Questions we get asked most
Practical answers on visas, payment, group sizes, weather and what happens if plans change.
Booking and payment
How do I hold a date?
Send a request through any programme page. We reply within 24 hours with a firm quote and hold your dates for 72 hours at no charge. A deposit of 25% confirms the booking; the balance is due 21 days before arrival.
What payment methods do you accept?
Bank transfer, Visa and Mastercard through a secure payment link, and cash in USD, EUR or EGP at our Luxor office. We do not take card details over email or WhatsApp.
Can I change or cancel?
Free changes up to 21 days before arrival. Between 21 and 7 days, the deposit is held as credit for 12 months. Inside 7 days the deposit is non-refundable, though we will always try to move rather than cancel.
Visas and entry
Do I need a visa?
Most nationalities can buy a 30-day tourist visa on arrival for USD 25, or apply online in advance through the official Egypt e-visa portal. Your passport must have at least six months validity. We are not a visa agency and cannot apply on your behalf, but we will tell you plainly what applies to your passport.
Is Egypt safe to travel in?
The tourist corridor along the Nile and the Red Sea coast is heavily policed and has been stable for years. We follow your own government travel advisory rather than offering an opinion, and we will say so if a specific site or route is closed.
On the ground
How large are your groups?
Private programmes are yours alone. Small-group departures cap at the number shown on each programme page, usually between 8 and 16. Nile cruisers carry more, but shore excursions are split into groups of no more than 20.
What is the best time of year?
October to April is the comfortable season, with daytime temperatures between 22 and 30C in Upper Egypt. May to September is hot, often above 40C in Luxor and Aswan, which suits the Red Sea far better than the temples. July and August are quiet and cheaper if you can handle the heat.
What should I wear at the sites?
Light, covering clothes and a hat. Shoulders and knees covered is expected at mosques and appreciated everywhere else. Closed shoes for the tombs, where the floors are uneven.
Are tips expected?
Yes, and they matter to the people receiving them. Budget roughly USD 5 to 10 per person per day for your guide and USD 3 to 5 for your driver. Nothing is compulsory and nothing is added to your bill without you seeing it.
Accessibility and dietary needs
Can you accommodate limited mobility?
Partly, and we will be honest about where. Giza, the Grand Egyptian Museum, Philae and most Nile cruisers work well. The Valley of the Kings tombs involve steep ramps and steps that cannot be avoided. Tell us before booking and we will build around what works.
Vegetarian, vegan, halal, gluten free?
All manageable with notice. Egyptian cooking is naturally strong on vegetarian dishes. Vegan and gluten free need to be flagged at booking so the cruise galley and our lunch houses can prepare.