Self-Launched Egypt: Cairo, Alexandria, Nile Cruise & Red Sea in 14 Days

Arrive at Cairo International Airport and make your way to your hostel or budget hotel in central Cairo or Giza. Take a shared Uber or metered taxi from the airport (~£8-10). Settle in, grab some local street food, and if energy allows, head out for an evening Nile dinner cruise — bookable independently via GetYourGuide for around £20-30 including a show.

🚌Metered taxi or Uber from Cairo International Airport to central Cairo/Giza (~£8-10)

🛏Budget guesthouse or hostel in central Cairo or Giza — e.g. Wake Up! Cairo Hostel or Dina's Hostel (~£12-18/night)

• →Airport transfer via Uber or metered taxi (~£8-10)
• →Optional: Sound and light show at the Pyramids (bookable on GetYourGuide, ~£15)
• →Optional: Nile dinner cruise with show (GetYourGuide, ~£20-30)

An unmissable day covering ancient Egypt's greatest hits. Head to Saqqara first to see the Step Pyramid, then continue to Giza for the Great Pyramids of Cheops, Chephren and Mycerinos, and the iconic Sphinx. Book a shared guided tour on GetYourGuide or Klook that combines both sites — these run from around £25-40 per person including transport and an Egyptology-trained guide. Entry tickets to the Pyramids complex (~£12) and Saqqara (~£8) are typically extra.

🚌Shared guided tour includes transport, or take a Uber/taxi from Giza (~£5-8 each way)

🛏Budget guesthouse or hostel in central Cairo or Giza (~£12-18/night)

• →Visit Step Pyramid of Saqqara
• →Explore the Pyramids of Giza (Cheops, Chephren, Mycerinos)
• →View the Great Sphinx
• →Shared guided Egyptology tour (GetYourGuide, ~£25-40)

Catch an early morning train or bus from Cairo to Alexandria (~2.5-3 hrs). The air-conditioned Spanish trains from Ramses Station cost around £5-8 and are comfortable. Spend the day exploring Alexandria's Greco-Roman heritage: the National Museum, Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, the Roman Theater, the Citadel of Qaitbay, and the stunning Bibliotheca Alexandrina. Entry fees total around £15-20 across all sites. Return to Cairo by evening train.

🚌Return train Cairo (Ramses Station) to Alexandria (~£10-16 return); local taxis between sites in Alexandria (~£5-8)

🛏Budget guesthouse or hostel in central Cairo (~£12-18/night)

• →Train from Cairo Ramses Station to Alexandria (~£5-8 each way)
• →Visit National Museum of Alexandria (entry ~£4)
• →Explore Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa (entry ~£5)
• →Visit the Roman Theater (entry ~£4)
• →View the Citadel of Qaitbay (entry ~£4)
• →Explore Bibliotheca Alexandrina (entry ~£3)

A full day in Cairo exploring two iconic areas. Start at the Egyptian Museum on Tahrir Square, home to the world-famous Tutankhamun collection — entry is around £12, or book a guided tour on GetYourGuide (~£20-30 with guide). In the afternoon, explore the Coptic Cairo quarter: the Hanging Church, Church of St George, Church of St Sergius, and the Babylon Fortress. Entry to Coptic sites is free or minimal. Consider adding lunch at a local koshari or ful restaurant for under £3.

🚌Cairo Metro from Tahrir to Mar Girgis station for Coptic Cairo (~£0.50); taxis as needed (~£3-5)

🛏Budget guesthouse or hostel in central Cairo (~£12-18/night)

• →Guided tour of Egyptian Museum including Tutankhamun exhibit (GetYourGuide, ~£20-30)
• →Visit the Hanging Church (free entry)
• →Visit Church of St George and Church of St Sergius (free/nominal entry)
• →Explore Babylon Fortress (~£3 entry)
• →Lunch at a local Egyptian restaurant (~£3-5)

Book a domestic flight from Cairo to Aswan independently via EgyptAir or Nile Air — prices range from £40-80 booked in advance. On arrival in Aswan, check in to your budget hotel before joining a shared afternoon excursion to the High Dam and the Temple of Isis (Philae Temple) by motorboat. This can be booked locally or via GetYourGuide for ~£15-25. In the evening, board your pre-booked Nile cruise ship — book a budget cabin on a shared cruise (e.g. 3-star Nile cruise, ~£55-75/night full board).

