Oh Egypt! Full of ancient wonders like the Sphinx, the Pyramids and the Nile. I think Egypt is the original bucket-list destination. Since it’s home to the oldest man-made structure currently in existence on our planet, I doubt anywhere else can even think about arguing this claim! The perfect DIY Egypt Itinerary obviously includes the pyramids, but there’s much, much more!
If one overlooks the fact that Egypt isn’t the most politically stable country in a somewhat unstable region, I’m sure you’d be hard-pressed to find a person who didn’t want to see the pyramids in Egypt. I mean, what sane person wouldn’t want to stand next to these 5000 year old stone structures that nobody knows how, or really even when, exactly they were built?
Egypt was one of the stops during our family gap year that I was most excited about. Unfortunately, by the time we made it to the Middle East we were 8 months into our year-long trip and I was getting seriously travel-tired. Even the incredible views of the Treasury at Petra weren’t enough to completely shake me out of my travel funk.
The pyramids though?
They did it!
Thank goodness!
Had I stood beside the pyramids and not felt a jolt of amazingness wash over me, I was prepared to pack my bags, head home, and not travel again (at least for a month or two!).
Although the pyramids are the major draw in Egypt, there’s a whole big country, beyond Cairo, to explore. Try to think bigger than just the pyramids, if that’s even possible!
You can easily mix and match this itinerary, and you can definitely do it on your own. It’s possible to travel independently in Egypt, and if you have even a little bit of travel experience, you don’t need to be apprehensive!
1. Egypt Travel Tips (Know Before You Go!)
2. 5, 7 & 10 day Itinerary Overview
3. Cairo (2 days)
4. Aswan (2 days)
5. Nile Cruise (3 days)
6. Luxor (3 days)
What You Need To Know Before Traveling In Egypt
(or you can just skip to the start of the itinerary!)
Is It Safe To Travel In Egypt?
I can really only give personal experience, but we always felt safe in Egypt. Of course, there were the pesky hawkers and salesmen trying to sell anything and everything, but they were always harmless. In general we found the people friendly and welcoming, and had no concerns at all about our safety.
If you’re interested in reading about it further, you’ll want to read this post about safety in Egypt. It pretty much sums up my feelings exactly! It talks about bringing kids, and I figure if it’s safe to take kids to Egypt, it’s safe for anyone to travel to Egypt!
Money In Egypt
Egypt uses the Egyptian Pound, abbreviated LE (left over from French colonization), which is divided into 100 piastres. There are coins and bank notes, with the bank notes being FAR more common. Coins are found in 25p, 50p and 1LE, all of which are also available in bank notes. Bank notes are further available in 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200LE denominations. We never had an issue changing larger notes as vendors were always able to find us change (unlike our experience in Burkina Faso), although if you’re wanting to bargain hard in the market you’ll want to have correct change!
Credit cards are becoming increasingly more widely accepted, but this is still mainly restricted to higher end accommodation, stores and restaurants. During the entire 10 days we were in Egypt, I only used my credit card to pay for a few hotel rooms, and for food and SIM cards at the airport. Cash is definitely still king, especially if you’re a budget or mid-range traveler.
*expert tip – many accommodation prices are listed in USD and the exchange rate is slightly better if you pay with the currency in which the rate is posted. Make sure you have either USD or Euros on hand, ideally enough to cover all of your anticipated accommodation costs.
ATM’s are widely available, especially in Cairo, Aswan and Luxor. Cirrus and Plus were the most commonly accepted cards, which should work for everyone from the Western Hemisphere. Many of the bank machines have a 4-digit pin limit (although this is slowly changing). If you have a 5- or 6- digit pin you may want to change it to a 4-digit pin before leaving home so you’re not limited to the ATM’s you can use.
Many of the ATMs have a per-transaction limit of 1000LE or 2000LE. This can get annoying, and costly, especially if your bank is charging a $5 fee per transaction (darn Plus fees!). Try to find the ATM with the highest limit, and always take out the max if possible.
Although we found Egypt safe, it might be worth carrying around an anti-theft bag for your money and valuables. These are one of my favourite things because I don’t have to worry about my things in a crowded area. I also think it makes me look more confident which may deter thieves more (hopefully!).
