Egypt & Jordan Discovered: Nile Cruise, Dahab & Petra — Self-Launched
15 days · Egypt & Jordan
Travel Talk charges £2,560
No-markup version: ~£1,345 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Travel Talk's 15-day Cairo-to-Amman loop: Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum, a felucca-and-bus run down to Aswan, a budget Nile cruise or public ferry to Luxor with the big temples and Valley of the Kings, chill days diving and snorkelling the Blue Hole in Dahab, then the overland/ferry crossing at Taba to Aqaba, a Wadi Rum desert camp night, two days at Petra and a Dead Sea float before finishing in Amman. You book everything yourself — guesthouses and 3-star hotels instead of 5-star chains, local guides or GetYourGuide day tours instead of a tour director, and public buses, trains, shared minivans and the AB Maritime ferry instead of a private coach. All figures are approximate per-person GBP estimates based on current budget-to-midrange traveller rates; entrance fees in Egypt are paid in EGP on arrival and add up fast, so budget extra.
Day-by-day
Arrive Cairo — Khan el-Khalili and a Nile sunset
Cairo
Land at Cairo International, get your visa on arrival (£20-25, or e-visa in advance) and take the airport shuttle bus or Uber to a downtown hostel or budget hotel near Tahrir/Midan Talat Harb (single/double from £12-20). Skip the tour 'welcome meeting' — instead walk the Corniche at sunset and eat koshari at Abou Tarek (£2-3). Optional: a cheap sunset felucca or dinner cruise on the Nile (£10-15 direct at the dock rather than the £35 tour add-on).
🚌Airport bus or Uber to downtown, ~£5-8
🛏Downtown Cairo hostel or 2-star hotel (Tahrir / Talat Harb)
- →Khan el-Khalili bazaar wander
- →Nile Corniche sunset walk
- →Koshari dinner at Abou Tarek
Giza Pyramids, Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum
Cairo / Giza
Take the Cairo Metro to Giza then a microbus or taxi to the pyramids (£1-2). Buy your site ticket at the gate (£8-10, plus extra for entry inside a pyramid), then either self-guide with an audio guide or join a GetYourGuide small-group Giza tour (£20-30) for context. Afternoon: the Grand Egyptian Museum near the pyramids — allow 3-4 hours and buy the timed ticket online (£12-15). Eat at a local fuul/ta'amiya spot (£3-4).
🚌Metro + microbus/taxi to Giza, ~£4
🛏Downtown Cairo hostel or 2-star hotel
- →Giza Pyramids and Sphinx (self-guided or GetYourGuide small-group)
- →Grand Egyptian Museum (timed ticket)
- →Optional camel/horse ride at Giza (£8-12, negotiate hard)
Overnight train to Aswan — Philae Temple and the Unfinished Obelisk
Cairo to Aswan
Book the daytime or overnight Egyptian National Railways sleeper train Cairo–Aswan (Watania sleeper cabin ~£50-60 one-way, or a 2nd-class seat ~£12-18 on daytime services — book online or at Ramses Station a few days ahead). On arrival take a minivan to your Aswan guesthouse on the Corniche (£10-15/night). Afternoon: local ferry to Agilkia Island for Philae Temple (boat £2-3, ticket ~£6), then the Unfinished Obelisk in the granite quarries (~£3). Optional Nubian village dinner by boat (£15-20 direct with a local family rather than the £35 tour add-on).
🚌Cairo–Aswan train (sleeper cabin or 2nd class), £12-60
🛏Aswan Corniche guesthouse or budget hotel
- →Philae Temple by local boat
- →Unfinished Obelisk
- →Optional Nubian village dinner
Abu Simbel day trip and Kom Ombo at sunset
Aswan / Abu Simbel / Kom Ombo
Join a shared minibus convoy to Abu Simbel departing 4-5am (£18-25 shared transfer plus ~£10 site ticket) — far cheaper than the £105 tour optional. Back in Aswan by early afternoon, then take a shared minivan north to Kom Ombo (£4-6) and see the twin temple at golden hour (~£4). Continue to Edfu or overnight in Kom Ombo/Aswan depending on timing. This is the day the coach tour does in air-conditioned comfort — a shared van is bumpier but the same temples.
