8-Day Egypt Self-Launched: Pyramids, Nile Cruise & Ancient Wonders

Arrive at Cairo International Airport (CAI). Take a pre-booked airport transfer or use the new Cairo Metro Line 3 to reach central Cairo (~£1.50). Check into your hostel or budget guesthouse in the Downtown or Zamalek area. Spend the evening exploring the chaotic, vibrant streets of downtown Cairo, grab a koshary from a local spot (Egypt's national dish, around £1), and get orientated before your big sightseeing days ahead.

🚌Cairo Metro Line 3 from airport to city centre (~£1.50) or metered taxi (~£5-8)

🛏Cairo budget hostel or guesthouse (e.g. Cairo Inn Hostel or Somewhere Hotel, Downtown) — approx £12-18/night

• →Arrive at Cairo International Airport
• →Take Metro Line 3 or a metered taxi to central Cairo (~£5-8 by taxi)
• →Check into hostel or budget guesthouse
• →Explore Downtown Cairo streets
• →Try koshary and local street food for dinner

An epic day hitting Cairo's greatest hits. Head to the Giza Plateau early morning (before the heat peaks) — entry to the complex is ~£8, with optional extra tickets to enter the Great Pyramid of Khufu (~£9). Spend the morning exploring the Great Pyramid, the Great Sphinx, and the Valley Temple independently. Grab lunch near Giza. In the afternoon, visit the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) — the world's largest archaeological museum, home to the Tutankhamun collection. Pre-book entry tickets online via the GEM website (~£17). Return to Downtown Cairo by evening.

🚌Taxi or Uber from Downtown to Giza (~£5 each way)

🛏Cairo budget hostel or guesthouse — approx £12-18/night

• →Early morning visit to Giza Pyramids complex (self-entry ~£8)
• →Enter Great Pyramid of Khufu interior (optional extra ~£9)
• →Visit the Great Sphinx and Valley Temple
• →Lunch near Giza
• →Afternoon visit to Grand Egyptian Museum including Tutankhamun collection (~£17, book online)

Take an early morning domestic flight from Cairo to Aswan (EgyptAir or Nile Air, typically £40-70 if booked in advance). Alternatively, the overnight train from Cairo to Aswan is a scenic option (~£20-30 in sleeper class, book via Egyptian National Railways). Check into your Aswan guesthouse. In the afternoon, hire a local taxi to visit the Aswan High Dam (~£3 entry) and then take a short motorboat across to the Temple of Philae (boat return ~£5, entry ~£10). Consider a optional felucca ride around Elephantine Island at sunset (~£8-12 per person, negotiate at the dock).

🚌Domestic flight Cairo–Aswan (~£40-70) or overnight sleeper train (~£20-30)

🛏Aswan budget guesthouse (e.g. Mango Guesthouse or Hathor Guesthouse) — approx £12-18/night

• →Morning flight Cairo to Aswan with EgyptAir or Nile Air (~£40-70 booked in advance)
• →Check into guesthouse in Aswan
• →Visit Aswan High Dam (~£3 entry)
• →Motorboat to Temple of Philae (boat ~£5 return, entry ~£10)
• →Optional felucca ride around Elephantine Island at sunset (~£8-12, negotiate at dock)
• →Optional: book Nubian Village tour through guesthouse (~£10-15)

Join an affordable shared Nile cruise or book a budget felucca/dahabiya for 2 nights — this covers Days 4 and 5 on the river and is the most authentic way to see Kom Ombo and Edfu. Budget Nile cruises (3-night Aswan to Luxor) start from around £80-120 per person including accommodation and meals on board — book via GetYourGuide or directly through local agencies in Aswan. En route, stop at Kom Ombo Temple (entry ~£10), a stunning double-deity temple perched above the Nile. Optional: rise at 3am for a minibus to Abu Simbel (~£25-35 for a shared transfer + £16 entry — worth every penny).

