Summary

Egypt’s main tourist areas are open and visited by millions of travellers every year. Cairo and Giza, Luxor, Aswan, the Nile cruise route and the Red Sea resorts, including Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh, are not on the list of places that the UK, US or Canadian governments advise against visiting. The areas they do warn against are away from the usual routes: North Sinai, the borders with Libya and Sudan, and parts of the Western Desert and inland South Sinai.

In 2026, tensions in the wider Middle East have also caused some flight cancellations and airspace closures in the region. Check your government’s latest advice and your airline before you travel. The rest of this guide covers each area, everyday safety, scams, health and the numbers to call.

Official advice checked on 4 October 2026. It can change quickly, so always read the latest version before you book and again before you fly.

What Official Travel Advice Says

  • United Kingdom: the UK Foreign Office (FCDO) advises against all travel to North Sinai and to within 20 km of the Libyan border, and against all but essential travel to the inland north of South Sinai, most of the Western Desert and some remote border areas. Cairo, Giza, Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel, the Valley of the Kings, Nile cruises and the Red Sea resorts are outside those areas. (Page updated 4 August 2026.)
  • Canada: the Government of Canada asks travellers to exercise a high degree of caution in Egypt, to avoid all travel to North Sinai, the Libyan border area and Dakhla Oasis, and to avoid non-essential travel to the northern part of South Sinai. (Updated 26 May 2026.)
  • United States: the US State Department publishes an advisory level for Egypt and lists North Sinai and parts of the Western Desert among the places not to travel. Check the current level on its website.

Government advice affects your travel insurance: many policies do not cover areas your government advises against visiting. None of our standard trips go to those areas.

Regional Tensions in 2026: What It Means for Your Trip

Through 2026, conflict in the wider Middle East has led to periodic airspace closures and flight changes across the region. In its security alert of 1 August 2026, the US Embassy in Cairo asked travellers to stay alert, check their flight status directly with the airline, and be ready for disruption. It did not ask visitors to avoid Egypt’s tourist areas.

  • Buy travel insurance that covers cancellation and travel disruption, and read what it excludes.
  • Register with your government’s traveller service, such as STEP for US citizens, so your embassy can reach you.
  • Keep your airline’s app, and give us a phone number that works in Egypt (WhatsApp is fine).
  • Choose flexible bookings where you can. If a flight changes, our team rebooks transfers, hotels and tours for you.

Is Each Area of Egypt Safe?

AreaOfficial adviceNotes
Cairo & GizaOpenBusy city: watch for traffic and pickpockets in crowds. Heavy security at the pyramids and museums.
Luxor & AswanOpenRelaxed and easy to visit; tourist police at every major temple.
Nile cruise (Luxor–Aswan)OpenOne of the most comfortable ways to see Egypt; see our Nile cruises.
Hurghada, El Gouna, Marsa AlamOpenResort towns with gated hotels; follow the dive centre’s rules at sea.
Sharm El Sheikh, DahabOpen (coastal South Sinai)Fly in or take the coast road; do not go inland without checking current advice.
Western Desert (White Desert, oases)Restricted in partsCheck the exact areas in your government’s advice and travel only with a licensed tour company.
North Sinai, Libyan borderDo not travelNot part of any tourist itinerary.

Everyday Safety: Crime, Traffic and Police

Violent crime against visitors is rare. The usual problems are pickpocketing in crowded markets such as Khan el-Khalili, overcharging, and Cairo’s traffic, which is the biggest real risk for most visitors.

  • Use a cross-body bag, keep your passport and spare cash in the hotel safe, and carry a photocopy of your passport.
  • Use Uber or Careem in Cairo, or agree the taxi fare before you get in. Cross busy roads with locals.
  • Expect security checks at hotel entrances, sites and on main roads: keep your passport or a copy with you.
  • The Tourist Police (dial 126) patrol every major site and can help in English.
  • Avoid demonstrations and large gatherings, and do not photograph police, military sites or checkpoints.

