9-day Egypt on a Shoestring tour

Discover Egypt on a budget with this 8-day tour staying in 3-4 star hotels and visiting the main sites in the Nile Valley

If you're looking to experience the wonders of Egypt, but you're on a budget, this shoestring level Egypt tour is perfect for you. Exploring the busy capital city of Cairo and the beauty of the Nile Valley between Aswan and Luxor, we'll take you to some of Egypt's popular sights, such as the towering Great Pyramids, the Sphinx of Giza and the incredible treasures of the Egyptian Museum. After spending some time in Cairo, we head south, travelling the route of the Nile by overnight seater train to Aswan, take a boat trip to the island temple of Philae, with an option to visit the impressive Abu Simbel Temple built by Ramses II. From Aswan, you'll spend an afternoon sailing and then sleeping on a traditional felucca sailboat on the Nile River, with a support boat equipped with a toilet, a shower and a kitchen for the crew to prepare your meals. Sailing on the Nile is one of the best ways to experience Egypt through the eyes of the locals and offers a welcome break from the busy sightseeing. A hotel upgrade is available if you'd prefer not to sleep on the boat. We'll head back to Cairo, where you can finish the tour with a half-day city tour or learn about the history of pyramid building at Dashour and Memphis.

Day 1: Arrive into Cairo, transfer to hotel Upon arrival our staff will meet you at the airport, assist you with obtaining your visa and luggage, and then transfer you to your hotel in central Cairo for the start of your trip. They will help you settle in, introduce you to the local area, and explain tomorrow's arrangements. The rest of the day is free. If you arrive early you may like to take an evening dinner cruise on the Nile, or enjoy a spectacular sound and light show at the pyramids (both available to book locally on arrival). | OVERNIGHT: Cairo 3-star hotel | EXTRAS: Nile dinner cruise in Cairo, Single Room Supplement (EGSHES), Extra day in Cairo pre-tour (3-star) Day 2: Cairo, Pyramids & Sphinx at Giza. Overnight train to Aswan We start our exploration of Egypt with the iconic three great pyramids at Giza, on the outskirts of Cairo. Probably the most recognizable ancient buildings in the world, these three pyramids were built pyramids were built by the Pharaohs Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure around 2500 years BC. Our Egyptologist guide will start your introduction into Egyptian history here with information on how and why pyramids were built and how they fit into the whole ancient Pharaonic story. You’ll have the chance to climb down inside one of these pyramids if you wish (and if you’re not claustrophobic!). Our next visit is the majestic Sphinx, which nestles nearby, and was uncovered completely only in the 1920s. This evening we will board the overnight VIP seater train from Cairo to Aswan. For those preferring more comfort, there is the option of upgrading to the sleeper train where you will have a private cabin onboard with airline style meals included. | OVERNIGHT: Overnight seater train | MEALS: Breakfast Day 3: Arrive in Aswan. Philae Temple & Nubian village After our night onboard the overnight train, we arrive in Aswan where we spend the night in a Nubian village staying in a local guesthouse. The ancient region of Nubia comprised an area around the Nile in parts of present day southern Egypt and northern Sudan. Many descendants of the Nubian people still live around Aswan and during our stay we’ll see their colourful houses. This morning we’ll take a boat trip to visit one of Egypt’s most beautifully situated temples which was also reclaimed from the rising waters of Lake Nasser. This is the Temple of Philae, which was dedicated to Isis. After visiting Philae Temple, we'll head south of Aswan to visit one of the Nubian Villages where we'll have the opportunity to experience the local way of life and visit the local homes of the Nubian people and even spend the night in a local guesthouse. | OVERNIGHT: Aswan - Nubian guesthouse | MEALS: N/A Day 4: Abu Simbel option. Nile Felucca Cruise There is an optional tour early this morning to drive to the amazing UNESCO world heritage site at Abu Simbel which sits on the banks of Lake Nasser about 3 hours away from Aswan. The temples here were built by Ramses II and are one of Egypt’s most impressive and fascinating sites, especially because they are carved into the hillside rather than built independently, and were completely dismantled and moved to their present location when Lake Nasser was flooded. If you don’t visit Abu Simbel you can explore Aswan’s markets and Corniche this morning