Egypt Itinerary: The Ultimate 2-Weeks Guide

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Are you planning a trip to Egypt but don’t only want to stay at an All Inclulsive Resort? I’ve got you. I have travelled all over the country and have put together my ultimate Egypt itinerary, covering all the best spots. The duration is set to about 2 weeks but can be adjusted depending on your preferences and availability.

Egypt is so much more than the pyramids and the Red Sea – from the unique Siwa Oasis to the ancient temples of Luxor, this guide covers it all. 

blonde woman looking at a statue and pyramid in the distance

1. Cairo, 3-5 days

2. Siwa Oasis, 2-4 days

3. Luxor, 3-4 days

4. Aswan, 2-3 days

5. Hurghada, Marsa Alam and/or Sharm El Sheik, 3-6 days

1. Cairo, 3-5 days

Being the capital of Egypt, you might first arrive to the country by flying here. But there’s also many flights going to Hurghada and Sharm El Sheik, so you could also start your trip from there. Nevertheless, Cairo is a must on your Egypt itinerary for sure – don´t skip it.

I have been to Egypt many times but during my round trip in January 2024, it was my first time visiting Cairo. In the past, I wasn’t sure, if I’d feel comfortable traveling there as a female solo traveler but turns out it’s one of my favourite cities in the world and I felt SO SAFE. 

It’s a city that never sleeps, even in the middle of the  night, there are so many people around, lots of shops and restaurants open. And there is SO MUCH to do and see here!

an open shop with numerous illuminated lanterns in the shop and on the stairs
lantern shop in Cairo old town
camels being ridden in the middle of the desert with a pyramid in the background
the pyramids of Giza

How to get to Cairo?

You can either take an International or domestic flight to Cairo. If you are starting your trip in Hurghada or Sharm El Sheik instead, you can easily take a “Go Bus”. The best bus company in Egypt, serving many destinations all over the country. I flew into Hurghada and took a direct go bus to Cairo, when I arrived.

Find flights to Cairo here:

Where to stay in Cairo?

I have stayed at a few places around Cairo and in my opinion, the best place to stay is somewhere In Giza with direct pyramid views. It’s not far to go to Cairo downtown and UBER is insanely cheap in Egypt. I personally stayed at the Great Pyramid Duo, with the WILDEST pyramid views. It´s also one of my favourite hidden gems in Egypt. 

Here are some more options with pyramid views for all budgets: 

Low budget stays & hostels:

Mid range stays & hotels:

Luxury stays & hotels:

What to do and see in Cairo? 

  • Pyramids (obviously)
  • Egyptian Museum (new and old)
  • El Khalili market
  • Citadel
  • Al Rifai Mosque
  • Cairo old town
  • Different places with pyramid views (airbnbs, restaurants etc.)
  • Al Azhar Mosque
  • The Cave Church
outdoor cafe in an old town with many illuminated lanterns hanging above the cafe between houses
Charming café in Cairo old town
woman sitting on a rooftop terrace with colourful carpets looking at the pyramids in the distance
The Great Pyramid Duo Airbnb

2. Siwa Oasis, 2-4 days

Next stop on your ultimate Egypt itinerary: Siwa Oasis

Known for its unique salt lakes, hot springs, desert and classical oasis, Siwa is getting more and more popular, BUT it is not visited by so many tourists yet, because it’s a pain to get there. Personally, I LOVED Siwa. Turned out to be one of my favourite places in Egypt and I am so glad I decided to visit. If you are interested to learn more about the Siwa Oasis, check out my ultimate Siwa Oasis guide.

There are so many amazing photo spots here and I loved exploring the ancient Shali fortress, float in a bunch of different salt lakes (which is one of the best bucketlist experiences in Egypt) and soaking in one of the many hot springs. 

Another highlight was a dinner in the desert, here you can see so many stars, it’s actually crazy. 

colourful carpets and other goods in a traditional mud house with the sun peaking over the edge
authentic local stores in Siwa
woman floating in a salt lake in a desert-like landscape with blue skies
famous salt lakes of the Siwa Oasis

How to get to the Siwa Oasis?

That’s the problem….It’s not super easy nor comfortable to get to Siwa. 

The most common option is to take a minibus from Cairo. I took the night minibus, which cost about 360 EGP at the time and took about 8 hours. There is also a “Go Bus” option but with a stop and bus change in Marsa Matruh. 

Every now and then, also small charter flights take place between Cairo and Siwa. But they are running quite irregularly and are, of course, also way more expensive than the minibus.

Alternatively, you can book a multi-day tour to the Siwa Oasis starting in Cairo, which includes transportation and everything else:

Where to stay in Siwa?

There are a bunch of options, suitable for all budgets. Compared to bigger cities, there are not so many luxury options here, which I consider a good thing.

I personally stayed at Seliyaa Siwa Inn Hotel, which is a great and unique place to stay at an affordable rate.

woman sitting on a hammock swing in the desert below a palmtree

Here are some other options to stay in Siwa for every budget:

Budget-friendly stays & hostels:

Mid-Range hotels:

Luxury lodges & stays:

What to do and see in Siwa?

  • Salt lakes (one of the best bucketlist experiences in Egypt)
  • One of the many hot springs
  • Shali fortress
  • Cleopatra springs
  • Mountain of the dead
  • Fatnas Island
  • Visit the desert
  • Oracle temple
woman overlooking an ancient town made of mud
Shali Fortress
A tuktuk driving on an unpaved road with palmtrees in the background and a clear spring in the foreground
Cleopatra springs

3. Luxor, 3-4 days

Luxor is a MUST on your Egypt itinerary. An insane amount of ancient temples and historic places are located in or very close to Luxor, which makes it a great destination to visit a bunch of places without having to move around too much. Visiting an ancient temple is one of the best bucket list experiences in Egypt and Luxor is the best places to do so.

