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The River Nile at golden hour – private Egypt vacations with Discovery Tours Egypt

Six Offices in Egypt · Since 1988 | IATA · ETAA · Class-A Licensed

Egypt vacations,
crafted from Cairo.

Private tours, Nile River cruises, and tailor-made itineraries for American travelers – planned and operated by our Egypt-based team across six offices, not resold.

Or speak to our Cairo team – US-friendly hours, Monday to Saturday.

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  • IATA Accredited

    #90255546

  • ETAA Member

    #718

  • Egyptian Tourism

    Class-A Licensed

  • Operating Since

    1988

  • Cairo Ground Support

    24/7 WhatsApp

World-class antiquity · A fraction of European tour pricing

Why American travelers choose Egypt

The transatlantic flight is the only hard part. Once you land in Cairo you get Pyramids in the morning, a Nile River cruise past temples your children read about in school, and Red Sea beaches at the end – for a fully-private trip that costs less than a comparable itinerary through Italy or Greece, with antiquity three thousand years older. The Grand Egyptian Museum opened beside the Pyramids in 2026, displaying the complete Tutankhamun collection for the first time in history.

  • Direct flights to Cairo from JFK, IAD, ORD via EgyptAir, Delta, United
  • $ goes ~40% further than a comparable Italy or Greece tour
  • 70–85°F Oct–April in the Nile Valley – clear photographic light
  • GEM open 2026 – Tutankhamun's complete collection beside the Pyramids

IATA-accredited (#90255546) · ETAA member #718 · Class-A licensed by the Egyptian Tourism Authority.

Hand-Curated · Most-Booked

The Six Egypt Vacations we book most.

Each one is a starting point – swap the cruise tier, add Alexandria or the Red Sea, drop a day in Cairo. Tell us what to change.

Browse All Packages

Don't see your trip here? We operate 43 multi-day itineraries and customize every one.

Build Something Different

Sample Itinerary

What 8 Days In Egypt actually look like.

First three days below. The full day-by-day walkthrough – Pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum, fly to Luxor for Karnak and the Valley of the Kings, a 4-night Nile cruise to Aswan, optional Abu Simbel – lives on its own page.

See All 8 Days
  1. Cairo at dusk – first night arrival for Discovery Tours Egypt guests
    Day 1

    Cairo Arrival

    Land in Cairo. Breathe. Meet your team.

  2. Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza – Tutankhamun gallery
    Day 2

    Cairo & Giza

    Pyramids at dawn. Tutankhamun by afternoon.

  3. Karnak Temple columns at golden hour, Luxor
    Day 3

    Fly To Luxor · Karnak

    Cairo to the Nile Valley. Karnak at golden hour.

Everything we do

We Book Egypt – Three Ways To Start.

Every product is run from our own six Egypt offices. Either we plan the whole vacation, or you book the one piece you need.

Full Vacation

We Plan The Whole Trip

We plan and run the whole trip, end-to-end. Tailor-made for first-timers and returning travelers alike.

Browse complete vacations

Individual Components

Book What You Need

Just one component – book it directly, or hand us the gaps and we'll fill them around what you already have.

For Independent Travelers

Travel agent or tour operator? NET rates, ground handling and group programs via our B2B brand.

A Nile cruise vessel at sunset on the Nile River

Our Egypt team

The People Who Plan And Run Your Trip.

When you book with Discovery Tours Egypt, you're not routed through a call center. Your itinerary is designed by one of our senior consultants, confirmed with our Cairo operations desk, and handed to a vetted Egyptologist guide on the day. Every member of our team is based in Egypt – across six offices in Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Hurghada, Marsa Alam, and Sharm El Sheikh.

Aggregator platforms resell what they don't operate. We operate what we sell.

Meet the whole team →
Hassany, Group & Custom Trip Coordinator, Cairo at Discovery Tours Egypt

Hassany

Group & Custom Trip Coordinator, Cairo

Coordinates group itineraries and custom trips from our Cairo office. Known for meticulous pre-trip briefings and keeping every transfer and guide on schedule.

Speaks English · Arabic

Hesham, Senior Egyptologist Guide, Nile Valley at Discovery Tours Egypt

Hesham

Senior Egyptologist Guide, Nile Valley

Leads private guided tours across Cairo, Luxor, and Aswan. Guests say he turns hieroglyphics into conversation – and turns temples into stories you remember.

Speaks English · Arabic

Suhaila, Client Experience Manager at Discovery Tours Egypt

Suhaila

Client Experience Manager

First point of contact from booking to departure. Manages the pre-trip details that make Egypt feel effortless when you land.

Speaks English · Arabic

Mohamed, Private Tour Guide, Nile Valley at Discovery Tours Egypt

Mohamed

Private Tour Guide, Nile Valley

Expert guide across the Nile Valley and Cairo. His guests say they left feeling like they'd made a friend – one who happened to know every temple in Egypt.

