Egypt Budget Tours | 23 Packages from $575, Private Options

Affordable Egypt Tours Without the Guesswork About Your Hotel

Egypt does not have to be expensive. The Great Pyramid is the same 4,500-year-old building whether you reach it from a five-star suite or a clean three-star room near the airport. Our Egypt budget tours run from $575 for four days to $1,975 for fifteen, and they cut the cost in specific, honest ways rather than by quietly thinning out the itinerary. Anything under seven days runs as a private tour — your own guide, driver and vehicle — at these prices.

Here is the part most operators leave vague. Egyptian hotel stars are awarded on facilities — how many restaurants, whether there is a pool — rather than on service, upkeep and finish. A three-star hotel in Cairo is not a three-star hotel in Madrid or Chicago. So we grade our budget accommodation twice: once by the Egyptian licence, and once by what a traveller from the US or Europe will actually walk into. The table below sets out both. We would rather you arrived with the right expectation than the flattering one.

The second saving is transport. Our budget tours move between Cairo and Upper Egypt by sleeper train rather than by domestic flight. You board in Cairo in the evening, sleep in a private cabin, and wake up in Luxor or Aswan. It saves a night’s hotel and a good deal of money, and it is a genuine experience in its own right — but it is a train, not a flight, and you should know that before you book rather than after.

What we do not cut is the guiding. Every sightseeing day is led by a licensed Egyptologist, the same guides who work our premium tours. Entrance fees to everything in the itinerary are included. The difference between a budget tour and an expensive one is where you sleep and how you travel between cities — not how much you understand of what you are looking at.

Twenty-three itineraries cover Cairo and the Pyramids, Luxor and Aswan, Alexandria, Abu Simbel, El Alamein, the Red Sea, and a Nile cruise or felucca on the longer trips. Egypt Best Vacations is a licensed Egyptian tour operator based in Luxor and a Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice winner in 2024, 2025 and 2026.

...

Budget tours at a glance

Shortest and cheapest: 4 days, Cairo and Luxor, from $575

Longest: 15 days, from $1,650

Full price range: $575 to $1,975 per person

With a 3-night Nile cruise: From $935 (7 days)

With a felucca instead: From $790 (6 days)

With Red Sea beach time: From $1,100 (10 days)

Under 7 days: Private tour — your own guide, driver and vehicle

7 days and over: Small group, maximum 16 (private on request)

Accommodation: Bronze or Silver — see the grading table below

Intercity transport: Sleeper train, not domestic flights

Guiding: Licensed Egyptologist on every sightseeing day

What Bronze and Silver actually mean

Egyptian hotel stars are awarded on facilities rather than on service, upkeep and finish. So we grade twice: once by the Egyptian licence, once by what a traveller from the US or Europe will actually walk into.

Bronze	3-star (Egyptian licence)	About 2.5-star by US or European standards	A clean, simple en-suite room with air conditioning and a private bathroom. Simple buffet breakfast. Often no pool. Fittings and furniture will look dated, lifts and hot water can be temperamental, and rooms are chosen for location and cleanliness rather than for a view. Staff are helpful; the level of English varies.	Travellers who treat the hotel as somewhere to sleep and shower between long days at the monuments, and who would rather put the money into the trip length.
Silver	4-star (Egyptian licence)	About 3-star by US or European standards	More space, better upkeep, and usually a pool. A proper breakfast buffet, a restaurant and often a bar. Closer to what a European or American traveller pictures when they hear ‘mid-range hotel’. Some properties offer a Nile or pool view. Still not luxurious, and not pretending to be.	Travellers who want the budget itinerary and the budget price but would rather not compromise much on where they sleep. The usual choice for first-time visitors and for anyone travelling in the summer heat.

Where Bronze and Silver sit in the full range

Bronze	≈ 2.5-star	Budget tours
Silver	≈ 3-star	Budget tours
Gold	≈ 3.5-star	Standard and classic tours
Platinum	≈ 4-star	Deluxe tours
Diamond	≈ 4.5-star	Ultra deluxe tours
Elite	≈ 5-star	Luxury tours

Choosing your budget tour

By land, no cruise

Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and Alexandria by road and sleeper train. The cheapest way to see the most, and the shortest trips available.

