Hello everyone,

I am planning a trip to Egypt and just need some advice. I essentially have slightly more than two weeks, so can afford to really pace myself. My plan so far is as below, and excludes days flying into/out of Egypt. Along the Aswan/Luxor/Cairo corridor I will only ever take sleeper trains, so have full days.

4 days in Cairo - 2 days downtown, 1 day in Giza, 1 day in Saqqara/distant pyramids (I'm sneaking a stay in the Giza area so I can see sunrise/sunset over the Pyramids)
2 days in Alexandria (technically two half-days because of transits back to Cairo)
3 days in Aswan - 1 in town, 1 to Abu Simbel, 1 to Kom Ombo
1 day transiting between Aswan and Luxor, stopping by Edfu
3 days in Luxor - 1 day Luxor/Karnak, 1 day West Bank, 1 day Abydos/Dendara
2 days in the Western Desert - Return tour from Cairo to White/Black Desert and the Valley of Whales

My questions:

1) Is there any point in doing Giza and the Saqqara pyramids on separate days, or should I just combine them together into one day on a taxi tour? I suppose this means I can take one day off of Cairo.
2) Do I really need the spare day in Aswan? Are there things to see and do inside Aswan the town itself?
3) Any other suggestions to tweak this? The only problem being that if I do end up having an extra day, I'm not entirely sure as to where to put it to good use. Perhaps an extra day in the Western Desert? Some companies offer the Crystal Mountains as an option for a third day, but I'm not particularly sure how spectacular they are, or if this is just milking the willing tourist.
4) I have various been offered US$600, $300 and then $150 for the 2D/1N trip to the Western Desert for 1 person. Has anyone been, and can suggest a reputable company? Or at least suggest what the median price was for such a tour?
5) Are the sleeper trains relatively reliable with regards to timing? The main reason being my Western Desert tour will start the morning I arrive in Cairo from Luxor on one of these.

Thanks in advance :-)

Hi oliveroliver. I'm not sure I'll be very useful on your specific questions as my guess is we enjoy somewhat different things, though there will obviously be some similarities in a place like Egypt.

Regarding the 2 pyramids sites, as you read I did them both in 1 day and if you book a guide, something I very rarely do but found it useful & enjoyable in this case, I'd say do them both. But I wouldn't spend 2 days of the few you have in Cairo.

Regarding things to do in Aswan, I just enjoy towns, don't need particular tourist sites to keep me happy but given the question this may be where our interests diverge and for which I have no advice for you. I recommend Philae Island & temple, also a felucca on the river which combines well with the botanic garden. But the town is very pleasant if you enjoy walking and people watching.

Other than that I think the trip report covers what I liked and the little I didn't. The Western Desert excursion sounds pretty expensive for what you're likely to find of interest. My understanding is it's been off limits to visitors for some time and infrastructure may be in worse shape than the more tourists areas which also tend toward the shabby. But it could be interesting nonetheless . Have a fine time!