Best of Egypt — Self-Launched
8 days · Egypt
G Adventures charges £975
No-markup version: ~£530 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
An independent solo-traveller version of G Adventures' 8-day "Best of Egypt" loop: Cairo's pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum, an overnight sleeper train south to Aswan, a Nubian village boat trip, Abu Simbel at sunrise, a felucca on the Nile and the temples of Kom Ombo, Karnak and the Valley of the Kings in Luxor. Same sights, same route — but you book your own budget hotels and guesthouses, ride the local sleeper train and public ferries, and pick up guides and tickets directly or through GetYourGuide/Klook. Costs below are approximate per-person estimates for a backpacker/mid-budget solo traveller and exclude international flights and travel insurance.
Day-by-day
Arrive Cairo — Downtown orientation
Cairo
Land at Cairo International, buy a visa on arrival (US$25 / ~£20 for most Western passports, payable in cash) and take the Airport Shuttle Bus or Uber/Careem into Downtown (~£4-6). Check into a budget hotel or hostel around Talat Harb or the now-gentrifying Downtown core — the Cosmopolitan-style hotels the tour uses are bookable direct for a fraction of the group rate. Spend the afternoon walking to Tahrir Square, the Nile Corniche and the Khan el-Khalili area if you still have energy. Optional add-on: a half-day Islamic and Coptic Cairo walking tour (Old Cairo, Hanging Church, Ben Ezra Synagogue, Citadel) bookable on GetYourGuide for ~£25-35.
🚌Airport shuttle bus or ride-hailing app into town (~£4-6)
🛏Budget hotel/hostel, Downtown Cairo (private room approx £18-25, dorm £8-12)
- →Tahrir Square and Nile Corniche walk (free)
- →Khan el-Khalili bazaar wander (free)
- →Optional: Islamic & Coptic Cairo guided half-day (~£30)
Giza Pyramids, Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum
Cairo / Giza
Start early (7-8am) to beat the heat and crowds. Take an Uber to the Giza plateau (~£4) and buy your entry ticket at the gate (Pyramid complex ~EGP 700 / ~£11; extra ticket if you want to go inside a pyramid — the Great Pyramid interior is ~EGP 900). You can walk the plateau yourself or hire a local guide at the gate for ~£20-25 for two hours; GetYourGuide also sells small-group Giza + Sphinx tours from ~£25-35. In the afternoon head to the Grand Egyptian Museum at Giza (entry ~EGP 1,200-1,400 / ~£18-22, book a timed slot online in advance — it sells out). Evening: catch the overnight sleeper train from Cairo Ramses station to Aswan (Watania sleeper, single cabin ~£55-75 booked direct or via the Watania site/app; book 2-4 weeks ahead). Dinner at the station or a takeaway before boarding.
🚌Uber to Giza (~£4); overnight sleeper train Cairo–Aswan (~£55-75)
🛏Overnight Watania sleeper train, single or shared cabin
- →Giza Pyramids & Sphinx (entry ~£11, optional interior ~£12)
- →Grand Egyptian Museum timed entry (~£18-22)
- →Optional local guide at Giza (~£20-25)
Arrive Aswan — Nubian village boat trip
Aswan
The sleeper train arrives in Aswan mid-morning. Check into a guesthouse on Elephantine Island or in the Nubian village area (great value, ~£15-22 private room) or a simple hotel near the Corniche. Rest, then in the afternoon take a public Nile ferry or a local motorboat across to a Nubian village on the West Bank (~£3-6 for the ferry; a private boat round trip ~£10-15) — the tour's included 'boat ride to a Nubian village with traditional meal' is easy to replicate by arranging a home-cooked Nubian dinner directly with a guesthouse or via a local guide for ~£12-18. Wander the Aswan souk in the evening (free). Optional: Philae Temple sound-and-light show (~£14).
🚌Public Nile ferry / local motorboat (~£3-10)
🛏Guesthouse on Elephantine Island / Aswan Nubian side (private ~£15-22)
- →Nubian village boat trip and home-cooked Nubian dinner (~£15)
- →Aswan souk wander (free)
- →Optional Philae sound & light show (~£14)
Abu Simbel at sunrise, then Philae Temple
Aswan
Book a seat on the shared early-morning minibus convoy to Abu Simbel (leaves ~4am, returns ~1-2pm) — around £15-25 including entry (entry ~EGP 600 / ~£9, minibus seat ~£8-12); your guesthouse can arrange it, or pre-book on GetYourGuide for ~£30-40 with a guide. The temples at sunrise with fewer crowds are the highlight of most Egypt trips. Back in Aswan in the afternoon, take a public boat or taxi to Philae Temple (~EGP 550 entry / ~£8.5 plus boat ~£3) — go late afternoon for softer light. Alternatively do the Unfinished Obelisk and High Dam. Dinner at a local koshary or fish spot (~£5).
