Marvels of Egypt: Self-Launched 14-Day Cairo, Alexandria, Nile Cruise & Red Sea Adventure

Arrive at Cairo International Airport and make your way to your accommodation in central Cairo. Take the CTA Airport Bus (line 356) or a pre-booked Uber/Careem to your guesthouse — far cheaper than official airport taxis. Spend the evening settling in. Optional: catch the Sound and Light Show at the Pyramids (~£13 via GetYourGuide) or join a self-booked Nile Dinner Cruise (~£20 via Klook).

🚌Airport bus (line 356) ~£0.50 or Uber/Careem ~£8-12

🛏Meramees Hostel or Cosmopolitan Hotel Cairo — budget-friendly in central Cairo, ~£15-22/night

• →Arrive at Cairo International Airport (CAI)
• →Transfer to central Cairo guesthouse via Uber/Careem (~£8-12) or airport bus (~£0.50)
• →Optional: Sound and Light Show at the Pyramids (~£13 via GetYourGuide)
• →Optional: Nile Dinner Cruise (~£20 via Klook)

An unmissable day at two of Egypt's greatest ancient sites. Head to Giza by local minibus or Uber. Self-book a guided group tour of the Pyramids of Cheops, Chephren and Mycrenos, the Great Sphinx, and the Step Pyramid of Saqqara via GetYourGuide (~£25-35 for a shared group day tour including transport between sites). Entrance fees are paid separately at the gate — budget ~£15-20 for both complexes. Return to Cairo by Uber or minibus in the evening.

🚌Minibus or Uber to Giza (~£3-6 each way)

🛏Meramees Hostel or Cosmopolitan Hotel Cairo, ~£15-22/night

• →Visit the Pyramids of Cheops, Chephren and Mycrenos at Giza
• →See the Great Sphinx of Giza
• →Visit the Step Pyramid of Saqqara
• →Self-book group day tour via GetYourGuide (~£30 incl. transport between sites)
• →Entrance fees paid at gate (~£15-20 total)

Catch an early morning air-conditioned coach from Cairo's Turgoman bus station to Alexandria with GoBus or West Delta (~£5-8, ~2.5 hrs). Spend the day exploring the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa (~£4 entry), the Roman Theatre (~£4), the Citadel of Qaitbay (~£4), and the stunning Bibliotheca Alexandrina (~£3). Grab lunch at a local seafood restaurant along the Corniche. Return to Cairo by coach in the early evening.

🚌GoBus Cairo–Alexandria return ~£12

🛏Meramees Hostel or Cosmopolitan Hotel Cairo, ~£15-22/night

• →Coach from Cairo to Alexandria via GoBus (~£6 each way, ~2.5 hrs)
• →Visit Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa (~£4 entry)
• →Explore the Roman Theatre (~£4 entry)
• →Visit Citadel of Qaitbay (~£4 entry)
• →Explore Bibliotheca Alexandrina / New Alexandria Library (~£3 entry)
• →Lunch at a local Corniche seafood restaurant (~£6-10)

Start the morning in Old Cairo, visiting the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities (book entry online in advance, ~£12), then head to the Coptic quarter to see the Hanging Church (Al-Moallaqa), the Church of St George, and the Church of St Sergius — all free or minimal entry. In the late afternoon, take an Uber to Ramses Railway Station to board the overnight sleeper train to Aswan (Train 85/87 — the tourist sleeper operated by Watania Sleeping Trains, book direct at ~£50-70 per person in a twin sleeper cabin, including dinner and breakfast).

🚌Uber to Ramses Station (~£3-5). Watania Sleeping Trains ticket ~£55-70 per person

🛏Overnight Watania Sleeper Train (twin cabin with dinner & breakfast included)

• →Visit the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities (~£12 entry, book online)
• →Explore Coptic Cairo: Hanging Church, Church of St George, Church of St Sergius (free–£2 each)
• →Walk around Babylon Fortress area
• →Board overnight Watania Sleeper Train to Aswan from Ramses Station (~£55-70, dinner included)

Arrive in Aswan in the morning after breakfast on the train. Check in to your Aswan guesthouse. Join a self-booked half-day group tour to the Aswan High Dam (~£3 entry) and the stunning Temple of Philae (Isis Temple), reached by motorboat from Shellal (~£5 shared boat, ~£5 entry). Spend the afternoon relaxing by the Nile Corniche, exploring the spice market, or taking a free felucca ride negotiation. This is also the day to board your independently booked Nile cruise ship — standard 3-night Aswan–Luxor cruises in shared/budget cabins start from ~£120-180 per person all-inclusive (book via cruise operators like Movenpick or budget options on GetYourGuide). All meals from here through Day 8 are on board.