Cell Phone/SIM Cards In Egypt
SIM cards are cheap and easy to find in Egypt. It’s cheapest to buy them in town, but it’s easiest to just pick one up at the airport. I went with Vodafone, and the coverage was great everywhere listed in this itinerary! I paid 134 LE ($22 CAD) for a SIM card and 6GB of data. All our accommodations had wifi, so the 6GB of data was more than enough.
The other option is a Skyroam. If you travel a lot or are visiting multiple countries, this is a great option. It’s a global wifi hotspot that works in 130+ countries. The device is $149 US, then $9/mo for 1GB of data (with additional 1GB available for purchase as needed for $9/GB). It’s obviously more expensive than paying for a local SIM, but if you’re only in Egypt for 5 days this might be more cost effective and easier in the long run!
Drinking Water In Egypt
The tap water in Egypt isn’t safe to drink, so you’ll need to ensure you’re always drinking filtered or bottled water. Bottled water is readily available, and many of our accommodations had either bottled water or filtered water that was easily accessible. We try to say NO to plastic whenever we can, so rather than purchasing a gazillion plastic water bottles, we brought along our incredible Grayl water filter system.
If you want to do a bit of research and reading on your own, read about all the best filter water bottles for travel. It also includes our favourite insulated water bottles, which you’ll definitely want because it’s HOT in Egypt and your drinking water will get nice and warm quickly!
Travel Insurance
I tend to dislike insurance in general, however I never go anywhere without proper travel insurance. The risk is just too great and I’ve heard too many horror stories of people injured abroad without travel insurance. During our family gap year we used WorldNomads. The pricing was reasonable (for Canadians) and although I never had to use it, I’ve heard great reports from other travelers who have. The other insurance company that may offer better pricing for Americans is Allianz. We didn’t use this personally, but our friends are currently insured with Allianz and have had nothing but great things to say!
You might also be interested in these other posts from Egypt:
- A Complete Guide For Visiting The Pyramids of Giza
- The Best Things To Do In Egypt Beyond The Pyramids
- Why You Should Visit Aswan With Kids
- A Disastrous Trip in A Felucca from Aswan To Luxor
- The Best Things To Do In Luxor Egypt With Kids
Alright, now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s get to the ITINERARY!!!
The Perfect DIY Egypt Vacation Overview
5 Day Egypt Itinerary
Let’s start with a 5 day Egypt Itinerary. With 5 days in Egypt you can visit Cairo and Luxor, knocking off the major attractions and filling your mind with incredible ancient Egyptian wonders. Most international flights come in and out of Cairo, so I suggest starting your Egypt 5 day itinerary in the capital city.
Day 1 – 2: Cairo
- Visit the pyramids, the Egyptian Museum and Khan El-Khalili market.
- Stay in Giza so you can see the pyramids illuminated at night, or drink your morning coffee/tea overlooking the mighty pyramids.
Day 3 – 5: Luxor
- Explore Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, Luxor Temple and the Luxor Museum. Take a hot air balloon ride over the wonders of Ancient Egypt.
- Stay on the West Bank of the Nile to get away from the tourist crowds but remain close enough to the sites.
7 Day Egypt Itinerary
If you have a week in Egypt, I’d suggest adding Aswan to your 7 day Egypt Itinerary. This will give you the ability to get off the beaten path and see a few sights that are less commonly visited by tourists. During your Egypt 7 Day Itinerary I recommend you start with 2 days in Cairo, head to Aswan for 2 days, and then end with 3 days in Luxor.
Day 1 – 2: Cairo
- As with the 5 day itinerary, you’ll see the pyramids, the Egyptian Museum and Khan El-Khalili market.
- Stay in Giza so you can see the pyramids illuminated at night, or drink your morning coffee/tea overlooking the mighty pyramids.
Day 3 – 4: Aswan
- Explore the lesser-visited Philae and Kalabsha Temples and take a day trip to Abu Simbel.
- Stay in a Nubian guest house on the West Bank and take a ferry across the Nile with the locals.
Day 5 – 7: Luxor
- Similar to the 5 day itinerary, spend your time in Luxor exploring Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, Luxor Temple and the Luxor Museum. Take a hot air balloon ride over the wonders of Ancient Egypt.
