Egypt 8 day Itenerary

You didn't ask about these, but FWIW:

The Colossi of Memnon are just padding to add to an itinerary IMHO--as they are just a drive-by and not something to be visited for any length of time. Since you are going to Medinat Habu already, Hatshepsut and Valley of the Kings, you may want to try for the Ramses temple (different period), or for one of the other sets of tombs such as Tombs of the Nobles (note that "al Medina" on your itinerary may refer to one such set).

On Day 3 I don't see Abydos added with Dendera/Dendara. Abydos is a very important site farther along north of Luxor, and makes a good complement to Dendera.

1--Can't help with the felucca ride, as we did one in Luxor only because it came with the hotel room--we didn't stop anywhere, juts tooled around.

2--Speaking for myself I'd add the extra day to Luxor, to spread out the sightseeing some. But you could just as easily add it onto Cairo (e.g., to see the old Islamic sites in more depth), or to Aswan (to chill a bit).

3--Dahshur. It's often devoid of other tourists so it has a very different feel to it. Memphis does not have a great deal to see IMHO. I agree though that it would be better to see these on different days, but you have a tight itinerary.

It is tight, but doable, maybe enjoyable depending on travel style.

Day 2 - this can be done in 1/2 day.

Day 3 - agree with #1 on Abydos. You can do Karnak or Luxor earlier on Day 2 before going to the West Bank, leaving time for Abydos.

Day 4 - again depending on interest, at this point you may be templed out. Felucca ride depends on wind, but then you have the next day. By the time you get back, you still have time for a sunset ride.

Day 5 - the island setting of Philae is nice, but this will be the 8th temple (if I count Karnak as 1 and didn't include Abydos) in 4 days. I think the High Dam is a waste of 30EGP.

Day 6 - a bit crowded, don't you have to checkin to the hotel etc? Coptic Cairo and Islamic Cairo is in two different directions from the museum. Not impossible to do it ... but I think very rushed.

Day 7 - this can be done in half day if you don't stop shopping. The Red Pyramid in Dahshur is more peaceful, you don't have the touts pestering you. We were alone there.

Day 8 - move something from Day 6 here. Islamic Cairo has a lot of parts. You should visit the Citadel. Other than that Al-Azhar Park, the mosques, the cemeteries, Islamic museum ... depending on your interests.

1 – Typically people take the felucca to the botanical garden on Kitchener Island, which is nice enough, but you'll probably just walk through and don't spend much time there. The sites on the West Bank (tombs of the Nobles, monastery) can be quite interesting if you have some time to wander, but it's rather a waste of your felucca time. If you want to add an extra stop, take a stroll over Elephantine Island, it's picturesque and very historic (Middle Kingdom town).
3 – Dahshur is the more impressive of the two, take a flashlight for the pyramid. Memphis is more for the name and the feeling of history – if you have read about ancient Egypt, you may want to stand in that place where the early capital was.
4 – It is very dense already, but you may want to consider Alexandria as a day trip from Cairo. Take the fast train and get a driver for the Ptolemaic and Roman sights, and some colonial atmosphere.
- The balloon rides are timed so that you can have breakfast at your hotel and still do the usual sightseeing, so it's doable.

Photos, hotel reports and texts from our Egypt trips: http://westwards.typepad.com/westwards/egypt/

Thank you all for your replies and sorry for the delay.

We have private tour guides in each city and they all felt that the days were okay and would take 8-10 hours aside from the Abu Simbel day. With this timeline, would the pyramids be too rushed? I am taking my parents and it has been a dream for them so I want to make certain that they have ample time to see anything that they want to see.
How much time would you recommend for someone who is seeing them for the first, and probably last, time?

I really do want to see Abydos, but I saw that it is an extra 2 hour drive from Dendera, is this correct? So it will be 3 hours from Luxor each way?

Again, thank you all for your insight and I have a lot to speak with my family about.

If I just look at your Day 7 - it's not rushed at all, especially if you skip shopping. Just be prepared to fend off the guide's attempt to rush you back. In Giza, you get bored by the hassle and the stink of camels and horses.

Abydos is 2-3 hours drive from Luxor each way, depending the vehicle you're using. Most of the road is good quality paved road. We started at 8am, got back after 4pm and could spend about 90 mins on each site. No lunch time stop.