Egypt Nile Tours

In the beginning, there was the Sun. And the Sun gazed upon a Land. And a chose it from among the others. And he land grew and became an empire, destined to be the Cradle of Civilization and known has the Mother of the World.
Discover Egypt, Tourism Campaign 208

A land of legend, and mystery. Gift of the Nile, Guardian of the past, capturing the hearts of people, all over the world. Egypt has reigned supreme as THE travel destination with the best story to tell. And the story-telling doesn’t truly start until you sight the Giza pyramids for the first time, while flying over the Sahara desert en route to Cairo’s International Airport. The sheer impact of that bird’s eye view is hard to describe and even harder to digest. You’ve got to be literally standing at the base of the pyramid to begin to understand the deep history and the ancient peoples we’ve studied from our history books.

Aside from the Great Sphinx and Great Pyramid of Giza, there’s also the city of Cairo itself. It is an exhilarating metropolis, with unimaginable traffic, souks on every street corner, neighborhood blocks saturated with apartment buildings, teeming with almost 20 million residents. After sunset, the city comes alive; restaurants and cafes are packed with locals easing into the night with shi-sha, hibiscus tea and turkish coffee in hand. The night-life is vivacious; clubs and bars lining the Nile are filled with youth wanting to live that truly cosmopolitan lifestyle.

Egypt is ready for more tourists

After years of government transition and political unrest, the country has stabilized for now. In 2018, the nation’s tourism ministry began launching a series of ‘always-on’ social media campaigns to drive global tourists to Egypt’s front door – and it’s working. Visitors have been returning to Egypt in droves, with 11.3 million in 2018 and 2019 numbers look even more promising.

We’ve been organizing tours to Egypt for almost ten years now and the feedback from our guests has unanimously been that they felt welcome and safe throughout our time in Egypt. It’s hard to miss the large security presence and checkpoints located outside all sites and hotels and yet when you are travelling with a tour company (like the ones we use), things move along so seamlessly that you don’t feel unnerved by that level of security.

We work with a small handful of tour operators, all family-owned businesses that know the country – and it’s travel industry – inside out. They employ the most knowledgeable and communicative tour guides that double as Egyptologists; some are even retired archaeology professors who have lectured at Egypt’s top universities. Our tour operators are also well connected; they’ve earned goodwill from the hotels and cruise lines on their roster, helping us secure great bookings.

Egyptian Hotels & Cruises in a world of their own

One of the best places to stay in Cairo is at the Sofitel Cairo Nile El Gezirah. It stands like a golden tower on the banks of the Nile to, undoubtedly, deliver the best view from all around. It has that five star luxury feel and modern French decor of a typical Sofitel but also the breathtaking views of the Giza pyramids on a clear day. It’s also close to bustling Zamalek, the entertainment district of Cairo, and also walking distance to the Opera House, the Egyptian Museum, Cairo Tower and Tahrir Square.

After settling in Cairo for a night or two, we fly south to Aswan, the starting point of our Nile cruise to Luxor. The cruise, in our opinion, is the absolute gem of the trip. Aswan is an ancient city, the gateway to the temples of Abu Simbel, the astonishing monuments to King Ramses II and his wife Nefertari. Our tours include the 45-minute Nile Air flight (from gate to gate) to get you there quicker.

If Aswan is the gem of the trip, then this next hotel is the grand jewel. Sofitel Legend Old Cataract Aswan is where British detective fiction writer, Agatha Christie, penned her Hercule Poroit mystery novel, Death on the Nile, and Winston Churchill celebrated the inauguration of the Aswan Dam in 1902. It also served as backdrop and setting of a popular Egyptian historical television drama named Grand Hotel. Recently renovated, this hotel boasts one of the most beautiful views of Egypt, overlooking the Nubian Desert on the banks of the Nile, opposite Elephantine Island. If you’re an avid modern history buff, walk the corridors and you’ll be pleasantly surprised to see framed signed profile photos of political, cultural and religious figures such as world-renown Egyptian actor Amr Sherif, French president François Mitterrand, Princess Diana of Wales and the Agha Khan.

During our free time, we make the visit to the Old Cataract Hotel for an afternoon of high tea sitting atop its famed terrace with panoramic views over Nile. But the real destination in Aswan is the cruise. Cruising is the most expedient and enjoyable way to see the sights along the Nile, especially if you’re sailing upon celebrated cruise lines such as Farah, Mövenpick & Steigenberger. The food on these Nile cruise ships is perhaps the tastiest we’ve experienced in all our years as Egyptian natives and travel agents. And talk about the scenery – the cabins on most of these ships come with private balconies so you can view the setting of the sun among the reeds of the Nile from the privacy of your own cabin.

Our itineraries feature a tour of all of Egypt’s highlights with the help of a dedicated guide: Philae Temple, Edfu, Luxor Temple, Karnak, the Valley of the Kings and more. You’ll see the famous mummy of King Tutankhamun and some others (also in the Valley of the Queens!) that are far more beautiful, including those of Ramses II and Ramses VI, motifs colourfully painted and whose rich hues have still survived many millennia.

So what sets our tours apart? The sweet luxury of time. Our tours are designed to avoid that unreasonably-packed schedule and frantic energy that typically accompanies short tours. Because we take our time, our guests can enjoy those moments of reflection and beauty that make the trip worthwhile: stepping into a Coptic church cloudy with incense during a orthodox service; sailing along the Nile in a small sailboat called a felucca, past hieroglyphics carved into rocks; weaving through the columns of the Temple of Amun-Re only to discover you are alone. The experience is made infinitely more special with moments like these.

