Indian Family's Luxury Egypt visit On A medium Budget
We are Indian family living in Kuwait.When we decided to go a trip in Egypt, we were determined to have a luxurious vacation on this historical land. But we were decided to do it on a low cost as possible too. As we began planning a week Egypt itinerary and estimating prices, we understand that there was only a negligible difference in price between quite luxurious vacation in Egypt and on a low budget trip.
Family of four, including 2 kids needs lots of detailing in searching prices. Kids more than 12 years is considered as an adult as per travel documents.In my case my daughter is just crossed 12. But still we managed to get good deals.We began discovering some great deals, which would allow for an incredible trip to Egypt on a budget. Kuwait dinar is fairly strong and is respected.A devaluation of the Egyptian Pound only further helped to make the country a fantastic value. Before in 2014, a Kuwaiti dinar is equal to about 20 EP, Now its about 60 EP.
Start with Sky scanner
We started our search with sky scanner, its a great website. But we never booked from that site. Reason,got lower prices at the last moments.
I got a return ticket for 60 KWD( around 12200 RS) From India less than 20 thousand Rupees is possible if you search a lot. From Kuwait,i got attractive deal while searching in skyscanner. A total 240 KD for a family of 4. This airfare is included one domestic flight plus two international flights. I will reveal the tips to reduce the costs.
If you are staying any western country and returning to India you can opt a 24 hr stop over without any extra cost of accomadation or food. Egypt air will provide this and you will be free for that much time which is quite enough for a visit to the great pyramids and Museaums..
Timing: avoid hot summer. In Egypt its scorching hot as well as s long holidays for schools as other arab contrives. ticket rate will be very high. Avoid Christmas vacation and January. Cold and holidays make high tourist influx. Rates are too high again. Airfare and hotel rates will be cool down from February. February to early March is ideal as weather changes into a small spring season with good pleasant atmosphere. But iI could not select that time because my kids having exam in early March. But,Still 2nd half of March providing a small 2 week vacation for schools in Kuwait.
Egypt Budget Week Itinerary
We managed to plan a luxury Egypt week itinerary for a budget of about 150 KD (30 Thousand INR) per person. This budget includes all expenses, accounting for everything from bottled waters and tipping the bathroom attendant, to an entire luxury Nile River cruise, 5-star hotel in Luxor, and 3 star Cairo. It’s pretty incredible how far your money can stretch in Egypt!
This article is based on some observations of
We now want to share all of our tips and strategies to show exactly how you can afford these luxuries in Egypt on a small budjet
Here’s Why Indians Consider Combining low budget trip to Egypt with a pinch of Luxury
Everybody asked me before and after the our trip some universal questions. How much it cost? Was it any kind of package? How about travel planning, pick up from airport or separate tours to the sites? Is it safe for kids? What in the case of emergency? Who will take care about our trips? I Cant answer all this questions now, but as you read on, you will understand it. Although relatively inexpensive, Egypt can be a notoriously difficult country to travel in, particularly during summer months. You will encounter extreme heat, some of the most persistent touts we’ve encountered, and the need to haggle hard over just about everything. It’s unlike anywhere else in the Middle East we’ve traveled to and it can all become exhausting!
Prices in Egypt are such that it can be very affordable to make yourself much more comfortable than in this land. So we strongly urge you to do just that. We found that stepping up your comfort level and doing a little planning can often make the difference between an enjoyable trip to Egypt and a miserable one.
If you are single male you can choose a backpacking trip. Backpacker accommodation in Egypt can be pretty good throughout the country. Lots of Westerners doing it.If I were alone or without my kids ,I will add a trip to a sea side resort. It was absolutely heavenly to be able to unwind in such a relaxed environment as a Red Sea resort, snorkeling by day and sipping beers by night. For family, things are little different, but when you can stay at a 4-star resort at prices that are less than the cost of a hostel bed in many places around the world, Egypt is lucrative,
(starting at KD 12 per person per night), and includes all of your meals and even sometimes unlimited alcoholic drinks. Beer seems very cheaper there.
Do it yourself
Best way i found is combining two styles of travelling. Most people’s travel style seems to be firmly planted as either backpacking independent travelers or those who prefer packaged tours with luxury. But it doesn’t have to be one or the other. We’ve found that Egypt can actually be a perfect place to combinr these two mindsets together for a fantastic semi-DIY trip to Egypt, incorporating the best of both worlds and maximizing value!
Add on for bachelors.
A week of touring around ancient Egypt’s many sites and the sheer craziness of Cairo,you may add some spice in your tour. Visit a resort in Redsea is the best idea. Our tour was great and it is filled with touring all of those famous pyramids, temples, and museums, you may grow exhausted. Especialy for children.So we recommend trading in those ancient sites to instead explore some of Egypt’s natural wonders in the underwater world. for that you have to travel to Hughada or Sharm al sheikh.The Red Sea beaches provide a wonderful contrast to the first week’s intensive touring. We avoided Alexandria,because of some obvious reasons.
Right now is truly a special time to travel to Egypt. The jasmin revolution and unrest subsided. Tourism industry is waking up. Not only are the prices low, but so are the tourist crowds that once swarmed the county’s most notable sites. Today you can visit the Great Pyramids and have them nearly all to yourself to enjoy. It’s absolutely incredible!
So come take an in-depth look to see how to have a little luxury while travelling Egypt on a budget of KD 150 (INR 32000) per person during one week itinerary in Egypt.A two week extension will cost only near 50 KD in additional.
Sample Egypt Itinerary
For One week
This Egypt itinerary is almost exactly what we followed ourselves. we did maximum time conservation.The only difference between our exact trip and our recommendation here, is that we advise traveling to and unwind at Hurghada Red Sea resort
- Day 1: Arrive into Luxor in the early morning.
- Our tour operator sent a guide and Mini van for first day adventures in the west bank of Luxor. then before lunch begin embark Nile Cruise. Afternoon and night- relax .overnight in Cruise
- Day 2: Nile Cruise,Edfu and Kom Ombo(overnight in Cruise)
- Day 3: Nile Cruise to Aswan-early monrnig trop to Abu simbel. afternoon trip to Philae temple. (overnight in Cruise)
- Day 4: Book train ticket to Luxor. Reach luxor by 11 am. Check in your Hotel. If intersted, sight seeing around Luxor and Karnak temple
- Day 5: Ralax in hotel,using swimming pool. Evening visit to Luxor temple and Karnak temple
- Day 5: Morning Fly to Cairo, visit Egyptian museam on the way to Hotel at Giza. Check in and Tour Pyramids of Giza. spent time to watch EveningLight and sound show at 7 pm. Do shopping.
- Day 6: take wonderful photos in early morning at Pyramids, Check out Depart Egypt
A few minor tweaks to this two week Egypt itinerary that you may want to consider incorporating are:
- Add an extra day in Aswan to make the journey to Abu Simbel (which tends to be a highlight of Egypt for many).
- Add an extra day in Giza/Cairo to explore additional sites such as the pyramids around Saqqara.
- Consider extra day in Luxor to exlore more in this ancient city.
- Do it in reverse! If so, we’d recommend a reverse tour after considering the availability of flights an its lowest prices.
Extension of tour (total 2 weeks)
- 1 week at redsea resort,travel to Hughada or Sharm al sheikh.
