Self-Launched Aswan, Abu Simbel & Luxor: 3 Days of Ancient Egypt
3 days · Egypt (Aswan, Abu Simbel & Luxor)
Egypt Best Holidays charges £260
No-markup version: ~£162 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A DIY version of the classic 3-day Aswan–Abu Simbel–Luxor run: temples of Philae and the High Dam on day one, a dawn shared minibus to Abu Simbel and an afternoon train up the Nile on day two, then the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut, Karnak and Luxor Temple on day three (with an optional sunrise balloon). You book your own budget hotel or guesthouse, hop on local shared transport, and either join a small-group day tour or hire an Egyptologist guide by the half-day. Prices are approximate and exclude the site entrance fees, which are paid locally in Egyptian pounds (budget roughly £35–£40 / US$40–50 for the main monuments).
Day-by-day
Aswan: High Dam, Unfinished Obelisk & Philae Temple
Aswan
Arrive into Aswan by plane or train and check into a budget guesthouse near the Corniche. In the afternoon, hire a local driver or take an Uber/Careem to the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk quarry (short stops, 20–30 minutes each), then continue to the Philae Temple jetty where a shared motorboat (about £3–4 pp, negotiate the boat price before boarding) ferries you across to the island temple. Arrive late afternoon for softer light and fewer crowds. If you want commentary, book a half-day Aswan highlights tour with an Egyptologist on GetYourGuide (about £20–25) instead of doing it solo. Evening: felucca sunset sail (£4–6) and dinner at a local koshary or Nile-side restaurant. Optional extras: Nubian Village by public ferry (a fraction of the tour price), Nubian Museum, or Botanical Island.
🚌Airport/train station to hotel by taxi or Careem (~£3–5); sights by hired car or ride-hailing app (~£12–15 for the half-day); shared motorboat to Philae ~£3–4 pp
🛏Budget guesthouse or hotel in Aswan city centre (private double ~£18–25/night, dorm bed ~£8–12)
- →High Dam viewpoint
- →Unfinished Obelisk quarry
- →Philae Temple by shared motorboat
- →Felucca sunset sail on the Nile
Abu Simbel at Sunrise, then the Train to Luxor
Abu Simbel & Luxor
Book a shared minibus or small-group Abu Simbel trip the night before (hotels and agencies along the Corniche sell seats for roughly £12–18 pp including hotel pickup). Departure is typically 3:30–4:30am in a convoy to reach the temples at first light — cooler and quieter. You get about 2 hours at the site; a licensed Egyptologist guide can be arranged on the spot or via GetYourGuide if you want the history explained (£10–15 pp shared). Back in Aswan by early afternoon, then take the afternoon train north to Luxor (Egyptian National Railways, roughly 3–4 hours, £6–12 second class; book online or at the station). Check into a budget hotel in Luxor and eat near the Nile or in the tourist souk area. Alternative: an overnight sleeper service if you prefer to save a hotel night.
🚌Shared minibus Aswan–Abu Simbel–Aswan ~£12–18 pp; train Aswan–Luxor £6–12 second class; local taxi to hotel ~£3
🛏Budget hotel or guesthouse in Luxor (~£15–25/night private double)
- →Abu Simbel temples at sunrise (Ramses II Great Temple & Temple of Hathor)
- →Shared minibus convoy through the desert
- →Optional Egyptologist guide at Abu Simbel
- →Scenic Nile-side train ride to Luxor
Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut, Karnak & Luxor Temple
Luxor
Optional 5am hot air balloon over the West Bank — book with a licensed operator via GetYourGuide or Klook (~£70–90 pp) rather than an ad-hoc street agent. Otherwise start around 7am: cross the Nile by public ferry (£0.30) or take a shared microbus, then hire a West Bank driver for the morning (~£15–20 for the vehicle, split between travellers) covering the Valley of the Kings (ticket includes 3 tombs; Tutankhamun and Seti I cost extra), the Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari, and a photo stop at the Colossi of Memnon. Cross back for lunch, then visit Karnak Temple in the late afternoon (better light, fewer groups) and walk the Avenue of Sphinxes to Luxor Temple. If you want a guide for the day, a licensed Egyptologist can be booked on GetYourGuide for £30–45 pp in a small group, or hire one directly at the Valley of the Kings entrance. Finish with an optional Sound & Light Show at Karnak (~£15) before airport/station drop-off.
🚌Public Nile ferry to West Bank ~£0.30; shared microbus ~£0.50; hired West Bank car half-day ~£15–20 per vehicle; taxi to airport/station ~£5–8
🛏Budget hotel or guesthouse in Luxor (checkout with luggage stored at reception if leaving later)
- →Optional sunrise hot air balloon over the West Bank
- →Valley of the Kings (3-tomb ticket)
- →Temple of Queen Hatshepsut
- →Colossi of Memnon photo stop
- →Karnak Temple & Avenue of Sphinxes
- →Luxor Temple
- →Optional Sound & Light Show at Karnak
Self-launched vs. Egypt Best Holidays
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Egypt Best Holidays | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£162 | £260 |
| Duration | 3 days | 3 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £98 per person (38%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Egypt Best Holidays-style trips? Check them out here.~£162
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 Self-Launched Aswan, Abu Simbel & Luxor: 3 Days of Ancient Egypt cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £162 per person for 3 days in Egypt (Aswan, Abu Simbel & Luxor). 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 Best Holidays?+
Yes — Egypt Best Holidays charges around £260 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £162 — a saving of roughly £98 (38%) per person.
How long is the Egypt (Aswan, Abu Simbel & Luxor) trip?+
This itinerary runs 3 days, covering 3 day-by-day stops through Egypt (Aswan, Abu Simbel & Luxor).
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 adventure, culture, budget trip through Egypt (Aswan, Abu Simbel & Luxor), 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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