Egypt: Alexandria to Aswan — self-launched Nile adventure
13 days · Egypt
Exodus charges £3,320
No-markup version: ~£700 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Travel the full length of Egypt on a self-launched exploration from Cairo to Alexandria, then down the Nile through Aswan, Kom Ombo, Edfu and Luxor. Marvel at the Pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx, tour the Grand Egyptian Museum, cruise the Nile on a budget-friendly boat, meet Nubian families in Aswan, and explore the Valley of the Kings — all at a fraction of the guided-tour price thanks to local trains, budget hotels, and self-booked site tickets.
Day-by-day
Adventure begins in Cairo
Cairo
Arrive in Cairo and check into a budget hotel near the Pyramids in Giza (e.g. Sahara Inn or a local guesthouse near Haram Street). Rest after your flight and, if you arrive early, unwind by the pool or take a first walk around the Giza neighbourhood. Evening is free to grab a simple koshari dinner nearby.
🚌Airport pickup via Uber or local taxi (~£8)
🛏Budget hotel near Giza (approx £15)
- →Settle into a budget hotel near the Giza pyramids
Grand Egyptian Museum and Cairo's old city
Cairo
Self-book a day exploring the vast Grand Egyptian Museum, home to the colossal Ramesses II statue, the Tutankhamun galleries and the Grand Stairs. Continue to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (where the royal mummies are displayed), then visit Al Azhar Mosque or the historic Khan el-Khalili bazaar at your own pace. Evening is free for a local dinner.
🚌Uber/taxi between sites (~£8)
🛏Budget hotel near Giza
- →Visit the Grand Egyptian Museum
- →National Museum of Egyptian Civilization
- →Wander Al Azhar district and Khan el-Khalili bazaar
Pyramids of Giza and Great Sphinx
Giza
Head to the Giza Plateau early to beat the crowds and heat. Explore the three great pyramids and the Great Sphinx up close, and if you like, buy a separate ticket to go inside the Great Pyramid. The afternoon is free — book an optional trip to Saqqara and Memphis, or relax back at your hotel.
🚌Uber/taxi to Giza Plateau (~£5)
🛏Budget hotel near Giza
- →Explore the Pyramids of Giza and Great Sphinx
- →Optional: enter the Great Pyramid (extra ticket)
- →Optional: Saqqara and Memphis day trip
Wadi El Natrun monasteries, El Alamein and on to Alexandria
Alexandria
Take a shared minibus or hire a driver for the day to head northwest. First stop Wadi El Natrun and the ancient Monastery of Saint Bishoy, one of Egypt's oldest Christian monasteries. Continue to El Alamein to visit the WWII War Cemetery and Military Museum, then transfer on to Alexandria (~2.5 hrs). Stay in a budget hotel in the city centre near the Corniche.
🚌Shared minibus/private car hire (~£25)
🛏Budget hotel on Alexandria Corniche (~£18)
- →Visit the Monastery of Saint Bishoy at Wadi El Natrun
- →El Alamein War Cemetery and Military Museum
- →Transfer to Alexandria
Landmarks of Alexandria
Alexandria
Set out on foot and by tram to explore Alexandria's highlights. Visit the Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa, the dramatic Qaitbay Fortress (built on the site of the ancient lighthouse), and the modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina housing the revived Great Library. Climb the lighthouse viewpoint and linger over seafood lunch on the Corniche.
🚌Tram/taxi around Alexandria (~£5)
🛏Budget hotel on Alexandria Corniche
- →Visit the Kom el Shoqafa Catacombs
- →Explore Qaitbay Fortress
- →Bibliotheca Alexandrina and Corniche stroll
Fly to Aswan
Aswan
Return to Cairo by train (or take a direct connecting flight via Cairo airport) and catch an internal flight south to Aswan. Alternatively for the budget-minded, take an overnight sleeper train from Cairo directly. Check into the Basma-style budget hotel — or a simple Nubian guesthouse — overlooking the Nile.
🚌Train Alexandria–Cairo (~£6) + internal flight Cairo–Aswan (~£45)
🛏Budget hotel or Nubian guesthouse in Aswan (~£18)
- →Travel from Alexandria to Cairo and fly to Aswan
Nubian culture, felucca ride and St Simeon Monastery
Aswan
Spend the day immersed in Nubian culture. Visit the Nubian Museum in the morning, then hire a felucca (traditional sailboat) for a relaxing sail on the Nile with a local lunch onboard. Take a short camel ride or walk (4km) to the mud-and-stone ruins of the Monastery of St Simeon, then be welcomed into a Nubian home on Elephantine Island for tea.