Tour	Duration	Tour type	From
4 Day Egypt Budget Tour: Cairo & Luxor	4 days	Private	$575
5-Day Cairo & Alamein Budget Tour	5 days	Private	$615
5 Day Egypt Budget Tour: Cairo, Alexandria and Luxor	5 days	Private	$705
6 Day Egypt Budget Tour: Cairo, Alexandria and Luxor	6 days	Private	$815
6 Day Cairo Luxor Aswan Budget Tour	6 days	Private	$895
7 Day Egypt Budget Tour: Cairo, Alexandria and Luxor	7 days	Group	$870
8 Day Egypt Budget Tour: Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor and Aswan	8 days	Group	$1,080
9 Day Egypt Budget Tour: Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor and Aswan	9 days	Group	$1,230
10 Day Egypt Budget Tour: Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor and Aswan	10 days	Group	$1,285
Egypt Hidden Gems in 15 Days by Land	15 days	Group	$1,975

With a Nile cruise

A 3-night cruise between Aswan and Luxor, calling at Kom Ombo and Edfu. The cruise replaces two hotel nights, so it costs less extra than you would expect.

7-Day Egypt Budget Tour with Nile Cruise	7 days	Group	$935
8 Day Egypt Budget Tour with Nile Cruise	8 days	Group	$985
9-Day Egypt Budget Tour with Nile Cruise	9 days	Group	$1,120
10 Day Egypt Budget Tour with Nile Cruise	10 days	Group	$1,210
14 Day Egypt Budget Tour with Nile Cruise	14 days	Group	$1,550

With a felucca

A traditional sailing boat instead of a cruise ship. Simpler than a cruise — you sleep on deck under blankets rather than in a cabin — and cheaper, with a very different atmosphere.

11 Day Egypt Budget Tour with Nile Cruise & Hurghada	11 days	Group	$1,270
12 Day Egypt Budget Tour: Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and Hurghada	12 days	Group	$1,315
12 Day Egypt Budget Tour with Nile Cruise & Red Sea	12 days	Group	$1,320
13 Day Egypt Budget Tour with Nile Cruise & Hurghada	13 days	Group	$1,430
15 Day Egypt Budget Tour: Cairo, Hurghada, Luxor and Aswan	15 days	Group	$1,650
15-Day Egypt Budget Tour with Nile Cruise & Red Sea	15 days	Group	$1,650

What budget means in practice

Where the savings come from. Bronze or Silver hotels instead of five-star. Sleeper trains instead of domestic flights. On trips of seven days and over, a small group of up to 16 sharing the vehicle and guide. Breakfast included and most other meals left to you.
Private under seven days. Every itinerary of six days or fewer runs as a private tour at the price shown — your own licensed Egyptologist, your own driver and vehicle, and nobody else’s timetable. Budget here means the hotel standard and the sleeper train, not sharing a coach with strangers.
Where they do not. Licensed Egyptologist guides on every sightseeing day, the same people who guide our premium tours. Entrance fees to every site in the itinerary. Airport meet and greet inside the arrivals hall. Air-conditioned vehicles. Nothing important is quietly removed to hit a price.
Included on every budget tour: accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis, all transfers, intercity transport, guided sightseeing with entrance fees, and all taxes and service charges.
Not included: international flights, the $30 visa on arrival, lunches and dinners unless the itinerary names them, drinks, tipping, optional excursions and travel insurance.
Domestic flights can be added to any itinerary in place of the sleeper train, at extra cost. Ask us for the difference on your dates.

Things to know

About the sleeper train

The overnight train between Cairo and Luxor or Aswan is how these tours stay affordable, and it is the single thing most worth understanding before you book.