🚌Shared minibus Aswan–Abu Simbel–Kom Ombo, ~£10-14
🛏Kom Ombo or Edfu budget hotel, or return to Aswan
- →Abu Simbel temples (shared convoy)
- →Kom Ombo Temple
Edfu Temple and a felucca down the Nile
Edfu / Nile
See Edfu's Horus Temple early (~£4 ticket) — either by shared minivan from Kom Ombo (£3) or calèche from Edfu town. Rather than a 5-star cruise, you have two good options: (a) hop on a public Nile ferry or 1st-class train to Luxor (£3-6), or (b) book a 1-night budget Nile cruise/fallucca sail through a local operator in Aswan or Luxor (£40-70 per person share, booked direct). Overnight in Luxor's East Bank guesthouse (£10-16).
🚌Shared minivan or train to Luxor; optional felucca sail, £5-70
🛏Luxor East Bank guesthouse
- →Edfu Temple
- →Nile felucca sail
- →Optional 1-night budget Nile cruise
Karnak and Luxor Temple
Luxor
Do Karnak early to beat the heat (~£8 ticket) — cycle or take a microbus (£1). Afternoon rest, then Luxor Temple at sunset (~£6) when it's lit and cooler. A local licensed guide for 2-3 hours costs £15-25 and is well worth it at Karnak; alternatively use a GetYourGuide Karnak+Luxor half-day tour (£20-30). Dinner on the East Bank (£4-6).
🚌Bicycle hire or microbus, £2-3
🛏Luxor East Bank guesthouse
- →Karnak Temple Complex
- →Luxor Temple at sunset
- →Optional local guide (£15-25)
Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut and Colossi of Memnon
Luxor West Bank
Cross on the public ferry (£1) and hire a bicycle or share a taxi/ tuk-tuk for the West Bank circuit. Valley of the Kings ticket ~£12 (3 tombs; Tutankhamun extra), Hatshepsut ~£6, Colossi of Memnon free. Optional sunrise hot-air balloon over Luxor (£70-90 booked direct with a local balloon company — the tour charges £105). Evening: overnight train or early flight back to Cairo; the sleeper Luxor–Cairo is ~£50-60 and saves a hotel night.
🚌West Bank ferry + shared taxi; Luxor–Cairo sleeper train ~£50-60
🛏Overnight train to Cairo, or Cairo hostel
- →Valley of the Kings
- →Temple of Hatshepsut
- →Colossi of Memnon
- →Optional hot-air balloon (£70-90)
Bus to Dahab on the Red Sea
Cairo to Dahab
Take the morning Go Bus / East Delta bus from Cairo Gateway to Dahab (£10-14, 9-10 hours, book online a day or two ahead). Arrive evening and check into a seafront guesthouse or dive hostel in Dahab's Assalah area (£10-16/night). Dahab is the relaxed half of this trip — no alarms tomorrow.
🚌Cairo–Dahab coach, ~£12
🛏Dahab seafront guesthouse / dive hostel
- →Red Sea promenade walk
- →Seafront dinner (£4-6)
Blue Hole snorkelling and reef time
Dahab
Hire a mask and fins (£4-6/day) and take a local pickup truck or taxi to the Blue Hole (£6-8 return shared). Snorkelling straight off the shore is superb and free once you're there — the tour charges £43. Alternatively book a PADI Discover Scuba dive (£35-45) or a 2-dive trip (£45-60) direct with one of the many Dahab dive centres. Cheap fresh fish and Bedouin tea back in town.
🚌Shared pickup to Blue Hole, ~£7 return
🛏Dahab seafront guesthouse / dive hostel
- →Blue Hole snorkelling
- →Optional Discover Scuba dive (£35-45)
- →Optional camel trek at sunset (£10-15)
Dahab free day — dive, canyon or chill
Dahab
Second dive day, a hike into the Coloured Canyon by shared 4x4 (£15-25), or a lazy day on the lighthouse reef with a book. Bedouin mountain dinner can be arranged directly with a camp (£15-20, versus the £33 tour add-on). Sort your Jordan crossing paperwork and confirm the AB Maritime ferry timetable for tomorrow.