🚌Felucca hire and local transfers (~£20)
🛏Budget hotel in Aswan
- →Nubian Museum
- →Private felucca sail on the Nile with lunch
- →Visit the Monastery of St Simeon
- →Nubian family visit on Elephantine Island
Abu Simbel option and boarding the Nile cruise
Aswan
If you have the budget, book an early-morning Abu Simbel excursion (by road, ~3.5 hrs each way) to see Ramses II's spectacular rock-cut temples with their four colossal seated statues. Return to Aswan in the afternoon, then board your budget Nile cruise boat for the 4-night sail north to Luxor. Explore the Aswan souk in the evening if time allows.
🚌Included in cruise + optional Abu Simbel bus (~£45)
🛏Budget Nile cruise boat (4 nights)
- →Optional: Abu Simbel temples excursion (bus)
- →Board Nile cruise boat
- →Wander the Aswan souk
Philae Temple, Aswan High Dam, sail to Kom Ombo
Kom Ombo
Disembark briefly from your cruise at Aswan to visit the beautiful Philae Temple complex on its island setting — the Temple of Isis is the standout monument. Also see the vast Aswan High Dam, built in the 1960s. After lunch, sail north to Kom Ombo, a scenic temple dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek and the falcon god Horus, before continuing to Edfu for the night.
🚌Included in cruise
🛏Nile cruise boat at Edfu
- →Visit Philae Temple (Temple of Isis)
- →See the Aswan High Dam
- →Tour the Temple of Kom Ombo
- →Sail north on the Nile
Edfu Temple then sail to Luxor
Luxor
Wake early to explore Edfu's remarkably well-preserved Temple of Horus — one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt. Then continue sailing north along the Nile, crossing the Esna lock, and watch the desert scenery unfold. Arrive near Luxor in the evening and enjoy a sunset dinner on deck.
🚌Included in cruise
🛏Nile cruise boat near Luxor
- →Tour the Temple of Horus at Edfu
- →Nile sailing with Esna lock crossing
Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut's temple
Luxor
Disembark after breakfast and cross to the west bank of the Nile. Buy your Valley of the Kings ticket, which allows entry to three tombs of the pharaohs — the vivid painted passages of these burial chambers are unforgettable. Visit the soaring Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut beneath its limestone cliff and the colossal Colossi of Memnon. Check into a budget hotel in central Luxor.
🚌West bank taxi hire (~£12)
🛏Budget hotel in central Luxor (~£18)
- →Explore three tombs in the Valley of the Kings
- →Visit the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut
- →See the Colossi of Memnon
Karnak and Luxor temples on the east bank
Luxor
Spend the morning exploring the extraordinary Karnak Temple complex — the vast Hypostyle Hall of towering columns is one of Egypt's most dramatic sights. Walk through the avenue of sphinxes to Luxor Temple, beautifully atmospheric beside the Nile. In the afternoon you might visit the A.C.E animal welfare hospital. Enjoy a farewell dinner at a rooftop restaurant overlooking the river.
🚌Taxi/walk between east bank sites (~£5)
🛏Budget hotel in central Luxor
- →Explore Karnak Temple complex
- →Visit Luxor Temple via the sphinx avenue
- →Optional: A.C.E animal hospital visit
Adventure ends in Luxor
Luxor
Enjoy a final breakfast in Luxor before departing for home. If you've got more adventure in you, arrange a post-trip excursion to the Red Sea coast or take the train back to Cairo to extend your journey at your own pace.
🚌Luxor–Cairo train (~£8) or flight (~£55)
🛏None (departure day)
- →Departure from Luxor (train or flight back to Cairo)
Self-launched vs. Exodus
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Exodus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£700 | £3,320 |
| Duration | 13 days | 13 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £2,620 per person (79%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Exodus-style trips? Check them out here.~£700
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.
Customise with Tour BusterCreated by
Travel Crew
0 trips
Frequently asked questions
How much does Egypt: Alexandria to Aswan — self-launched Nile adventure cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £700 per person for 13 days in 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 Exodus?+
Yes — Exodus charges around £3,320 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £700 — a saving of roughly £2,620 (79%) per person.
How long is the Egypt trip?+
This itinerary runs 13 days, covering 13 day-by-day stops through 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, history trip through 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?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
No comments yet — be the first to share your take.
Sign in to leave a comment.