FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is Egypt considered a safe destination?

No overseas travel is without risk and every major city has petty crime, but you will be in a group and never on your own. Egypt generally has a very low crime rate. You will feel safe in Egypt as the government is taking sensible precautions to protect the tourist industry which is a major source of income for its population. The US government has the same safety ranking for Egypt as the UK, for example. Our local tour company is very experienced.

Is traveling to Egypt safe with what’s going on in Israel?

Egypt strongly protects its border with Gaza and Israel. And Cairo is some 400 km from the Gaza Strip across the Suez Canal and the Sinai Peninsula. Egypt is also over 2,200 km from Iran, so the main destinations we travel to are far removed from any current conflict. While travel advisories are often in place for Egypt, these advisories pertain to Egypt’s border with Gaza at Rafah and do not pertain to the popular tourist destinations in Egypt, such as Cairo and other cities along the Nile, including Luxor and Aswan, where we will be visiting. The Middle East has always been a tumultuous region, yet Egypt remains one of the safer places in the area, with millions of visitors annually. Moreover, tourism is in full swing in Egypt, with many new tourist initiatives being implemented. Please know that CMI has good friends in Egypt and is always in close contact with them. They would quickly advise us if traveling to Egypt became a concern.

How much will I have to pay as a deposit?

The deposit required will be 50% of the total price of the tour. See our cancellation policy on our registration page.

How can I obtain my visa to visit Egypt?

Visitors to Egypt must have a passport valid for at least six months upon their arrival. A 1-month entry visa without application can be purchased upon arrival in Egypt at the airport (our local guides will greet you and assist with the visa purchase). This only takes a few minutes to do before you go through customs. Obtaining a visa upon arrival is available to travellers from the following countries: Australia, Canada, Croatia, European Union, Georgia, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Macedonia, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Serbia, Ukraine, United Kingdom and United States.

What is the best currency to take to Egypt?

US dollar, British pound sterling, and euros are accepted mainly in tourist areas and major cities. All these three currencies can be exchanged easily into EGP at the official exchange rate at any Egyptian bank, bank desk in airports, foreign exchange counter in most hotels, and even at the same place where you buy your entry visa upon arrival in Egypt. (There will be a bank and ATM at our first hotel in Cairo.) Some credit cards or cash cards also can be used to withdraw Egyptian pounds at any ATM in Egypt. Please check with your local banks before departure. But if you are going to barter for souvenirs and trinkets it’s best to pay in Egyptian pounds. The Egyptian pound is the official currency in Egypt and is commonly abbreviated as EGP, LE or E£. It is divided into 100 piastres or 1,000 millimes. Check your current exchange rate from Egyptian pounds.

Do Egyptians speak languages other than Arabic?

Most Egyptians who live in the cities speak or understand at least some English words or phrases. Our local tour guides are all very experienced and speak English.

Is it a common practice to give tips in Egypt?

This is a fully inclusive tour. However, it is customary to give guides and drivers tips at the end of journey for good service. We recommend $150 USD per person which will be distributed to your guides, drivers and cruise staff. Envelopes will be provided for you which CMI staff will collect at the end of the tour.

Can I take pictures while visiting the monuments in Egypt?

Cell phone photography is allowed in most of the historical sites and museums in Egypt. Flash photography is not allowed in some historical sites, like inside the Valley of the Kings for the protection of the delicate artwork on the walls. We advise using cell phones rather than larger cameras as on occasion visitors are asked to leave their cameras at reception before entering. Many sites offer informational booklets filled with excellent photos for a small fee. At the Valley of the Kings, for example, both large and small booklets are available.

Is this tour suitable for people with mobility limitations?

The short answer is ‘no!’ Please be aware that we will be visiting many ancient sites and some are still being excavated. One needs to be reasonably mobile as this tour involves moderate amounts of walking, up to 3 to 4 miles a day, at times over uneven surfaces, or severely cobbled floors. This tour will not be suitable for people with limited mobility that hinders them from walking unassisted and/or who require a wheelchair. All guests are required to complete a declaration that they are capable of a reasonable amount of physical activity. Your registration will not be accepted until this declaration is completed.

Is there any special dress advice?

In the tourist areas, the locals are used to overseas visitors. Dressing with relative modesty is a way of respecting the local culture. Casual clothing is fine, but women should avoid tight or revealing clothing. Shorts and t-shirts are fine for men. Please note that on the cruise, footwear such as flip flops are not permitted in the dining area. (It’s nice to dress neatly for dinner anyway! 😊)

Are children permitted on the tour?

Children age 12 and older who are traveling with one or both parents (or legal guardians) are welcome on the tour. All tour participants pay the same price, regardless of age. Please note that the maximum room occupancy is three, so if two children are accompanying both parents, it will be necessary to reserve two rooms.

Can I drink the water?

Like most overseas countries, there can be issues with drinking tap water. Bottled water will be supplied and available for you at all times.

What happens after I submit my registration?

Spaces are limited for the tour so no reservation is confirmed until payment is received.

Within a few business days of submitting your request for registration, you will receive an invoice in US dollars from Creation Ministries International–US (the tour organizer) for the full cost of the tour for you and any travel companions for which you registered. The link to pay the invoice will take you to PayPal, but you do not have to have a PayPal account to pay with a credit card. If you want to pay from your bank account, you will need to set up a PayPal account and link it to your bank account. You will pay in US dollars and PayPal will charge you in your own local currency based upon the exchange rate at that time, plus currency conversion fees.

Places will be designated on a first come, first serve basis, and subject to room availability. 50% of the total cost is required at the time of booking to confirm your reservation. No reservations will be held otherwise.

Please note: A $100 discount per person will be applied to your reservation for early bird booking and if paid in full at the time of booking. The $100 discount offer ends September 30, 2024.

Tour must be fully paid within 60 days.

What is the cancellation policy?

Please note that some parts of the tour, such as internal air travel and cruise fares are booked and confirmed as soon as you have paid the deposit, and are non-refundable. For this reason, full refunds are not available. Creation Ministries International urges all participants to purchase travel insurance as it is not provided by us nor the tour company. (Note: many credit card companies offer travel insurance if you use their cards to book your trip. Check with your card provider).

• Once you have paid either the full price of the tour or the 50% deposit, your reservation is confirmed. If you cancel from that date through September 13, 2024, we will retain 25% of the tour cost plus the cost of internal air and cruise fares which may or may not be refunded at the discretion of the ticket issuer.
• If you cancel from September 14 - November 14, 2024, we will retain 50% of the tour cost plus the cost of internal air and cruise fares which may or may not be refunded at the discretion of the ticket issuer.
• If you cancel from November 15 - December 15, 2024, we will retain 75% of the tour cost plus the cost of internal air and cruise fares which may or may not be refunded at the discretion of the ticket issuer.
• No cancellations after December 15, 2024. If you cancel after this date or fail to arrive in Cairo at the beginning of the tour, no refund will be given.