Self-Launched Egypt: Cairo, Nile Cruise, Luxor & Aswan (10 Days)
10 days · Egypt
Luxury Tours Of Egypt charges £1,930
No-markup version: ~£1,085 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A DIY version of the classic 10-day Cairo–Nile–Luxor–Aswan loop, self-launched for solo travellers. You'll see the Giza pyramids and Saqqara, take the overnight sleeper train south to Luxor, join a budget 3-night Nile cruise (Luxor to Aswan) booked directly or via a local agent, day-trip to Abu Simbel by shared minibus, then fly or train back to Cairo for the Egyptian Museum, Islamic Cairo and a day trip to Alexandria. Everything is bookable independently: sleeper train via the Egyptian National Railways/ Watania, cruise cabins and Abu Simbel seats through local operators, entry tickets at the gate or via the Ministry of Tourism e-ticket site. Costs are backpacker/budget-midrange estimates in GBP and exclude international flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive Cairo & ease into Downtown
Cairo
Land at Cairo International, buy a tourist e-visa in advance online (~£20–25) or on arrival, pick up a local SIM from Vodafone/Orange in arrivals (~£6 for 10GB), and take an Uber or the airport bus to Downtown Cairo (~£4–6). Check into a budget hotel or hostel near Talaat Harb / Talat Harb Square. Spend the afternoon gently: walk the Corniche, cross the Nile on a public ferry for sunset, and eat koshari at the legendary Abou Tarek (~£3). Book your Giza guide and sleeper train ticket online tonight — sleeper berths sell out in high season.
🚌Airport Uber/bus ~£5; walking and public ferry ~£1
🛏Budget hotel/hostel in Downtown Cairo (single or dorm), ~£20/night
- →Sunset Nile ferry crossing
- →Koshari dinner at Abou Tarek
- →Book Giza guide on GetYourGuide and sleeper train berth
Giza Pyramids & Saqqara
Giza & Saqqara
Start early (7am) to beat the crowds and heat. Take an Uber to the Giza plateau (~£4) and buy your combined Giza ticket at the gate (~£8, plus extra to enter inside the Great Pyramid ~£14 if you want). A licensed local guide can be arranged via GetYourGuide from ~£35 for a half day, or DIY with a good audio guide. Midday, head to Saqqara (~£8 Uber or join a shared minibus) for the Step Pyramid of Djoser, the Teti Pyramid interior and the Mastaba of Kagemni (~£8 site ticket). Return to Cairo for dinner in Zamalek (~£8).
🚌Ubers + shared minibus to Saqqara, ~£15 total
🛏Downtown Cairo budget hotel/hostel, ~£20
- →Pyramids of Cheops, Khafre & Menkaure
- →Great Sphinx
- →Step Pyramid of Djoser, Saqqara
- →Pyramid of Teti & Saqqara mastabas
Khan el-Khalili & overnight sleeper train to Luxor
Cairo → Luxor
Morning free to explore the Khan el-Khalili bazaar and the Al-Muizz Street medieval quarter at your own pace (~£2 coffees and snacks). In the evening, board the Watania overnight sleeper train from Cairo Ramses station to Luxor (departs ~8pm, arrives ~5am). Book a single cabin berth online in advance (~£55–70 including dinner and breakfast). Alternatively, a daytime flight on EgyptAir/Nile Air costs ~£50–70.
🚌Watania sleeper train Cairo–Luxor, ~£60
🛏Overnight sleeper train cabin (single berth)
- →Khan el-Khalili bazaar
- →Al-Muizz Street Islamic Cairo walk
Luxor East Bank & board the Nile cruise
Luxor
Arrive Luxor early and check into a guesthouse near the corniche (~£15) or board your cruise directly if the sailing starts today — most budget 3–4 night cruises depart Luxor on set days, so book your whole trip around that. Visit Karnak Temple (~£8) in the morning and Luxor Temple (~£6) in the late afternoon light. Book your Nile cruise through a local Luxor agent or a GetYourGuide/Viator listing: a 3-night full-board standard cruise in a twin/double cabin runs ~£250–350 per person if shared; solo travellers pay a single supplement (~+£80–120) or can pair with another solo passenger via backpacker groups.
🚌Local taxis/calèche around Luxor ~£5; cruise boarding
🛏Nile cruise cabin, full board (or Luxor guesthouse if cruise starts tomorrow)
- →Karnak Temple
- →Luxor Temple
- →Optional Sound & Light show at Karnak (~£18)
Luxor West Bank: Valley of the Kings, then sail south
Luxor → Edfu (Nile cruise)
Early start for the West Bank before the heat: cross on the public ferry (~£0.30) and hire a local taxi for the day (~£12). Valley of the Kings ticket (~£15 for 3 tombs, Tutankhamun extra), Temple of Hatshepsut (~£5) and the Colossi of Memnon (free). Optional sunrise hot-air balloon flight over the West Bank (~£80–100, book via GetYourGuide). Return to the ship for lunch and sail south towards Esna/Edfu. Evening: the ship's Egyptian 'gallabiyah' party — pack a cheap gallabiyah from the Luxor souk (~£5).
