Egypt might seem like a clichƩ destination for your vacation, and as a backpacker, you might not feel like the country is worth visiting. But there is a reason why it is so popular among tourists. After traveling through Egypt for 2 weeks, I realized that even though there were many tourists, there is just no other place like Egypt.
Within this article, you will find everything you need to backpack through Egypt in 2 weeks. Without further ado, let's begin!
- Egypt Itinerary Map
- 2 Weeks Egypt Itinerary
- Egypt Travel Video
- Why Visit Egypt?
- When to Visit Egypt?
- How to Get to Egypt?
- How to Get Around Egypt?
- How NOT to Get Scammed?
- Is it Safe in Egypt?
- Which tourist SIM card is best for Egypt?
- What to Pack for Egypt?
- Further Reading for Egypt
Egypt Itinerary Map
| āļø Day 1-3: | Cairo |
| āļø Day 4-5: | Alexandria |
| āļø Day 6-8: | Aswan |
| āļø Day 9-11: | Luxor |
| āļø Day 12: | Fly Out of Cairo |
2 Weeks Egypt Itinerary
Day 1 - 3: Cairo (4 Days)
The first day you arrive, you will likely want to hit the ground running and check the Pyramids of Giza off your bucket list. Unfortunately, the pyramids are not in the city, so you will have to either hail a taxi, which is extremely troublesome, or book an organized tour, which I recommend for visiting the Pyramids.
The tour should take you to see all the pyramids, including the further ones like Saqqara Necropolis, etc. Be sure to check out all 3 pyramids and the Sphinx while you are there.
The second day, you can spend your time seeing the real Cairo. First, you can go to the area called Coptic Cairo, where the Coptic Christian community resides. In this area, you will find the famous Hanging Church, one of the oldest churches in Egypt, dating back to the 3rd century AD.
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Also, be sure to spend some time walking around the markets in the area, and you might find a hidden gem like I did. There was this book market tucked away from the crowds that stood out to me. With small alleyways and bookshops on both sides, you can feel the knowledge flowing into you just by walking through the market.
The Mosque of Muhammad Ali is another must-see stop in Cairo. The architecture and sheer size of the mosque will take your breath away.
From the mosque, you will also be able to see the cityscape of Cairo.
In the evening, you can also visit the famous Cairo bazaar called Khan el-Khalili. Khan el-Khalili is the main hub of trade in the historic center of Islamic Cairo. Here, you can find all kinds of souvenirs (bargain hard), or if you are not interested in shopping, this place can be a good spot for you to grab a cup of coffee and watch people.
Not to say, the bazaar itself is one hell of a photogenic place.
If you have another day in Cairo, you can visit the museum and learn more about the history of Egypt. The Grand Egyptian Museum is a must-visit if you want to see real artifacts from ancient times.
Day 4 - 5: Alexandria (2 Days)
After a few days in the bustling capital, it is a good time to visit the coastal city of Egypt, Alexandria, named after the city's founder, Alexander the Great. The city is easily reachable by buses or trains, and some people actually do a day trip from Cairo. However, I would recommend staying for 2 nights here so that you can spend 1 full day exploring this historical city.
Citadel of Qaitbay, Montaza Palace, and the Library of Alexandria are a few places you can visit while in Alexandria. You should also try out some of their seafood, for which the city is known.
Day 6 - 8: Aswan (3 Days)
From Alexandria, first you have to get yourself back to Cairo, either via buses or trains, and then you can take an overnight train across the country to Aswan.
In Aswan, you can either take a shared organized tour or a private tour to Abu Simbel, a Nubian ruin located right by the border between Sudan and Egypt. Abu Simbel is, hands down, my favorite place in Egypt. The scale of this place is best seen with your own eyes. The gigantic statues in front of the temple of Ramesses II were nothing I have ever seen in my life.
Nearby the main complex, lies another temple dedicated to Queen Nefertari - an impressive temple carved on the side of a mountain. This place reminded me of why I decided to visit Egypt. It is truly the definition of Egypt for me.
