Highlights of Egypt: Self-Launched Adventure

Fly into Cairo International Airport and make your way into the city. Take the Cairo Metro or a metered taxi (agree the fare in advance, ~£5–8 from the airport area) to your accommodation in the Zamalek or Downtown districts. Spend the evening wandering Tahrir Square, grab a koshary (Egypt's beloved street food dish) from a local joint for under £2, and get orientated. Pick up a local SIM card at the airport for easy navigation — Vodafone Egypt and Orange both have desks in arrivals.

🚌Cairo Metro Line 3 connects the airport to central Cairo for under £1. Alternatively, a metered taxi to Downtown Cairo costs ~£5–8. Agree the fare before getting in.

🛏Lialy Hostel or Downtown Cairo Hostel (Downtown Cairo) — dorm from ~£8–12/night, private rooms from ~£20/night. Well-rated on Hostelworld for solo travellers.

• →Arrive at Cairo International Airport
• →Transfer to accommodation via metro or metered taxi (~£5–8)
• →Pick up a local SIM card in arrivals
• →Evening stroll around Tahrir Square
• →Dinner at a local koshary restaurant (~£2)

Today is the day you stand in front of the last surviving Wonder of the Ancient World. Head to Giza early (gates open at 8am) to beat the heat and the crowds. Take a local bus or Cairo Metro + shared taxi combo to the plateau — it's cheap and easy. Buy your entry ticket at the gate (£10 for the plateau, extra for inside the pyramids). Book a licensed guide directly at the site or via GetYourGuide for an English-speaking walking tour (~£15–20). Avoid camel touts by politely but firmly declining. In the afternoon, visit the Solar Boat Museum (£3 extra). Return to Cairo for dinner — try Felfela restaurant near Downtown for Egyptian grills.

🚌Take Cairo Metro to Giza Station, then a shared microbus or local bus to the plateau for under £1 total. Alternatively, negotiate a return taxi for the day (~£15–20 for the vehicle, shareable).

🛏Downtown Cairo Hostel or Lialy Hostel (~£8–20/night)

• →Visit the Pyramids of Giza complex (entry ~£10)
• →See the Great Sphinx up close
• →Optional: enter the Great Pyramid (additional £10–15 ticket)
• →Visit the Solar Boat Museum (£3)
• →Book a licensed guide at the gate or via GetYourGuide (~£15–20)
• →Dinner at a local Cairo restaurant (~£5–8)

Spend the morning at the Egyptian Museum on Tahrir Square — home to Tutankhamun's golden death mask and thousands of pharaonic artefacts. Entry is ~£10, audioguide available. Allow 3–4 hours minimum. In the afternoon, optionally dip into the historic Khan el-Khalili bazaar for spices, perfume, and souvenirs — great for a wander even if you don't buy. In the evening, head to Cairo Ramses Station and board the overnight sleeper train to Aswan. Book sleeper train tickets in advance via the Egyptian National Railways website or through your hotel — 1st class sleeper (with dinner and breakfast included) costs ~£40–50 per person.

🚌Walk or taxi to Cairo Ramses Station (~£3). Overnight sleeper train Cairo → Aswan (Train 86 or 82) — 1st class sleeper with meals ~£40–50. Book ahead via Egyptian National Railways or a local agent.

🛏Overnight sleeper train (bunk included in ticket price)

• →Egyptian Museum visit — including Tutankhamun's treasures (entry ~£10)
• →Optional: Khan el-Khalili bazaar afternoon browse
• →Board overnight sleeper train to Aswan at Cairo Ramses Station

Arrive in Aswan in the morning and check into your guesthouse — Aswan has some brilliant small Nubian-run guesthouses right on the Nile. After freshening up, head to the Nile corniche and arrange a local felucca or motorboat trip (~£5–8 per person for a shared boat) to visit the Nubian Village on Elephantine Island or the west bank islands. Take in views of the Aga Khan Mausoleum and Kitchener Island as you float past. Spend time walking through the colourful Nubian village — many families offer traditional home-cooked meals (ask your guesthouse to arrange or look for 'Nubian dinner' signs at the landing stage, ~£6–10 including food). A genuinely memorable local experience.

