2 Perfect Weeks in Egypt: Planning Your own Egypt Vacation
If Egypt isn’t on your must-see list then you, my friend, are crazy. Seriously though, because my Egypt vacation was amazing; it was of the coolest travel experiences I’ve ever had and I would say that Egypt is now one of my favourite places (take a peek at my quick video below showing the highlights of my 2 weeks in Egypt itinerary and you’ll quickly understand why).
I finally, and I do mean finally, got to Egypt in November of 2017. It had been a dream destination of my brother’s and mine since we were kids, and we actually tried to go once before. However, that was in 2012, not long after the revolution and when everything was still up in the air. So we cancelled, and ended up losing over $1000CAD each in the process. Not one of my finest travel moments.
But, now that I have been, I can’t help but think it was a good thing. Our original Egypt vacation was supposed to be a guided tour, which sounded great but was expensive and limiting. Our actual vacation we planned by ourselves, did what we wanted, and it didn’t cost us a fortune. Oh, and both of us felt welcome and safe in the country the whole time.
Sound like a good plan? I think so too, which is why I’m going to break down how to plan an epic 2 week Egypt itinerary on your own, so you too can experience the magic of one of my favourite countries.
The Best Time to Visit Egypt
Egypt is a year round destination, but unless you absolutely love the heat you probably don’t want to go between May and September as the temperatures rise up over 40 degrees Celsius. December to April is high season, with Christmas and Easter being some of the busiest times. We went in November which wasn’t yet high season but had cooler (around 25 degrees C) temperatures. That being said, it still got really hot mid-day, so plan to explore or book your tours during the morning before the mid-day heat.
Egypt Visa Requirements and Money
First things first, most people will need an Egyptian Visa. As Canadians, we could get ours on arrival or we could apply for it head of time. Hoping to save ourselves some time and money, we thought we would do it in advance. That plan backfired when we misunderstood the instructions and thought we could get it same day when they actually needed over a week. Oops.
Thankfully, this was actually a good thing as we saved ourselves a lot of money. Applying in advance was going to cost us about $50USD each, getting it at the airport was $25USD and only took a couple of minutes. I just had to hand over my passport and the cash. Easy peasy lemon squeezy. Or something like that.
Speaking of USD, you will want to bring some with you. American dollars are widely accepted across Egypt, especially when it comes to tours. However, you will need Egyptian money as well as it will likely be what you end up using the most. Egyptian pounds are best for tips, shopping at the markets, taxis, food…pretty much everything.
I usually recommend not getting local currencies in advance because the exchange rates are so much better if you get the money direct from ATMs in the host country, but Egypt and my bank card did not get along. At all. I actually had to withdraw cash from my visa a couple of times which landed me interest fees, even though I paid it off asap. Moral of the story; consider getting some Egyptian pounds ahead of time and bring some backup USD just in case. Credit cards are accepted at most hotels, but are not commonly used in restaurants or local shops.
Ps: Looking for a great travel credit card? Here’s why I love my amex platinum.
2 Weeks in Egypt: Book Tours and Accommodation in Advance
If you listen to one of my tips, make it this one: book things in advance. Why? You will save yourself time, hassle, and money. Everywhere we went in Egypt, everyone just happened to be a tour guide for hire. Amazing! Sadly, many of them were hard to understand and not professionals. Let’s be honest, if you are coming to see Egypt and the historic temples, you want a pro who’s going to tell the stories and point out the details. The random guys you met in the street selling their services just aren’t going to cut it.
I booked all of our tours in advance, mostly through Get Your Guide which I know uses reliable and trusted local professionals. They didn’t disappoint.
Check professional guided day tours in Egypt here
Another reason why I suggest booking in advance is that you pay upfront, meaning no added fees will be tacked on. We met a few fellow travellers who were told a rate when they inquired, only to find it had increased significantly by the time they arrived.
The same goes for hotels and taxis, especially at airports. Do yourself a favour and book your hotel in advance and choose one that offers a pickup service. Trust me when I say it’s worth the extra dollar or two (or, it might actually save you money if you’re not a great haggler) and avoids a lot of stress.