You travel in a private two-berth cabin with a washbasin; toilets are shared at the end of the carriage
Dinner and a light breakfast are served in the cabin
It saves a hotel night as well as the airfare, which is why the sums work
Trains can run late; we build the following morning around that
If you would rather fly, tell us at enquiry and we will price the upgrade

Private or small group — it depends on the length

The dividing line is seven days, and it applies across the whole site rather than only to budget tours:

Under 7 days — private. Your own licensed Egyptologist, your own driver and vehicle, at the price shown. Six of the itineraries on this page fall here.
7 days and over — small group capped at 16, sharing the vehicle and the guide. That sharing is part of why the longer trips stay affordable.
Any group itinerary can be run privately for a supplement — ask us for the figure on your dates.

Visa on arrival

Most nationalities buy a 30-day tourist visa on arrival at the airport for $30 per person, paid in cash, and it is not included in any tour price. Many nationalities can also apply for an e-visa in advance. Check current requirements with the Egyptian embassy in your country before you travel.

Meals and what to budget on top

Breakfast is included every day. Lunches and dinners are included only where the itinerary names them, which keeps the headline price down and leaves you free to eat cheaply. Egypt is inexpensive for food: budget roughly $10 to $20 a day for meals outside the tour, more if you want wine.

Tipping

Not included and entirely at your discretion, but it matters to the people looking after you. A working guide:

Tour guide, full day — $15 to $20 per person per day
Driver, full day — $3 to $5 per person per day
Representative or tour leader — $3 to $5 per person per day
Nile cruise crew — $5 to $10 per person per night

Best time to travel

October to April is the comfortable season and the expensive one. May to September is hot in Upper Egypt — often above 40°C — but noticeably cheaper and much quieter at the monuments. If you are travelling in summer on a budget, we would steer you to Silver rather than Bronze, because air conditioning and a pool stop being a luxury.