🚌Nile cruise boat sailing the river

🛏Budget Nile cruise boat cabin (included in cruise package, ~£80-120 total for 2 nights Aswan–Luxor)

• →Board budget Nile cruise or felucca from Aswan (covers nights on the river)
• →Visit Kom Ombo Temple (~£10 entry)
• →Sail the Nile southbound to Edfu
• →Optional early morning road trip to Abu Simbel (~£25 shared transfer + £16 entry, departs ~3am)

Disembark at Edfu and take a horse carriage from the dock to Edfu Temple (carriage ~£2-3 each way, entry ~£10) — one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt. Re-board and sail to Luxor, arriving mid-afternoon. Check into your Luxor hostel if your cruise ends here. In the late afternoon/evening, walk or take a short taxi to Karnak Temple (entry ~£13) and then stroll the Corniche to Luxor Temple, beautifully lit at night (entry ~£10 — evening visits are magical).

🚌Nile cruise to Luxor; local taxi within Luxor (~£2-4 per journey)

🛏Luxor budget hostel or guesthouse (e.g. Nefertiti Hotel or Bob's Guesthouse) — approx £10-16/night

• →Horse carriage from dock to Edfu Temple (~£2-3 each way)
• →Visit Edfu Temple (~£10 entry)
• →Sail the Nile north to Luxor
• →Late afternoon visit to Karnak Temple (~£13 entry)
• →Evening visit to Luxor Temple (~£10 entry — spectacular at night)

Cross to Luxor's West Bank by local ferry (~£0.50) or hire a bicycle. Hire a local taxi or tuk-tuk for the day (~£12-15) to visit the West Bank highlights. Start with the Colossi of Memnon (free). Then head to the Valley of the Kings (entry ~£12, includes 3 tombs; Tutankhamun's tomb is an extra ~£12). Visit the alabaster workshops along the way (free, no obligation to buy). End at the magnificent Temple of Hatshepsut (~£9 entry). Optional: pre-book a sunrise hot air balloon flight over the West Bank via GetYourGuide or local operators — an unmissable experience (~£75-90 per person, book the night before).

🚌Local ferry to West Bank (~£0.50); shared taxi/tuk-tuk for the day (~£12-15)

🛏Luxor budget hostel or guesthouse — approx £10-16/night

• →Cross West Bank by local ferry (~£0.50)
• →Visit Colossi of Memnon (free)
• →Valley of the Kings (~£12 entry, 3 tombs included; Tutankhamun extra ~£12)
• →Visit local alabaster factory (free)
• →Temple of Hatshepsut (~£9 entry)
• →Optional sunrise hot air balloon over West Bank (~£75-90, book via GetYourGuide or local agent the night before)

Take an optional half-day trip to the stunning Dendera Temple Complex, around 60km north of Luxor. Arrange a shared taxi from Luxor station (negotiate ~£8-12 per person return including waiting time) or join a shared minibus tour via your guesthouse (~£10-15 including transport). Dendera's Hathor temple is one of Egypt's most complete and atmospheric, with vivid zodiac ceiling reliefs. Entry is ~£10. Return to Luxor by early afternoon. Spend the rest of the day exploring Luxor's souk, relaxing by the Nile, or visiting the Luxor Museum (~£8) if you haven't already.

🚌Shared taxi or minibus Luxor–Dendera return (~£10-15 per person)

🛏Luxor budget hostel or guesthouse — approx £10-16/night

• →Shared taxi or minibus day trip to Dendera Temple Complex (~£10-15 transport return)
• →Visit Hathor Temple at Dendera (~£10 entry)
• →Return to Luxor for afternoon
• →Explore Luxor souk and Nile Corniche
• →Optional: visit Luxor Museum (~£8)

Take a morning domestic flight from Luxor to Cairo (EgyptAir, ~£35-55 booked in advance) — this saves the long train journey and aligns you with international departure times. If your international flight departs late, you could transit through Cairo for a few hours and grab a farewell Egyptian coffee in the airport or Downtown. Alternatively, the Luxor–Cairo overnight train (~£15-25 sleeper) is a budget option for late evening departures. Make sure to allow plenty of time to reach Cairo International Airport.

🚌Domestic flight Luxor–Cairo (~£35-55); airport taxi (~£5-8)

🛏None (departure day)

• →Morning domestic flight Luxor to Cairo (~£35-55 booked in advance)
• →Transfer to Cairo International Airport for international departure
• →Optional: stop in Downtown Cairo if time allows before flight