Egypt is one of those rare destinations where a single day can take you from ancient temples to desert dunes to vibrant bazaars. Whether you are based at a Red Sea resort or exploring the cities, day tours offer an efficient and rewarding way to see the highlights. Here is a comprehensive guide to the best day tours available across Egypt's most popular destinations.
Day Tours from Sharm El Sheikh
Desert Adventure
The Sinai Peninsula surrounding Sharm El Sheikh is a dramatic landscape of mountains, canyons, and desert. A desert adventure in Sharm El Sheikh typically includes quad biking through sandstone valleys, camel riding, and a Bedouin dinner under the stars — an unforgettable taste of the Sinai wilderness.
Mount Sinai and St Catherine Monastery
One of the most spiritually significant journeys you can take in Egypt is the Mount Sinai and St Catherine Monastery tour. Most visitors hike to the summit before dawn to watch the sunrise over the surrounding mountains. St Catherine's Monastery, dating back to the 6th century, is one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited Christian monasteries.
Alf Leila wa Leila Show
For evening entertainment, the Alf Leila wa Leila show in Sharm El Sheikh brings the stories of One Thousand and One Nights to life through spectacular theatrical performances, with elaborate costumes, folkloric dances, and dramatic lighting effects.
Day Trip to Cairo from Sharm
It is entirely possible to see the pyramids and the Egyptian Museum on a day trip. A day trip to Cairo from Sharm by air gets you to the capital in under an hour, allowing a full day to explore Giza, Memphis, and the famous antiquities collections before returning to your resort.
Day Tours in Cairo
Pyramids, Memphis and Saqqara
The full package of ancient Memphis is best experienced on a tour to the pyramids, Memphis and Saqqara. This takes in the Great Pyramid of Khufu at Giza, the open-air museum at the ancient city of Memphis, and the Step Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara — the world's oldest monumental stone structure.
Museum, Citadel and Old Cairo
A tour to the museum, citadel and Old Cairo covers the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities, the imposing Salah El Din Citadel on the Mokattam Hills, and the medieval streets of Islamic and Coptic Cairo — a full sweep of the city's layered history in a single day.
Alexandria Day Tour
Egypt's second city sits on the Mediterranean coast, just a few hours from Cairo. The tour to Alexandria from Cairo by car covers the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the Roman amphitheater, the catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, and the scenic Corniche waterfront.
Day Tours from Hurghada
Red Sea visitors do not have to miss out on Egypt's inland treasures. A Cairo day tour from Hurghada by flight makes the pyramids and Cairo accessible on a single-day excursion. Alternatively, a day tour to Luxor from Hurghada opens the door to the Valley of the Kings, Karnak Temple, and the West Bank — all within driving distance of the Red Sea coast.
Day Tours in Luxor
East and West Bank
Luxor is essentially an open-air museum. A tour to the east and west bank of the Nile covers Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple on the east bank, then crosses the river for the Valley of the Kings, the mortuary temple of Hatshepsut, and the Colossi of Memnon. The Sound and Light Show at Karnak Temple is a spectacular evening experience that brings the ancient complex to life after dark.
Dendera and Abydos Temples
For those who want to venture beyond the standard itinerary, a tour to Dendera and Abydos temples is a rewarding full-day excursion. The Dendera temple complex is remarkably well-preserved, while Abydos is one of Egypt's oldest pilgrimage sites, associated with the god Osiris.
Day Tours in Aswan
Nubian Village
The Nubian community along the banks of Aswan offers a warm and colorful cultural encounter. A tour to the Nubian village typically includes a felucca boat ride, a walk through brightly painted streets, and a home-cooked Nubian meal — a beautiful complement to the temples and monuments nearby.
Kalabsha Temple and Nubian Museum
Aswan's own remarkable attractions are best explored on a tour to Kalabsha Temple and the Nubian Museum. Kalabsha Temple was relocated to its current island when the Aswan High Dam flooded the original site, while the Nubian Museum tells the story of a civilization that stretches back thousands of years.