🚌Domestic flight Cairo to Aswan (~£40-80); taxi from Aswan airport to cruise dock (~£5-8)

🛏Budget Nile cruise cabin, shared cruise (3-star, full board, ~£55-75/night per person)

• →Domestic flight Cairo to Aswan (EgyptAir/Nile Air, ~£40-80)
• →Visit Aswan High Dam (entry ~£4)
• →Visit Philae Temple (Temple of Isis) by motorboat (~£10-15 including boat)
• →Board Nile cruise from Aswan

Rise very early for the shared minibus convoy to Abu Simbel (departs ~3am from Aswan, returns by midday) — book this as a shared group excursion locally or via GetYourGuide for ~£25-35 per person including transport and entry. The temples of Ramesses II are breathtaking and well worth the early start. Return to the cruise in time for the sail to Kom Ombo, where you'll visit the Temple of Kom Ombo and the adjoining Crocodile Museum. All included in the cruise package or bookable via the cruise for a small add-on.

🚌Shared minibus from Aswan to Abu Simbel (~£10-15 transport element); cruise sails to Kom Ombo and Edfu

🛏Nile cruise cabin (full board included)

• →Shared minibus convoy to Abu Simbel Temples (GetYourGuide, ~£25-35 including entry)
• →Visit Temple of Kom Ombo (entry ~£8, usually covered by cruise excursion)
• →Visit Crocodile Museum (included with Kom Ombo ticket)

The cruise docks at Edfu. Take a horse carriage from the dock to the magnificent Temple of Horus — one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt. Book the local horse carriage ride directly (~£3-5 per person return) and pay the entry fee (~£8) at the gate. The cruise then passes through the Esna Lock (a fascinating sight in itself) before docking in Luxor in the evening. Enjoy dinner on board with live entertainment — the belly dancing show is usually included.

🚌Cruise sails Edfu to Luxor; horse carriage at Edfu (~£3-5)

🛏Nile cruise cabin (full board included)

• →Horse carriage ride to Temple of Horus at Edfu (~£3-5 per person)
• →Visit Temple of Horus at Edfu (entry ~£8)
• →Watch the Esna Lock passage from the sundeck
• →Arrive in Luxor and enjoy dinner with belly dancing show on board

Disembark the cruise and transfer to a budget hotel in Luxor. Today is packed with ancient wonders. Cross to the West Bank by local ferry (~£1) and visit the Valley of the Kings (entry ~£12 + £5 per tomb), the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari (~£8), and stop at the Colossi of Memnon (free). Return to the East Bank in the afternoon for Karnak Temple (~£12). Book a shared guided West Bank tour via GetYourGuide (~£20-30) or hire a local guide at the ferry landing for around £15-25.

🚌Local Nile ferry to West Bank (~£1); shared minibus or tuk-tuk on West Bank (~£3-5); taxi to Karnak (~£3)

🛏Budget hotel in Luxor — e.g. Nefertiti Hotel or Bob Marley House (~£12-20/night)

• →Local ferry to West Bank (~£1 each way)
• →Visit Valley of the Kings (entry ~£12 + tomb fees ~£5 each)
• →Visit Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari (~£8 entry)
• →Photo stop at Colossi of Memnon (free)
• →Visit Karnak Temple (~£12 entry)

A flexible day in Luxor. Choose from optional excursions or explore at your own pace. Highly recommended: a hot air balloon ride over the Valley of the Kings at sunrise (~£80-100, book via GetYourGuide or local agencies like Magic Horizon). Alternatively, visit the Luxor Museum (~£8), take a sunset felucca sail to Banana Island (~£5-8 per hour), or hire a bicycle and explore the West Bank villages. The temples of Abydos and Dendara are a long but rewarding day trip by shared taxi (~£15-20 return).

