Family-Friendly 10-Days in Egypt Itinerary in Luxor and Cairo

This is the ultimate Egyptian family holiday with a combination of Cairo and Luxor over 10 days. The 10 days allow for a perfect balance between exploring ancient history and keeping things moving for families. You will have plenty of time to discover ancient Old Kingdom sites close to Cairo and New Kingdom temples and tombs in Upper Egypt. The transfer between Luxor and Cairo can be done in just 1 hour by internal flight meaning you have plenty of time to do lots of day trips including Dendera, hot air balloon rides, live history experiences and felucca rides. With plenty of time to relax during the day by swimming in the pool.

Day 1 – Arrival in Cairo

Your family adventure begins with your arrival at Cairo International Airport. Your private transport will then take you to a hotel with amazing views of the Nile River or close to the Giza Plateau.
A. Rest and Adjust
Once checked in you will have a lazy afternoon at your hotel to get yourself adjusted to the new environment and climate. Enjoy some fresh Egyptian bread, hummus and grilled skewers. The children can then get settled in their rooms and enjoy a swim in the hotel pool.
B. Giza Plateau Sunset
As it gets towards the end of the day you will head out to enjoy some incredible views of the Giza Plateau. Watching the Great Pyramids of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure against the beautiful golden desert sunset will leave you all in awe. To finish off your day you will enjoy a welcome meal in a rooftop restaurant with views of the illuminated pyramids.

Day 2 – Explore the Pyramids of Giza, Great Sphinx & Felucca Ride on the Nile

Today you will explore the iconic landmarks of the Old Kingdom.
A. Great Pyramids & Camel Ride
You will start your day early to make the most of the cooler mornings. Enter the Giza Archaeological Zone. The children can enjoy seeing just how big the huge limestone blocks are that make up the Great Pyramids. If you want to go inside one of the ancient stone passages you can purchase tickets. The kids will also enjoy a short camel or horse carriage ride across the sandy plateau.
B. Great Sphinx & Lunch with Views
You will then head down to see the Great Sphinx. The children will love hearing some amazing stories about this mythical lion-bodied guardian that was carved from one limestone ridge. Finish your morning with a nice relaxed lunch at a local restaurant with views of the plateau. Enjoy some warm flatbreads & mild Egyptian dips.
C. Felucca Ride on the Nile
Enjoy a relaxing afternoon in the hotel pool. In the evening you will head down to the banks of the river to enjoy a traditional Felucca sailboat ride. As you glide across the Nile you will have a relaxing time listening to traditional music whilst enjoying the gentle breeze. The skyline of Cairo will be beautifully illuminated.

Day 3 – Saqqara, Dahshur & Medieval Bazaar

Today you will discover how the pyramids began and enjoy some exciting medieval bazaars in Cairo.A. Step Pyramid of Djoser & Dahshur
In the morning you will drive down to Saqqara, the huge Necropolis of Memphis. You will visit the Step Pyramid of Djoser, the worlds very first huge stone structure. The children can enjoy exploring the stone courtyards around the pyramid. Inside you can enter the tombs of the nobles. These tombs include brightly coloured low-relief paintings of ancient Egyptian life, farming animals & fishing scenes. Continue to Dahshur where you can view the Bent Pyramid & Red Pyramid. Learn how the ancient Egyptians mastered the art of building pyramids.
B. Medieval Cairo & Khan el-Khalili Bazaar
In the afternoon you will head back to Cairo. Walk along the historic Al-Muizz Street. Then enjoy exploring the famous Khan el-Khalili Bazaar. The children will love exploring the twisting alleyways filled with glowing stained glass lamps, wonderful smelling spices & copper items. They can enjoy a refreshing glass of fresh mint tea or hibiscus juice (karkadeh).

Day 4 – Royal Artifacts, Citadel & Flight to Luxor

Today you will enjoy some world class artifacts in Cairo followed by some medieval castles. You will then fly down to Upper Egypt.
A. Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) & Saladin Citadel
Start your day with a visit to the Grand Egyptian Museum near Giza. The children will love seeing the huge statue of Ramesses II, interactive displays & thousands of royal artifacts. Continue to the Citadel of Saladin & Mosque of Muhammad Ali to enjoy some beautiful panoramic views of the Cairo skyline.
B. Flight to Luxor in the Evening
In the late afternoon you will be transferred to Cairo International Airport in your private transport. You will then enjoy a short 1 hour internal flight to Luxor. Once arrived in Upper Egypt you will be taken to your hotel on the riverside on the East Bank by private driver.

Day 5 – West Bank – Valley of the Kings & Hatshepsut

Today you will wake up in Upper Egypt. Cross the Nile in the morning to explore the West Bank.
A. Valley of the Kings
The children will enjoy riding a small open top electric train from the visitor centre down to the entrances of the tombs. Inside you will walk down brightly painted corridors to enormous stone sarcophagi. The children will be amazed at how well preserved the ancient wall paintings are. The vibrant colours of blue, yellow & red paint will show you amazing images of stars, protective gods & ancient spells from the Book of the Dead.
B. Hatshepsut Temple & Colossi of Memnon
Next you will visit the stunning Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut in Deir el-Bahari. This impressive 3 tiered terrace was carved directly out of the limestone cliffs. It is dedicated to one of the most famous female Pharaohs in Ancient Egypt. The children will learn how Hatshepsut ruled as a king. The wall paintings show her wearing regal clothing. Whilst driving back towards the river you will stop off to see the amazing Colossi of Memnon. These are 2 enormous 18 metre tall stone statues of Amenhotep III.
C. Felucca Ride in the Evening
In the late afternoon you will enjoy a traditional Felucca sailboat ride. As you sail up the river you will have a relaxing time watching the sunset. The warm breeze will gently push you along. Once arrived at Banana Island (Geziret el-Moz) you can enjoy walking through the shady banana trees. Tastings of the sweet fresh fruit can be enjoyed. Watch the peaceful sunset.

