Egypt, Cairo - Al-Azhar Mosque

Our route

Cairo - Alexandria - Cairo - Aswan - Abu Simbel - Aswan - Kom Ombo - Edfu - Luxor - Cairo

 

Egypt map

 

Transportation

Direct flight from Warsaw Chopin Airport to Cairo International Airport.

We used UBER in Cairo - super cheap and easy, but beware of traffic.

We took the night train from Cairo to Aswan (inc. breakfast and dinner - 80 USD) and then from Luxor to Cairo (inc. breakfast and dinner - 80 USD).

Our itinerary

Day 1 - 12.01.2023 - Cairo

  • arrive in the evening

Day 2 - 13.01.2023 - Giza

  • Cairo Highlights Tour - Pyramids and The Great Sphinx of Giza
  • visit to the Museum of Egyptian Civilisation
  • visit to the Khan el-Khalili market

Day 3 - 14.01.2023 - Cairo

  • visit to the Egyptian Museum

Day 4 - 15.01.2023 - Alexandria

  • all day Alexandria tour - visit to the The Catacombs of Kom el-Shuqqafa, Pompey's Pillar, Roman Theatre, Fort Qaitbey and The Bibliotheca Alexandrina

Day 5 - 16.01.2023 - Cairo

  • visit to the Citadel
  • visit to the Great Mosque of Muhammad Ali Pasha or Alabaster Mosque

Day 6 - 17.01.2023 - Cairo

  • exploring the downtown of Cairo
  • night train from Cairo to Aswan

Day 7 - 18.01.2023 - Aswan

  • exploring Aswan
  • visit to Aswan Market
  • sunset at Old Cataract Hotel

Day 8 - 19.01.2023 - Aswan

  • exploring the city
  • visit to the Aswan Market

Day 9 - 20.01.2023 - Aswan

  • boarding the Nile Cruise
  • visit to the High Dam in Aswan
  • visit to the Philae Temple

Day 10 - 21.01.2023 - Nile Cruise

  • early morning drive to Abu Simbel
  • visit to the Abu Simbel
  • Nile cruising
  • evening visit in Kom Ombo

Day 11 - 22.01.2023 - Nile Cruise

  • visit to the Edfu Temple
  • Nile cruising
  • afternoon visit the Luxor Temple

Day 12 - 23.01.2023 - Nile Cruise

  • visit to the Karnak Temple
  • visit to the Valley of the Kings
  • visit to the Hatsutep Temple

Day 13 - 24.01.2023 - Luxor

  • visit to the Luxor market
  • exploring the city

Day 14 - 25.01.2023 - Luxor

  • hot air balloon ride over the Valley of the Kings
  • visit to the Winter Palace Hotel
  • visit to the Luxor Museum
  • night train to Cairo

Day 15 - 26.01.2023 - Cairo

  • visit to the Al-Azhar Mosque
  • coffee at the El-Fishawy Cafe
  • visit and shopping at the Khan el-Khalili market

Day 16 - 27.01.2023 - Cairo

  • early morning flight to Warsaw
Egypt, Luxor - Hot air balloon over the Valley of the Kings

Travel essentials

 

TIPS:

  • tap water is NOT ok to drink - use bottled water to drink and to brush your teeth
  • keep small bills for tips - everyone expects bakshish
  • agree the price before the the ride - best to write it down!
  • best deals in Egypt all come down to negotiating like a pro - learn how to haggle 🙂
  • as in most muslim countries alcohol is only available in some hotels and restaurants

Our favourite local food

Egypt, Alexandria - Fried fish
Egypt, Cairo - Airport breakfast
Egypt, Cairo - Chicken wrap
Egypt, Cairo - Falafel station
Egypt, Cairo - Coffee
Egypt, Cairo - Mint tea at El-Fishawy Cafe, the country's oldest cafe
Egypt, Cairo - The night train breakfast
Egypt, Cairo - The night train dinner
Egypt, Cairo - Aish baladi (or eish baladi), the Egyptian version of pita bread
Egypt, Luxor - Bakery
Egypt, Aswan - Hotel breakfast
Egypt, Aswan - Steak dinner
Egypt, Aswan - Shrimp skewers
Egypt, Aswan - Stella beer
Egypt, Aswan - Baklava
Egypt, Aswan - The night train breakfast
Egypt, Aswan - The night train dinner
Egypt, Cairo - Stella beer
Egypt, Cairo - Tomatoes salad
Egypt, Cairo - Torshi, pickles
Egypt, Cairo - Shrimps
Egypt, Cairo - Shawarma place
Egypt, Cairo - Aish baladi (or eish baladi), the Egyptian version of pita bread
Egypt, Alexandria - Mint tea
Egypt, Cairo - Stella beer
Egypt, Cairo - Hotel breakfast
Egypt, Alexandria - Mango juice
Egypt, Alexandria - Torshi, pickles
Egypt, Alexandria - Fried aubergine
Egypt, Alexandria - Mezze
Egypt, Alexandria - Pickles and fried aubergine
Egypt, Cairo - Chicken wrap
Egypt, Cairo - Kebab
Egypt, Giza - Stew
Egypt, Giza - Torshi, pickles
Egypt, Giza - Hummus
Egypt, Cairo - Hotel breakfast

