A 12-day Egypt Itinerary

Here's how I spent my 2 weeks in Egypt.

Day	Activity	Notes
Day 1	Fly into Cairo	I flew through Doha via Qatar. There is a $25 visa on arrival in USD cash
Day 2	Free day in Cairo	Visit pyramids, Grand Egyptian Museum, Khan Bazaar, Park
Day 3 - 4	Desert Camp	There's many operators, I found one on Viator for ~$150 for two days. Highly recommend, as the desert experience is quite different than anything else you'll do in Egypt. It is worth staying at least overnight, as it is a long drive from Cairo
Day 5	Fly to Aswan in AM - 3 hour layover Abu Simbel	Abu Simbel temples, free night in Aswan / Elephantine
Day 6	Free day in Aswan / Elephantine	Sail on Nile in a flucca, visit the botanical garden, get lost in a delightful Nubian village
Day 7	Transfer to Luxor via car	Stop at Kom Ombo, Edfu, Esna temples
Day 8	Explore Luxor West Bank	Valley of Kings and Queens and Tombs of the Nobles will take half a day (strongly recommend hiring a private driver - the locations are not walkable)
Day 9	Explore Luxor - East Bank	Visit Karnak Temple and Luxor temple. Take a goBus to Hurghada in late afternoon
Day 10-11	Makadi Bay resort in Hurghada	Snorkeling is right off the coast, no boat or tour needed
Day 12	Fly Home

Tips

Desert camping was one of the highlights of the trip. I booked mine on Viator
You can go by car, train, goBus, or cruise between Aswan and Luxor. If you go by car, hire a driver. The roads are not good and there are many military checkpoints. They do not bother you, but if you don't know Arabic it may be tough
Aswan is more of a stop to relax in, and the kickoff point for cruises. Luxor is where the neat temples and tombs are
For a different vibe, stay on Elephantine Island in Aswan, not on the mainland. You will notice the culture difference
The extra tickets to visit the tombs in Valley of the Kings and Queens are pricy, but worth it. They are remarkably well preserved, far better than the regular-ticket tombs
The Red Sea / Hurghada is all resorts neighboring each other. The beach is nothing to write home about, but in Makadi Bay the snorkeling is right offshore, so you do not need any extra trips.
Aside from hiring a driver for sightseeing/transportation, you do not need a guide or an organized group. However, do be prepared for the many street vendors
Dress conservatively, especially as a woman. No one will bother you if you have a male escort. If you don't...be prepared for annoying questions

Resources I used:

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