Common Scams and How to Avoid Them

Most trouble visitors meet in Egypt is pressure to buy, not danger. Watch for “free” gifts that end with a demand for money, unofficial guides and camel or horse rides at the pyramids with an unclear price, and people who say a site is closed and offer to take you somewhere else. Agree every price before you start, and say no firmly and politely. Our full guide explains the common tricks: Egypt travel scams and how to avoid them.

Women and Solo Travellers

Many women travel in Egypt alone or in small groups and have a good trip. Unwanted comments and staring are the most common problem, especially in busy streets and markets. Physical harassment is much less common, but it happens.

  • Dress modestly: cover your shoulders and knees, and carry a light scarf for mosques. See our packing list for women.
  • Use booked transport at night and sit in the back of taxis.
  • Ignore persistent sellers, or say a clear “la, shukran” (no, thank you) and keep walking.
  • A private guide removes most of the hassle at busy sites.

More advice is in our guide to solo travel in Egypt.

Suggested trip

8-Day Cairo, Siwa and White & Black Desert Adventure

Planning the trip itself? Start here. 8 Days · from $1,390 per person

View This Trip

Health: Water, Heat and Food

  • Drink bottled or filtered water, and avoid ice and salads washed in tap water outside good hotels and restaurants.
  • The heat is a real risk from May to September: start sightseeing early, wear a hat and high-factor sunscreen, and carry water. See the best time to visit Egypt.
  • Pharmacies are everywhere and well stocked; good private hospitals are in Cairo, Luxor, Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh.
  • No vaccinations are required for most visitors (yellow fever only if you arrive from a risk country). Ask your doctor about routine travel vaccines.
  • Take medical travel insurance; private hospitals usually ask for payment or an insurer’s guarantee.

Respecting Local Customs

Egypt is a conservative and very hospitable country, and a little respect goes a long way. Dress modestly away from the beach, keep displays of affection low-key, ask before you photograph people, and during Ramadan avoid eating and drinking in the street in daylight. You will find that people go out of their way to help.

Emergency Numbers in Egypt

ServiceNumber
Tourist Police126
Police122
Ambulance123
Fire180

Save your embassy’s number before you travel, and keep your travel insurer’s emergency line with your passport.

How We Look After You

When you travel with Top Class Egypt Travel, a representative meets you at the airport, you travel in private air-conditioned vehicles with licensed drivers, and you visit the sites with licensed Egyptologist guides. Our team is available 24 hours a day by phone and WhatsApp throughout your trip, follows official advice, and changes plans if anything affects your route.

Browse our Egypt tour packages, read about Egypt visas, or ask us for a tailor-made trip.

Egypt Safety FAQ

Is Egypt safe to travel to right now?

The main tourist areas (Cairo, Giza, Luxor, Aswan, the Nile and the Red Sea resorts) are open, and the UK, US and Canadian governments do not advise against visiting them. Regional tensions in 2026 can disrupt flights, so check official advice and your airline before you travel.

Which parts of Egypt should tourists avoid?

North Sinai, the area near the Libyan border, and parts of the Western Desert and inland South Sinai. None of these are on the usual tourist routes.

Is Cairo safe for tourists?

Yes, for most visitors. The main risks are traffic, pickpockets in crowds and overcharging. Use Uber or booked transport and keep valuables in the hotel safe.

Is Egypt safe for women travelling alone?

Many women travel alone in Egypt. Unwanted comments are common; serious incidents are rare. Dressing modestly, using booked transport at night and hiring a guide at busy sites make the trip much easier.

Is Sharm El Sheikh safe?

Sharm El Sheikh is a coastal South Sinai resort and is not covered by official advice against travel. Check current advice before travelling inland in Sinai.

Can you drink tap water in Egypt?

It is better not to. Drink bottled or filtered water, which is cheap and sold everywhere.

