3 Days of Wonder: Giza, Cairo & Alexandria — Self-Launched
3 days · Egypt
Marko Egypt Tours charges £232
No-markup version: ~£170 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Marko Egypt Tours' 3-day Giza–Cairo–Alexandria loop: hit the Pyramids, Sphinx, Saqqara and Memphis on day one, day-trip to Alexandria by train on day two, then finish at the Grand Egyptian Museum plus Islamic and Coptic Cairo. The operator's version bundles a private car and guide — this version swaps that for Egypt's excellent-value train and microbus network, a Giza/Grand Egyptian Museum-view guesthouse (the same pyramid-view experience travellers rave about), and cheap self-bookable guided day tours or guide-for-a-day hires where you actually want narration (the Pyramids and GEM especially). Costs are rough 2026 backpacker estimates in GBP and assume shared/dorm or budget private rooms.
Day-by-day
Pyramids of Giza, Sphinx, Saqqara & Memphis
Giza
Start early to beat the heat and the coach crowds. Either pre-book a small-group half-day Giza + Saqqara tour via GetYourGuide (from ~£30–40 pp including transport, entry fees usually extra) or go fully DIY: Uber/Careem from your Giza hotel to the Pyramids entrance (~£2–3). Pyramids of Giza site ticket ~£7–8; add entry inside the Great Pyramid (~£10) only if you're keen — it's a hot, cramped climb. Walk to the Sphinx viewpoint, then optional camel/horse ride (~£5–8, agree the price in writing first). Afternoon: Careem to Saqqara (~£8–10 each way, or join a tour) for the Step Pyramid of Djoser complex (~£4) and one of the nobles' tombs, then a quick stop at Memphis open-air museum (~£2) for the Ramses II colossus and alabaster Sphinx. Dinner back in Giza — koshari or grilled kofta at a local spot (~£4–6).
🚌Careem/Uber around Giza–Saqqara–Memphis (~£20–25 total split between two), or a GetYourGuide small-group tour
🛏Budget guesthouse or hotel with pyramid views in Giza (e.g. Nazlet El-Semman area guesthouses, ~£15–22/night double)
- →Pyramids of Giza & Great Sphinx (self-guided entry)
- →Saqqara Step Pyramid of Djoser complex
- →Memphis open-air museum
- →Optional camel ride (negotiate in advance)
Alexandria day trip by train
Alexandria
Walk or Careem to Ramses Station (or Sidi Gaber-bound train from Giza station) and take a morning express train to Alexandria — Spanish or AC1 class, ~2.5–3 hrs, ~£4–6 one way. Book on the Egyptian National Railways site or at the counter the day before. On arrival, take a tram or Careem to the Bibliotheca Alexandrina (~£2 entry, guided tours hourly for a small fee), then continue to the Citadel of Qaitbay (~£3) on the corniche. Grab a cheap seafood lunch near Anfushi or a falafel sandwich on the go (~£4–6). Afternoon: Pompey's Pillar (~£2) and the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa (~£3 — cool and quiet, a great break from the sun). Optional: hire a local guide for 3–4 hrs via GetYourGuide/Alexandria walking-tour listings (~£25–35 total) if you want the history woven together. Evening train back to Cairo, dinner near your hotel.
🚌Return train Cairo–Alexandria ~£8–12 pp; trams/Careem in Alexandria ~£5–8
🛏Same Giza guesthouse (second night)
- →Bibliotheca Alexandrina
- →Citadel of Qaitbay
- →Pompey's Pillar
- →Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa
- →Corniche walk
Grand Egyptian Museum + Islamic & Coptic Cairo
Cairo
Check out and leave bags at reception. Pre-book a GEM timed entry ticket online (~£10–12, plus extra for special galleries) — including a guided 2-hr intro tour via GetYourGuide (~£25–35 pp) is genuinely worth it here, since the collection is vast. Allow 3 hrs minimum. Then Careem to Islamic Cairo: Citadel of Saladin and the Muhammad Ali Mosque (~£4 combined), followed by a walk down to Coptic Cairo for the Hanging Church, Church of St. Barbara and Ben Ezra Synagogue (free/donation). Late lunch in Khan el-Khalili or downtown (~£5–7) before heading to Cairo International Airport — Careem ~£8–12, allow 60–90 mins in traffic.
🚌Careem/Uber across Cairo ~£12–18; airport transfer included
🛏None (departure day) — book a late flight or an extra night if needed
- →Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) with optional guided intro
- →Citadel of Saladin & Muhammad Ali Mosque
- →Hanging Church, St. Barbara & Ben Ezra Synagogue
- →Khan el-Khalili browse
Self-launched vs. Marko Egypt Tours
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Marko Egypt Tours | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£170 | £232 |
| Duration | 3 days | 3 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £62 per person (27%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Marko Egypt Tours-style trips? Check them out here.~£170
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does 3 Days of Wonder: Giza, Cairo & Alexandria — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £170 per person for 3 days in Egypt. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Marko Egypt Tours?+
Yes — Marko Egypt Tours charges around £232 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £170 — a saving of roughly £62 (27%) per person.
How long is the Egypt trip?+
This itinerary runs 3 days, covering 3 day-by-day stops through Egypt.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, culture, budget trip through Egypt, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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