🚌Shared minibus convoy to Abu Simbel (~£8-12); local boat to Philae (~£3)
🛏Guesthouse on Elephantine Island / Aswan (private ~£15-22)
- →Abu Simbel temples at sunrise (~£9 entry)
- →Philae Temple (~£8.5 entry)
- →Optional Unfinished Obelisk & High Dam (~£4)
Feluccas, Kom Ombo and on to Luxor
Aswan → Luxor
Morning felucca sail on the Nile (~£8-12 for a 2-3hr private or shared sail arranged at the Corniche or through your guesthouse). Then take the train north to Kom Ombo (a couple of hours, ~£4-5 second class) and walk 5 minutes from the station to the riverside Kom Ombo temple (entry ~EGP 360 / ~£5.5). Continue by train or shared microbus to Luxor (~£5-8). Check into a budget hotel on the East Bank near Luxor Temple or in the town centre (~£15-22 private room). Evening: dinner at the local market — cheap, delicious fuul, ta'meya and grilled meats (~£5). Optional upgrade: instead of the train, an overnight felucca from Aswan to Kom Ombo/Esna (~£40-60 including meals) is the classic backpacker alternative.
🚌Felucaca sail (~£10); train Aswan–Kom Ombo (~£5); train/microbus Kom Ombo–Luxor (~£6)
🛏Budget hotel, Luxor East Bank (private ~£15-22)
- →Morning felucca sail on the Nile (~£10)
- →Kom Ombo Temple (~£5.5 entry)
- →Luxor local market dinner (~£5)
Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple and the bazaars
Luxor
Early start for Karnak Temple (entry ~EGP 450 / ~£7) — arrive at 6-7am for empty colonnades and good light; a local guide for 1-2 hours costs ~£20-30 or share a small-group tour from GetYourGuide (~£20). Lunch, then visit Luxor Temple (~EGP 400 / ~£6) and the Luxor Museum (~£6) if you want more context. Afternoon: wander the Luxor bazaar and, if you want to see community tourism in action, look up local women's craft cooperatives similar to the Funtasia Project (free, small optional purchase). Optional add-ons: Mummification Museum (~£1.5), Tutankhamun's tomb (~£4), Luxor Temple & Museum guided tour (~£45).
🚌Walking and cheap local taxis/tuk-tuks (~£3-5 per day)
🛏Budget hotel, Luxor East Bank (private ~£15-22)
- →Karnak Temple (~£7 entry)
- →Luxor Temple (~£6 entry)
- →Luxor Museum (~£6)
- →Bazaar and local craft cooperative visit (free)
- →Optional Tutankhamun tomb (~£4)
Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut and a West Bank lunch
Luxor
Take the public ferry across the Nile to the West Bank (~£1) and pick up a shared microbus or hire a bike/taxi for the day (~£8-12). Buy the Valley of the Kings ticket (~EGP 750 / ~£12 for 3 tombs; Tutankhamun and Ramesses V/VI extra). Then Hatshepsut Temple (~£6) and the Colossi of Memnon (free). Stop for lunch with a West Bank family — many small guesthouses and local guides offer home-cooked meals for ~£6-10, or just eat at a family-run café near the ferry. Optional: sunrise hot-air balloon over the West Bank (~£65-90 booked via GetYourGuide or direct with operators in Luxor — significantly cheaper than through a tour). Evening: sunset felucca or rooftop dinner.
🚌Public ferry (~£1), shared microbus/bike/taxi on the West Bank (~£10)
🛏Budget hotel, Luxor East Bank (private ~£15-22)
- →Valley of the Kings (~£12 entry)
- →Hatshepsut Temple (~£6)
- →Colossi of Memnon (free)
- →West Bank family lunch (~£8)
- →Optional sunrise hot-air balloon (~£70)
Luxor to Cairo — depart
Luxor → Cairo
Depending on your flight, either take the early-morning domestic flight Luxor–Cairo (~£45-70 one-way booked direct with EgyptAir/Nile Air) or the daytime train (~£12-18, 9-10 hrs). If you have a late flight, add a half-day Memphis and Saqqara trip from Cairo (~£30-40 with a driver-guide via GetYourGuide, entry ~£6-8) or use the time for last-minute souvenir shopping. Head to Cairo International for your international departure.
🚌Domestic flight Luxor–Cairo (~£45-70) or daytime train (~£15)
🛏None (departure day) — or one final budget hotel night in Cairo (~£18-25) if your flight is next morning
- →Optional Memphis & Saqqara half-day (~£35)
- →Optional final Cairo souvenir shopping (free)
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£530 | £975 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £445 per person (46%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£530
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 Best of Egypt — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £530 per person for 8 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 G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £975 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £530 — a saving of roughly £445 (46%) per person.
How long is the Egypt trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 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, hiking 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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