How to cut cost in air ticket
Most of the people think Cairo is the main point of entry and easy to explore from there. But if you want to cut cost, divide your trip and consider Luxor as starting point and Cairo is the finishing point. Use multi city booking instead of two way tickets. This option is easily searched from the site Skyscanner. try different forms of timings and combination of flights. I my case I got a very low priced ticket from Kuwait to Luxor and Luxor to Kuwait. I gone for the extreme,that our return flight has a special feature. I selected a flight with long stopover at Cairo,more than 24 hours. Like this, if you choose one,In this 24 hours you will get sufficient time to explore Cairo. Bear in mind that dates your cruise trip should be coincided with the flights timings. After identifying suitable flights in sky scanner you can try in different websites for further bargaining on flight booking. In our case Egypt Air provided the best timings as well as cost. A 3 way ticket from Kuwait cost only 56 KD( 12500 INR) per person.
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| Nile River, and its cultivating banks run through Sahara Desert. |
Luxor to Aswan 4-Day cruise and costs
Best option to book a cruise by a great website called Viator, a subsidiary by TripAdvisor. If you booked , they will take care about the cruise and individual tour operators.Actually Viator integrates many tour companies and cruises. We don't another to select a best cruise or best rate. all they will decide in reasonable rate. If you attempt to bargain separate tour companies, time and phone call will make a miserable feeling. If one boat is not available they will take care to accommodate in any other boats. So first 4 days are booked for us dollar 250 per person for entire 4 day trip including cruise,food and tours. Once you booked, Viator will give our names to some tour company and they will contact you by mail and phone calls.In our case it was Middle East tour company. if you have some guts you may further try an independent bargaining with other tour companies.
Once you get on board your Nile cruise, travel will become much easier, as the next several days are completely planned out for you, so you won’t have to worry about a thing. Just get on the ship and enjoy!
Day 1: Our flight from Kuwait was at 4:05 Am and arrived on correct time at Luxor airport at 5.50 Am. We had a good breakfast on flight. We used airport washroom to freshen up. Our tour company guide and driver were awaiting to take us to the West bank, to start early as possible. We got a small problem of Egyptian Money as there is no money exchange opened at Luxor Airport. The private exchanges in town will be open before 8 am. So our guide helped us and given an loan of EP 1000. I agreed to return the money after our visits and when banks are open. We crossed a bridge across the Nile river and driver stopped near to a village to buy some sandwich for himself. Our guide took us to the valley of Kings, and the Colossi Memnon and Temple of Queens. He stopped in between to some kind of a factory of stoneware making. The factory owner gave generous amount of black tea/ fruit juice and that enjoyed by kids.But we are not in a mood of shopping and after 15 minutes, we said goodbye to the shop keeper. Temple of Hatshput was a magnificent sight. First incidence of cheating happened here.We bought a half liter of drinking water at a shop inside temple of Queen's compound. Spent 20 EP for that. Later we found that the same amount is enough for 4 one litre big bottles in Luxor town.
If you attempt like us,No need to worry about the luggage while visiting the temples. It will be safe in your van. My advice is just click a photo of driver or registration Number of your van. This will be helpful to find the van later .Before embarking the cruise We visited Luxor town and to a bank for money exchange and bought some water bottles. Bid farewell to guide and driver with some tips for the services. We get checked in to our Nile River cruise about 12 15.pm. Its a five star cruise but a different having a name (M/s Gezelle) than we got informed. Its a 5 star cruise with 5 star facilities.Have wonderful lunch and settle into our room. Ship began its sailing about 1.30 when we are busy with eating our luxurious Lunch. Full afternoon is ours for relaxation. We got two adjacent rooms at 2nd floor, each for kids and Parents. Kids were happy to see the TV with their favorite channels. After a good nap we went to upper deck to see the and watched for a Nile sunset. Then attended dinner at basement floor(Below water level) and dancing at banquet hall and bar at ground level.
We passed Esna on a full moon day. Super feelings to watch the lock crossing from the upper deck. We spent some time in the deck lying on the chairs only to stare at stars and moon. No other sounds...
Day 2 : Slept neatly. Day break was wonderful and delighted to watch it from our bed.If you open the windows you can smell fresh air with cool breeze. We found that ship is docked at Edfu and after breakfast at 7 am our tour guide took take us to Edfu temple. It was not like all the people will go with one guide as we thought. In the same ship, there were more than 100 peoples stayed but belongs to different tour companies. Each guides will come and they will pick their respective tourists.
Our group included we four, and one lone lady from Mexico. After breakfast on the ship, our new guide took us to a horse carriage and ride to tour the Horus Temple in Edfu. The horse driver will be very friendly and allow us to hold the harness and he will assist to take Photos.All this understandable. When leaving,he will ask a tip.
We had a Egyptian massage session on the spa in ship. It last for one hour. As sun get hotter we went to swimming pool and kids enjoyed. Before Lunch, we sat at main reception area to send some photos in social media. Wifi is available but not in inside the room. We took a nice lunch and relaxed in the rooms. A more relaxing visit and walk at evening followed,when we visited Kom Ombu temple and Crocodile museum. A shopping at small shops along the bank is also recommended here as we found the cost is less than other places. At Night dinner and dancing party. Slept nicely with while our ship sailing towards Aswan
Day 3: You will be amazed when you are reach Aswan in early morning. You may think ,this will be your destination, oh so early. But two more days here. Relax. If you booked to visit Abu Simbel, your tour guide would have arrived at around 4 AM at ship's reception. Your breakfast is packed and given as a box to have it on the way or during the trip. A luxury Minivan will be ready to take you with some persons from another boat. Long journey will follow in the desert and you can sleep a little. Abu simbel trip is a must but can be omitted if your kids will say, "too much History". Even one of the parents can stay in hotel room for relaxed morning. After breakfast, alternately you can have a felluca ride in Nile to the nearest islands. Lot of locals will come and offer if you dare to explore. The above two activities are not belongs to the package and you have to do it your risk and cost. Have lunch on board and visit the Aswan Dam, the unfinished obelisk, and then the Philae temple. On your return, your minivan will definitely stop at some so called Perfume factory. Very concentrated perfume oils available and it is nice idea to entice friends and relatives to gift some small bottles of such oils.
Evening will be free and you can wander in the streets of Aswan. Remember, you should book your train ticket for next day's travel.
I booked the ticket to Luxor for the 7.30 am train towards Cairo. If you have enough time you can book at 3 pm train. Beware, no trains in between. Beer can be bought at some a shop near to the railway station and it is very cheap.
The night is so special as there is a grand dinner and following entertainments in the middle deck. Belly dance performer will be there to entice along with her crews. Soofi dance performed before the Belly dance. Belly dance is enjoyable to the entire family and its not a taboo to participate and dance with here. In our cruise some of the Muslim ladies and kids danced with belly dancer.
slept nicely. Kids watched movies in the TV till late night.
