Self-Launched Queen Nefertari's Legacy: 10 Days through Cairo, Nile & Hurghada

Fly into Cairo International Airport (CAI). Take the Airport Bus Line 356 or a metered taxi (agree the fare upfront, ~£5-8) to your accommodation in central Cairo or Giza. Spend the rest of the day settling in, picking up an Egyptian SIM card (Vodafone/Orange available at the airport, ~£3), and exchanging currency. In the evening, stroll along the Corniche or grab a local koshary dinner. Optional: book a Nile dinner cruise via GetYourGuide (~£20-25) for a taste of what's ahead.

🚌Airport Bus Line 356 to central Cairo (~£0.50) or metered taxi (~£5-8). Uber and Careem apps work well and are recommended for reliable fares.

🛏Cairo budget hotel or guesthouse near Tahrir Square/Giza — e.g. Steigenberger Hotel El Tahrir budget wing, Cairo Backpackers Hostel, or similar 3-star guesthouse (~£18-25/night)

• →Airport arrival and SIM card purchase at Cairo Airport
• →Cairo city orientation walk along the Corniche
• →Optional: Nile Dinner Cruise with Oriental Show via GetYourGuide (~£20-25)

An action-packed day covering Cairo's greatest hits before boarding the overnight train south. Start early at the Giza Plateau — purchase entry tickets on site (Pyramids complex ~£10, Sphinx included). Head to the Egyptian Museum near Tahrir Square (~£10 entry, Tutankhamun treasures included). In the afternoon, lose yourself in the labyrinthine alleys of Khan El Khalili Bazaar — perfect for haggling over spices, souvenirs and street food. In the evening, take the overnight sleeper/seated train from Cairo Ramses Station to Aswan (Train 85/87, departs ~19:00-21:00, arrives Aswan next morning). Book tickets via Egyptian National Railways or a local agent (~£15-30 seated, ~£40-55 for a sleeper berth). Bring snacks and a travel pillow.

🚌Taxi/Uber between Cairo sights (~£5-10 total). Metro Line 2 to Ramses Station (~£0.30). Overnight train Cairo → Aswan (~£15-55 depending on class).

🛏Overnight train (seated or sleeper berth) — no hotel required this night

• →Giza Plateau: Pyramids of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure with panoramic photo stop (~£10 entry)
• →Great Sphinx exploration (included in Giza Plateau ticket)
• →Egyptian Museum: 250,000+ artefacts including Tutankhamun treasures (~£10 entry)
• →Khan El Khalili Bazaar visit and street food lunch (~£5-8)
• →Overnight train from Cairo Ramses Station to Aswan (~£15-30 seated or ~£40-55 sleeper)

Arrive in Aswan in the morning. Check into your accommodation briefly then head out to explore. Book a budget Nile cruise departing Aswan (3-4 night cruises to Luxor start from ~£80-120pp all-inclusive for a 3-star boat, or ~£150-200pp for a solid 4-star). Alternatively, visit the key Aswan sights independently. Take a shared minibus or taxi to the Aswan High Dam (~£5 entry + £3 taxi). Hire a motorboat to Philae Island and the stunning Temple of Isis (~£5 boat + £7 entry). Walk to the Unfinished Obelisk in the granite quarries (~£5 entry). Enjoy dinner on board your cruise, which typically provides all meals once you board.

🚌Train arrives Aswan ~07:00-09:00. Shared taxi or tuk-tuk to sights (~£3-5). Motorboat to Philae (~£5 shared). Cruise departs Aswan same evening.

🛏Budget 3–4 star Nile Cruise (pre-booked, all meals included on board from boarding) — approximately £80-150pp for the full cruise segment (Days 3-5)

• →Aswan High Dam tour (~£5 entry)
• →Temple of Philae: scenic motorboat ride and exploration (~£5 boat + £7 entry)
• →Unfinished Obelisk in the ancient granite quarry (~£5 entry)
• →Board your pre-booked Nile cruise (meals included on board)

Wake up on board your Nile cruise as the boat sails north. All meals are included on the cruise. The highlight today is the remarkable Temple of Kom Ombo, uniquely dedicated to both the crocodile god Sobek and the falcon god Horus — entry ~£8, often included in cruise packages. In the evening, enjoy an Egyptian folkloric show on the cruise deck — whirling Tanoura dancers are a highlight. Optional: arrange an early-morning shared minibus trip to Abu Simbel (~£30-40pp for transport + ~£10 entry) — note this is a ~3-hour drive each way from Aswan, best done on Day 3 before boarding if time allows, or as a pre-arranged day trip.

