Private Egypt tours & Nile cruises, planned by a licensed local operator.

Mid-October to April is the best time to visit Egypt for sightseeing: Luxor and Aswan sit at a comfortable 20 to 28°C, ideal for temple visits and open-deck sailing on a Nile cruise. It is also the busiest season, so book 2 to 3 months ahead; Christmas and New Year fill first. May to September is hot, especially in the south, but brings fewer visitors and lower prices, and the Red Sea coast is enjoyable all year.

A week to ten days is right for most first-time visitors: two or three days in Cairo for the Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx and the museums, then a Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan. If you only have a long weekend, a 2- to 5-day Cairo break, or Cairo with Alexandria, still shows you the highlights. With more time, add Abu Simbel or a few beach days on the Red Sea.

Our private Egypt trips start from $300 per person for the 2 Days Cairo Short Break Tour. The final price depends on the number of days, the hotel or Nile cruise level, the season and how many of you travel together, and your quote lists exactly what is included: guide, hotels or cruise cabin, transfers, listed entrance fees and meals as specified. Budget separately for international flights, the Egypt visa, tips and personal spending.

Yes, the main tourist corridor of Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and the Nile is safe and visited by millions of international travellers every year. Tourist zones are managed by a dedicated tourist police force. The areas flagged in travel advisories, such as North Sinai, are entirely separate from any standard tour or Nile cruise itinerary, and on a private tour your guide and driver are with you throughout the day.

Yes, most visitors need a tourist visa. US, UK, EU and Australian citizens, among many others, can get one on arrival at the main airports or through the official e-Visa portal before travel; Canadian citizens must get their visa from an Egyptian embassy or consulate before they fly. A single-entry tourist visa costs $36 and is valid for 30 days; a multiple-entry visa costs $65. Rules vary by nationality, so we confirm what applies to your passport when we plan your trip.

A Nile cruise is a 3- to 7-night sailing between Luxor and Aswan aboard a cruise ship, stopping at the temples along the riverbank such as Edfu and Kom Ombo. A cruise in our itineraries usually includes full-board meals, a licensed Egyptologist guide on the excursions, the listed temple entrance fees and transfers, as each itinerary specifies. For a quieter trip, a smaller dahabiya sails the same stretch of the river.

Tipping, known locally as baksheesh, is customary throughout Egypt. As a guide, budget around $10 to $15 per day for your guide and $3 to $5 per person per day for drivers; in restaurants, 10 to 15% is standard if service is not included. Small tips are also expected for bag carrying and other help, so keep some small Egyptian Pound notes to hand.

Egypt uses the Egyptian Pound (EGP), and US dollars are widely accepted in tourist areas. Credit cards, mainly Visa and Mastercard, are accepted in hotels, restaurants and larger shops in Cairo, Luxor and Aswan. Cash is essential for markets, tips and smaller purchases, so carry some local currency each day; on a package tour your guide, hotels, transfers and listed entrance fees are already paid.

Wear light, breathable clothing in linen or cotton, and keep shoulders and knees covered when visiting temples and mosques; women will want a scarf to cover their hair inside mosques. Comfortable closed shoes are best for the uneven ground at the sites, along with a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. From December to February, bring a warm layer for early mornings and evenings, especially on the river and in the desert.

Because the people who plan your trip also run it on the ground. EgyVacations is a Cairo-based tour operator licensed by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism (licence no. 1995), with more than 15 years of private tours and our own guides and vehicles. Every tour has a licensed Egyptologist guide, travellers rate us 5.0 on Tripadvisor from 4,079 reviews, and your day-by-day itinerary with a full price is free.