Day 4: After a sound sleep on the ship,we checked out at 7 am. While check out, the receptionist gave an envelope to put our tips to the crews. Here in this ship you need not give your gratitude for each services individually. As a rule 3 US dollars per person per day is normal tip. So we have to give 16 USD per day. Its not compulsory, you may not put anything in the envelop. We put a total of 50 USD. Our lunch boxes are handed over and we hurried to railway station. We have only 10 minutes to the scheduled train departure, we thought it will be a good idea to travel in a horse carriage w for 10 EGP, but it turned to be a time waste as our old horse is simply walking not more than we could . It s about 500 meters distance only and we regret. Our train was ready on time and we got our seats near to a windows. Ticket examiner came and checked the ticket . One good thing is you can board the train without a ticket and you can buy it from train conductor with a small increment of ticket price but according to availability. There is pantry service in the train. Our train was an express train towards Cairo and having 3-4 stops only between Aswan and Luxor. We reached on time at 10 Am. Out side the railway station, its tough time to bargain to taxi and touts. A 25 EGP is all required to our hotel by taxi. After check in the room we relaxed a little till lunch .
We stepped down in the afternoon adventures. By this time our tour guide tried contacted us and given a message to hotel that he will come at 3 pm instead of 12 pm, as agreed earlier. But we missed the message and so our guide. We went our own to visit Karnak temple. Luckily we saw our guide there with a British family. After visiting Karnak Temple, our guide brought us to a so called Papyrus Museum. We bought some mementos from there, and proceed to Luxor temple. We didint give any tip to the guide as he not arrived at time, and it seems he didn't expected that. We visited Luxor market for tourists for some shopping. Our hotel is very near to Luxor temple and Mummification Museum,We walked on streets in the early nightfall and visited Mummification museum on way back. This night we wanted to try something different for dinner as fivestar food on previous days made carving for local tastes. After reaching hotel, I alone went to the streets again to buy sandwiches and shawarma. Later in Night, we visited the Bar in the hotel from where you can have ice creams, sandwiches and beer. Wonderful day, finished with a good sleep.
Day 5 : When we woke a up at 5 am, in a great calm morning,we could see from balcony , the Hot air balloons flying high in the west bank of Nile. If you needed and ready to pay 80 USD per head you can fly on that., Reservations are available in the reception of hotel. After a relaxing room service breakfast, head out for a visit to the Luxor Museum to admire its impressive collection of antiquities. We spend some time at the pool of our affordable 5-star hotel in early morning. We are totally tired by seeing lot of temples now and wanted to relax in the hotel in afternoon. We again spend time in garden and pool.In evening , we walked on the street on all the way to Karnak temple on the ancient path leading starting from Luxor temple to Karnak Temple. This stone paved road has its own importance in history and guarded by numerous sphinxes on both sides. The road lost some part due to encroachment. The entire path's restoration is going on when we visited there. Near to Karnak temple some sphinxes seen destroyed and the road is blocked by a small village. It was nice to see the UNISEF and a Government try to recoup the encroachments. Alternatively if you still haven’t gotten your fill of temples, consider taking a jaunt back out to the west to check out Medinat Habu, since that wasn’t already visited. Had nice dinner at hotel and slept neatly.
Day 6: Our tour guide had promised me, that the company driver will arrive at correct time in morning.But I had a doubt on it. He never came. Instead we catch our own taxi to reach Luxor airport. After check in, we used our precious waiting time on packed breakfast boxes from hotel. It have its own experience to eat in a waiting area on airport. There are 4- or 5 flights in the morning all heading to Cairo. I have picked our ticket to Kuwait is routed deliberate through Cairo with a big lay over time of more than 24 hours.As we are considered domestic travelers till Cairo we will have enough time to visit the attractions.Egypt air was correct in time and services. Reached about 10 am, at Cairo airport. Guides, touts and taxi drivers surrounded us but we managed to get an old taxi driver for 100 EGP to Egyptian museum. After we took some fresh juices and tea, we were ready to visit the museum.
Dont worry about your Luggage. You can keep it free of charge near to the front gate, just turn left and next small building have this facility . they will issue a token. small bag,phones, camera(With ticket) water bottles are allowed inside museum. Professional guides will aproch. we got an old fellow Claimed as Egyptiologist and have doctorate on subject and will charged 200 EGP. He will be good for a group But if you are not so interested in deep history,you can avoid him.
We need at least 2- 2 .30 hours to visit a quick look as there is thousands of artifacts displayed. We avoided Mummy's room,the price we saved , because we saw mummies in Mummification museum for a very normal fee at Luxor. We catch another taxi to Giza hotel for 100 EGP, and on the way I requested our driver to stop at a good restaurant for packed Lunch . He did it splendidly at a Khusheri meal(Egyptian lunch with spices and rice, pasta,and roasted onions) shop. Worth for price. He dropped at Pyramids Inn hotel which is situated at very front of the great Sphinx and Pyramids. After checking in we consumed a quick lunch at our room, because we have to reach at pyramids before 4 pm. Its just a walkable distance and we made it.
First we visited the great sphinx and the proceeded to The great Pyramids. It was very difficult to avoid drivers of horse carriages,and guides as they repeatedly interfere our smooth journey and sight seeing.I think Evening is the best time to visit pyramids and the Plataea.
As I have read, visiting inside of the pyramid can be avoided, as it is claustrophobic and nothing to see inside than empty chambers. Still we wanted to go inside, but for our unluck or luck, the closing time (4pm) blocked that attempt. But for our good thing we could explore the entire pyramids our own. We had enough time to walk around the surrounding area. The sunset near the deserted pyramid was mystical. On the way back to hotel we bought some souvenirs from surrounding shops.
We could clearly see the pyramids and sphinx from our bedroom. this was the main reason for selection of this hotel. Py
At 7 pm each day there will be a light and sound show in front of this hotel and we could watch it free of cost while having our dinner. I have searched a lot in various travel forums to reach this hotel to book.The hotel was a family owned home converted to a modern hotel, and still the family is running the hotel. Its not a 5 or 4 star hotel but its was really fantastic and value for money.
Day 7: The last day of the tour, enjoyed at beautiful morning sights of pyramids as we could see all the views though our windows and balcony. take wonderful photos and did some shopping. Went back to Cairo airport last leg of journey.
We added some more days of exploration. This will help to modify your travel.
Planning Egypt
I just trying to help your planning of the tour. you can check various forums, as i did, but latley I found the best deals and methods. I just combining all of the tips here
Cruising the Nile River : Luxor to Aswan by Boat
The best way to tour the Nile Valley is by boat! This classic journey runs from Luxor to Aswan and makes the return trip from Aswan to Luxor. The entire experience was our highlight of Egypt and we highly recommend it as part of your two week Egypt itinerary.
It is interesting to note that attempting to see all of these sites as an independent traveler backpacking Egypt would likely end up costing more than the cruise, would be extremely inefficient, and perhaps even impossible to do. These reasonably-priced Nile River cruises are really the way to go and it has been one of our favorite experiences throughout our entire travels.
Pricing and Where to Book Nile Cruise for Cheap
Lock in Your Dates: While planning your budget-friendly Egypt itinerary, we recommend booking your Nile cruise first and planning around that if possible. The ships are scheduled to leave on only certain days, so once you have your Nile cruise agenda, you can then plan your pre- and post-Nile plans after locking in your exact dates. I combined the searching with various airline prices at it was working.
Most websites offer Nile River cruises for prices that run well into the thousands of dollars per person by international tour company In reality it wont. It was a pleasant surprise to find these same exact ships, itineraries, and cabins listed in a few other places for a fraction of the cost. Many prices are further discounted for the Nile cruises offered during summer months, which makes for incredible value.
