FAQ

We are all about promoting a fun, relaxed and inclusive vibe on all our tours. Fellow travellers have a desire to embrace the culture, history and adventurous side of our destinations. Joining a group tour means you are open to being a “team player” and are ready to embrace all that Egypt and our other destinations have to offer.

Anyone can travel on an Absolute Egypt Tour, though our starting age for Group Tours is 12 years or older. You can expect a diverse age group on our tour, with an average age group starting from 30 to 70 years.

Absolutely! Our private tours are for singles, couples, friends, families and groups. Children below the age of our Group Tour requirements are welcome on a Private Tours. You can visit our Private Tours Page to find out more about itineraries, pricing and inclusions. Feel free to fill in a booking form or give us a call on (03) 59591939

We describe all of our tours as being moderate. As part of a group. it is important you are physically able to keep up with the pace of the tour.

We often walk up to 3 km in one go, (sometimes more) on flat but uneven ground. You will find we do stop to admire and discuss our surroundings along the way.

Participants should be able to navigate stairs and be able to stand for prolonged times, as there is often no seating out in the open.

Guests should also be able to carry their own baggage.

Be aware that on our Jordan trip to Wadi Rum desert, participants will need to step up into the back of our four wheel drive vehicles. We will be able to offer assistance to you.

Visas are the responsibility of the traveller and arrangements should be made well in advance to avoid any delays.

Please note: visas for Egypt can be obtained at the Cairo International airport upon arrival for Australian passport holders. (up to 30 days single entry) The cost is $25 USD (cash only - price subject to change) and if you are arriving on the first day of a group tour, our airport representative will be there to help you through this procedure. Please note these conditions and terms can change at any time and travellers are recommended to check these requirements before departure.

If you are travelling on our extended Jordan tour, your visa will be included if you hold an Australian passport.

For those coming from Australia but do not hold an Australian passport, it will be your responsibility to check your entry requirements.

Link: Visa requirements

All passport holders must have a passport with a minimum of six months validity upon return to Australia and at least 2 blank pages in their passport.

Travellers are responsible for submitting the correct name(s) as per passport when booking with Absolute Egypt. Any incorrect or misspelt names will incur a fee for processing and third party charges such as reissuing tickets by airlines. Any name changes or new passport details should be submitted in writing no later than 75 days prior to departure. Please note for tours that include flights, we take no responsibility for denied boarding when names have been submitted incorrectly.

The local currency used in Egypt is the Egyptian Pound (EGP). While some people may be able to obtain it before they leave Australia, we find getting it on arrival is easiest, with decent exchange rates. You can use your Australian dollars to exchange to the local currency at the airport only.

Please note, you can generally use USD in many places which will give you local currency in change. For this reason, try to carry a mix of larger and smaller notes, especially for tipping. Also, while our hotels may offer currency exchange, we cannot guarantee this. A mix of USD and Egyptian Pounds, or just local pounds is best.

ATM’s are common in larger cities. In some more remote areas, they are less common. We are more than happy to help you get to an ATM when needed. Be sure to give us reasonable notice of your intention to get money out.

Credit cards widely accepted are Mastercard and Visa. Larger hotels and establishments widely accept credit cards, whereas smaller vendors will more than likely deal with cash only. Be sure to carry some cash with you.

Egypt is a dry and arid country, with only 12 days a years on average receiving more than 1 ml of rain. The months of May to September receive virtually no rain and enjoy sunshine throughout the day.

Temperatures vary throughout the year. The hottest months are June to August, where temperatures in Cairo can reach 30 to 35 degrees Celsius. The upper Egypt cities of Aswan and Luxor can exceed well above 40. You will find the Mediterranean city of Alexandria and Red Sea Resorts along the coast offer good conditions in the heat when sea breezes pick up.

The months of May and September can sometimes be equally as hot, dependent on the season. March, April, October and November are usually warm and pleasant. These months are also ideal for swimming in the Red Sea.