Speaks English · Arabic

Where We Operate · Six Offices

Four Regions. Every Itinerary Starts Here.

Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, and the Red Sea coast – wherever your vacation takes you, our staff are already there. Six offices, thirty-six years, one operator with skin in the game.

Browse All Destinations

Every Egypt Trip Type, Live And Bookable.

Every category below is a curated list of currently bookable trips – updated as we open new dates, retire seasonal cruises, and add new excursions.

Honest Answers ·

The Questions Every American Traveler Asks Us Before Booking.

Answered by our Cairo consultants – not written by an algorithm.

? Is Egypt safe for American tourists in 2026?

Yes. Egypt's main tourist destinations - Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, the Red Sea coast - are open and operating normally for American visitors. The US State Department's current Egypt advisory is Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) for these areas. Tourist-site security is robust, well-organized, and visible.

With six offices across Egypt - Cairo head office plus Luxor, Aswan, Hurghada, Marsa Alam, and Sharm El Sheikh - our staff are on the ground every day, monitoring conditions in real time. We never run itineraries near the North Sinai border zone or the Libyan frontier - those are the specific areas flagged at higher US advisory levels. The Nile Valley, Cairo, and the Red Sea coast are where we work, and they're as safe and well-run as any Mediterranean destination.

? Do US citizens need a visa to visit Egypt?

Yes. US passport holders need an Egypt visa. The easiest online route is the Egypt e-Visa at visa2egypt.gov.eg - single entry, $30, takes 3-5 business days. We can also arrange a visa-on-arrival at Cairo or any international arrivals airport in Egypt for $35 - your stamp is ready when you land, no queuing. Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your entry date.

We include complete e-Visa guidance with every confirmed booking, including the application link and step-by-step instructions. If you'd rather not deal with the application, our $35 arrival visa service handles it - we have the stamp ready before you reach immigration. If you're flying into Sharm El-Sheikh and staying only in South Sinai, a separate free entry stamp is available on arrival, but it does not cover Cairo or the Nile Valley.

? How much does an Egypt vacation cost from the US?

A 10-day private Egypt tour with a 5-night Nile cruise - Cairo, Luxor, and Aswan - typically runs $2,500–$4,500 per person depending on accommodation tier. Budget-minded travelers can do a solid 8-day trip from around $1,990 pp. Luxury and fully private tours with five-star hotels start around $5,000 pp.

Our prices include all ground transportation, private Egyptologist guiding, hotel accommodation, and Nile cruise. International flights are separate - we can arrange these or work with your own bookings. Peak season (October–March) is 15–20% higher than April–June. Group travel reduces per-person cost significantly. We price all four accommodation tiers so you can compare.

? What is the best time to visit Egypt from the US?

October through April is the prime window for American travelers - temperatures in the Nile Valley sit in the 70–85°F range, skies are clear, and the light for photography is exceptional. November through February is peak season and Nile cruises book out fast. March and April offer near-perfect weather with slightly smaller crowds.

Thanksgiving week and spring break are our most popular US travel windows. July and August in Luxor and Aswan reach 105–115°F - manageable with early-morning touring, but not ideal for a first visit. Red Sea beach extensions work year-round, so combining a Cairo and Nile Valley tour with a few days on the water is a great all-weather strategy.

? How many days should I spend in Egypt?

Eight days (7 nights) is the perfect first Egypt vacation from the US - Cairo (3 nights) plus a 4-night Nile cruise covers the Pyramids, the Grand Egyptian Museum, Luxor, and Aswan without feeling rushed. Add Alexandria and you're at 10 days; add Red Sea beaches and you reach 12; combine both for the full 15-day Egypt-to-Mediterranean arc.

12–15 days is the sweet spot we recommend to American clients with flexibility - you fully decompress from the transatlantic flight, add Red Sea downtime after the temples, and finish relaxed rather than exhausted. Every itinerary is modular, so adding days is straightforward. The shortest trip we'd recommend booking is 8 days - anything shorter, and the flights start to outweigh the time on the ground.

? Is the Grand Egyptian Museum open, and is it worth visiting?

Yes - the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) at Giza is fully open as of 2026. It is the largest archaeological museum ever built, displaying the complete Tutankhamun collection - all 5,398 objects from the boy king's tomb - together for the first time in history, alongside more than 100,000 other artifacts spanning 7,000 years. It sits within walking distance of the Pyramids of Giza, so a single morning covers both.

Every Egypt itinerary we build for 2026 includes the GEM as a half-day private guided visit. Plan three to four hours minimum - the Tutankhamun galleries alone take an hour, and the Grand Staircase with Ramesses II's colossus is one of the most photographed museum spaces in the world right now. The old Egyptian Museum at Tahrir Square remains open with a different (still excellent) collection - many of our guests visit both. We pre-book skip-the-line entry; arrival times matter to avoid peak coach traffic.

Read All 12 Honest Answers

Or ask us directly – reply within a few hours.

