This is probably the most important decision in the whole guide.

If your holiday is short, think carefully before trying to do both as separate one-day road trips.

There is no reason to book all three on a normal one-week holiday. They overlap.

If snorkeling is the real priority, compare all three with a dedicated snorkeling excursion before deciding.

Price is not the only difference. A shared excursion normally follows a fixed schedule. That can be perfectly fine for boat trips and short activities.

For long cultural excursions, private travel changes the experience much more noticeably. You avoid repeatedly waiting for a large group, and the sightseeing pace is easier to manage.

• Cairo and Luxor
• Dendera and Abydos
• Families with children
• Couples who value flexibility
• Small groups sharing the cost
• Travellers who prefer their own pace

The cheapest excursion is not necessarily the cheapest version of the same experience. Tours with similar names can differ in transportation, group size, entrance tickets, lunch, equipment, guide language, island admission and transfer supplements.

Another common mistake is booking several nearly identical sea trips. Most travellers get more variety by choosing one island trip and using another day for Luxor, the desert or a different type of snorkeling.

For a seven-night holiday, around two or three substantial excursions is a sensible starting point: one long cultural day, one Red Sea day and one shorter desert experience.

Of course, there is no rule. The important thing is to look at duration, not just the number of excursions. A 15-hour Luxor trip and a three-hour quad safari should not occupy the same mental space when you plan your week.

Many are, but the right question is not simply whether children are “allowed.” Think about how your child handles boats, heat, early mornings and long journeys.

Island trips can be easier for families because they combine movement, swimming and relaxation. Cairo and Luxor require more patience. A private tour can help because the pace is managed around your family rather than a large group.

Check these five details before confirming any Hurghada excursion:

1. Exactly what is included in the price.
2. Whether your hotel requires a transfer supplement.
3. Whether the tour is private or shared.
4. Total duration from hotel pickup to return.
5. Which attractions or activities cost extra.

Those questions prevent most disappointment caused by choosing an excursion based only on its headline price.

Forget the idea that there is one excursion everyone has to take. Start with the experience you would genuinely regret missing.

If that is the Valley of the Kings, go to Luxor. If it is standing beside the Pyramids, choose Cairo and decide whether road or air travel suits you. If your picture of Egypt is turquoise Red Sea water, choose an island or snorkeling trip. If you mainly want a break from the hotel without spending an entire day travelling, head into the desert.

That is usually a much better way to choose than working through somebody else's generic “top 10.”