Cleopatra – 10-Day Cairo, Nile Cruise & Alexandria Tour

Cleopatra is a 10 day Egypt tour with Alexandria and a Nile cruise, adding the Mediterranean city to the classic Cairo, Aswan and Luxor route. It suits travelers who are curious about Greek and Roman Egypt as well as the pharaohs, and who like having a free day in the schedule.

Why Alexandria earns its place

Most Nile packages stop at the pharaonic story. Alexandria picks it up where it changes: the city founded by Alexander, ruled by the Ptolemies and later Rome. The day trip covers the catacombs, the modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the Graeco-Roman Museum and the Qaitbay Citadel on the harbor, then returns you to Cairo for the night. Our Alexandria travel guide gives more background.

How the ten days are shaped

The trip begins with one night in Cairo and visits to Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum before the overnight sleeper train to Luxor on Day 2. Board La Sara on Day 3 for four nights sailing from Luxor to Aswan, with visits in Luxor, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Aswan. Disembark on Day 7 and take the sleeper train back to Cairo. The final two Cairo nights include time at leisure and the Alexandria day trip.

Ideas for the free day

You can rest, return to a museum, or book an optional excursion such as Saqqara and Dahshur or a longer pyramids day. Optional tours are not in the package price.

Prices

October to April: $1,240 per person in a triple room, $1,360 in a double, $2,240 for one person traveling alone. May to September: $1,190 triple, $1,190 double and $2,010 solo. Entrance fees to all sites on the itinerary are included.

Similar routes

Practical notes for Alexandria day

The Alexandria day is long because the drive from Cairo takes a few hours each way, so expect an early start and a late return. Three of the four stops, the catacombs, the library and the museum, are indoors or underground, which helps in summer. In winter the Mediterranean coast is cooler and can be windy, so bring a layer. Since you return to the same Cairo hotel, there is no need to pack for an overnight stay.

If you like the idea but want a different ship or hotel, compare the Ptolomie package, which also pairs a cruise with Alexandria. The river section stops at Edfu and Kom Ombo between Aswan and Luxor. For extra Alexandria nights or flights instead of trains, see tailor-made tours.