To find these low Nile cruise prices, we recommend booking through Viator. we booked throug ot. and they given our details to Middle east tour company. In both cases price will be the same. But I think if we negotiated earlier to the local company we could have save some money in the deal.
The absolute best prices for a 5-star Nile River cruise that we tracked down were through Viator was 260 USD per person.(80 Kuwaiti Dinar)
And while a $260(80 KD) trip may not seem like a particularly budget-friendly proposition, you must consider that this breaks down to less than $70 (20KD) per day, which includes all your meals, luxury lodging, transportation down the Nile, (except all entrance fees), and even a personal guide. We think it all adds up to one of the best travel values out there! It’s not possible to organize an independent itinerary over the same route for less than $70 per day.
Seasonal Price Changes: Understand the the lower prices for Nile River cruise deals are only available in summer. Prices fluctuate based on the date you’re booking for. So you’ll be saving about a hundred bucks per person by going in the middle of summer. Although we can tell you from experience of roaming around Egypt in 46 C degree temps that it may be worth the slight splurge to go during this much more comfortable time of year. Prices during shoulder season (e.g., April,May) have both moderate prices and moderate temperatures, so that’s a great consideration.
These Nile Cruises offered on Viator are the best deal you can book online. However, you are limited by your departure dates. check this factor before booking.The 4-Night Cruise from Luxor to Aswan only departs normally on Mondays. The Cruise from Aswan to Luxor only departs on normally Fridays. If you can make those dates work, this is the way to go.
But you’ll definitely save a few hundred bucks per family with Viator, if you’re able to work out a Friday or Monday departure. That’s the Nile cruise we took and would highly recommend it.
Group Tour vs Private Tour
Also understand that all the cruise prices we’ve mentioned are based on touring the sites with a group rather than a private guide. If you noticed that the prices listed were higher than we mentioned, go back and ensure that you changed the pricing to reflect Group Tour.
The difference between group and private tours is about a hundred dollars or so per couple. While it’s actually very affordable to have your own private guide, we recommend choosing the group tour, as it will save you some money that you can spend elsewhere on your Egypt trip. Being part of a group tour will also provide for the chance of meeting & mingling with other passengers. We never saw more than four people to a group anyhow, so you’ll still likely to have a small and intimate tour. We were fortunate to get paired up with some lovely Mexican ladies.
Nile River Cruise Price Inclusions and Exclusions
Prices typically include all of your transfers, taxis, guide service for all days,accommodation and all meals. The only expenses not covered are drinks and tipping on the Nile cruise. we have to pay entrance fees at each sites.
Nile Cruise Price-Cutting Tips
With beverages and tipping being your only added expenses during this portion of your trip to Egypt, there are definitely ways to minimize each.
For water, stock up on plenty of bottled water while on land. You should always be able to find large bottles for 5 LE. Bring this water back onboard with you too, as the savings will add up compared to the 15 LE charged on the ship.
Bring Your Own Alcohol: For booze, bring it with you. Some ships don’t allow outside beverages to be brought on board, so perhaps enquire in advance and plan accordingly. Our Nile voyage on the M/S Gezelle thankfully did permit bringing drinks on board. Your room is equipped with an empty refrigerator to cool down whatever beer, wine, or liquor you may bring. But be warned: it can be difficult to find stores selling alcohol in Egypt, so bring some booze with you from home or stop by the duty-free store when disembarking your flight. Beers onboard our Nile cruise ran 45 LE ($5.75 in 2018) during our trip, so this strategy will save you loads if planning to kick back a few while drifting down the Nile.
Tips on Nile Cruise Tipping: Tipping is a way of life in Egypt and it’s a must on these cruises. For gratuities, recommended tipping on Nile River cruises is 50 LE per couple per day for the guide. It’s also also recommended to tip the service on the boat another 50 LE per couple per night. If you were very pleased with the service, consider being extra kind with the gratuities you leave behind and adjust upward.
You will also run into situations during your daytime excursions on land in which you should tip. Taxi transfers, boat trips, horse carriage rides, or even a quick stop in the bathroom will all require a nominal tip. A 10 LE tip per couple seemed about right for each of most instances. Consider tipping more if a driver was with you all day and kept the A/C cold. Be sure you are prepared with lots of small 10 LE notes. If you only have a 50 or a 100, good luck on getting change.
We would recommend the 4-night Nile Cruise if it weren’t for the awkward onward connection times once in Aswan. So if you can make that work out, do the 4-night cruise. For smoother connections following the rest of this itinerary, the 3-night cruise.
Know Before You Go on the Train from Aswan to Luxor
Unlike the other recommendations in this blog post, don’t expect the t train from Aswan to Luxor to be luxurious. It’s not an awful experience either, but we recommend to come with low expectations. If you’re backpacking Egypt, this will be a breeze.The train journey can be compared to Indian railways.
Unlike the other recommendations in this blog post, don’t expect the t train from Aswan to Luxor to be luxurious. It’s not an awful experience either, but we recommend to come with low expectations. If you’re backpacking Egypt, this will be a breeze.The train journey can be compared to Indian railways.
There have been some reports that the train from Cairo to Aswan (and return ) is not safe, as it travels through some supposedly dangerous areas. Despite these generalized warnings, we could not find any major incidents to support the claims. We felt safe the entire time and our cabin steward was pleasant and helpful.
Train Experience
There have been some reports that the train from Cairo to Aswan (and return ) is not safe, as it travels through some supposedly dangerous areas. Despite these generalized warnings, we could not find any major incidents to support the claims. We felt safe the entire time and our cabin steward was pleasant and helpful.
Train Experience
If you really enjoy train travel, this may be a journey to take. Despite some of these downsides, it all makes for an interesting travel experience. So choose your own adventure!
If you really enjoy train travel, this may be a journey to take. Despite some of these downsides, it all makes for an interesting travel experience. So choose your own adventure!
Booking at Aswan Train station
An evening walk on previous day is enough for find the railway station and making an advance booking. We recomment to book the train which start at 7.30 am or at least before that. Because next train is at 3 pm only to Cairo. we can partially book the ticket to Luxor and it have a seat number. The train ticket price is about 30 LE per person for foreigners. Be sure to have a printed ticket with you on board the train.
An evening walk on previous day is enough for find the railway station and making an advance booking. We recomment to book the train which start at 7.30 am or at least before that. Because next train is at 3 pm only to Cairo. we can partially book the ticket to Luxor and it have a seat number. The train ticket price is about 30 LE per person for foreigners. Be sure to have a printed ticket with you on board the train. A Day in Luxor
Your inclusive tours during the Nile cruise will have already taken you to Luxor’s star attractions along the West Bank (Valley of the Kings and Temple of Hatshepsut) and the East Bank (Karnak & Luxor Temples).
Additional plan
You could easily disembark and head out to Hurghada later that same afternoon, which we have mentioned as an additional plan. Yet we’d instead recommend considering an extra night in Luxor. This will allow time to explore other attractions around the city that were not included on the cruise excursions. It will also give you a moment to relax before immediately rushing off the train/ cruise to catch a bus.