- Stay on the West Bank of the Nile to get away from the tourist crowds but remain close enough to the sites.
10 Day Egypt Itinerary
If you have 10 days in Egypt, leisurely making your way from Aswan to Luxor on a Nile cruise or a Felucca. This will allow you to enjoy the sights and sounds of the Nile during your 10 day Egypt Itinerary, and see a bit of everyday life along the river banks. During your Egypt 10 Day Itinerary start with 2 days in Cairo, head South to Aswan for 2 days, spend 3 days on your Nile cruise, and end with 3 days in Luxor.
Day 1 – 2: Cairo
- See the main sites of the city; the pyramids, the Egyptian Museum and Khan El-Khalili market.
- Stay in Giza so you can see the pyramids illuminated at night, or drink your morning coffee/tea overlooking the mighty pyramids.
Day 3 – 4: Aswan
- Explore the lesser-visited Philae and Kalabsha Temples and take a day trip to Abu Simbel.
- Stay in a Nubian guest house on the West Bank and take a ferry across the Nile with the locals.
Day 5 – 7: Nile Cruise
- Whether you choose to ride in a basic felucca or aboard a luxury cruise ship, a journey down the Nile is sure to be the highlight of your time in Egypt.
Day 8 – 10: Luxor
- Similar to the 5 day itinerary, spend your time in Luxor exploring Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, Luxor Temple and the Luxor Museum. Take a hot air balloon ride over the wonders of Ancient Egypt.
- Stay on the West Bank of the Nile to get away from the tourist crowds but remain close enough to the sites.
Just a big ‘ole synchronously timed group jump in front of the pyramids! There IS more to Egypt than the pyramids, but they’re still pretty darn cool!
2 Days In Cairo
Cairo is the ideal starting point for any Egypt itinerary because it’s the most likely place you’ll fly into. Now, just because I’m limiting Cairo to 2 days (because it’s a noisy, busy, dirty city that wasn’t my favourite!) doesn’t mean you have to limit yourself too! There’s a lot to do in Cairo, but 2 days is enough to hit the highlights and get the heck out (in my opinion)!
The obvious highlight in Cairo is the Great Pyramids of Giza. Now, I could write a whole post about visiting the pyramids (which I did, and you can find it here!!), but for the sake of this post, here’s the highlights!
How To Get To Cairo
Egypt is surrounded by a number of countries that are not the safest for travellers, so the chances of you crossing an overland border are pretty low. Instead, most people will arrive into Egypt on an airplane via the Cairo airport. The airport is easily connected to town via taxis, buses and Uber (yes, Uber is very active in Cairo!). If you pre-booked accommodation there’s also a good chance they’ll offer to pick you up (for a fee). This is usually what I do because it eliminates the hassle of dealing with taxis or waiting for an Uber after a potentially long flight.
If Cairo is your entry point into Egypt, make sure to get your stamp ($25 USD) from one of the kiosks before the immigration counter, then pack your patience while you stand in line to go through customs. Be prepared to stand your ground, puff up your chest and stick out your elbows. There was a bit of attempted cutting in line that needed to be managed, consider yourself warned!
The Best Things To Do In Cairo In 2 Days
Visit The Pyramids
It would be such a shame to visit Cairo and not at least SEE the pyramids, but you’d be remiss to not spend at least half a day exploring these ancient wonders. In my opinion though, it’s worth setting aside an entire day for the Pyramids. You’ve come all the way to Egypt for this and you want to be able to take your time and enjoy it.
*expert tip – it gets HOT in Cairo, so consider starting your day as early as possible to avoid both the crowds and mid-day heat.
The pyramid complex includes the 3 pyramids, the Sphinx, Khufu’s boat and a few smaller Queen’s pyramids. It’s worth wandering around all of the above, but take your time to linger at the smaller two as they’re not as busy as the “Great Pyramid”.
If you aren’t claustrophobic, I suggest going inside at least one of the pyramids. They’re same but different, although I think you’re okay to only go inside one. My personal favourite was the smallest (Menkaure) because it was the least busy and still had some interesting detail on the walls. You can also opt to go on a camel ride around the pyramids (I suggest doing this from Menkaure’s pyramid as well) for the quintessential camel at the pyramids pic!
