Trip highlights
- 1Giza Pyramids at dawn — last surviving Wonder
- 2Egyptian Museum — Tutankhamun's gold
- 3Valley of the Kings — royal tombs
- 4Karnak Temple — the largest religious complex ever built
- 5Nile felucca sunset sailing
Daily spend
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Day-by-day plan
Arrive Cairo
Monday, November 1
Est. spend
$65
per person
🌅 Morning
Arrive Cairo International Airport
Cairo International Airport
CAI is 20km from central Cairo. Taxi from official stand: EGP 300–400 ($6–8). Uber is widely available and often cheaper. Stay in central Cairo (Garden City, Zamalek island, or Downtown) for access to both the Egyptian Museum and day trips to Giza.
Visa on arrival available for most nationalities at the bank inside arrivals (before passport control): $25 USD. Or apply e-visa at visa2egypt.gov.eg ($25) before travel. Bring USD cash — better rates than changing at the airport.
☀️ Afternoon
Khan el-Khalili bazaar, Islamic Cairo
Khan el-Khalili, El-Gamaliya, Cairo
The 14th-century bazaar is the largest in the Middle East and largely unchanged — gold and silver souq, spice merchants, hookah pipe makers, and the famous Al-Fishawi café (open continuously since 1773). The adjacent Al-Hussein mosque and the labyrinthine Muski street market are beyond the tourist zone.
The initial prices in Khan el-Khalili are 5–10x the real price. The spices, cotton gallabiyas, papyrus, and alabaster are all genuine — bargain hard and walk away if prices don't meet expectations.
🍽️ Meals
Koshary Abou Tarek, Downtown Cairo
Egyptian · $5 · The most famous koshary restaurant in Egypt — Egypt's national dish (pasta, lentils, chickpeas, tomato sauce, crispy onion) served in 3 sizes. EGP 50–90 ($1–1.80) per person.
Giza Pyramids
Tuesday, November 2
Est. spend
$85
per person
🌅 Morning
Giza Pyramids at dawn — before the crowds
Giza Pyramids, Al Haram, Giza
The three Great Pyramids (Khufu, Khafre, Menkaure) and the Sphinx on the Giza plateau — built between 2580–2510 BC, still the most impressive human-made structures on earth. Entry: EGP 450 ($9) for the plateau; additional EGP 300 ($6) to enter the Great Pyramid of Khufu. Arrive at 8am (opening time) before the tour buses arrive by 9:30am.
The horse/camel touts outside the gate are aggressive — decline everything immediately and walk to the ticket office. Inside the gates the touts are gone. The Solar Boat Museum (EGP 100/$2 extra) has the perfectly preserved 4,600-year-old wooden boat buried beside the Great Pyramid.
☀️ Afternoon
Egyptian Museum of Antiquities
Tahrir Square, Cairo
The world's largest collection of ancient Egyptian antiquities — 120,000 objects including Tutankhamun's golden death mask (the most recognisable archaeological object in history), his solid gold coffin (110kg), and the complete throne room contents. Entry EGP 500 ($10).
The Tutankhamun galleries are on the first floor — go there first. The Royal Mummy Room (EGP 500/$10 extra) has 27 royal mummies including Ramesses II, still visibly powerful 3,200 years after death.
🍽️ Meals
Felfela, Downtown Cairo
Egyptian · $15 · The most reliable traditional Egyptian restaurant in Cairo since 1963. The ful medames (fava bean paste), taameya (falafel), and kofta are the essential dishes.
Old Cairo & Nile
Wednesday, November 3
Est. spend
$80
per person
🌅 Morning
Coptic Cairo — the Holy Family churches
Coptic Cairo, Masr al-Qadima, Cairo
Old Cairo (Masr al-Qadima) has the oldest Christian churches in Africa — the Hanging Church (Al-Muallaqah, 4th century), the Church of St Sergius (where the Holy Family allegedly sheltered during the flight to Egypt), and the Ben Ezra Synagogue (9th century). The ancient Roman Babylon fortress walls are visible throughout.
The Coptic Museum adjacent to the churches (EGP 200/$4) has the finest collection of Coptic Christian art in the world.
