Nile River Cruises
+64 273 744 883

Climate: Summer highs in Cairo range well into the 30's, while Aswan and Luxor may reach the 40's. Overnight lows average in the 20's during the summer. In the winter, temperatures in Cairo run around 20 degrees, with nighttime lows of around 10. Aswan and Luxor will be somewhat warmer during the day and cooler at night. The extremely low humidity makes the temperature feel considerably cooler than it is. Visitors are pleasantly surprised at how comfortable the temperature can be.

October through May. Temperatures vary between 15 and 30 degrees. The nights can be cool but most days are sunny and dry. You may encounter dust storms from March until May. If you don't mind temperatures above 37 degrees and want to save a little money, visit Egypt in the summer.

Yes, you will need to get a Visa. Most travellers can purchase a Visa upon entry into Egypt but as each country has different rules and regulations check this out before you visit. Visitors must hold passports that are valid for at least 6 months from the date of arrival to Egypt.

Once you have confirmed your itinerary we will send you an invoice which can be paid directly into our English bank account. We also accept all major credit cards.

The currency in Egypt is the Egyptian pound (LE). There are 100 piastres in one Egyptian pound. Notes in common circulation are 200, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1 Egyptian pounds and 50 and 25 piastres.

Tipping is not just expected, it is a way of life in Egypt. A ‘Baksheesh’ will be requested of you by almost anybody who provides you with a service, and indeed by many people that do not. This includes situations you may be accustomed to, such as after a meal, or by a porter who carries your bags to your room. But it also includes situations that may seem a little unusual such as in a public toilet, or by a security guard or curator at one of the ancient sites. This is not simply a method to take advantage of wealthy tourists. It’s very much part of the Egyptian culture and something the Egyptians themselves take part in. The sums involved are usually minuscule by western standards, and help to supplement the income of low Egyptian wages. Restaurant: 10% of the bill, Toilet Attendant: 50pt - £E1, Hotel Porter/Security Guard/Museum Custodian: £E2-5. As a rule of thumbs if you’re not sure how much to tip, give 10% of what you paid for the service. We suggest you keep hold of any LE1 and LE5 notes and LE1 coins you get, so that they are available for tips and small purchases when you need them. When it comes time to tip your crew and tour leader please remember how hard they worked for you and how many of them there are trying to make your trip run smoothly.

While the toilet facilities on board the Sandal are kept to a high standard this is not always the case when you are out and about, toilets at some of the tourist sites can be a bit grim and there is often someone outside trying to sell tissue paper for LE1 or LE2. Make sure you have tissues with you when you go away from the tourist hotels or Sandal and take some anti-bacterial gel in case there are no satisfactory hand washing facilities. Also please remember to not flush the toilet paper away, there are normally bins provided.

Egypt is a Muslim country. The culture and dress code are not as strict in Egypt as they are in some Muslim countries, but it is still best to be modest, especially for ladies. The dress code is much more relaxed on the boat than it is in the towns. Dress as though you were in a tourist hotel. Shorts, swimming costumes, bikinis are all fine, but have something handy to cover up for when the boat gets to a town or when visiting cultural sites. Luxor/Aswan can be hot. Even in the winter, temperatures are generally high during the day so you will need light cottons at any time of the year. In some months, around October - March, it can get cooler in the evening and overnight. So for these occasions, take a fleece or a jumper as well. A basic wardrobe would be loose cotton or linen trousers and/or a longish skirt, 3/4 length pants are also acceptable, cotton tops with sleeves. Clothing, especially blouses and skirts, should not be transparent. For something a little different, a cotton sarong is very versatile. They are cooler than trousers and you can adjust the length to suit where you are or what you are doing. You can wear it short for the hotel or boat, mid-calf when in Luxor/Aswan itself and to your ankles for mosques and temples. It is useful to carry a pashmina, chiffon scarf or shawl to help with covering up when you go to sensitive places, such as temples or mosques; to protect yourself from the sun, or if you find yourself amongst a group of 'admiring' men. You will need 'practical' shoes. The roads and pavements are not tremendous (but improving in places) and to get to many of the sights you have to trample over unmade ground. Comfortable shoes or trainers with sturdy soles are best. Sandals are also fine.