The Egyptian Pound (EGP).

A visa is required when traveling as a tourist from Canada or the United States. A visa can be obtained upon arrival at Cairo International Airport (CAI) for $25 and will be valid for up to 30 days. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date you expect to leave Egypt.

Applicable travelers can also apply for an E-Visa.

The best time to visit Egypt is during winter from October to April, when temperatures are lower. The most popular time for tourists is December and January.

The official language in Egypt is Arabic. Your Trip Leader will be fluent in both Arabic and English and can help you with any translations if needed.

The lighter the better! If you only have a rolling suitcase that will work, but if you can get your hands on a more mobile bag, like a large backpack, that would be better. We take all forms of transportation, and move often on this trip. Loading your suitcase on and off all these modes of transportation can be challenging.

You'll also want a daypack for your personal gear, food, and drinks for the day.

Traveling to Egypt during this Muslim holiday can be a wonderful cultural experience, but there are a few things to know...

During Ramadan, establishments close earlier in the afternoon to allow people to go home and pray. Then, everything opens back up at sundown and people happily break their fast.

Please note that it may be more difficult to find alcohol and nightlife in an Islamic country during Ramadan.

Ramadan does not begin until the last three days of the March 2023 trip. For the April 2023 trip, Ramadan ends on Day 7, where you'll get to see people celebrating the joyous Eid al-Fitr holiday.

Eat like a local with delicious Egyptian dishes such as koshary, hummus, shawarma, and falafels.

Breakfasts will be served at your accommodations. Dinners are enjoyed at local restaurants consisting of Egyptian cuisine and will range from modern restaurants to local-style food stalls.

There will be two meals shared with a local family, providing a truly authentic experience. These will be dinner with a Nubian family in Aswan on Day 3 and a home-cooked lunch in Luxor on Day 7.

One dinner and one breakfast will be served during your overnight train ride on Day 2.

For the felucca sailing experience along the Nile on Day 5, a local Nubian family will prepare lunch, dinner, and breakfast the next morning aboard the boat. Meals on the boat will be vegetarian.

Sample Breakfast Menu:

• Aish bread (similar to pita)
• Variety of cheeses
• Fruits
• Eggs (Omelets, fried, boiled)
• Tea, milk, and coffee

Sample Dinner Menu at local restaurants:

• Rice, lentils, or pasta
• Chicken, lamb, fish, grilled beef
• Mixed vegetables (grilled or stuffed)
• Shawarma, kebabs, and falafels

Must-try Egyptian dishes:

• Koshary or Kushari: Egypt's national dish and popular street food. A traditional Egyptian staple, mixing pasta, rice, and brown lentils, topped with a zesty tomato sauce, garlic, vinegar, and garnished with chickpeas and crispy fried onions.
• Fiteer Baladi: “Egyptian Pizza” cooked in a brick oven. Originally served plain, it can be ordered savory with meats, cheese, and vegetables or sweet with syrup, honey, or sugar.
• Mulukhiyah: A green leafy vegetable chopped and cooked with garlic in beef, rabbit, or chicken stew, served with rice or bread.
• Moussaka: a layered dish mainly composed of eggplant, tomato sauce, and minced meat. The dish varies from region to region. Some add potatoes or bell peppers, and others don’t call it moussaka unless it’s slathered with a thick layer of bechamel white sauce.

While you will see many women wearing hijabs in Jordan, there are also plenty of women who do not wear them. You will notice that for the most part (outside of the international bars and restaurants), women dress conservatively, with chest, shoulders, and legs covered.

Clothing among the locals is generally conservative and traditional. You will see men wearing loose trousers and long sleeves.

Gallibayas, the traditional man clothing, is a loose-fitting, long dress or shirt. We suggest that male travelers on our trip respect these customs and do their best to dress similar to the locals.

Egypt is not a safe destination for LGBTQIA+ travellers who wish to openly express their sexuality and/or gender identity outside of a very rigid, heterosexual binary.

Discretion is advised for LGBTQIA+  travelers in Egypt. Though homosexuality is not officially outlawed, gay men and transgender individuals have been prosecuted using debauchery and public morals laws and given long prison sentences.

We recommend LGBTQIA+ travelers exercise caution and discretion while in Egypt.

Yes, ATMs are available in Egypt. There are fees associated with transactions.

Understand that Egypt operates mostly on cash, however credit cards are accepted at more modern shopping malls, restaurants, and hotels.

Yes. Tipping 10–15% of your bill total is customary at cafes and restaurants, and loose change is acceptable for food purchases from street vendors and markets.

No. Though it is safe for bathing, brushing your teeth, and rinsing off fruits and vegetables, it is not recommended to drink tap water. Please bring a reusable water bottle (and even a reusable straw) and join us in our efforts to be environmentally friendly and keep Egypt beautiful.

We suggest booking a round-trip ticket arriving and departing from Cairo. Then book a separate domestic flight from Hurghada to Cairo. Additionally, you can take a local bus from Hurghada to Cairo. The travel time is approximately 6-8 hours.

The Hurghada Airport (HRG) is an international airport, so you can arrange for departing flights directly from this airport as well.

There are many options for entertainment after the sun goes down in Egypt. There are night tours in both Aswan and Luxor to visit the famous temples underneath the lights. Major cities such as Cairo and Hurghada have night clubs with live music, DJs, and dancing.

Sleeping arrangements on the overnight train are in two-seater cabins that convert into bunk beds. All bedding is provided on board and western-style toilets are located in each carriage. Your bags will be stored in your cabin.

Dinner and breakfast will be served aboard the train. However it may be worth bringing some additional snacks, especially if you are vegetarian or have dietary requirements.

Expect the travel time to be approximately 13 hours.

Yes. We have reserved day rooms at the hotel in Cairo where we can store our luggage and freshen up before heading to the train station on the evening of Day 2.

Though rain is very uncommon, if there is a rain storm, the boat is equipped with a cover to protect against the elements. This protective cover can also be used for strong winds or sandy storms.

If you are looking to relax on your trip without exerting yourself too much, we have a number of trips that are good picks. Trips marked as "Light" activity level are:

• Spain
• Prague, Vienna, Budapest
• South Korea
• India

Remember, all activities on our trips are optional, so if you feel like doing something less strenuous one day, our Trip Leader can help provide alternative options. If you have concerns about your ability to participate in any activities on a trip, please let us know at bookings@under30experiences.com, and we'd be happy to accommodate.

All travelers will be sleeping in a common space on the deck of the boat for one night. There are shared bathrooms facilities on the boat. The felucca experience is a private boat for only your group.

Yes. For Egypt there are two associated plug types C and F. Plug type C is the plug which has two round pins and plug type F is the plug which has two round pins with two earth clips on the side. Egypt operates on a 220V supply voltage and 50Hz.

We generally recommend $350 USD.

2 dinners and 6 lunches will be at your expense. Average meals range from $8-15 USD, depending on your restaurant selection. If you are eating from local street food vendors, then the price will be less expensive.

Optional activities range from a few dollars to enter museums to $20 for touring Philae Temple at night. The more expensive optional activities are for those that would like to go scuba diving while in Hurghada with prices costing a minimum of $60.

Yes! When travelers take advantage of our “Switch Your Trip” program, last-minute slots open up on sold-out trips. Visit our Trips On Sale page for the latest last-minute deals. ‍

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Feel free to reach out to our all-star customer service team at info@under30experiences.com or by calling 1 (888) 839-2086.