Egypt Holidays 2026/2027

Cairo and Giza: The Egyptian Museum holds the world's largest collection of Pharaonic antiquities, including the treasures of Tutankhamun. The Giza Plateau, 20 km from the city centre, is where the Great Pyramid, the Pyramid of Khafre, and the Great Sphinx sit together — a full day is the minimum for holidays to Egypt built around cultural depth.

Sharm el-Sheikh: Egypt's most developed Red Sea resort sits at the tip of the Sinai Peninsula, with Naama Bay as its commercial heart. Reef diving at Ras Mohammed National Park and the Thistlegorm wreck draw dedicated underwater travellers from across Europe. Our Sharm El Sheikh holidays cover the full range, from adults-only boutique properties to large all-inclusive resorts.

Hurghada: On the mainland coast roughly 450 km south of Cairo, Hurghada is the Red Sea's most accessible resort from UK airports — beach infrastructure is strong, transfers are short, and the all-inclusive range is wider here than anywhere else on the coast. Our Hurghada holidays page covers the full resort breakdown.

Luxor: Known in antiquity as Thebes, this is where the Valley of the Kings, Karnak Temple, and the Colossi of Memnon all sit within easy reach. Most visitors arrive on a Luxor holidays package or as the terminus of a Nile cruise itinerary from Cairo.

Aswan: The southernmost city on most itineraries sits on the first Nile cataract, where the river narrows and the pace slows. The Philae Temple — relocated to Agilkia Island after the Aswan High Dam was built — is atmospherically positioned and the natural departure point for Abu Simbel, two hours south by road.

Giza Plateau and the Egyptian Museum: The three pyramids and the Great Sphinx are best reached early morning before the coach parties arrive. The Tutankhamun galleries in the Egyptian Museum justify a full morning on their own. Our Egypt art guide covers the iconography and architectural language across the main sites.

Valley of the Kings and Karnak Temple: The west bank of Luxor holds the royal necropolis where 63 tombs have been excavated, including those of Tutankhamun, Ramesses II, and Seti I. Karnak's Great Hypostyle Hall — 134 columns reaching 23 metres — is one of the most photographed interiors in archaeology. A single day covers both sites; two days allows proper attention to each.

Felucca sailing on the Nile: Traditional wooden sailing boats have worked the Nile for centuries, and the short felucca trip around Elephantine Island from Aswan is among the most genuinely pleasant hours Egypt offers. Longer overnight journeys between Aswan and Edfu suit those wanting a slower ancient Egypt exploration.

Red Sea diving and snorkelling: The reefs off Sharm el-Sheikh and Hurghada rank among the most biodiverse in the world. The SS Thistlegorm — a British WWII cargo wreck sunk in 1941 — rates consistently among the top wreck dives globally and is accessible as a day trip from Sharm. Most resorts run PADI courses from beginner to advanced, making diving a natural addition to Egypt travel packages with a beach element.

Abu Simbel: The twin rock-cut temples of Ramesses II sit on the western bank of Lake Nasser, 280 km south of Aswan. Most visitors fly from Aswan in 45 minutes or join a pre-dawn road convoy. The temples were relocated between 1964 and 1968 in an operation that cut the entire structure into 2,222 numbered blocks to save them from the rising reservoir.