Egypt Experience — Self-Launched: Cairo, Alexandria, Aswan, Nile Sail & Luxor
12 days · Egypt
Intrepid Travel charges £3,155
No-markup version: ~£1,085 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched DIY version of Intrepid's 12-day "Egypt Experience" (tour code XEKI), booked independently at a fraction of the group-tour price. You'll cover the same headline route — Cairo's pyramids and the new Grand Egyptian Museum, a day trip to Alexandria, the sleeper train south to Aswan, Abu Simbel, a Nubian village dinner, a felucca sail and a budget Nile cruise to Luxor, then the Valley of the Kings before flying back to Cairo — but using hostels and budget hotels, public trains, shared minibuses and self-booked guides and drivers. Costs are approximate backpacker/budget rates in GBP, excluding international flights; Egypt is very affordable on the ground, so flexibility here is rewarded. Book guides through GetYourGuide or Klook, or hire licensed guides directly at each site (agree the price in writing first).
Day-by-day
Arrive Cairo — settle in and meet the city
Cairo
Land at Cairo International and take an airport taxi or the Airport Shuttle Bus to downtown (taxi ~£5-7, bus ~£1). Check into a downtown hostel or budget hotel near Talaat Harb / Talat Harb Square, where most backpacker accommodation clusters. Spend the afternoon easing in: walk the Corniche, grab koshari for dinner (a filling £1-2 plate), and sort out a local SIM (Vodafone/Orange, ~£5 for data). Buy your Giza and museum tickets online in advance, and confirm your sleeper-train booking (Ramses Station ticket office or the Watania sleeper site) for the Aswan leg later this week. Optional: the Cairo Citadel (Saladin Citadel, ~£8 entry) if you have energy left.
🚌Airport taxi ~£5-7 or shuttle bus ~£1; walking and short Careem/Uber rides in the city (~£1-2 each)
🛏Downtown hostel dorm or private budget room, ~£10-15/night
- →Independent arrival and transfer
- →Downtown Cairo orientation walk
- →Koshari dinner
- →Local SIM and sleeper-train booking
Pyramids of Giza, Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum
Giza / Cairo
Beat the heat and crowds with an early start. Take an Uber/Careem to the Giza plateau (~£3) and explore the Pyramids and Sphinx independently; site entry is around £12, with the Great Pyramid interior and a camel/horse ride as optional extras (haggle hard or skip). Then taxi to the Grand Egyptian Museum near the pyramids — pre-book your timed ticket online (~£20-25), and consider a self-guided audio tour or a GetYourGuide small-group guide if you want context. Evening back in downtown: eat at a local fuul/ta'amiya spot (~£3).
🚌Uber/Careem across Giza and back to downtown, ~£2-4 per ride
🛏Downtown hostel or budget hotel, ~£10-15/night
- →Pyramids of Giza and Sphinx (self-guided)
- →Grand Egyptian Museum (pre-booked ticket)
- →Optional Great Pyramid interior
Day trip to Alexandria
Alexandria
Ride the modern Egyptian National Railways train from Cairo to Alexandria (2nd class, ~£3-5, about 2.5 hours) — or book an early morning departure to get a full day. On arrival, use a local tram or a Careem to reach the Kom ash-Shuqqafa catacombs (~£3 entry), then the Bibliotheca Alexandrina (~£3) and Fort Qaitbey (~£2), finishing with a sunset stroll along the Corniche. If you want a guide for the day, a GetYourGuide Alexandria day-tour from Cairo is around £40-55 and includes transfers — but doing it by train is far cheaper. Stay overnight in Alexandria rather than rushing back.