🚌Local taxis/pickups, £3-5
🛏Dahab seafront guesthouse / dive hostel
- →Optional second dive day (£35-50)
- →Optional Coloured Canyon 4x4 trip
- →Bedouin dinner
Overland to Taba, ferry to Aqaba and a Wadi Rum desert camp
Dahab → Taba → Aqaba → Wadi Rum
Shared taxi or bus Dahab–Taba border (£5-8). Cross into Israel at Taba (pay the Israeli exit fee ~£10-12), take a taxi 10 minutes to the Jordanian Aqaba crossing, buy your Jordan Pass in advance online (from ~£55 — covers your visa and Petra entry) and clear immigration. In Aqaba, either take the fast AB Maritime ferry from Taba if running that day (~£45-55) or simply continue by road. Taxi/shared minivan Aqaba–Wadi Rum village (£12-18) and a desert camp with dinner and breakfast (£18-30). Sunset and a traditional zarb dinner under the stars.
🚌Taxi to Taba, border crossing, minivan to Wadi Rum, ~£35-50
🛏Wadi Rum Bedouin desert camp (tent, half board)
- →Taba–Aqaba border crossing
- →Wadi Rum sunset
- →Bedouin camp dinner under the stars
Wadi Rum jeep safari to Petra
Wadi Rum to Petra (Wadi Musa)
Morning 2-3 hour jeep tour of Wadi Rum with a Bedouin driver (£18-25, usually shared in the camp) — Lawrence's Spring, Khazali Canyon, the red dunes. Optional camel ride (£12-17). Mid-afternoon shared minivan or bus to Wadi Musa/Petra (£8-10, ~2 hours). Check into a family-run hotel near the Petra gate (£14-22/night). Optional Petra by Night (candlelit Siq, Mon/Wed/Thu, ~£12-17 ticket — buy at the visitor centre).
🚌Shared minivan Wadi Rum–Wadi Musa, ~£9
🛏Wadi Musa (Petra) family-run hotel
- →Wadi Rum jeep safari
- →Optional camel ride
- →Optional Petra by Night
Full day at Petra
Petra
Enter at opening (6am in summer) with your Jordan Pass. Walk the Siq to the Treasury, then the Street of Facades, Theatre, Royal Tombs and the Monastery hike (850 steps, ~2 hours up and back). You do not need a guide for the main trail — signage is good and a licensed guide for 2-3 hours costs £25-40 if you want the stories. Golf carts and donkey rides are available at the site if you'd rather save your legs (£15-25). Second entry is included in a 2-day Jordan Pass, so consider a return visit.
🚌Walk to Petra gate
🛏Wadi Musa (Petra) family-run hotel
- →Petra main trail: Siq, Treasury, Theatre, Royal Tombs
- →Monastery hike
- →Optional site guide (£25-40)
Shobak Castle, Dead Sea float and on to Amman
Petra → Shobak → Dead Sea → Amman
Shared minivan or bus north on the King's Highway; stop at Shobak Crusader Castle (~£3, or take a taxi for the day £30-45 split between 2-3 people). Continue to a Dead Sea beach — Amman Beach or a hotel day pass (£15-25) — and float. Local buses/minivans from the Dead Sea area to Amman are cheap but slow; a shared taxi is £7-10. Overnight in downtown Amman (£12-20).
🚌Shared minivan/taxi Petra–Shobak–Dead Sea–Amman, ~£20-28
🛏Downtown Amman hostel or budget hotel
- →Shobak Castle
- →Dead Sea swim and float (day pass)
- →King's Highway scenery
Amman Citadel, Roman Theatre and departure
Amman
Morning at the Amman Citadel and Roman Theatre (covered by some Jordan Pass tiers — check; otherwise ~£5 each), then coffee and kanafeh in downtown. Take the airport bus or a taxi to Queen Alia International (£4-8) for your flight home. If you can, add a day for Jerash (£12-15 shared minivan plus ~£10 entry) — it's the best Roman site in the region and the tour skips it.
🚌Airport bus or taxi, £4-8
🛏—
- →Amman Citadel
- →Roman Theatre
- →Downtown souq and kanafeh
Self-launched vs. Travel Talk
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Travel Talk | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,345 | £2,560 |
| Duration | 15 days | 15 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,215 per person (47%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Travel Talk-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,345
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 Egypt & Jordan Discovered: Nile Cruise, Dahab & Petra — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,345 per person for 15 days in Egypt & Jordan. 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 Travel Talk?+
Yes — Travel Talk charges around £2,560 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,345 — a saving of roughly £1,215 (47%) per person.
How long is the Egypt & Jordan trip?+
This itinerary runs 15 days, covering 15 day-by-day stops through Egypt & Jordan.
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 & Jordan, 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?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
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