Family-Friendly 8-Days in Egypt Itinerary in Luxor and Cairo

An amazing eight-day tour covering two of Egypt’s most famous areas, Cairo & Luxor. This gives plenty of time to explore the many wonders of Ancient Pharaonic Egypt including the Old Kingdom’s pyramid complexes near Cairo and New Kingdom temples and tombs in Luxor.

With a one-hour flight between Cairo and Luxor it makes this a stress-free trip for little ones. This trip includes visiting some incredible historic monuments but also interactive museums, traditional felucca boats, hot air balloon rides above the Nile and midday swimming sessions in your hotel’s pool. Take a look at the detailed itinerary below to see how you can create a once in a lifetime 8-day Egyptian family holiday.

Day 1 – Arrive in Cairo

You’ll arrive at Cairo International Airport and transfer into your hotel overlooking the Nile River.

Relax

After check-in spend some time relaxing in your hotel either in the morning or afternoon to help little ones settle after travelling across the globe. Let them get used to the local climate and have a taste of some fresh Egyptian flatbreads, hummus and grilled skewers.

Evening

Head to an amazing viewing point in the late afternoon overlooking the Giza Plateau. Your children will be thrilled seeing the impressive Great Pyramids of Khufu, Khafre & Menkaure against the beautiful golden backdrop of the desert. Finish the evening with an evening meal in your rooftop restaurant overlooking the glowing pyramids.

Day 2 – Great Pyramids of Giza, Sphinx and Felucca Boat Ride

This day will include lots of opportunities to explore the iconic monuments of the Old Kingdom.

Pyramids and Camel Ride in the Desert

Start your day early to beat the heat. Head into the archaeological site of Giza. Have your children amazed by just how large the huge limestone blocks are to construct the Great Pyramids and if you’re lucky, some family members may want to pay to enter the ancient passage way. Take a short guided camel (or horse-drawn carriage ride) across the sandy plateau to give your child an authentic and memorable desert experience.

Sphinx and Lunch

Head to the bottom of the Great Sphinx. Your children will love learning about the fascinating legends of this mythical lion-like guardian statue which was carved out of a single limestone ridge. Have a relaxing lunch in your local restaurant overlooking the plateau with some warm flatbreads and mild dips.

Felucca Boat Ride

After relaxing in the warm afternoon by your hotel pool head down to the river banks. As the sun sets, you’ll board a traditional wooden felucca boat. With the gentle wind, you’ll glide across the Nile. Sit back, relax and enjoy some traditional music whilst watching the Cairo skyline glow.

Day 3 – Saqqara Pyramids, Medieval Markets and Fly to Luxor

This day will include a look at how the pyramids started and a quick domestic transfer to Upper Egypt.

Step Pyramid of Djoser

Drive short distance to the ancient necropolis of Memphis. This is where you’ll find the Step Pyramid of Djoser. Designed by architect Imhotep, it is the first monumental stone structure in the world! Explore the surrounding stone courtyards and head down into the noble tombs. These have amazing brightly coloured low-relief carvings of ancient scenes, farming animals and fishing.

Medieval Cairo and Fly to Luxor

Head back to Cairo in the afternoon to explore the bustling medieval market of Khan el-Khalili. Explore the winding alleyways with glowing stained glass lamps, aromatic spices and copper crafts. Have a refreshing drink of mint tea or hibiscus juice (karkadeh) before transferring back to Cairo International Airport. You’ll take a short 1-hour flight down to Luxor. A private driver will then take you to your hotel overlooking the river on the East Bank.

Day 4 – West Bank – Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut

Wake up in Upper Egypt and head across the river in the morning to explore the West Bank.

Valley of the Kings

Have some fun with your little ones by taking the small open-top electric train from the visitor centre to the entrance of the tombs. Walk down the beautifully painted passageways to the stone sarcophagi. Your children will be blown away by how well-preserved these ancient tombs are. The beautiful brightly coloured blue, yellow & red scenes show us how they would have looked in ancient times. They have stunning images of stars, protective gods and ancient spells from the Book of the Dead.

Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut and Colossi of Memnon

Visit the impressive Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut in Deir el-Bahari. This stunning three-storey temple has been carved directly into the limestone cliffs. It honours one of Ancient Egypt’s most famous female pharaohs. Your children will learn how Hatshepsut became a queen, this is shown in the reliefs on the walls as she wears royal attire. Whilst heading back to the river you’ll stop by the impressive Colossi of Memnon. These are two eighteen metre tall statues of Amenhotep III.

Felucca Boat Ride

In the late afternoon board a traditional wooden felucca boat. With the warm afternoon breeze you’ll glide up the river to Banana Island (Geziret el-Moz). Walk through the shady banana trees and have a taste of some sweet fresh bananas. Watch the peaceful sunset over the Nile before heading back, this time under the stars.