It’s possible to walk between the three pyramids, but you also have the option of hiring a camel, horse & carriage, or booking a van and driver for the day. You can also join a day-tour and you get your transportation and guide all in one!
If you didn’t get your fill of the pyramids during the day head to the Light and Sound show in the evening. Alternatively, if you’re staying in Giza (which I recommend), you might be able to watch from the roof of your accommodation. Grab some take-out, make yourself comfy and enjoy the multicoloured pyramids from a distance without having to deal with the crowds!
Hours: 8am-4pm (Great pyramid closed 12-1pm)
Cost: 120LE ($9 CAD) adult/60LE ($4.50CAD) students
– Area, Great Pyramid & Khufu Boat 400LE ($30 CAD) adult/200LE ($15CAD) student
– Add-on Khafre (Medium) Pyramid: 60LE ($4.60 CAD) adult/30LE ($2.30 CAD) student
– Add-on Menkaure (Small) Pyramid: 60LE ($4.60 CAD) adult/30LE ($2.30 CAD) student
Explore The Egyptian Museum
While the biggest draw in Cairo is definitely the Pyramids, there’s a lot more to this city! When we visited, we made the silly mistake of rushing in and out of Cairo and spending more time in Luxor. While Luxor is fantastic, I wish we would’ve spent a second day exploring Cairo. We saw Tutankhamun’s tomb and sarcophagus in Luxor, but the incredible treasures he was buried with almost all live in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.
If you’re staying in Giza by the pyramids, you’ll be about an hour drive from the museum…a great reason to start your second day early! You could likely spend days exploring the museum but if you only have 2 days in Cairo you’ll have to get by with a morning at the museum. This is enough time to ensure you hit the highlights and feel like you’ve seen enough to be satisfied. The only must-do here is visiting the treasures from Tutankhamun’s tomb. Just ensure they’re in house during your visit as they occasionally go on tour! There’s plenty more besides the Boy-King’s treasures, but they’re definitely the highlight.
*expert tip – You’ll get a lot more out of your experience visiting the museum with a guide!
Get Lost In Khan El-Khalili
After a morning at the museum, grab an Uber for the 15min drive to the main souk in Cairo, Khal El-Khalili. You’ll find plenty of options for food (street-food included!) to fill your belly before wandering into the craziness of the Souk.
If you’re never visited a Souk in the Middle East, brace yourself! The vendors can be aggressive, and haggling is definitely required, but this is all part of the experience. There’s an incredible selection of everything from hand-made artisan items, to knock-off tourist souvenirs and antiques. It’s a great place to pick up some souvenirs for home, just make sure you’re picky with what you buy and where you buy from, and make sure to haggle hard! The Souk is massive, so ensure you give yourself a few hours to get lost within the streets and alleyways.
*expert tip – download an offline google map of Cairo so you can easily get lost in the Souk and still find our way out when you’re ready. To download the offline google map: pull up the map of Cairo on your phone. Type “ok maps” in the search bar, and press “search”. Zoom in or out depending on how large of an area you’d like to download, and click “download”. Once completed it will be available for you offline whenever you need it!
Know Before You Go To Cairo
Where To Stay In Cairo
In Cairo we stayed at a fantastic AirBnB with a roof-top view of the pyramids, and I highly recommend it. It was a comfortable 3-bedroom apartment with a fantastically friendly and helpful owner, Walid. Walid and his brother picked us up from the airport and were also our tour guides for the day at the Pyramids. He haggled for souvenirs for the girls and paid a fraction of the initial asking price. He told us that he wants his guests to enjoy Egypt, not feel taken advantage of, want to return and tell their friends to visit.
Find the latest pricing for our great apartment on AirBnB.
Or search other Cairo Hotels:
Where To Eat Near The Pyramids
Koshary Hekaya
There are lots of choices for food near the Pyramids, but this cute little restaurant offers traditional Egyptian food (I highly recommend the Koshary) in a very local setting, at a great price. You’ll feel miles away from the tourist hoardes of the Pyramids!
Cost: around 35LE ($2.70 CAD) for a medium bowl of Koshary.
