Every Wednesday from Aswan
Price from	$639 per person
Board Basis	Full board (breakfast, lunch & dinner)
Best For	Wellness-focused travelers · Jacuzzi/sauna users · travelers on Saturday/Wednesday schedule · suite seekers at $639

Is the MS Moon Dance Worth It?

Yes — especially for wellness-focused travelers at this price. The Moon Dance has a broader wellness offering than most ships in Egypt For Travel’s fleet at $639: Jacuzzi, sauna, spa, gym, and fitness centre together make it the most wellness-complete ship between the budget tier and the $699+ ultra-deluxe category. The 8 suites give honeymooners and couples a genuine luxury cabin option without the Mayfair or Royal Viking price. The Saturday/Wednesday departure schedule is also unique in the fleet — making it the ideal ship for travelers arriving in Egypt on Fridays (after a Cairo weekend) or mid-week international flights.

Who Is the Moon Dance Best For?

✓ Wellness travelers who want Jacuzzi, sauna, spa, AND gym on one ship at $639.
✓ Couples wanting a luxury suite at a mid-range price with comprehensive wellness facilities.
✓ Travelers on Saturday/Wednesday arrival schedules — the most flexible departure days in the fleet for mid-week international connections.
✓ Board game enthusiasts and active travelers who want variety between temple excursions.

Who Should NOT Book the Moon Dance?

✗ If Monday/Friday departures fit your itinerary better, most other ships in the fleet depart on those days. The Moon Dance’s Saturday/Wednesday schedule is a specific advantage for mid-week travelers but a limitation for others.
✗ If Jacuzzi suite specifically (with Nile-view window) is the priority, the M/S Royal Viking at $699 has this unique feature plus room service to midnight.
✗ If a private veranda in every cabin is essential, only the M/S Mayfair at $975 delivers this.

Egypt For Travel Expert Assessment

“The Moon Dance fills an important gap in the fleet — comprehensive wellness facilities (Jacuzzi, sauna, spa, gym, beauty salon) at $639, combined with a Saturday/Wednesday schedule that many of our clients from European and American mid-week flights specifically need. The 8 suites make it a solid honeymoon option below the ultra-deluxe price tier. We recommend it consistently to wellness-focused travelers who want more than a swimming pool and a massage room.”
— Egypt For Travel Operations Team — ETA Category A Licence No. 1947

What You Will See — Sites Visited

Luxor East Bank: Karnak Temple · Luxor Temple.

Luxor West Bank: Valley of the Kings (3 tombs) · Temple of Hatshepsut · Colossi of Memnon.

Nile Stops: Edfu Temple · Kom Ombo Temple.

Aswan: Philae Temple · Aswan High Dam · Unfinished Obelisk.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the Moon Dance depart on Saturday and Wednesday instead of Monday and Friday?

The MS Moon Dance departs every Saturday from Luxor and every Wednesday from Aswan — a schedule specifically chosen to serve travelers arriving on mid-week international flights or spending the weekend in Cairo before heading south. If you arrive in Cairo on a Thursday or Friday, spend the weekend seeing the Pyramids and Egyptian Museum, and fly to Luxor on Saturday morning, the Moon Dance is the perfect ship — boarding the same day you arrive from Cairo. Similarly, a Wednesday Aswan departure suits travelers connecting from a Red Sea resort earlier in the week. Contact Egypt For Travel and we will help you build a seamless Egypt itinerary around the Moon Dance’s Saturday/Wednesday schedule.

Does the Moon Dance have a Jacuzzi and sauna?

Yes — the MS Moon Dance has both a Jacuzzi and a sauna on board, alongside a full spa, gym, fitness centre, and beauty salon. This is one of the most complete wellness packages of any ship in Egypt For Travel’s fleet at $639. The Jacuzzi, sauna, and spa combination at this price point is particularly noteworthy — most ships with all three facilities charge $699–$799. Contact us to confirm which wellness services are included in the base price and which are chargeable supplements on your specific departure.

Ready to book the Moon Dance? Saturday departures from Luxor. Our team responds within 2 hours. ???? WhatsApp us now. ETA Category A Licence No. 1947.

Embark on a captivating Tour to the East & West Bank of the Nile, where ancient wonders await your discovery. Delve into the rich history and heritage of Egypt as you explore magnificent temples, royal tombs, and awe-inspiring monuments. Witness the splendor of Luxor's Karnak and Luxor Temples, stroll through the grandeur of the Valley of the Kings, and marvel at the towering Colossi of Memnon. With expert guides leading the way, immerse yourself in the timeless allure of Egypt's most iconic landmarks on this extraordinary tour of the East & West Bank of the Nile.