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

Egypt rewards early starts. This six-day trip packs Mount Sinai, Cairo, Luxor, and Abu Simbel into one fast-moving route, with flights and transfers arranged along the way. I like the mix of major sights and slower Nile travel, especially the hot-air balloon ride over Luxor and the two-night cruise toward Edfu and Kom Ombo. I also like that a professional guide accompanies the main historic visits. The tradeoff is clear: this is a demanding schedule with overnight travel, several flights, hotel checkouts, and very little spare time.

The $850 price can be good value if the flights, transfers, hotels, cruise, guide, horse ride, and balloon ride all matter to you. Still, you must budget separately for entry fees and drinks, including water. The Mount Sinai hike and Abu Simbel road trip also require stamina, so this suits an active visitor who wants to see a lot rather than settle into one resort.

Key Points Before You Book

• Sunrise from Mount Sinai: You hike Mount Moses overnight, then visit the historic Christian monastery afterward.
• The Egyptian Museum and Giza in one day: Cairo’s main sights receive a full touring day before you fly south.
• A balloon ride above Luxor: The morning flight gives you a broad view of the city and surrounding area.
• Two nights on the Nile: The cruise links Luxor with Edfu and Kom Ombo, with meals and sightseeing built around the sailing schedule.
• Abu Simbel at the far end of Egypt: The great temple requires a long road journey, but it is one of the trip’s major rewards.
• Several services are extra: Entrance tickets and all drinks are not included, and upgraded cruise categories cost more.

What This Six-Day Route Does Well

This is not a relaxed Red Sea holiday with one or two day trips added. It is a point-to-point Egypt program. You start in Sharm El-Sheikh, travel to Cairo, fly to Luxor, sail south on the Nile, reach Aswan and Abu Simbel, then return to Cairo.

That structure saves time. Instead of arranging each domestic flight, hotel transfer, and sightseeing day yourself, you have transportation and accommodation organized in one package. The price also includes one night in Sharm El-Sheikh, one night in Cairo, two nights on a standard five-star Nile cruise, flight tickets, private air-conditioned transportation, a horse ride, and the balloon ride.

The word standard matters on the cruise. A five-star standard ship is included, but deluxe and luxury options cost extra. If your main goal is the temples, the standard category may be enough. If your main goal is ship comfort, ask about the upgrade before booking.

The route is busy enough that you should think of this as an introduction to Egypt, not a leisurely study of each place. You will see an impressive range of sites, but some visits are short, and hotel checkouts often happen before the day’s main activity.

Night One: Mount Sinai and the Sunrise at Moses’ Summit

Your first day begins with airport pickup in the morning and transfer to your Sharm El-Sheikh hotel. You have time to rest there before the driver returns at about 8 p.m. for the trip toward Mount Sinai.

The overnight hike to the summit of Mount Moses is the trip’s first serious test. You walk in darkness, then wait for sunrise at the top. The reward is a wide view across the surrounding area as the light changes. The experience has a quiet, spiritual quality that is very different from the busy monuments later in the trip.

You should treat this hike as a real physical activity, not a simple viewpoint stop. The schedule leaves little room for a long recovery afterward. After sunrise, you visit the historic Christian monastery described as the oldest working Christian monastery in the world. Then you return for breakfast and rest before the afternoon horse ride and the next flight.

The timing is both useful and difficult. A night hike avoids daytime heat, but you lose normal sleep at the start of the trip. Wear practical footwear and make sure you have enough drinking water, since water is not included in the tour price.

Day Two: Horse Riding, Cairo, and a Quick Change of Scene

After breakfast, the driver collects you at about 2 p.m. for an Egyptian lunch and a horse ride. This gives you a gentler activity after the mountain night, although the schedule still moves quickly.

You then check out of the Sharm El-Sheikh hotel and wait for your airport transfer. Once you land in Cairo, another driver meets you, assists with your luggage, and takes you to dinner at a local restaurant before bringing you to your Cairo hotel.

This day is mainly about repositioning. There is no major Cairo sightseeing listed before the evening, so do not expect to see the pyramids on arrival. The benefit is that your transport and dinner transfer are arranged. The cost is another late day with a flight after very little sleep.

Day Three: Giza and the Egyptian Museum

The Cairo sightseeing day begins after breakfast. First comes the Giza Plateau and the Great Pyramids, the only surviving wonder of the ancient world. These enormous tombs date from Egypt’s Old Kingdom, roughly 4,500 years ago, and their scale is still difficult to grasp from photographs.

