Egypt Travel FAQ: 25 Questions Answered Honestly

Yes. The main tourist areas — Cairo, Giza, Luxor, Aswan, the Red Sea coast, and the Nile corridor —

are safe and well-established for international visitors. Egypt receives over 15 million tourists annually,

and the infrastructure for tourism is extensive.

The areas that require caution are the North Sinai peninsula (near the Israeli and Gazan borders) and

parts of the Libyan border region in the Western Desert. None of these are on a standard Egypt

itinerary. The sites, cities, and routes covered in this website are not in these areas.

Current travel advisories: the UK Foreign Office, US State Department, and Australian DFAT all list

Egypt as a destination requiring normal tourist precautions in the main tourist areas, with specific

advisories for North Sinai. Check your government's current advisory before travel — these can

change.

Most nationalities require a visa to enter Egypt. The most convenient option for most travellers is the

Egypt e-Visa, available online before departure at visa2egypt.gov.eg. The e-Visa costs approximately

$25 USD, is issued for 30 days single entry or 90 days multiple entry, and is approved within 3–7

business days. Print a copy or download it to your phone.

Citizens of some countries (Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, UAE) can enter without a

visa. Citizens of South Korea and selected other countries can obtain a visa on arrival at Cairo airport.

Check the current list at the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website — it updates periodically.

↗ Egypt visa application portal

No vaccinations are legally required to enter Egypt from most countries. The following are

recommended by travel medicine clinics for Egypt visits: Hepatitis A (food and water-borne, standard

for most developing countries), Typhoid (same reasoning), and ensuring your routine vaccinations are

up to date (MMR, tetanus, diphtheria).

Malaria: Egypt is not a malaria-risk country. No antimalarials are needed for a standard Egypt itinerary.

COVID-19 requirements: as of 2026, no COVID-19 documentation is required to enter Egypt. Check

current requirements before travel as these can change.

Consult a travel medicine clinic or your GP at least 4–6 weeks before departure. The above is general

information, not medical advice.

No. Drink bottled or filtered water throughout Egypt. Tap water in Cairo, Luxor, and Aswan is treated

but not reliably safe for travellers unaccustomed to the local bacteria. Bottled water is available

everywhere and inexpensive (approximately 5 EGP for a 1.5-litre bottle). Use bottled water for brushing

teeth as well.

Ice in tourist restaurants and hotels is typically made from filtered water and is generally safe. Street

food ice is less reliable.

October through April. November, December, and February are the most comfortable months —

daytime temperatures in Cairo and Luxor are 20–25°C, evenings are cool, and the Nile Valley sites are

manageable in direct sun.

March and April warm up quickly and can be dusty (the khamsin, a hot desert wind, blows intermittently

in spring). May through September is extremely hot — surface temperatures at the Giza Plateau

exceed 40°C by midday. If you must visit in summer, start sites before 8:00 am and be inside by noon.

The Red Sea (Hurghada, Marsa Alam, Sharm el-Sheikh) is warm year-round and can be visited in any

month. July and August are the high season for Red Sea beach tourism from Gulf and European

visitors.

Yes. Standard travel insurance covering medical evacuation and trip cancellation is strongly

recommended. Medical care in central tourist areas is reasonable, but serious injuries or illness may

require medical evacuation. Egypt's tourist hospitals are adequately equipped for most situations; rural

clinics are not.

Ensure your policy covers: emergency medical treatment, medical evacuation, trip cancellation, and

personal liability. Mention any adventure activities (hot air balloon, diving, desert excursions) when

purchasing — some policies exclude these by default.

