Africa,  Around the world,  Cairo,  Egypt,  Luxor,  TDM,  Tips

Egypt in Backpack: Cairo, Luxor, Aswan & Abu Simbel in 6 days – Itinerary and Budget

I have just returned from an incredible stay in Egypt. This article is the result of my long hours of research and discussions with my travel agency and my Egyptian guide. The rates given are for November 2018. I hope this gives you an idea of the budget for your backpack / independent trip to Egypt.

Attention the itinerary below is for a backpacktrip without a cruise on the Nile. Travelling to Egypt as a backpacker isn’t as easy as in Asia (lots of solicitation, haggling and scams), so if you decide to travel without an agency or organized tour, be really sure and do a lot of research before your trip.

Day 1: Saturday

Arrival in Luxor at 5:50 pm, transfer to the city center, rest.
In the evening, walk to Luxor Temple for an evening tour of the site.
Night in Luxor: Iberotel Luxor Hotel

Visa: 25 dollars/person (easier to apply for the visa on arrival at the airport)
Airport transfer => Hotel: 100LE for two (+ 20 LE tip)
Hotel: Iberotel Luxor Hotel, 9 minutes walk from Luxor Temple, 39€ per double room. Another address much appreciated by backpackers (but further from the Nile) is Bob Marley Peace Hotel Luxor (12€ per double room, link Booking)
Dinner: 100LE to 200LE/ person (5€ to 10€)
Access to Luxor Temple: 140LE/person or 7€

Total cost of the day: 115€ for two

Day 2: Sunday

In the morning, visit Luxor Temple (by foot).
Rent a private cab to visit the Valley of the Kings (visit of 3 tombs included in the price) and the temple of Hatshepsut.
Lunch and rest at the hotel
Afternoon, visit the Amon complex of Karnak temples. If you are motivated, you can even stay for the sound and light show
Night in Luxor: Iberotel Luxor Hotel

Privatized cab: 350LE for half a day, so you have to manage for 600LE a day (even less if you negotiate well) + 150LE tip if the driver doesn’t take you to the shopping stops => 37,5€
Valley of the Kings entrance (visit of 3 tombs included in the price, except special tombs) 200LE per person (10€) + optional 5LE for the train that takes you to the foot of the temple
Entrance Temple Hatshepsut 100LE (5€) + optional 4LE for the train that takes you to the foot of the temple
Lunch: 100LE to 200LE/ person (5€ to 10€)
Entrance Temple of Karnak 150LE (7,5€)
Hotel: Iberotel Luxor Hotel, 9 minutes walk from Luxor Temple, 39€ per double room. Another address much appreciated by backpackers (but further from the Nile) is Bob Marley Peace Hotel Luxor (12€ per double room, link Booking)
Dinner: 100LE to 200LE/ person (5€ to 10€)

Total cost of the day: 141.5€ for two

Day 3: Monday

Private cab to Aswan. 3,5h in total.
If you are motivated, I strongly recommend you to stop on the way to Edfu (to visit the temple of Horus in Edfu) and visit the temple of Sobek and Haroëris located in Kôm Ombo
Visit of the unfinished obelisk and the temple of Philae
Feluccaride on the Nile to Elephantine Island
Overnight at the Nubian Lotus Hotel in Aswan

Note: this is a very busy day so you can divide this day in two and stay two days in Aswan

Cab 500 to 600LE for two, 150LE tip (37,5€)
Lunch: 100LE to 200LE/ person (5€ to 10€)
Temple of Edfu : 140LE/person (7€)
Temple of Kôm Ombo : 100LE/person (5€)
Unfinished obelisk : 80LE/person (4€)
Temple of Philae 140LE/person (7€)
Felucca to go around the Elephantine Island (15€/person for one hour)
Hotel at Nubian Lotus Hotel in Aswan 52€ per double room
Dinner: 100LE to 200LE/ person (5€ to 10€)

Total cost of the day: 185.5€ for two

Day 4: Tuesday

Departure to Abu Simbel with the first convoy (the bus will pick you up at the hotel at 3 am for a departure at 4 am).
Visit the temples of Abu Simbel with audio guide (included in the price)
9h Return to Aswan
6:55 p.m. Plane to Cairo (see current rates)
Arrival in Cairo, transfer to a hotel in Giza ( Panorama Pyramids Inn Hotel), rest.

Bus Aswan => Abu Simbel => Aswan : 300LE/person (15€)
Ticket Abu Simbel : 215LE/person (11€)
Aswan => Airport: 100LE for two (5€)
Flight Aswan => Cairo (see at the very bottom of the article)
Lunch: 100LE to 200LE/ person (5€ to 10€)
Transfer Airport => Hotel (in Gizeh): 200LE for two (+ 50LE tip) or 12€ for two
Dinner: 100LE to 200LE/ person (5€ to 10€)
Hotel Panorama Pyramids Inn (40€ double room with tax, view on the pyramids from the terrace) or (62€ double room with tax, view on the pyramids) OR Egypt Pyramids Inn (link Booking, 80€ double room with tax with view on the pyramids, shuttle from/to airport free)

Total cost of the day: 129€ for two

Day 5: Wednesday

Visit the Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx, the museum of the solar boat, enter the Great Pyramid.
Visit the Egyptian Museum, the Mummy Hall and the treasures of Tutankhamun
Sound and light show at the Pyramids
Overnight in Cairo at the Panorama Pyramids Inn

Pyramids: Ticket combo (access to the area + access to the inside of the Khufu pyramid + solar boats) 500LE/person (25€)
Uber Hotel => Egyptian Museum (round trip) : 115LE for two (6€) + tips (20LE/journey or 1€/journey)
Egyptian Museum: combo ticket Mummy Room + the Museum (+ Tutankhamun) 300LE/person (15€)
Sound and light show from the hotel terrace (free)
Hotel Panorama Pyramids Inn (40€ double room with tax, view on the pyramids from the terrace) or (62€ double room with tax, view on the pyramids) OR Egypt Pyramids Inn (link Booking, 80€ double room with tax with view on the pyramids, shuttle from/to airport free)

Total cost of the day: 140€ for two

Alternative: 8h guided tour: Visit the pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx, Saqqarah, Dahshur for 60€/person in French. Booking here

Day 6: Thursday

Going back to France

Hotel transfer (in Giza) => Airport: 200LE for two (+ 50LE tip) or 12€ for two
Total cost of the day: 12€ for two

Abstract

  • Flight Aswan – Cairo: 60€/person (see current rates)
  • Expenses on site: 723€ for two people
  • Unexpected budget (tips, drinks, coffee, souvenirs, photo rights…): 50€/person

TOTAL: 1931€ for two, i.e. 965.5€ per person

Learn more about scams (to avoid them)
And global advice on Egypt (security & others)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *