Self-Launched Egypt: Cairo, Nile Cruise, Luxor & Aswan (DIY Version)
10 days · Egypt
Egypt Tour Pro charges £3,840
No-markup version: ~£1,180 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched 10-day Egypt adventure covering the same ground as Egypt Tour Pro's luxury package — Giza pyramids, the Egyptian Museum, a Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan, Abu Simbel, and Sakkara — but booked independently. You'll swap the Marriott Mena House for well-located budget hotels and guesthouses, ride the overnight sleeper train between Cairo and Luxor/Aswan, book a small-group or shared Nile cruise, and hire local guides or join GetYourGuide small-group tours at each site. Expect the same ancient wonders for roughly a quarter of the price. All costs are approximate per-person estimates in GBP.
Day-by-day
Arrive Cairo — Pyramids sunset & Giza welcome
Cairo
Fly into Cairo International Airport (CAI). Grab a local SIM (Vodafone/Orange, ~£8 for 20GB), withdraw EGP, and take an Uber or the airport shuttle bus (~£6) to a budget hotel in Giza or Downtown (e.g. Pyramids View Inn or a Downtown hostel, ~£25/night). In the late afternoon head to the Giza plateau viewpoint for sunset over the pyramids and Sphinx — instead of the operator's 5-star sunset dinner at Mena House, book a rooftop restaurant along the Giza Sphinx road (e.g. a pyramids-view terrace) for a cheap koshari or grilled chicken dinner (~£8).
🚌Airport Uber/shuttle ~£6
🛏Budget hotel/hostel, Giza or Downtown Cairo (~£25)
- →Airport transfer
- →Sunset views of the Great Pyramid and Sphinx from Giza
- →Rooftop dinner with pyramid views
Egyptian Museum & National Museum of Egyptian Civilization
Cairo
Self-guided day of Cairo's museums. Start at the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities in Tahrir Square (entry ~£8) — Tutankhamun's treasures and royal mummies. Then take a taxi/Uber (~£3) to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Fustat (entry ~£8) and descend into the Royal Mummies Hall. Optionally hire a licensed local guide for 2–3 hours (~£25 split) or join a GetYourGuide small-group tour (~£22 pp) if you want the stories and context. Lunch at a Downtown falafel/koshari spot (~£4).
🚌Uber/taxi between museums ~£6 total
🛏Budget hotel/hostel, Cairo (~£25)
- →Egyptian Museum of Antiquities (self-guided or GetYourGuide)
- →National Museum of Egyptian Civilization & Royal Mummies
Giza Plateau & optional Dahshur/Memphis
Cairo / Giza
Return to the Giza Plateau early to beat the heat. Buy a combined Giza entry ticket (~£8) plus an interior entry to the Great Pyramid (~£18) or the smaller Pyramid of Mykerinos (~£4) if the big one is crowded. Walk the Sphinx viewpoint and the Chephren/Mykerinos pyramids. In the afternoon take a minibus or Uber (~£10) to Dahshur to see the Bent and Red Pyramids (entry ~£4) — a calmer alternative to the crowds. Or simply rest. Dinner near your hotel (~£8).
🚌Uber to Giza & Dahshur ~£12
🛏Budget hotel/hostel, Cairo (~£25)
- →Giza Plateau pyramids & Sphinx
- →Interior entry to a Great Pyramid
- →Optional Dahshur Bent & Red Pyramids
Overnight sleeper train to Luxor — Karnak & Luxor Temples
Cairo → Luxor
Book the Watania overnight sleeper train from Cairo to Luxor (~£50 single, book online in advance). If you take the evening departure you arrive early morning — or take a morning train and arrive afternoon. On arrival, buy your Luxor Pass or individual tickets and visit Karnak Temple (entry ~£10) and Luxor Temple (entry ~£8), both walkable/cheap taxi from the corniche. Check into a budget hotel on the East Bank (e.g. in Luxor town, ~£20). Dine cheaply on the Nilometer or Oasis street food (~£6).
🚌Overnight sleeper train Cairo–Luxor ~£50
🛏Budget hotel, Luxor East Bank (~£20)
- →Karnak Temple
- →Luxor Temple
- →Luxor corniche walk
Luxor West Bank — Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut & Colossi
Luxor West Bank
Cross the Nile by public ferry (~£0.50) or join a GetYourGuide West Bank small-group tour (~£25 pp, includes transport between sites). Visit the Valley of the Kings (entry ~£12, plus extra for Tutankhamun ~£10 and Seti I ~£25 if you want the premium tombs), the Temple of Hatshepsut (~£6), and the Colossi of Memnon (free). Rent a bike on the West Bank (~£4/day) or use shared taxis for flexibility. Late afternoon: board your Nile cruise — a 3–4 night Luxor–Aswan cruise on a 5-star-style boat booked directly or via Booking.com (~£180–260 pp sharing, includes cabin, meals, and some guided stop visits).