🚌Arrive Aswan Railway Station on overnight train from Cairo. Walk or short taxi (~£2) to accommodation. Local boats to islands depart from the Nile corniche — negotiate shared rates.

🛏Nubian Oasis Guesthouse or Mango House Aswan — small family-run guesthouses with Nile views, from ~£12–18/night for a private room.

• →Arrive Aswan by sleeper train
• →Check in and rest at Nubian guesthouse
• →Shared felucca/motorboat trip along the Nile (~£5–8)
• →Views of Aga Khan Mausoleum and Kitchener Island
• →Walk through Nubian Village on Elephantine Island
• →Traditional Nubian home-cooked dinner (~£6–10)

A full day exploring Aswan's iconic sights. Hire a local guide for the day or join a shared tour via GetYourGuide (~£20–30) covering the Aswan High Dam (free to view from outside, ~£3 to enter), the Unfinished Obelisk in the northern quarries (~£5), and the stunning Temple of Philae — dedicated to the goddess Isis and relocated to Agilkia Island after the construction of the dam. Entry to Philae is ~£10, plus a short motorboat ride (~£3 shared). End the afternoon with a leisurely felucca sail at sunset — arrange directly with a Nile boatman on the corniche for ~£5–8/hour. Optional: visit the Aswan Souk in the evening for spices, hibiscus tea, and local crafts.

🚌Shared taxi or microbus from central Aswan to the High Dam and quarries (~£3–5 return). Motorboats to Philae Island depart from the official dock near the dam — share the cost with other tourists at the dock.

🛏Nubian Oasis Guesthouse or Mango House Aswan (~£12–18/night)

• →Aswan High Dam visit (~£3 entry)
• →Unfinished Obelisk in the ancient quarries (~£5)
• →Temple of Philae via motorboat (~£10 entry + £3 boat)
• →Sunset felucca sail on the Nile (~£5–8)
• →Optional: Aswan Souk evening browse

Abu Simbel is one of Egypt's most jaw-dropping sights and absolutely worth the early start. The most economical way to visit independently is to join the official tourist convoy that departs Aswan at 4am (convoys are required for the journey). Book a shared minibus seat through your guesthouse or the tourist office (~£15–20 per person return transport). Entry to the Abu Simbel temples is ~£20. You'll have around 2–3 hours at the site — more than enough to take in the four colossal statues of Ramses II at the Great Temple and the smaller Temple of Hathor. Alternatively, fly from Aswan to Abu Simbel (~£60–80 return with Egypt Air) if you prefer a quicker trip. Return to Aswan by early afternoon and rest up before heading north to Luxor.

🚌Join the 4am tourist convoy by shared minibus from Aswan (~£15–20 return). Book the night before through your guesthouse. Alternatively, Egypt Air flies Aswan–Abu Simbel (~£60–80 return).

🛏Nubian Oasis Guesthouse or Mango House Aswan (~£12–18/night)

• →Early morning convoy minibus to Abu Simbel (~£15–20 transport)
• →Great Temple of Ramses II — four colossal seated statues (entry ~£20)
• →Temple of Hathor (Nefertari)
• →Return to Aswan by early afternoon

Travel north from Aswan to Luxor — the open-air museum of the ancient world. The classic independent traveller option is to take the local train (~£3–6 for 2nd class, ~3 hours) or, for a more adventurous option, arrange a 1–2 night felucca trip along the Nile from Aswan toward Edfu or Esna, finishing with a local bus or taxi into Luxor. For a single-day transfer, the train is the most practical. Arrive in Luxor, check in, and spend the afternoon exploring Luxor Temple (entry ~£10) which is especially atmospheric when lit up at night. Grab dinner along the East Bank corniche.

🚌Egyptian National Railways train Aswan → Luxor: ~£3–6 (2nd class), ~3 hours. Trains depart multiple times daily. Book at Aswan station or via a local agent. Alternatively, a shared service taxi (microbus) runs the route for ~£4–6.

🛏Nefertiti Hotel or Bob Marley Peace Hostel, Luxor — well-rated budget options, from £10–20/night.

