How much does a tailor-made trip to Egypt cost?
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Our example tours start from about €1,195 per person for 5 days in Cairo. Routes with a Nile cruise currently range from about €2,195 to €2,995 per person for 10 to 15 days, sharing a double room. The final price depends on duration, hotel level, guides, domestic flights, the type of Nile cruise and the season. International flights are not included. Read more: What a trip to Egypt costs, in detail
When is the best time to visit Egypt?
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October to April is the best time for a tour of Egypt. The weather is then pleasant for temple visits in Luxor and Aswan. November, February and March are especially comfortable. In summer (June to August) temperatures in southern Egypt climb to 40 to 45 degrees Celsius (104 to 113 Fahrenheit). Read more: Best time to visit, month by month
Is Egypt safe to visit?
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Yes, for the classic route. Government travel advice from the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Germany warns against North Sinai, the border areas with Libya and Sudan and remote parts of the Western Desert. Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel, the Nile and the Red Sea resorts lie outside those areas. You also travel privately, with your own driver and Egyptologist. Read more: Is Egypt safe? Our honest assessment
Do I need a visa for Egypt?
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Yes. Travellers from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and the EU need a visa for Egypt. You can apply for an e-visa online before you travel (about 30 US dollars for single entry) or buy a visa on arrival at Cairo airport for about 30 US dollars in cash. Your passport must be valid for at least six months on arrival and have a blank page. Read more: Egypt visa: e-visa, visa on arrival and cost
Do I travel with a private guide?
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Yes. On every excursion you are accompanied by a certified, English-speaking Egyptologist who guides only your own party. A private driver takes you between hotels, sights and airports. You never wait for a group and decide for yourself how long you stay. Read more: What a private tour of Egypt means in practice
Can I add a Nile cruise or a dahabiya to my trip?
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Yes. We can include a classic Nile cruise, a luxury ship or a small dahabiya sailing boat, depending on the atmosphere, budget and route you want between Luxor and Aswan. Dahabiyas are smaller and more intimate; classic ships offer more facilities. Read more: Dahabiya Nile cruise: small and quiet on the Nile
Are international flights included?
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No. You book your international flights to Cairo (or the Red Sea) yourself, which keeps you free to use miles or your preferred airline. We advise on arrival times and the order of the route. The domestic flight from Cairo to Aswan is included on the Nile routes, and all airport transfers are arranged for you.
Why book with a European company instead of a local agency in Cairo?
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Because of protection and one point of contact. Egypt Travel Planner is a trading name of Origins Travel Group in Amsterdam: your complete trip is covered by VZR Garant and the Dutch Calamity Fund, you deal with one personal planner before, during and after the trip, and a fixed local partner carries out the guiding and transport in Egypt. A local agency is often cheaper; the guarantees and the single contact are what you pay for. Read more: How your trip is protected
How far in advance should I enquire?
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For the best hotels, guides and dahabiyas we recommend starting a few months ahead. For Christmas, Easter and the spring, plan earlier; good places fill up quickly. A first proposal usually follows within a few days of your enquiry.