🚌West Bank ferry/bike/shared taxi ~£8
🛏Nile cruise cabin, MS-class or similar (~£55/night within cruise package)
- →Valley of the Kings (incl. Tutankhamun tomb)
- →Temple of Hatshepsut
- →Colossi of Memnon
- →Board Nile cruise
Cruise to Edfu & Kom Ombo — Temple of Horus
Nile Cruise: Edfu / Kom Ombo
The cruise sails downstream today, stopping at Edfu. Visit the Temple of Horus (entry ~£8) — take a horse-drawn caleche from the boat to the temple (~£3) as the locals do. Continue to Kom Ombo for the temple complex with its mummified crocodiles (entry ~£6), best visited at sunset. On board, most cruises run their own galley cooking demonstration and a sundowner on the sun deck — join in rather than paying extra. All meals included on the cruise.
🚌Cruise ship (sailing) + caleche at Edfu ~£3
🛏Nile cruise cabin (~included in cruise package)
- →Temple of Horus, Edfu
- →Kom Ombo Temple & crocodile mummies
- →Sunset sail and onboard cooking demo
Abu Simbel day trip & onward to Aswan
Abu Simbel / Aswan
Early start for Abu Simbel — join a shared minibus/convoy from Aswan or the cruise port (~£18 round trip, 3 hrs each way) or book a GetYourGuide small-group tour (~£30 pp including entry guidance). Visit the twin temples of Ramses II and Queen Nefertari with their colossal statues (entry ~£12). Return to Aswan. If your cruise ends today, check into a budget hotel in Aswan (~£22). Evening: walk the Aswan corniche, visit the Nubian bazaar, and eat at a Nubian restaurant (~£8).
🚌Shared minibus Abu Simbel round trip ~£18
🛏Nile cruise cabin or Aswan budget hotel (~£22)
- →Twin Temples of Abu Simbel (Ramses II & Nefertari)
- →Aswan corniche & Nubian bazaar
Aswan — High Dam & Philae Temple, fly to Cairo
Aswan → Cairo
Morning: visit the Aswan High Dam (~£4) and take a short boat ride (~£8 shared) across to Philae Temple (~£8), the romantic island temple of Isis. Grab a cheap felucca sail in the afternoon (~£5/hour shared). Then fly Aswan–Cairo on a budget flight (EgyptAir/Nile Air, ~£55–75 booked early) — cheaper and faster than the return sleeper train. Check into a Cairo budget hotel (~£25) near Downtown or the airport.
🚌Aswan–Cairo flight ~£65
🛏Budget hotel, Cairo (~£25)
- →Aswan High Dam
- →Philae Temple
- →Optional felucca sail
Sakkara, Step Pyramid & Islamic/Coptic Cairo
Cairo (Sakkara / Old Cairo)
Day trip to Sakkara (~£12 Uber or join a GetYourGuide Sakkara/Memphis/Dahshur tour ~£30 pp) to see the Step Pyramid of Djoser, the world's oldest pyramid (entry ~£8). Return to Cairo and explore Islamic Cairo — walk El-Moaz Street and haggle in Khan el-Khalili Bazaar (free to enter). Optionally visit Coptic Cairo's Church of the Virgin Mary and St. Barbara (~£2). End with a farewell dinner in Downtown Cairo (~£8).
🚌Uber/tour transport to Sakkara ~£15
🛏Budget hotel, Cairo (~£25)
- →Sakkara & Step Pyramid of Djoser
- →Islamic Cairo — El-Moaz Street & Khan el-Khalili
- →Optional Coptic Cairo churches
Departure from Cairo
Cairo
Breakfast at your hotel, then last-minute souvenir shopping or a museum visit if your flight is late. Take an Uber or shuttle to Cairo International Airport (~£6) for your departure. Allow 3 hours before international flights.
🚌Uber to Cairo Airport ~£6
🛏—
- →Departure transfer
- →Optional last-minute sightseeing
Self-launched vs. Egypt Tour Pro
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Egypt Tour Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,180 | £3,840 |
| Duration | 10 days | 10 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £2,660 per person (69%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Egypt Tour Pro-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,180
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 Self-Launched Egypt: Cairo, Nile Cruise, Luxor & Aswan (DIY Version) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,180 per person for 10 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 Egypt Tour Pro?+
Yes — Egypt Tour Pro charges around £3,840 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,180 — a saving of roughly £2,660 (69%) per person.
How long is the Egypt trip?+
This itinerary runs 10 days, covering 10 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 culture, adventure, 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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