A professional guide helps put the monuments into context. That is useful here because the open site can feel overwhelming. You need help understanding which pyramid belongs to which ruler, how the tomb complex worked, and why the site mattered beyond the familiar silhouette.

The second major stop is the Egyptian Museum, the oldest archaeological museum in the Middle East. It holds a huge collection of Pharaonic objects, making it a strong companion to the pyramids. At Giza, you see monumental architecture in its original setting. At the museum, you see the smaller objects and royal material that explain how ancient Egyptian society functioned.

Two major Cairo sights in one day is efficient, but it is also tiring. The schedule then sends you to the airport for a flight to Luxor. On arrival, your representative takes you to dinner and your Luxor hotel.

This is one place where an early start and sensible expectations help. You will not inspect every museum room or linger at every pyramid viewpoint. You will get the main story and the major sights, then continue south.

Day Four: Balloon Views and Luxor’s West Bank

The day begins early with the hot-air balloon ride. You must check out before leaving, so keep your luggage organized and leave it at the hotel or follow the transfer instructions given by the operator.

The balloon ride is one of the trip’s most appealing features because it changes how you see Luxor. From above, you can admire the city and the small settlements along the Nile, then watch the temples and farmland fit together in one broad view. It is not simply another monument visit. It gives you a sense of place before you spend the rest of the day on the ground.

After landing, you tour Luxor’s West Bank. The Valley of the Kings was built to protect royal tombs during Egypt’s New Kingdom. The tombs are underground rather than monumental pyramids, so the experience is about painted chambers and the practical choices made to protect royal burials.

The Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut follows. Its terraces were designed on a grand scale and placed beside the older temple of Mentuhotep II. The stop is especially worthwhile if you like architecture, because the temple’s shape makes the site different from the enclosed temples you visit later.

The tour ends the West Bank portion with a quick photo stop at the Colossi of Memnon. These huge statues once formed part of a larger temple complex. The visit is short, so you should see it as a useful stop for scale and photographs rather than a long exploration.

You then visit Karnak Temple. This enormous complex includes three main temples, smaller enclosed temples, and outer areas built over about 1,500 years. The result is a record of many generations of Egyptian builders. Allow yourself time to look beyond the famous columns and notice how the complex expands from one period to another.

After lunch, you board the Nile cruise and begin sailing toward Edfu. This is where the pace finally eases. You can rest in air conditioning, watch the riverbanks, and see village life along the Nile without sitting in a road vehicle. That change of rhythm is a major reason to choose this route.

Day Five: Horus at Edfu and the Double Temple at Kom Ombo

Breakfast is served onboard before the guide meets you at reception for Edfu Temple. Dedicated to Horus, the falcon-headed god, the temple preserves the formal style of the Ptolemaic period. Its scale and surviving details help you picture how later Egyptian rulers continued older religious traditions.

The temple is called a hidden gem in the supplied description, but the practical point is simpler: Edfu is a less familiar stop than Giza or Karnak, and it gives the cruise itinerary a strong archaeological visit without requiring a separate long transfer from Luxor.

You return to the ship and continue sailing toward Kom Ombo. Later, a guide meets you at reception for the visit to Kom Ombo Temple.

Kom Ombo is unusual because it is a double temple. One side honors Sobek, the crocodile god, and the other honors Horus. The layout repeats gateways, chapels, and other spaces for the two religious traditions, making the plan easier to understand than many sprawling temple sites.

After the visit, you return to the ship and continue sailing. This is the most restful day of the program, although the shore visits still follow the ship’s timetable. You do not control the sailing schedule, so listen carefully to meeting times and return to reception promptly.

Day Six: The Long Road to Abu Simbel

The final full sightseeing day starts early. Before leaving, you check out and leave your luggage at reception. An air-conditioned vehicle takes you to Abu Simbel, a long road trip from the Nile cruise area.

The Great Temple of Abu Simbel is dedicated to Amun, Ra-Horakhty, Ptah, and Ramesses himself. Its powerful facade and large interior spaces make it one of Egypt’s most memorable temple visits. The journey takes time, but this is one of those cases where the destination justifies the effort for many people.

You return to the ship afterward, where a representative takes you to a Nubian village. There you have an Egyptian lunch and time for a colorful visit before returning to collect your luggage.

The final transfer takes you to the airport for a flight back to Cairo. A driver meets you on arrival and takes you to your Cairo accommodation. The route ends there, safely transferred to your final lodging, but it does not include a detailed Cairo program on the last evening.