4 Day Egypt Budget Tour: Cairo and Luxor by Sleeper Train

From$575Start From

4 Days / 3 Nights

Availability : Every Day

5 Day Egypt Budget Tour: Cairo, Alexandria And Luxor

5 Day Egypt Budget Tour: Cairo, Luxor and Alexandria by Sleeper Train

From$680Start From

5 Days / 4 Nights

Availability : Every Day

5 Day Cairo Alexandria and El Alamein Budget Tour: Pyramids and the 1942 Battlefield

From$615Start From

5 Days / 4 Nights

Availability : Every Day

6 Day Egypt Budget Tour: Cairo, Alexandria And Luxor

6 Day Cairo Alexandria and Luxor Budget Tour: Pyramids, Tombs and Sea

From$780Start From

6 Days / 5 Nights

Availability : Every Day

6 Day Cairo Luxor Aswan Budget Tour

From$895Start From

6 Days / 5 Nights

Availability : Every Day

6 Day Egypt Budget Tour: Cairo, Luxor And Felucca Cruise

6 Day Egypt Budget Tour with Felucca Cruise: Cairo, Aswan & Luxor

From$790Start From

6 Days / 5 Nights

Availability : Every Day

7 Day Egypt Budget Tour: Cairo, Alexandria And Luxor

7 Day Cairo Alexandria and Luxor Budget Tour: Pyramids, Luxor by Train and Sea

From$870Start From

7 Days / 6 Nights

Availability : Every Day

7-Day Egypt Budget Tour With Nile Cruise

From$935Start From

7 Days / 6 Nights

Availability : Every Day

Egypt Budget Tour With Nile Cruise In 8 Days

8 Day Egypt Budget Tour With Nile Cruise

From$985Start From

8 Days / 7 Nights

Availability : Every Day

8 Day Egypt Budget Tour: Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor And Aswan

From$1,080Start From

8 Days / 7 Nights

Availability : Every Day

9 Day Egypt Budget Tour: Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor And Aswan

From$1,230Start From

9 Days / 8 Nights

Availability : Every Day

Egypt Budget Tour With Nile Cruise In 9 Days

9-Day Egypt Budget Tour With Nile Cruise

From$1,120Start From

9 Days / 8 Nights

Availability : Every Day

10 Day Egypt Budget Tour: Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor And Aswan

From$1,285Start From

10 Days / 9 Nights

Availability : Every Day

10 Day Egypt Budget Tour With Nile Cruise

From$1,210Start From

10 Days / 9 Nights

Availability : Every Day

10 Day Egypt Budget Tour: Cairo, Hurghada and Felucca Cruise

From$1,100Start From

10 Days / 9 Nights

Availability : Every Day

Egypt Budget Tour With Nile Cruise In 11 Days

11 Day Egypt Budget Tour With Nile Cruise & Hurghada

From$1,270Start From

11 Days / 10 Nights

Availability : Every Day

12 Day Egypt Budget Tour: Cairo, Luxor, Aswan And Hurghada

From$1,315Start From

12 Days / 11 Nights

Availability : Every Day

12 Day Egypt Budget Tour With Nile Cruise & Red Sea

From$1,320Start From

12 Days / 11 Nights

Availability : Every Day

Egypt Budget Tour With Nile Cruise In 13 Days

13 Day Egypt Budget Tour With Nile Cruise & Hurghada

From$1,430Start From

13 Days / 12 Nights

Availability : Every Day

Egypt Budget Tour With Nile Cruise In 14 Days

14 Day Egypt Budget Tour With Nile Cruise

From$1,550Start From

14 Days / 13 Nights

Availability : Every Day

15 Day Egypt Budget Tour: Cairo, Alexandria, Hurghada, Luxor And Aswan

15 Day Egypt Budget Tour: Cairo, Hurghada, Luxor And Aswan

From$1,650Start From

15 Days / 14 Nights

Egypt Budget Tour With Nile Cruise In 15 Days

15-Day Egypt Budget Tour With Nile Cruise & Red Sea

From$1,650Start From

15 Days / 14 Nights

Availability : Every Day

Egypt Hidden Gems In 15 Days By Land For Budget Travelers

From$1,975Start From

15 Days / 14 Nights

Availability : Every Day

Top Egypt Travel Deals - Up to 10% Discount

At Egypt Best Vacations, we’re making this magic even more irresistible with unforgettable Egypt deals on our most popular Egypt tour packages, Nile cruises, and day tours!

Check our Deals

Our Travelers Reviews

What Customers Say About Us

      
   Egypt Best Vacations
   129 Tripadvisor reviews 
  Write a review 
  
 
 
   
 
 
       Posted on Tripadvisor  
    Vivian H 
 
 
 
 Verified Mid-tier Lake Nasser Cruise
Just finished the Lake Nasser Cruise mid tier with Egypt Best Vacation. Highly recommend. Food and service are better than 5-star hotels in USA. Had a wonderful relaxing time.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
    Momaleoale 
 
 
 
 Verified Family travel in Egypt
Thank you for this amazing trip! Everything was perfectly organized, from our arrival at the airport to the day we returned home. The Nile cruise was wonderful, our guide in Cairo was excellent, and we couldn’t have asked for anything better. The choice of restaurants and the excursions were also outstanding. Thank you for making this experience so special for our whole family! ❤️)
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
    Destination732328 
 
 
 
 Verified Fantastic 8-day private tour of Egypt – highly recommended!
Fantastic 8-day private tour of Egypt – highly recommended! We recently returned from an amazing 8-day private tour of Egypt with Egypt Best Vacations, and we couldn't be happier with our experience! Our trip included Cairo, Aswan, Abu Simbel, a 3-night Nile cruise, Luxor and Giza. Everything was organised in advance, including domestic flights, hotels, transfers, transport, entrance tickets and private guides. From the moment we arrived, everything ran smoothly. The drivers were punctual, professional and reliable, and the whole trip was very well coordinated. A special mention goes to our guide in Cairo and Giza, Mina, who was incredibly knowledgeable, friendly and professional. He made our visits particularly enjoyable, sharing interesting information and answering all our questions. We were also very happy with everyone involved throughout the trip, including our guides, drivers and airport representatives, who helped make the whole experience so smooth and stress-free. Cairo Airport was quite chaotic, but having a representative from the agency there to assist us made the process much easier, and we really appreciated their help. Overall, we had a fantastic experience and felt well looked after throughout the entire trip. Everything was very well organised, allowing us to enjoy Egypt without having to worry about the logistics. We wouldn't hesitate to recommend Egypt Best Vacations to anyone planning a trip to Egypt. Highly recommended – definitely 5 stars from us!
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
    Eric E 
 
