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Circuits
Classic Egypt: Cairo, Luxor & Aswan
The essential Pharaohs circuit: Giza, the Nile, Karnak, the West Bank and Philae — eight days, unhurried.
The journey
Journey overview
A short Sinai circuit from Sharm or Cairo: two nights by the water in Dahab, then a night near St Catherine for the sunrise climb (optional) and the monastery.
The climb is demanding before dawn; a vehicle to the monastery only is always possible.
Day by day
Detailed itinerary
Day 1
Arrive Dahab
Transfer from Sharm El Sheikh airport, or by air from Cairo, to Dahab — a slower reef town than Sharm, which is the point. Afternoon on the reef or at rest, according to how you landed.
Check current travel advice for Sinai for your nationality before you fly; we do not override your government’s wording.
Evening free. Dahab’s waterfront is casual. Tomorrow is snorkel or the Blue Hole if you are a confident swimmer.
Day 2
Dahab reef
A reef day: snorkel from the shore or a relaxed boat. The Blue Hole is optional and only for confident swimmers — it has a reputation that is not a marketing slogan.
Evening free in Dahab. Early night if you are climbing Sinai tomorrow; the pickup is brutal.
Breakfast included. Bring reef-safe cream and a long-sleeve rash vest if you burn.
Day 3
Mount Sinai & St Catherine
Inland to St Catherine. Optional pre-dawn climb of Mount Sinai for sunrise — demanding, cold at the top even in spring, a warm layer essential. A vehicle to the monastery only is always possible if you skip the summit.
The monastery has a dress code: shoulders and knees covered. Visit after the climb, when the legs still work. Overnight nearby, not a same-day return to Dahab if you have gone up.
Dinner at the lodge. The silence inland is not the reef; it is older and thinner air.
Day 4
Depart
Return to Sharm airport or to Dahab, according to your ticket. Breakfast, then the road. The climb’s stiffness arrives today; allow time at the airport.
We do not add Ras Mohammed unless it was booked as an extra and the flight allows it.
Check-in assistance if the connection is tight.
What’s in the price
Inclusions & exclusions
Included
- 3 nights hotels as listed
- Transfers in Sinai
- St Catherine entrance
- Breakfast daily
Not included
- Blue Hole extra if chosen
- Climbing guide tips
- Travel insurance
Good to know
Practical notes
Warm layer for the summit. The monastery has a dress code. Check current Sinai travel advice for your nationality.
Good to Know
Questions about this trip
Straight answers from the planning team — ask anything else and we reply within a working day.
How is this circuit paced?
Sinai: Dahab & St Catherine is a starting point. Cairo, Luxor and Aswan need enough days so temples and museum hours do not pile up. We keep Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum on separate mornings, split Luxor’s East and West Banks, and leave Aswan slower (Philae, a felucca hour). Extra nights, a Nile cruise, or a Red Sea finish are added when you send your dates.
Are domestic flights included?
When the itinerary uses a domestic flight (for example Cairo–Luxor or Aswan–Cairo), it is listed under inclusions. We need passport names 72 hours before those flights. International flights to Egypt are not included unless the page says so.
Can we add a Nile cruise or the Red Sea?
Yes. Many guests add cruise nights between Luxor and Aswan, or a few quiet days on the Red Sea after the temples. We keep transfers, hotels and the boat in one booking so the days connect without a scramble.
What is a typical day on the ground?
Cultural days start reasonably early (especially in summer), with a licensed Egyptologist, bottled water and private car. Lunch is listed when it is included. Afternoons are often lighter so the itinerary does not become a checklist. Temple interiors, extra tombs and a pyramid climb are optional extras, not obligations.
How far in advance should I book?
For winter (October–April) and event dates — festivals, concerts, the 2027 eclipse — book as soon as you can. Shoulder season can often be arranged with a few weeks’ notice. Hotels in Luxor for 2 August 2027 sell out early.
Can this itinerary be customised?
Yes. Sinai: Dahab & St Catherine is a starting point. We adjust days, hotels, meals and extras (Abu Simbel, balloon, a pyramid interior) once we know who is travelling and what you want to skip.
How do payments work?
Published trips can be reserved on the site. For a custom amount we send a secure payment link. You receive written confirmation, inclusions and our cancellation terms before you travel.
Who will be our guide?
A licensed Egyptologist or local specialist, in French or English as you prefer. We introduce them before the day whenever we can. Drivers are not substitutes for guides at ticketed sites.
What about visas, packing and insurance?
Most visitors need a tourist visa (e-visa or on arrival). Pack light layers, modest dress for mosques, and sun protection. Comprehensive medical insurance with evacuation is required and not included. Full notes: visa, packing, health and insurance pages.
Still have a question about Sinai: Dahab & St Catherine?
Plan with confidence
Helpful reading
Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan
Three nights vs four, Edfu, Kom Ombo, and how the cabin fits the land days.
Read guide →
How a classic Egypt circuit is paced
Cairo, Luxor, the Nile and Aswan — why the order matters.
Read guide →
Practical travel information
Money, connectivity, transfers and arrival logistics.
Read guide →
