1

Also is there any left luggage in Aswan train station?

Thanks

2

Bear in mind:

a) you aren't likely to sleep on the trains - that's potentially 2 nights in a row without sleep,

b) they won't necessarily run to schedule - if they arrive a few hours late it will have a major impact on your trip.

And one day in Luxor (especially following a 14 hr + train journey) is a bit of a waste to say the least ... better to lose the extra day in Alex or shave one off Cairo. Ideally I'd say skip Alex with only 8 days but it sounds like you're arriving there?

If you want to go to in the 4am convoy I suggest the best option would be to try and book in advance through a hotel in Aswan but whether they'll do that without you staying with them I don't know. You could turn up at the convoy meeting point but the vehicles meeting there are coaches/minibuses booked by hotels and operators not public transport. Technically you need a permit to travel in advance. However the driver for another party may let you join a bus for some £ - there would be no guarantee though you might be left standing there.

3

I'll support itchyfeet on three important points.

Just because they are sleeper trains doesn't mean you'll actually sleep. I'm never able to sleep on those trains. A little bit of rest, maybe, but never sleep.

Luxor has a big footprint. You'll do a lot of walking. Trying to see or do anything useful on the short period of time on no sleep will be next to impossible and certainly not enjoyable.

We're all different and it's your trip, but there is little in Alex to compare with Luxor or Cairo. If it were my trip I'd skip spending anything but the bare minimum of time there in favor of an extra day in Luxor.

Good luck.

4

Thanks to both of you for your input. We've made some minor adjustments based on your recommendations and decided to stay just one night in Alex and two nights, three days in Luxor.
We went ahead and booked a hostel for a vital couple of hours kip in Aswan, but the main reason is so they should hopefully be able to arrange transport to Abu Simbel and keep a hold of our bags.
Just going back to delays in transport, how much of a delay is it likely to be. We've been delayed days in Bolivia before. It's not that bad is it?

5

Most of the time they run more or less on time, but since the revolution there have been occasional strikes or protests that can hold the trains up for fairly lengthy periods. Not multiple days though - and there'll generally be an alternative if the worst comes to the worst, though not a particularly safe or comfortable one (local busses).

6

elbear, I hope you have a great time in your travels around Egypt. One point which will help is to be prepared to make further 'minor adjustments' while you're on the move! As far as travel plans in Egypt go; the hope usually far outweighs the reality, but as long as you're prepared for that eventuality, and are willing and able to take any upsets in your stride, then you should be OK, insh'Allah!!!!
Good luck.

7

Considering your tight schedule and the fact that Abu Simbel seems to be the highlight of your trip, I think you should fly from Alexandria to Aswan, spend a day in Aswan, join the 4 AM tour to Abu Simbel (that's about 3 days altogether) and then take the train north, to Luxor (2-3 days) and Cairo (2-3 days). Good luck!!