☀️ Afternoon
Nile felucca sunset sailing
Corniche el-Nil, Garden City, Cairo
The traditional wooden Nile sailboats (feluccas) are hired by the hour from the Corniche dock at Garden City — negotiating from EGP 200–300/hour ($4–6) for a private boat with captain. The sail at sunset with the Cairo skyline and the call to prayer is one of Egypt's great experiences.
Negotiate firmly at the dock — EGP 200/hour is fair. Bring your own drinks and snacks. The wind is better in the evening.
🍽️ Meals
Sequoia, Zamalek island
Egyptian/Mediterranean · $30 · Garden restaurant on the Nile embankment at Zamalek. The best upscale Egyptian food in Cairo.
Fly to Luxor
Thursday, November 4
Est. spend
$130
per person
🌅 Morning
Flight Cairo to Luxor
Luxor International Airport, Luxor
EgyptAir domestic flight (1 hour, $40–80 depending on booking lead time) or overnight train from Ramses Station (12 hours, from EGP 500/$10 in sleeper). The flight is recommended — it saves a full day and arrives in Luxor by 9am.
Book the Luxor flight from Cairo online (EgyptAir.com) minimum 1 week ahead. Prices rise sharply in the last 3 days.
☀️ Afternoon
Luxor Temple — sunset walk
Luxor Temple, Luxor Corniche, Luxor
Luxor Temple is one of the most dramatic ancient sites in Egypt — built between 1400–1300 BC, aligned with Karnak Temple (3km north) by the Avenue of the Sphinxes. The temple is lit at night and reflected in the Nile. Entry EGP 400 ($8). Walk along the Corniche in Luxor at sunset with the temple illuminated.
The Avenue of the Sphinxes (recently excavated and reopened) connects Luxor Temple to Karnak — the 3km walk between the two temples along this ancient processional route is an extraordinary experience.
🍽️ Meals
Sofra Restaurant, Luxor
Egyptian · $15 · The best traditional Egyptian restaurant in Luxor. The molokhia (jute leaf soup) and grilled fish from the Nile are the local classics.
Karnak Temple
Friday, November 5
Est. spend
$85
per person
🌅 Morning
Karnak Temple complex at 6am
Karnak Temple, Karnak, Luxor
The largest religious building complex ever constructed — 2km² of temples, chapels, pylons, and obelisks built and expanded over 2,000 years. The Hypostyle Hall (134 massive columns, 16m high, their capitals wide enough to fit 50 people) is the single most overwhelming interior space in ancient architecture. Entry EGP 450 ($9). Opens at 6am.
Go at 6am to have the Hypostyle Hall almost to yourself — by 9am it's crowded. The Sacred Lake beside the temple and the Avenue of Ram-headed Sphinxes at the temple entrance are unmissable.
☀️ Afternoon
Luxor Museum
Luxor Museum, Corniche el-Nil, Luxor
The best-presented museum in Egypt — smaller than the Cairo Egyptian Museum but far better contextualised. The Colossi of Amenhotep III, the cachette of Amenhotep I, and the beautiful New Kingdom statuary. Entry EGP 400 ($8).
🍽️ Meals
Al-Sahaby Lane, Luxor
Egyptian · $12 · Popular rooftop restaurant overlooking the Luxor Temple. The grilled kofta and Nile perch are both good.
Valley of the Kings
Saturday, November 6
Est. spend
$80
per person
🌅 Morning
Valley of the Kings at dawn
Valley of the Kings, West Bank, Luxor
The royal necropolis on the West Bank — 63 royal tombs cut into the limestone cliffs, including Tutankhamun (KV62, discovered 1922), Ramesses VI (KV9, most colourful), and Ramesses II (KV7). Entry EGP 450 ($9) covers 3 tombs; Tutankhamun is extra (EGP 300/$6).
Tombs open on rotation — check which are available on the day. The tombs of Seti I (KV17, the longest and most elaborate but often closed), Ramesses IX (KV6, excellent colours), and Ay (KV23, fine astronomical ceiling) are the three best if the big names are closed.
☀️ Afternoon
Hatshepsut Temple and Colossi of Memnon
Deir el-Bahari, West Bank, Luxor
Hatshepsut's mortuary temple (Deir el-Bahari) is the most architecturally elegant ancient Egyptian building — three colonnaded terraces against the cliff face. The Colossi of Memnon (two 18m seated pharaoh statues) at the West Bank entrance are the most photographed sight in Luxor. Both are on the West Bank.
