How Much Does it Cost to go to Egypt?

Have you ever wondered how much does it cost to go to Egypt? The country has captured the interest of people from around the world. Its fascinating history, impressive monuments, and rich culture have impressed many travellers over the years. However, unlike other cities such as Paris or Amsterdam where it’s best to roam and explore on your own, you’ll want to hire professional guides in Egypt.

The history here is abundant and every structure and area comes with hundreds of stories. Of course, the idea of adding professional guides on top of airfare, accommodation, and other travel-related costs quickly leads to concerns about pricing. So, what does a trip to Egypt cost? Well, there is plenty to take into consideration, but you’ll be surprised at how affordable your dream trip to Egypt really can be.

For the purpose of this article, I am going to suggest an 8 day and 8-night itinerary to see the highlights of Egypt. This sample itinerary will start and end in Cairo and includes a day trip to Alexandria as well as a Nile River cruise between Luxor and Aswan including a half-day trip to Abu Simbel. Please note that this guide is based on the costs for a single person. If you are travelling as a couple, make sure to double these estimates (except for hotels).

	Estimated cost
Airfare	$800
Accommodations	$350
Local transportation	$640
Attractions	$320
Food and drink	$120
Random spending	$200
Total	US$2,430

The above estimate is in American Dollars, so please use XE.com to find out the average costs in your home country.

If you’re Canadian, you may want to consider applying for one of the best travel credit cards in Canada to help offset your costs by collecting points. For example, the American Express Platinum Card gives you a generous welcome bonus that’s often worth more than $900 (potentially more if you transfer your points to Aeroplan or Marriott Bonvoy). There’s also the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite card that has no foreign transaction fees, and it comes with airport lounge access.   

Airfare

Airfare is going to be the most expensive part of your trip to Egypt, so start shopping around in advance to make sure you get the best deal. Don’t plan on travelling during main holidays, for example, Christmas/December, Easter/April, and New Year’s as these are some of the most popular, and therefore most expensive, times to go to Egypt. I’ve estimated airfare to cost about $800 per person for those who avoid the high season. The good news is that you can get direct flights to the Cairo international airport from many cities in the USA and around the world.

February, September and October are good times to go since it’s no longer the peak season and the weather is much better.

Insider tip: Nile River cruises all leave and arrive on certain days rather than running on a flexible schedule throughout the week. Therefore, it is best to plan your flight around your cruise, not the other way around.

Local transportation

Getting around Egypt is actually quite easy when following this itinerary. As the highlights of Egypt are the historical attractions and monuments, you will want to make sure you have a guide for these. Guides will pick you up and drop you off at your accommodation, taking away a lot of the stress.

This is also true for the Nile Cruise, which includes all transportation including pick up from Luxor, drop off at the Airport in Aswan, and transportation between all the sites in-between. 

Nile cruises range in price from cheap feluccas where you spend the night on the deck, to top of the line luxury cruise companies. Definitely take the time to do your research, but you will easily be able to find a great 5-day, 4-night package which includes meals, transportation, and a private guide for your group for $400 USD per person.

That being said, you will need to get from Cairo to Luxor for your cruise. There are two main options. You can fly or take the overnight train. The overnight train has the added bonus of also covering one-night accommodation. However, it probably won’t be a great sleep. Flying direct is quick and easy and allows you to fit more into your schedule. Since they both cost about $100, I suggest flying so you have a bit of extra time in Luxor to explore the market and area when you land. Plus, by flying you are ensuring that you have the time in the morning to get up early (before your Nile cruise starts) for a hot air balloon ride over the Valley of the Kings- one of the biggest highlights of an Egypt vacation. As for getting from Aswan to Cairo at the end of the trip, you’ll need to fly. As mentioned earlier, domestic flights can be quite cheap if you book early enough.

In terms of getting to and from the airports, I highly recommend booking a hotel that offers a pick-up service. This service usually costs around $10 – $30. The taxi drivers at the airport are very aggressive and significantly more expensive than they should be. Should you need a taxi in Cairo, make sure to agree upon a rate ahead of time or make sure they turn on the meter. Taxis that use the meter are incredibly affordable.

