Egypt & Jordan Adventure (Self-Launched)
15 days · Egypt & Jordan
G Adventures charges £2,060
No-markup version: ~£825 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched 15-day solo adventure from Cairo to Amman covering the Great Pyramids of Giza, Luxor's Valley of the Kings and Karnak Temple, a Nubian village boat trip, the Dead Sea float, Jerash's Roman ruins and Petra. Using local buses, trains, shared taxis and ferries/land crossings, staying in budget hotels and hostels, and booking day tours independently via GetYourGuide or direct with local operators. Costs are approximate per person.
Day-by-day
Arrive Cairo & Khan el-Khalili bazaar
Cairo, Egypt
Land in Cairo, check into a budget hotel in Downtown near Tahrir Square, and ease into the city. In the late afternoon head to Khan el-Khalili bazaar to haggle for scarves, lanterns and spices and grab your first koshari dinner at a local spot (£2-3).
🚌Airport bus (GoBus/Cairo Shuttle, ~£2) or Careem ride to Downtown (~£5)
🛏Budget hotel, Downtown Cairo (private room £18-25)
- →Settle into Downtown Cairo budget hotel
- →Explore Khan el-Khalili bazaar
- →Koshari street dinner
Pyramids of Giza & Egyptian Museum
Giza / Cairo, Egypt
Full day on the west bank of Cairo. Take an Uber to Giza (£4) and explore the Great Pyramids, Sphinx and a pyramid interior. Afternoon back downtown to the Egyptian Museum near Tahrir Square. Book a small-group Giza day tour via GetYourGuide if you want guiding (£15-30).
🚌Uber to Giza (~£4 return)
🛏Budget hotel, Downtown Cairo
- →Giza Pyramids & Sphinx
- →Optional pyramid interior entry
- →Egyptian Museum, Tahrir Square
Fly or overnight train to Aswan + Nubian village
Aswan, Egypt
Either take the early EgyptAir flight Cairo-Aswan (~£45-70) or the overnight sleeper train from Ramses Station to Aswan (~£30-45). In Aswan, take a local felucca boat along the Nile past the Aga Khan Mausoleum and Kitchener Island to a Nubian village on the west bank, walking through the village and sharing a traditional Nubian dinner with a local family (bookable via GetYourGuide or your guesthouse, ~£20-30).
🚌Domestic flight (~£45-70) or sleeper train (~£30-45)
🛏Guesthouse in Aswan (£12-20)
- →EgyptAir flight or overnight train to Aswan
- →Felucca ride on the Nile
- →Nubian village tour & traditional dinner
Abu Simbel day trip & Aswan souk
Aswan, Egypt
Join the early-morning convoy to Abu Simbel to see Ramses II's colossal cliff temples (shared minibus tour, ~£25-40 including site entry). Back in Aswan in the afternoon, wander the Aswan Souk for spices, perfumes and scarves before sunset over the Nile.
🚌Shared minibus convoy to Abu Simbel (~£15-20)
🛏Guesthouse in Aswan
- →Abu Simbel temples day trip
- →Aswan Souk browsing
Aswan to Luxor (Nile by road or rail)
Luxor, Egypt
Travel Aswan to Luxor by train or a shared minibus (~£5-10, 3-4 hours). Optional stop at Kom Ombo or Edfu temples en route. Settle into a west-bank or city-centre guesthouse in Luxor and catch sunset over the Nile with tea on the corniche.
🚌Train or shared minibus (~£5-10)
🛏Guesthouse in Luxor (£10-18)
- →Train or minibus Aswan-Luxor
- →Optional Kom Ombo/Edfu temple stop
- →Sunset on the Luxor corniche
Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut & Colossi of Memnon
Luxor, Egypt
Cross the Nile by local ferry (£1) to the west bank. Visit the Valley of the Kings (3 tombs included), the Temple of Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon. Cycle or take local minibuses between sites; a west-bank day tour from a local operator is ~£15-25. Book Tutankhamun's tomb separately if wanted.
🚌Local ferry (~£1) + west-bank minibus/cycle hire (~£5)
🛏Guesthouse in Luxor
- →Valley of the Kings
- →Temple of Hatshepsut
- →Colossi of Memnon
- →Optional Tutankhamun tomb
Karnak Temple & Luxor Temple
Luxor, Egypt
Morning at Karnak Temple with its vast hypostyle hall, walking the avenue of sphinxes toward Luxor Temple, lit beautifully in the evening. Then board a local train or bus to Cairo (or use the overnight train) for the next leg.
