No overseas travel is without risk and every major city has petty crime, but you will be in a group and never on your own. Egypt generally has a very low crime rate. You will feel safe in Egypt as the government is taking sensible precautions to protect the tourist industry which is a major source of income for its population. The US government has the same safety ranking for Egypt as the UK, for example. Plus, we’ll have our own local security personnel with us every step of the way. Our local tour company is very experienced and has been in business since 1955.

The deposit required will be 50% of the total price of the tour. See our cancellation policy here.

Visitors to Egypt must have a passport valid for at least six months upon their arrival. Travelers of the following nationalities can purchase a 1-month entry visa without application upon arrival in Egypt: Australia, Canada, Croatia, European Union, Georgia, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Macedonia, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Serbia, Ukraine, United Kingdom and United States. This only takes a few minutes to do at a bank window before you go through customs.

US dollar, pound sterling, and euro are accepted mainly in tourist areas and major cities. All these three currencies can be exchanged easily into EGP at the official exchange rate at any Egyptian bank, bank desk in airports, foreign exchange counter in most upper hotels, and even at the same place where you buy your entry visa upon arrival in Egypt. Some credit cards or cash cards also can be used to withdraw Egyptian pounds at any ATM in Egypt. Please check with your local banks before departure. But if you are going to barter for souvenirs and trinkets it’s best to pay in Egyptian pounds. The Egyptian pound is the official currency in Egypt and is commonly abbreviated as EGP, LE or E£. It is divided into 100 piastres or 1,000 millimes. Check your current exchange rate from Egyptian pounds.

Most Egyptians, who live in the cities, speak or understand at least some English words or phrases. Our local guides, who are Christian, work in the tourism sector, are accustomed to visitors who cannot speak Arabic and they will speak English.

This is a fully inclusive tour. However, it is customary to give your guides and our drivers tips at the end of journey for good service. CMI staff will take a group collection at the end.

Photography is allowed in most of the historical sites and museums in Egypt, but a few have extra charges for taking in a camera, like the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities in Cairo. In some historical sites, like inside the Valley of the Kings in Luxor, all photography is prohibited for the protection of the delicate artwork on the walls. As such, visitors are asked to leave their cameras at the reception before entering. We advise buying a good full-colour book while you are there that has pictures of some of these prohibited places.

Like most overseas countries, there are issues with drinking tap water. Bottled water will be supplied and available for you at all times. Egypt can be hot, so hats and sunscreen are recommended at all times.

The COVID-19 situation is still fluid in many countries around the world. We will update you regularly regarding the situation in Egypt. A negative PCR test may be required for entry to Egypt, and/or reentry to your own country.

Please be aware that we will be visiting many ancient sites and some are still being excavated. One needs to be reasonably mobile as this tour involves lots of walking and, at times, over uneven surfaces particularly inside some of the temples where the floors are severely cobbled. This tour will not be suitable for people with limited mobility that hinders them from walking unassisted and/or who require a wheelchair. There are no disabled facilities, such as elevators, on the cruise boat.

In the tourist areas, the locals are used to overseas visitors. Dressing with relative modesty is a way of respecting the local culture. Casual clothing is fine, but women should avoid tight or revealing clothing. Shorts and t-shirts are fine for men.

Children age 12 and older who are traveling with one or both parents (or legal guardians) are welcome on the tour. All tour participants pay the same price, regardless of age. Please note that the maximum room occupancy is three, so if two children are accompanying both parents, it will be necessary to reserve two rooms.