Self-Launched Ancient Egypt & Nile Cruise

Fly into Cairo International Airport. Most international flights arrive in the evening. Grab a metered taxi or pre-book an airport transfer (~£15–20) to your hotel near the Giza Plateau. Check in, freshen up, and rest ahead of a packed itinerary. If you arrive early, head to the hotel rooftop for your first glimpse of the pyramids on the horizon.

🚌Taxi from Cairo Airport to Giza (~£15–20). Uber is also available and reliable in Cairo.

🛏Le Meridien Pyramids Hotel & Spa or similar 4-star near Giza (~£40–55/night), or budget option: Pyramids Guest House (~£18–25/night)

• →Arrive at Cairo International Airport
• →Transfer to hotel by metered taxi or pre-booked shuttle (~£15–20)
• →Rest and acclimatise

Start early with a visit to the spectacular Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) near Giza — book tickets online in advance (~£18–22). Highlights include the Tutankhamun Galleries, the colossal statue of Ramesses II and the Khufu Boat Museum. After lunch, head to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC) in Fustat (~£8 entry), home to the royal mummies including Ramses II. Round off the day exploring the labyrinthine Khan el-Khalili bazaar — haggle for souvenirs, sip mint tea and soak up centuries of trading history. Grab dinner at a local restaurant in the bazaar area.

🚌Use Cairo Metro and local taxis/Uber between sites (~£5–8 total). The metro is cheap (~£0.20/journey) and efficient.

🛏Same as Day 1

• →Visit the Grand Egyptian Museum — book tickets via official GEM website or GetYourGuide (~£18–22)
• →Explore the Tutankhamun Galleries and Khufu Boat Museum
• →Visit the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (~£8 entry)
• →See the Royal Mummies Hall
• →Explore Khan el-Khalili bazaar
• →Dinner at a local Cairo restaurant (~£8–12)

Walk or take a short taxi to the Giza Plateau — entry tickets (~£14) cover the whole complex including the Great Sphinx. Hire a local guide at the gate (~£15–20 for 2–3 hours) for fascinating context, or book a guided Pyramids tour via GetYourGuide (~£25–35 including guide and transport). The plateau opens at 8am — arrive early to beat the heat and crowds. Pay extra to enter the Great Pyramid (~£17) if you wish. After, take a camel or horse ride to the panoramic viewpoint for that classic photo. The afternoon is free to relax, visit a local hammam or explore Islamic Cairo.

🚌Walk or taxi from Giza hotel to plateau (~£3–5). Local taxis for afternoon (~£5).

🛏Same as Day 1

• →Visit the Giza Plateau — Pyramids of Cheops, Chephren & Mycerinus (~£14 entry)
• →See the Great Sphinx
• →Optional: enter the Great Pyramid interior (~£17 extra)
• →Hire a local Egyptologist guide at the gate (~£15–20) or book via GetYourGuide
• →Camel or horse ride to panoramic viewpoint (~£8–12)
• →Free afternoon — optional visit to Islamic Cairo or a hammam

Take a domestic EgyptAir flight from Cairo to Luxor (book in advance, ~£45–65 one-way — flights are often at dawn so set an early alarm). On arrival, head straight to the massive Karnak Temple complex (~£12 entry) on the east bank — arrive early to beat the crowds. Then visit the nearby Luxor Temple (~£10 entry), dramatically lit from sunrise. After, head to the Nile corniche to board your pre-booked budget Nile cruise boat. Budget 'floating hotel' cruises (3-star, full board) between Luxor and Aswan can be booked directly through local operators or via booking platforms for ~£80–120 total per person for 4 nights including most meals. Check in, have lunch on board and enjoy a free afternoon exploring Luxor town.

🚌Pre-book domestic flight Cairo–Luxor (~£45–65). Shared taxi from Luxor airport to Karnak (~£5). Walking between Luxor Temple and corniche.

🛏Budget Nile cruise boat (e.g. M/S Crown Empress or similar 3-star vessel, ~£20–30/night per person full-board)

• →EgyptAir domestic flight Cairo–Luxor (~£45–65, book in advance at egyptair.com)
• →Visit Karnak Temple complex (~£12 entry)
• →Visit Luxor Temple (~£10 entry)
• →Check in to pre-booked budget Nile cruise boat (4 nights full-board ~£80–120 total)
• →Free afternoon to explore Luxor corniche and town

Rise early for the west bank. Take a local ferry across the Nile (~£0.50) and hire a local taxi or join a shared minibus tour to the Valley of the Kings (~£8–10 for transport). Entry to the Valley includes three tombs (~£14); add Tutankhamun's tomb (~£15 extra) or Ramses VI (~£8 extra) if you wish. Next, visit the stunning Hatshepsut Temple at Deir el-Bahari (~£10) — an architectural marvel cut into the cliffs. Stop at the Colossi of Memnon (free). Return to the boat for lunch as the cruise officially begins, sailing south towards Aswan with a sunset on the Nile.