I recommend using booking.com for accommodation; I’ve always found it trustworthy and reliable, plus most properties will allow you to cancel without losing your money if something comes up.
2 Weeks in Egypt: Pack Appropriately
Travellers to Egypt need to pack smart, especially the women. Egypt is hot, and can be roasting during the day. But, you also need to be respectful and cover up. I wrote a packing guide to Egypt for women with suggestions on what to bring based on what worked well for me.
All travellers should also make sure to bring plenty of sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, and bug spray (the mosquitos are awful- and this is coming from a Canadian who spends her summers in the bush). A little medicine kit is always a good idea as well, make sure to bring some Imodium or even a prescription anti-biotic in case of any stomach problems. My brother and I both fell victim to what we think was contaminated ice cubes. Let’s just say it wasn’t pretty.
2 Weeks in Egypt: My Egypt Itinerary
Over the course of two weeks, my brother and I managed to explore Egypt’s most famous temples and sites as well as spend a few days relaxing and scuba diving in the Red Sea. Given the feedback and questions I have received since; this is kind of the ‘ideal’ itinerary for most travellers interested in combining history with a beach break. If that’s what you are looking to do, here is what I suggest:
Day 1: Arrive Cairo
What time you arrive in Cairo depends on where you are coming from; we arrived at 9pm meaning our first day involved checking into our accommodation, having much needed showers after 14+ hours of travel, and climbing into our beds.
Where you stay in Cairo kind of depends on what you want to do and see. If you are really only interested in the Pyramids, then you may as well stay in Giza. If you want to explore more, stay in Cairo itself. It is hectic, and chaotic but there are some cool parts of the city to see. Choose a hotel in downtown Cairo to be closer to the main attractions.
Day 2-3: Cairo
I’m not going to lie; Cairo isn’t great, even the Egyptians say so. So don’t spend longer than you need to here. That being said, it is kind of a must for two main reasons: to see the Great Pyramids of Giza and to explore the Egyptian Museum. In 2023 the Grand Museum of Egypt is opening in Giza, near the Pyramids. This huge museum has been years in the making and has more space (and better presentation) than the previous museum located in Cairo. You can combine visiting the pyramids and the museum in one day.
For day three, choose to visit Old Cairo where you can explore the massive Khan El-Khalili bazaar and look at some of the beautiful mosques and architecture. Or, you can head to Alexandria for a day to explore the historic Mediterranean city.
Do yourself a favour and spend the money on a professional guided tour with pickup/drop off for the pyramids. It will make your life so much easier and you’ll learn more than visiting on your own.
We used this private tour to see the Pyramids and the Sphinx
Day 4: Luxor
Fly from Cairo to Luxor, which only takes a little over an hour. Luxor is much smaller and quieter than Cairo so you don’t have to worry about crowds and traffic as much. Spend your afternoon exploring the city; check out the bazaar, and go to the light and sound show at Karnak Temple. Don’t stay up too late though, because you really should book a hot air balloon flight over the Valley of the Kings for the following morning. It’s a once in a lifetime experience and absolutely worth getting up early for.
Book the sound and light show at Karnak Temple here
Day 5-9: Nile Cruise from Luxor to Aswan
Based on our research, a five day Nile cruise (which included accommodation, transportation, all meals, and a private professional guide), was the best ‘bang for our buck’. It was busy but without a doubt, the Nile Cruise was my favourite part of my 2 weeks in Egypt.
The cruise excursions start around 8am, so you will have time to get back from the hot air balloon ride and have breakfast before you start. For the five-day cruise, like I did, you will explore Luxor, Edfu, and Aswan. Included in the cruise itinerary are the following sites:
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- Valley of the Kings (entry to 3 royal tombs) and Queen Hatshepsut’s temple
- Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple
- Edfu (Horus Temple) and Kom Ombo (Sobek and Horus temple)
- High Dam, Philae Temples
- You will also have the option to visit the Nubian village and Abu Simbel Temple. These are not included in the Nile cruise but are definitely worth adding on. Note that Abu Simbel is a three-hour drive from Aswan and it gets very hot and very busy. The earlier you leave, the better so while getting up at 4am seems horrible at the time, you will be thankful for the early start once you arrive.
