Self-Launched Egypt Family Adventure: Cairo, Luxor & Aswan

Welcome to Cairo! Most international flights arrive in the evening, so today is about getting settled. Take the Cairo Metro or a pre-booked airport transfer to your hotel in Giza or central Cairo. Grab a bite from a local kushary or kofta spot near the hotel — Egypt's street food scene is excellent and very affordable. No activities planned; rest up for a big Day 2.

🚌Airport taxi or Uber to hotel, ~£5-8

🛏Pyramids View Inn (Giza) or Cairo Capital Hotel — comfortable mid-range with good locations, ~£25-35/night

• →Arrive at Cairo International Airport
• →Take the airport express bus or a metered taxi to your hotel (~£5-8)
• →Explore the neighbourhood and grab dinner locally

Start the morning at the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) in Giza — book tickets online in advance to skip queues (entry ~£18-22 per adult, reduced for children). The museum houses Tutankhamun's treasures and thousands of artefacts spanning 4,000 years. In the afternoon, head by Uber or metro to Islamic Cairo to visit Al-Azhar Mosque — entry is free, dress modestly and bring scarves for hair. Round the day off at Khan el-Khalili bazaar for browsing, mint tea and souvenir bartering.

🚌Uber/taxi between Giza and Islamic Cairo, ~£4-6 each way

🛏Pyramids View Inn or Cairo Capital Hotel

• →Grand Egyptian Museum — book tickets online via the GEM website (~£18-22/adult)
• →Al-Azhar Mosque — free entry, dress modestly
• →Khan el-Khalili bazaar — browse and barter for souvenirs
• →Dinner at Naguib Mahfouz Café or a local fuul and ta'ameya spot

This is the day Egypt really lands. Head to the Giza Plateau early (gates open 7am) to beat the heat and crowds. Entry to the Pyramids complex costs ~£14 per adult; the Sphinx is included. Consider booking a guided tour via GetYourGuide (half-day Pyramids tours with licensed Egyptologist guide start from ~£20/person) for the storytelling context that brings the site alive. The afternoon is yours — head back to the hotel pool or take an Uber to Saqqara (Step Pyramid, ~£8 entry) for an optional add-on.

🚌Walk to Giza Plateau from Giza-area hotel, or short Uber (~£3)

🛏Pyramids View Inn or Cairo Capital Hotel

• →Giza Plateau: Pyramids of Cheops, Chephren & Mycerinus (~£14 entry)
• →Great Sphinx — included in Giza entry ticket
• →Optional: book a licensed Egyptologist half-day tour via GetYourGuide (~£20/person)
• →Optional afternoon: Saqqara Step Pyramid (~£8 entry, ~£6 Uber each way)

Take an early domestic flight from Cairo to Luxor — EgyptAir flights cost ~£55-75 per person and should be booked in advance. On arrival, drop bags at your hotel and head straight to Luxor Temple (entry ~£12) then Karnak Temple Complex (~£14). Karnak's Hypostyle Hall — 134 towering columns — is genuinely jaw-dropping. Book a licensed Egyptologist walking tour of Karnak via GetYourGuide for deeper context (~£15/person). This evening, board your independently booked budget Nile cruise vessel or enjoy dinner along the corniche.

🚌Domestic flight Cairo–Luxor (~£55-75). Airport taxi to hotel/cruise dock (~£5)

🛏MS Moon Dance or similar mid-range Nile cruise vessel (~£60-80/night per cabin, all meals included) — book via NileCruise.com or similar. Alternatively, Nefertiti Hotel Luxor (~£20-25/night) if not cruising

• →Domestic flight: Cairo to Luxor (~£55-75, book via EgyptAir or Nile Air)
• →Luxor Temple — entry ~£12/adult
• →Karnak Temple Complex — entry ~£14/adult
• →Optional: Karnak guided tour via GetYourGuide (~£15/person)
• →Board independently booked Nile cruise (see note below) or check in to Luxor hotel

Cross to the West Bank by local ferry (£0.50!) and hire a minibus or join a shared excursion for the West Bank sites. Entry to the Valley of the Kings covers three tombs (~£14); Tutankhamun's tomb is an optional add-on (~£16). The Temple of Hatshepsut (entry ~£12) is built dramatically into limestone cliffs and utterly photogenic. The Colossi of Memnon are free to view from the road. Book a West Bank half-day tour with Egyptologist via GetYourGuide (~£18-22/person) for the historical commentary. Cruise departs south toward Edfu this afternoon.