🚌Public ferry + West Bank taxi ~£13
🛏Nile cruise cabin, full board
- →Valley of the Kings
- →Temple of Hatshepsut
- →Colossi of Memnon
- →Optional hot-air balloon at sunrise
Edfu by horse carriage & Kom Ombo at sunset
Edfu & Kom Ombo → Aswan
The ship docks at Edfu in the morning; hop a horse-drawn carriage to the Temple of Horus (~£3 return, agree the price first) and buy your entry ticket on site (~£5). Sail on to Kom Ombo and visit the twin temples of Sobek and Haroeris in the late afternoon light (~£4). Dinner and a low-key party on deck as the ship continues to Aswan. Note: everything is included in your cruise's full-board rate except site tickets.
🚌Horse carriage at Edfu ~£3; ship's sailing included
🛏Nile cruise cabin, full board
- →Temple of Horus, Edfu
- →Kom Ombo Temple
Abu Simbel day trip, then Aswan High Dam & Philae
Aswan & Abu Simbel
Very early start (3–4am) for the Abu Simbel convoy — book a shared minibus seat through your hotel or a local agent (~£25–35 return, tickets ~£11 extra). You get roughly 2 hours at the site for the Great Temple of Ramses II and the smaller Temple of Nefertari. Back in Aswan by early afternoon: combine the Aswan High Dam (~£2) with a boat trip to the Temple of Philae (~£5 entry, ~£8 boat). Evening: optional stroll or felucca trip to a Nubian village (~£10). Check into an Aswan guesthouse or stay on the cruise if disembarking tomorrow.
🚌Shared minibus Abu Simbel ~£30; local taxis/boat ~£10
🛏Aswan guesthouse/hostel, ~£18
- →Abu Simbel: Temples of Ramses II & Nefertari
- →Aswan High Dam
- →Temple of Philae
- →Optional Nubian Village by felucca
Fly to Cairo: Egyptian Museum, Citadel & Khan el-Khalili
Aswan → Cairo
Morning flight Aswan–Cairo on EgyptAir or Nile Air (~£45–60 booked a few weeks ahead; the overnight train ~£25 is the budget alternative). Check back into a Downtown or Garden City hotel (~£22). Afternoon: Egyptian Museum at Tahrir (~£10), then the Salah el-Din Citadel and Mohamed Ali Mosque (~£6), finishing with a wander through the Khan el-Khalili — much livelier after dark.
🚌Domestic flight Aswan–Cairo ~£50; Ubers in Cairo ~£8
🛏Downtown/Garden City budget hotel, ~£22
- →Egyptian Museum (Tahrir)
- →Citadel of Salah el-Din
- →Mohamed Ali Mosque
- →Khan el-Khalili by night
Day trip to Alexandria
Alexandria
Take the early Egyptian National Railways train from Cairo Ramses to Alexandria (~2h15, ~£4–6 first class; buy online or at the station). Walk the Corniche, visit the Catacombs of Kom el-Shoukafa (~£3) and Fort Qaitbey (~£3), and take a guided tour of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina (~£3). Lunch on fresh seafood by the harbour (~£8). Return on an evening train to Cairo. If you prefer, stay overnight in Alexandria (~£20) for a slower pace.
🚌Return train Cairo–Alexandria ~£10; local tram/taxi ~£3
🛏Cairo budget hotel, ~£22 (or Alexandria hostel ~£20)
- →Catacombs of Kom el-Shoukafa
- →Fort Qaitbey
- →Bibliotheca Alexandrina
- →Alexandria Corniche walk
Last morning in Cairo & departure
Cairo
A relaxed final morning — pick up last souvenirs at the Khan or the Souq al-Fustat craft market, and take an Uber to Cairo airport (~£5) for your flight home. Allow 3 hours before an international departure.
🚌Uber to Cairo airport ~£5
🛏—
- →Souvenir shopping at Souq al-Fustat
- →Departure
Self-launched vs. Luxury Tours Of Egypt
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Luxury Tours Of Egypt | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,085 | £1,930 |
| Duration | 10 days | 10 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £845 per person (44%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Luxury Tours Of Egypt-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,085
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.
Customise with Tour BusterCreated by
Travel Crew
0 trips
Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched Egypt: Cairo, Nile Cruise, Luxor & Aswan (10 Days) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,085 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 Luxury Tours Of Egypt?+
Yes — Luxury Tours Of Egypt charges around £1,930 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,085 — a saving of roughly £845 (44%) 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?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
No comments yet — be the first to share your take.
Sign in to leave a comment.