🚌Shared motorboat to Philae ~£5. Taxi within Aswan ~£2-4

🛏Nile cruise cabin (3 nights Aswan–Luxor, all meals included)

• →Arrive Aswan on sleeper train, breakfast on board
• →Visit Aswan High Dam (~£3 entry)
• →Take shared motorboat to Temple of Philae / Isis Temple (~£5 boat + ~£5 entry)
• →Check in to independently booked 3-night Nile cruise (Aswan–Luxor, ~£140-180pp all-inclusive)
• →Explore Aswan Corniche and spice souq

Rise early for an optional but highly recommended shared minibus day trip to Abu Simbel (~£25-30 via GetYourGuide or local tour desks, departing ~3am, entry fees ~£18 extra). Return to Aswan in time to re-join the cruise as it sails north. Stop at the Temple of Kom Ombo (~£8 entry) and the adjacent Crocodile Museum (included). Continue sailing to Edfu. All meals on board the cruise.

🚌Shared minibus to Abu Simbel and back ~£28. Cruise sailing included.

🛏Nile cruise cabin (meals included)

• →Early morning shared group transfer to Abu Simbel Temples (~£28 transport + ~£18 entry)
• →Visit Temple of Ramesses II and Temple of Nefertari at Abu Simbel
• →Return to cruise and sail north
• →Visit Temple of Kom Ombo (~£8 entry)
• →Visit Crocodile Museum at Kom Ombo (included with Kom Ombo ticket)
• →Sail to Edfu (dinner on board)

Morning visit to the magnificent Temple of Horus at Edfu, one of Egypt's best-preserved ancient temples (~£9 entry). Take a horse-drawn carriage from the cruise dock to the temple entrance — a fun local experience (~£2-3 each way, negotiate at the dock). Return to the cruise and sail onwards to Luxor, arriving in the late afternoon. Evening visit to the spectacular Luxor Temple, beautifully lit at night (~£10 entry). Dinner on board, with entertainment if your cruise includes it.

🚌Cruise sailing included. Horse carriage ~£2-3.

🛏Nile cruise cabin (meals included) — final night on board

• →Horse carriage ride from cruise dock to Temple of Horus at Edfu (~£2-3 per carriage)
• →Visit Temple of Horus at Edfu (~£9 entry)
• →Sail from Edfu to Luxor
• →Evening visit to Luxor Temple (~£10 entry, stunning when lit at night)

Disembark the cruise and check in to a budget hotel or guesthouse in Luxor. Spend the morning on the West Bank: Valley of the Kings (~£13 entry, 3 tombs included), the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari (~£8 entry), and a photo stop at the Colossi of Memnon (free). Cross back via local ferry (~£0.30) and visit the vast Karnak Temple Complex in the afternoon (~£13 entry). Self-book a West Bank group tour via GetYourGuide (~£20-25 including minibus transport) or hire a local guide independently at the dock.

🚌Local Nile ferry to West Bank ~£0.30. Minibus transfers ~£5-8.

🛏Bob Marley Peace Guesthouse or Nefertiti Hotel, Luxor — ~£12-18/night

• →Check out from Nile cruise
• →West Bank: Valley of the Kings (~£13 entry, 3 tombs)
• →Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut (~£8 entry)
• →Photo stop at Colossi of Memnon (free)
• →Return via local Nile ferry (~£0.30)
• →Visit Karnak Temple Complex (~£13 entry)
• →Self-book West Bank group tour via GetYourGuide (~£22 incl. transport)

A free day in Luxor — one of Egypt's most rewarding cities for independent exploration. Choose from optional self-booked excursions: a day trip to the Abydos and Dendera Temples (~£30-40 shared taxi return + entries), a deeper West Bank exploration including Medinet Habu Temple and the Tombs of the Nobles (~£10-15 entries), or a relaxed morning at the Luxor Museum (~£8 entry) followed by a sunset felucca sail to Banana Island (~£5-8 negotiated). Great day to browse the local souq and eat at a riverside restaurant.