There are now two buses from Luxor to Hurghada running each day. The Luxor to Hurghada bus timetable is 8:00 am and 3:30 pm. The Luxor “bus station” is next to the train station. It’s not really a bus station though and rather a small parking lot in front of a small white office building where you can purchase your Go Bus tickets. But you can now also purchase Go Bus tickets online on their website. Ticket prices from Luxor to Hurghada run a modest 90 LE.
Luxor Museum (100 LE) is a great option to either fill that afternoon or the following morning. Also, after a full week of heavy touring around the country, take some time off to just relax. If taking our recommendation and staying at the Achti Resort, their Nile-front pool will certainly aid in this.
Where to Stay in Luxor: A 5-Star Resort for free
We recommend staying at the Achti Resort formely Sheraton. This 5-star property features an amazing pool right on the Nile! The Achti was formerly a Sheraton property and hence you could redeem Gulf bank points. Although this Nile resort has since changed ownership, incredibly low prices have remained. You can currently find rates as low as KD15 per night. Where else in the world can you stay at a 5-star resort for such amount?This is another fantastic value to experience luxury for less. Yet don’t pay that or whatever it’s listed for today. We instead recommend staying there for free!
Egypt Travel Hack: How To Here Stay for Free
Staying at the 5-star Hotel for almost free is easy to do using Gulf Reward points. I and My wife were using Gulf bank Credit cards in Kuwait even we sere not caring about its reward points. To regulate and for easy accountability we were using a single credit card over the years. It has been regularly used for small to big shopping , air tickets and even small monthly expenses. Whenever salary is credited to my bank I would pay full amount to avoid any fines. We suddenly found it is worth while. When checked it got about 5000 reward points and can be redeemable to any air ticket or hotel bookings. I compared to bookings. com and found I can book a five star hotel with food for 1.5 KD only. (Pro tip: consider converting them to airline miles to use towards a flight to Cairo.)
Note: If using this credit card recommendation to easily acquire Gulf bank points to stay at 5 star hotels for free, you must know that the credit card is free for the first year but carries a KD 30 annual fee after that. You can avoid that fee by canceling the credit card within 12 months. You still keep all the points. Also, only use this strategy if you are able to pay off the credit card in full each month. Otherwise the high interest charged could outweigh the free hotel stays.
Free Nile View Upgrade: One benefit of coming to Egypt in the middle of the March while this property is empty is that you’ll likely get a free upgrade to a Nile view room.
Late Check-out: The Achti Resort also allowed a super-late check-out at 3:00 pm at no extra charge which will be very convenient if following the remainder of our suggested itinerary, given that the only bus to Hurghada leaves in the late afternoon.
Extended tour: Hurghada Red Sea Resorts – Luxury for Less
By now you will have spent a full week touring some of Egypt’s most famous sites, mostly in style. And while it’s hopefully been an inspiring trip-of-a-lifetime, you’re likely going to be tired. The heat, the touts, and the madness of Cairo may be starting to wear you down a bit. This is now the perfect time to end your Egypt vacation with a relaxing all-inclusive stay at a Red Sea resort in Hurghada. The bargains here are amazing. And during the summer months, there are some particularly incredible rates to take advantage of. As said earlier Luxor is the entry point for Hurghada. You could either select this 7 day trip in line with your flight schedule, before or after your visit to Cairo.
All inclusive resorts are typically shunned by anyone visiting Egypt. We’ve actually never stayed at an all inclusive resort during trip . But in Egypt, it just felt right to continue sprucing up our trip with a little luxury, and it was so worth it given the incredibly low prices. You can have an all-inclusive experience here for less than the cost of a 3 star hotel bed in most places in India!
Hurghada Red Sea One Week Itinerary
This sample itinerary begins with “Day 8” and picks back up right from where the prior itinerary left off, from the entire two week Egypt itinerary.
- Day 8 (cont.): Arrive from Luxor to Hurghada by bus and transfer by taxi to check into resort. Have dinner, followed by drinks at the bar.
- Day 9: Enjoy breakfast at the onsite restaurant. Take a dip in the pool and join the scheduled bocce ball tournament. Have lunch on the beach and take an afternoon snorkel. Sit back in one of the beach cabanas and order a beer (or seventeen beers, up to you). Freshen up before enjoying dinner al fresco. Then go play a game of pool in the billiards room before the nightly show in the theatre. Wind down the night at the onsite club or relax with a cocktail in one of the lounges.
- Day 10: Repeat
- Day 11: Repeat
- Day 12: Repeat
- Day 13: After breakfast, check out and taxi to the airport.
Other Things to Do in Hurghada
There’s really a lot to keep you busy on the resort property itself. But if you’re like me and have a hard time sitting still, not to worry as there are other things to do in and around Hurghada. So after you’ve rested and relaxed for a day or two, consider some additional excursions offered in the area. Here’s just a few recommendations to get you started:
Scuba Diving and Snorkeling in the Red Sea: Scuba diving in the Red Sea is rather incredible, but you’ll need to budget an extra $66 (20 KWD) for a 2-dive trip all day trip (including equipment).
Swim with Wild Dolphins: You may also want to consider the all day excursion that takes you to the Dolphin House which is not a “house” and is rather an area where pods of these sea mammals swim freely. ( 12KWD)
Quad Bike Desert Safaris: are another popular adventure that you can embark upon. (12 KWD)
Note: These suggestions of things to do in Hurghada were not included in the total budget, so be sure to factor that in yourself.
Know Before You Go:
There are dozens of all-inclusive resorts to choose from. All-inclusive is the way to go. Prices not only include your meals, but also domestic beer, wine, and spirits. Your nightly rate also incorporates loads of daily activities and nightly entertainment. You really get quite the bang for your money . This is an offer for Keralites who love to drink alcoholup to their neck..
How to Book a Budget-Friendly Hurghada Resort Deal
Stay 1-week: The key to scoring these deals is to stay for at least one full week. When searching, be sure you look for exactly a seven-night stay. When staying in increments of less than a week, nightly rates will be significantly higher. Seven is the lucky number.
Incredible value: We can find prices as low as $386 (115 KWD = 26000 INR) (including taxes and fees) for a weeklong stay at a four-star property. That’s only $28 (8 KWD = 1800 INR) per person, per night for an all-inclusive! You could easily spend 8 KWD on a few beers in Hurghada. So to get those beers and three meals per day and snorkeling and an awesome pool and luxury accommodation, all for the same price – this is incredible value.
Where to book: Hurghada Resort deals on Booking.com, which has better search functionality such as the ability to filter on “all-inclusive.” There is a seemingly endless number of resorts to choose from, so narrow your selection down. Your selection should based upon price, recent reviews, wifi availability, photos, and whether it was adult only.
Prices and review scores will change in time, so be sure to vet them out on your own before booking, of course.
Best Value in Hurghada: Bel Air Azur Resort Review
We recommend the Bel Air Azur Resort because it offers what we have found to be the best value in Hurghada. As of 2017, you can stay at this 4-star, beachfront all-inclusive resort for what amounts to $30 (9 KWD = 1900 INR) per person, per day, including all your food and even alcoholic beverages! One Week long stays at this paradise are currently being offered at $400 (120 KD =2700 INR) for one week.
