Booking and enjoying Egypt tours from Detroit has never been easier or more affordable. If you are planning a trip to Egypt, there is no doubt that you have a lot of questions. To help make the whole experience as pleasant as possible, we have compiled a list of questions and answers to help. We have tried to cover all the most frequently asked questions.
Visa and Entry Requirements
American citizens and those in possession of an American passport can book and enjoy Egypt tours from Detroit without any need to visit an Egyptian embassy or consulate in the USA for an Egyptian tourist visa.
In the Cairo International Airport, just before passport control, there is a bank window where you will purchase your visa. It costs $25 USD and you will pay cash. Take the visa and your passport to passport control. The officer will add this visa to your passport and stamp your passport.
Flight Information
The shortest flight distance from Detroit to Cairo in Egypt is approximately 5,958 miles, with an estimated flight time of approximately 11 hours and 46 minutes.
Safety and Security
First things first: is Egypt safe? Absolutely! Egypt is just as safe, if not safer than many other popular tourist destinations. During our visit, we never felt unsafe in Egypt. Nonetheless, visitors should stay alert and aware of their surroundings in very busy touristy areas. If you stick to the main tourist areas, which include Cairo, Alexandria, Hurghada, Luxor, Aswan, and Abu Simbel, Egypt is safe.
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Here are key points regarding safety:
- Security Checks: As you enter most sites, as well as many hotels, you will go through security.
- Military and Police Presence: It is common to see armed guards and armored vehicles at the sites you will be visiting and along the roadways.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to go to Egypt is surely between October and April. The best time to visit Egypt is the cooler months of the year: November through March. The tourist high season is considered from December to February, so if you come slightly out of season you will also enjoy cheaper hotel prices and fewer crowds.
During the summer months, temperatures can be oppressive. High temperatures average around 40°C (104°F), but can shoot up to 55°C (130°F).
Packing Essentials
If you are looking for tips or some advice about what to pack for Egypt, our recommendation would be that you should try to avoid packing any unnecessary items. For example, Egypt is a hot country, so there is no need for you to pack in a lot of warm clothing. It is however advisable to pack in at least one pair of long pants and perhaps a lightweight jacket that you can wear in the evenings if need be.
Here is a quick checklist of things to pack for your trip to Egypt:
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- Backup Cash: bring some backup cash in USD or Euros just in case you have any issues with the ATM’s or if you run out of EGP.
- Remember that nights can be freezing so bring a sweater and a pair of warm socks.
Budgeting and Costs
Egypt is comparatively cheap if you’re coming from a developed nation. Not much. For a bed in a dorm, you’ll usually pay about $4, guesthouse would be about $12 per night and a higher standard shouldn’t be more than $150. Traveling through Egypt is similar in price to traveling through Southeast Asia. If you are a budget traveler, you can see and do a lot in Egypt without spending a lot of money.
Always carry a lot of coins and small bills. You will have to “tip” many times a day, for all kinds of reasons.
In Egypt, the currency is the Egyptian pound (EGP). Until 2023, all tourist attractions and activities needed to be paid for in cash. Now, attractions are only accepting credit cards. We withdrew all of our Egyptian pounds from ATM’s in Egypt. There are ATM’s in the Cairo International Airport, so this is a great place to make your first withdrawal. The maximum any ATM would ever allow us to withdraw per transaction was 3,000 EGP.
Transportation
The roads in Egypt are congested and chaotic. The streets of Cairo and Giza are so congested and chaotic that it is not worth the stress of navigating them yourself. Cars fill every available space on the road and there is no effort to paint lines on the road, since they would be ignored anyway. All the while, it is an almost constant cacophony of car horns. The horn plays a vital role in friendly communication between drivers.
Domestic flights in Egypt as affordable and great. You’d be looking at two airlines: EgyptAir and NileAir (I can only personally vouch for EgyptAir and they’re great). If you’re on a strict backpacking budget, you might want to look into Go Bus. In Cairo, you can take Uber anywhere and it’s extremely cheap. Traffic jams and driving in Egypt, particularly in Cairo, can be quite intimidating.
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Here is a summary of transportation options:
- Uber: In Cairo, you can take Uber anywhere and it’s extremely cheap.
- Go Bus: If you’re on a strict backpacking budget, you might want to look into Go Bus.
- Domestic Flights: Domestic flights in Egypt as affordable and great. You’d be looking at two airlines: EgyptAir and NileAir.
