Self-Launched Egypt Highlights: Pyramids, Nile Cruise & Ancient Temples
8 days · Egypt
Travel Chance Egypt charges £1,280
No-markup version: ~£730 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
An independent, self-launched version of the classic 8-day Cairo–Aswan–Luxor loop. You'll see the Giza pyramids and Saqqara, take the overnight sleeper train south, join a 3-night Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor (bookable directly or via Klook/GetYourGuide), hit Abu Simbel, the Valley of the Kings and Karnak, then return by sleeper train to explore Islamic and Coptic Cairo. All transport is public/local, guiding is booked per-site with local Egyptologist guides, and accommodation is mid-range hotels plus cruise cabin. Costs are approximate and exclude international flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive Cairo – settle in and get your bearings
Cairo
Land at Cairo International Airport (CAI). Buy a visa on arrival ($25 USD / ~£21, payable in USD or GBP cash), pick up a local SIM from Vodafone or Orange in arrivals (~£6 for data), and take an Uber or Careem into downtown Cairo or Giza (~£5-8, avoid unmarked taxis). Check into a mid-range boutique hotel or guesthouse near Tahrir Square or Dokki — think €30-40 double. Spend the evening acclimatising: walk the Nile Corniche at sunset, eat koshary at a local spot (Abou Tarek is the classic, ~£3) and get an early night. Your hotel can arrange a private Egyptologist guide and driver for tomorrow for around £45-60 for the day (or book via GetYourGuide in advance).
🚌Uber/Careem from CAI airport to city (~£5-8, 45-60 min depending on traffic)
🛏3-star boutique hotel or guesthouse, Downtown Cairo or Giza (approx £25-35)
- →Airport transfer by rideshare app
- →Visa on arrival at CAI
- →Local SIM card
- →Evening walk on Nile Corniche
- →Koshary dinner at Abou Tarek
Giza, Saqqara & Memphis – overnight sleeper train to Aswan
Cairo / Giza / Aswan
Start early to beat the heat and crowds. Take an Uber to the Giza Plateau (~£3) and buy your ticket at the gate (~£4 for the plateau; extra ~£5 to enter inside the Great Pyramid — worth it if you're game). See Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure plus the Sphinx. Then hire a driver for the day (~£25-35 split between 2-3 travellers, or negotiate with a local taxi) to hit Saqqara's Step Pyramid of Djoser (~£4) and the Memphis open-air museum with the Ramses II colossus (~£2). If you want a guide, book a shared or private Egyptologist via GetYourGuide for ~£30-45. Late afternoon, return to Cairo, grab dinner near Ramses Station, then board the Watania overnight sleeper train to Aswan (departs ~20:00, arrives ~09:00). A shared 2-berth cabin is around £55-65 per person booked direct on the Watania/ENR site — or a reclining seater for ~£15 if you're on a tight budget.
🚌Uber to Giza (~£3), private driver for Saqqara/Memphis (~£30 split), Watania sleeper train Cairo-Aswan (~£60)
🛏Overnight sleeper train to Aswan (shared 2-berth cabin, approx £55-65)
- →Giza Plateau & Great Sphinx (~£4)
- →Optional interior of Great Pyramid (~£5)
- →Step Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara (~£4)
- →Memphis open-air museum (~£2)
- →Optional Egyptologist guide (~£30-45/day shared)
Aswan – High Dam, Philae Temple & board the Nile cruise
Aswan
Arrive on the sleeper train mid-morning and head straight to your Nile cruise boat to drop bags and board (most 3-4 night Aswan–Luxor cruises board around lunch). Book your cruise well in advance — a 3-night Aswan to Luxor sailing in a standard cabin runs roughly £150-230 per person full board, bookable direct with operators like Movenpick or via Klook/Booking.com. In the afternoon, take an Uber or local taxi to the Aswan High Dam (~£3 entry), then a short motorboat across to Philae Temple (~£2 boat + ~£5 entry) — one of the most photogenic sites in Egypt. If time allows, see the Unfinished Obelisk in the granite quarries (~£2). Return to the boat for dinner and the first night aboard.
🚌Arrival by sleeper train; local taxi/Uber around Aswan (~£5 total)
🛏Nile cruise cabin, full board (approx £50-75/night per person)
- →Aswan High Dam (~£3)
- →Motorboat to Philae Temple (~£2)
- →Philae Temple entry (~£5)
- →Unfinished Obelisk (~£2)
Abu Simbel sunrise (optional) & sail to Kom Ombo
Aswan / Kom Ombo
Book the pre-dawn Abu Simbel trip through your cruise or hotel the night before — a shared minibus with a small group runs about £30-45 per person including entry (~£9), departing ~4am and back by early afternoon. It's a long drive (3 hrs each way) but Ramses II's rock-cut temples are genuinely unmissable. If you'd rather skip it, stay on deck for the sail south. In the early evening the boat stops at Kom Ombo: walk 5 minutes from the dock to the twin temple of Sobek and Horus the Elder (~£4), best seen at golden hour. Back on board for dinner and, if your boat runs one, the folkloric show.
