Egypt on a Budget: 10-Day Itinerary for $40–60 per Day

Egypt is not as cheap as it was five years ago, but it is still affordable by European or North American standards. This 10-day itinerary targets $40–60 per day — covering accommodation, food, local transport and most entrance fees. That budget requires some trade-offs: you will take trains rather than domestic flights, eat at local restaurants rather than hotel dining rooms, and skip a few premium extras.

The approach also means more time on the ground and a less compressed pace, which is often a better way to experience Egypt.

Check the Egypt e-visa before booking. The online application fee is modest and should be factored into your pre-trip budget.

Budget Framework

Accommodation: Cairo hostels run EGP 200–400 per night ($4–8) in dormitories; private rooms in guesthouses run EGP 400–800 ($8–16). Luxor and Aswan guesthouses near the Nile are similar. In Luxor’s West Bank village, small family guesthouses offer private rooms at the lower end of this range.

Food: Koshary (rice, lentils, pasta, tomato sauce — Egypt’s national street food) costs EGP 30–60 per bowl. Ful medames (fava beans), falafel, and shawarma from local spots are EGP 20–50. Budget EGP 100–200 per day for food if you eat where locals eat; EGP 300–500 if you occasionally use mid-range restaurants.

Transport: the Cairo metro costs EGP 10 per journey regardless of distance. Uber in Cairo is cheap and metered. The Watania overnight sleeper train from Cairo to Luxor costs around $20–35 per person in a shared 2-berth cabin. Local train Luxor to Aswan: around EGP 80–150 in second class.

Entrance fees: set aside $40–60 across 10 days. Prioritise the Pyramids, Valley of the Kings, and Philae; skip the Tutankhamun separate ticket (KV62 adds $25 to the Valley of the Kings spend) unless it’s a priority.

Days 1–2: Cairo

Use the metro and Uber rather than negotiating with unmetered taxis. The Egyptian Museum at Tahrir is cheaper than the new GEM and still significant — if budget is the constraint, the Egyptian Museum covers essential collections including Tutankhamun at lower entry cost. If the GEM is a priority, pre-book timed entry online and visit on Day 1.

Islamic Cairo is largely free to explore on foot: the Citadel (entrance fee required), Al-Azhar Mosque (free), and Khan el-Khalili bazaar (free to browse). Eat at the restaurants around Bab el-Louq market or in the streets around Ramses station — local koshary and ful restaurants operate here at non-tourist prices.

Day 2 evening: board the overnight sleeper train to Luxor. The Watania sleeper departs from Ramses station. Book at least a week in advance through the Watania website or a local agent; it sells out in peak season.

Days 3–4: Luxor

Luxor is well suited to budget travel. Hire a bicycle from your guesthouse (EGP 50–80 per day) to reach the West Bank independently — the ferry from Luxor town to the west bank costs EGP 5–10 and runs regularly.

Day 3: Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple and Colossi of Memnon by bicycle. Pack water and snacks from the market. Skip the KV62 separate ticket if staying to budget.

Day 4: East Bank — Karnak Temple (allow 2 hours) and Luxor Temple at dusk (free to walk past and view the exterior lit at night; entry ticket required to go inside). Luxor Museum in the afternoon is moderately priced and worth it.

The West Bank village — Gurna — has basic local restaurants and cheaper guesthouses than those in Luxor town. Staying there for a night cuts costs and puts you close to the Valley sites.

Day 5: Luxor → Aswan by Train

The local train from Luxor to Aswan takes approximately 2 hours and costs EGP 80–150 in second class — one of the better-value train journeys in the country with Nile views most of the way. First class is available for more if you prefer.

Afternoon in Aswan: walk the Corniche, which is free. Visit the market near the souk — cheaper for spices and local goods than Khan el-Khalili in Cairo.

Days 6–7: Aswan

The Philae Temple motorboat and entrance ticket are required but affordable. The Nubian Museum charges an entrance fee and is worth it — one of the better-presented museums in Egypt.

Hire a local felucca for the Nubian village trip (negotiate a flat rate; EGP 150–250 for a 2-hour trip is reasonable). Be explicit about what is included — some boatmen add charges for the village stop.

The Unfinished Obelisk in the southern quarry has a low entrance fee and is a useful stop before or after Philae. The Aswan High Dam viewing area is accessible independently; admission is low.

Day 8: Abu Simbel by Road Convoy

Abu Simbel by road is the budget option. Shared minibuses and private buses depart Aswan at around 4am to join the police-escorted convoy. The journey is 3.5 hours each way. Bus companies operate from near the Aswan train station and the souk area; prices vary — ask at your guesthouse for current rates.

Arrive at the temples by 7:30–8am. Allow 2 hours on-site. The convoy returns in the early afternoon, getting you back to Aswan by 4–5pm.

The flight from Aswan to Abu Simbel (45 minutes, EgyptAir) is a significant additional cost — on a strict budget, the convoy is the right call.

Days 9–10: Return Cairo

Option 1: overnight bus or early flight Aswan to Cairo (if a cheap fare is available; check well in advance).

Option 2: daytime train Aswan to Luxor, overnight Luxor to Cairo by sleeper train. Adds a half-day buffer in Luxor for anything missed.

Day 10 in Cairo can be used for the Pyramids (if not yet done), the GEM (if skipped earlier), or simply transit to the airport.

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Budget Tips

• Eat on side streets, not tourist strips. Restaurants facing major sites charge 3–4x local prices. Walk one block back.
• Negotiate drivers for full days. A hired car and driver for a full West Bank day in Luxor — covering Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut and Medinet Habu — costs EGP 400–600 and is often cheaper per site than individual taxis.
• Pay in EGP, not USD. Paying in dollars at tourist sites often costs more than the official EGP price. Carry Egyptian pounds withdrawn from ATMs (widely available in Cairo, Luxor and Aswan).
• Early booking on trains saves money. Watania sleeper prices rise closer to the date.
• The getting around Egypt guide has current intercity transport options and approximate prices.