Alexandria Independent Adventure (Self-Launched)
2 days · Alexandria & Cairo, Egypt
G Adventures charges £349
No-markup version: ~£85 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A DIY version of G Adventures' 2-day Cairo–Alexandria loop: ride the local train or shared microbus up to the Mediterranean coast, sleep in a budget hotel in Alexandria's lively Raml Station district, and self-guide the Greek, Roman and Byzantine sites — Kom el-Dikka Roman amphitheatre, Montazah Palace gardens, Qaitbay Fort, Pompey's Pillar and the eerie Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa. No CEO, no private van, no group — just local transport, cheap eats and £35-40/day. Costs are approximate and exclude international flights and the Egypt visa (~£20 e-visa).
Day-by-day
Cairo to Alexandria — Roman theatre & Montazah gardens
Cairo → Alexandria
Catch an early train from Cairo Ramses (or Misr) station to Alexandria Sidi Gaber — the comfortable air-conditioned 'Speciale' departs roughly every 2-3 hours, takes about 2h15-2h45 and costs around £4-7 one way in second class; a fan-only 'Expreso' is cheaper still (~£2.50). Budget alternative: Go Bus or Blue Bus coaches from Almaza/Gateway terminal (~£4). Check the station ticket windows the day before and bring your passport. On arrival, drop your bag at a budget hotel around Raml Station (Saad Zaghloul Street) — the square is set out like the Union Jack and has the city's best cheap cafés. Midday: walk 10 minutes to Kom el-Dikka and pay the small entry fee (~£1-2) to sit in the restored Roman amphitheatre and see the mosaic villa floors. Lunch on falafel, koshari or grilled fish at a local place in Mansheya. Afternoon: take a local tram or a £1 microbus out to Montazah Palace and gardens on the coast — free to stroll, the beach side is lovely at golden hour. Evening: follow the corniche to the seafood shacks near Anfushi and pick your fish by weight, then mint tea at Café Trianon or Delices on Saad Zaghloul. Note: women should dress modestly (shoulders/knees covered) throughout.
🚌Cairo–Alexandria train ~£4-7 one way; local tram/microbus in town ~£0.50-1 per ride
🛏Budget hotel or guesthouse near Raml Station — private double with A/C and en-suite, ~£18-25/night (shared dorms from ~£8)
- →Train from Cairo to Alexandria (book at Ramses/Misr station)
- →Kom el-Dikka Roman amphitheatre & mosaic villas
- →Montazah Palace gardens & corniche walk
- →Fish dinner near Anfushi
- →Mint tea at Café Trianon / Delices
Qaitbay Fort, Pompey's Pillar & the Catacombs — back to Cairo
Alexandria → Cairo
Start early, buy your sites as you go (each is £1-3; a Cairo-based GetYourGuide or Klook Alexandria day-tour is an alternative if you want an Egyptologist for the morning, typically £30-45). First head west to Qaitbay Fort, built on the site of the ancient Lighthouse of Alexandria — climb the ramparts for harbour views (~£2, sunset is best but you'll want daylight). Next, cross town to Pompey's Pillar and the Serapeum ruins (~£2) — a 25m granite column with sphinxes and a view of the whole city. Then it's a short walk/tuk-tuk to the Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa (~£2-3), the eeriest and best sight in town: spiral stairs down to a Roman-era necropolis mixing Egyptian, Greek and Roman iconography. Squeeze in the Bibliotheca Alexandrina (library — free-ish small fee for the museum) or the Graeco-Roman Museum if you have time. Grab a cheap koshari lunch, pick up your bag, and take the mid/late-afternoon train or Go Bus back to Cairo (~£4-7, arriving around 17:00-21:00 depending on departure). If you need a Cairo bed for the night, budget options in Downtown start around £15-20.
🚌Local tram/tuk-tuk ~£1-2 across town; return train or Go Bus Alexandria–Cairo ~£4-7
🛏None included — overnight in Downtown Cairo budget hotel ~£15-20 if needed (G Adventures also excluded Cairo nights)
- →Qaitbay Fort / Citadel of Qaitbay
- →Pompey's Pillar & Serapeum
- →Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa
- →Bibliotheca Alexandrina (optional)
- →Return to Cairo by train or coach
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£85 | £349 |
| Duration | 2 days | 2 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £264 per person (76%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£85
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 Alexandria Independent Adventure (Self-Launched) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £85 per person for 2 days in Alexandria & Cairo, 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 G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £349 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £85 — a saving of roughly £264 (76%) per person.
How long is the Alexandria & Cairo, Egypt trip?+
This itinerary runs 2 days, covering 2 day-by-day stops through Alexandria & Cairo, 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, budget, city-breaks trip through Alexandria & Cairo, 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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