🚌Shared minibus to Abu Simbel (~£30-45 incl. entry) or stay aboard
🛏Nile cruise cabin, full board (approx £50-75/night per person)
- →Abu Simbel Temples day trip (optional, ~£30-45)
- →Temple of Kom Ombo (~£4)
- →Sunset on deck
Edfu Temple, sail to Luxor, Karnak & Luxor Temple
Edfu / Luxor
The boat docks at Edfu early; take a calèche (horse carriage, ~£3 return, agree the price first) or a short taxi to the Temple of Horus (~£4) — the best-preserved temple in Egypt. Sail on to Luxor through the afternoon, arriving late. Head straight to Karnak Temple Complex (~£6) and walk the Great Hypostyle Hall; then the Avenue of Sphinxes down to Luxor Temple (~£4), which is stunning lit up at night. Grab dinner at a local restaurant on the West Bank or in town (~£6-8).
🚌Calèche to Edfu Temple (~£3), taxi to Karnak/Luxor (~£4)
🛏Nile cruise cabin (final night aboard) or Luxor guesthouse if your cruise ends (approx £50-75 cruise / £20-30 guesthouse)
- →Temple of Horus, Edfu (~£4)
- →Karnak Temple Complex (~£6)
- →Luxor Temple (~£4, evening visit)
Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut & overnight train to Cairo
Luxor
Cross to the West Bank by local ferry (~£0.50) or taxi (~£4). Get to the Valley of the Kings at opening (6am in summer) — ticket covers 3 tombs (~£7), plus extra for Tutankhamun or Seti I if you fancy it. Then take a shared minibus or taxi to the Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari (~£4) and stop at the Colossi of Memnon (free) on the way back. Optional splurge: a sunrise hot air balloon over the West Bank, bookable via GetYourGuide for ~£80-100 per person. In the evening, catch the Watania sleeper train from Luxor back to Cairo (~£55-65 shared cabin, departs ~21:00, arrives ~06:30) — book this the same day you book the southbound leg.
🚌West Bank ferry (~£0.50) + taxi/minibus (~£6), Watania sleeper train Luxor-Cairo (~£60)
🛏Overnight sleeper train to Cairo (shared 2-berth cabin, approx £55-65)
- →Valley of the Kings — 3 tombs (~£7)
- →Temple of Hatshepsut (~£4)
- →Colossi of Memnon (free)
- →Optional hot air balloon (~£80-100)
Islamic Cairo, Egyptian Museum & Khan el-Khalili
Cairo
Arrive into Cairo early and check into your hotel. Start at the Citadel of Saladin (~£5) and the Alabaster Mosque of Muhammad Ali for city views. Then head to the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir (~£11) — a half-day there is plenty, and a local guide at the door is ~£20 if you want context (or just use the audio guide). Skip the Grand Egyptian Museum unless you're happy to add a day; it's a separate, bigger ticket (~£25). Late afternoon, wander Khan el-Khalili bazaar for souvenirs, mint tea at El Fishawy and a final koshary or grilled-meat dinner (~£6).
🚌Uber between sites (~£6-8 total)
🛏3-star boutique hotel or guesthouse, Downtown Cairo (approx £25-35)
- →Citadel of Saladin (~£5)
- →Alabaster Mosque of Muhammad Ali
- →Egyptian Museum (~£11)
- →Khan el-Khalili bazaar
- →El Fishawy cafe
Depart Cairo
Cairo
Breakfast at your hotel, then a leisurely morning — a final walk along the Corniche, or a quick stop at the Coptic Quarter (Hanging Church, free) if your flight is later. Uber to Cairo International Airport for your departure (~£5-8, allow 60-90 min in traffic).
🚌Uber to CAI airport (~£5-8)
🛏—
- →Optional Coptic Quarter walk
- →Airport transfer
Self-launched vs. Travel Chance Egypt
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Travel Chance Egypt | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£730 | £1,280 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £550 per person (43%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Travel Chance Egypt-style trips? Check them out here.~£730
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 Self-Launched Egypt Highlights: Pyramids, Nile Cruise & Ancient Temples cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £730 per person for 8 days in Egypt. 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 Travel Chance Egypt?+
Yes — Travel Chance Egypt charges around £1,280 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £730 — a saving of roughly £550 (43%) per person.
How long is the Egypt trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 day-by-day stops through Egypt.
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 culture, adventure, budget trip through Egypt, 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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