Self-Launched Egypt & Jordan: Ancient Wonders in 10 Days

Arrive at Cairo International Airport and make your way to your hostel or budget hotel in the Zamalek or Downtown area. Take a taxi or the Airport Shuttle bus (~£5-8) into the city centre. Spend the evening settling in, grab some koshari from a local spot (Egypt's national dish, under £1.50), and plan your next few days. The area around Talaat Harb Square has excellent budget eateries and is well connected.

🚌Airport shuttle bus or metered taxi to Downtown Cairo (~£5-8)

🛏Dahab Hostel Cairo or Cairo Hostel (dorm ~£10-14/night, private room ~£20-28/night)

• →Arrive at Cairo International Airport
• →Transfer to city centre by airport shuttle or metered taxi (~£5-8)
• →Explore Downtown Cairo on foot
• →Try koshari and street food for dinner

Head to the Giza Plateau early morning to beat the crowds. Take a Uber or local taxi from Downtown Cairo to Giza (~£4-6). Walk the plateau and visit all three pyramids — Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure — plus the Great Sphinx. Entry to the plateau is around £10-12 (200 EGP). In the afternoon, visit the Grand Egyptian Museum, which opened fully in 2023 and houses the Tutankhamun treasures. Book entry tickets online in advance (~£14). In the evening, board the overnight sleeper train from Cairo Ramses Station to Aswan (Abela Egypt Sleeping Trains, book online at wataniaexpress.com or through 12Go Asia, ~£40-55 for a private cabin).

🚌Taxi/Uber to Giza (~£4-6); overnight train Cairo Ramses to Aswan (~£40-55)

🛏Overnight sleeper train to Aswan (~£40-55 per person, cabin included)

• →Visit the Pyramids of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure at Giza (~£10-12 entry)
• →See the Great Sphinx (included in plateau ticket)
• →Visit the Grand Egyptian Museum (~£14, book online in advance)
• →Board the Cairo–Aswan overnight sleeper train from Ramses Station (~£40-55)

Arrive in Aswan in the morning. Check into a budget guesthouse or join your pre-booked Nile cruise (budget cruises can be booked direct through operators like Nile Cruise Selection or GetYourGuide for ~£80-120/night all-inclusive for 3 nights). Visit the Temple of Philae by motorboat from the boat dock south of the dam (~£8 boat transfer, ~£10 entry). Then see the Unfinished Obelisk (£4 entry) and the Aswan High Dam (£4 entry). Enjoy dinner on the Nile cruise or at a local Aswan restaurant.

🚌Motorboat to Philae Island (~£8 return); local taxi between sites (~£5-8)

🛏Budget Nile cruise (e.g. MS Moon Dance or similar 3-star cruise booked direct, ~£80-120/night all-inclusive) OR Keylany Hotel Aswan (~£18-25/night)

• →Arrive Aswan by overnight train in the morning
• →Check into budget Nile cruise or guesthouse
• →Visit Temple of Philae by motorboat (~£8 transfer + ~£10 entry)
• →Visit the Unfinished Obelisk (~£4)
• →Visit Aswan High Dam (~£4)

Rise early for an optional but highly recommended day trip to Abu Simbel. Join a shared minibus tour departing around 04:00 from Aswan (book via your guesthouse or GetYourGuide, ~£30-40 including entry). Return to Aswan by midday. In the afternoon, your Nile cruise sails north to Kom Ombo. Arrive late afternoon and visit the stunning Kom Ombo Temple perched above the Nile at sunset (~£8 entry). Dinner on the cruise.

🚌Shared minibus to Abu Simbel and back (~£15-20 transport alone); Nile cruise sailing included

🛏Budget Nile cruise (continuing from Day 3)

• →Optional: Early morning shared bus tour to Abu Simbel Temples (~£30-40 all-in)
• →Sail from Aswan to Kom Ombo on budget Nile cruise
• →Visit Kom Ombo Temple at sunset (~£8 entry)
• →Dinner on the Nile cruise

Sail north from Kom Ombo to Edfu. Ride a horse-drawn calèche (carriage) from the dock to the Temple of Horus at Edfu — one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt (~£6-8 carriage, ~£10 entry). Continue sailing to Luxor. In the afternoon visit the vast Karnak Temple Complex (~£12 entry, book via GetYourGuide for a guided audio tour add-on). In the evening stroll the Luxor Corniche and visit Luxor Temple beautifully lit up at night (~£10 entry). Overnight on the cruise moored at Luxor.

🚌Nile cruise sailing included; horse-drawn calèche at Edfu (~£6-8)

🛏Budget Nile cruise moored at Luxor (final night on cruise)

• →Sail from Kom Ombo to Edfu
• →Horse-drawn carriage to Edfu (Temple of Horus) (~£6-8 + £10 entry)
• →Sail to Luxor
• →Visit Karnak Temple Complex (~£12)
• →Visit Luxor Temple in the evening (~£10)

Disembark the cruise and check into a budget guesthouse on the West Bank of Luxor for a night (or East Bank if preferred). Hire a bicycle or join a cheap local minivan taxi to the West Bank sites. Visit the Valley of the Kings (~£14 entry for 3 tombs, pay extra for Tutankhamun's tomb ~£14). Walk to the Temple of Hatshepsut (Deir el-Bahari, ~£8) and the Colossi of Memnon (free). Optional: Book an early morning hot air balloon ride over the West Bank through a local operator (e.g. Hod Hod Soliman, ~£80-100). In the evening, board the overnight sleeper train back to Cairo from Luxor (~£40-55).

