Self-Launched Nile Sailing: Aswan to Luxor in 3 Days
3 days · Egypt
Egyptology Travel charges £480
No-markup version: ~£167 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Skip the guided dahabiya package and explore the Nile Valley independently — sailing, temples, and ancient wonders at a fraction of the price. This self-launched route follows the same Aswan–Kom Ombo–Edfu–Luxor corridor, mixing budget felucca sailings or local ferry hops with self-booked entry tickets and GetYourGuide day tours. All costs are approximate estimates in GBP per person.
Day-by-day
Aswan → Kom Ombo: Sailing Past Nubian Islands
Aswan & Kom Ombo, Egypt
Begin your morning in Aswan. Rather than a private dahabiya, book a budget felucca for a half-day Nile sail past the Nubian islands and Aswan's famous granite outcrops — local felucca captains cluster near the Corniche and charge roughly £8–12 per person for a shared group sail. After soaking in the scenery from the deck, take a shared minibus or microbus north to Kom Ombo (around 45 minutes, ~£1). Spend the late afternoon at the atmospheric Temple of Kom Ombo, dramatically set on a bend of the Nile. Entry tickets cost approximately £10. Watch the sun set over the temple and dine on grilled fish at one of the riverside restaurants. Overnight in Kom Ombo or return to Aswan for a night in a guesthouse.
🚌Shared felucca on the Nile; shared microbus Aswan–Kom Ombo (~£1)
🛏Budget guesthouse in Aswan or Kom Ombo, e.g. Nubian Oasis Hostel or similar (£10–15/night)
- →Shared felucca sail past Nubian islands from Aswan Corniche (~£10 per person)
- →Shared microbus from Aswan to Kom Ombo (~£1)
- →Self-entry to Temple of Kom Ombo (~£10)
- →Sunset riverside dinner in Kom Ombo (~£5–7)
Edfu: Temple of Horus & Nile Views
Edfu, Egypt
Take an early shared microbus or service taxi from Kom Ombo northward to Edfu (roughly 1 hour, ~£1.50). Edfu is home to one of Egypt's best-preserved ancient temples — the stunning Temple of Horus — which you can visit independently with an entry ticket of around £10. Hire a horse-drawn calèche from the bus station to the temple for the full local experience (~£2 return). Spend a couple of hours exploring the vast hypostyle hall, inner sanctuary, and rooftop views. Have a local lunch in town (£4–6). In the afternoon, if you want the Nile sailing atmosphere, ask at the riverbank about short felucca trips near Edfu (~£5–8), or simply relax at a Nile-view café before continuing north. Overnight in Edfu or push on to Esna.
🚌Shared microbus or service taxi Kom Ombo–Edfu (~£1.50); local calèche (~£2)
🛏Budget guesthouse in Edfu or Esna (£10–15/night)
- →Shared microbus Kom Ombo to Edfu (~£1.50)
- →Horse-drawn calèche to Temple of Horus and back (~£2)
- →Self-entry to Temple of Horus, Edfu (~£10)
- →Optional short felucca trip on the Nile near Edfu (~£6)
- →Local lunch at Edfu town market (~£5)
Luxor: West Bank, Valley of the Kings & Karnak
Luxor, Egypt
Take an early shared service taxi or bus from Edfu to Luxor (roughly 2 hours, ~£3). Drop your bags at your hostel and head straight to Luxor's West Bank — take the local ferry across the Nile (£0.30) and hire a shared tuk-tuk or bicycle to visit the Colossi of Memnon (free), the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut/Deir el-Bahari (~£10 entry), and the Valley of the Kings (~£14 entry, covering three tombs). Grab a local lunch near the West Bank (£4–5). In the afternoon, cross back to the East Bank by local ferry and walk or cycle the Corniche to Karnak Temple (~£10 entry) — Egypt's largest temple complex and utterly unmissable at golden hour. End the day strolling through Luxor Temple (£8 entry), which is beautifully lit at night. Celebrate with a rooftop dinner overlooking the Nile.
🚌Shared service taxi Edfu–Luxor (~£3); local ferry (~£0.30); tuk-tuk/bicycle West Bank (~£3)
🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in Luxor, e.g. Boomerang Hotel or Nile Valley Hotel (£10–18/night)
- →Shared service taxi Edfu to Luxor (~£3)
- →Local Nile ferry to West Bank (~£0.30 each way)
- →Colossi of Memnon (free entry)
- →Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, Deir el-Bahari (~£10 entry)
- →Valley of the Kings (~£14 entry, 3 tombs included)
- →Shared tuk-tuk or bicycle hire on West Bank (~£3)
- →Karnak Temple self-entry (~£10)
- →Luxor Temple self-entry (~£8)
- →Rooftop dinner on the East Bank (~£7–10)
Self-launched vs. Egyptology Travel
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Egyptology Travel | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£167 | £480 |
| Duration | 3 days | 3 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £313 per person (65%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Egyptology Travel-style trips? Check them out here.~£167
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 Nile Sailing: Aswan to Luxor in 3 Days cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £167 per person for 3 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 Egyptology Travel?+
Yes — Egyptology Travel charges around £480 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £167 — a saving of roughly £313 (65%) per person.
How long is the Egypt trip?+
This itinerary runs 3 days, covering 3 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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