🚌Nile cruise sailing Aswan → Kom Ombo (included in cruise). Shared taxi/minibus from dock to Kom Ombo temple (~£2-3).

🛏Nile Cruise (included in cruise package, meals included)

• →Sailing the Nile — enjoy the scenery from the sun deck
• →Temple of Kom Ombo visit (~£8 entry, often included in cruise package)
• →Egyptian Folkloric Show on board (Tanoura whirling dervishes)
• →Optional: Abu Simbel Temples day trip from Aswan (~£30-40pp transport + £10 entry — arrange separately)

Another spectacular day on the Nile. The cruise docks at Edfu — take a horse-drawn calèche (carriage) from the dock to the magnificent Temple of Horus, the best-preserved ancient temple in Egypt (~£7 entry + ~£3 carriage). Back on board, sail to Luxor arriving by afternoon. In the evening, explore the two great temple complexes: the vast Karnak Temple (~£10 entry, allow 2 hours) and the elegant Luxor Temple, dramatically illuminated after dark (~£8 entry). Walk the Avenue of Sphinxes connecting them for free. All meals included on board.

🚌Nile cruise sailing Edfu → Luxor (included). Horse-drawn calèche at Edfu dock (~£3). Walk or calèche between Luxor/Karnak temples (~£2-3).

🛏Nile Cruise (last night — included in cruise package, meals included)

• →Horse-drawn calèche (carriage) ride to Temple of Horus at Edfu (~£3)
• →Temple of Horus (Edfu) exploration — one of Egypt's best-preserved temples (~£7 entry)
• →Karnak Temple Complex tour (~£10 entry)
• →Luxor Temple visit at dusk/evening (~£8 entry)
• →Walk the Avenue of Sphinxes between temples (free)

Disembark the Nile cruise and check into a budget hotel on the West Bank or Luxor town. Today is all about the West Bank's extraordinary necropolis. Take a local ferry across the Nile (~£0.50) and hire a bicycle or join a shared tour for the day. The Valley of the Kings entry ticket covers 3 tombs (~£12); the tomb of Tutankhamun costs extra (~£15). The Temple of Hatshepsut (Deir el-Bahri) is an architectural marvel (~£8 entry). The Colossi of Memnon are free to view from the road. Optional: pre-book a hot air balloon ride via GetYourGuide or a local operator — one of the world's most spectacular sunrise experiences (~£80-100pp, book the night before, weather-dependent).

🚌Local Nile ferry (~£0.50). Bicycle hire for West Bank (~£3/day) or shared minivan tour (~£5). Taxi for evening return (~£3).

🛏Budget hotel or guesthouse in Luxor — e.g. Nefertiti Hotel, Al Moudira budget options, or similar 2-3 star (~£15-22/night)

• →Local ferry across the Nile to the West Bank (~£0.50)
• →Valley of the Kings: entry ticket with 3 tombs included (~£12); optional Tutankhamun tomb extra (~£15)
• →Temple of Hatshepsut (Deir el-Bahri) visit (~£8 entry)
• →Colossi of Memnon viewpoint (free)
• →Optional: Pre-dawn Hot Air Balloon Ride over the West Bank (~£80-100pp via GetYourGuide or local operators)

After breakfast, take a private taxi or shared bus transfer from Luxor to Hurghada (~3.5 hours, crossing the Eastern Desert). Shared service taxis from Luxor's main taxi station run regularly (~£8-12pp); private transfers are ~£25-35pp but quicker and more reliable. Optional morning: if time allows before departure, visit the extraordinary Dendera Temple Complex (~45 min north of Luxor) — book a half-day tour via GetYourGuide (~£15-20) or a shared taxi (~£10 return). Arrive Hurghada by early afternoon. Check into a mid-range beach hotel or resort — several excellent options exist at a fraction of the all-inclusive luxury price. Spend the evening on the Red Sea Corniche or at Senzo Mall.