🚌Cairo-Alexandria train ~£3-5 each way; local tram/taxi inside Alexandria ~£2
🛏Budget hotel near Raml Station, ~£15-20/night
- →Kom ash-Shuqqafa catacombs
- →Bibliotheca Alexandrina
- →Fort Qaitbey
- →Corniche sunset walk
Wadi El Natron and overnight sleeper train to Aswan
Alexandria / Cairo / Sleeper train
Return to Cairo by train (or head there directly via a shared minibus along the desert road). If time allows, detour to the early Christian monasteries of Wadi El Natron — easiest by a pre-arranged private driver for the day (~£35-45 total, split between a couple of travellers) or a GetYourGuide day tour. Otherwise enjoy a few free hours in Cairo for a final wander and snacks before boarding the Watania overnight sleeper train from Ramses Station to Aswan (~£55-70 for a single-occupancy cabin; book online in advance — this is the same product Intrepid uses, so pay a bit more for the better cabin class if you value sleep).
🚌Alexandria-Cairo train ~£3-5; optional private driver ~£35-45 split; sleeper train Cairo-Aswan ~£55-70
🛏Overnight sleeper train cabin (included in train fare)
- →Optional Wadi El Natron monastery visit
- →Cairo free time
- →Overnight sleeper train to Aswan
Aswan — Philae Temple and Nubian village dinner
Aswan
Arrive in Aswan mid-morning and check into a budget hotel or guesthouse (Aswan has excellent small Nubian-run guesthouses, ~£12-18). Rest, then take a local motorboat across to Agilika Island for the Temple of Isis on Philae Island (~£8 entry plus ~£5 boat). In the late afternoon, arrange a boat trip to a Nubian village on the west bank and eat a home-cooked dinner with a local family — many guesthouses and hosts offer this for ~£12-18 including transport, which is essentially the same experience Intrepid includes. Optionally visit the Nubian Museum (~£2).
🚌Motorboat to Philae and Nubian village, ~£5-8 per trip
🛏Nubian guesthouse or budget hotel, ~£12-18/night
- →Temple of Isis, Philae Island
- →Nubian village visit and home dinner
- →Optional Nubian Museum
Abu Simbel at sunrise, felucca sail back in Aswan
Abu Simbel / Aswan
Leave very early (3-4am) with a shared minibus or the public convoy bus to Abu Simbel (~£15-20 return; book through your hotel or a GetYourGuide small-group tour from Aswan, ~£30-40 including entry assistance). The twin temples of Ramses II and Nefertari are the highlight of the south — aim to be there by 7-8am before the heat and tour buses peak. Return to Aswan by early afternoon and take a sunset felucca sail on the Nile (~£8-12 for a couple of hours, negotiable). Dinner at a local fish or Nubian restaurant, ~£5.
🚌Shared minibus to Abu Simbel ~£15-20 return; felucca ~£8-12
🛏Nubian guesthouse or budget hotel, ~£12-18/night
- →Abu Simbel temples
- →Sunset felucca sail on the Nile
Join a budget Nile cruise — Kom Ombo
Nile cruise (Aswan to Kom Ombo)
Rather than Intrepid's chartered ship, book a seat on one of the classic 3-night Aswan-Luxor cruises sold locally or online (budget 5-star vessels start around £120-160 per person for 3 nights, full board, sharing a twin cabin — or look for the cheap 'last-minute' cruises sold from Aswan's Corniche for even less). Board midday and sail downstream; stop at Kom Ombo temple (~£5 entry) in the late afternoon with your group or independently. Note that cruises depart on fixed days, so build flexibility into your Aswan nights to match the sailing schedule.
🚌Nile cruise ship (Aswan-Luxor), budget cabin ~£40-55/night full board
🛏Standard/budget Nile cruise cabin, full board
- →Nile cruise boarding
- →Kom Ombo temple
Cruising — Edfu and Esna, arrive Luxor
Nile cruise (Edfu / Esna / Luxor)
A full day on the water with stops at Edfu temple (reachable by local horse-drawn caleche, ~£3, plus ~£4 entry) and, depending on river levels, the Esna Lock. Meals are included on board. Arrive Luxor in the evening and, after dinner on the ship, take a short orientation walk along the Corniche or to Luxor Temple (lit up beautifully at night, ~£4 entry — pay at the gate). Your cruise nights are already booked and paid.
