Frequently asked questions about traveling to Egypt

For travel between October and April, start planning three to six months ahead, because the best Nile cruise cabins and hotels fill first in peak season. For the quieter months a few weeks is often enough, and short notice trips are possible too. Settle your dates and trip length first, then the cruise, then the details. Our step by step guide on how to plan a trip to Egypt walks through the order and timeline, and the Explora Egipto team can tell you what is still available for your dates.

Pack light, breathable clothing that covers your shoulders and knees, a warm layer for cool evenings and air-conditioned vehicles, comfortable walking shoes that handle sand and uneven stone, a hat, sunglasses and strong sunscreen. Add a scarf, which works for sun, dust and mosque visits, plus any prescription medication in its original packaging. Between December and February, desert mornings and Nile evenings can feel genuinely cold, so bring a light jacket. Our complete Egypt packing list by season covers every item.

Modest, comfortable clothing is the safest choice: loose pants or long skirts, and tops that cover the shoulders. Egypt is a conservative country, and while the Red Sea resorts are relaxed, cities, villages and religious sites are not. Women visiting mosques need to cover their hair, and everyone removes their shoes at the entrance. Shorts are acceptable for men at the temples but draw attention in Cairo neighborhoods. Our guide on what to wear in Egypt has practical outfit ideas for men and women.

Egypt uses the round two pin European plugs, types C and F, on a 220 volt supply. Travelers from the US need a plug adapter and should check that their chargers are dual voltage, which most phone and laptop chargers are. Hair dryers and straighteners built only for 110 volts need a converter or should stay at home. UK travelers need a simple adapter as well. A small power strip helps on cruise ships, where cabins often have few outlets. See our guide to power plugs in Egypt for the details.

Yes, US, UK, Canadian and most European travelers need a tourist visa, and there are two ways to get one. You can apply online for an e-visa before you fly, or buy a visa on arrival at the bank counters in Cairo airport before passport control, paying in cash in a major foreign currency. Both cover a single entry stay that suits a typical tour. Fees and rules change, so check the current details in our guide to Egypt visa requirements shortly before you travel.

Your passport should be valid for at least six months beyond your arrival date in Egypt and have at least one blank page for the visa sticker and entry stamps. Check this as soon as you start planning, since renewing a US or UK passport can take weeks in busy periods. Keep a photo of the data page on your phone and a paper copy in your luggage. Our Egypt travel checklist lists every document and when to prepare it.

After landing, you collect your visa if you did not apply online, pass passport control, pick up your bags and go through customs. Your Explora Egipto transfer waits in the arrivals hall and takes you straight to your hotel, so there is no need to negotiate with taxi drivers. Your trip with us starts on arrival in Egypt, and sharing your flight number lets the team follow any delay. Our Cairo airport arrival guide explains the terminals, the visa counters and what to expect.

Egypt uses the Egyptian pound, and you will want both cash and a card. Hotels, cruise ships, larger restaurants and many shops accept Visa and Mastercard, and ATMs are easy to find in cities and resort areas. Cash in local currency is still essential for tips, small cafes, markets, taxis and restrooms, and small notes are always in short supply, so keep a stock of them. Tell your bank before you travel. Our guide to Egyptian currency, cards and ATMs covers the practical details.

Banks, official exchange offices and hotel exchange desks give fair, regulated rates, and bank ATMs are usually the simplest option of all. Avoid anyone offering to change money in the street, and count your notes before you leave the counter. If you plan to change cash, bring clean, undamaged US dollars, euros or British pounds, since torn notes are often refused. There is no need to arrive with Egyptian pounds already in hand. Read our guide on exchanging money in Egypt for where to go.

Tipping, known locally as baksheesh, is part of daily life in Egypt, and many people in tourism rely on it. Expect to tip your guide, your driver, cruise ship staff, hotel porters and restroom attendants, and to leave a little extra in restaurants even when service is listed on the bill. Amounts are modest and depend on the service and the length of your trip, so carrying small local notes makes it easy. Our guide to tipping in Egypt explains who to tip and how to plan for it.

Your budget depends mainly on the season, your hotel level, the Nile cruise category, domestic flights and how many days you travel, so no single figure fits everyone. On a private tour most costs are covered in the package, and what remains is tips, drinks, meals outside the program, souvenirs and optional activities. The Explora Egipto team quotes each trip individually for your dates. For a line by line view, see how much a trip to Egypt costs and our advice on how much cash to bring.

Yes, the main tourist destinations of Cairo, Giza, Luxor, Aswan, the Nile cruise route and the Red Sea resorts are considered safe for visitors, with a visible tourist police presence at the major sites. The US and UK governments advise against travel to a few remote border regions, which lie well away from the classic route and are not part of our trips. The real day to day annoyances are persistent touts and traffic, not danger. We give an honest assessment in is Egypt safe to visit.

Yes, many women travel around Egypt without problems, though they should expect more attention than at home, mostly stares and comments rather than anything threatening. Dressing modestly, sitting in the back seat of cars and ignoring persistent sellers all help. Traveling with a private guide and driver removes most of the friction, because someone who knows the local codes is with you at every site. Our honest answer on whether Egypt is safe for women goes into detail, and we also cover solo female travel in Egypt.