 
 
 Verified Egypt Best Vacations is aptly named
We spent 10 days in Egypt with our friends. The entire trip was coordinated by Egypt Best Vacations. From the beginning, the communication was superb. We felt like we were coddled throughout the trip starting with Tarik who met us at the airport and facilitated and expedited the immigration process, to Karim who drove us safely everywhere around Cairo. Our guide Abdel was friendly, knowledgeable and passionate about Egyptian history, and made our experience very enjoyable. Seeing the pyramids in Giza, and visiting the new Grand Egyptian Museum was spectacular. We then flew south to Upper Egypt where Ahmed met us and guided us from Abu Simbel to Aswan and ultimately on our Nile River dahabeya cruise to Luxor. Kamal did a great job driving us in Upper Egypt, and we felt extremely safe along the way. Ahmed’s knowledge of Egyptian history is astounding, and he could easily be a professor on the subject. The entire trip was curated and coordinated by Essam who even came to meet us in Luxor, which was such a friendly gesture. We loved our Egyptian experience, and would absolutely recommend Egypt Best Vacations to anyone who is considering a trip to Egypt. There is no question that if we wanted to visit Egypt again, we would use this company and the entire crew again. This was a top notch company with top notch coordination.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
    Debbie T 
 
 
 
 Verified Wonderful Experience
Our tour with Egypt Best Vacations was truly an unforgettable trip. It was extremely well organized from airport pick up and drop off to getting us to every destination on a luxury bus. Our tour guide Essam was kind, knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and friendly. He went above and beyond to help us understand Egyptian history, culture and traditions. The Nile River cruise on the Dahabiya was amazing with an outstanding crew making everyone feel welcomed. I highly recommend Egypt best Vacations.!
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
    Kirby M 
 
 
 
 Verified Trip of a lifetime!
I truly cannot say enough wonderful things about this experience! From the moment we arrived in Cairo to our time in Luxor and four unforgettable days cruising the Nile River, every single detail was exceptional. Our incredible tour guide, Essam, and his associate, Ali, went above and beyond to make this journey extraordinary. Their knowledge of Egypt’s rich history, attention to detail, and genuine care for our safety and comfort made all the difference. The accommodations, the staff, the organization, and the seamless coordination of everything were absolutely outstanding. They even arranged unforgettable extras, including private ceremonies and a hot air balloon ride over Luxor, making an already magical experience even more special. I can say without hesitation that this was the best trip of my life. Egypt is a remarkable place, but experiencing it with this team took it to an entirely different level. I would recommend this company over and over and over again. Truly the trip of a lifetime!
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
    Galen H 
 
 
 
 Verified Amazing tour!
Our tour was so Awesome and our guide couldn’t have been better, he knew the answers for every question I asked and made it fun with his sense of humor. We started in Cairo, flew to Luxor and then sailed on a private cruise to Aswan. Seeing all the history, Pyramids and temples was incredible. Highly recommend Egypt Best Vacations!
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
    Giuseppe Z 
 
 
 
 Verified Spectacular vacation... excellent service..
Spectacular 10-day tour... maximum availability from the agency in tailoring the trip to our needs. From our arrival in Cairo, where they welcomed us and helped us with visas, to our departure for the return trip, we were followed in an excellent manner... my wife and I had a great time... We asked for guides who spoke Italian; Abram and Amro were 2 exceptional, helpful, and very knowledgeable guides... we felt pampered and never alone... thanks for everything.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
    AtlantaTraveller 
 
 
 
