Glory of Egypt — Self-Launched: Cairo, Nile & Mount Sinai
10 days · Egypt
AB Voyages Egypt charges £1,110
No-markup version: ~£880 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched 10-day version of AB Voyages' "Glory of Egypt" loop: the Pyramids, Saqqara and Dahshur, a Nile sailing between Aswan and Luxor, and a Bedouin overnight and sunrise climb on Mount Sinai. Instead of a 5-star hotel plus fully guided group cruise, you'll use well-located budget hotels and guesthouses, book a Nile cruise cabin direct (or take the train and day-trip the temples), join small-group or shared day tours via GetYourGuide/Klook, and use Egypt's cheap, easy domestic flights, sleeper trains and buses. Expect roughly a third to a half of the package price, with plenty of flexibility to add Abu Simbel or a Luxor hot-air balloon.
Day-by-day
Arrive Cairo — settle in Downtown
Cairo
Land at Cairo International, buy a tourist visa on arrival (US$25/≈£20 cash, or e-visa online in advance) and pick up a local SIM from Vodafone/Orange in arrivals (≈£6-8 for a data bundle). Skip the airport taxi touts and pre-book a Cairo Airport Shuttle or use Uber/Careem to Downtown (≈£4-6, 40-60 mins). Check into a Downtown or Zamalek guesthouse/hostel and take an easy evening wander along the Nile corniche or a cheap koshari dinner (≈£3).
🚌Airport shuttle or Uber/Careem from CAI to Downtown, ≈£5
🛏Downtown Cairo guesthouse or hostel private room (e.g. around Talaat Harb / Zamalek), ≈£20-28/night
- →Visa on arrival and SIM card pickup
- →Evening walk along the Nile corniche
- →Koshari dinner in Downtown
Giza, Saqqara & Dahshur in one day
Cairo / Giza
Book a small-group Giza + Saqqara + Dahshur day tour on GetYourGuide or Klook (≈£35-50 including transport and a guide) — this replicates the operator's guided day without the private car. Alternatively, take an Uber to the Giza plateau (≈£4), enter the site (≈£13), then a local driver or tour to Saqqara (step pyramid, ≈£10 entry) and Dahshur's Red and Bent pyramids (≈£5). Sunset drinks or dinner at the Marriott Mena House terrace is a lovely splurge (≈£25+).
🚌Included in small-group tour, or Uber/local driver ≈£10-15 for the day
🛏Same Downtown Cairo guesthouse, ≈£20-28/night
- →Giza Pyramids and Sphinx
- →Saqqara step pyramid complex
- →Dahshur Red and Bent pyramids
- →Optional: sunset at Marriott Mena House
Fly or sleeper train to Aswan — Philae Temple
Aswan
Take an early morning domestic flight Cairo–Aswan (EgyptAir/Nile Air, ≈£50-70 if booked ahead) or the overnight sleeper train (Wagon-Lits, ≈£45-60 for a single cabin) the night before; the train is the classic budget choice. Check into an Aswan guesthouse or Nile-view budget hotel, then take a local motorboat to Philae Temple (boat ≈£4 return, entry ≈£10) in the late afternoon when it's cooler and quieter. Evening: walk the Aswan corniche and eat at a Nubian restaurant on the west bank.
🚌Cairo–Aswan flight ≈£55 (or sleeper train ≈£50); local boat to Philae ≈£4
🛏Aswan guesthouse or budget hotel (e.g. around the Corniche or West Bank), ≈£18-26/night
- →Philae Temple by local motorboat
- →Aswan corniche sunset walk
- →Optional: Nubian village boat trip ≈£10
Board Nile cruise — Aswan to Kom Ombo
Nile Cruise (Aswan–Kom Ombo)
Book a 2-3 night Aswan–Luxor Nile cruise cabin direct with an operator or via GetYourGuide/Klook (≈£120-180 for 3 nights full board in a standard cabin, sharing). Cruise ships sail late morning; an optional early start for Abu Simbel by shared minibus (≈£25-35 with entry) is well worth it. Afternoon stop at Kom Ombo temple (entry ≈£6) right beside the boat, then sail on with dinner on board.
🚌Nile cruise ship Aswan–Kom Ombo; optional shared minibus to Abu Simbel ≈£30
🛏Standard Nile cruise cabin, full board (cost counted within cruise booking)
- →Abu Simbel temples (optional, strongly recommended)
- →Kom Ombo temple at sunset
- →Onboard Nile sailing
Edfu and Luxor temples
Nile Cruise (Edfu–Luxor)
Morning horse-carriage or tuk-tuk ride from the boat to Edfu Temple (entry ≈£6, carriage ≈£5), one of Egypt's best-preserved temples. Sail on to Luxor, arriving afternoon; visit Luxor Temple after dark when it's beautifully lit (entry ≈£7). Optional evening horse-carriage city tour (≈£8) or sunset felucca on the Nile (≈£5).
