Egyptian Family Adventure

Explore the vibrant culture and ancient history of Egypt.

Spectacular ancient monuments, vast desert and golden beaches make Egypt an exciting destination for all. We begin our adventure in exciting Cairo visiting the world-famous Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx; even the smallest children will be amazed at these magnificent wonders of the ancient world! Catching the overnight sleeper train to Aswan, we experience vibrant Nubian culture and bustling bazaars before drifting along the Nile on a traditional felucca. Downstream in Luxor, we explore the hidden tombs of the Pharaohs in the Valley of the Kings. We round off our holiday at the beach resort of Hurghada, where we venture beneath the waves to discover the brightly coloured fish and corals of the Red Sea.

People, Places & Planet

We work hard to create trips that have a positive impact on the people and places we visit and look after the planet we explore. Learn more about our sustainable travel ethos and practice here and find out about the work of the Exodus Travels Foundation here.

Some sustainable travel highlights of this trip include:

People

How this trip helps improve life for local communities.

• Local guides keep you well informed about local traditions and cultural-social sensitivities.
• This trip brings income and opportunity to the destination community through the inclusion of locally owned hotels, restaurants, and other enterprises, and by championing locally produced food wherever possible.
• There are options to have a Nubian dinner in an Aswan village or a home cooked meal in Cairo, where clients can have an authentic meal, interact socially and directly see who their money is going to.
• Read more about our other initiatives here.

Places

How this trip helps protect and conserve local landscapes and nature.

• By travelling in a small group we ‘tread lightly’ to minimise our impact on local resources and the environment.
• We work with our partners on the ground to proactively reduce waste; this includes eliminating all single-use plastic water bottles by providing refills for re-usable bottles.
• The payment of entrance fees to natural reserves and archaeological sites generates income which is used for upkeep and development of these important sites. In this trip we enter numerous ancient sites.
• Our trips adhere to ABTA’s industry-leading animal welfare guidelines to ensure the best possible practices regarding working animals and wildlife viewing. Our animal welfare policy can be found here.
• We support A.C.E (Animal Care in Egypt) by giving our guests the opportunity to visit their centre. A.C.E. is a charity dedicated to stopping the suffering of animals in the most deprived communities in Luxor by providing free veterinary care and education to their owners.
• We rewild 100 square metres per passenger to compensate for all trip and flight emissions.
• Read about our commitment to nature protection and restoration here, including our rewilding commitment for every customer who travels with us.

Planet

How we seek to keep the carbon footprint of this trip low.

• Accommodation and restaurants in the itinerary use locally sourced food which has not been transported long distances.
• Read about our climate action here, including our carbon reduction and compensation commitments.

Tips for sustainable travel on this trip

• Leave no trace: we do all we can to ensure we leave no rubbish in the wild and beautiful places we visit; we ask that you do the same. If there are no recycling facilities in-country, consider bringing recyclable materials home with you.
• Plastic waste reduction: please bring a re-usable water bottle on this trip, also consider avoiding single-use hotel toiletries, which generate a large amount of plastic waste.

Visa

Egypt

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally need a visa to enter Egypt. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/africa/egypt
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/egypt
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/egypt/entry-requirements
• USA:  www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Egypt.html

If you are obtaining your visa online, please ensure you have a scan of your passport ready. The file size should be small and ideally saved as a JPEG or PDF otherwise you might not be able to load it on the visa application.

You will need to provide your host’s information on the application – please use the following details:

South Sinai Travel
79 Merghany Street
Cairo
Egypt
Telephone: +20 22418 7310
www.southsinai.com
salwa.ibrahim@southsinai.com

Please note, Egyptian officials have requested tourists carry a copy of their passport with them while in the country. Please also note, some prescribed medicines are controlled substances in Egypt.

Vaccination

Egypt

There are no required vaccinations. However, recommended vaccinations include tetanus, polio, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies and typhoid.

You will also need a yellow fever vaccination certificate if you're arriving from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission or transiting for more than 12 hours through a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. Some travellers may also need proof of a polio vaccination. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.

Eating and Drinking

All breakfasts, 2 lunches and 3 dinners included. For meals not included, we suggest you allow approximately GBP 7-9 (USD 10-12) for lunch and GBP 11-13 (USD 15-18) for dinner.

Food in Egypt involves such things as kebabs, chicken, stews, pitta-bread, felafel, beans, aubergine and other vegetables, pickles, salads. Dishes tend to be simple and wholesome.  Western dishes are normally available and vegetarians can be catered for if they accept that the options may be somewhat limited.

Weather

Rain is very rare in all parts of Egypt and most days are sunny and clear. Summer temperatures often reach the upper 30's but this is particularly true for the period between June and September. The winter months can be surprisingly cold, especially on the Nile or at night. The average daytime maximum in Cairo in January is 20ºC, night time minimum is 8ºC. In the summer these temperatures are 35ºC and 22ºC respectively. Daytime temperatures are on average 3 or 4 degrees higher in Aswan and can, on occassion, reach the upper 40's.

Weather Charts

Is this trip for you?

This trip has been graded 2 (Leisurely/Moderate) for children aged 9-12 years old. Although the itinerary has been designed with 9-12 year olds in mind, it is also suitable for 13-16 year olds.

A number of days involve early starts but this allows us to get the most from our time in Egypt and avoid the highest temperatures.  Driving is generally restricted to a few hours a day with a maximum drive time of approximately 4 hours.

Egypt can get hot, especially during our summer, which can cause discomfort whilst travelling. Care should be taken to keep hydrated. The hottest months tend to be June to September when temperatures can exceed 40ºC in the south of the country.

The hotels that we use on this trip are of a high standard, providing excellent levels of comfort. The night on the sleeper train is in first-class cabins with shared bathroom facilities.

Please note that Ramadan is expected to run from 22 March 2023 to 21 April 2023 and 10 March 2024 to 10 April 2024. Ramadan is a special time to visit Egypt as it is one of the most important periods in the Muslim calendar. Each evening the streets empty while people return home to break the fast and then there is an air of festivity every evening. Our leaders and drivers choose to work at this time so we continue to run trips however please be aware their energy levels may be slightly lower. Tourist sites are still open although closing times may be earlier than usual. Your leader will know how the timings for each day need to be adapted in order to still experience all the inclusions on this trip. Restaurants may close during the day and this is also accounted for in planning meal arrangements for your group. Shops are usually open though their hours may vary and they will definitely be closed during the breaking of the fast. To fully enjoy your holiday experience at this unique time of year we suggest patience and flexibility (in fact these are useful at any time of year on any overseas holiday).

Following a review of all our trips we have categorised this trip as generally not suitable for persons of reduced mobility. However if you are a regular traveller on such trips, please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.