 Verified An unforgettable and beautifully orchestrated Egypt experience
An unforgettable and beautifully orchestrated Egypt experience We just returned from an incredible trip to Egypt with Egypt Best Vacations, and it was truly one of the most memorable journeys our family has taken. Egypt can feel overwhelming at first — the airports, early morning flights, cruise schedules, temple visits, Cairo traffic, tickets, transfers, and the sheer magnitude of history everywhere you go. But Egypt Best Vacations handled the logistics with impressive precision and made the entire experience feel effortless. That allowed us to be fully present and enjoy the trip instead of constantly worrying about the next step. Our journey began in Cairo and then continued to Luxor, where we boarded our Nile cruise to Aswan. Luxor was absolutely extraordinary. Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, and the Colossi of Memnon were all breathtaking. What made the visits even more meaningful was having a knowledgeable guide who could explain the history, symbolism, and significance behind what we were seeing. In Egypt, the right guide makes a huge difference — otherwise you are just looking at ancient stones without understanding the civilization behind them. The Nile cruise was another highlight. Sailing between Edfu, Kom Ombo, and Aswan gave the trip a beautiful rhythm. Philae Temple was stunning, and Abu Simbel was worth every minute of the early morning journey. Standing in front of those monumental temples is humbling and almost surreal. Back in Cairo, we visited the Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx, the Grand Egyptian Museum, Coptic Cairo, the Citadel, and Khan El-Khalili. Each place had its own character, from the grandeur of the pyramids to the spiritual depth of Coptic Cairo and the energy of the bazaar. The itinerary was ambitious, but it never felt chaotic because the team managed the details so well. What we appreciated most was the professionalism, responsiveness, and genuine care from Egypt Best Vacations. They were punctual, organized, flexible when needed, and clearly experienced in creating a smooth experience for travelers. For a first trip to Egypt, that kind of coordination is invaluable. I would highly recommend Egypt Best Vacations to anyone planning to visit Egypt. They helped turn a complex itinerary into a seamless, enriching, and unforgettable adventure.

Our Travel Inspiration Tips & Guides

We share where to Eat, Shop, and what to Visit around Egypt.

Is Egypt Safe to Visit in 2027? An Honest Answer from a Luxor-Based Egyptologist

Last updated: October 2026 · By Essam Ali, Egyptologist, Luxor Short answer: yes. Is Egypt safe to visit?...

Read Article

GEM VS Egyptian Museum (Tahrir): Which Should You Visit?

The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) and the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square are two different museums, about...

Read Article

Grand Egyptian Museum Tickets & Prices 2026: The Complete Guide

Grand Egyptian Museum tickets cost EGP 1,590 (around $33 USD) for foreign adults in 2026, with discounted...

Read Article

See All Blog Articles

Related FAQs About Egypt Budget Tours

Most Asked Questions about Egypt Budget Vacation Packages

How much does an Egypt budget tour cost?

From $575 per person for four days covering Cairo and Luxor, up to $1,975 for fifteen days. A week costs roughly $870 to $935 depending on whether you want a Nile cruise. Prices are per person sharing and include accommodation, guided sightseeing, entrance fees, transfers and intercity transport.

What are the hotels actually like?

Budget tours use Bronze or Silver accommodation. Bronze is licensed 3-star in Egypt, which is realistically about a 2.5-star by US or European standards: a clean en-suite room with air conditioning, simple breakfast, dated fittings, often no pool. Silver is licensed 4-star in Egypt, realistically about a 3-star in the West: more space, better upkeep, usually a pool and a restaurant. Egyptian stars are awarded on facilities rather than service and finish, which is why we publish both figures instead of only the flattering one.

Why do you show two star ratings for the same hotel?

Because the Egyptian license and the traveler’s expectation are two different things. A hotel can hold an Egyptian 4-star license on the strength of having a restaurant and a pool while its rooms and service would rate three stars in Europe. Most operators quote the Egyptian figure and let you find out on arrival. We would rather set the expectation correctly before you book.

What is the difference between Bronze and Silver?