• →Train or felucca journey from Aswan to Luxor
• →Check in to Luxor accommodation
• →Afternoon visit to Luxor Temple (entry ~£10)
• →Luxor Temple by night — stunning illuminations
• →Dinner along the East Bank corniche (~£5–8)

Rise early for the West Bank — one of the most extraordinary archaeological landscapes on earth. Cross the Nile by local ferry (£0.50) then hire a bicycle (~£3/day) or join a shared minibus taxi to reach the sites. The Valley of the Kings entry (~£12) includes access to three tombs — descend the rock-hewn corridors to view the vivid paintings and hieroglyphs that have survived 3,000 years. Add Tutankhamun's tomb (~£15 extra) if budget allows. Next, visit the Temple of Hatshepsut (Deir el-Bahari, entry ~£8) — the colonnaded mortuary temple of Egypt's most famous female pharaoh, backed by dramatic limestone cliffs. Stop at the Colossi of Memnon (free) on the way back — two enormous seated statues in open farmland. Book a knowledgeable local guide for the West Bank via GetYourGuide (~£15–20) for far deeper context.

🚌Local ferry from Luxor East Bank to West Bank (£0.50). Hire a bicycle from the West Bank village (~£3/day) or share a microbus with other tourists at the ferry landing. Agree on an hourly or half-day rate.

🛏Nefertiti Hotel or Bob Marley Peace Hostel, Luxor (~£10–20/night)

• →Local ferry across the Nile to West Bank (£0.50)
• →Valley of the Kings — three tombs included in entry (~£12)
• →Optional: Tutankhamun's tomb (extra ~£15)
• →Temple of Hatshepsut / Deir el-Bahari (~£8)
• →Colossi of Memnon (free)
• →Local guide via GetYourGuide (~£15–20)

Spend the morning at Karnak Temple Complex — the largest ancient religious site in the world and a genuine contender for the most awe-inspiring place in Egypt. Entry is ~£12 and you could easily spend 3–4 hours among the hypostyle hall (134 enormous columns), sacred lake, and Avenue of Sphinxes. Walk or take a horse-drawn caleche (~£3–5) back along the corniche toward the Luxor Museum (~£8 entry) in the afternoon — a compact, well-curated museum with some of the finest objects recovered from the Valley of the Kings. End the evening at a rooftop restaurant overlooking the Nile.

🚌Walk (20 mins) or cycle along the East Bank corniche from central Luxor to Karnak. Horse-drawn caleche ride back to town ~£3–5.

🛏Nefertiti Hotel or Bob Marley Peace Hostel, Luxor (~£10–20/night)

• →Karnak Temple Complex — hypostyle hall, sacred lake, Avenue of Sphinxes (entry ~£12)
• →Optional: Sound & Light Show at Karnak in the evening (~£8)
• →Luxor Museum (~£8)
• →Rooftop dinner with Nile views (~£6–10)

Travel from Luxor to Hurghada on the Red Sea coast. The most common route for independent travellers is a shared service taxi or minibus from Luxor's microbus station (~£5–8, ~3 hours through desert scenery). Alternatively, book a private transfer via your hotel if travelling with others. Arrive in Hurghada by early afternoon, check into your accommodation, and spend the rest of the day acclimatising to the beach town vibe — take a dip in the Red Sea, explore the old town (Dahar), and have a fresh seafood dinner at the harbour.

🚌Shared service taxi or minibus from Luxor microbus station to Hurghada: ~£5–8 per person, ~3 hours. Departs when full — arrive at the station early morning for best options.

🛏Sea Horse Hostel or Hurghada Dreams Hostel — budget-friendly options steps from the beach, from ~£10–18/night.

• →Shared taxi or minibus transfer Luxor → Hurghada (~£5–8, ~3 hours)
• →Check in and settle into Red Sea rhythm
• →First swim in the Red Sea
• →Explore Hurghada's Dahar old town
• →Fresh seafood dinner at the harbour (~£8–12)

The Red Sea is one of the world's top snorkelling and diving destinations, with vivid coral reefs and remarkable marine life just minutes from shore. Book a half-day snorkelling boat trip directly through a local dive centre in Hurghada (avoid hotel mark-ups) for ~£15–20, visiting sites like Giftun Island. Full PADI discover scuba dives are available from ~£40–50 if you want to try diving. In the afternoon, relax on a public beach (free, or ~£3–5 for a sun lounger at a beach club). The seafront strip has plenty of cafes, juice bars, and shisha spots for a relaxed evening.