🚌Shared taxi or Go Bus from Luxor to Hurghada (~£8-12pp). Private taxi option (~£25-35pp). Local tuk-tuk in Hurghada (~£1-2).

🛏Mid-range beach hotel in Hurghada — e.g. Albatros Aqua Blue, Sunrise Select Garden Beach, or similar 3-4 star (~£25-40/night, some semi-all-inclusive options available)

• →Optional morning: Dendera Temple Complex visit (~£15-20 via GetYourGuide or shared taxi ~£10 return, ~£7 entry)
• →Shared taxi or bus transfer Luxor → Hurghada (~3.5 hrs, ~£8-12pp)
• →Check into Hurghada accommodation and relax on the beach
• →Evening stroll along Hurghada's Red Sea Corniche

Hurghada's Red Sea is world-class for water sports and marine life. Choose your adventure — or do it all. Book an Orange Bay Island trip via GetYourGuide (~£18-25pp, includes glass-bottom boat, snorkelling gear, white sand beach and BBQ lunch). Alternatively, book a Giftun Island or Dolphin House snorkelling/diving safari (~£20-30pp for snorkelling, ~£35-50pp for an intro dive). For desert thrills, book an afternoon quad bike desert safari with camel ride and Bedouin village visit (~£20-30pp). Water sports (parasailing, jet ski, banana boat) can be arranged directly on the beach (~£10-20 per activity). Budget self-catering for some meals to save money.

🚌Local tuk-tuk or taxi to marina/beach (~£1-3). Boat trips depart from El Dahar or Sigala marina (included in tour price).

🛏Same Hurghada beach hotel (see Day 7, ~£25-40/night)

• →Orange Bay Island trip: glass-bottom boat, snorkelling, beach BBQ lunch (~£18-25pp via GetYourGuide)
• →Snorkelling safari at Giftun Island or Dolphin House (~£20-30pp)
• →Optional: Scuba diving intro dive (~£35-50pp)
• →Optional: Desert safari by quad bike, camel ride, Bedouin village, sunset (~£20-30pp)
• →Optional: Parasailing, jet-skiing, banana boats on the beach (~£10-20 per activity)

A genuinely free day to relax, explore and do whatever you fancy. Spend the morning on the hotel beach or visit the public beaches near El Dahar. In the afternoon, explore the Old Town (El Dahar) for local restaurants, shisha cafes and cheap shopping — far better value than the tourist strip. Book any remaining excursions through your hotel or directly at the marina. Snorkel straight from the beach if your hotel has reef access. Try fresh seafood at a local restaurant in El Dahar for a fraction of resort prices (~£5-8 for a full meal). Optional: a night snorkelling trip or stargazing desert experience (~£20-25pp).

🚌Local tuk-tuk or walking. Taxis to El Dahar (~£2-3).

🛏Same Hurghada beach hotel (see Day 7, ~£25-40/night)

• →Relaxing on the Red Sea beach
• →Explore El Dahar Old Town: local markets, shisha cafes, fresh seafood restaurants
• →Optional: Night snorkelling trip or stargazing desert experience (~£20-25pp)
• →Optional: Book any remaining excursions through marina operators or GetYourGuide

Enjoy a final breakfast and a last walk along the Red Sea. Pick up any last souvenirs from El Dahar market. Take an Uber, Careem or pre-arranged taxi to Hurghada International Airport (HRG) — approximately 20-30 minutes from central Hurghada (~£5-8). Check in for your onward flight. Safe travels — mabrook on completing your Egyptian adventure!

🚌Taxi or Uber to Hurghada International Airport HRG (~£5-8, ~25 mins from central Hurghada).

🛏N/A — departure day

• →Final Red Sea beach time or El Dahar souvenir shopping
• →Transfer to Hurghada International Airport (HRG) (~£5-8 by taxi/Uber)