Egypt, Alexandria - Fried fish
Egypt, Cairo - Airport breakfast
Egypt, Cairo - Chicken wrap
Egypt, Cairo - Falafel station
Egypt, Cairo - Coffee
Egypt, Cairo - Mint tea at El-Fishawy Cafe, the country's oldest cafe
Egypt, Cairo - The night train breakfast
Egypt, Cairo - The night train dinner
Egypt, Cairo - Aish baladi (or eish baladi), the Egyptian version of pita bread
Egypt, Luxor - Bakery
Egypt, Aswan - Hotel breakfast
Egypt, Aswan - Steak dinner
Egypt, Aswan - Shrimp skewers
Egypt, Aswan - Stella beer
Egypt, Aswan - Baklava
Egypt, Aswan - The night train breakfast
Egypt, Aswan - The night train dinner
Egypt, Cairo - Stella beer
Egypt, Cairo - Tomatoes salad
Egypt, Cairo - Torshi, pickles
Egypt, Cairo - Shrimps
Egypt, Cairo - Shawarma place
Egypt, Cairo - Aish baladi (or eish baladi), the Egyptian version of pita bread
Egypt, Alexandria - Mint tea
Egypt, Cairo - Stella beer
Egypt, Cairo - Hotel breakfast
Egypt, Alexandria - Mango juice
Egypt, Alexandria - Torshi, pickles
Egypt, Alexandria - Fried aubergine
Egypt, Alexandria - Mezze
Egypt, Alexandria - Pickles and fried aubergine
Egypt, Cairo - Chicken wrap
Egypt, Cairo - Kebab
Egypt, Giza - Stew
Egypt, Giza - Torshi, pickles
Egypt, Giza - Hummus
Egypt, Cairo - Hotel breakfast

 

Favourite places to eat and drink

Cairo

Aleksandria

  • Branzino restaurant - nice waterfront restaurant

Aswan

Luxor

Egypt, Aswan - The Philae temple

Some prices

At the time of our travel:

100 Egyptian pound (EGP) = 3,06 euro = 14,57 zł (PLN)

Cairo

  • SIM card - 602 EGP
  • taxi from the airport to the hotel - 15 USD
  • Cairo Highlights Guided Tour (1/2 day, Pyramids, Great Sphinx, Kah el- Kahim Market - 120 USD)
  • Museum of Egyptian Civilisation - 240 EGP
  • Salah El Din Citadel and Alabaster Mosque - 200 EGP
  • Egyptian Museum - 200 EGP
  • Egyptian Museum Guide - 300 EGP per hour
  • single metro ticket - 5 EGP
  • XL chicken wrap - 50 EGP
  • black coffee - 51 EGP
  • latte - 60 EGP
  • chicken shawarma wrap - 75 EGP
  • day-trip to Alexandria with private guide - 100 USD
  • tabboule - 35 EGP
  • Stella beer - 125 EGP
  • Sakkara beer - 25 EGP
  • glass of house wine - 125 EGP
  • coffee - 60 EGP
  • pepsi - 30 EGP
  • shrimps and pasta at Pomodoro - 220 EGP
  • small bottle of water - 2,5 EGP
  • night train from Cairo to Aswan (inc. breakfast and dinner) - 80 USD
  • airport breakfast for 2 people - 615 EGP

Alexandria

  • whole day trip - 100 USD
  • The Pompey's Pillar - 80 EGP
  • The Bibliotheca Alexandrina - 70 EGP

Aswan

  • ticket to High Dam - 100 EGP
  • Philae Temple - 200 EGP
  • drinks at Old Cataract Hotel - 500 EGP per person (voucher against the bill)
  • taxi to the train station - 50 EGP

Kom Ombo

  • Kom Ombo Temple - 160 EGP
  • beer on the Nile cruise boat - 78 EGP

Edfu

  • Temple of Horus - 200 EGP

Luxor

  • Luxor Temple - 180 EGP
  • Karnak Temple - 220 EGP
  • Luxor Museum - 140 EGP
  • Valley of the Kings - 260 EGP
  • Hatshepsut Temple - 160 EGP
  • breakfast for 2 people - 215 EGP
  • falafel in the street bar - 10 EGP
  • 1/2 chicken grilled - 150 EGP
  • cola - 20 EGP
  • mint tea - 15 EGP
  • chicken sandwich - 40 EGP
  • breakfast set at Aboudi Coffee Break - 55 EGP
  • beer at Winter Palace Hotel - 150 EGP
  • cola at Winter Palace Hotel - 60 EGP
  • hot air balloon ride over the Valley of the Kings - 80 USD
  • night train from Luxor to Cairo (inc. breakfast and dinner) - 80 USD

 

Extra excursions

We booked all organised trips on the Viator website:

  • 1/2 day trip Cairo Highlights Guided Tour for 2 people (private car, guide, all entrance fees, lunch) - 120 USD
  • all day Alexandria trip for 2 people (private car, guide, all entrance fees, lunch) - 100 USD
  • Nile Cruise - (4-days/3-nights accomodation on the boat, transportation, entrance fees to the temples, 3 meals per day, private guide) - 400 USD per person