Uber is the easiest way to get around Cairo. It’s inexpensive and easy to use. You’ll want to make sure you have an Egyptian SIM (which you can easily pick up at the airport when you arrive) to track your trip. Beware though, the drivers in Cairo are fast and a bit scary. During our Uber ride to the airport I watched the “estimated time of arrival” constantly decrease because we were driving quite fast on the highway. Remember that you do have the option to tell your driver to slow down if you feel uncomfortable!
Cost: Uber from Giza to the Cairo airport – approximately 100LE ($7.70 CAD)
If you only have 5 days in Egypt, jump to Luxor. You’ll have to save Aswan and the Nile for another trip!
2 Days In Aswan
After your two incredible days in Cairo exploring the Pyramids and the Cairo museum, fly South to Aswan. Aswan was the gateway city to Ancient Egypt and also important because of the surrounding stone quarries. Many of the stones used in pyramid and temple construction came from the area around Aswan then were shipped up the Nile.
*expert tip – the temples and ruins in Aswan are incredible, but aren’t as colourful or well preserved as the Valley of the Kings. I recommend exploring Aswan BEFORE Luxor to ensure you’re properly amazed by everything you see. My fear is that by visiting Luxor first, Aswan won’t be as impressive as it could be.
The 2 days in Aswan is actually one day in Aswan and one day in Abu Simbel. Obviously you could spend a LOT more than a day in Aswan, but if you hustle this is all you’ll need.
How To Get From Cairo To Aswan
“Luxury” Sleeper Train – The overnight train from Cairo to Aswan takes 12 hours and has only 1 stop in Luxor (9 hours into the trip). This allows for a decent night’s sleep although you won’t see any of the countryside out the window! If you want to avoid flying, or combine accommodation with transportation to save a bit of money, this is a great way to travel across the country.
Cost: Sleeper cabin – $100 US/adult in a double cabin, including dinner and breakfast. $90 US/child 4-9yo. Kids 3 and under are free.
Reclining Seat – $40US per seat, also includes dinner and breakfast.
Flight – Egypt Air offers 3 non-stop flights from Cairo to Aswan each day, taking 1hr25min. The flight costs $100-150 CAD (one way) depending on which flight you take and how far in advance you book. Both airports are easy to navigate and it saves a lot of time compared to the 12 hour train journey!
Cost: $100-150 CAD one-way
Bus – Taking the bus is the cheapest way to get from Cairo to Aswan although it’s also the longest and the least predictable. We didn’t travel on the bus, and don’t know anyone who’s done this, but I do know it’s a possibility. If you choose to take the bus, do your research first! When I was looking into it I found Alternative Egypt to be very helpful.
Cost: approximately 47LE ($3.60 CAD)
The Best Things To Do In Aswan In 2 Days
Philae Temple
Philae Temple is a great introduction to Egyptian temples and is a must-do for any Aswan itinerary. It’s boat-access only meaning you have to put in a bit of effort to visit, but it’s worth it! The temple was originally located on Philae Island, said to be the resting place of Osiris.
When the Aswan High Dam was built in 1960, the temple was partially submerged under water for a portion of the year. With each passing year the flood levels rose during the rainy season submerging more and more of the temple, until Unesco decided to step in and move it. Sadly, some of the colourful facades were washed away during the flood years, prior to it being moved. It’s such a shame. Luckily it was rescued and moved to it’s current location, and many of the incredible hieroglyphics remain.
In order to visit Philae Temple you have to get a water taxi from the Marina Philae Temple. If you’re traveling on your own prepare yourself to haggle hard because you have to pay for your temple ticket BEFORE finding a boat taxi. You’re basically at the mercy of the boat captains as they know they have you between a rock and a hard place. One way to avoid this is to book a tour for the day and have your guide haggle over the price of the boat ride!
Hours: Oct-May 7am-4pm, June-Sept 7am-5pm
Cost: 60LE ($4.60 CAD) for a full day, if you visit at night this will include the light show. Expect to pay 40LE ($3 CAD) per person for the return boat trip.
*expert tip – All our activities in Aswan were coordinated by Waleed at Aswan Individual. He picked us up from the airport, arranged our day touring Philae Temple, the Aswan Dam & Kalabsha, organized our day-trip to Abu Simbel AND coordinated a Felucca from Aswan to Luxor. He went over and above for us, and his service was prompt, professional. I highly recommend him to anyone visiting Aswan (or Egypt). (None of our activities were sponsored, we paid full price for everything. In fact, Waleed didn’t even know I have a travel blog. We just received such amazing service that I have to pass it along!)