So what are you waiting for? Contact us to secure a spot in our upcoming tours!

Unless you’ve been to neighboring middle eastern countries like Jordan or Israel, travelling to Egypt will be unlike any other place you’ve visited before. Rare a destination exists that can combine ancient & modern histories, religious monuments, river cruising, vast deserts, sand dunes & oases, city life, beach vacations, snorkeling & diving, gastronomic delights & culinary dining experiences and luxury & modern leisure activities – but Egypt easily makes that short list. This is why Conde Nast recently named Egypt as one of the best ‘winter sun’ destinations in the world.

While there is an element of reasonable risk when visiting Egypt, there are things to keep in mind to ensure you travel smart.

1. Trust the recommendations of a Native Egyptian versus what you read online

There is a ton of information online to help you plan your once-in-a-lifetime Egypt trip. Lonely Planet, Trip Advisor and Nomadic Matt are just a few that we recommend but nothing can be more reliable than speaking directly to a travel agent that is Egyptian. Here at Expedia CruiseShipCenters Port Credit, our personal connection to the culture means we can give you trusted advice on just about everything: hotels to stay it, places to eat, how to travel the country, currency and so much more. Our ability to speak the language (Arabic) and our partnerships with many local travel companies means we’ve handcrafted and put together the most well-rounded trip.

2. Make sure to bring enough cash

Plastic money doesn’t get you far in a place like Egypt. Many vendors won’t have the payment terminals to process a credit card payment and they are very unreliable even at the best hotels. Because the processing times are longer than in the West, you may find yourself in pickle with a hotel not able to verify they received the payment. The country runs primarily on cash so make sure to bring enough. To avoid being ripped-off and ensure you have sufficient funds readily available in a pinch, bring at least 6,000 EGP (Egyptian Pounds). That’s about $330 USD. It’s also best to bring some US cash as back up, in case you run out. US cash will convert much better there than any other currency (GBP, CAD, Euro, etc..)

3. When in doubt, stick to modest wear

Most of the middle east is religiously-conservative. Egypt is no exception. Ergo, be advised that revealing clothing (especially for women) and provocative behavior is frowned upon. This is specific to non-resort areas, where you’re touring cities like Cairo or Alexandria. This means no shorts, short skirts or short dresses, strapless shirts, midriff tops and so on. Tank tops are OK as long as no cleavage is shown but it’s better to stick with t-shirts. A good rule of thumb is to not wear anything above the knees. As for men, shorts and tanks tops are OK but being topless is not permitted. Again, everything is accepted at beach resorts but the rules come in play when travelling through the rest of the country.

4. Use transportation apps like Uber and Careem

Even locals don’t use the local taxi service. They are risky and commonly mistrusted. The exception is if you are ordering a taxi while staying at a reputable hotel as hotels in Egypt will use premium taxi services. Ideally, if you have Uber already downloaded on your phone, great – you can go ahead and use it in Egypt. There is also a similar service called Careem available for download. The best thing about it is that you can decide if you’d like to pay via the app or by cash to the driver. All drivers are vetted, have decent rides and are well equipped to navigate the teeming streets.

5. Be prepared for the desert heat

If you are travelling to Egypt from December to March, you’ll get to enjoy the best winter weather possible, with the temperature hovering around 20-29 degrees Celsius. For example, you could visit beach destinations in Hurghada or the Sinai and be comfortable sitting on the beach in your swimsuit albeit the water may be too cold to swim in. ‘Winter’ is a word used loosely there as it rarely dips below 10 degrees Celsius. It can get a bit a chilly though in the evenings and especially at night so make sure to bring some sweaters and light jackets. If you are renting out an apartment instead during Winter, it will be cold as Egypt does not have any internal heating; the cold air remains in the walls and floors.

Expect it to be well over 30 degrees all other months of the year, from April to November. There is a big spike in heat as you approach July and the temperature can sometimes climb over 40 degrees until September. Egypt is experiencing record-breaking heat waves at the moment and could give the UAE a run for its money. To combat the heat: drink lots of water (at least two litres a day), wear sunscreen religiously (minimum SPF 50), bring a hat and make sure to get enough rest indoors where it is cool. Heat stroke is easier to get than you think.

6. Tipping is an ubiquitous practice

In Egypt, tipping is an universally accepted practice. It’s definitely encouraged to tip those who have provided you with quality service whether that’s your tour guide, coach bus driver, hotel bell boy who brought up your bags to your room, the waiter at the restaurant – you get the point. Make sure to have lots of change handy, in denominations of one, five, ten and twenty pound notes. Beware of situations where you’ve received unsolicited help. The airport is one such situation where guys will grab your bags for you off the baggage belt. If you would prefer to do it yourself, express that verbally and make it clearly known.

7. Be careful about what you eat

It behooves you to take extra precaution about where you eat. The bacterial infection, H. pylori, is prevalent in that part of the world because of unwashed vegetables and fruits. To avoid contracting the infection, avoid salads, fresh fruits and vegetables – and anything washed in tap water. Under no circumstances should tap water be drunk or even boiled for tea and coffee. Always stick to bottled water. If you think you may have contracted a bacterial infection, make sure to get your hands on antibiotics right away.

Keeping yourself informed about travel to Egypt means you get to minimize hassles and inconveniences. The rest, as they say, is up to the gods. Safe travels!

Everyone finds himself in the world where he belongs. The essential thing is to have a fixed point from which to check its reality now and then. —
Author Unknown, Ancient Egyptian Proverb

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