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While having all these tours, accommodation, meals, and transportation taken care of for you is a huge benefit, one of the biggest highlights of choosing to do a Nile Cruise rather than planning it all yourself is that you also get to enjoy the scenic cruising down the Nile River, which is absolutely beautiful. We did our tours in the morning and were back in time for lunch to relax and lounge under the umbrellas on the sun deck.
Once your Nile Cruise is over (usually early afternoon on the final day) head to the airport to catch a flight to one of Egypt’s best beach destinations.
Read my post as to why a Nile cruise really is the best deal!
*There are a number of popular cruise lines that offer Nile Cruises. I like to book through Get Your Guide which works with smaller, local, but reputable and trustworthy providers. You can take a look some of these options if you would like to do the same.
Day 10-13: Hit the Beaches
After days of exploring temples and tombs it is time to relax by the sea. Whether you are looking for some scuba diving or just want to soak up the sun, Egypt has some amazing resort areas to choose from. A few days in one of these spots is the idea way to end your 2 weeks in Egypt.
We chose to stay in Dahab for some scuba diving based on a recommendation from my buddy Justin who has spent a lot of time diving in Egypt. Dahab is a cool beach town popular with divers and those looking for a place to just chill, in fact I’ve been back twice more since my original Egypt trip because I love the diving here so much.
To get to Dahab you need to fly into Sharm El Sheikh airport then take a one-hour car ride. Most hotels will offer you an airport pick-up service. I highly recommend booking that rather than trying to deal with taxi drivers on arrival.
For scuba diving in Dahab, my go-to shop is Red Sea Tribe. They are absolutely fantastic and I’ve been using them for my past couple of visits.
Two other popular beach destinations are Sharm El Shiekh and Hurghada. I can’t speak from personal experience for either, but from my understanding both are bigger, busier, and more resort-based than Dabab. Water sports, including scuba diving and snorkeling, are popular at both.
Day 14: Depart from Cairo
After 2 weeks in Egypt, your time here has come to an end. Hopefully your trip will be as amazing as ours. Last minute tips: Cairo airport is located quite a bit away from the city, so if you have an early morning flight, fly back into Cairo the night before and choose a hotel close to the airport.
Getting Around/ Transportation in Egypt
Egypt is pretty big, so if you are planning on visiting the main temples and sites, you better do some advance planning. Most people tend to think that the sleeper train is the best idea as it covers transportation and accommodation, but more than one traveller has had a problem trying to get tickets to the train. Plus, based on our research, the train was actually just as expensive, if not more expensive, than a flight. We opted to save on time and used Egypt Air flights to get around. It was safe, comfortable, and on time. Plus, they give our really good mango juice and cookies which is always a win. Book your flights in advance to get the best deal.
When it comes to ground transportation, again try to choose accommodation that offers a pickup service. Having a trusted driver who isn’t out to hassle you makes a huge difference. If you do need to take a taxi, take a proper taxi. Don’t just get in though, make sure they will use the meter or agree on a price ahead of time. It’s also a good idea to have your address in Arabic as not all of the drivers understand English.
Final Tips For 2 Weeks in Egypt
- Egypt is an amazing destination, and my brother and I both felt very safe and welcome during our two-week visit. However, as with everywhere else in the world, it is important to be mindful of your surroundings and respectful of the local culture.
- Tipping is common and expected, for everything from toilet attendants to tour guides. Remember tips are a huge part of Egyptian’s income. We tipped guides 100 Egyptian pounds for half day tours, and gave the drivers 75. Food and taxis we usually gave 20-50 Egyptian pounds and bathroom attendants got 5. These amounts seemed to be fine and appreciated by all.
- Haggling is expected; so do it. You will pay more than locals, but you can still get some great deals. Smile and be friendly while bartering, and don’t express interest in things you aren’t truly interested in.