Highly variable. A rough breakdown for a 7-day private-guided trip including flights from Europe, midrange hotels, private guides, entrance fees, and domestic flights:

• International flights (Europe to Cairo return): £400–800 / €450–900 / $500–1,000 USD

• Accommodation (mid-range hotels, per person sharing): £50–100 / €55–115 per night

• Private guided tours (day rate, per person): £80–150 / €90–170

• Entrance fees (7-day trip total, per person): approximately £50–80 / €55–90

• Domestic flights (e.g. Cairo–Luxor–Aswan): £50–120 / €55–135 return

• Food and incidentals (per day): £20–40 / €22–45

Total for a 7-day trip (per person, sharing, mid-range): approximately £800–1,400 / €900–1,600,

excluding international flights. Budget travellers staying in guesthouses and using shared tours can do

the same trip for significantly less. Luxury hotels and private Nile cruises push the total higher.

Egyptian pounds (EGP). As of early 2026, the approximate exchange rate is 50–55 EGP to 1 USD /

62–68 EGP to 1 GBP / 52–57 EGP to 1 EUR (check current rates before travel — the pound has been

volatile).

ATMs are widely available in Cairo, Luxor, and Aswan and dispense Egyptian pounds. Use bank ATMs

rather than exchange kiosks for the best rates. Most hotels, restaurants, and tourist shops accept USD

and EUR in addition to EGP, but often at unfavourable rates.

Card payments: accepted at most hotels, tourist restaurants, and larger shops. The Grand Egyptian

Museum, Cairo Pyramids, and major Luxor sites now accept card for entrance tickets. Khan el-Khalili

and smaller vendors are cash only. Carry EGP for day-to-day expenses.

Yes. Tipping (baksheesh) is deeply embedded in Egyptian service culture and forms a significant part

of income for guides, drivers, hotel staff, and site assistants. The following are standard:

• Egyptologist guide: 100–200 EGP per person per day (approximately $2–4 USD), or more for

exceptional service

• Driver: 50–100 EGP per day

• Hotel porter/housekeeping: 20–50 EGP

• Restaurant: 10–15% of bill if not included

• Washroom attendants at sites: 5–10 EGP

Carry small denomination notes (20, 50 EGP) for tipping throughout the day. Your guide will not ask for

tips but will appreciate them — the tip is a meaningful acknowledgment of a good day.

Three options: domestic flights, overnight train, or Nile cruise (for the Luxor–Aswan leg).

Domestic flights: 1 hour Cairo–Luxor, 50 minutes Cairo–Aswan, 50 minutes Luxor–Aswan. EgyptAir is

the main carrier; Air Arabia Egypt and Nile Air also operate these routes. Book in advance during peak

season (November–February). Add 2.5–3 hours total for airport transfers and check-in on each end.

Overnight train (Cairo–Luxor–Aswan): the Abela Egypt sleeper train runs nightly, with 1st-class sleeper

cabins that are comfortable and reasonable. The journey takes approximately 10 hours Cairo–Luxor,

13–14 hours Cairo–Aswan. Tickets sell out in high season — book through your guide or a reputable

agent rather than at the station.

Nile cruise (Luxor–Aswan only): a 4-night cruise between the two cities is the third option, seeing Edfu

and Kom Ombo along the way. This is not a faster route — it is a different experience.

Technically yes; in practice, not recommended for first-time visitors. Egyptian traffic, particularly in

Cairo, is governed by informal rules that take considerable local experience to navigate safely. Road

conditions between cities vary. There are police checkpoints on main intercity routes where foreign

driving licences are checked.

Private car with a driver — arranged through your tour operator — is the standard and significantly

more comfortable option. Costs are modest (150–250 EGP per hour for a private car with driver in

Cairo) and the logistical weight is removed entirely.

Yes. Uber operates in Cairo, Luxor, and Aswan. Careem (now Uber-owned) also operates and is widely

used. Both are reliable, metered, and significantly easier than negotiating with unmetered taxis.

Download both apps before arrival.

Airport transfers: Uber and Careem pick up from Cairo International Airport arrivals (Terminal 1 and 2).

Agree the pick-up point with your driver in the app — the airport is large and drop-off zones change.

Egypt is a predominantly Muslim country and dress expectations are conservative, particularly outside

tourist areas and at religious sites.

