Egypt pairs beautifully with an African safari — a week of temples, tombs and the Nile before or after your wildlife days. We plan it the same way we plan the bush: private Egyptologist guides, the right hours at each site (early, before the crowds), and hotels with real history.
The classic shape: two or three nights in Cairo for the Pyramids of Giza, the Grand Egyptian Museum and old Islamic Cairo, then a three-to-four-night luxury Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan — Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, Edfu and Philae from the water — with Abu Simbel as the grand finale.
Add the Red Sea for a beach finish, or connect straight to Nairobi or Kilimanjaro for the safari leg — Cairo links East Africa with short direct flights.
Highlights of Egypt
Recommended lodges & camps in Egypt
Where you stay shapes your whole safari. These are properties we know personally and return to again and again — chosen for their location, their guiding and the way they make you feel. Tell us which appeal and we'll build your journey around them.
These are a few of our favorites — we work with many more across every price point. Have a specific lodge in mind? Tell us in your enquiry and we'll secure it.
Know before you go
The practical details we handle for you — flights, entry, health and money — summarized here so nothing surprises you. Requirements can change, so we confirm everything when you book.
Getting there from the USA
EgyptAir flies nonstop from New York (JFK) to Cairo in about 11 hours; connections via Europe and the Gulf work well from other US cities.
Entry for US citizens
US citizens need an Egypt visa — a simple e-Visa online in advance (about $25) or on arrival at Cairo airport. Passport valid 6+ months.
What to do in Egypt
Five thousand years of history, cruised in five-star comfort.
The Pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum
A private Egyptologist walks you through Giza at opening, then the GEM — Tutankhamun’s complete treasures under one roof for the first time.
Giza & Cairo
Oct–Apr; GEM at opening
Cruise the Nile, Luxor to Aswan
Four to five nights on a small luxury dahabiya or five-star cruiser — Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, Edfu and Kom Ombo from the water, as travelers have seen them for centuries.
Luxor to Aswan
Oct–Apr cruising
Abu Simbel at dawn
Ramses II’s rock temples above Lake Nasser, reached by early flight from Aswan before the day-trip crowds arrive.
Lake Nasser
Dawn flight from Aswan
Old Cairo and the Khan el-Khalili
Coptic churches, the Citadel, Al-Azhar mosque and the great bazaar — layers of the city with a guide who knows every alley.
Islamic & Coptic Cairo
Oct–Apr
Best time to visit
The cool season — ideal temperatures for the Pyramids, Luxor and the Nile.
Hot but quiet — early starts, empty temples and the best hotel value.
In the rainy months many of these same camps drop their rates by 20–40% — emerald landscapes, newborn wildlife, superb birding and far fewer vehicles. Peak season isn't the only great season: tell us your budget and we'll show you what the green season buys.
Planning & cost
Fully tailor-made — priced privately to your camps, season and travel style. No fixed packages.
Fly into Cairo (CAI). US citizens need an e-Visa (about $25), applied for online or on arrival. Private Egyptologist guides, drivers and all transfers are included throughout.
Every journey is private and tailor-made — your own guide and vehicle, the finest lodges, and a specialist on call throughout.
Everything else,
answered before you ask
The practical details that apply to every safari we plan — so this page is the only one you need.
Money & tipping
US dollars are accepted at virtually every camp, and cards work at lodges and city hotels. Your trip is fully inclusive, so cash is mainly for tips: plan on roughly $10–20 per guest per day for your guide and $10–15 for camp staff, handed over at the end of each stay. We send exact guidance with your final documents.
Health & safety
See a travel clinic 6–8 weeks before departure for routine shots and malaria advice (most safari regions require prophylaxis; parts of South Africa are malaria-free). Camps are remote but professionally run, with radio contact and evacuation cover — we require travel insurance that includes emergency medical evacuation.
Staying connected
Nearly all lodges have Wi-Fi in the main areas (often in-tent too), and an eSIM from your US carrier covers the cities. Expect to be offline on game drives — most guests come to see that as the point. Family back home can always reach you through us, day or night.
What to pack
Soft duffel bags only (light aircraft cap luggage around 33 lb / 15 kg), neutral-colored layers for cold mornings and warm afternoons, and binoculars. Laundry is included at almost every camp, so pack for 4–5 days no matter the trip length.
Full packing list →Continue exploring
Morocco
A Morocco tour weaves Marrakech, the High Atlas, Fes and a night under Sahara stars.
Explore → RegionEastern Africa
An Eastern Africa safari spans the Great Migration, mountain gorillas and the spice islands of Zanzibar.
Explore → RegionBeaches & Islands
Africa’s beaches and islands — powder-white sand and turquoise water to end your safari.
Explore →Egypt FAQs
Getting to Egypt — flights, visas and health
Current at the time of writing. We re-confirm every requirement for your exact routing before you travel — and we will tell you what to apply for, and when.
Let's design your Egypt journey.
Tell us how you like to travel and our experts will craft your private, tailor-made itinerary — no obligation.
Enquire now