Visitor Guide to Egypt

Most nationalities can enter Egypt either with an e-Visa obtained online before travel (processing time 7 business days, cost USD 25 per person) or with a visa on arrival at Cairo International Airport, Luxor International Airport, or Sharm el-Sheikh International Airport. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your intended entry date. A standard single-entry tourist visa is valid for 30 days; extensions are obtainable at Mogamma Square in Cairo or at governorate-level immigration offices in Luxor and Aswan. We advise all clients to obtain the e-Visa before departure: the on-arrival process is functionally straightforward but queues can be lengthy at peak periods, and having documentation in order before landing reduces stress considerably.

Nationals of certain countries may face additional requirements or longer processing times; check the current regulations for your specific nationality with the Egyptian Embassy in your country of residence before applying. The e-Visa portal is managed by the Ministry of Interior at evisa.gov.eg. Photography of visa or immigration documentation is sometimes restricted at border control — keep your documents accessible without prominent display of your camera or phone.

Egypt's major archaeological sites require more physical preparation than most visitors anticipate. The combination of heat, sun, dusty air, uneven terrain, and distances within sites like Karnak or the Giza Plateau means that physical fatigue is a genuine constraint on a productive visit. Specific considerations: wear closed, flat-soled shoes with ankle support — the ground surface inside tombs and at excavation sites is irregular, and stumbling is the most common minor injury among visitors. Carry at least 1 litre of water per person per hour in summer months; 0.5 litres per hour from October to April. Apply high-factor sunscreen — SPF 50 minimum — at least 30 minutes before outdoor exposure. A lightweight hat or scarf that covers the neck is essential for extended outdoor visits from April to October.

Tap water in Egypt is treated and technically potable, but carries higher bacteria levels than most European or North American visitors are accustomed to. Use bottled water for drinking and brushing teeth during at least the first week of your visit, regardless of time of year. Bottled water in 1.5-litre sizes costs EGP 15–25 at any kiosk near a heritage site. No vaccination is required for entry, but we recommend verifying your Hepatitis A immunity status before visiting; this is a standard recommendation for any visit to a developing country with different water supply standards.

Tomb visits involve descending steep internal staircases in low-lit, enclosed spaces. Persons with claustrophobia or significant mobility limitations should consult us before booking tomb-specific programmes so we can identify which chambers are accessible and appropriate. Several tombs are reached by steep, narrow descents of 40–60 steps at 45-degree angles; others are fully level. We flag this on individual site notes in our itinerary documents.

Internal transport in Egypt has improved substantially in recent years. The high-speed Talgo train service connecting Cairo Ramses Station with Alexandria takes 2h 10min and runs eight times daily; tickets cost EGP 150–220 in first class. The sleeper train between Cairo and Luxor/Aswan, operated by Watania Sleeping Trains, departs at 19:00 and arrives in Luxor at approximately 07:00 — a comfortable overnight option that our clients frequently prefer to the 1-hour flight. Daytime trains on the Cairo–Luxor route are slower (approximately 9 hours) and less predictable but offer the experience of watching the agricultural landscape of the Nile Valley in daylight.

Domestic flights on EgyptAir and Nile Air connect Cairo with Luxor, Aswan, Hurghada, Sharm el-Sheikh, and Marsa Matruh. Flight times are typically 1–1.5 hours; booking 2–4 weeks in advance gives the best fare combinations. The Abu Simbel flight from Aswan is a 45-minute trip offered as a day excursion; the temple visit itself is typically 2.5 hours, with most visitors returning on the same afternoon flight. We advise arriving at Aswan Airport 90 minutes before Abu Simbel departure times as documentation checks for Nubian site access are conducted at the gate.

Within Cairo, air-conditioned ride-share services (Uber, Careem) are reliable and cost-effective for getting between the Egyptian Museum, the GEM, Islamic Cairo, and the airport. The Cairo Metro serves central areas and is useful for avoiding surface traffic during rush hours (07:00–09:00 and 16:00–19:00). Between sites in Luxor, private minibus or taxi from your accommodation is the standard option; we arrange transport as part of all guided days.

Dress respectfully at all heritage sites — shoulders and knees covered are the minimum requirement for active religious sites (mosques, Coptic churches); at purely archaeological sites, similar dress is practically advisable to avoid sunburn rather than being formally required. Shoes must be removed before entering mosques; bring a bag to carry them if you are visiting multiple mosques in a session. Photography for personal, non-commercial use is generally permitted at archaeological sites except in the Royal Mummies Hall and in certain designated chambers where flash photography was found to accelerate paint deterioration. Professional and commercial photography requires a separate permit (see our photography permit service). The use of drone cameras at Egyptian heritage sites is prohibited without a permit from the Civil Aviation Authority; obtaining this is a complex process we recommend undertaking well in advance of your trip if aerial photography is important to your programme.