Egypt

The best way to discover Egypt’s tombs and temples is by cruise boat. The Nile River is the life-blood of the country and its banks are an oasis within a sea of desert landscape. The river has been the centre of life within Egypt for millennia and as a result most of the country’s fascinating cities, temples and ancient ruins are within just a few kilometres of its banks. You will also see picturesque villages, local farmers on donkeys and buffalo coming down to the water to drink. The most popular section to cruise is between Luxor and Aswan. Cruises between these two cities can range from between 2 to 5 nights.  

Most Nile cruise itineraries operate between Luxor and Aswan and range from between 2 to 5 nights. For avid cruise enthusiasts there are a handful of longer cruises between Cairo and Aswan of up to 14 nights in length.  

Egypt is best explored during the cooler months from October to April, however you can still travel during the summer season (May to September) but temperatures are at their highest – often well over 35 degrees Celsius. The Christmas/New Year period is particularly busy and this is also the most expensive time of year to travel (booked well in advance). The best time of year to visit is from mid-to-late January through to March when the days are usually sunny, warm and crowd numbers are a little down on their peak. 

Egypt is a destination in itself; offering travellers a mouth-watering combination of ancient history, diverse cultures, awe-inspiring architectural wonders and relaxing river cruising. This exotic destination is also perfect for sun-seekers with warm, dry days for most of the year. The scenery is unique, with the mighty Nile River creating swathes of lush greenery amid vast expanses of stark desert. 

Cairo has a milder climate than the southern part of Egypt; however temperatures between May-Oct may reach 30°-36°C. The rest of the year is warm to mild, and it can get quite cold on winter nights. Although fairly hot all year round, Luxor and Aswan experience their most extreme temperatures from June-August (30°-45°C). Nights are cool in winter and hot in summer (24°-26°C). 

Egypt is best combined with neighbouring Jordan and Israel. Both countries compliment a visit to Egypt with further historic Middle-Eastern sights such as Petra, Bethlehem and Jerash. A little further afield, the United Arab Emirates and Oman are other popular destinations to visit. Alternatively Egypt can be combined with a safari in Tanzania – perfect during the months of December to March.

There are regular flights between Egypt’s capital Cairo and the Middle East as well as many major European cities. The country’s chief carrier – Egypt Air – also fly to North American cities including New York and Toronto. Egypt Air also offer internal connecting flights to major hubs including Luxor, Aswan and Abu Simbel.

US – There are plenty of options to choose from when travelling between North America and Egypt. Egypt Air offer direct flights to Cairo from both Washington DC and New York. Alternatively European airlines to consider with just one stopover include British Airways, Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines.

Europe – Egypt is easily reached with direct flights between Cairo and almost every European airlines major carrier. Alternatively Egypt Air fly to over 20 cities across Europe.