🚌Local ferry to West Bank ~£0.50; hired minibus for West Bank sites ~£8-10/person

🛏Mid-range Nile cruise vessel (meals included)

• →Local ferry across the Nile to West Bank (~£0.50)
• →Valley of the Kings — entry ~£14 (3 tombs included); optional Tutankhamun's tomb ~£16
• →Temple of Hatshepsut — entry ~£12
• →Colossi of Memnon — free
• →Book West Bank tour via GetYourGuide for Egyptologist context (~£18-22/person)
• →Sail south toward Edfu on cruise vessel

A wonderful day of cruising with two unmissable temple stops. Edfu Temple (entry ~£12) is one of Egypt's best-preserved temples, with a soaring entrance pylon and dark inner sanctum. A horse-drawn calèche from the dock to the temple is the traditional way to arrive (~£2-3 return). Kom Ombo Temple (entry ~£10) is dramatically positioned on the Nile bend and uniquely dedicated to two gods. Between visits, relax on deck and watch palm-lined banks drift past. Arrive at Aswan this evening.

🚌Sailing on Nile cruise vessel; calèche at Edfu ~£2-3

🛏Mid-range Nile cruise vessel (meals included)

• →Edfu Temple — entry ~£12/adult; calèche from dock ~£2-3
• →Kom Ombo Temple — entry ~£10/adult
• →Relax on the cruise deck between visits
• →Arrive Aswan by evening

Choose your own adventure today. Option A: Take an early morning flight to Abu Simbel (~£80-100 return, book via EgyptAir) to see Ramses II's colossal rock-cut temples — one of Egypt's greatest sights. Entry ~£14. Option B: Spend the day in Aswan — visit the Nubian Museum (entry ~£6), browse Aswan bazaar, and take a local ferry to Elephantine Island. Whichever option you choose, this evening everyone gathers for a sunset felucca sail on the Nile (~£8-12/person, negotiate directly at the dock or book via GetYourGuide). Magical.

🚌Optional Abu Simbel flight ~£80-100; local felucca ~£8-12

🛏Mid-range Nile cruise vessel (last night on board)

• →Option A: Fly to Abu Simbel (~£80-100 return); Abu Simbel temples entry ~£14
• →Option B: Nubian Museum (~£6); Aswan bazaar; Elephantine Island ferry (~£1)
• →Sunset felucca sail on the Nile (~£8-12/person)

Disembark the cruise this morning and transfer to your Aswan hotel. Visit Philae Temple (entry ~£12), reached by short motorboat ride (~£4 return) to Aglika Island — the temple was relocated here by UNESCO to save it from rising Nile waters. The story of its rescue is as fascinating as the temple itself. Then visit the Aswan High Dam (entry ~£4) for sweeping reservoir views and an engineering marvel. Optional: the Unfinished Obelisk (~£8) gives a brilliant glimpse into ancient quarrying techniques. This evening, head to a local Nubian restaurant for a farewell dinner on the corniche.

🚌Taxi from cruise dock to hotel ~£5; motorboat to Philae ~£4

🛏Mövenpick Resort Aswan (splurge) or Nuba Nile Hotel (~£25-35/night) — both have Nile views

• →Disembark cruise; taxi to Aswan hotel (~£5)
• →Philae Temple — entry ~£12; motorboat to island ~£4 return
• →Aswan High Dam — entry ~£4
• →Optional: Unfinished Obelisk ~£8
• →Farewell dinner at a Nubian restaurant on the corniche (~£10-15/person)

Your self-launched Egypt adventure comes to an end. After breakfast, check out and head to Aswan Airport or Aswan Train Station. Fly back to Cairo for an international connection (~£60-80, EgyptAir), or take the comfortable overnight sleeper train to Cairo (~£35-50, book via Egyptian National Railways). Reflect on the pyramids, the tombs, the temples and the Nile — you did it all independently!

🚌Aswan to Cairo: domestic flight ~£60-80 or sleeper train ~£35-50

🛏None (departure day)

• →Breakfast at hotel
• →Depart Aswan by flight or overnight train to Cairo (~£35-80 depending on mode)
• →Connect to your international flight home