Plan Your Egypt Trip

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Testimonials

Our Clients Reviews

See what our happy travelers say about us

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Elfa Ágústsdóttir profile picture
Elfa Ágústsdóttir
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Top Class Egypt travel is the perfect name of this company!! I just arrived home 3 days ago from my second trip with Top Class Egypt Travel. Last summer it was 4 weeks and this summer it was 5 weeks and what an experience! I was in contact with Mahmoud and Amr in both of my trips, I know Emad was also very active behind the scenes in the planning, and everything was so easy and professional. I said what I wanted and they gave me so many options to choose from and came with amazing suggestions for me too. My trip wasn’t just about the temples, I wanted to experience the country and it’s people spiritually too so they knew exactly what I wanted and needed to see and explore. From Cairo throughout all Egypt and then back, I got to see and experience the most amazing places I’ve ever imagined and I know I will never be the same again 🙏🏻 To experience being in the desert in El Gouna and watch the sunset and see the stars in the sky and to sail and snorkel in the Red Sea, exploring the wonders of Mother Earth is something I will always treasure in my heart. Well, every experience I had in my journey is something precious to me. Even when I got food poisoning (absolutely my fault, I knew I wasn’t supposed to eat vegetables but forgot about it 🙈) on day two and Amr had to take me to the hospital! This sickness affected my hole trip and I had to change my schedule a lot because of that. Amr, Emad and Mahmoud were all in to make my experience the best and very patiently helped me make different memories than we had planned before and I can’t be happier with the solutions they came up with! 🥰 They had to put in a lot of work to change previous bookings and make new ones for me and it was never any problem for them. My wellness and experience was number one for them 🙏🏻 I was so supported and guided and not for a second felt I alone even though I was travelling alone and sick 🥰 I was so taken care of and felt so secure. My previous trip went all very smoothly and was perfect too (no sickness in that trip though 🤭) Every guide, driver, transportation, hotel, Nile cruise and the office was superb. To Amr, Emad and Mahmoud, I send all my best wishes and thank you’s to you with my highest recommendations for your wonderful company 🙏🏻 It matters so much to travel with a company that has your interests, experiences and wellbeing at heart and you never know what can happen in your journeys. The people behind Top Class Egypt Travel is that company! They are a part of my family now and I can’t wait to schedule my next adventure with them and meet my Egyptian family again soon! ❤️
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Kristján Friðri... S profile picture
Kristján Friðri... S
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Couldn’t been a better tour I went on a two day trip to see the pyramids and all of the attractions around them, a mosque, and two egyptian museums and our tour guide Mohammad, or Super-Moe, was a great guide and made this tour amazing. I highly recommend Top Class Egypt Travel for anyone traveling to Egypt
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sperry2nyc
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What an Amazing Experience We had a most amazing two-week trip to Egypt! We were a family of 9. Amr Saladin of Top Class with the help of Mahmoud Nour tailored an unforgettable experience for us. We had very knowledgeable guides everywhere we went. Thank you to Ahmed Ali who was our guide for two days in Cairo. Mohammed Hasan, our private Egyptologist on the 4 night Nile Cruise was very knowledgeable and patient. Thank you Top Class! You are a Top Act and we highly recommend you!
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sperry2nyc
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Thank you Top Class Amr Saladin of Top Class with the help of Mahmoud Nour designed an amazing two week trip for our family of 9! We had wonderful guides in each place we visited. Ahmed Ali, our Egyptologist in Cairo is very knowledgeable and always cheerful. Special thanks to Mohammed Hasan, who was our Egyptologist down the Nile River cruise. He explained everything clearly and patiently! Thank you to Top Class for everything!
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Sharon McAdams
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Excellent Service Excellent service. We had a fantastic and memorable trip because of Top Class attention to detail. The guides we had were very knowledgeable and attentive.
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Amin J
