Egypt in 9 Days
Egypt rewards a plan more than almost anywhere. Sites open early and close in the heat, so this itinerary front-loads every morning and treats the afternoons as recovery time.
9
Days
£60–£110 / $75–$140 per person per day
Per day
October–April; avoid June–August in Upper Egypt
Best time
10
Nights
Your day-by-day plan
Arrive Cairo
Morning · Land, visa on arrival, transfer to Giza or Zamalek
Afternoon · Rest, then a felucca hour on the Nile
Evening · Rooftop dinner with the pyramids lit up
Giza and Saqqara
Morning · Pyramids at opening, inside the Great Pyramid if you want it
Afternoon · Saqqara step pyramid and Dahshur's Bent Pyramid
Evening · Back to the city, early night
The museums
Morning · Grand Egyptian Museum — allow four hours
Afternoon · Coptic Cairo or Khan el-Khalili bazaar
Evening · Night flight to Aswan
Aswan
Morning · Philae Temple by motorboat
Afternoon · Nubian village and the botanical island
Evening · Board the cruise boat
Abu Simbel and sail
Morning · Pre-dawn convoy to Abu Simbel
Afternoon · Sail north, Kom Ombo at golden hour
Evening · On board
Edfu to Luxor
Morning · Edfu Temple, the best-preserved in Egypt
Afternoon · Sail through Esna lock
Evening · Dock at Luxor
West Bank
Morning · Valley of the Kings at opening, three tombs plus Seti I
Afternoon · Hatshepsut and the Colossi
Evening · Luxor Temple after dark
Karnak and balloon
Morning · Sunrise hot-air balloon over the west bank
Afternoon · Karnak complex, then the Luxor Museum
Evening · Flight to Cairo
Home
Morning · Last souq run or Islamic Cairo walk
Afternoon · Airport — allow three hours
Evening · —
Local tips that save you money
- Carry a stack of small EGP notes: tipping (baksheesh) is expected and constant.
- Buy a photography ticket at the Valley of the Kings if you want photos inside tombs.
- Book the balloon for your first Luxor morning so wind cancellations have a backup day.
Egypt: common questions
How many days do you need in Egypt?+
This plan covers 9 days, which is the sweet spot for Egypt without doubling back. You can trim the last two days or add a beach stop if you have longer.
What is the best time to visit Egypt?+
October–April; avoid June–August in Upper Egypt. Shoulder months give you the same sights with lower prices and shorter queues.
How much does a trip to Egypt cost?+
Budget roughly £60–£110 / $75–$140 per person per day, excluding international flights. That covers accommodation, food, local transport and entry tickets at a mid-range pace.
How do you get around in Egypt?+
Domestic flights Cairo–Aswan and Luxor–Cairo, a 3–4 night cruise between them, and Uber inside Cairo (cheaper and calmer than street taxis).