🚌Local Nile ferry (~£0.50) + shared taxi/minibus on west bank (~£8–10). Cruise boat sailing included.

🛏Nile cruise boat (full-board included)

• →Local ferry across the Nile to west bank (~£0.50)
• →Visit Valley of the Kings — 3 tombs included in entry (~£14)
• →Optional: Tutankhamun's tomb (~£15 extra) or Ramses VI (~£8 extra)
• →Visit Hatshepsut Temple at Deir el-Bahari (~£10)
• →See the Colossi of Memnon (free)
• →Return to cruise boat; begin Nile sailing towards Aswan
• →Sunset on the Nile from the boat deck

The cruise boat docks at Edfu in the morning. Take a calèche (horse-drawn carriage, ~£3–5) from the dock up to the magnificent Temple of Horus at Edfu (~£10 entry) — one of Egypt's best-preserved Ptolemaic temples. Return to the boat for lunch as you sail on to Kom Ombo. In the late afternoon, visit the unusual double temple of Sobek and Haroeris at Kom Ombo (~£8 entry), perched dramatically above the Nile. The on-site Crocodile Museum is included. Re-board and sail into Aswan as the sun sets over the desert.

🚌Cruise boat between all stops (included in cruise cost). Calèche at Edfu (~£3–5).

🛏Nile cruise boat (full-board included)

• →Dock at Edfu; calèche ride to Temple of Horus (~£3–5)
• →Visit Edfu Temple (~£10 entry)
• →Sail to Kom Ombo; visit Kom Ombo Temple (~£8 entry)
• →Visit the Crocodile Museum at Kom Ombo (included)
• →Evening sail into Aswan

Wake up moored in Aswan. Explore the vibrant Aswan bazaar — spices, Nubian crafts, carpets and fresh produce in abundance. The optional highlight of the entire trip: a day trip to Abu Simbel, 300km south. Book a shared minibus convoy from Aswan (departs ~4am, ~£15–20 per person return) or a budget flight (~£60–80 return). Entry to the twin temples of Ramses II is ~£20. The rock-cut temples are jaw-dropping. Return to Aswan by early afternoon. Alternatively, visit the Nubian Museum in Aswan (~£5 entry) — a superb introduction to Nubian history and culture.

🚌Shared minibus convoy to Abu Simbel (~£15–20 return) or budget flight (~£60–80 return). Local taxis in Aswan (~£3–5).

🛏Nile cruise boat (full-board included)

• →Explore Aswan bazaar and Nubian market
• →Optional: Abu Simbel day trip via shared convoy minibus (~£15–20 return) — departs ~4am
• →Entry to Abu Simbel temples (~£20)
• →Alternative: Visit Nubian Museum, Aswan (~£5)
• →Relax on the cruise boat deck; enjoy Nile views

After breakfast, disembark the cruise and check into your Aswan hotel. Head to Philae Temple, relocated to Agilkia Island in the 1970s — take a motorboat from the Shellal dock (~£3–5 return) and pay entry (~£12). The island temple complex is stunning. Afterwards, visit the nearby Aswan High Dam (entry free; taxi ~£5). In the afternoon, hire a felucca (traditional Egyptian sailing boat) directly from the Nile corniche — negotiate with captains for a 2–3 hour sunset sail around Elephantine Island (~£8–12 per person). A magical end to the Nile journey. Dinner at a Nubian restaurant on the corniche.

🚌Taxi from dock to hotel (~£5). Motorboat to Philae (~£3–5). Taxi to dam (~£5). Felucca hire (~£8–12).

🛏Basma Hotel Aswan or similar (~£35–45/night), or budget option: Nubian Oasis Guesthouse (~£18–25/night)

• →Disembark cruise; check into Aswan hotel
• →Motorboat to Philae Temple (~£3–5 boat + ~£12 entry)
• →Visit Aswan High Dam (free entry, taxi ~£5)
• →Hire a felucca on the Nile corniche (~£8–12 per person, 2–3 hours)
• →Sail around Elephantine Island at sunset
• →Dinner at a Nubian restaurant (~£8–12)

Enjoy a final breakfast in Aswan. If your flight is not until later, take a leisurely walk along the Nile corniche, visit a local café or explore the Nubian villages on Elephantine Island (short ferry ~£1). Head to Aswan Airport for your onward flight — EgyptAir operates connections to Cairo for onward international flights (~£40–60). Alternatively, the overnight sleeper train from Aswan to Cairo is a memorable budget option (~£25–35 in a private berth, book via Egyptian National Railways or Abela Egypt Sleeper).

🚌Taxi to Aswan Airport (~£8–10). Domestic flight to Cairo (~£40–60) or overnight sleeper train (~£25–35).

🛏Not required (departure day)

• →Final breakfast and leisurely morning in Aswan
• →Optional: ferry to Elephantine Island Nubian villages (~£1)
• →Transfer to Aswan Airport or train station
• →Fly to Cairo for connections (~£40–60) or take overnight sleeper train (~£25–35)