Day 5 – Artisan’s Tombs, Medinet Habu and Luxor Temple at Sunset

This day will include a look at the human side of ancient Egypt and some impressive temples.

Deir el-Medina

Head to Deir el-Medina in the morning. This is where the artisans, stonemasons & painters lived who built the royal tombs. Explore the underground tombs such as Tomb of Sennedjem. These have brightly coloured happy scenes of farming, family gardens and pets. Often children enjoy these more than the royal tombs.

Medinet Habu

Head to Medinet Habu, the large mortuary temple of Ramesses III. This is famous for the deep carvings on the walls which have kept their original colours. It has tall stone walls and strong towers giving you the feeling of a medieval castle.

Luxor Temple at Sunset

Head back to the East Bank in the late afternoon to visit Luxor Temple. As the sun sets the temple will be lit up with warm spotlights. The papyrus shaped columns tower above and there are impressive seated statues of Ramesses II. Your children can walk along the Avenue of Sphinxes to imagine how the royals would have paraded through here thousands of years ago.

Day 6 – Hot Air Balloon Ride, Karnak Temple and Sound & Light Show

This day will include some early morning excitement, the biggest religious temple complex ever built and an amazing light show.

Hot Air Balloon Ride at Sunrise

Have an unforgettable experience as some brave family members and older children take a hot air balloon ride at sunrise. As the sun rises over the Eastern Desert you’ll float peacefully across the Nile River, sugarcane fields and glowing monuments on the West Bank. You’ll get an amazing birds eye view of the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut Temple.

Great Hypostyle Hall – Karnak Temple

After breakfast and a short break head to the huge Karnak Temple Complex on the East Bank. This temple was mainly dedicated to the god Amun-Ra and was the main state temple of the New Kingdom. Your children will be amazed walking through the Great Hypostyle Hall which looks like a forest of 134 huge sandstone columns. These columns have beautifully deep carvings of hieroglyphics. You can visit the sacred scarab beetle statue near the Sacred Lake. Local legend says if you walk around the statue three times you’ll be lucky!

Sound & Light Show

Head back to Karnak in the evening for the spectacular Sound & Light Show. As you walk through the glowing temple you’ll hear amazing stories of the pharaohs and ancient gods as you walk under the stars. This is a great way to give your children a visual recap of some of Egypt’s history.

Day 7 – Day Trip to Temple of Dendera (Sanctuary of Hathor)

Today you’ll have a comfortable private day trip north to visit one of the best-preserved temples in all of Egypt.

Temple of Hathor

After a two-hour scenic drive along the Nile you’ll arrive at Dendera. Both your children and parents will be amazed by this huge complex. It was built during the later Ptolemaic and Roman periods. The main temple is famous for having huge hypostyle columns with 24 huge columns at the top with the head of Hathor (goddess of music, joy & love). Unlike most ancient ruins, Dendera has a fully preserved stone roof so you can walk inside the beautiful halls.

Beautiful Ceiling and Underground Crypts

Whilst inside the temple you’ll be able to look up at the beautifully restored ceilings. These show stunning astronomical scenes, constellations and the goddess of the sky, Nut. Your children will enjoy exploring the narrow underground crypts in the thick foundations. They’ll also enjoy climbing up the stone stairs on the roof which were used by ancient priests during the New Year celebrations. Return to Luxor in the late afternoon for a relaxing evening.

Day 8 – Luxor Museum, Local Souk and Farewell

Today you can finish your Egyptian adventure by visiting some world class museums and buying some souvenirs.

Luxor Museum and Mummification Museum

Head to the luxurious Luxor Museum in the morning. This is widely regarded as one of the best and most thoughtfully displayed museums in Egypt. There are beautifully lit statues found in local temple caches, ancient weapons and golden artefacts. Next have a short visit to the nearby Mummification Museum. Your children will love seeing the amazing tools, natural resins, animal mummies and sacred rituals used by ancient embalmers to give them physical immortality.

Local Souk and Farewell

Before leaving you’ll visit the covered market (souk) in Luxor. Your children can practise their polite haggling skills to buy some personalised souvenirs. These could include stone scarab beetles, hand-carved alabaster vases, small papyrus paintings and silver cartouche necklaces with their name written in hieroglyphics.

Your 8-day Luxor & Cairo adventure will finish with a celebratory lunch overlooking the Nile. You’ll then transfer back to Luxor International Airport (or back to Cairo for any international connecting flights). You’ll leave with amazing family memories of the pyramids, pharaohs, underground tombs and peaceful river rides.