Aswan High Dam
The Aswan High Dam was built between 1960 and 1970 to help Egypt better control and harness the power of the Nile. It’s an impressive 4000m (13,000ft) long and 980m (3220ft) wide at the base. It’s possible to take a tour of the Dam, however I think you need to be really interested in dams to make it worthwhile. Instead, stop for a few minutes and look out over both sides of the dam. My favourite view was out towards Lake Nassar!
The dam has had a number of effects, both positive and negative, on the economy and environment of Egypt. The girl’s favourite effect was about the now almost non-existent presence of Nile crocodiles downstream (North) of the dam. Only small crocodiles are able to make it through the dam’s turbines, while the larger ones get chewed up and killed. These smaller crocodiles are caught before they become large enough to cause a problem. This simple fact made it much easier for everyone to enjoy swimming in the Nile!
Cost: 30LE ($2.30 CAD) for a foreigner to cross the dam (kids 5 & under free).
Kalabsha Temple
Kalabsha was my favourite temple in all of Egypt. This isn’t necessary anything to do with the temple itself, more the isolation and lack of tourists. It’s located on a small island just south of the Aswan High Dam, and you have to pay one of the fishermen at the dock to take you over and back again. When we visited we were the ONLY people on the island, and the ticket man came back on the boat with us because he didn’t think he’d have another opportunity that day!
The temple is smaller than the main temple at Philae, but every bit as impressive. You can wander unobstructed by others in the courtyard, then slowly made our way through the rooms, “reading” the hieroglyphics and admiring the intricate details. The lack of other tourists decreases the need to rush through it as there’s no one before you to keep up with, and no one behind you to stall.
Once you’re done in Kalabsha, make your way up the path to the right to Beit El-Wali, built by Ramses II between 1279 and 1213BC. It’s a small temple, with one outer room and one inner room, and was buried under the sand for millennium, preserving the colour on the wall. This is really the first time you’ll see colourful drawings in Egypt (there are more in Luxor), and the fact that they’ve been on these walls for thousands of years just blew my mind!
Hours: I couldn’t find any posted hours, however when we left at 3:30pm the guard came with us, so I wouldn’t show up much later than early afternoon!
Cost: 40LE ($3 CAD) (kids 5 & under free). If you’re traveling independently you’ll also have to negotiate one of the fishermen to bring you to & from the temple in his boat. Expect the boat to cost 100-150LE ($7.70-11.50 CAD) round trip with waiting.
A Day Trip To Abu Simbel
The twin temples at Abu Simbel take the most effort to visit of any famous structure in Egypt, but it’s well worth it. Built by Ramses II for himself and his wife Nefartari, these two giant temples were cut from the mountainside and moved out of harm’s way when the building of the Aswan High Dam threatened their existence. Not only are the temples beautiful, but they’re an engineering marvel!
Getting to Abu Simbel from Aswan
Plane – Egypt Air flies from Aswan to Abu Simbel up to 4 times a day however at the time of writing the last flight returned at 1:10pm meaning you have to catch the first flight out of Aswan in order to have enough time to visit the temples. This can get quite expensive, and honestly doesn’t end up saving much time versus just renting a private van.
Cost: Between $200-300CAD round trip
Minibus – This is the cheapest way to get to the temples, but also the most restrictive. It’s easiest to have your guesthouse book you a seat on the bus, and it will likely pick you up and drop you off at the end of the trip. These tend to leave very early (4:30am is what I was told) and give you around 2hrs at the temples. I’ve heard these can drive quite fast making passengers often feel uncomfortable.
Cost: $15-20US per person round trip.
Private Van – We chose this route, but there were also 7 of us traveling together so it was an easy option, and the cheapest. We were able to leave a bit later (we chose to leave at 5:30am) and could spend as much time at the temples as we wanted. The van also drove a bit slower than the minibus so we felt safer as well.
Cost: $120US round trip with hotel pick up and drop off.
Book a Day Tour – This is the easiest option and will often include a guided tour at the Temples. Similar to the minibus you can book with your guesthouse, or you can book in advance if you don’t want to have to worry about it once you get there!