Must-See Attractions
There are literally hundreds of different Egypt tourist attractions to choose from. When you are only going to be in Egypt for a week or two, or perhaps even three, it is easy to miss out on some of the best attractions. This is why so many people prefer to book package tours.
Attractions like the Giza Pyramids; Valley of Kings; Karnak Temple and the mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut are all highly recommended. If you find yourself in Aswan, then we would also highly recommend visiting the two rock-cut Abu Simbel temples.
Here are some of the must-see attractions:
- Giza Pyramids
- Valley of the Kings
- Karnak Temple
- Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut
- Abu Simbel Temples
You should definitely visit both Karnak temple and Luxor temple while in Luxor. Both are absolutely incredible sights to behold. The giant pillars at Karnak temple are surreal, and you have to do some laps around the holy scarab for luck and prosperity. However, if you can only visit one temple at night, definitely choose Luxor temple.
luxor temple at night 4K amazing experience,
Another site which we cannot recommend highly enough is the Lost City of Petra. Although this site is located in Jordan rather than in Egypt, you can visit it by way of a day trip.
Nile River Experience
There is a cruise on the Nile that starts in all of the touristic cities, and most tourists decide to do it. Keep in mind that it’s not going to be a very local experience hanging out at the pool and eating touristy food on the boat. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that but it might not be everyone’s cup of tea.
We booked hotels in Luxor and Aswan with views of the Nile River, so that we could still get the “Nile experience.” In Aswan, we frequently rode the motorboats on the Nile River and we took a sunset felucca cruise. These boat trips, along with our hotel stays, made us feel like we had a great Nile River experience.
Health and Safety Tips
Despite hearing and reading multiple times prior to embarking on my adventure that it’s, “very easy to get sick in Egypt,” if I’m being completely frank, I was incredulous. I’ve never gotten sick on a holiday or journey before - or since. Certainly, I thought, “this must be an exaggeration.” After a couple days in Cairo. Boom. Sick as can be.
Here are some tips to stay healthy:
- Make sure to not consume or swim in fresh water in Egypt.
- Drink bottled water only!
- If you want to be extra cautious, use bottled water to brush your teeth as well.
Cultural Considerations
The first thing to know, is that Egypt is a predominantly Muslim country. Specifically, the country is about 85-90% practicing Muslim. The majority of the rest of the population are Coptic Orthodox Christians. This is important to keep in mind for two reasons. In the Muslim religion, drinking alcohol is forbidden. That means, if you enjoy being a lush on your vacations, this is a dry country and it will not be that kind of trip.
The next reason, is in your attire. No matter where I travel, it is my desire and aim to respect all local customs, expectations and rules - spoken or unspoken. Thus, you’ll want to pack clothing that might be considered “conservative” by western standards. I mostly wore items that were long sleeve, flowy, long or at least shin length. I also wore head wraps and bandanas often, which is purely optional.
Egypt is very conservative. If you’re traveling with a partner or mate, save the PDA for the privacy of your room. Public displays of affection are frowned upon. I’d avoid any intimate behavior (cuddling, kissing and even hand holding).
Tipping Etiquette
You will have to “tip” many times a day, for all kinds of reasons. Tipping is expected. Moreover, you’ll find some aren’t coy about letting you know it, either. To alleviate any potential issues, try to tip exactly the amount you want to give, without requiring change.
Keep in mind, tipping is the cultural standard. Not tipping is considered rude and disrespectful. Overall, 10 -15% is pretty standard, but you can always give as much as you feel compelled.
Additional Resources
Check these out! Travel Tips & Resources to Help You Plan an Epic Trip!
- Going - I’ve subscribed to Going (formerly, beloved, Scott’s Cheap Flights) for awhile now and it’s an amazing resource for finding… did you guess cheap flights? Yes, you can set your preferences from airports to flight class and get destination deals right to your inbox. It’s fab!
- Booking.com - the majority, if not almost all of my stays are booked on Booking.com. It’s a reliable site to book and manage your reservations. It’s a great way to find boutique stays and unique accommodations at the best rates!
- Expedia - If I am looking for a flight to a specific destination for specific dates, I find myself booking many flights on Expedia. It’s user friendly and straight forward.
- Viator - most of the activities, tours and excursions I book for my trips are booked through Viator. Whether you’re seeking a guide for the day, a group tour, a cooking class, Viator has you covered!
- Get Your Guide - this is another great marketplace to find tours, excursions and activities to book for your upcoming trip.
Egypt is a wonderful country to add to your travel wish list. Go now, while tourism is still relatively low.
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