I think Eygpt is safe for tourists, bar the odd terrorist (very serious) incident. On a global scale it is not exactly "easy" but it is certainly possible to travel without one single tour. You can pick up day tours and day cruises on the Nile, can take a taxi to places like the Pyramids and fly or go on the train between Cairo, Luxor and Aswan. People trying to sell you stuff, haggling for taxis etc, can become very tiresome, but being whisked about on a bus all the time cuts you off a bit.