The hotel itself truly is gorgeous. There are two fantastic pools and the beach cabanas that jut out on a peninsula into the Red Sea make you feel spoiled. Just call over a cabana boy and you’ll have a few adult beverages delivered to you at your every beckon call. It’s one of those rare occasions in which the property turns out to be even better than in the pictures online.
Jumping into the Red Sea, directly in front of the hotel reveals a very healthy reef ecosystem. If you enjoy snorkeling, this house reef will provide for hours of enjoyment during your week long stay.Simple additions such as shampoo & conditioner along with some more plush bedding, would go a long way here. Yet given our typical accommodation standards elsewhere in the world, this resort still felt quite luxurious in comparison.
The meals were good overall and we enjoyed the themed dinners each night of the week.
Minimizing Additional Expenses While at an Red Sea All-Inclusive:
With food, drink, accommodation and activities covered for the week, the only other expenses you may encounter are as followed:
- Tipping
- Laundry:charging a very modest 1.5 LE per piece.
- In-room wifi:was an additional 45 LE per day, but week long packages could be purchased for 200 LE.
- Optional excursions varied in price and you can usually find better values outside of the resort walls than at the resort.
Luxor to Cairo flight
Egypt air is the main option. Luxor airport is small and there are 4- or 5 flights in the morning all heading to Cairo. we have selected our ticket to Kuwait which is routed deliberate through Cairo.It has a long lay over time of more than 24 hours. As we are considered domestic travelers till Cairo we will have enough time to visit the museums pyramids and other attractions. Egypt air was excellent in time and services. Tip:If you are an international passenger and do not have connection flights Egypt air will provide free accommodation and food coupons. The lay over time can be used wisely to visit pyramids. there are tour operators for such short visits and charges are very nominal
Egypt air is the main option. Luxor airport is small and there are 4- or 5 flights in the morning all heading to Cairo. we have selected our ticket to Kuwait which is routed deliberate through Cairo.It has a long lay over time of more than 24 hours. As we are considered domestic travelers till Cairo we will have enough time to visit the museums pyramids and other attractions. Egypt air was excellent in time and services. Tip:If you are an international passenger and do not have connection flights Egypt air will provide free accommodation and food coupons. The lay over time can be used wisely to visit pyramids. there are tour operators for such short visits and charges are very nominal
In Cairo: The Egyptian Museum
After the Pyramids, the other must-see attraction in Cairo/Giza is the Egyptian Museum. There’s no price cutting strategy here. Pay the 75 LE admission fee and enjoy what is the best collection of Egyptian antiquities in the entire world!
Know Before You Go:
- The museum has very little signage, so it may be worthwhile to splurge on a guide (~100 LE per hour).
- Also know that the optional mummy room is an additional cost of 100 LE per person, But in my opinion, you can avoid it, instead, you may visit mummification museum in Luxor.
After the Pyramids, the other must-see attraction in Cairo/Giza is the Egyptian Museum. There’s no price cutting strategy here. Pay the 75 LE admission fee and enjoy what is the best collection of Egyptian antiquities in the entire world!
Know Before You Go:
- The museum has very little signage, so it may be worthwhile to splurge on a guide (~100 LE per hour).
- Also know that the optional mummy room is an additional cost of 100 LE per person, But in my opinion, you can avoid it, instead, you may visit mummification museum in Luxor.
Other Things To Do In Cairo On A Budget
There are many sites and attractions to see in Cairo, but that’s a whole ‘nother post entirely. Here are a small handful of notable and budget-friendly Cairo recommendations you may want to consider to fill the remainder of your day:
- Bargain at the Khan al-Khalili souk (free + souvenir costs),
- Climb up the Bab Zuweila minarets (LE 20),
- Visit the Cairo’s impressive Citadel (LE 60)
- If you have your Le Meridian room key, you’ll have access to the Egyptian Modern Art Museum which provides free admission as part of their #UnlockArt promotion.
There are many sites and attractions to see in Cairo, but that’s a whole ‘nother post entirely. Here are a small handful of notable and budget-friendly Cairo recommendations you may want to consider to fill the remainder of your day:
Alternate Cairo 2-Day Sample trip
Day 1: We recommend an easy first day afternoon. Have an airport transfer waiting to get you to your hotel where you can get settled, have dinner, and rest up to get an early start to the following day.
Day 2: Head directly to see all the sites of the Great Pyramids. After lunch have a relaxing afternoon splashing around at the hotel’s pool as you admire the pyramids in the background or unwind in the complimentary spa. Alternatively, for a more action-packed itinerary, consider squeezing in some of the sites of Saqarra instead. That evening, go see the Sound Light show.
Day 3: Now that you’ve been in Egypt for a few days, perhaps you’re ready for the madness of Cairo. Grab a taxi to the city’s main attraction, the Cairo museum. Use whatever remaining time after lunch to visit any secondary attractions that are of interest to you around Cairo. With most attractions closing around 4:00 or 5:00, use the remaining time before your departing train to indulge in a few beers in one of Cairo’s cafes. Then take the overnight flight from Cairo to your country.
Day 1: We recommend an easy first day afternoon. Have an airport transfer waiting to get you to your hotel where you can get settled, have dinner, and rest up to get an early start to the following day.
Day 2: Head directly to see all the sites of the Great Pyramids. After lunch have a relaxing afternoon splashing around at the hotel’s pool as you admire the pyramids in the background or unwind in the complimentary spa. Alternatively, for a more action-packed itinerary, consider squeezing in some of the sites of Saqarra instead. That evening, go see the Sound Light show.
Day 3: Now that you’ve been in Egypt for a few days, perhaps you’re ready for the madness of Cairo. Grab a taxi to the city’s main attraction, the Cairo museum. Use whatever remaining time after lunch to visit any secondary attractions that are of interest to you around Cairo. With most attractions closing around 4:00 or 5:00, use the remaining time before your departing train to indulge in a few beers in one of Cairo’s cafes. Then take the overnight flight from Cairo to your country.
Transportation Around Cairo on a Budget
Price Cutting Tips: Airport Transfer
After a long flight to Cairo, you won’t want to deal with public transportation in Egypt. The savings of doing so is somewhat negligible and having a private transfer will do wonders for your sanity. You’ll avoid being bombarded with a hoard of about 100 screaming taxi drivers all aggressively pouncing on you upon exiting the airport.
Instead of the main airport transfer company, we now recommend the private airport transfer from GetYourGuide, as the best value we could find among all services offered. Their airport transfer to Cairo or Giza are currently only $12.50 USD per person (singles, couples) or even lower – down to $6 per person – for larger groups. For comparison, other companies charge upwards of $40 USD for an airport transfer to Giza.
After a long flight to Cairo, you won’t want to deal with public transportation in Egypt. The savings of doing so is somewhat negligible and having a private transfer will do wonders for your sanity. You’ll avoid being bombarded with a hoard of about 100 screaming taxi drivers all aggressively pouncing on you upon exiting the airport.
Instead of the main airport transfer company, we now recommend the private airport transfer from GetYourGuide, as the best value we could find among all services offered. Their airport transfer to Cairo or Giza are currently only $12.50 USD per person (singles, couples) or even lower – down to $6 per person – for larger groups. For comparison, other companies charge upwards of $40 USD for an airport transfer to Giza.
