Egypt Visitor Tips — Practical Field Guidance

The tourist zones of Egypt — Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, and the main monument sites — are generally considered safe for international visitors. The threat level at tourist sites has significantly decreased since the mid-2010s. Standard precautions apply: be aware of your surroundings, keep copies of your passport separately from the original, avoid displaying expensive camera equipment openly in crowded spaces, and follow any current travel advisories issued by your home government. Minya Governorate (for Middle Egypt sites including Beni Hassan and Amarna) requires a security escort for independent travellers, arranged through the local tourist police — this is a formality and not an indicator of significant danger.

Tipping (baksheesh) is a normal and integrated part of Egyptian economic culture, not a nuisance or a scam. Site guards who open locked areas, illuminate a tomb with a torch, or direct you to an overlooked detail expect EGP 20–50 per person for minor assistance, and EGP 50–100 per person for more significant services. Toilet attendants: EGP 5. At restaurants, 10–15% is standard. Tour guides who work well over a full day: EGP 100–200 per person. Keep small denomination banknotes (EGP 5, 10, 20) accessible — guards cannot typically make change from EGP 100 or 200 notes. Budget for tipping as a site cost, not as an optional extra.

Photography policy varies by site. As of 2026: smartphones and compact cameras are permitted at most open areas of major sites including Karnak, Luxor Temple, and the Giza Plateau exteriors. The Valley of the Kings has a formal photography prohibition inside all tombs — enforcement varies but the rule is genuine and based on conservation evidence that repeated flash photography bleaches painted surfaces. The Grand Egyptian Museum prohibits photography in the Tutankhamun gallery. The Egyptian Museum Tahrir permits photography throughout except flash in the Royal Mummy Room. Professional and tripod photography requires an SCA permit everywhere. Always check posted rules at each tomb or gallery entrance on arrival.

Comfortable, breathable clothing covering shoulders and knees is practical at outdoor sites for sun protection and respectful at mosque sites. Light-coloured linen or cotton is substantially cooler than dark clothing at exposed sites like the Giza Plateau. Closed-toe shoes with proper ankle support are strongly recommended — sandals are impractical on rough limestone and become dangerous in damp tomb corridors. A wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses are essential items, not optional accessories. Bring your own sunscreen as it is not consistently available near sites and is more expensive than in most source countries.

Accessibility varies significantly between sites. The Grand Egyptian Museum is fully wheelchair-accessible with lifts and accessible routes throughout. The open courts and colonnades of Karnak and Luxor Temple are largely accessible on flat surfaces, though some internal areas involve steps. The Valley of the Kings tombs are generally inaccessible for wheelchair users — tomb entrances involve steep descending corridors without alternative access. The Giza Plateau exterior is partially accessible on prepared paths near the Sphinx; pyramid interiors are not accessible for mobility-impaired visitors. Contact our Cairo office for a specific assessment of accessibility conditions at the sites on your planned itinerary.

November is our single top recommendation — comfortable temperatures (20–26°C in Upper Egypt), manageable crowd levels, excellent light quality for photography, and fully operational site infrastructure. October is strong for the same reasons and includes the Abu Simbel solar alignment on 22 October. February is a good alternative — cool, with the pyramids at their photographic best in winter light, though the Luxor–Aswan cruise route is at its busiest in January–February. July and August offer the quietest sites in the country; the heat (45°C+ in Aswan) requires rigorous preparation but the experience of a near-empty Valley of the Kings at 08:00 in August is remarkable. Ramadan reduces operating hours at some sites; verify the Ramadan dates for your travel year in advance.