FAQs

All travellers need travel insurance. At a minimum you should take out travel insurance for emergency medical expenses, emergency medical repatriation, and repatriation of mortal remains. Further insurance can and should be taken out to cover lost belongings and other travel related incidents such as change or cancellation of trips and flights, delayed or lost luggage, and other medical costs. Please speak to your insurer or medical professional to discuss insurance requirements and any pre-existing conditions.

Yes, you can add or change days to our tours, including additional sites or cities, at the start or end of our scheduled tours. If you wish to add more time in a location during our planned tours, we can assist to arrange a bespoke tour tailored exclusively for your group. Contact us and we can discuss your specific requests.

While we try to make all tours run to their scheduled dates, sometimes a tour may need to be postponed or rescheduled. In such cases, we will work with our guests to arrange dates for the rescheduled tour or provide a credit towards a future tour. We may also offer alternative options such as a private tour by our local guides.

You do not need a valid passport at the time of booking. You will need to provide a copy of your passport information page at least 60 days prior to the tour starting. Your passport should have at least six (6) months before expiry left at the end of the tour.

Most hotels will have easily accessible WiFi. You can also get a local sim or travel sim for most countries when you arrive at the destination airport or before your leave your home country. Another option could be an eSim. Please speak to your network provider about international data plans when travelling.

You should pack light depending on the destination and time of year. Many travellers take more clothing and items than they need or use during their trip. Comfortable clothes and footwear are essential, as well as sun protection. You may also wish to pack a water bottle or water bottle cooler bag (these can be easily purchased online). Travel adaptors and chargers should not be forgotten. Luggage is typically limited to one standard suitcase and one piece of hand luggage per person.

Any Australian traveller should register their trip on Smart Traveller with the Australian Government. This allows the government to be able to contact you and provide assistance if something happens during the trip, either at home or near your destination country. Other countries may have a similar program and trips should be registered where possible.

All our tours require a general level of fitness. You should be able to stand and walk for extended periods of time as we visit or travel between various sites and tourist attractions. Stops for meals and breaks are included in all our tours. If you have any health concerns, please contact us to discuss which tour may be the best for you.

Yes, we can assist to arrange a room upgrade for any of our hotels or cruises. These requests would incur an additional cost. Standard rooms will accommodate 2-3 adults. Most of the cruises will accommodate 2 adults only. Additional rooms can be reserved as needed. Please contact us to discuss your requirements.

Tipping is included for most of the tour components. Tips for your guide, the local guide, and any personal meals or expenses are not included. Included tips will be outlined in the individual trip itinerary or booking form.

We get asked this all the time! Yes, Egypt is safe. Just like travelling to any country, you need to take care of yourself and your possessions. You should always travel with comprehensive travel insurance. What about the current situation in Palestine? The Egyptian border with Israel and Palestine is on the other side of the Sinai Peninsula, a long way from Cairo and the Nile Valley. Our tours do not go into the Sinai or near the borders.

Most visitors to Egypt require a visa. A visa can be purchased on arrival for US$25, GBP£25, or EU€25. You must pay cash in exact notes, after you land before passport control. Alternative, you can apply for an eVisa at least 7 days before departure from your home country. This is now the easiest way to obtain a visa for Egypt. You must also have a passport with at least six months validity from the date you plan to leave Egypt.

At Archaeology History Tours we provide inclusive tours for all people, yet there are some important differences to be aware of when travelling in Egypt. For all visitors to Egypt, public displays of affection are not culturally accepted and certainly not for LGBTQIA+ visitors. Despite the legal and social differences, Egypt is safe for gay tourists and all of the rainbow family. If you are respectful, locals will not even realise. Please contact us if you have specific questions or concerns about being LGBTQIA+ and travelling in Egypt.

Egypt is a conservative country and locals rarely wear shorts, even in summer. However, tourist are able too as long as you are respectful. When travelling around it is best to always have your shoulders covered and wear knee-length shorts. Women can carry a shawl or scarf to cover your hair, in case we visit a mosque or other religious site. While the days are warm in winter the nights can be very cold, so please dress accordingly. Swimwear is acceptable for days by the pool, but use a towel when coming and going to your room.

Navigating Egypt for less mobile people can be a challenge. While progress is being made to improve access to tourist sites for wheelchair users, footpaths and paving are often poorly maintained. Please contact us if you have specific mobility issues and we can discuss options.

You can travel to Egypt at any time, however it is best to avoid the peak of summer (June–August). The best time to travel is October to April. During December to February the days are lovely and cool (low 20's degrees C), but the nights can be cold so dress appropriately. March to May is a good time to visit the Red Sea as the weather is nice but the beaches are not too overcrowded.

Egypt use the Egyptian Pound as currency. You can easily exchange US dollars, Pounds Sterling, and Euro throughout most of Egypt. Australian dollars are harder to exchange, but you can withdraw Egyptian currency from local ATM's. Many places now also accept card payments, including all of the tourist sites. However, cash remains very popular in Egypt.

Egyptian Arabic is the main language spoken, specifically the Cairene Arabic dialect which is slightly different from Modern Standard Arabic (MSA). Many tourist sites and hotel employees will speak English or another major international language. Our tour guides speak some Arabic and our local guides speak very good English to assist with any of your needs.

There are no required vaccinations for Egypt, but please check with your doctor or travel health professional. Preventative medication for Malaria may be recommended for some travellers.

Taxi and ride share services are readily available throughout Cairo and some major cities. If you are in Cairo, Uber and DIDI and other ride share apps are the easiest way to book and give your destination if the driver doesn't speak English. You can hail down the white taxis easily, but be careful of the prices they charge. Ride share services are usually fixed price. During the tour, all transportation is arranged including transfers to and from the airport.