Use Uber to Get All Around Cairo
Dealing with the taxis around Cairo can be a maddening experience. Many taxis don’t speak any English at all, so communicating with taxi drivers to inform them of your destination and negotiate prices can be extremely difficult unless you happen to be fluent in Arabic. And as a foreigner, you’re likely to get grossly overcharged no matter how hard you try to bargain. Also, many of the cabbies drive like maniacs.
Uber in Cairo is a saving grace. The rates are fixed. You input your location and destination into the Uber app, which eliminates the need to have to explain to the taxi driver where you’re heading. The driver is tracked, lessening any safety concerns you’d otherwise have in a taxi. During Uber rides within Cairo, we just hopped in the car and were seamlessly delivered to our destination, without even uttering a word to the Uber driver other than thanking him upon our safe departure.
We also found Uber to be a nice alternative to using the Cairo metro. Although the metro is extremely inexpensive, we found it to be crowded, hectic, and it often didn’t have direct routes to where we needed to go. For just a wee bit more, Uber provides your own private driver to anywhere you need to go in Cairo!
Know Before You Go:
In Kuwait Uber is tied up with Careem and known as Careem. The same app that you use at home, wont works here, so just be sure it’s downloaded. Also ensure your phone’s data plan includes coverage in Egypt( like Ooredo passport)otherwise you may end up with exorbitant roaming charges.
Dealing with the taxis around Cairo can be a maddening experience. Many taxis don’t speak any English at all, so communicating with taxi drivers to inform them of your destination and negotiate prices can be extremely difficult unless you happen to be fluent in Arabic. And as a foreigner, you’re likely to get grossly overcharged no matter how hard you try to bargain. Also, many of the cabbies drive like maniacs.
Uber in Cairo is a saving grace. The rates are fixed. You input your location and destination into the Uber app, which eliminates the need to have to explain to the taxi driver where you’re heading. The driver is tracked, lessening any safety concerns you’d otherwise have in a taxi. During Uber rides within Cairo, we just hopped in the car and were seamlessly delivered to our destination, without even uttering a word to the Uber driver other than thanking him upon our safe departure.
We also found Uber to be a nice alternative to using the Cairo metro. Although the metro is extremely inexpensive, we found it to be crowded, hectic, and it often didn’t have direct routes to where we needed to go. For just a wee bit more, Uber provides your own private driver to anywhere you need to go in Cairo!
Know Before You Go:
In Kuwait Uber is tied up with Careem and known as Careem. The same app that you use at home, wont works here, so just be sure it’s downloaded. Also ensure your phone’s data plan includes coverage in Egypt( like Ooredo passport)otherwise you may end up with exorbitant roaming charges.
Eating Around the Great Pyramids on a Budget
The local Egyptian food on the menu in our hotel (pyramids Inn) is not only shockingly well-priced, but is also a very tasty introduction to local cuisine. koshari, shwarma, falafel, and fatuous salad all come highly recommended by us and are priced at only about 10-20 LE per item. Our hotel given free water bottles too.
Know Before You Go: While the food items are very reasonable, drinks (even bottled water) are still a bit overpriced, so take that into consideration when ordering.
Know Before You Go: While the food items are very reasonable, drinks (even bottled water) are still a bit overpriced, so take that into consideration when ordering.
Breakfast: Eat a Light In-Room Breakfast
If you take our recommendation to stay at Pyramids in , the breakfast is included. They will even pack your breakfast very neatly if you check out on an odd hour. We took that advantage and ate it during the leisure time. There are also some reasonably priced pastries at the resort’s coffee shop you can snag on your way out to the Great Pyramids.
If you take our recommendation to stay at Pyramids in , the breakfast is included. They will even pack your breakfast very neatly if you check out on an odd hour. We took that advantage and ate it during the leisure time. There are also some reasonably priced pastries at the resort’s coffee shop you can snag on your way out to the Great Pyramids.
Go Local
just outside the hotel in the evening you’ll find a pleasant night-market-of-sorts with cafes and tables in the median of the road. Despite being so close to the major tourist attraction of the Great Pyramids, you’ll find a surprisingly local environment here that is refreshingly both void of tourists and hassle.
just outside the hotel in the evening you’ll find a pleasant night-market-of-sorts with cafes and tables in the median of the road. Despite being so close to the major tourist attraction of the Great Pyramids, you’ll find a surprisingly local environment here that is refreshingly both void of tourists and hassle.
Eating & Drinking Around Cairo
Downtown Cairo has plenty of local eateries that are both delicious and easy on the budget. You can find countless restaurant recommendation in Cairo online, so we won’t attempt to do it injustice within this travel guide.
For those need beers , try finding the somewhat hidden entrance of El Grillon. At this oasis, just a few blocks from Tahrir square, you’ll receive complimentary “Egyptian peanuts” to snack on alongside friendly service. Here Stella half-liter beer cost, 30 LE (Half KD or 110 INR)
Downtown Cairo has plenty of local eateries that are both delicious and easy on the budget. You can find countless restaurant recommendation in Cairo online, so we won’t attempt to do it injustice within this travel guide.
For those need beers , try finding the somewhat hidden entrance of El Grillon. At this oasis, just a few blocks from Tahrir square, you’ll receive complimentary “Egyptian peanuts” to snack on alongside friendly service. Here Stella half-liter beer cost, 30 LE (Half KD or 110 INR)
Where to Stay in Cairo
We recommend not staying in Cairo and instead in neighboring Giza, near the Great Pyramids. While some may recommend staying in downtown Cairo, we firmly advocate to stay near the Great Pyramids. This recommendation is for four reasons:
- Location: The Great Pyramids will most certainly be on your list of things to do in Cairo, and being close to the pyramids will allow you to get an early start to beat the heat. You can even walk directly from your hotel and not to have to deal with deceptive taxi drivers. And it can be pretty special to look out your hotel window or go for a swim in the pool while having those ancient marvels as your backdrop!
- Value: The hotels near the Great Pyramids tend to offer better value compared to those in downtown Cairo.
- Calm: Downtown Cairo can be a maddening and hectic place. Meanwhile we found the suburban area around the Pyramids to be more tranquil.
- Safe: Our research found that the majority of occasional incidents in Egypt have occurred in the downtown Cairo area. While such occurrences are infrequent and not targeting tourists, it may be a safer bet to stay outside of the downtown Cairo area.
Giza Hotel Luxury price cutting Strategy
Book Your Own Way: If you don’t want to deal with the points game in your credit cards or don’t qualify for that offer, we still recommend if you can find a good price during your travel dates. Egypt is cheap. Do not entertain travel agencies to book your hotel or transport. you can book your self for everything. At the time of research, we found the best rates in Bookings .com. Just go through HotelsCombined.com, also for price comparison which searches all the main booking sites, and almost found same. you can have 5 star hotels around Pyramids. But our personal choice was Pyramids View Inn.This small Hotel known for the friendly owner’s warm hospitality and affordable prices. Perhaps best of all, it couldn’t be better located. It is right next to the Sphinx entrance to the Great Pyramid site.
An Even More Budget-Friendly Option Directly at the Giza Pyramids: If you’re paying your own way and looking for a more budget-friendly accommodation, then we suggest the Sphinx Guest House Giza. The Sphinx Guest House may not be quite as comfortable to families but this is a good choice for bachelors those seeking a more independent option and wanting to save.