After visiting Abu Simbel, the tour should drop you back around 4 PM, just in time for a nice climb up the sand dune across the Nile to watch the sunset. In order to get across the river, you have to take a local motorboat from the pier next to the River Transport Authority. On the other side, you can either pay to go into the Tomb of the Nobles or hike up around the temple complex and go to the top of the sand dune for free. Hands down, it is the best sunset spot in Aswan.
If you have another day, you can also get a taxi and a boat to the Philae Temple and the Kalabsha Temple. Bargain hard with both the taxi and the boat. In the evening, you can rent a felucca and head out onto the Nile to enjoy a quiet evening while watching the sunset. Again, bargain hard for those feluccas. Go for half price or even lower when bargaining with them.
Day 9 - 11: Luxor (3 Days)
Coming from Aswan, you can either take a bus or a train to Luxor, which should take you no more than 4.5 hours by train and 6 hours by bus.
Luxor used to be the capital city of Ancient Egypt, which is why you will find many ancient palaces and ruins all concentrated in and around Luxor. Some places, like the Valley of the Kings and Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, are located quite far from the city.
Therefore, I would recommend going with the "Full Day Tour to East and West Banks of Luxor" tour. The tour should take you to the most famous spots of Luxor, such as the Valley of the Kings, the Alley of the Queens, Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, Medinet Habu Temple, and the Colossi of Memnon.
The tour should take you the entire day, so when you get back, you can splurge a little and enjoy a nice, delicious meal at Al-Sahaby Lane Restaurant. The camel burger from there comes highly recommended.
With its yellow, dusty landscape of the desert and all the stunning ruins scattered around the area, Luxor is one of the best and cheapest places in the world to go on a sunrise hot air balloon trip. Start your second day early with a hot air balloon tour and enjoy Luxor from above.
You can also visit the Karnak and Luxor temple, which should be easy to reach as they are located not too far from the city center. The Karnak Temple Hypostyle Hall is one of the most impressive sites in Egypt and the most visited by tourists from around the world.
The hall consists of 134 gigantic pillars lined up in 16 rows that were supposed to support a roof, now fallen. Since this place is popular among tourists, it is best that you wake up early in the morning and be the first at the gate when it opens. I had the whole hall to myself for a few minutes before people flooded in.
For Luxor temple, I would recommend visiting this temple last at sunset because the temple is best seen during sunset and at night, with all the lights illuminating the halls of the temples. It is also one of the few places that are open until late. Plus, it is easily walkable from the city center, so you can go there anytime.
Flying out of Cairo (1 Day)
From Luxor, it will take you several hours to get back to Cairo. The best and cheapest option I found was to take an overnight bus to Cairo instead of the train to save money on transportation and a night of accommodation.
Why Visit Egypt?
Egypt and its ancient culture along the Nile has captivated and amazed travelers for centuries. From the sand-covered tombs of lost civilizations to the dusty, barren desert of the Sahara, Egypt will bring out the adventurer in all of us.
You get to learn the history of Ancient Egypt, see firsthand the ruins of the pinnacle of human achievements, and act out one of your favorite scenes from the Indiana Jones movies. Now, tell me why you would not want to visit Egypt? š
When to Visit Egypt?
October to April is usually the best time to visit due to mild weather, but in my opinion, the crowds and the increase in price might ruin it for you. I would recommend shoulder seasons like June or September, where you will have the best of both worlds with fewer people, okay weather, and not too expensive.
How to Get to Egypt?
Cairo is a big city, in fact, one of the biggest in Africa, and you will have no trouble finding a flight there. But be sure to browse through Skyscanner or Expedia to find the cheapest possible flight for your trip.
How to Get Around Egypt?
Trains and buses are well-connected with tourist cities. The cheapest mode of intercity transportation I found was buses, but trains do offer a nice way of seeing the country from a different perspective.
To learn more about the train schedule, I always consulted Seat61.com's comprehensive guide to trains in Egypt.