Uber is also available in some of the major cities in Egypt so it can be an inexpensive way to get around.

If you want to go further out to Siwa, Memphis, Hurghada, Sharm el-Sheikh, and the Red Sea, you’ll need to budget more.

Accommodations

Since this itinerary also includes a Nile River cruise, you will only require 4 nights in a hotel: 3 in Cairo and 1 in Luxor if you choose to fly rather than take the overnight train. For four nights in Egypt, I estimate your costs to be $350.

Egypt, like every other destination, has a range of choices for accommodation. Backpacker hostels can be found in central locations the same as five-star luxury hotels and mid-range hotels. For this guide, I’ve based cost estimates on the top-rated mid-range hotels which, you will find, are very affordable. Of course, you can choose a lower budget accommodation and cut costs more or, if you have a bit of leeway, you may want to take this opportunity to splurge on one or two of Egypt’s most famous hotels.

For recommendations on accommodation in Egypt I suggest the following:

Cairo

• Hostels – Freedom Hostel, Nile Plaza Hostel, Nile Plaza Hostel
• Mid-range hotels – Eco Inn Cairo, City View Hotel, Cleopatra Hotel
• Luxury hotels – Marriott Mena House, Fairmont Nile City, Royal Maxim Palace Kempinski

Luxor

• Hostels – Bob Marley House Sherief Hotel Luxor, Happy Land Luxor, Venus Hostel
• Mid-range hotels – Nefertiti Hotel, Iberotel Luxor, Eatabe Luxor
• Luxury hotels – Hilton Luxor Resorts and Spa, Sofitel Winter Palace

If you have the right credit card, you can save a fair amount of money on hotels. Americans should strongly consider the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card since you can earn up to 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy points and $300 back at U.S. restaurants as a welcome bonus.

Canadians should consider the Marriott Bonvoy American Express, which gives you up to 75,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. That’s enough points for a few free nights at some hotels, which could easily have a value of over $500.

Attractions

Egypt is all about the attractions, but the good news is that many of these attractions, and guides for them, are covered in the costs of your Nile cruise. This includes Valley of the Kings, Luxor Temple, Karnak Temple, Temple of Hatshepsut, Queen Hatshepsut’s Temple, Kom Ombo, Edfu, and more. That being said, there are a couple of optional tours within the cruise that will be an additional cost. This includes Abu Simbel, which really is a must. Abu Simbel costs approximately $80 per person for a private guided tour as it is a three-hour drive from Luxor.

A day trip to Alexandria will also be an additional cost. Again, for a private guided tour, you are looking at approximately $80 per person for a full-day trip that includes lunch. The hot air balloon ride in Luxor is also additional, though prices range quite a bit depending on the provider, time of year, and hotel you book through. A good price is $60 per person for this experience.

Finally, you will need to consider any tours that you want to do in Cairo. The great pyramids and Cairo Egyptian Museum are a popular combination for a day trip and will cost about $40 per person. A full-day tour through Cairo including the Citadel and Khan el Khalili market is approximately $60 per person.

*Please note that these tour estimates are for private guides which I believe offer the best experience. However, know that you can decrease these costs by joining larger group tours instead. Entrance fees are often covered by tours, but not always, so you may need to purchase your own tickets.

Food and drink

Food and drink are reasonably priced in Egypt making it pretty easy to stay on budget. Your Nile cruise will include 3 meals a day, however, it may or may not include drinks (even water) so be sure to look into this when you book. Breakfast of some sort is also almost always included in your hotel fee, and lunch may be included in full-day trips; definite perks for those keeping an eye on their wallet. Budget the following for your meals:

• Lunch – $10
• Dinner: – $18
• Drinking water: $2

When it comes to restaurants, you can find fast food classics, street food vendors, local family-run restaurants, and of course restaurants aimed at tourists. Prices will vary depending on where you eat and what you eat. Chances are you will end up eating at the more touristy restaurants they tend to be the easiest to find, most recommended to travellers, and close to the main tourist areas. That said, even these ‘pricey’ meals are quite reasonable by North American standards. If you want to eat cheap, shawarma, falafel and fava beans are found at many restaurants and will cost you a few Egyptian pounds (EGP)

Travellers need to know that tap water is not drinkable in Egypt, so you will need to buy bottled water. Please also be mindful of any ice cubes in your drinks. Note that alcohol is not always readily available at many of the local restaurants Egyptians do not drink. If you are looking for alcohol, your best bet is the hotel restaurants.