For American travelers

Practical Things, Straight.

Your Quote
All prices are in USD and tailor-made to your trip. We typically send 2-4 options based on accommodation level - budget-friendly through five-star - so you can choose what fits. Quotes are held for 7 days unless we say otherwise.
Flights
For your international flight to Egypt, most US travelers fly direct from JFK, IAD, or ORD via EgyptAir, Delta, or United - others connect via Doha, Istanbul, or Frankfurt. We don't book international flights but can guide you on the best options. Domestic flights within Egypt (Cairo to Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel, etc.) can be booked as part of your itinerary.
Passport & Visa
US citizens need an Egypt visa: e-Visa online at visa2egypt.gov.eg ($30, takes 3-5 days) or our arrival visa service ($35 - stamp ready on landing, no queuing). Passport must be valid 6+ months beyond entry.
Deposit & Balance
50% deposit to confirm your booking. The remaining 50% is due up to 30 days before you travel, unless your booking states otherwise. We accept US debit and credit cards.
Travel Insurance
Strongly recommended. Standard US health insurance rarely covers international medical care. Look for a policy with medical evacuation included - costs can exceed $50,000 without it.
Power & Practicalities
Egypt uses 220V Type C/F outlets. US devices (110V) need a voltage converter and adapter. We include a full packing checklist with every confirmed booking.

Our Travelers

More Than 10,000 Travelers. Since 1988.

38+
Years in Egypt
10,000+
Travelers Guided
"
“Every transfer, every guide, every hotel pickup was on time. You feel like you're in the hands of people who actually live and breathe Egypt – because they do.”

Brooke G.

Private tour · Tampa, FL

“I worked with Discovery Tours to host a group trip to Egypt and it was seamless from beginning to end. Hassany was a great coordinator and helped tailor the trip perfectly.”

Lena S.

Group trip · Boston, MA

“Our guide Mohamed went above and beyond to make our time in Egypt special. We said goodbye to a friend at the end. Totally recommend booking with Discovery.”

Corey C.

Private tour · Austin, TX

Guides

Planning resources written by our Cairo team. The questions every American traveler actually asks, answered straight.

What is the best time to visit Egypt for 2026/2027?

October through April is peak season – ideal temperatures for the Pyramids and Nile Valley. For 2026, March and November are the sweet spots: good weather without December pricing. May is underrated if you can avoid midday temple visits. We operate year-round in climate-controlled vehicles.

Is it safe to travel to Egypt for Americans?

Egypt's tourist regions – Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, and the Red Sea coast – are Level 1 per the US State Department (exercise normal precautions). We have operated since 1988 without a safety incident affecting a client. Every vehicle is tracked, every guide is personally vetted, and our Cairo operations desk monitors conditions daily.

Is a Nile Cruise worth it for first-time travelers?

Yes – it's the single best decision a first-time visitor can make. A 3–4 night cruise between Luxor and Aswan covers Karnak, Valley of the Kings, Edfu, Kom Ombo, and Philae without a single long road transfer. Our curated vessels range from deluxe to ultra-luxury dahabiyas.

How many days should I spend in Egypt?

8–10 nights covers Cairo, a 3-night Nile cruise, and Aswan without rushing. Add the Red Sea (2 nights minimum) or Abu Simbel and plan for 12. Under 7 nights and the transatlantic flight starts to dominate the trip.

Do I need a visa for Egypt?

US citizens can apply online at visa2egypt.gov.eg ($30, 3–5 business days). We also offer an arrival visa service ($35) – your stamp is ready at immigration, no queue. Your passport must be valid at least 6 months beyond your entry date.

What makes Discovery Tours Egypt different from other agencies?

We are Egypt-based – not a US booking agent forwarding your reservation to a local operator. Our consultants live and work in Cairo, our guides are directly employed (not subcontracted), and pricing goes direct to supplier. No middleman markups. Established in Cairo since 1988 – 38 years on the ground.

Trade & B2B

Direct Access To The Egypt Source.

US travel agencies, tour operators, honeymoon specialists, and MICE planners: skip the aggregator. Get direct access to our NET rates, white-label itinerary builds, and six-office ground coordination across Egypt.

  • Direct NET pricing – no markup
  • White-label itinerary builds
  • MICE & incentive groups
  • 24/7 field support
  • Six offices across Egypt
  • US-friendly contact hours
Cairo rooftops at dusk – Discovery Tours Egypt planning team

Ready to plan

Your Egypt vacation starts with one conversation.

Tell me your dates, your group size, and what kind of Egypt trip you've been imagining – I'll send 2–3 options with honest pricing within a few hours. No algorithm. A person who works in Cairo.

– Suhaila, Client Experience Manager, Cairo

Mon – Sat · US Hours Reply within 24 hours WhatsApp available

Reach us directly

Six offices in Egypt

Cairo · Luxor · Aswan · Hurghada · Marsa Alam · Sharm El Sheikh