For buses, I always go with GoBus because they are comfortable, reliable, and cheaper than the trains.
In Cairo, taxis and metros are recommended. Metros are only accessible within the main city premises, so you might be required to take a taxi to go further, such as from Cairo to the pyramids of Giza. If you are taking a taxi, hail it from the street and don't ever get in until you verify that their meter is not "broken". If you don't have much choice, say coming back from the pyramid, bargain hard and don't ever get in a taxi until you and the driver agree upon a price.
How NOT to Get Scammed?
Scamming is common in Egypt, and it is important for you to know how they do it and how you can avoid getting scammed, like I did. I have written an entire article about it, so you can read more on ways to avoid getting scammed in Egypt here.
Here are a few things to keep in mind: Everyone gets scammed at the pyramid, whether it is the taxi driver who pretends the meter is broken, a person impersonating a guard and attaching themselves to you like leeches until you pay them, people pretending to give you free stuff which is actually not free, or people starting a friendly conversation out of nowhere. So keep your eyes open and ignore any interactions that seem out of the ordinary.
If you really have no time for these scammers and would like to visit Egypt in peace, I highly recommend that you go on either a day trip or an organized tour instead. Being with a local tour guide will significantly reduce your chances of having to deal with these people, and you will be able to enjoy Egypt without any hassles.
There are several day trips you can join in Egypt from Viator or GetYourGuide. If you want to explore further, you can also go on an organized multi-day trip that will help you avoid all the unnecessary annoyances that come with visiting Egypt.
Daily Budget
This location is less expensive than most countries, but it's not exceedingly cheap. Expect to spend around $30 - $50 USD per day per person, which includes both accommodation and meals.
Please keep in mind that these are suggested daily budgets based on my own style of travel, which leans more towards the budget side of things. If you aim to stick to this budget, anticipate sleeping in dormitories, dining out only occasionally, and being comfortable with the cheapest and most convenient modes of transportation, which often involve a considerable amount of walking.
Is it Safe in Egypt?
One thing to be aware of in Egypt is scams. Scamming is very common here, and it is important for you to know how they operate and how you can avoid getting scammed, as I did.
I have written an entire article about it, so you can read more on ways to avoid getting scammed in Egypt there. That said, not all locals are out to scam you. It's just that the scammers are the loudest, most aggressive, and they always make themselves known to you the moment you arrive at a tourist attraction.
Here are a few things to keep in mind: everyone gets scammed at the pyramid, whether it be the taxi driver who pretends the meter was broken, a person impersonating a security guard taking you to where you want to go before asking for money, or people pretending to give you free stuff but then aggressively asking you to pay.
There is simply no shortage of them, and there is no way to avoid them, either. So, whenever a person comes up to have a friendly conversation with you, be extremely skeptical about it, as more often than not, they will try to scam you along the way.
Which tourist SIM card is best for Egypt?
Update: If your phone supports eSIM, I highly recommend checking out Airalo, a global eSIM marketplace. It allows you to stay connected affordably while traveling in Egypt without having to switch out your physical SIM card.
Gone are the days when you needed to scramble to find a local SIM card at an airport upon arrival. You can purchase an eSIM before your arrival, and you'll be good to go. If your phone doesn't support eSIM, here is how you can get a local SIM card in Egypt:
There are four major carriers in Egypt: Vodafone, Orange, Etisalat, and WE. All of these carriers offer a similar range of coverage and packages that are available for travelers.
I personally used Vodafone as they have a package specifically for tourists and can be easily obtained at the airport or in any Vodafone shop you find in the country. There are 2 packages available - one with 8 GB of data, 200 minutes, and 20 international minutes for 200 EGP, and another with 30 GB for 500 EGP.
The validity of these packages is 30 days and can be extended as you see fit with other packages. I recommend you get the 8 GB one, which should be more than enough for most tourists.
For more information about Egypt's local SIM card: Egypt's Prepaid Data SIM Card.