🚌Shared taxis or tuk-tuks locally ~£3-8

🛏Bob Marley Peace Guesthouse or Nefertiti Hotel, Luxor — ~£12-18/night

• →Option A: Day trip to Abydos & Dendera Temples (~£35 shared taxi + ~£12 entries)
• →Option B: Medinet Habu Temple & Tombs of the Nobles, West Bank (~£12 entries)
• →Option C: Luxor Museum (~£8) + sunset felucca to Banana Island (~£6)
• →Browse Luxor souq and eat at a local restaurant

Take a shared minibus or self-booked transfer from Luxor to Hurghada on the Red Sea coast (~3.5-4 hrs). Several operators run this route daily for ~£10-15 per person — book via your guesthouse or GoTransit/local agencies. Arrive in Hurghada early afternoon. Check in to your Red Sea guesthouse or budget resort, then hit the beach for the afternoon. Dinner at a local restaurant on Sheraton Road or Dahar Old Town.

🚌Shared minibus Luxor–Hurghada ~£12

🛏White Albatros Hotel or Sea Horse Hostel, Hurghada — ~£15-25/night

• →Shared minibus or group transfer from Luxor to Hurghada (~£12, ~3.5-4 hrs)
• →Check in to Hurghada budget guesthouse or apartment
• →Beach relaxation and swimming at the Red Sea
• →Explore Dahar Old Town in the evening

Enjoy a free beach day on the Red Sea. The water is warm, clear, and excellent for snorkelling straight from the beach. In the afternoon, consider a self-booked optional Sunset Desert Quad Bike Safari with camel ride and Bedouin dinner — available via GetYourGuide or direct booking at your hotel desk (~£30-40, runs 12pm-8pm). Otherwise, relax at the beach, explore Hurghada Marina, or browse the El Dahar bazaar.

🚌Local tuk-tuk or taxi within Hurghada ~£2-4

🛏White Albatros Hotel or Sea Horse Hostel, Hurghada — ~£15-25/night

• →Free beach morning — Red Sea swimming and snorkelling
• →Optional: Sunset Desert Quad Bike Safari with camel ride & Bedouin dinner (~£35 via GetYourGuide, 12pm-8pm)
• →Explore Hurghada Marina or El Dahar bazaar

Book a snorkelling boat trip to Giftun Island (Nemo Island) — one of the Red Sea's top snorkelling destinations, with vibrant coral reefs and abundant marine life. Book directly at the marina or via GetYourGuide (~£30-40 including boat, snorkel gear, guide, and buffet lunch, departing ~7:30am and returning ~3:30pm). This is a highlight of the whole trip — don't miss it! Evening free to enjoy the Hurghada waterfront.

🚌Hotel to marina transfer included with boat trip or ~£3 by tuk-tuk

🛏White Albatros Hotel or Sea Horse Hostel, Hurghada — ~£15-25/night

• →Snorkelling boat trip to Giftun Island (Nemo Island) (~£35 incl. gear, guide & buffet lunch, 7:30am-3:30pm)
• →Snorkelling over coral reefs of the Red Sea
• →Optional evening: Hurghada Marina waterfront dining

Take a short domestic flight from Hurghada Airport to Cairo (EasyJet Egypt, Nile Air or Air Cairo, ~45 min, ~£35-60 booked in advance). Alternatively, the road transfer costs ~£12 but takes 5-6 hours. Arrive in Cairo with an afternoon to explore optional sights: the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC) in Fustat (~£8 entry), the vibrant Khan El Khalili bazaar (free, great for souvenir shopping), or the Cairo Citadel and Mosque of Muhammad Ali (~£8 entry). Dinner in Islamic Cairo or at a rooftop restaurant with Nile views.

🚌Domestic flight Hurghada–Cairo ~£45. Uber from airport ~£8-12.

🛏Meramees Hostel or Cosmopolitan Hotel Cairo — ~£15-22/night

• →Domestic flight Hurghada to Cairo (~£45 with Nile Air or Air Cairo, 45 min)
• →Optional: National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC) (~£8 entry)
• →Optional: Khan El Khalili bazaar (free entry, haggle for souvenirs)
• →Optional: Cairo Citadel & Mosque of Muhammad Ali (~£8 entry)
• →Farewell dinner in Islamic Cairo

Final breakfast at your Cairo guesthouse. Depending on your flight time, you may have a few hours for last-minute sightseeing or shopping. Take an Uber or Careem to Cairo International Airport (~£8-12). Safe travels! Note: international flights home are not included in cost estimates — budget separately.

🚌Uber/Careem to Cairo International Airport ~£8-12

🛏N/A — departure day

• →Final breakfast in Cairo
• →Last-minute shopping or sightseeing if time allows
• →Transfer to Cairo International Airport via Uber/Careem (~£8-12)