Day 6 – Tomb of the Artisans, Medinet Habu & Luxor Temple in the Evening

Today you will enjoy a mix of ancient history and impressive temples.
A. Deir el-Medina – The Artisans Village
In the morning you will visit Deir el-Medina, the ancient village where the artisans, stonemasons & painters lived that built the royal tombs. You can visit their underground tombs such as Tomb of Sennedjem. The children will love seeing the vibrant happy wall paintings. They will show you images of farming, family gardens & pets. Often these tombs feel much more friendly than the royal ones.
B. Medinet Habu – Fortress Temple
Next you will visit the huge Mortuary Temple of Ramesses III. This is famous for having incredibly detailed wall carvings that have kept their original colours. The temple has strong towers & high stone walls giving it a feeling of a medieval castle.
C. Luxor Temple Sunset
In the late afternoon you will cross back to the East Bank to visit Luxor Temple. As the sun sets the temple will be beautifully lit with warm spotlights. The children can walk along the Avenue of Sphinxes & imagine the huge royal processions that would have taken place thousands of years ago.

Day 7 – Hot Air Balloon Ride, Karnak Temple & Sound and Light Show

Today you will enjoy some early excitement with a hot air balloon ride. Followed by the biggest religious temple complex ever built. Finally enjoy a magical Light Show in the evening.
A. Hot Air Balloon Ride at Sunrise
To make this an unforgettable experience you can enjoy a hot air balloon ride in Luxor with brave family members & older children. As the sun rises over the Eastern Desert you will gently float over the Nile River, sugarcane fields & illuminated monuments of the West Bank. The children will enjoy the amazing aerial views of the Valley of the Kings & Hatshepsut’s temple.
B. Great Forest of Columns – Karnak Temple
After breakfast & a short break you will visit the huge Karnak Temple Complex on the East Bank. This temple was mainly dedicated to the God Amun-Ra & was the main state temple of the New Kingdom. The children will be amazed by the Great Hypostyle Hall. This has 134 huge sandstone columns with intricate hieroglyphic engravings. You can also visit the Holy Scarab Beetle statue. Local legend says if you walk around this 3 times you will be blessed! This is located close to the Sacred Lake.
C. Sound and Light Show
In the evening you will return to Karnak to enjoy the amazing Sound and Light Show. As you walk through the illuminated temple the children will enjoy listening to the narration & sounds as the Pharaohs & ancient Gods come to life under the stars.

Day 8 – Day Trip to the Temple of Dendera

Today you will enjoy a comfortable private day trip to visit one of the best preserved temples in Egypt. This is located in the beautiful Upper Egyptian Countryside.
A. Temple of Hathor – Dendera
After a 2 hour scenic drive along the Nile you will arrive in Dendera. The children & parents will be amazed by the huge complex. This was built during the late Ptolemaic & Roman periods. The main temple is famous for having 24 huge columns in the Hypostyle Hall. Each column has a face of the Goddess of Music, Joy & Love – Hathor. Unlike most ancient ruins this temple has kept its whole stone roof intact. Therefore you can explore the beautiful interior halls.
B. Starry Ceilings & Crypts
Whilst exploring the temple you can enjoy looking up at the beautifully restored ceilings. These show incredible star maps, constellations & images of the Sky Goddess Nut. The children will enjoy exploring the narrow underground crypts that are built into the foundations. They can climb up the stone stairs on the roof that ancient priests would have used during New Year celebrations. Return to Luxor in the late afternoon to relax in the hotel pool.

Day 9 – Valley of the Queens & Carter House

Today you will visit some amazing temples dedicated to Queens & ancient princesses. You will also visit an amazing archaeological discovery that uncovered the tomb of Tutankhamun.
A. Valley of the Queens (Biban el-Harim)
In the morning you will cross over to the West Bank to visit the Valley of the Queens. Explore the underground tombs of Queens & young princes from the New Kingdom such as Tomb of Prince Khaemwaset. The children can enjoy seeing the vibrant paintings on the walls. These show young royals being presented to the gods by their protective mothers.
B. Howard Carter House & Replica Tutankhamun Tomb
You will then visit the historic Howard Carter House. This is located close to the entrance of the Valley of the Kings. The children can enjoy visiting the well preserved mud brick house where the archaeologist Howard Carter lived whilst searching for King Tutankhamuns tomb. The gardens have an exact replica of Tutankhamuns chamber. This has interactive information boards to show how the treasures were discovered in 1922.

Day 10 – Museums & Souk

On your final day you will enjoy some world class treasures in museums & purchase some souvenirs.
A. Luxor Museum & Mummification Museum
In the morning you will visit the amazing air conditioned Luxor Museum. This is widely regarded as one of the best & thoughtfully arranged museums in Egypt. The children can enjoy seeing beautifully lit statues that were found in local temple caches. There are also ancient weaponry & golden artefacts on display. Continue to the nearby Mummification Museum. The children can enjoy seeing the amazing tools, natural resins, animal mummies & rituals that the ancient embalmers used to achieve physical immortality.
B. Souk & Departure
Before departure you will visit the covered market (Souk) in Luxor. The children can practise their polite haggling skills to purchase some personal souvenirs. These can include stone scarab beetles, hand carved alabaster vases, small papyrus paintings & silver cartouche necklaces with their name carved in hieroglyphics.
Your 10 day adventure in Luxor & Cairo finishes with a celebratory meal with views of the Nile. You will then be transferred back to Luxor International Airport (or back to Cairo if you have connecting international flights) in your private transport. You will leave with amazing family memories of pyramids, Pharaohs, underground tombs & relaxing river rides.