- Egypt has some great souvenirs; cartouche necklaces with your name in hieroglyphics, alabaster statues, papyrus, and perfumes or oils. Of course quality differs, with many fake items being sold in the streets. If you are looking for something specific, ask at your hotel or your tour guide for advice. Know that they will probably make a (small) commission off your purchase, but it’s better than ending up with a banana leaf painting instead of papyrus!
- When it comes time to book a Nile cruise, do your research. Some are proper cruise ships while the cheap options are feluccas which are only for the adventurous; they usually don’t have toilets and involve sleeping on the deck.
- Internet in Egypt can be unreliable so again I recommend booking and planning in advance!
- Dress respectfully. This is especially important for women. Take a look at my guide on what to wear in Egypt for my tips.
Ready to Book Your Trip?
Don’t forget travel insurance!
Please do not travel without travel insurance! I’ve had to use it multiple times throughout my travels and it has saved me thousands of dollars. You can learn more about travel insurance here. If you are looking for a provider I love and recommend SafetyWing. For Canadian readers, take a look at SoNomad.
Book your accommodation
I love and recommend booking.com for accommodation. They have a range of hostels, guesthouses, hotels, and resorts. Plus, the platform has a great loyalty program that means the more you book, the more you can save.
Book your tours
My go-to tour provider that I love to recommend is GetYourGuide. They have options all over the world and partner with local companies for everything from day trips to food experiences and even airport transfers.
Get connected
If you want to have data while travelling for online maps or any other needs, an esim is one of the easiest solutions. I’m a big fan of Airalo and have used their sim cards around the world from Brazil to Uzbekistan, Greece to the USA. It’s really easy- you download the app, pick what country you want an esim for, and after you purchase it follow the installation instructions. You can use promo code HANNAH3326 to save $3USD on your next esim purchase.
Not sure what to pack?
I have destination-specific guides for some countries but you can also check my travel essentials and camera gear if you are looking for some ideas.
Looking for a travel buddy?
Check out my group trips!
I would love to see the Pyramids! And a visit to the museum will be the best thing ever for the kids. Thank you for the tips!
I’m not a big museum person but that one is THE COOLEST!
So good to read a recent post about Egypt, and get an up to date feel of it. It’s definitely right up there on my bucket list, and so glad its tourism is coming back!
Yeah, I feel like so many people have knocked it off their list these past few years. Its honestly amazing though
What a fantastic guide! You really dug into the details, which is super helpful. Hopefully I’ll get to Egypt in the future and no doubt I’ll be back to reference this guide! Thanks for all the info 🙂
I hope you get there, it’s amazing!
This was such an informative and helpful post! I like how you split your time between lots of different areas, it looks like you had a really well-rounded trip. We haven’t been to Egypt yet, but I’m saving this for when we do. 🙂
Theres so much to see! We were definitely busy but the few days at Dahab at the end was good for a bit of relaxing before we went home.
This guide is really good! Egypt is totally on my bucket list, and this will be helpful to reference to when the time comes. Thanks!
Glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Thanks for sharing this post, this is really very nice and amazing. Egypt is next on my bucket list and I will share my experience of it like the way you have done.
I only spent a few days in Cairo when I was there for work, now would like to go back to explore some more. Very helpful post!
Yes! I enjoyed the rest of the country so much more. Not a Cairo fan at all.
Loads of great ideas and it is so good to know you feel safe. We’re not used to booking things in advance and doing lots of tours, but we are slowly realising that sometimes that is the way to do it! Thanks for some great ideas.
Not normally my style either but it was much easier and stress free to do it here!
I usually prefer to wing it but I’m so glad we arranged things in advance. Saved on time, money, and a lot of stress
I was in Egypt many years ago and this brought back good memories of a beautiful trip.
Glad to hear 🙂
That’s one of the greatest travel guides I have read about Egypt, well done! I never thought that you can actually spend that much amount of time in Egypt as most people barely stay for one week but seems quite interesting!