🚌On-board cruise; caleche in Edfu ~£3; short taxi in Luxor ~£2
🛏Nile cruise cabin, full board
- →Edfu temple
- →Esna Lock (river conditions permitting)
- →Luxor Temple by night (optional)
Disembark — Karnak Temple and Luxor's bazaar
Luxor
Disembark after breakfast and check into a budget hotel on the east bank or a guesthouse on the west bank near the ferry (~£10-16/night). Visit Karnak Temple (~£8 entry) independently with an audio guide, or book a GetYourGuide guide for Karnak and Luxor Temple (~£20-30). Wander the Avenue of Sphinxes that links the two temples. Late afternoon: browse the Luxor bazaar and have mint tea at a local teahouse (~£2). Book your west-bank tour and your flight back to Cairo for the following evening.
🚌Walking; local taxi or west-bank ferry ~£1-3
🛏Budget hotel or guesthouse, ~£10-16/night
- →Karnak Temple
- →Avenue of Sphinxes walk
- →Luxor bazaar and teahouse
Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple and the Colossi of Memnon
Luxor (West Bank)
Cross the Nile by ferry early (or take a shared microbus) and do the West Bank under your own steam: hire a local taxi for the half-day (~£12-18 total, split with others) or hire a bike (~£4/day). Valley of the Kings entry (~£15) covers three tombs; Tutankhamun's tomb and Seti I are extra (~£10-12 each). Continue to the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut (~£6) and stop at the Colossi of Memnon (free). Optional: the Mummification Museum (~£2) back on the east bank. Sunset from a rooftop cafe before an evening flight to Cairo (pre-book ~£50-75 one-way with EgyptAir/Nile Air on a cheap fare).
🚌West-bank ferry ~£1; shared taxi half-day ~£12-18; Luxor-Cairo flight ~£50-75
🛏Downtown Cairo hostel or budget hotel, ~£10-15/night
- →Valley of the Kings (three tombs)
- →Tutankhamun's tomb (optional)
- →Temple of Hatshepsut
- →Colossi of Memnon
Islamic Cairo, Khan al-Khalili and El Fishawy
Cairo
A slower day exploring Islamic Cairo on foot or with a walking-tour app. Wander the medieval lanes of Al-Muizz Street, visit Al-Azhar Mosque and the surrounding bazaars, then dive into the Khan al-Khalili market for souvenir shopping (haggle!). Rest up with mint tea and shisha at the legendary El Fishawy cafe (~£3) and eat dinner at a local restaurant with new hostel friends (~£6). Optional: a guided Islamic Cairo walking tour via GetYourGuide (~£20-30).
🚌Metro (~£0.30/ride) and short Careem rides ~£1-2
🛏Downtown Cairo hostel or budget hotel, ~£10-15/night
- →Al-Muizz Street walk
- →Al-Azhar Mosque
- →Khan al-Khalili bazaar
- →El Fishawy cafe
Depart Cairo
Cairo
Breakfast, last souvenir shopping or a museum visit if your flight is late, then transfer to Cairo International by taxi (~£6). If you want to extend, Cairo hostels and budget hotels are plentiful and cheap, and you could add a day trip to Saqqara and Dahshur pyramids (shared minibus ~£10-15 plus entry). Either way, you've covered the same route as the group tour for a fraction of the price.
🚌Airport taxi ~£6
🛏—
- →Free morning in Cairo
- →Airport transfer
Self-launched vs. Intrepid Travel
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Intrepid Travel | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,085 | £3,155 |
| Duration | 12 days | 12 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £2,070 per person (66%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Intrepid Travel-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,085
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 Egypt Experience — Self-Launched: Cairo, Alexandria, Aswan, Nile Sail & Luxor cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,085 per person for 12 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 Intrepid Travel?+
Yes — Intrepid Travel charges around £3,155 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,085 — a saving of roughly £2,070 (66%) per person.
How long is the Egypt trip?+
This itinerary runs 12 days, covering 12 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, budget 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?
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