🚌Local taxis, tuk-tuks, bicycle rental (~£3-8 depending on activities)

🛏Budget hotel in Luxor (~£12-20/night)

• →Optional: Hot air balloon over the Valley of the Kings at sunrise (~£80-100, highly recommended)
• →Optional: Day trip to Abydos and Dendara Temples by shared taxi (~£15-20 transport + ~£15 entry each)
• →Optional: Luxor Museum (~£8 entry)
• →Optional: Sunset felucca ride to Banana Island (~£5-8/hr)
• →Explore West Bank villages by bicycle (~£3/day rental)

Take the public bus or shared minibus from Luxor to Hurghada (approximately 3.5-4 hours, ~£8-12 via Upper Egypt Bus Co. or Go Bus). Alternatively, book a shared shuttle transfer (~£12-18). Arrive in Hurghada and check into a budget beachside hotel or hostel. Spend the afternoon relaxing on the Red Sea beach — many budget hotels have beach or pool access included. Hurghada's beachfront has plenty of affordable restaurants for dinner.

🚌Go Bus or Upper Egypt Bus from Luxor to Hurghada (~£8-12); or shared shuttle (~£12-18)

🛏Budget beach hotel or guesthouse in Hurghada — e.g. Horizon Beach Resort or Triton Empire Hotel (~£18-28/night, half board if possible)

• →Bus or shared shuttle from Luxor to Hurghada (~£8-18)
• →Check into Red Sea beach hotel
• →Beach relaxation and swimming at the Red Sea

Spend the morning on the beach or by the pool, then join an afternoon desert safari excursion. Book via GetYourGuide or directly through local agencies on Sheraton Road — a sunset desert safari with quad biking, camel riding, a Tanura (spinning dervish) show, and a Bedouin dinner typically costs £25-40 per person. This runs from around midday to 8pm and is a highlight of any Hurghada visit.

🚌Hotel pickup included in desert safari excursion

🛏Budget beach hotel in Hurghada (~£18-28/night half board)

• →Morning beach relaxation
• →Afternoon/evening desert safari with quad bike, camel ride, Tanura show and Bedouin dinner (GetYourGuide, ~£25-40)

Today, join a snorkelling day trip to Giftun Island (also known as Nemo Island), one of the Red Sea's most beautiful coral reefs. Book via GetYourGuide or locally on the marina for ~£20-35 per person, including boat transport, snorkel gear, and a buffet lunch. Trips typically depart at 7:30am and return by 3:30pm. The reef is teeming with colourful fish and the water clarity is exceptional. Spend the evening strolling Hurghada's lively El Dahar district.

🚌Boat included in snorkelling excursion; local taxi to marina if needed (~£3-5)

🛏Budget beach hotel in Hurghada (~£18-28/night half board)

• →Full-day snorkelling trip to Giftun/Nemo Island (GetYourGuide/local booking, ~£20-35 including gear and lunch)
• →Evening stroll through El Dahar old quarter

Fly back to Cairo from Hurghada Airport — EgyptAir domestic flights cost ~£30-60 and take about an hour. Alternatively, the Go Bus from Hurghada to Cairo takes around 6 hours and costs ~£8-10. On arrival in Cairo, check into a central hotel for your final night. If time and energy allow, explore Khan El Khalili bazaar (free entry, great for souvenirs and street food), the Cairo Citadel and Mosque of Muhammad Ali (~£8 entry), or the new National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (~£12 entry).

🚌Domestic flight Hurghada to Cairo (~£30-60) or Go Bus (~£8-10); taxi from airport to hotel (~£8-10)

🛏Budget hotel or hostel in central Cairo (~£12-20/night)

• →Flight from Hurghada to Cairo (EgyptAir, ~£30-60) or bus (~£8-10)
• →Optional: Khan El Khalili bazaar (free entry, budget souvenirs)
• →Optional: Cairo Citadel and Mosque of Muhammad Ali (~£8 entry)
• →Optional: National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (~£12 entry)

Enjoy a final Egyptian breakfast — ful medames, ta'meya (falafel), and fresh bread at a local café for under £3. Depending on your flight time, you may have time for last-minute shopping in the hotel area or a final stroll along the Nile Corniche. Take an Uber or metered taxi to Cairo International Airport (~£8-12). Allow at least 3 hours before your international departure.

🚌Uber or metered taxi to Cairo International Airport (~£8-12)

🛏N/A — departure day

• →Final Egyptian breakfast at a local café (~£2-4)
• →Last-minute souvenir shopping if time permits
• →Transfer to Cairo International Airport by Uber or metered taxi (~£8-12)