Thanks! I honestly could have stayed longer. There are so many more temples that are a little further out and quite a few more amazing beach and dive destinations
What an amazing adventure! Egypt has long been at the top of my travel list, but every time I think now I want to go, something bad always happens there. I’m happy to hear that you felt safe the entire time and that you arranged everything yourself (which is how I like to travel). Let’s see if I have enough vacation time saved up for a trip this November.
haha I’ll cross my fingers for you! It really is awesome.
[…] Plan your own DIY Two Week Vacation to Egypt […]
[…] Plan your own DIY two week Egypt Vacation […]
Super helpful post – I’d love to go to Egypt! One of my best friends has roots there, but somehow never managed to go and visit her family together!! I just wanna spend time in Cairo and get lost in the buzz!
Cairo definitely has lots of buzz! But make sure to get out of the city too!
[…] Islands to the shipwrecks in the Philippines, Komodo National Park in Indonesia to the Red Sea in Egypt, I’ve loved it all. But, while I absolutely love the diving part of it, there is one part that of […]
[…] my own ‘advice’ backfired on me in Egypt when none of the ATMs in the airport would accept my bank card and I was left having to withdraw a […]
[…] the planning stages of my trip to Egypt, a Nile cruise wasn’t on my radar. I was planning a DIY 2 Week Egypt Vacation on a budget and, in my head, a cruise wasn’t going to fit into that budget. Yet as I researched […]
If we are not looking for luxury, what kind of budget do you think we should prepare for for a 2 week vacation in Egypt? Just a ball park estimate is what I am looking for as it would differ from person to person and family to family. Thanks for your help. The article is really in nice details to help plan for the trip.
I think we ended up spending about $1200 (CAD) each for the two weeks (not including Canada-Egypt flights). By no means luxury, but we did scuba dive for 3 days, do the hot air balloon ride, and do the Nile cruise (though at $300CAD each for 5 days, that was a steal!)
Did you book your flight and hotel together? I am trying to do this trip next year for two weeks and I’m just trying to get my budget (USD) and accommodations Together. I will definitely use that tour guide site. I’m a little scared of scuba diving so I’d have to find something else to do at the beach lol. If i do book together where would you recommend me staying? Giza? I’m more interested in the architectures.
Nope- I booked everything separate on my own. Just checked booking.com for top rated hotels within my budget and went that route 🙂 I didn’t stay in Giza so I can’t recommend anything specific there but check ratings and reviews. As for beaches- Dahab is a cool place to just hang out too and they have some desert adventures of snorkelling if you might like that.
Thank you so much! I have a few more questions (for now lol), how far in advance did you book everything? Also where did you stay in Cairo ? And Dahab? I apologize for asking for many questions i don’t know anyone who’s been to Egypt before lol
In Cairo we stayed in a hostel called Freedom Hostel and in Dahab we stayed next to our dive shop at Acacia Hotel. Booked everything maybe a month or so in advance? We went in November so it wasn’t high season either. PS if you have more questions feel free to email me via the contact page. I get it faster then here 🙂
[…] Plan your own DIY two week Egypt Vacation […]
[…] thinking about where I could go. Which led me to think maybe the Middle East again since I loved Egypt so much last year. I ended up partnering with an Israeli tour company called Abraham Tours who took […]
Thanks for this post!
You’re welcome 🙂
[…] workforce and the women stay at home. Thankfully, I could rely a bit on last years’ experience in Egypt to help me figure out what to pack and I’m happy to say that I chose wisely. So, for any other […]
Hi Hannah, question for you. The flights from Cairo to Luxor and to the beaches did you book those prior to arrival?? What would be an average budget for this trip?
Your post is very informative, thank you
I booked flights in advance. One ended up being a bit pricey (Over $200CAD one way) but the rest were around $100CAD each. I definitely booked in advance. Not super cheap but I figured it was worth it considering how much time it saved us. We flew with Egypt Air and I actually really liked them for a small flight service.
Hi
Thank you for the detailed DIY Egypt write up. I would like to know which company did you buy your insurance from? Many companies mentioned the Canadian Travel Advisory for Egypt. Now it doesn’t mention Cairo. It said to exercise extreme caution for Hurgada, Sheik el-Shaim, Luxor to Aswan. Have you encountered this when you travelled?
