Budget Egypt 8 days · 7 nights

Pyramids and Nile Escape Budget Program

Aswan Cairo Giza Luxor Saqqara

Carved pylon of the Temple of Isis at Philae near Aswan

The Pyramid of Khafre, second largest of the Giza pyramids

Close view of the weathered head of the Great Sphinx of Giza

The Unfinished Obelisk lying in the ancient granite quarry at Aswan

Sunlit gateways inside the Temple of Kom Ombo beside the Nile

All 10 photos

Length: 8 days · 7 nights
Places: 5 places
Package: Private tour
Departs: Every Saturday and Wednesday
On the Nile: 3 nights

Pyramids and Nile Escape Budget Program is a private 8-day, 7-night tour that uses the sleeper train instead of flights. You see the Pyramids and Grand Egyptian Museum, ride the overnight train to Aswan, sail three nights to Luxor on the Sonesta St. George, then train back to Cairo. It departs every Saturday and Wednesday.

A lower-cost way to see Egypt's highlights: the Pyramids, Sphinx and Grand Egyptian Museum, an overnight sleeper train to Aswan, three nights on a 5-star Nile cruise to Luxor with Philae, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Karnak and the Valley of the Kings, and the train back to Cairo.

Discover Egypt's top highlights through exciting tour across the country. It is a tailor-made tour over Nile River and railways. This is a cheaper alternative to our popular Pyramids & Nile by Air. You’ll be traveling to Aswan via sleeper train. At first, in Cairo, you’ll visit the Great Pyramids of Giza. This is the place where you witness the greatness of the last standing monument of ancient seven wonders of the world. Then, travel by the sleeper train to Aswan where a luxurious cruise ship awaits you to spend three days sailing on the Nile. Be ready to explore and enjoy the sightseeing between Aswan and Luxor.

Great Pyramids of Giza, Sphinx and Valley Temple with your personal guide
Grand Egyptian Museum, then the overnight sleeper train to Aswan
Philae Temple and the Unfinished Obelisk in Aswan
Kom Ombo's twin temple and the Temple of Horus at Edfu
Karnak, Luxor Temple, Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut and Colossi of Memnon
Sleeper train back to Cairo and a free day for optional Saqqara

Where you sleep

Cairo2 nights Nile cruise3 nights Sleeper train2 nights

Day by day

Day1 Arrival in Cairo Night in Cairo

Welcome to the Land of the Pharaohs
Your tour manager will meet and assist you at Cairo International Airport (arrival procedures) and will then escort you to your hotel in Cairo in an air-conditioned deluxe vehicle. At the hotel, your tour manager will assist you with a smooth check-in and review your budget vacation itinerary with you to establish and confirm pick-up times for each tour.
Welcome drink included.
Day2 Great Pyramids of Giza, Sphinx and Grand Egyptian Museum BreakfastLunch

After enjoying a delicious wholesome breakfast at your hotel, your personal guide will take you to the Giza Plateau to start your journey by marveling at one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Great Pyramids of Giza. Visit the iconic Sphinx and Valley Temple. After your pyramid visit, you’ll go for lunch at an authentic Egyptian restaurant and then head over to the New Grand Egyptian Museum, also known as the Giza Museum, which is an archaeological museum in Giza, Egypt, about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) from the Giza pyramid complex. By evening, you will be transferred to the Giza train station to catch the sleeper train from Cairo to Aswan. Dinner and breakfast will be served on board.
Overnight on the sleeper train.
Day3 Aswan Nile Cruise Tours Night in Aswan BreakfastLunchDinner

Upon arrival at the Aswan train station, meet and assisted by a representative, then transfer to the Nile cruise ship. Enjoy lunch on board, after which you will be guided to visit the majestic Philae temple of devotion to the two goddesses Isis and Hathor, and the massive Unfinished Obelisk, still resting on its side in the stone quarries of ancient Egypt. Then, back to the cruise ship with dinner on board.
Visits: Philae Temple, Unfinished Obelisk.
Day4 Kom Ombo BreakfastLunchDinner

After breakfast on board, sailing to Kom Ombo, where you’ll encounter the twin Temple of Kom Ombo, where you’ll learn about the crocodile god Sobek and the falcon god Horus, whose monuments decorate each half of the temple. Lunch back on board the Cruise and sailing to Edfu while having a dinner on board.
Visits: Kom Ombo, Temple of Kom Ombo.
Overnight on board in Edfu.
Day5 Luxor Nile Cruise Tours Night in Luxor BreakfastLunchDinner

After breakfast, transfer to visit Horus Temple in Edfu before sailing to Luxor with lunch on board the ship. You will be transferred back to the Nile cruise ship for dinner and Belly dance show on board.
Visits: Horus Temple, Edfu.
Day6 Luxor Nile Cruise - Train to Cairo BreakfastDinner

In the early morning, enjoy a relaxed breakfast on board. Disembarkation after breakfast and start a wonderful tour to visit East Bank of the Nile in Luxor to the Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple followed by a visit to the West Bank of the River Nile in Luxor to the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut at El Deir El Bahari and the Colossi of Memnon. Later, you’ll head to the Luxor train station where the sleeper train takes off back to Cairo. Dinner will be served on board the train.
Visits: Luxor, Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, Valley of the Kings, Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, Colossi of Memnon.
Overnight on the train.
Day7 Cairo Optional Excursions Night in Cairo Breakfast

Breakfast on board the sleeper train before arriving at the Giza train station, where you will be met and assisted by representative who will transfer you to the hotel for some leisure time (early check in will be according to the hotel’s availability). There are some optional tours available in Cairo: you may like to visit the Step Pyramid of King Zoser in Sakkara and Memphis.
Optional Visits: Step Pyramid of King Zoser, Sakkara, Memphis.
Day8 Cairo: End of tour Breakfast

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel in Cairo, with some free time before your flight. After check out, you’ll be transferred to Cairo International Airport for your final departure.