🚌Luxor-Cairo train (~£15-30, ~10h)
🛏Budget hotel Cairo or in transit
- →Karnak Temple
- →Luxor Temple
- →Overnight or day train to Cairo
Cairo to Amman / Jordan land crossing
Cairo to Amman, Jordan
Fly Cairo to Amman (Royal Jordanian/Jordan Aviation, ~£90-140) or do the classic land route: Cairo to Taba by GoBus, then the ferry Taba-Aqaba (~£45 ferry) or Wadi Araba border crossing and bus to Amman. Confirm visa-on-arrival for Jordan (free/£30 Jordan Pass options).
🚌GoBus Cairo-Aqaba (~£15) + AB Maritime ferry (~£45) OR direct flight (~£90-140)
🛏Hostel in Amman (£8-15)
- →Cairo-Aqaba bus/ferry or flight
- →Aqaba to Amman
- →Jordan Visa / Jordan Pass check
Dead Sea float & Jerash Roman ruins
Dead Sea & Jerash, Jordan
Day trip from Amman: float in the Dead Sea and mud up along the shore, then drive north to Jerash, one of the best-preserved Roman cities outside Italy, with colonnaded streets, theatres and plazas. Bookable as a shared small-group tour (~£35-55) or DIY with a service taxi plus Dead Sea resorts day pass.
🚌Shared minivan tour or service taxi (~£35-55)
🛏Hostel in Amman
- →Dead Sea swim/float & mud
- →Jerash Roman site guided or self-guided visit
Amman to Wadi Musa (Petra gateway)
Wadi Musa, Jordan
Take the JETT bus or shared minivan from Amman to Wadi Musa (~£8-12, 3-4h). Afternoon at the Petra Museum or Little Petra (free/small fee) to set the scene, then early night before a big Petra day. Buy the Jordan Pass before arrival for bundled visa + Petra entry.
🚌JETT bus Amman-Petra (~£8-12)
🛏Budget hotel/guesthouse in Wadi Musa (£12-20)
- →JETT bus Amman-Wadi Musa
- →Little Petra & Petra Museum
Petra full day
Petra, Jordan
Walk the Siq at opening to the Treasury, then the Royal Tombs, Theatre and onward to the Monastery via the 800-step climb. This is a huge walking day. Carry water and entry is covered by Jordan Pass or ~£65-75 day ticket.
🚌Walk to visitor centre (local)
🛏Budget hotel in Wadi Musa
- →Petra Siq walk
- →Treasury & Royal Tombs
- →Monastery hike
Wadi Rum jeep & desert camp
Wadi Rum, Jordan
Shared taxi or local bus from Wadi Musa to Wadi Rum Village (~£10-15). Join an afternoon jeep tour of the desert (Lawrence's Spring, Khazali Canyon, dunes) and stay overnight in a Bedouin camp with dinner around the fire (~£40-60 for tour + camp).
🚌Shared taxi Wadi Musa-Wadi Rum (~£10-15)
🛏Bedouin desert camp (£25-40 incl. dinner/breakfast)
- →Wadi Rum jeep tour
- →Bedouin desert camp overnight
Wadi Rum to Aqaba Red Sea
Aqaba, Jordan
Transfer from Wadi Rum to Aqaba (~£10-15). Afternoon on the Red Sea: snorkel or dive the Aqaba Marine Park coral reefs (£25-40 dive intro), or just relax on the beach and eat fresh seafood.
🚌Shared minivan/taxi (~£10-15)
🛏Hostel in Aqaba (£10-18)
- →Wadi Rum to Aqaba transfer
- →Red Sea snorkelling or intro dive
- →Aqaba beach time
Aqaba to Amman
Amman, Jordan
JETT bus or shared minivan back to Amman (~£10-15). Afternoon exploring Amman: the Citadel, Roman Theatre, and Rainbow Street cafes, finishing with a big mezze and knafeh dinner in the old town.
🚌JETT bus Aqaba-Amman (~£10-15)
🛏Hostel in Amman (£8-15)
- →JETT bus Aqaba-Amman
- →Amman Citadel & Roman Theatre
- →Rainbow Street food crawl
Fly home from Amman
Amman, Jordan
Final morning for a hammam or last souk splurge, then airport transfer (bus ~£4 or taxi ~£15) for your flight home. Sort any remaining Jordanian dinars to GBP before you leave.
🚌Airport bus (~£4) or taxi (~£15)
🛏N/A (departure day)
- →Last-minute souk shopping
- →Airport transfer
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£825 | £2,060 |
| Duration | 15 days | 15 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,235 per person (60%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£825
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 & Jordan Adventure (Self-Launched) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £825 per person for 15 days in Egypt & Jordan. 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 G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £2,060 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £825 — a saving of roughly £1,235 (60%) per person.
How long is the Egypt & Jordan trip?+
This itinerary runs 15 days, covering 15 day-by-day stops through Egypt & Jordan.
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 & Jordan, 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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