Discover Ancient
Egypt

Most Nile River cruises start in Luxor or Aswan. But there are other itineraries where the Nile River cruises start in Cairo.

In a restaurant, it is good to give between 5 and 10% tip directly to the waiter. For a small favor, like carrying luggage or parking a car, a few Egyptian pounds would be appropriate. Not more than five. Often times in Egypt you will find someone tending to the bathroom to keep it clean. Giving them one Egyptian pound is an appropriate amount. Tipping your tour guide and vehicle driver is completely optional but should be considered if you're provided with great service. If you decide to tip feel free to give what you think your experience was worth.

There is no formal dress code on Nile River Cruises. But modest clothes are recommended and comfortable shoes when going on sightseeing tours outside the Nile River cruises.

The best time of the year to sail on Nile River cruises is from October to April as the days are warm but not extremely hot.

Most of the shops in Egypt open from around 10 AM and stay open until 10PM; however, many shops, cafes, and restaurants especially in major cities stay open much later and some facilities and shops are open 24 hours.

It is always recommended for travelers who wish to have their own supply of cigarettes and alcohol with them in Egypt to purchase them upon arrival. There are duty free shops in the airports in Cairo, Luxor, Hurghada, El Gouna and Sharm El Sheikh. Tourists are allowed to purchase up to 3 liters of alcohol and up to 200 cigarettes on arrival.

The best currency to take to Egypt is the local currency, the Egyptian pound. However, GBP, Euro, and US dollars are highly exchangeable at local banks, currency exchange offices, and ATM machines.

Most Nile River cruises sail from Luxor to Aswan or vice versa, making frequent stops. The sailing journey usually takes four, or five days, but can be longer if you prefer.

Service charges are by default included in the bill when dining in a restaurant. However, these fees go to the restaurant and not the waiters. Knowing this it is advisable and courteous to directly tip the servers with an additional 10 %.

Accommodations for travelers in Egypt fall across a broad range—everything from world class luxury to simple hostel accommodations are available. The nicest hotels compare well with luxury hotels anywhere, Egyptian hotels have their own rating system that loosely classifies them on a 5-star scale. The check-in time in most hotels in Egypt is around midday, 01 or 02 PM.

Have no fear Most Egyptians living in Cities have a basic command over the English language and some English words and phrases. However the same cannot be said for French, Italian, Spanish and finally German. Nevertheless, Professionals working in the tourism sector have easily adapted to visitors who don't speak Arabic. Satisfying the needs of most travellers with a combination of English and other lingual phrases.

Visitors and travellers to Egypt are required to carry a passport valid for at least six months from there arrival date. However, in an effort to revitalize tourism in Egypt the following nationalities can purchase a 1-month entry visa on arrival. The Nationalities that benefit from the aforementioned exception are Australia, Canda, Croatia, the European Union, Georgia, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Macedonia, South Korea, Russia, Serbia, Ukraine, United Kingdom and The U.S.A. The Process for acquiring these entry visas is extremely simple and only takes a mere couple of minutes through any bank window before proceeding to customs.

The fixed deposit amount is 25% of the tours total price Except for Egypt Christmas tours, new years and other peak seasons where the deposit goes up to 50%.

The temperature in Egypt ranges from 37c to 14 c. Summer in Egypt is somehow hot and winter is cool and mild but sometimes it becomes cold at night. The average of low temperatures vary from 9.5 °C in the wintertime to 23 °C in the summertime and average high temperatures vary from 17 °C in the wintertime to 32 °C in the summertime. The temperature is moderate all along the coasts.

Egypt has served as one of the best and safest tourist destinations for decades. Surrounded by warm Egyptian hospitality, courteous and kind-hearted locals you're gonna feel at home and as safe as you'll ever be. With some Sensible precautions and preparations, you will be able to explore Egypt tours and trips and enjoy Egypt's generally very safe cities with your mind at ease. Boasting a usually low crime rate visitors will be more than safe especially in areas frequently visited by tourists.