The Colossi are free to photograph from the road. The agricultural field between the temple pylon entrance and the colossi is ancient — the same land farmed since 1400 BC.
🍽️ Meals
Al Moudira Hotel terrace, West Bank
Egyptian · $20 · Beautiful terraced hotel restaurant overlooking the West Bank fields and distant mountains.
Hot Air Balloon & Abydos
Sunday, November 7
Est. spend
$175
per person
🌅 Morning
Hot air balloon over Luxor at sunrise
Balloon launch sites, West Bank, Luxor
The Luxor balloon flight (45–60 minutes, $80–120 per person) takes off at 5am and floats over the Theban Necropolis — the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's temple, and Karnak visible simultaneously from 300m. One of the world's great dawn experiences.
Book through Sky Cruise Balloons or Horus Vision. The balloon operation has safety standards comparable to European operations. The wind takes the balloon east over the Nile — the view of Karnak from the air is magnificent.
☀️ Afternoon
Abydos Temple day trip
Abydos Temple, El-Balyana, Sohag
140km north of Luxor — the Temple of Seti I at Abydos (1290 BC) has the finest polychrome painted reliefs in Egypt and the complete Abydos King List (76 cartouches of pharaohs in chronological order). Rarely visited by tourists on the package circuit.
The private car hire for Abydos round trip from Luxor costs EGP 800–1,000 ($16–20) — the best value day trip in Egypt. The colours in the Seti I reliefs are the most vivid in any ancient Egyptian building.
🍽️ Meals
Lunch in Abydos village
Egyptian · $8 · Simple village restaurant near the temple. Ful, bread, and tea.
Luxor Museum & Departure
Monday, November 8
Est. spend
$80
per person
🌅 Morning
Luxor final walk — Corniche and market
Luxor Corniche, Luxor
Morning walk along the Luxor Corniche before the heat — the local market on the eastern side of the Nile, the Luxor Temple by day (different light from the evening illumination), and the ferry crossing view of the West Bank monuments.
☀️ Afternoon
Luxor Airport departure
Luxor International Airport
Luxor Airport (LXR) is 8km east of the city. Flight to Cairo for international connection, or direct international flights to some European cities.
🍽️ Meals
Snack Bar el-Gezira, West Bank
Egyptian · $5 · The local working breakfast spot on the West Bank — ful, taameya, and sweet tea for EGP 30 ($0.60) per person.
Before you go
📅 Best time to visit
October–April is the optimal window (temperatures 20–28°C). May–September is 40–45°C in Luxor — the temples are open but the experience is physically challenging. Ramadan affects some restaurants and operating hours.
🛂 Visas
Egypt e-visa (visa2egypt.gov.eg) costs $25 USD and is approved within 24 hours. Alternatively, visa on arrival at Cairo International Airport: $25 USD from the bank window inside arrivals before passport control. Bring USD cash.
💱 Currency
Egyptian Pound (EGP). ~50 EGP per USD (rate fluctuates — check current). Everything in Egypt is cheap in USD terms. USD cash gives the best exchange rate at the Luxor Corniche exchange offices.
🆘 Emergency numbers
police: 122
ambulance: 123
tourist police: 126
💬 Things you won't find in a guidebook
- Tipping (baksheesh) is expected everywhere in Egypt — temple guards who 'help' you find things, toilet attendants, taxi drivers, hotel staff. Budget $20–30 in small notes per person per day for baksheesh.
- The scams at the Giza plateau are numerous and well-documented — friendly locals offering directions, free photos, 'welcome to Egypt' gifts that need to be paid for. Accept nothing for free.
One thing worth not skipping
A 8-day trip to Egypt without insurance is a gamble. Medical emergencies, cancelled flights, lost luggage — cover yourself before you leave.
Comprehensive cover for 150+ adventure activities, medical evacuation, trip cancellation, and baggage. Recommended for most travellers.
Subscription-based travel medical insurance. Best for longer trips, digital nomads, or frequent travellers. Renews weekly or monthly.
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