Most scams in Egypt are small tricks aimed at extra money, not dangerous situations. Classic examples include the stranger who says a site is closed and steers you to a shop, camel or horse rides at the pyramids where the price changes halfway, unofficial guides at temple gates, and gifts that turn out not to be free. Agreeing on the price before any service and a polite but firm no thank you solve most of them. We break down each script in common scams in Egypt.

October to April is the most comfortable period, with warm, sunny days that are ideal for temples and Nile sailing, and cool nights. December and January are the busiest months, so book early for them. March, April, October and November hit a sweet spot of good weather and slightly smaller crowds. Summer brings intense heat in Luxor and Aswan but quieter sites and easier cruise availability. Our month by month guide to the best time to visit Egypt compares every season.

Summer is hot, especially in Luxor and Aswan, but it is manageable with the right plan. Sightseeing starts at dawn, you rest through the midday heat in an air-conditioned hotel or on the ship, and you head out again in the late afternoon. Cairo is warm rather than extreme, and the Red Sea coast stays pleasant thanks to the sea breeze. The reward is emptier temples and a calmer pace. Read our honest verdict, region by region, on whether Egypt is worth visiting in summer.

Winter days are mild and sunny, but mornings and evenings can be surprisingly chilly, particularly in the desert, on the Nile and during an early start for Abu Simbel. Cairo sometimes sees gray days, and rain is rare anywhere in the country. Hotels and older cruise ships do not always heat rooms well, so a sweater and a light jacket earn their space in your suitcase. For typical conditions city by city, see our table of Egypt temperatures by month.

Yes, and many travelers enjoy it. Monuments and museums stay open, sometimes with shorter hours, hotels and cruise ships serve meals as usual, and the evenings after sunset are festive, with lanterns, family feasts and busy streets. During the day it is courteous not to eat, drink or smoke openly in public. Ramadan moves earlier every year because it follows the lunar calendar, so check the dates when you plan. Our guide to Ramadan in Egypt for tourists explains what changes.

Most Nile cruises between Luxor and Aswan last three, four or seven nights. Sailing from Luxor to Aswan usually takes four nights and gives a more relaxed pace, while Aswan to Luxor typically takes three nights and suits a tighter schedule. Both routes stop at Edfu and Kom Ombo, and the longer option leaves more time on deck. The right choice depends on your flights and the rest of your itinerary. We compare both in Luxor to Aswan or Aswan to Luxor.

A cruise ship is a motorized floating hotel with dozens of cabins, a pool deck and a fixed schedule shared with other ships. A dahabiya is a traditional sailing boat with only a handful of cabins, which moors at quiet islands and village landings that large ships cannot use. Ships suit travelers who like more facilities and company, while a dahabiya feels closer to a private yacht. Both follow the same temple route. Explore our dahabiya Nile cruises between Luxor and Aswan to see the difference.

Cruise ships usually include your cabin and full board, meaning breakfast, lunch and dinner on board, while drinks are generally extra. With Explora Egipto, the temple visits along the route are led by your private Egyptologist, and your program lists which entrance tickets are covered. Optional extras such as a hot air balloon flight over Luxor or the Abu Simbel trip from Aswan are added when you want them. See Nile cruise excursions, included and optional for a stop by stop breakdown.

Start with your travel month, since heat and crowds shape the experience, then pick a direction that fits your flights, and finally a boat type and category. Five star ships vary widely in age and service, so the name of the ship matters more than the stars. Families often prefer a ship with a pool, couples tend to love dahabiyas, and travelers with limited mobility should ask about elevators and gangways. Our guide on how to choose a Nile cruise walks through each decision.

Seven or eight days covers the essentials: Cairo with the pyramids and museums, plus a Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan. With ten to twelve days you can add Abu Simbel, a few beach days on the Red Sea, or simply a slower pace in each place. Two weeks or more opens up the oases, Alexandria or Sinai, while fewer than six days forces hard choices. Our guide on how many days you need in Egypt compares each trip length, and our 7 day Egypt itinerary shows a classic plan day by day.

A first trip usually centers on the pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx, the Grand Egyptian Museum, Karnak and Luxor temples, the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Hatshepsut, the temples of Edfu and Kom Ombo along the Nile, Philae in Aswan and, if time allows, Abu Simbel. Old Cairo and the Khan el Khalili bazaar add the living city to the ancient one. Our local ranking of the 15 must-see places in Egypt explains why each one earns its place.

For most travelers, yes. The two temples of Ramesses II and Nefertari are among the most striking monuments in Egypt and feel nothing like the temples on the Nile route. The visit takes a full morning from Aswan, usually by road in the early hours, with a short flight as the alternative. Twice a year the rising sun lights the inner sanctuary, an event known as the Abu Simbel Sun Festival. Read how the visit works in Abu Simbel tickets and how to visit.

If you only have time for one, choose the Grand Egyptian Museum beside the Giza plateau, which displays the Tutankhamun treasures in modern galleries. The older Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square is still worth a visit for its atmosphere and its vast collection from every period, and history lovers often see both during three days in Cairo. Your Egyptologist guide can shape either visit around your interests. We compare the two in Grand Egyptian Museum or Egyptian Museum.

