Aswan, Abu Simbel & Luxor Self-Launched 3-Day Adventure
3 days · Nile Valley, Egypt
Egypt Gift Tours charges £265
No-markup version: ~£234 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
The DIY, self-launched version of Egypt Gift Tours' private 3-day Nile Valley highlights run. You'll still tick off Aswan High Dam, Philae Temple, the unfinished Obelisk, a Nubian village homestay-style welcome, the Abu Simbel temples at sunrise, and Luxor's Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut, Karnak and Luxor Temple — but by booking day tours through GetYourGuide/Klook or directly with local guides, taking the first-class Aswan–Luxor train yourself, and sleeping in budget guesthouses. Cost is a fraction of the £265-ish operator price, though you'll trade door-to-door private transfers for a bit more self-organising.
Day-by-day
Aswan: High Dam, Philae Temple & Nubian Village
Aswan
Start early in Aswan. Easiest self-launch: book a half-day 'Aswan highlights' tour on GetYourGuide or Klook (~£20-25 pp) covering the High Dam viewpoint, a motorboat out to Philae Temple on Agilkia Island (admission ~£8), and the granite quarries with the unfinished Obelisk. Mid-afternoon, take a public motorboat across the Nile to Soheil Island Nubian Village (~£3-5 return, negotiate with the boat captain) and wander the colourful lanes; tea with a local family costs a few pounds in tips. Cheap local lunch (koshari/falafel) ~£4. Stay on the east bank in a budget guesthouse (e.g. around Aswan Corniche or Sharia el-Souq). Buy your Abu Simbel tour and Aswan–Luxor train ticket this evening.
🚌Arrive Aswan by train/flight; local taxis and motorboat. Taxi across town ~£2-3.
🛏Budget guesthouse on Aswan east bank (dorm or private twin, ~£12-18/night)
- →High Dam viewpoint
- →Philae Temple motorboat visit
- →Granite quarries and unfinished Obelisk
- →Soheil Island Nubian Village walk
- →Aswan Corniche and souq at sunset
Abu Simbel at Sunrise, then First-Class Train to Luxor
Abu Simbel / Luxor
Book a shared coach or minibus day trip to Abu Simbel (GetYourGuide/Klook or via your guesthouse, ~£25-35 pp including transfer; temples admission ~£12). Departure is typically 4-4:30am from Aswan for the 3-hour desert drive, arriving before the heat. Spend 2 hours at the Great Temple of Ramses II and Temple of Hathor, then return to Aswan by early afternoon. Optional: the visitor centre's UNESCO relocation displays are free with your ticket. In the late afternoon take the first-class train Aswan–Luxor (~£10-15, ~3.5-4 hours; book on the Egyptian National Railways site or at the station a day ahead). Check into a budget guesthouse near Luxor Temple on the east bank and eat cheaply on the corniche.
🚌Shared minibus Aswan–Abu Simbel–Aswan (~£25-35 pp tour); train Aswan–Luxor first class ~£10-15
🛏Budget guesthouse/hostel near Luxor Temple east bank (~£12-18/night)
- →Abu Simbel temples complex (Great Temple of Ramses II, Temple of Hathor)
- →Optional UNESCO relocation exhibition at Abu Simbel visitor centre
- →First-class train ride along the Nile to Luxor
- →Evening stroll along Luxor corniche
Luxor: Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut & Karnak
Luxor
Book a shared west-bank day tour (GetYourGuide/Klook or guesthouse-arranged, ~£15-22 pp for transport plus guide; Valley of the Kings ticket ~£10 covers 3 tombs, Hatshepsut ~£5). Early start to beat the crowds: Valley of the Kings (3 tombs of your choice), Hatshepsut's terraced temple, and a photo stop at the Colossi of Memnon. Cross back for a cheap lunch. Afternoon: walk Luxor Temple (admission ~£7) and take a taxi/horse carriage to Karnak (~£4-6) to explore the hypostyle hall and the Avenue of Sphinxes — go late afternoon for golden light and fewer crowds. Finish with dinner and overnight in Luxor, or onward evening train/flight. Buying a Luxor Pass is worthwhile if you're adding more sites.
🚌Shared minibus west bank tour ~£15-22 pp; local taxi to Karnak ~£3-5; ferries/across-river boat ~£1
🛏Budget guesthouse/hostel in Luxor east bank (~£12-18/night)
- →Valley of the Kings (3 tombs)
- →Hatshepsut Temple
- →Colossi of Memnon photo stop
- →Karnak Temple and Avenue of Sphinxes
- →Luxor Temple
Self-launched vs. Egypt Gift Tours
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Egypt Gift Tours | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£234 | £265 |
| Duration | 3 days | 3 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £31 per person (12%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Egypt Gift Tours-style trips? Check them out here.~£234
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 Aswan, Abu Simbel & Luxor Self-Launched 3-Day Adventure cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £234 per person for 3 days in Nile Valley, 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 Gift Tours?+
Yes — Egypt Gift Tours charges around £265 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £234 — a saving of roughly £31 (12%) per person.
How long is the Nile Valley, Egypt trip?+
This itinerary runs 3 days, covering 3 day-by-day stops through Nile Valley, 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 Nile Valley, 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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