Practical Information

Passport

Remember to check the expiration date of your passport if travelling internationally. Many countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months after the date of your scheduled return.

Visa

Egypt

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally need a visa to enter Egypt. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/africa/egypt
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/egypt
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/egypt/entry-requirements
• USA:  www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Egypt.html

If you are obtaining your visa online, please ensure you have a scan of your passport ready. The file size should be small and ideally saved as a JPEG or PDF otherwise you might not be able to load it on the visa application.

You will need to provide your host’s information on the application – please use the following details:

South Sinai Travel
79 Merghany Street
Cairo
Egypt
Telephone: +20 22418 7310
www.southsinai.com
salwa.ibrahim@southsinai.com

Please note, Egyptian officials have requested tourists carry a copy of their passport with them while in the country. Please also note, some prescribed medicines are controlled substances in Egypt.

Vaccinations and Health

There are no mandatory vaccination requirements; however, tetanus, typhoid, hepatitis A vaccines are recommended. Although not usually advised, other vaccinations to consider include rabies and hepatitis B.

There is evidence that Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS) is spread by contact with camels.  This trip includes the option of a camel ride, which is undertaken at your own risk; we suggest that you visit the Travel Health Pro website which includes information about the virus.

Local Time

Egypt's time zone: Africa/Cairo (UTC +02:00)

Electricity

Egypt's electricity: Plug types C (two round pins, European standard) and F (two round pins) – 220V, 50Hz

Money

Egypt's currency: The official currency is the Egyptian pound (EGP), though US dollars are also widely accepted

ATM Availability

There are ATMs in many parts of Egypt and you can use Visa, Mastercard and Switch. Credit cards are accepted in most hotels, restaurants and tourist bazaars. It is also possible to purchase larger items, such as carpets, with some major cards. American Express is not accepted in many places while Visa/Mastercard are widely used.

There is no limit to the amount of foreign currency that can be brought into the country, and we do not recommend you pick up Egyptian currency prior to departure.

Any hard currency, including British pounds, euros and US dollars, can be exchanged on arrival at the airport or at local banks/exchange offices. Your tour leader can assist with exchanging money throughout the tour. When you leave Egypt it is possible, though not always easy, to re-exchange Egyptian pounds into foreign currency. It is easiest to try to budget wisely to avoid having too many Egyptian pounds at the end of your tour.

Additionally, US dollars can be used to pay in Egypt; change is usually given in Egyptian pounds, so we recommend bringing low denomination US dollars if that is your preference.

Extra Expenses & Spending Money

Optional excursions

Our excursion packages include entrance fees, a professional Egyptologist guide, licensed drivers and vehicles, and local tourist police permission fees.

Prices are per person and in US dollars as this is the most stable currency used in Egypt but excursions can be paid in any hard currency (including British pounds and euros). Payment cannot be made in Egyptian pounds. When booking and paying for these tours locally a three percent charge will be added for all card payments. The flight to Abu Simbel is to be requested with us at the time of booking your tour. We will then check availability.  Unless indicated otherwise, the below prices are based on a minimum of six people taking part and are subject to change.

Cairo (only possible pre-tour or if arriving early on Day 1): the following rates for (minimum six travellers) available for pre and post tour in Cairo.

• Sound and light show, Giza: US$48 (does not run every day)
• Citadel and Mohamed Ali Mosque: US$40
• Coptic Cairo including Coptic Museum: US$38
• Visit Sakkara and Memphis: US$66
• Entrance fee to go inside Great Pyramids during the Pyramids area visit: US$30
• Grand Egyptian Museum: US$65

Aswan: the following rates for (minimum six travellers)

• St Simone Monastery (accessible by foot or on a camel): US$36
• Animalia Nubian House: US$25
• Sound and Light show at Philae: US$52
• Abu Simbel flight excursion: The flight must be requested with us at the time of booking your tour. If you do not request the flight at this time, we cannot guarantee seats will be available. Flight timings vary but the flight duration is approximately 45 minutes. The length of time in the temples depends on the Egyptair flight schedule. It should, however, be longer than an hour. Please speak to your sales representative to book.
• Please note: Abu Simbel visits are not advised during the Abu Simbel Sun Festival (22 February and 22 October), due to safety precautions. If you would still like to visit Abu Simbel during your trip, we will try our best to accommodate.

Please note, it is possible to visit Abu Simbel by road, rather than a flight; however, the drive times are lengthy so we do not recommend this option. If you would prefer to visit by road, you can book this locally.

Luxor: the following rates for (minimum six travellers)

• A.C.E Luxor Animal Hospital (time permitting): Free
• Sound and light show, Karnak Temple: US$52
• Hatshepsut Temple: US$18

Paying for optional excursions by credit card is recommended.

Tipping

Tipping kitty: Baksheesh is part of Egyptian life, and small tips are expected by most people working in the tourism industry (drivers, hotel staff, railway porters, restaurant staff etc). To simplify this process, the tour leaders will recommend a ‘tipping kitty’. The tour leader will explain this at the start of the trip and will collect the suggested sum from those who wish to participate. Your tour leader then takes care of all the tipping on behalf of the group. While your participation is highly recommended, it is not compulsory. Your tour leader can provide details of the distribution of the money as required. For groups of 12 or more, the suggested contribution is US$45 per person. For groups of fewer than 12, the suggested contribution is US$50 per person. The leader usually collects Egyptian pounds for the kitty.

Tour leader: If you feel your tour leader has performed well over the course of your trip, you may want to show your appreciation of their services. The sum you choose to give is entirely personal, but as a guide, we suggest about US$4 per person per day. The ‘tipping kitty’ explained above is entirely separate from any contribution to the tour leader. Tipping should be in US dollars/British pounds or Egyptian currency.

Sustainability and Impact

As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.

We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.

This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony though practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.

Important Information

Water safety

This trip includes time by a lake, river or sea, where there may be opportunities to swim. You should always seek local advice before deciding whether to swim. Open-water or wild swim spots should be treated with extreme caution. Information on how to keep yourself safe while swimming is shown here.

Binoculars and drones

We do not recommend taking binoculars or monoculars into Egypt as on occasion these have been confiscated either on arrival or within the country. Drones are also forbidden. 

This trip goes near an area deemed unsafe to visit by the UK government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whose advice we follow when operating our trips. While our itinerary doesn’t go to these areas, you should familiarise yourself with your local government’s advice if you are planning any pre- or post-trip travel. Any independent travel to areas currently against your local government advice is entirely at your own risk and unlikely to be covered by your travel insurance.