I’m Canadian and in the past took a chance and didn’t buy travel or medical insurance when I travelled with my parents but now they are over 70s, I need to reconsider this matter. Thanks
I actually go through my bank (RBC) for insurance. Might be worth taking a look?
Thanks Hannah.
You’re welcome!
[…] gone swimming with whales in Tonga, I’ve taken a hot air balloon ride over Luxor when in Egypt, I’ve camped under the stars in the Sahara Desert, and I even stayed at a castle in Ireland. […]
Hello Hannah
Great work on this post ,really it’s very interesting to read from top to the bottom , I’m Mostafa Alsamman _ Egyptian I own website for organizing tours in Egypt _ I’d like to use or refer to your post on my site because it’s really great, organized and interesting work , I’m looking for your response and may we can co-op together one day
Hi Mostafa,
Thank you for the kind words but please do not copy my content onto your site. It is copyrighted under my brand. I do offer services as a freelance writer if you are looking to hire someone for blog posts. If that’s of interest feel free to email me at: hannah@eatsleepbreathetravel.com
Great tips. I am going to use some of this info for my upcoming Egypt trip planning.
Glad to help!
Overall, this was spot on. I lived in Egypt for 4years, having recently returned to the US. I loved my Nile cruise and Dahab is my favorite place in earth. My only comment is to your “Cairo sucks” statement. Lile any major metropolitan area, if you know your way around, Cairo is an amazing city. Zamalek island is worthy of exploring. Maadi is a wonderful area of Cairo with a vibrant night life. So much more. But if all you see is what you can view driving from one tourist site to another, then I understand how one can think Cairo sucks. Personally, I love Cairo. Enough to have travelled back there last summer during the height of the pandemic.
I’m sure if you took the time to really dig in and explore it would be better. But it was the least exciting part of my trip. I feel like maybe it could be have been better if I wasn’t approached every 2 steps by someone wanting to be my guide or sell me something too. That got really frustrating for me. So based on my personal experience, I think with only 2 weeks in Egypt people should get in and out of Cairo as quickly as possible because other places- like the Nile Cruise and Dahab- are just so incredible I would recommend spending more time there.
Hello! I want to visit the same places you did but I had a question in regards to where the Nile cruise ends/ where did you fly from to sharm el sheikh?
We started in Luxor and ended in Aswan. Then from Aswan we flew to Sharm el Sheikh and went to Dahab from there.
What do you suggest if we only have 8 days. What would you leave out from this. We are going in April 2022.
The Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan is without a doubt the highlight. So make sure to get that in. There are different lengths of cruises so choose one to best suit your itinerary. 1 Day in Cairo to see the pyramids and explore a bit will be enough for this short trip (do it at the beginning, because it just gets better from there). If you have time to add on Abu Simbel while in Aswan, do it!
Hi! Great summary.
After the Nile cruise is the last stop Aswan? Or does the tour take you back to a starting point?
I am looking at planning the cruise but would like to end up on the coast near Marsa Alam or Hurghada. Any suggestions on best way and also budget friendly ways to get to the coast after the Nile cruise?
Also have you heard much about the diving/snorkelling with Dolphins in Egypt? Also best spots to do this in?
Some Nile Cruises end in Aswan and some can take you back up to Luxor where you started. Depends on the length of the cruise. As for the coast, depends on where. We went to Dahab in Sinai and flew to Sharm then got a taxi to Dahab. If you book early the flight can be quite inexpensive. If you want to go to Hurghada then you’ll need to travel by land. I didn’t go there so I can’t comment.
Dolphins are most commonly seen in Hurghada and Sharm based on what I’ve heard from friends. I didn’t see any in Dahab.
Hello! This is great advice as I plan trip in 2023 and it looks to be still very relevant. I am having trouble finding a Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan. Do you know what company you used or how you found it? Thanks.
I booked from Get your guide, I linked a couple options in this post with cruises they offer.