No vaccinations are mandatory for travelers coming from the US or UK, but make sure your routine vaccines are up to date and ask your doctor or a travel clinic about hepatitis A and typhoid, which are commonly recommended. A yellow fever certificate is required only if you arrive from a country with yellow fever risk. Travel insurance with medical cover is strongly recommended. See our vaccines and health advice for Egypt and what to check in travel insurance for Egypt.

No, visitors should drink bottled or filtered water, and it is wise to use it for brushing your teeth too. Bottled water is sold everywhere, and hotels and cruise ships usually provide it in rooms and cabins. Ice in good hotels and restaurants is generally made from filtered water, while at small street stalls it is better to skip it. Drink more than you think you need, since the dry heat dehydrates you quickly. Our straight answer on whether you can drink the water in Egypt covers the details.

Yes, with a few simple habits: favor freshly cooked, hot dishes, eat fruit you peel yourself, and go easy on raw salads in small places. Egyptian food is hearty and very vegetarian friendly. Look for koshary, ful medames, taameya, the local falafel made with fava beans, molokhia, grilled kofta and fresh baladi bread. Hotels and cruise ships also serve international buffets if you prefer familiar food. Our guide to Egyptian food worth trying lists the dishes and where to eat them.

A small kit handles most minor issues on the road. Include oral rehydration salts, an anti-diarrheal and a remedy for an upset stomach, pain and fever relief, antihistamines, blister plasters, high factor sunscreen, after-sun lotion, hand sanitizer and insect repellent. Bring prescription medication in its original packaging with a copy of the prescription, and enough for the whole trip plus a few spare days. Our checklist for a travel first aid kit for Egypt lists everything item by item.

The official language is Arabic, and people speak Egyptian Arabic in daily life. English is widely spoken in hotels, on cruise ships, in restaurants and across tourist areas, so you can get by comfortably, especially with an English-speaking guide at your side. A few words of Arabic are warmly received: shukran for thank you, salam aleikum as a greeting and la shukran to decline a seller politely. See what language is spoken in Egypt and our list of Arabic phrases for travel.

The quickest way is a domestic flight, roughly an hour from Cairo to Luxor or Aswan, and between Luxor and Aswan the Nile cruise itself is the transport. The overnight sleeper train is a slower but classic alternative, and private road transfers work well for shorter hops. On an Explora Egipto program, domestic flights and transfers are arranged for you as part of the itinerary. Our guide to domestic flights in Egypt explains routes and timing, and getting around Egypt covers every option.

Uber and Careem both work well in Cairo and are usually the easiest way to get around the city on your own, with the fare shown in the app before you ride. Renting a car and driving yourself is not something we recommend: Cairo traffic follows its own logic, and long desert roads have checkpoints and few services. A private driver is far more relaxing. Read our tips on Uber and Careem in Cairo and the pros and cons of renting a car in Egypt.

Most US and UK phones work in Egypt, but international roaming can be costly, so a local SIM card or an eSIM is usually the better choice. Local SIM cards are sold at the airport and in phone shops, and you need your passport to register one. Coverage is good in cities and along the Nile and weaker in the desert, and Wi-Fi on cruise ships is often slow. Our guide to Egypt SIM cards and mobile internet compares the options.

Our Egypt tour packages typically include hotel accommodation, airport and hotel transfers, a private English-speaking Egyptologist guide, entrance fees to the sites in your program and, depending on the itinerary, the Nile cruise and domestic flights. International flights are not included: your trip starts on arrival in Egypt. Every quote lists exactly what is covered and what is not, so there are no surprises later. Browse our Egypt tour packages or see the full breakdown of what an Egypt tour includes.

Yes. Every Explora Egipto guide is an Egyptologist who speaks fluent English, so you can follow the history, the myths and the details on every temple wall and ask all the questions you like. Our tours are private, which means the guide works only with your party and adapts the pace and depth to your interests, whether that is a quick highlights visit or a long morning reading hieroglyphs. Learn more about our private guided Egypt tours.

Yes, every trip is built around you. You choose the number of days, the pace, the hotel and cruise level, and the sites and experiences that matter most, from a hot air balloon over Luxor to a night in the desert or a few days on the Red Sea. The Explora Egipto team suggests a route, then adjusts it with you until it fits your interests and budget. Start with our page on building a custom Egypt tour.

Booking starts with a message on WhatsApp with your dates, group size and interests. The Explora Egipto team sends a personalized quote with no obligation and refines it with you until it feels right. Payment and cancellation terms are agreed with each traveler before anything is confirmed, and there is no payment through the website. Our step by step guide explains how to book an Egypt tour with a local agency.

No, Explora Egipto does not sell international flights. You book your own flight to Egypt, usually into Cairo, and your trip with us starts on arrival, with your transfer waiting at the airport. Share your flight details once they are confirmed and the team times everything around them. Any flights inside Egypt, such as Cairo to Aswan, are arranged as part of your program. Our guide to Egypt tours from the USA covers timing and connections for American travelers.