What does the extra day buy over the 10 day version?+
One more night in Cairo and the whole of day 10: the Royal Mummies at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation, the Citadel with the Mohamed Ali mosque, and Coptic Cairo. On the 10 day trip those are missed entirely — you land back from Hurghada and fly home the next morning.
Is the Nile cruise private or a group?+
The Cairo touring is private — your party, your guide, your vehicle. The sightseeing off the boat at Aswan, Kom Ombo, Edfu and Luxor is shared with a small group of around 15 people. That is how the operator runs every boat, and it is the one shared part of the trip.
Are the domestic flights included?+
Yes. Cairo to Aswan on day 3 and Hurghada to Cairo on day 9 are both in the price. International flights into and out of Egypt are not, and neither is the entry visa.
How do we get from Luxor to Hurghada?+
By road on day 6, straight after Karnak and Luxor temples, and the transfer is included. It is a desert crossing rather than a scenic drive. You arrive in time for dinner, which is why day 6 has breakfast and dinner but no lunch.
What is there to do in Hurghada?+
Days 7 and 8 have nothing planned and the hotel board is included, so doing nothing is a real option. The operator flags optional excursions — diving, snorkelling, a desert trip — but none are booked in advance and none are in the price.
What is not included in the price?+
International flights, the Egypt entry visa, tipping, drinks and extra meals, optional tours such as the Luxor balloon, and additional entry tickets. Going inside one of the pyramids or into the tomb of Tutankhamun is a separate ticket bought on the day.
How much should we budget for tipping?+
Tipping is excluded from the price and is expected. Reckon on US$10–15 per person per day for the guide, about US$5 a day for the driver, and US$5–10 per person per night into the crew box on the boat. Small notes are far more useful than large ones.