Egypt Where the Nile flows past temples, tombs and the remnants of ancient civilisations

The Egyptian Pound (EGP) is the local currency, and while Nile cruise ships and some higher-end hotels quote prices in US dollars or euros, day-to-day spending, tips and market purchases all run in Pounds. Carrying a supply of small notes matters more here than in most destinations, given how frequently small cash payments come up throughout the day.

Arabic is the official language, with Egyptian Arabic as the dialect spoken nationwide, while English and, to a lesser extent, French are widely used across tourism, particularly by guides at major sites. Learning a few Arabic phrases, such as “shukran” (thank you), tends to be genuinely appreciated by guides and market traders alike.

Egypt operates on Eastern European Time (EET, UTC+2), though the country has changed its approach to daylight saving more than once in recent years, so it’s worth confirming the current arrangement with your specialist closer to departure rather than relying on older information. This is one of the few practical details in the region genuinely worth double-checking before you travel.

Tap water is not safe to drink anywhere in Egypt, including Cairo and aboard Nile cruise ships. Bottled water is provided as standard at hotels and on cruises and should be used for drinking and brushing teeth throughout your stay, including when using ice in drinks away from your own hotel.

Cards are accepted at larger hotels, Nile cruise ships and established shops, but the constant, small-scale tipping culture here means cash genuinely matters more than in most comparable destinations. Egyptian Pounds in small denominations should be carried at all times, since baksheesh comes up far more frequently than a single end-of-trip tip.

Baksheesh, small tips for services like opening a door, guiding you to a bathroom, or helping with luggage, is a deeply embedded and near-constant part of daily life in Egypt, well beyond the tipping norms of most destinations. Carrying a steady supply of small Pound notes, topped up regularly rather than let run out, makes these frequent small transactions far smoother.

Egypt uses Type C and Type F sockets, the two- pin European standard, running at 220V. Most hotels and cruise cabins have at least one socket suitable for charging, though a compact adapter is worth packing regardless, particularly for older cruise vessels where sockets can be limited in number.

Mobile coverage across Cairo, Luxor and the main tourist routes is generally reliable, and a local SIM is easy to arrange on arrival for calls and data. Coverage on the Nile itself can fluctuate depending on your cruise ship’s route, though most vessels offer their own wifi as a backup for the times signal drops.

Comfortable, closed shoes matter more than sandals for exploring uneven ancient sites and tomb interiors, and a head covering is worth packing for any woman planning to enter a mosque, since this is expected regardless of your own faith. Strong sun protection and a hat are essential given how intense desert heat becomes away from the Nile’s immediate cooling effect.

Modest dress, particularly covering shoulders and knees, is expected away from resort pools and cruise decks, and this matters more in Cairo and at religious sites than it does on a Red Sea beach. Friday is the main day of prayer, and some shops and sites adjust their hours around midday prayers, which is worth factoring into a Cairo itinerary specifically.

Yes, many of Egypt’s major sites, including several tombs in the Valley of the Kings and rooms within the Egyptian Museum, charge a separate photography ticket on top of general entry, and this isn’t always obvious until you’re asked to pay or put your camera away. Your specialist can flag which sites on your specific itinerary require this, but it’s worth carrying a little extra cash for it regardless.

Yes, haggling is a genuine and expected part of shopping in markets like Cairo’s Khan el-Khalili, where initial prices are typically set well above what a seller actually expects to receive. A calm, good- humoured back-and-forth is the local norm rather than an awkward confrontation, and walking away is often what produces the best final offer.

The Nile flows north, so what feels intuitively like travelling “downriver” from south to north actually means from Aswan towards Luxor and Cairo, the reverse of many other river systems travellers are used to. Most cruise itineraries follow this natural flow, which is worth knowing simply so the geography of your own route makes sense as you go.