Roughly one Western star, and it is most noticeable in room condition, whether there is a pool, and how well the air conditioning works. Bronze suits travellers who use the hotel only to sleep and shower. Silver suits anyone who wants somewhere pleasant to come back to, and we recommend it for summer travel and for first-time visitors.

Can I upgrade the hotels?

Yes. Any budget itinerary can be quoted on Gold, which is roughly a 3.5-star by Western standards, and upward through Platinum, Diamond and Elite — Elite being a genuine international 5-star. Bronze and Silver are the two tiers we use on budget tours; the four above them are the same tiers you will see on our standard and luxury itineraries. Tell us the itinerary and your dates and we will price the difference.

Are domestic flights included?

No. Budget tours travel between Cairo and Upper Egypt by overnight sleeper train, which saves both the airfare and a hotel night. That is a large part of why these tours cost what they do. Flights can be substituted on any itinerary for an additional cost.

What is the sleeper train like?

You travel in a private two-berth cabin with a washbasin, with shared toilets at the end of the carriage. Dinner and a light breakfast are served in the cabin. It is comfortable rather than luxurious, it is a genuine part of the experience, and Egyptian trains do sometimes run late, so we plan the following morning with that in mind.

Are these private or group tours?

It depends on the length. Every itinerary under seven days runs as a private tour at the price shown — your own licensed Egyptologist, your own driver and vehicle. That covers six of the trips on this page, starting at $575. Trips of seven days and over run as a small group capped at 16, because sharing the vehicle and guide is part of what keeps the longer itineraries affordable. Any group itinerary can be run privately for a supplement — ask us.

A private tour on a budget price — what is the catch?

None, but be clear about what you are buying. On a short budget tour you get the private vehicle, the private guide and the flexible timings; what you do not get is a five-star hotel or a domestic flight. The savings come from Bronze or Silver accommodation and, on the longer routes, the sleeper train. We would rather give you a private guide in a three-star hotel than a shared coach and a nicer lobby.

Which meals are included?

Breakfast every day. Lunches and dinners only where the itinerary names them. Egypt is cheap for food, so leaving meals out keeps the headline price down and lets you eat where you like — budget roughly $10 to $20 a day.

Are entrance fees included?

Yes, to every site named in your itinerary. Special-access tickets bought separately at the gate — going inside a pyramid chamber at Giza, or the tombs of Seti I, Ramses V and VI and Tutankhamun in the Valley of the Kings — are not included, and your guide can arrange them on the day.

Do I need a visa, and how much is it?

Most nationalities buy a 30-day tourist visa on arrival for $30 per person in cash, or apply for an e-visa online in advance. It is not included in any tour price. Check the current requirements for your nationality with the Egyptian embassy in your country.

Which budget tour should I choose?

Start with how long you have. Under a week and you are choosing between Cairo with Luxor or Cairo with Alexandria. A week or more opens up Aswan and Abu Simbel, and it is worth adding the Nile cruise, which replaces two hotel nights and so costs less extra than you would expect. Ten days or more lets you finish on the Red Sea. The four groupings on this page are arranged that way.

Is a budget tour a good idea for a first visit to Egypt?

Yes. The itineraries cover the same monuments as our more expensive tours with the same licensed Egyptologist guides. What changes is the hotel standard and the sleeper train instead of a flight. If it is your first visit and you are unsure, take Silver rather than Bronze — it is a modest difference in price and the single upgrade that most affects how the trip feels.

Are budget tours suitable for solo travellers?

They work well either way. On the shorter private tours you get a guide to yourself, which suits solo travellers who want to ask questions rather than queue for them. On the longer group tours you get people to travel with. A single room carries a supplement on any itinerary since you are not sharing — ask us for the figure on your dates. If you are happy to share, tell us and we will try to match you with another solo traveller on the same departure.

Is Egypt safe for budget travellers?

The main tourist areas are well established and heavily visited, and travelling on a budget does not change where you go or how you are looked after. You will have a licensed guide with you on sightseeing days and a driver we know personally.

When should I book?

Three to six months ahead for October to April, when demand is highest. Summer departures can often be booked closer in and cost noticeably less, if you can take the heat.