Destination Guide

Egypt

Five thousand years of civilisation along the world's longest river — pyramids and temples, Nile cruises, and a Red Sea coast that fewer South Africans have explored than they should.

Best months
Oct – Apr
Climate now
Hot dry · Mild winter
Currency
EGP / USD
Languages
Arabic · EN tourist
Visa (SA)
Visa on arrival
Flight time
10h to Cairo
Time zone
EET (+1h)

Why visit Egypt

Why Egypt still humbles every traveller.

The pyramids at Giza

The Great Pyramid is 4,500 years old and the only surviving Wonder of the Ancient World. You will not be ready for the scale.

Luxor’s temples

Karnak’s hypostyle hall, the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut’s mortuary temple — Egypt’s most concentrated dose of ancient grandeur.

A Nile cruise

Three to seven nights on a dahabiya or traditional cruiser between Luxor and Aswan. The pace, the landscape, the temples between.

Abu Simbel

Ramses II’s vast rock-cut temples, relocated piece by piece to save them from Lake Nasser. A monument to two civilisations.

The Red Sea

World-class diving and snorkelling at Hurghada, Marsa Alam and Dahab. Often combined with the Cairo–Nile circuit.

The new Grand Egyptian Museum

Opened 2025 near Giza — the world’s largest archaeological museum. Tutankhamun’s entire treasure in one place.

Available tours in Egypt

One scheduled small-group tour — plus tailor-made on request.

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When to go

Winter is when Egypt opens up.

Jan
20° · prime
Feb
22° · prime
Mar
25° · prime
Apr
28° · prime
May
32° · hot
Jun
38°
Jul
40°
Aug
40°
Sep
35° · ok
Oct
30° · prime
Nov
24° · prime
Dec
20° · prime
Prime — ideal for all activities
Good — shoulder season, fewer crowds
Do not recommend — weather or seasonal limits
Prime · Oct – Apr

Comfortable temperatures for sightseeing, cool nights. Christmas and Easter peak — book ahead. Spring is loveliest.

Good · May · Sep

Hot but bearable, especially on the coast. Fewer guests, lower rates. Mornings are still pleasant.

Do not recommend · Jun – Aug

Summer in Cairo and Luxor is genuinely punishing — 40°+ daily. We don’t schedule trips in these months.

What Egypt is known for

The signature experiences this country is famous for.

P
Pyramids of Giza

Khufu, Khafre, Menkaure — and the Sphinx watching over.

K
Karnak

Largest religious building ever constructed. The hypostyle hall is staggering.

V
Valley of the Kings

Tutankhamun, Ramses, Seti — 63 royal tombs cut into a desert valley.

N
Nile cruise

Slow river journeys past temples, palm groves, fellucca sails.

A
Abu Simbel

Ramses II’s twin temples — moved 65m up to save them from Lake Nasser.

M
Egyptian Museum

Old (Tahrir) and the spectacular new Grand Egyptian Museum at Giza.

R
Red Sea diving

Hurghada, Marsa Alam, Dahab — world-class coral, easy combination.

S
Siwa Oasis

Far western desert — Berber culture, Oracle of Amun, salt lakes.

How to travel Egypt

Two signature ways we travel Egypt.

Small-Group Tour

Land of the Pharaohs

Our 9-day Egypt tour: Cairo, Aswan, Nile cruise to Luxor. Max 16 guests, fixed March departure.

NEW – Jordan add-on programme to do before or after Egypt.

View the tour →

Bespoke

Tailor it

Add Abu Simbel by flight, extend to the Red Sea, or include Siwa Oasis. Private guides, dahabiya cruises, luxury or mid-range.

Design my trip →

Did you know?

A few things about Egypt most visitors don’t expect.

01
The Great Pyramid stayed the tallest building for 3,800 years.

From 2,560 BC until Lincoln Cathedral’s spire in 1311 AD. No structure built by humans was taller for nearly four millennia.

02
Cleopatra lived closer to the moon landing than to the pyramids.

The Great Pyramid was already 2,500 years old when Cleopatra was born. She’s closer to us in time than she was to its construction.

03
Egyptian hieroglyphs were forgotten for 1,400 years.

Until the Rosetta Stone was found in 1799 and decoded by Champollion in 1822. Every pharaoh’s name we know is thanks to that stone.

Photo gallery

Egypt through our travellers’ lenses.

Imagining your own Egypt?

5,000 years in 9 days — and you'll still want to return.

Our group tour is perfectly paced for first-timers. Returnees usually want a Nile dahabiya, a Red Sea extension, or a deep dive into a single era. We design either.

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