Sharm El-Sheikh: 6-Day Egypt Tour, Balloon, Flights

Mount Sinai at sunrise is the unusual opening to this six-day Egypt trip. You leave Sharm El-Sheikh late at night, climb Mount Moses in darkness, then visit Saint Catherine’s Monastery before moving through Cairo, Luxor, and the Nile Valley. It is a lot of Egypt in a short time, with very little wasted space in the schedule.

I like the way the tour combines major sights with smaller stops, including Edfu, Kom Ombo, and a Nubian village visit. I also like that domestic flights, hotel transfers, the balloon ride, and a two-night Nile cruise are bundled into the $850 price. The main drawback is the pace: overnight travel, early starts, flights, and long road trips make this better for energetic sightseers than for anyone wanting a slow holiday.

Key points at a glance

• Mount Sinai after dark: Climb Mount Moses for sunrise, then visit the ancient Christian monastery at Saint Catherine.
• Three major Egyptian regions: The schedule links the Red Sea, Cairo, and the Nile Valley without requiring you to arrange separate transport.
• A dawn balloon flight in Luxor: The ride gives you an aerial view before a full morning on the West Bank.
• Two nights on the Nile: The ship provides a moving base while you visit Edfu and Kom Ombo.
• Abu Simbel by road: The final sightseeing day includes one of Egypt’s most impressive temple complexes.
• Strong package value with extra costs: Flights and accommodation are included, but monument entry fees and drinks are not.

What $850 buys you across six busy days

At $850 per person, this tour offers a lot of transport and sightseeing for the money. You receive hotel pickup and drop-off, domestic flights, one night in Cairo, one night in Sharm El-Sheikh, two nights on a standard five-star Nile cruise, private air-conditioned transport, an English-speaking guide, a horse ride, and a hot-air balloon flight.

That price is most useful if you want a ready-made route. Egypt is spread out, and arranging Sharm El-Sheikh, Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, and Abu Simbel on your own can quickly become a puzzle of transfers, hotel bookings, and flight times. Here, a driver meets you at airports and hotels, helps with luggage, and carries you between the main stops.

You still need to budget for entrance fees and drinks, including water. Those exclusions matter because the Pyramids, Egyptian Museum, Valley of the Kings, Karnak, Abu Simbel, and other sites may all require separate payments. Ask for the current entry-fee total before you go so the final cost does not surprise you.

The package description also refers to a standard five-star cruise, with a deluxe or luxury upgrade available at extra cost. Standard does not mean you should expect the same finish as a top-end hotel. It does give you a comfortable base on the river, meals and other ship details depending on the cruise arrangement, and a way to reach the temples without changing hotels every night.

Night one: Sharm El-Sheikh to Mount Moses

Your first day begins with airport pickup in Sharm El-Sheikh and a transfer to your hotel. The plan then asks you to rest for a short time before leaving again at about 8 p.m. for Mount Sinai.

This timing is practical for the sunrise climb, but it makes day one a long day. You may arrive in Egypt, check in, sleep briefly, and then head back out. Pack a small bag for the mountain and keep your passport, water, warm clothing, and sturdy footwear close at hand.

The climb to Mount Moses takes place at night, so much of the route passes in darkness. The reward is the view from the summit as the sun rises over the surrounding area. The experience is less about a long sightseeing list and more about the quiet rhythm of walking, waiting, and watching the light change.

You then visit Saint Catherine’s Monastery, described as the oldest working Christian monastery in the world. This gives the morning a second focus beyond the mountain. The monastery connects the area to early Christian tradition and makes the stop worthwhile even if you are more interested in ancient Egypt than religious sites.

The practical warning is simple: this is not a restful first night. The schedule may suit you if you want a memorable start, but it will test your legs and sleep pattern. If you have mobility concerns, ask in advance for clear information about the climb and how much walking is required.

Day two: horse riding, lunch, and a flight to Cairo

After breakfast, the plan allows time at the Sharm El-Sheikh hotel before a 2 p.m. pickup. You have an Egyptian lunch and a horse ride, then return to check out and continue to the airport.

This is a lighter sightseeing block after Mount Sinai, although you still need to manage your bags and keep track of the flight schedule. The horse ride adds variety to a trip otherwise built around temples and museums. It is also one of the few activities here that is not centered on ancient monuments.