🚌Local minivan taxi to West Bank sites (~£5-8); overnight train Luxor to Cairo (~£40-55)

🛏Overnight sleeper train to Cairo

• →Optional early morning hot air balloon over Luxor West Bank (~£80-100, book via GetYourGuide or direct)
• →Visit Valley of the Kings (~£14 for 3 tombs)
• →Visit Temple of Hatshepsut (~£8)
• →Visit Colossi of Memnon (free)
• →Board overnight sleeper train Luxor to Cairo (~£40-55)

Arrive back in Cairo in the morning. Transfer to Cairo International Airport for a short flight to Amman, Jordan (budget ~£60-100 one-way with Air Arabia, EgyptAir or Royal Jordanian — book in advance). On arrival at Queen Alia International Airport, purchase a Jordan Pass (from £60) which covers your visa fee and entry to over 40 sites including Petra — excellent value. Take a shared taxi or JETT bus (~£6-10) towards Madaba. Visit Madaba city and the 6th-century Byzantine mosaic map of the Holy Land at St. George's Church (small entry fee ~£1-2). Drive on to Mt. Nebo (~£4 entry), where Moses is said to have viewed the Promised Land. Then transfer to Amman for the night.

🚌Taxi Cairo airport (~£5); flight Cairo–Amman (~£60-100); shared taxi/JETT bus Amman–Madaba–Mt. Nebo (~£10-15 total)

🛏The Nomads Hostel Amman or Jordan Tower Hotel (~£15-22/night)

• →Arrive Cairo by overnight train; transfer to airport
• →Fly Cairo to Amman (~£60-100, book in advance)
• →Purchase Jordan Pass at airport (covers visa + 40+ sites, ~£60)
• →Visit Madaba and St. George's Church mosaic map (~£1-2)
• →Visit Mt. Nebo (~£4 or free with Jordan Pass)
• →Transfer to Amman for the night

Take an early JETT bus from Amman North Bus Station to Wadi Musa (gateway to Petra), approximately 3 hours (~£10-12 one way). Check into a budget guesthouse in Wadi Musa. Spend the entire day exploring Petra — walk the Siq canyon, see the iconic Treasury (Al-Khazneh), the Street of Façades, the Roman Theatre and the Monastery if energy allows. Entry is covered if you have the Jordan Pass; otherwise ~£60 for a 1-day ticket. Wear comfortable shoes and carry water. Stay overnight in Wadi Musa.

🚌JETT bus Amman to Wadi Musa (~£10-12); walking within Petra; local taxi optional (~£3-5)

🛏Valentine Inn or Rocky Mountain Hotel, Wadi Musa (~£14-20/night dorm/budget room)

• →JETT bus from Amman to Wadi Musa (Petra) (~£10-12)
• →Full day at Petra: the Siq, Treasury, Street of Façades, Theatre (~£60 entry or free with Jordan Pass)
• →Optional: hike up to the Monastery (Ad-Deir) for panoramic views
• →Explore Petra by Night if available (separate ticket ~£12)

Take a morning bus back north from Wadi Musa to Amman (~£10-12), then a local minibus or shared taxi from Amman to Jerash (~£1.50 each way). Spend the morning exploring the remarkably preserved Roman city of Jerash — Hadrian's Arch, the Oval Plaza, colonnaded streets and temples (~£10 entry, free with Jordan Pass). Return to Amman in the afternoon. Visit the Amman Citadel (Jabal al-Qal'a) with its Temple of Hercules and Umayyad Palace, the Jordan Archaeological Museum (all ~£4 combined, or free with Jordan Pass), and the Folklore Museum in the Roman Theatre complex. Spend the evening exploring Rainbow Street for dinner and local nightlife.

🚌Bus Wadi Musa to Amman (~£10-12); minibus Amman–Jerash–Amman (~£3); local taxis in Amman (~£3-5)

🛏The Nomads Hostel or Jordan Tower Hotel, Amman (~£15-22/night)

• →Bus from Wadi Musa back to Amman (~£10-12)
• →Minibus from Amman to Jerash (~£1.50)
• →Explore ancient Roman city of Jerash (~£10 or free with Jordan Pass)
• →Return to Amman; visit the Citadel & Archaeological Museum (~£4)
• →Visit the Folklore Museum at the Roman Theatre (~£2)
• →Dinner on Rainbow Street

Enjoy a leisurely final morning in Amman. Explore the bustling souks of Downtown Amman, try a traditional foul and falafel breakfast, and visit the Street Art District or the Duke's Diwan cultural centre. Pick up last-minute souvenirs from the Souk Jara area. Take a pre-booked Airport Express bus or taxi from central Amman to Queen Alia International Airport (~£8-15). Allow at least 3 hours before your flight for check-in and security.

🚌Airport Express bus or taxi to Queen Alia Airport (~£8-15)

🛏Check out and transfer to airport

• →Explore Downtown Amman souks and street food breakfast
• →Optional: visit Duke's Diwan cultural centre (free)
• →Souvenir shopping at local markets
• →Transfer to Queen Alia Airport (~£8-15 by express bus or taxi)