Friends, imagine waking before dawn to the Nile's gentle ripple as traditional sailboats drift under rosy skies.
Over 14 days, traverse Egypt's timeless tapestry—from Cairo's skyline of ancient giants to Siwa's mirror‑bright lakes, Alexandria's seaside ramparts, Luxor's sprawling temple city, and Aswan's tranquil quays.
This guide blends vivid experiences with precise budgets, transit hacks, and vetted accommodations. Prepare for an adventure built on expertise and real‑world testing.
Plan Overview
This journey unfolds in five clear stages: Days 1–4 in Cairo & Giza, Days 5–7 at Siwa Oasis, Days 8–10 in Alexandria, Days 11–13 exploring Luxor, and Day 14 in Aswan culminating at Abu Simbel. Each phase features ticket costs, standard travel durations, and trusted lodging picks. Flexibility allows skipping Siwa to shorten the trip or lingering longer amid Luxor's ruins. Recommendations draw on licensed Egyptologist input.
Transport Logistics
Overnight sleeper trains ($40 per berth) link Cairo, Luxor, and Aswan, arriving by dawn. Intercity coaches like GoBus cost $8–15, with air‑conditioning and Wi‑Fi. Private Cairo–Siwa transfers run $120 for ten hours, while shared sleeper buses are $30. Local taxis, bookable via regional apps, charge $3–5 for 10 km journeys; always verify your route onscreen before departing.
Cairo Tips
Upon arriving at Cairo International, pick up a prepaid SIM for $15 to coordinate rides and bookings. An Uber to downtown runs about $10 with a 45‑minute drive. Budget $60 nightly for centrally located hotels offering breakfast and Wi‑Fi. Dress modestly—cover shoulders and knees—to gain easy entry at cultural sites, and carry a refillable bottle ($0.50/litre bottled) to stay hydrated amid city bustle.
Giza Plateau
Begin at sunrise on the Giza Plateau for cooler air and smaller crowds. Entrance is $20 per adult, plus $10 for the adjacent Solar Boat Museum. A 30‑minute camel ride loops cost approximately $25, while falafel wraps at on‑site stalls start at $2. Allow two hours to circle Khufu's Pyramid, admire the Sphinx, and capture wide‑angle photos from limestone embankments.
Siwa Oasis
In Egypt's Western Desert, Siwa offers palm‑fringed tranquility and rose‑tinted salt lakes. Private transfers from Cairo cost $120; overnight buses run $30. Swimming in Cleopatra's Pool carries a $5 fee, and tuk‑tuks to the salt lakes are $8 round‑trip. Stay in adobe chalets like Mountain Camp Ali Khaled at $45/night, savoring meals slow‑cooked over date‑palm wood.
Alexandria
Travel to Alexandria by train ($15 coach; $25 first class) or GoBus coach ($8). Fort Qaitbay's ramparts welcome for $6 admission with sweeping Mediterranean views. The Bibliotheca Alexandrina charges $8 for its multifaceted museums, and Kom el‑Shuqafa catacombs cost $4 to explore Greco‑Roman tomb art. Dine on fresh seafood at White & Blue Restaurant—roughly $20–25 per person—while sea breezes carry salt and citrus notes.
Luxor
Arrive on an overnight sleeper train ($40) to catch a 5 am hot‑air balloon ride above the Valley of the Kings ($85). Later, marvel at Karnak's colonnades for $12; add a certified guide for $25 to decode hieroglyphs. Valley of the Kings entry is $12, with $3 per chosen tomb. Afternoon felucca sails along the Nile start at $10/hour, perfect for golden-hour reflections.
Aswan Finale
From Luxor, a first‑class train ($25) or private car ($60) arrives in Aswan by mid‑morning. Board a $12 shuttle boat to Philae Temple's island sanctuary amid palms. At 4 am on Day 14, depart by $65 coach to Abu Simbel, reaching in time for sunrise's dramatic illumination of Ramses II's colossal statues. Return to Aswan by noon for onward flights or rail.
Where to Stay
Cairo's centrally located hotels start at $60/night, breakfast included. In Siwa, Mountain Camp Ali Khaled provides traditional adobe suites at $45/night. Alexandria's Borg El Thaghr offers sea‑view rooms from $50. Luxor and Aswan guesthouses begin at $35–45, while boutique properties with Nile vistas range $90–100 per night. Peak‑season bookings are recommended two to three months in advance.
Insider Advice
Carry small USD bills ($1–2) for tipping at service points. Always confirm taxi fares via app maps to prevent detours. Reserve trains, balloons, and temple tours at least 30 days ahead through official Egyptian National Railways and licensed operators. Pack lightweight layers for predawn outings and sturdy footwear for uneven temple floors. A reusable water bottle, sunscreen, and a hat complete this expert‑approved checklist.
Conclusion
This 14‑day quest from Cairo's limestone titans to Siwa's silent dunes, Alexandria's coastal echoes, Luxor's dawn‑lit colonnades, and Aswan's riverbank calm uncovers Egypt's full palette of heritage and landscapes. Detailed budgets, field‑tested transit routes, and vetted lodgings ensure a seamless voyage.
Which sunrise will you chase—balloon‑drifted tomb views or salt‑lake reflections? Mark your calendar, pack smart, and let your Desert to Delta Odyssey begin!