With all of this in mind, your daily food and drink budget should be about $30 dollars including drinking water. Remember, water may not be included in your Nile cruise package, so factor in a few extra dollars for your trip.

Random spending

Egypt isn’t necessarily a huge shopping mecca, but there are a few items that are great for souvenirs or to bring home as gifts. These include papyrus, alabaster figurines, or cartouche necklaces. Many vendors expect you to negotiate and often start at a price 10X more than you should pay. Check online in advance for average costs. Egypt is also famous for its spices and teas which can be bought in the local markets. I recommend you bring at least $100 if you are looking to pick up some small gifts or souvenirs.

Most merchants at markets prefer cash (some only take cash), but many also accept credit cards.

It is also important to note that Egypt is very much a tipping culture. In fact, it is normal to tip even the bathroom attendants (so hold onto those small bills!) and even people who do photography for you.. In terms of tipping, the norm is 50 Egyptian pounds per half-day for the guide and 20 Egyptian pounds for the driver. Double that for a full day. Keep in mind wait staff at restaurants will also expect a tip, as will housekeeping, drivers, and the staff of the cruise (you will get an envelope at the end). Basically, any person providing any form of service for you (even taking your picture) will want a tip.

I recommend allocating an extra $100 for tipping. Depending on your Egypt tours, it may be more than you need, however tipping goes a long way in Egypt and if you have a fantastic guide you may want to give them a little extra.

Egypt trip cost

So how much does it cost to go to Egypt and see the highlights? I estimate that 8 days in Egypt, including a Nile River cruise and professional, private guides, will cost approximately $2,430 per person. Not bad considering this estimate also includes private guides for all of the sites and attractions. That being said, I have included a few additional tips throughout the article as to where you can cut costs and reduce your Egypt budget even more.

Egypt is an incredible destination and a visit here is often the vacation of a lifetime for many people. Hopefully, this article will show you just how affordable Egypt can be to explore and help to convince you to go and experience it for yourself. For more inspiration, check out these guides on Dubai, Jordan, Disneyland, Tokyo, Europe, Rome and Ireland.

Is Egypt expensive to visit?

Egypt is actually a very affordable destination and can be done on a budget. Should you choose, there are plenty of luxury tour options as well. Especially when it comes to Nile River cruises. Overall, it’s one of the cheaper and more rewarding destinations I’ve visited.

Is it safe to go to Egypt?

I wouldn’t say Egypt is a dangerous destination, however, it can be more difficult. Most solo female travellers report having a tough time in Egypt so, if this is your situation, I would suggest that you would feel more comfortable joining a group tour. As with every other destination, you do need to keep your wits about you and be mindful of pickpockets and scams. I suggest doing some research on common scams ahead of time so you know what to look for.

Is it worth hiring a tour guide in Egypt?

Absolutely. I would argue that hiring a guide is what makes the experience. A trip to Egypt is a trip back in time and guides are experts who can share the stories and facts with you. You’ll be happy you hired a guide when you visit ancient ruins as there’s so much history to hear about. You will see and learn much more with a guide. Bonus: having a guide means the scammers and touts will leave you alone.

What are the top attractions in Egypt?

Egypt is full of things to see but some must-sees include The Pyramids of Giza, Abu Simbel Temple, Siwas Oasis, Philae Temple, Karnak Temple, and the Valley of the Kings. If you are up for it, I also highly recommend a hot air balloon ride when in Luxor.

What are the free things to do in Egypt?

Most temples and museums come with a small fee but there are still some free things to do for those trying to figure out the cost to go to Egypt. Exploring markets (assuming you don’t buy) is free, you can also explore the different neighbourhoods of Cairo. Plus, Egypt has lots of coastline and beach destinations. Going to the beach is free.