Guides and salesmen at popular attractions and touristy markets here can be pretty annoying and hassle you a lot, but a friendly but very firm “No” will usually do the trick. 

I really enjoyed visiting Luxor, it’s many ancient sights as well as the local market, which is one of my favourite hidden gems in Egypt.

woman looking at the impressive columns at an ancient temple, sunrays coming through
Karnark temple, Luxor
a local vendor selling fresh fruit at a market including oranges and bananas
Luxor local market

How to get to Luxor?

I took a “Go Bus” overnight from Cairo, which took about 8 hours and cost 280 EGP back in 2024. Even though many people advised me to not take the bus, but train instead, I decided to go for the bus. It was a very comfy ride, been sleeping at least 7 of the 8 hours. The train from Cairo to Luxor is surprisingly expensive, so I decided to opt for the bus instead.

Where to stay in Luxor?

Where to stay in Luxor?

You might either visit Luxor as part of your Nile cruise or just stay a couple of nights in the area – I recommend at least 2-3 nights for the best bucket list experiences.

Here are some hotel options for every budget:

Budget-friendly stays & hostels:

Mid-range stays & hotels:

Luxury stays & hotels:

What to do and see in Luxor?

woman walking on the wooden boardwalk of a tomb with colourful paintings and hieropglyhs
Valley of the Kings
multiple colourful hot air balloons flying over fields and a temple
hot air balloon flight over the Valley of the Kings

4. Aswan, 2-3 days

It took me very long to decide, whether I would visit Aswan on my trip or not, but I’m so glad I did. The amazing views of the Nile, meeting massive sand dunes, the many islands and the colourful Nubian village, made it all worth it. 

Getting to Aswan on a budget is not quite possible and the cheapest and only option (apart from hiring a private driver or flying) is taking the train. But again, it´s very worth the effort. I LOVED Aswan and its authentic vibes and insanely beautiful nature. 

My only regret is not visiting the unique Abu Simbel temple further South of Aswan. I simply had very limited time, while working remotely and already had my return flight booked without being able to change the date. 

traditional sailing boat on the Nile with palmtree in the foreground and sand dunes in the back
traditional sailing boat in Aswan
colourful round house with lots of decorations and a palmtree in front
Kato Dool Resort

How to get to Aswan?

Getting to Aswan on a budget is not quite possible and the cheapest and only option (apart from hiring a private driver or flying) is taking the train.

The prices for foreigners were insanely increased last year and instead of 50 EGP a ticket costs now 600EGP upwards. That’s A LOT compared to for example “Go Bus” prices on much longer distances.I have done a lot of research, but there does not seem to be another good option. You can also fly from Cairo but prices are quite high.

Where to stay in Aswan?

I personally stayed at a small family-run guest house on Elephantine island, called Nile View Guest House. I enjoyed my stay there a lot, especially the Nile views from the porch. 

If I would visit again, I would probably stay at the Kato Dool hotel, with its colourful vibes and unique views of the Nile. Went there for dinner and was blown away by its views and design. 

Here are some others to consider for every budget:

Budget-friendly stays & hostels:

Mid-Range hotels:

Luxury lodges & stays:

What to do and see in Aswan?

  • Philae temple
  • Nubian Village
  • Elephantine island
  • Sehail island
  • Aswan Botanical garden
  • View point on the dunes 
  • Old Cataract hotel
  • Mafia Island
  • Dome of Abu Al-Hawa
  • Heissa Camp
woman sitting on a sand dune with views of a lush river with palm trees in the distance
Aswan viewpoint
image of a woman painted on the side of a colourful round house
Nubian village in Aswan

5. Hurghada, Marsa Alam and/or Sharm El Sheikh

At the end of this Egypt itinerary, it’s time for a couple of relaxing days along the Red Sea. 

Your best bets for some snorkeling, chilling at beautiful beaches and enjoying an all inclusive resort are Hurghada, Marsa Alam and Sharm El Sheikh and El Gouna.

Marsa Alam especially for the underwater world, but Sharm El Sheikh is great for that as well.  Marsa Alam is way smaller and not as busy. Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada are both very popular with tourists and most hotels are busy all year round. 

I have been to Hurghada several times and also stayed in El Gouna and Sharm El Sheikh before. As I have mainly been to Hurghada, I will focus on that below including some tips on El Gouna as well

How to get to Hurghada and El Gouna?

I took another direct “Go Bus” from Luxor to Hurghada for around 300 EGP. Great, as always. They leave from most bigger cities in Egypt. Hurghada also has an airport, so you could also take a domestic flight from another airport in Egypt. El Gouna is only about 30 kms North of Hurghada and can easily be reached by Uber or taxi.

Where to stay in Hurghada?

Here are also some personal recommendations of hotels in Hurghada & El Gouna I have recently stayed at or visited and loved:

But there are many, many more options for all budgets in all of these places. Search for hotel options in your preferred location here:

What to do and see in Hurghada?

And there’s many more tours to islands, the desert etc. from Hurghada:

three bottlenose dolphins swimming in the blue ocean
dolphins on the speedboat tour in Hurghada
woman standing on a sandbank surrounded by crstal clear blue ocean and blue skies
Magawish Island

I hope this blog post with the ultimate Egypt itinerary was helpful.

More Egypt blog posts to help plan your trip here:

cover with photos of different locations in Egypt
cover photo with different scenes from the Oasis
images of different locations in Egypt