Visiting Abu Simbel
The twin temples at Abu Simbel were built by Ramses II, and were completed around 1244BC. The main temple is dedicated to Ramses himself, whereas the second temple is dedicated to his queen, Nefertari. It was only the second temple in Egyptian history to be built for a queen!
Construction of the Aswan High Dam threatened the existence of these temples, and in 1968 they were moved by UNESCO to higher ground to avoid destruction. You’ll start your visit here by learning about the colossal process of moving these temples, and exactly how it was done. It was quite an engineering feat!
The first temple you’ll encounter is the Great Temple, that of Ramses II. If it’s not too busy, start here! There are 4 gigantic statues of Ramses guarding the entrance, three of which are in good condition. The walk-way up to the temple is the quintessential photo-op from Abu Simbel, and rightfully so! It’s incredibly impressive, and gives an idea of how powerful Ramses II must have been during his reign.
The second temple, that of Nefertari, is smaller but no less impressive. The doors of this temple are flanked by 6 statues, 2 of Ramses II and 4 of Nefertari. Inside, it’s very similar to the Great Temple, other than the images centre around Nefertari and the goddess Hathor.
If you choose to spend the night in Abu Simbel and avoid the day trippers, consider heading back for the Light Show. This offers a great opportunity to see the temples at sunset (although I imagine they’d be nicer at sunrise). There’s commentary provided during the show, but it may or may not be in English during your visit!
As Abu Simbel is so far from Aswan, it tends to get quite busy in the morning between 8-11am. I was also told that it can be busy right when it opens, at 5am, because that’s when the cruise ship passengers usually arrive! The best time to visit is between 7-8am (after the cruise ship passengers leave and before the day-trippers arrive), or after 11am once most of the day trippers have left.
Hours: 5am – 6pm, light show at 6pm in the winter and 7pm in the summer
Cost: 215 LE ($16.80 CAD) per adult, half price for kids and students. The light show is 250 LE ($19.60 CAD) for adults, also half price for kids and students.
Know Before You Go To Aswan
Where To Stay In Aswan
We stayed at Bet El Kerem Guesthouse on the West Bank of the Nile. There are family rooms available as well as cheap double rooms with a shared bathroom. Our stay included a delicious, homemade, filling breakfast on the lovely roof-top terrace overlooking the Nile and the Temple of the Nobles. There was always fruit and drinks available on the terrace and their incredible chef could prepare other meals for a nominal fee. We were even able to have laundry done! As it’s located on the West Bank, we had to take the small ferry across the Nile to get to the main sites of Aswan, but this was also part of the charm. The only thing that annoyed me was the hyper-inflated tourist fee for the ferry. We paid 10LE ($0.75CAD) each person one way, with the kids being free. The locals, however, only paid 1-2LE so I felt a bit ripped off! The hotel was a very short walk from the ferry stop though, making it very easily accessible.
Find the latest pricing for Bet El Kerem Guesthouse.
Or find other great hotel options in Aswan:
Booking.com
How To Get Around Aswan
As with the rest of Egypt, taxi is the easiest way to get around. When we visited, Uber wasn’t yet available in Aswan. It’s a relatively small city, so the center of town is easily accessible by walking. Many of the main sites (Philae Temple, Aswan High Dam) are a few km out of town, so it makes more sense to hire a taxi or book a day tour.
If you only have 7 days in Egypt, jump to Luxor. You’ll have to save the Nile cruise for another visit!
3 Day Nile Cruise
There are 2 options for sightseeing along the Nile, a luxury cruise or a basic felucca. Which one you choose depends on your travel style, and the presence of wind (hear me out!).
We tend to be pretty adventurous travellers, so opted for the felucca as it seemed like the more budget-friendly, most adventurous option. The unaccounted for hiccup to our decision was the absence of wind. And when I say absence, I mean there was absolutely NO wind whatsoever. Not even the slightest breeze. We spent 2 days spinning in circles down the Nile barely making our way past Aswan (you can read more about our disastrous felucca trip here!). In hindsight, the cruise would’ve been a better option as we would’ve at least made it from Aswan to Luxor on the Nile. However, this wasn’t to be the case for us. Hopefully we’ll save you from the same mistake!