The Abu Simbel day is impressive and tiring. If you dislike long road journeys or early departures, this may be the hardest part of the tour. If you want to see one of southern Egypt’s most important temples, skipping it would leave a noticeable gap.

What the $850 Price Really Covers

At $850 per person, the price is attractive for a six-day route covering so much ground. Flights alone can make a self-planned version expensive, especially when you add airport transfers, several hotel nights, a cruise, private transportation, guides, and the balloon ride.

The package includes:

• Hotel pickup and drop-off
• One night in Sharm El-Sheikh
• One night in Cairo
• Two nights on a standard five-star Nile cruise
• Flight tickets
• Private, air-conditioned transportation
• An English-speaking professional guide
• A horse ride
• A hot-air balloon ride

You pay separately for entrance fees and drinks, including water. Those costs can affect the final budget, so do not treat $850 as the complete amount you will spend.

The guide language choices include Arabic, English, French, German, and Spanish. English is included, while the other language options may require an additional charge. Ask for the exact supplement before confirming.

Who Will Like This Trip Most

You should consider this tour if you want a wide first look at Egypt and prefer having the major transport connections handled for you. It suits people who value famous monuments, guided visits, Nile scenery, and unusual activities such as a balloon ride and a mountain sunrise.

It is also a good match if you have only six days and want more than a Sharm El-Sheikh beach stay. The route gives you ancient sites, Christian heritage, river villages, a Nubian visit, and several different types of transportation.

You may want a slower trip if you need late mornings, long museum visits, or unplanned time. The overnight Mount Sinai hike, early balloon ride, repeated checkouts, domestic flights, and Abu Simbel road journey make this a full schedule.

Families and groups should also consider everyone’s stamina. The program includes private transportation, which makes transfers more manageable, but the timetable itself remains demanding.

Practical Advice for a Smoother Six Days

Keep your luggage easy to handle. You will check out before the balloon ride, leave bags at reception during Abu Simbel, and move between hotels, airports, and the cruise.

Carry money for entrance tickets and drinks. Water is specifically excluded, so do not assume refreshments are supplied during long sightseeing days.

Use the hotel rest period in Sharm El-Sheikh wisely. The Mount Sinai pickup is around 8 p.m., and the hike continues through the night. Resting beforehand will make the sunrise experience far more enjoyable.

Pay attention to clothing and footwear for the hike and temple visits. The schedule includes walking at Mount Sinai, archaeological sites, airport transfers, and the horse ride. Comfortable basics matter more than dressing for photographs.

Ask about the cruise category and guide language when you book. The included ship is a standard five-star option, with deluxe and luxury upgrades available. French, German, and Spanish guiding may cost extra.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option keeps payment flexible. Check the exact terms and starting time for your chosen date before booking.

Should You Book This Egypt Tour?

Book it if your priority is seeing as much of Egypt as possible in six days without arranging every flight, transfer, hotel, and excursion yourself. The strongest parts are the Mount Sinai sunrise, the Luxor balloon ride, the Nile cruise, and the chance to reach Abu Simbel.

Think twice if you want a calm holiday or dislike early starts and long transfers. The $850 price is potentially strong value, but entrance tickets, drinks, and possible cruise or language upgrades add to the total.

For an active first visit, I would consider this a practical, ambitious route. Go in ready for short nights and a full schedule, and you will gain a broad picture of Egypt in a very limited time.

FAQ

How long is the Egypt tour?

The tour lasts six days.

Where does the tour begin?

It begins with airport pickup in Sharm El-Sheikh, in Egypt’s Red Sea Governorate.

Is Mount Sinai included?

Yes. The itinerary includes an overnight hike to the top of Mount Moses, sunrise from the summit, and a visit to the Christian monastery.

Is the hot-air balloon ride included?

Yes. The hot-air balloon ride is included and takes place in Luxor early in the morning.

How many nights are spent on the Nile cruise?

The package includes two nights on a standard five-star Nile cruise ship.

Which temples are visited during the cruise?

The cruise program includes Horus Temple in Edfu and the double temple at Kom Ombo.

Is Abu Simbel included?

Yes. The tour includes transportation to the Great Temple of Abu Simbel in an air-conditioned vehicle.

Are flights included?

Yes. Flight tickets are included for the domestic air transfers described in the itinerary.

Are entrance fees included?

No. Entry fees are not included in the tour price.

What languages are available for the guide?

Guiding is available in Arabic, English, French, German, and Spanish. English is included, while some other language choices may cost extra.