Treasures of Egypt: Cairo, Luxor & Alexandria — Self-Launched
6 days · Egypt
Vagus Travel Co charges £790
No-markup version: ~£402 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A 6-day self-launched version of Vagus Travel Co's "Treasures of Egypt" loop: Giza's pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum, an overnight sleeper train to Luxor for the Valley of the Kings and Karnak, a budget flight back to Cairo, a day trip to Alexandria's catacombs and corniche, and Islamic/Coptic Cairo. Built around hostels and guesthouses, self-booked entrance tickets, Uber/Careem and the local train network — at roughly half the group-tour rate.
Day-by-day
Arrive Cairo — settle into Giza and the Khan el-Khalili buzz
Cairo / Giza
Land at Cairo International (CAI) and take an Uber or Careem to your Giza hostel (roughly 250–350 EGP / £4–6, 45–60 min) — or the airport shuttle bus to Tahrir for less. Skip the paid airport meet-and-greet; an e-visa (£20) done online in advance makes immigration quick. Settle in, then head to downtown Cairo in the evening: walk Midan Tahrir, grab a koshari dinner at Abou Tarek (£3–4) and, if you have energy, taxi to Khan el-Khalili bazaar for tea at El Fishawy. Book your Luxor sleeper train ticket online in advance (Watania/Watania Sleeping Trains, ~£50–65 one-way in a shared twin cabin) and pre-purchase your Giza and GEM tickets on the official Ministry of Tourism e-ticket portal to skip queues.
🚌Airport → Giza by Uber/Careem ~£4–6; metro and walking in downtown
🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in Giza/Dokki (private twin ~£18–25/room, dorm ~£8–12 pp)
- →Uber/Careem airport transfer
- →Khan el-Khalili bazaar wander
- →Koshari dinner at Abou Tarek
- →Book sleeper train + site tickets online
Pyramids, Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum — night train to Luxor
Giza → Luxor
Start early (gates open ~8am) at the Giza plateau: buy the general entry ticket (~£13) plus the optional Khufu pyramid interior (~£10) if you want it. Walk the panoramic viewpoint for the classic three-pyramid shot, then loop down to the Great Sphinx. Camel/horse rides are pushy and negotiable — agree a price in writing first or skip it. Mid-afternoon head to the Grand Egyptian Museum by the new GEM shuttle or Uber (~£4); allow 3 hours for the Tutankhamun galleries and grand staircase (£25 entry). Have an early dinner near Giza, then get to Ramses Station by ~7:30pm for the ~8:30pm Watania sleeper to Luxor (dinner and breakfast included on board).
🚌Uber between sites ~£3–5 each; sleeper train Cairo–Luxor ~£50–65
🛏Watania sleeper train, shared twin cabin (~£50–65 pp incl. meals)
- →Pyramids of Giza & panoramic viewpoint
- →Great Sphinx
- →Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM)
- →Overnight sleeper train to Luxor
Luxor's West Bank: Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut and the Colossi
Luxor
The train arrives in Luxor early morning. Drop bags at your West Bank or Nile-side guesthouse, then hire a local taxi or a bicycle for the day (~£15–20 for a car and driver, or £4 for a bike) to hit the West Bank sites. Valley of the Kings entry (~£13, includes 3 tombs; Tutankhamun's tomb is extra ~£10) — go at opening to beat the heat and crowds. Add the Temple of Hatshepsut (£6) and the free Colossi of Memnon photo stop. Late afternoon, cross the Nile by public ferry (~20p) and explore Karnak Temple (£11) as the light softens, then walk the Avenue of Sphinxes to Luxor Temple (£8) after dark when it's beautifully lit. Dinner at a local West Bank eatery (£4–6).
🚌Sleeper train arrival; private driver for the day ~£15–20 split; public ferry ~20p
🛏Nile-view guesthouse in Luxor (private twin ~£16–25/room)
- →Valley of the Kings
- →Temple of Queen Hatshepsut
- →Colossi of Memnon
- →Karnak Temple
- →Luxor Temple (evening)
- →Nile ferry crossing
Fly Luxor → Cairo, then Islamic and Coptic Cairo
Luxor → Cairo
Book a morning budget flight Luxor–Cairo in advance (EgyptAir/Nile Air, ~£45–70 one-way, 23kg bag usually included — always check). Alternatively the daytime train is cheaper but eats 9–10 hours, so the flight is the sensible pick on a 6-day trip. Land, check back into your Cairo/Giza base, then Uber to the Citadel of Saladin (£8) for the Muhammad Ali Mosque and city views, walk down through Al-Azhar Park for lunch, and continue to Coptic Cairo: the Hanging Church and Abu Serga (free/£2), plus the Coptic Museum if time allows. Evening: rooftop shisha and grilled food in downtown (£6–8).
🚌Luxor–Cairo flight ~£45–70; Uber around Cairo ~£3–5 per hop
🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in Giza/Dokki (private twin ~£18–25/room)
- →Domestic flight Luxor–Cairo
- →Citadel of Saladin & Mosque of Muhammad Ali
- →Hanging Church
- →Abu Serga Church
- →Al-Azhar Park
Day trip to Alexandria — catacombs, Pompey's Pillar and the corniche
Alexandria (day trip from Cairo)
Catch an early train from Cairo Ramses or Misr Station to Alexandria (2h15–2h45, ~£4–7 second class on the air-conditioned express) — buy tickets at the station or via the Egyptian National Railways app. On arrival, take a local taxi or tram to the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa (£7), then Pompey's Pillar and Serapeum (£4). Walk the corniche to the Qaitbay Citadel exterior for sea views and a fresh seafood lunch at a local fish restaurant near Anfushi (£8–10). If you want more, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina (£3) is excellent. Evening train back to Cairo and a relaxed dinner near your hostel.
🚌Cairo–Alexandria return train ~£8–14; local taxis/tram ~£3–5
🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in Giza/Dokki (private twin ~£18–25/room)
- →Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa
- →Pompey's Pillar
- →Qaitbay Citadel (exterior)
- →Alexandria corniche walk
- →Optional Bibliotheca Alexandrina
Slow Cairo morning and departure
Cairo
No group departure bus to catch — have a lazy breakfast, browse the shops around Talat Harb for papyrus and spices, or squeeze in a final museum or a Nile-side coffee. Uber to Cairo International (allow 60–75 min in traffic) for a flight any time from late morning onward. If you've got a later flight, day-use luggage storage at your hostel is usually free or £2–3.
🚌Uber to CAI ~£4–6
🛏—
- →Downtown Cairo shopping
- →Uber to Cairo International Airport
Self-launched vs. Vagus Travel Co
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Vagus Travel Co | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£402 | £790 |
| Duration | 6 days | 6 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £388 per person (49%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Vagus Travel Co-style trips? Check them out here.~£402
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 Treasures of Egypt: Cairo, Luxor & Alexandria — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £402 per person for 6 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 Vagus Travel Co?+
Yes — Vagus Travel Co charges around £790 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £402 — a saving of roughly £388 (49%) per person.
How long is the Egypt trip?+
This itinerary runs 6 days, covering 6 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, budget, adventure 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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