Things to Do in Giza/Cairo
Of course you absolutely must visit Giza’s Great Pyramids, which carries a modest entrance fee of 80 LE per person to walk around the grounds of all three Great Pyramids and the Sphinx.
Entering the Pyramids Price-Cutting Tip
Skip the additional 200 LE entrance fee into Khufu (the largest of the three Great Pyramids) and instead go inside whichever of the two other pyramids (Khafre or Menkaure) are currently open. This tradeoff will save a duo traveling together 120 LE.
Many people are underwhelmed by going inside the Great Pyramid, while others rave about it and say it’s totally worth it. For us, it didn’t make sense to pay five times more (200 LE) to go inside the Great Pyramid.
Know Before You Go: Inside the Great Pyramids
- Bring bottled water with you. It is triple the cost (and higher) when purchased around Pyramids.
- Be aware that the interiors of either Khafre or Menkaure pyramid will be open, but not both.
- The interiors of Khafre or Menkaure are a bit smaller than the Great Pyramid, so take this into consideration.
- Cameras are not allowed inside any of the pyramids, although guards will watch them (or turn a blind eye) for a tip.
- You must buy your ticket at the front gate, not at the actual pyramid.
Know Before You Go: Inside the Great Pyramids
- Bring bottled water with you. It is triple the cost (and higher) when purchased around Pyramids.
- Be aware that the interiors of either Khafre or Menkaure pyramid will be open, but not both.
- The interiors of Khafre or Menkaure are a bit smaller than the Great Pyramid, so take this into consideration.
- Cameras are not allowed inside any of the pyramids,but smart people use it although guards will watch them (or turn a blind eye) for a tip.
- You must buy your ticket at the front gate, not at the actual pyramid.
Cheops Boat Museum: requires a separate ticket (60 LE) and is a worthwhile detour located behind Khufu. It is here that you will see what is said to be the world’s oldest boat! The Cheops Boat Museum will also give you a break from the heat, as there is a small air conditioner inside.
Camel or horse carriage?
If you want that great photo at the pyramids, expect to pay an additional 20-100 LE for a camel ride, depending on length of time and your haggling skills. We found the pyramid grounds to be very walkable, so we chose to forgo the hassle of dealing with a camel handler. And it is a hassle. They are aggressive. A simple “no” or “la shukraan” (no thank-you in Arabic) is never enough to shake them off. They’ll think you’re just negotiating. It takes several minutes and heavy assertiveness for them to fully understand that you’re not interested. Also, some of the camel handlers are notable scam artists with very deceptive practices, so be extremely careful if choosing to deal with them.
There are also other animals who can take you around the site . We received multiple offers to take quick jaunts in a horse carriage for 100 LE. That may sound like a good option, but also consider the horse’s well-being in the intense heat and know that the 100 LE price is likely a deceptive quote just to get you in their carriage.They will increase the money later.
How To Avoid Being Bothered at the Great Pyramids
There are so many touts all over the Great Pyramids. Many will be persistently hassling you to buy their camel ride. Others may be performing some of the many known scams that occur regularly. You may or may not get scammed, but you’ll certainly be hassled many times throughout the day.
One way to avoid this is to have a guide with you. Unlike most other places around the world, guides are very budget-friendly in Egypt! You can book Egyptologists for half-day tours for about $10-$15 USD (5 KWD = 1100 INR) per person. These guides include hotel pick-up too, so the price of this can often come out even cheaper than taking a taxi from your hotel to the Pyramids and back.
So if you want to be hassle free,make arrangements with a good guide before your day of visiting the Great Pyramids and ensure they have a consistent track record of great reviews.
If that’s not exactly what you’re looking for, you can also try sifting through the many listings at our affiliate site on GetYourGuide.com, or from viator which is a trusted website used to book local guides in destinations all around the world. Again, just be sure to choose one that’s not only priced well, but also has consistently great reviews.
Sound & Light Show Price-Cutting Strategy
Every night there is a sound and light show at the Pyramids narrated by the Sphinx himself. It’s outdated, dull, monotone and, in our opinion, not worth the 75 LE per person admission. But it can still be a neat experience to see this legendary site all lit up at night. So instead of paying 75 LE per person, go to the rooftop of your hotel Pyramids view inn or Sphynx Guest house. This is a solid strategy to save a few bucks on the light show while eating a very reasonably priced meal located right outside this major world attraction.
If you staying some other hotel you can visit the only restaurant that overlooks the entire site that place is Pizza Hut. It can be worth going there to take in a free light show, once you consider the economics of it. So instead of paying 300 LE for four people to watch the light, those four people can watch it for free with the purchase of a few pizzas. But you should also beware that the light show often gets canceled when attendance is low.
Visa procedures
A tourist visa to Egypt cost 15 KD (about Rs 3100) per person. You may apply 30 days prior to your trip to the Egyptian Embassy in your country. Normal tourist visa for one month only.
For Indians residing in US or UK can avail Visa on arrival.
A group more than 10 members manged by a travel agency, May not need visa.
If you residing in India you may apply to Egyptian Embassy ,New Delhi through some travel agent in your town.
For Indians residing in Kuwait, go to the Egyptian Consulate in Rawda. (DO NOT approach to Egyptian Embassy at Al Dasma in Embassies zone as I did earlier.)
You need the following documents and check the things before going to the Consulate.
First, book a hotel where you supposed to stay and take a print out (Do it online , do not pay any money, you can easily cancel the same after visa procedures) If you have finalized your travel dates you may book your flight tickets too.
1. 6 month valid Passport original and copy. (Passport will be held in the Consulate for about 4 days.) Check your and family's Residence expiry !
2. Copy of Salary certificate from your employer
3. Bank statement (with lots of transactions) 6 months
4.Two passport size photos with white background
5. copy of Civil Id Card
6. copy of hotel booking
7. copy of flight tickets.
For your dependents, make one set for each one.Some times they will ask relation certificates. Husband and wife should be present in Person.
Egyptian consulate in Rawda is a mess, you may go early before 8 am to avoid rush. Every notice boards are in Arabic. But you may find easier if planned well. After security check go straight to first floor and take 4 tickets from the queue machine. The display is Arabic, but I remember the first button with Arabic letters 'Thasheera "is for visit visa. Press it . Get your ticket. If you dont know ask help from the officials. you may have to wait more than 1 hour. Use this time to go basement floor to buy visa application form,near to a photostat machine. Come back and now you can start to fill the form.
After an official cheks your applications you passport will be held the and a receipt will be given. the Visa will be stamped and can be avail from basement floor after 4 days.
Luxury Egypt on a Budget
So that is how we experienced a little luxury while in Egypt.If you add up all of those prices and expenses, you wind up having only spent about KD200 (45000 INR) per person on a two week luxury trip to Egypt . Not too bad! We hope you agree that while touring Egypt, it can fun to include a little luxury.
If you are following this itinerary, we’d recommend to budget for at 300 KD (67000 INR) to be on the safe side. There may be additional expenses that fit for your travels that we didn’t account for. For example, we bought some souvenirs, but we didn’t account for them in this daily budget.
We hope you found our Egypt budget & guide helpful and that you are well prepared to go on an epic journey of your own. Egypt is a fascinating place and now is a most interesting time to go.
Enjoy it! And feel free to drop us a comment with any questions.