You then fly to Cairo. On arrival, a driver meets you, assists with your luggage, takes you to a local restaurant for dinner, and brings you to your Cairo accommodation. The arrangement removes the usual airport uncertainty, which is useful after a night and morning spent on Mount Sinai.

The itinerary later includes another Cairo hotel stay before a flight to Luxor, while the package details list one night of Cairo accommodation. Confirm the exact room nights and hotel plan before paying. The route is clear, but the accommodation summary and day-by-day schedule do not line up perfectly.

Day three: the Great Pyramids and the Egyptian Museum

Cairo sightseeing begins with the Great Pyramids of Giza, the only surviving wonder of the ancient world. The pyramids were built around 4,500 years ago as royal tombs during Egypt’s Old Kingdom. Their scale is the point: you are looking at a building project that required enormous planning, labor, and technical skill long before modern machinery.

Your guide helps place the pyramids in context, but you should also allow yourself time to simply look. The tour is designed to cover the major area rather than offer a slow, open-ended visit. Wear practical shoes, bring water, and keep your expectations realistic about crowds, heat, and extra charges at the site.

The next stop is the Egyptian Museum, the oldest archaeological museum in the Middle East according to the tour details. Its collection covers ancient Egyptian objects from many periods, and the visit gives you a useful framework for understanding the monuments you see elsewhere.

The museum can feel dense because there is so much to see. A professional guide is especially helpful here. Ask the guide to focus on a few objects and stories rather than trying to rush through every room. You will remember a clear explanation of several important pieces more easily than a long list of names.

After Cairo, you fly to Luxor. A driver meets you there, takes you to dinner at a local restaurant, and brings you to your hotel. This day links two major Egyptian centers, but it also contains a great deal of movement. Keep your luggage compact and avoid planning anything extra at night.

Day four: a balloon over Luxor and the West Bank

The hot-air balloon flight begins early. You check out before leaving your hotel, then head up for a broad view of Luxor and the Nile Valley. The ride is one of the most distinctive parts of this tour because it changes your view of the monuments below. Instead of seeing temples from ground level, you see how the river, fields, villages, and ancient sites fit together.

A balloon ride depends on operating conditions, so the exact timing can vary. The important point is that it starts before the rest of the day and requires an early morning. If you dislike early starts, this will be a challenge. If you want a memorable view and can handle a dawn departure, it adds something that a standard temple tour cannot.

The West Bank visit begins at the Valley of the Kings. Pharaohs of Egypt’s New Kingdom placed their royal tombs here to protect them from the exposure of pyramid-shaped tombs. The valley is valuable because it shows how royal burial customs changed over time.

Your entry ticket may cover only a set number of tombs, and additional tombs can cost extra. Since entry fees are not included in the package, ask your guide which tombs are available and which require additional payment. The interiors can be more rewarding than the outside approach, with painted walls and detailed religious scenes.

Next comes the Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut. The temple was designed on a grand scale beside an older temple associated with Mentuhotep II. Its terraces and long approach make it one of Luxor’s most recognizable monuments, and the guide can explain how Hatshepsut presented her authority as pharaoh.

You finish the West Bank with a short stop at the Colossi of Memnon. These enormous statues work well as a photo stop and as a reminder of how much larger ancient temple complexes once were. Do not expect a long visit here. The schedule treats it as a brief pause before the next major site.

Karnak Temple and your first night on the Nile

Karnak is the main temple visit on the East Bank. It is not one single building, but a large religious complex developed by generations of rulers over about 1,500 years. The columns, courts, gateways, and smaller sanctuaries show how each period added to what came before.

This is a place where a guide makes a real difference. Without context, Karnak can become a procession of huge stones. With an explanation of the main temples and the religious role of the complex, the site becomes easier to read.

After lunch, you board the Nile cruise and begin sailing toward Edfu. The boat is more than transport. It gives you a chance to rest, watch small villages and river activity from the deck, and enjoy a change from road transfers and airport queues.

The ship is listed as a five-star standard cruise. A deluxe or luxury option is available if you want a higher level of cabin or onboard service. For the best value, the standard ship may be enough, especially since the itinerary gives you only two nights onboard and keeps you busy with shore visits.