🚌Cruise ship Edfu–Luxor; local horse carriage/tuk-tuk ≈£5
🛏Nile cruise cabin, full board
- →Edfu Temple
- →Luxor Temple by night
- →Optional felucca sail ≈£5
West Bank: Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut, Karnak — then back to Cairo
Luxor / Cairo
Optional pre-dawn hot-air balloon flight over the West Bank (≈£75-90 booked via GetYourGuide — a highlight, worth the splurge). Otherwise start early with a shared West Bank taxi (≈£8-10 for a half day): Valley of the Kings (≈£13, extra for Tutankhamun), Hatshepsut Temple (≈£6) and the Colossi of Memnon. Afternoon: Karnak Temple (≈£10). Evening flight Luxor–Cairo (≈£45-60) or overnight sleeper train, back to your Downtown guesthouse.
🚌Shared West Bank taxi ≈£9; Luxor–Cairo flight ≈£50
🛏Downtown Cairo guesthouse, ≈£20-28/night
- →Valley of the Kings
- →Hatshepsut Temple
- →Karnak Temple
- →Optional hot-air balloon ≈£80
Cairo to Mount Sinai — Bedouin camp
Saint Catherine / Mount Sinai
Take an early bus from Cairo's Torgoman/Gateway station to St Catherine (East Delta/Go Bus, ≈£8-10, 7-8 hours), or join a shared overnight Sinai tour from Cairo (≈£35-50 including transport, guide and camp). Check into a Bedouin camp near the monastery (dorm/tent ≈£15-20, basic but atmospheric) or the Fox Camp-style guesthouse. Eat a simple Bedouin dinner, sleep a few hours, then start the night climb around 1-2am — headtorch essential.
🚌Cairo–St Catherine bus ≈£9 (or shared Sinai tour transport)
🛏Bedouin camp tent or simple guesthouse near St Catherine's, ≈£15-20/night
- →Bus journey across the Sinai
- →Bedouin camp dinner
- →Optional camel ride part-way up ≈£10
Sunrise on Mount Sinai & St Catherine's Monastery — back to Cairo
Mount Sinai / Cairo
Climb the Camel Path/Steps of Repentance (3-4 hrs up, 2 hrs down) to watch sunrise from the summit where Moses is said to have received the tablets — bring layers, it's freezing at night even in summer. Descend to visit St Catherine's Monastery (free, closed Fridays and religious holidays; the Burning Bush and icon collection). Midday bus back to Cairo (≈£9), arriving evening; check into your Downtown guesthouse and eat well.
🚌St Catherine–Cairo bus ≈£9
🛏Downtown Cairo guesthouse, ≈£20-28/night
- →Mount Sinai sunrise hike
- →St Catherine's Monastery
- →Return coach to Cairo
Old Cairo, Grand Egyptian Museum & Khan el-Khalili
Cairo
Book a half-day Old Cairo guided walk (Coptic Cairo, Hanging Church, Ben Ezra Synagogue) via GetYourGuide (≈£25), or DIY with an Uber between stops. Spend a long afternoon at the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) by Giza (entry ≈£20, book a timed slot online). Finish with the sensory overload of Khan el-Khalili bazaar — haggle for souvenirs, mint tea at El Fishawy café, and a final dinner at Abou Tarek (koshari) or a rooftop restaurant.
🚌Uber hop between Old Cairo, GEM and Downtown ≈£8-10
🛏Downtown Cairo guesthouse, ≈£20-28/night
- →Coptic Old Cairo and Hanging Church
- →Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM)
- →Khan el-Khalili bazaar
- →El Fishawy café mint tea
Depart Cairo
Cairo
Last Egyptian breakfast, a final wander or pick up last-minute souvenirs, then Uber or airport shuttle to Cairo International (≈£5) for your flight home. Leave buffer time — Cairo traffic is legendary.
🚌Uber/airport shuttle to CAI ≈£5
🛏—
- →Farewell breakfast in Downtown
- →Airport transfer
Self-launched vs. AB Voyages Egypt
| This itinerary (self-launched) | AB Voyages Egypt | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£880 | £1,110 |
| Duration | 10 days | 10 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £230 per person (21%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more AB Voyages Egypt-style trips? Check them out here.~£880
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 Glory of Egypt — Self-Launched: Cairo, Nile & Mount Sinai cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £880 per person for 10 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 AB Voyages Egypt?+
Yes — AB Voyages Egypt charges around £1,110 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £880 — a saving of roughly £230 (21%) per person.
How long is the Egypt trip?+
This itinerary runs 10 days, covering 10 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 adventure, culture, 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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