or visit the Nubian Museum which has an excellent collection covering the history of the Nubian people in the region. Later we board a traditional Nile felucca and sail a little way out of Aswan before mooring up for the night. Our separate facilities boat will join with us from time to time during the day and moor up with us at night. This boat helps us protect the environment of the banks of the Nile, having a proper toilet and showers on board as well as a hygienic kitchen. You sleep on the deck of the boat, with mattresses, blankets and mosquito nets provided. This is a fun but basic experience, and you can upgrade the night sleeping on the felucca to an additional night in a hotel in Aswan if you prefer. | OVERNIGHT: On board felucca | MEALS: Breakfast, Dinner | EXTRAS: Abu Simbel overland, Felucca to Hotel upgrade Day 5: Felucca sailing, to Luxor via Edfu. Optional Luxor temple at night We spend some more time sailing on the Nile this morning, and after lunch with the felucca crew, we bid them a reluctant goodbye and drive north to Luxor, making a stop along the way to visit Edfu temple. Luxor is the jewel in Egypt’s crown with the largest concentrations of ancient ruins in the Nile Valley, if not the world. These are split across both banks of the Nile, with the City of the Dead on the West Bank with many mortuary temples and tombs cut into the rocky mountains, and with the Temples of Luxor and Karnak and their connecting Avenue of Sphinxes the highlights on the East Bank. Later this evening there is an optional tour available to Luxor Temple which is right in the middle of town and beautifully lit up at night. You'll can also head into town to explore some of Luxor's popular outdoor cafes, perhaps enjoying a few games of backgammon and trying a shisha pipe with the locals. We spend the night at a comfortable 4-star hotel with a pool on the banks of the Nile. | OVERNIGHT: Luxor 4-star hotel | MEALS: Breakfast | EXTRAS: Hot air balloon in Luxor Day 6: Luxor, West Bank tour. Optional Karnak temple tour. Overnight train to Cairo This morning we take a tour to the West Bank of the Nile, where we’ll visit the Temple of Queen Hatchepsut, explore several tombs in the Valley of the Kings, learn about the workers who made all this happen in Deir El-Medina (the Valley of the Artisans) and stop to see the huge Colossi of Memnon. Your afternoon is then free to relax in the hotel, or take an optional tour to explore the huge temple complex at Karnak. A spectacular hot air balloon flight over the west bank of the Nile is also available today (expect another early start to catch sunrise as the balloon rises). This evening we re-join the overnight VIP seater train back to Cairo (there is another opportunity to upgrade to the sleeper train for those looking for more comfort). | OVERNIGHT: Overnight seater train | MEALS: Breakfast | EXTRAS: Hot air balloon in Luxor, Karnak Temple tour Day 7: Arrive in Cairo. Optional day trips available We arrive back into Cairo this morning and transfer to our hotel. The day is then free to explore Cairo as you choose or you may take an optional tour. These include a city tour in Cairo which visits Coptic Cairo, the Citadel and Mohamed Ali Mosque, or a half day tour to Saqqara, Dashour and Memphis to learn more about the history and evolution of pyramid building. Another full day option further afield includes a trip into the desert outside Cairo to see the World Heritage Site of the Valley of the Whales at Wadi Rayan. If you haven't chosen to join one of our full day optional tours, in the afternoon there is the option to take a guided walk through the back streets and bazaars in central Cairo. We'll walk through the huge Bab al-Futuh gateway and explore streets dedicated to metalwork, spices, pottery, fabric, jewelery and anything else you can imagine as we gradually enter the more touristy Khan-el-Khalili bazaar. We'll have time for a break to try some tea and a shisha pipe and perhaps enjoy an early dinner of Egypt's unofficial national dish, Kushari before returning to our hotel. | OVERNIGHT: Cairo 3-star hotel | MEALS: N/A Day 8: Cairo, Optional City & Museum tour. Departure airport transfer Your time is free today for some last minute sightseeing or shopping until we transfer you to the airport for your departure flight. We recommend an afternoon or evening flight so that you can take a tour to visit the incredible Egyptian Museum and explore the Khan-el-Khalili bazaar this morning. Extra nights in Cairo are also available if you would like to extend your stay. | OVERNIGHT: N/A | MEALS: Breakfast | EXTRAS: Egyptian Museum & Bazaar tour, Saqqara, Dashour & Memphis, Extra day in Cairo post-tour (3-star)