Day five: Horus at Edfu and the double temple at Kom Ombo

Edfu’s Temple of Horus is one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt. It was built during the Ptolemaic period and honors Horus, the falcon-headed god. Its preserved walls and reliefs help you see how ancient religious art and temple design continued long after the pharaohs of the early kingdoms.

The tour calls Edfu a hidden gem, but the useful point is that it receives less attention than Giza, Luxor, or Abu Simbel. Its location along the cruise route makes it easy to visit without adding another hotel transfer.

You return to the ship and continue sailing to Kom Ombo. The temple here is unusual because it is a double temple. One side honors Sobek, the crocodile god, while the other is dedicated to Horus. The layout repeats gateways and chapels for the two religious traditions.

Kom Ombo is a good stop for anyone who likes the odd details of Egyptian religion. The crocodile connection gives the temple a different character from the royal tombs and state temples in Luxor. You return to the ship after the visit and continue sailing.

Day six: Abu Simbel and a Nubian village

The final sightseeing day begins early with a road trip to Abu Simbel. You check out first and leave your luggage at the cruise reception, then travel in an air-conditioned vehicle to the temples.

Abu Simbel was dedicated to Amun, Ra-Horakhty, Ptah, and Ramesses II. The scale and decoration make it one of Egypt’s most striking temple sites. The long drive is the tradeoff. You spend substantial time in the vehicle, but the destination is difficult to replace with another stop.

After Abu Simbel, you return to the ship and visit a Nubian village. This gives the final day a more current, local focus after several days of royal tombs and temples. You have an Egyptian lunch and time to see the colorful village setting before collecting your bags.

The day ends with a flight to Cairo. A driver meets you at the airport, assists with luggage, and takes you to your Cairo accommodation. Since the schedule ends with this transfer rather than a return flight to Sharm El-Sheikh, confirm where your final night is booked and how you plan to continue your journey.

Guides, vehicles, flights, and the pace

The tour includes a professional English-speaking guide, with Arabic, French, German, and Spanish guide options available. Spanish, German, and French require an additional cost. No individual guide names are supplied, so you should request the guide’s name and contact details before departure if that matters to you.

Private transport is provided in an air-conditioned vehicle. That is important in Egypt, especially on the Abu Simbel road trip and airport transfers. You still need patience: the schedule includes several flights, long drives, late-night departures, and early mornings.

The itinerary is best for you if you want to see many headline sites in one trip and prefer having the transport arranged. It is less suitable if you want long museum visits, unplanned walks, or relaxed mornings at each hotel.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms give you some flexibility, but you should still check the final flight, hotel, cruise, and entry-fee details before committing.

Is this six-day Egypt tour worth booking?

I would consider booking it if you have only six days and want a broad first look at Egypt. The combination of Mount Sinai, Giza, the Egyptian Museum, Luxor, the Nile, Edfu, Kom Ombo, and Abu Simbel is unusually ambitious for the price.

I would not choose it for a slow, restful holiday. The Mount Sinai night climb, dawn balloon flight, frequent transfers, and Abu Simbel road journey demand energy. Before booking, confirm the Cairo hotel nights, ask for the expected entrance-fee total, and decide if the standard cruise suits you.

For an active first visit, the $850 package offers strong value because flights, transport, guides, hotels, the cruise, horse ride, and balloon flight are included. For a more comfortable trip, budget extra for drinks, admission fees, and a cruise upgrade.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts six days and includes Sharm El-Sheikh, Cairo, Luxor, the Nile cruise route, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Abu Simbel, and a return to Cairo.

Is the hot-air balloon ride included?

Yes. The hot-air balloon ride in Luxor is included in the tour.

Are flights included?

Yes. The package includes flight tickets for the domestic flights used between Sharm El-Sheikh, Cairo, Luxor, and Cairo.

What accommodation is included?

The package includes one night in Sharm El-Sheikh, one night in Cairo, and two nights on a standard five-star Nile cruise ship. The day-by-day schedule also refers to a Cairo hotel before the Luxor flight, so confirm the exact Cairo accommodation plan before booking.

Are entrance fees and drinks included?

No. Entry fees and drinks, including water, are not included.

Can I choose a guide in a language other than English?

Yes. Arabic, English, French, German, and Spanish guide options are available. French, German, and Spanish guides require an additional cost.