🚌Walk or short tuk-tuk to Hurghada marina for boat departure (~£1–2).

🛏Sea Horse Hostel or Hurghada Dreams Hostel (~£10–18/night)

• →Half-day snorkelling boat trip to Giftun Island (~£15–20)
• →Snorkelling among coral reefs and tropical fish
• →Optional: PADI discover scuba dive (~£40–50)
• →Afternoon on public beach or beach club (~£0–5)
• →Shisha and fresh juice on the seafront (~£3–5)

Return to Cairo from Hurghada. The quickest option is a domestic flight with EgyptAir or Nile Air (~£35–60, ~1 hour — book in advance for best prices). Alternatively, an overnight or daytime bus with GoBus or Superjet runs the route for ~£8–12 (~6–7 hours through Sinai desert scenery). Arrive back in Cairo and check into your accommodation in the Islamic Cairo or Zamalek districts. Spend the evening exploring the medieval Islamic quarter around Al-Muizz Street, lit up and busy with local life after dark.

🚌EgyptAir or Nile Air domestic flight Hurghada → Cairo (~£35–60, book ahead). Or GoBus/Superjet coach from Hurghada bus station (~£8–12, ~6–7 hours). Airport to central Cairo via metro or taxi (~£5–8).

🛏Lialy Hostel or Cairo Dream Inn — Downtown Cairo, from ~£10–20/night.

• →Domestic flight Hurghada → Cairo (~£35–60) or long-distance bus (~£8–12)
• →Check in to Cairo accommodation
• →Evening walk through Al-Muizz Street in Islamic Cairo
• →Street food dinner in the Khan el-Khalili area (~£3–6)

A packed cultural day covering Cairo's most historically layered neighbourhoods. Start in Islamic Cairo: visit the Ibn Tulun Mosque (free or small donation), the grand Sultan Hassan Mosque (~£3 entry), and walk the Al-Muizz Street heritage corridor. In the afternoon, head to the Coptic Quarter (Metro to Mar Girgis station) and visit the Hanging Church (free), the Coptic Museum (~£5), and Ben Ezra Synagogue. If time and energy allow, take a shared taxi (~£5–8 each way) out to Memphis and Saqqara — Egypt's oldest pyramid complex and the extraordinary Step Pyramid of Djoser (~£8 entry). Finish with a final street-food feast in Downtown Cairo.

🚌Cairo Metro to Islamic Cairo and Coptic Quarter stations (under £1 per journey). Shared taxi or Uber to Saqqara (~£5–8 each way — worth sharing with fellow travellers to split cost).

🛏Lialy Hostel or Cairo Dream Inn (~£10–20/night)

• →Islamic Cairo: Ibn Tulun Mosque, Sultan Hassan Mosque, Al-Muizz Street (free–£3)
• →Coptic Quarter: Hanging Church, Coptic Museum (~£5), Ben Ezra Synagogue
• →Optional afternoon: Memphis open-air museum and Step Pyramid of Saqqara (~£8 + ~£5–8 transport each way)
• →Final night street food dinner in Downtown Cairo (~£4–7)

Enjoy a leisurely final morning in Cairo. If you haven't already, grab a late Egyptian breakfast — ful medames, falafel (ta'ameya), and fresh bread from a local bakery for under £2. Pick up any last souvenirs from Khan el-Khalili or the local markets near your hostel. Transfer to Cairo International Airport allowing plenty of time — the city's traffic can be unpredictable. End of a truly epic Egyptian adventure.

🚌Metro Line 3 from central Cairo to the airport (under £1) or metered taxi/Uber (~£8–12 depending on traffic). Allow at least 2.5–3 hours before your flight given Cairo traffic.

🛏Check out of Downtown Cairo hostel

• →Final Egyptian breakfast — ful medames and ta'ameya (~£2)
• →Last-minute souvenir shopping at Khan el-Khalili
• →Transfer to Cairo International Airport