Tips: To stay connected with people at home, be sure that you have a VPN, such as ProtonVPN, installed before traveling. It's FREE, and you can gain access to services that may be blocked in certain countries.
What to Pack for Egypt?
As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to Egypt:
- Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.
- Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.
- Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi's jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.
- Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It's lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.
- Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker's towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.
- Swim Suits: A swim trunk is a must-pack item if you are planning to visit Egypt in the summer, just in case there is a body of water you can jump in.
- Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.
- Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.
- Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It's a total game-changer.
- Universal Adapter: You'll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.
- Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.
- Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It's large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it's stylish as hell!
- Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can't go wrong with Osprey.
For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.
Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to start planning your trip! Here are some resources to help you get going:
Are you planning to travel independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.
Further Reading for Egypt
I have plenty of articles to help you further with your trip planning in Egypt. Here is a selection of articles about Egypt that you might like:
- There's art in scamming people, and there's also art in avoiding them. Here is how to avoid getting scammed in Egypt.
- Home to the Giza Pyramids, Cairo is probably the first place you will be in Egypt. Other than the pyramids, there are also other things you can do too. Here are the 10 Best Things To Do in Cairo, Egypt.
- Aswan, home to the famous Abu Simbel and Philae temples, is a must-visit when you are in Egypt. Here are the 8 Best Things to Do in Aswan, Egypt.
- They don't call Luxor the land of palaces for nothing. Here are the 10 Best Things to Do in Luxor, Egypt, including all the temples and tourist attractions you shouldn't miss.
- My praise of Egypt isn't convincing? Why not let photos tell the story. Check out 22 photos that will inspire you to visit Egypt.
- You can also watch my travel video here: The Only Egypt We Have.
- To see all articles about Egypt, visit the Egypt Travel Guide page.
- Looking for more travel guides for the Middle East? You can find more on my Middle East Travel Guide page.
- For more of my travel guides, visit my Destinations page.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.
16 Comments
i'd like to go solo, in oct or nov 2022. i'm hoping they'll have some events planned for the 100th anniv. of tut's tomb. any suggestions for a hotel that is female friendly and quiet? maybe with ac and or a pool?
Hey Tegan,
That will depend on which places you are planning to go. I have only stayed in hostels and cheap hotels in Egypt so I have no real world experience when it comes to good hotels there. That said, I found that I can always rely on booking.com for hotel suggestion almost anywhere in the world so be sure to check their listings out.
Sorry, can't be much help here.
when was this blog written? (for reference on my assignment)
Hey Geraldine,
It was first published in 2019 with continuous updates and so on but I took the trip in 2015. I hope this helps!
Your travel blogs are truly helpful because they always contain the information that I would need. I avoided Egypt before because I was scared of the scams and robberies that were prominent on the news before. as I travel alone. But I have long held a fascination for Egypt and hope that I can take that trip one of these days. Thank you it was comprehensive.
Hey Maria, it was definitely challenging at times but there is no other place out there quite like Egypt and I considered it part of the Egypt experience. š As long as you have that reality in mind, you should be able to enjoy Egypt as I did. I expected nothing less from scammers there haha.
Hey! I was wondering where did u get the currency exchanged (EGP) ? Was it after you landed at the Cairo Airport? Do they offer good rates or is it not satisfactory and hence, better to exchange it in the city somewhere?
Please help with recommendations. Iām travelling this 11th
I personally relied on ATMs when I was there but if you want to exchange cash, it is always a good idea to exchange it where the locals do which is mostly at local banks in Cairo City. I would recommend you check out the exchange rate of each bank here and use them to gauge whether you are getting a good deal or not first.
Better yet, it's best to exchange it where you live before arriving so that you can see what you are getting beforehand. Always try to avoid exchanging it at the airport. The fees are horrible.
I hope this helps.
Wow I love the information you have shared.Egypt is a must go to for me.i will go solo I am a but worried but it would be worth it
It's definitely worth it. There is no place quite like it.