The winter months of December to February enjoy mild daily conditions and cool to cold nights, dipping down to an average of 10 degrees overnight.

Egypt is a mix of modern and traditional cultures. It is made up of around 85% to 90 % Muslim and around 10% to 15% Coptic Christians.

Travellers should be aware of local customs and traditions in order to be well prepared for travel. Public displays of affection are often frowned upon and should be avoided.

Ramadan is the highlight of the Islamic calendar where Muslims will abstain from eating, drinking and smoking from sunrise to sunset. This month long event is held at different times each year. During this time certain restaurants and other vendors may temporarily close throughout the day. You will find your tour will not be directly impacted and tourist attractions will run as per usual, as well as your hotel serving alcohol.

It is important to dress appropriately while in Egypt (and Jordan). Respectful cover is particulalry important for woman and regardless of beliefs, should be respected. Contrary to what you have heard, full cover is not needed in all locations. Attractions, hotels, and the Red Sea are far less conservative with singlet tops, knee length shorts and dresses being widely acceptable. Religious areas such as churches and mosques require much more cover up. We suggest you read our full article on what to wear in Egypt here.

Drinking tap water is not recommended. You will be supplied with bottled water while touring on the bus. Be mindful of drinks with ice and peel all fruit before consuming.

Brushing teeth with tap water can also be an issue for some, so if in doubt, use bottled water.

The food in Egypt is incredible tasty. Traditional dishes include koshari, shawarma, kofta and basbousa to name a few. Mouth watering barbequed meats of beef and chicken are very popular, as well as dips and freshly baked flat bread. You will also find Egypt is very vegetarian friendly with many choices on the menu.

For those with dietary needs, we suggest letting us know in your booking form and while in Egypt so we can help you with appropriate choices. Talking to the chefs to find out what you can and can’t eat is recommended. For those with additional needs, we will do our best to cater to your needs. Having snacks ready on hand is also a good idea. Please be sure to reach out to us for further discussion if needed.

It is natural that people can sometimes get an upset stomach due to the changes in food and food preparation. We suggest carrying anti-diarrhea tablets for such times.

Tipping is a way of life in Egypt and is how many support themselves and family. Living in Australia, we are not accustomed to tipping, so for this reason we collect all tipping money associated with the tour prior to the tour commencing. We do not offer an “opt out” of tipping as we feel this is not only unfair on the rest of the group, but also the tour providers.

There will however be times you are out by yourself or purchasing food or drinks not included in the tour. We suggest the following:

1 USD pp / 30 EGP (Egyptian pounds) for hotel waiters or sit down cafes

5 USD pp / 150 EGP for optional tours per day or per excursion.

Other tipping suggestions when in doubt - 10% of overall costing.

Imagine getting caught out in another country without any travel insurance. Things could get very costly indeed. We require every traveller have comprehensive travel insurance before you depart on your tour. You may choose the insurance company of your choice. Please submit your travel insurance details in the booking form or by calling us at a later stage.

Our hotels all provide free internet access. This also includes the Nile Cruise. You may also find restaurants and cafes have free internet.

Tourist sim cards can also be purchased at the airport if needed.

It is important for those bringing medication, prescription or not, to keep in original packaging. Some medications, while highly common here in Australia may not be readily available overseas. For this reason, please be sure to bring enough for your trip.

If you need to refrigerate this medication, we will have a fridge on the bus as well as in your room. Hotel reception can also store if you need colder temperatures. During other times of travel such as flights, it will be your responsibility to carry and store. Just let us know what we can do to help.

Please note, we cannot take any responsibility in handling or administering your medicines while on tour. We suggest speaking to your doctor before travel, and getting a letter that states what the medication is, as well as its purpose in order to avoid any problems throughout the tour.

If you or another traveller tests positive for COVID-19 and are able to continue on the trip, we will do our very best to isolate that person from the group by seating them away from others and requesting they wear a mask when on the bus and where social distancing is challenged.