At Islamic Cairo sites (mosques, Al-Azhar, Khan el-Khalili area): shoulders and knees covered for all

genders. Women entering mosques should have their hair covered — a light scarf carried in a bag

covers this.

At Coptic Cairo sites (churches, monastery): similar modesty expectations. Shoulders covered.

At Giza, the GEM, and archaeological sites: no specific dress requirement, though comfortable,

covered clothing makes the sun more manageable.

At hotels, tourist restaurants, and the Red Sea coast: Western dress is entirely normal. Bikinis and

swimwear at hotel pools and Red Sea beaches are standard.

The practical solution: lightweight trousers or long skirts and shirts with sleeves that can be rolled up. A

small scarf. The climate makes heavy covering unnecessary — linen and cotton breathe well in the

heat.

Generally yes, with exceptions. Cameras and phones are permitted throughout the Giza Plateau, the

Grand Egyptian Museum, most Luxor and Aswan sites, and the Nile cruise experience.

Exceptions: some tombs in the Valley of the Kings charge a separate photography fee (approximately

300 EGP). The interior of the Great Pyramid prohibits photography. Some tomb paintings are protected

from flash photography — the restrictions are posted at the entrance.

Drone photography: prohibited without a permit from the Egyptian authorities. This is strictly enforced at

the Giza Plateau and other major monuments. Do not attempt to fly a drone at any archaeological site

without advance written permission.

At Khan el-Khalili and other traditional markets: yes. The first price quoted is negotiating position, not

the selling price. Counteroffer at 40–50% of the asking price and settle somewhere in between. This is

expected and the interaction is generally friendly — the vendor will not be offended by a reasonable

counter.

At fixed-price shops, hotels, and restaurants: no. Prices are as displayed.

At archaeological sites: vendor prices outside sites are negotiable. Entrance ticket prices are fixed

An Egyptologist is a specialist in ancient Egyptian history, language, archaeology, and culture —

typically holding a university degree in Egyptology or Archaeology and licensed by the Egyptian

Ministry of Tourism. Our guides are all licensed Egyptologist guides with a minimum of 10 years'

working experience at the sites.

The difference between an Egyptologist guide and a standard tourist guide is significant in practice. An

Egyptologist explains the mythological and historical context of what you're seeing: the political reasons

Karnak was expanded by successive pharaohs, the meaning of specific hieroglyphic inscriptions, the

identity of the figures depicted in the tomb paintings. A tourist guide reads the same information that is

on the site signage.

All our tours are private. Your guide is assigned exclusively to your group for the duration of the tour —

you do not share the guide with other travellers. The vehicle is also private. This means the pace, the

depth of commentary, and the sites visited are entirely adapted to your group.

Group size: we serve groups of 1 to 20 people. Families, solo travellers, couples, and larger groups all

travel with a dedicated guide and vehicle. Pricing is per tour, not per person for most packages.

For travel in peak season (November through February): 2–3 months in advance is recommended,

particularly for Nile cruise packages and popular departure dates.

For travel in shoulder season (March, April, October): 4–6 weeks is generally sufficient.

For summer travel (May through September): 2–4 weeks is usually adequate as demand is lower.

The Grand Egyptian Museum requires timed-entry tickets that sell out in advance during peak season.

We manage ticket procurement as part of the booking.

Our standard cancellation policy: cancellations made 30 or more days before the tour start date receive

a full refund. Cancellations 15–29 days before: 50% refund. Cancellations within 14 days: no refund.

We strongly recommend travel insurance that covers trip cancellation — this is the mechanism for full

refund in cases of unforeseen circumstances (illness, family emergency, flight cancellation).

Full cancellation policy is provided at the time of booking.

Yes. Airport transfers are included in all package tours and available as a standalone service. Our

driver meets you at arrivals with a name board, manages your luggage, and delivers you directly to

your hotel. For Cairo International Airport, allow 30–60 minutes for the transfer to central Cairo

depending on traffic.