During the trip, the tour guide reserves the right to adjust the itinerary if necessary due to unforeseen circumstances such as weather conditions, impassable wadis, the health or well-being of participants, or vehicle issues. These changes are made in the interest of your safety and comfort. Therefore, we kindly ask for your understanding, as the exact order of the itinerary cannot be guaranteed. However, our team and agency remain committed to covering all program highlights whenever possible.

What’s included

Included

Meet and assist at Cairo International Airport by our representatives upon arrival
Ongoing assistance from our guest relations team during stay
Transfers by air-conditioned coaches
Hotel accommodation for 2 nights in Cairo including bed and breakfast
Cruise accommodation for 3 nights on a 5-star superior Nile cruise ship, full board
Accommodation for 2 nights on sleeper train 02 ways, half board
Free Wifi is included onboard the cruise
Re-fill minbar with natural water and soft drink is included in the offer
All sightseeing as mentioned in the below program with entrance fees
All meals mentioned on the itinerary
Experienced tour guide during the tours
Meals as mentioned in the program
Daily 01 bottle of water during the tours outside of the hotel or the Nile cruise
Taxes & service charges

Not included

International flight
Egypt Entry visa
Personal expenses
Optional tours not mentioned in the program
Tips

Where you stay

Terms

Children policy

Infants up to 2 years old: free of charge.

Children from 2 to 5.99 years old: 25% of the adult price.

Children from 6 to 11.99 years old: 50% of the adult price.

Children from 12 years old: the adult price applies.

The children policy applies to children sharing their parents’ room (a maximum of one child per room). If the programme includes a flight, the child’s flight is charged.

Booking and payment

Only 25% of the total price is required on confirmation, to secure hotel rooms, cruise cabins, domestic flights and other travel services.

The rest can be paid up to two days before arrival, or in cash on arrival to your tour manager.

Tips during tours

Tipping for good service is customary in Egypt, though not mandatory. It is always appreciated and entirely at your discretion.

Cancellation policy

If you cancel, the following charges apply:

From the date of booking until 61 days before arrival: 15% of the total package price.

60 to 31 days before arrival: 35% of the total package price.

30 to 15 days before arrival: 50% of the total package price.

14 to 1 days before arrival: 100% of the total package price.

Airline charges follow the airlines’ own terms and conditions, and refunds carry a 5% bank fee. Cancellation terms may differ for group bookings, by the time of booking, or for customised itineraries.

Force majeure

Your safety comes first. If an official “Do Not Travel” advisory is issued by a government or an airline for your destination, you can choose a full refund of the tour package or, in some cases, a travel credit for any of our destinations, applied to a future booking.

Only airline cancellation or change fees, under the airline’s terms, and bank charges on the deposit apply.

Questions

Which hotels and cruise are included?

In Cairo you stay two nights with breakfast at Steigenberger Pyramids Cairo on the Golden option or Barceló Cairo Pyramids on the Silver option. The Nile cruise is the Sonesta St. George, three nights from Aswan to Luxor on full board, with free WiFi and a minibar refilled with water and soft drinks.

How long is the sleeper train journey?

The sleeper train from Cairo to Aswan takes about 14 hours and the return from Luxor to Cairo about 11 hours. Both nights on the train are included on a half-board basis, with dinner and breakfast served on board. Egyptian trains are maintained to the standards of the Egyptian Railway Authority.

Can I fly instead of taking the train?

Yes. If you would rather spend less time travelling, the package can be upgraded to domestic flights instead of the sleeper train, which take about an hour and a half. Ask us to include the flight upgrade when you request the price for your dates.

When does this tour depart?

The budget programme departs every Saturday and Wednesday, and the full itinerary runs from that departure day. If those days do not suit you, ask about our by-air version, the Pyramids and Nile Escape Program, which can be customised around other dates.

What is not included?

International flights, the Egypt entry visa, personal expenses, optional tours such as Saqqara and Memphis on day seven, and tips are not included. Transfers, guiding, entrance fees for the listed sites, the hotel, train and cruise nights, and the listed meals are included.

How do I book, and what about children?

Send us your travel dates and group size and we will price the trip for you. A 25% deposit on confirmation secures hotels and services; the balance is due up to two days before arrival, or in cash on arrival to your tour manager. Infants under 2 are free; children 2 to 5.99 pay 25% and 6 to 11.99 pay 50% when sharing their parents' room.

From our travel blog

Guides and tips about Pyramids and Nile Escape Budget Program

Best Time to Visit Egypt: A Season-by-Season Guide

October to April is the best time to visit Egypt for sightseeing. Here is what each season is like in Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and on the Red Sea, and when the crowds come.

3 min read

Panorama of the pyramids of Giza across the desert plateau near Cairo

Budget Egypt Tours: How to Cut Cost Without Cutting Sites

What actually drives the cost of an Egypt trip, and how to build a budget Egypt tour that keeps the guides and the sites but cuts the rest.

8 min read

Aerial view of the desert hills hiding the Valley of the Kings, Luxor

Family Trip to Egypt: A Parent's Planning Guide

Honest, practical advice for a family trip to Egypt: when to go, how long children can really manage at a temple, and which hotels and itineraries work.

7 min read