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Memorable Egypt Experience - Beyond Expectation We booked a 15 Days tour of Egypt through Top Class Egypt Travel. We spent 8 days in Cairo and 7 days Nile Cruise from Luxor to Aswan and back covering all the historical sites. Mr. Amr Saladin accommodated our itinerary and made suggestions to make sure that our trip would be comfortable and memorable. .Thank you. On the site seeing trips, our Egyptologist guides Mr. Mohamed Sultan and Mr. Mohamed Hasan made our trip memorable. They were friendly, courteous, knowledgeable and professional. They made all the sites visits memorable with historical explanations. They took good care of us. Thank you. Overall we were very happy with the trip. Beyond expectation.
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karina r
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Spectacular The tour was absolutely amazing, definitely recommend. It was very educational, so many beautiful pictures for memories. Tour guide was very professional.
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Dawn M
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A Dream trip that came true!! Memories we will cherish foreverver I contacted Mahmoud after watching a trave bloggers video. Mahmoud created an itinerary that INCLUDED every place we wanted to see!!! Including Dendera. .... a site that two other travel companies told us was impossible to include!! Mahmoud arranged the itinerary to best fit my Son's dream, "must see places and best photo spots," all while taking into consideration my 6 year old granddaughter. Top Class Egypt Travels and Mahmoud, were quick to get back to me with any and all questions that I had. They had everything in place and I was assured of the itinerary, accommodations, cruise ship, guides, and transportation before I made a payment. This gave me Peace of mind: that everything was taken care of and if we had any questions we could contact them 24/7. This company really delivers what they promise. They stand by EXCELLENT customer service. The guides: Excellent guides that fit our family. The first guide in Cairo, Mohamed, was friendly, full of knowledge about the pyramids and local culture. It was a rainy day but he arranged our schedule so we avoided the rain!!! He taught us about history, culture,and politics, all in an easy to understand, interesting way. He also took time to take us to the best photo spots AND took great photos of us. We mentioned that our wall charger was missing from our luggage. At the end of the day, he surprised us by stopping back by with a charger! Above and beyond, our first day was amazing! In Luxor, we met up with our guide Hassan Ashor. We spent 6 days with him. He was EXCELLENT. He started out as our guide by the end of 6 days. We considered him as fanily. Hassan talked about history as if it were a story. He even captured our 6 year old attention ! She is still talking about Hassan and mummies! If we mentioned to Hassan that we needed something or wanted to see something, he rearranged our day to fit it in. When Mahmoud told me this was a custom tour, I didn't know we would truly be able to have that much flexibility! Hassan surprised us with a felucca ride and a horse with a carriage ride. Our 6 year old was ecstatic! We stayed out late the last two nights, having dinner and great conversation. The last night, our hearts broke as we said our goodbyes. Cario , before departure, we had Mr. Sultan. He was extremely knowledgeable. We went to the museum. I was worried it would be boring for our 6 year old, but he held her interest and kept us moving. Perfect for seeing the highlights and learning history! Afterwards, we headed to Coptic Cario. Extremely interesting and a great pace that fit my family perfectly. To finish the day, we stopped at the market for shopping, photos, and coffee. We could have talked for hours over coffee. We hated for day to end. Mahamond Sultan was fabulous. I talked to other fanilies that were touring at the same time we were and knew our experience with ALL the guides that Top Class Egypt Travel, provided was exceptional and not the norm of other travel agencies. We definitely had great guides, the perfect flexible itinerary and no waiting in lines at any place. VIP treatment. This is where Top Class Stands out. Excellent guides, customized itineraries and VIP treatment. Perfect for families or couples that wish to escape from large tour groups, to have a personal experience with getting to learn about Egypt. Transportation: Excellent private vans. They were extremely nice and clean. Drivers were experienced safe drivers, spoke English, always on time, kept our belongings safe, had water on hand, and kept the vehicles clean. We were extremely impressed. Domestic flights: The times were picked to take make the most of each day. We had transportation from flights to hotel and hotels to flights. Everything was arranged, and we didn't have to do anything! At no time were we left, not knowing what to do. A representative met us at the airport and took care of ALL paperwork. When one luggage was missing (held up at Heathrow), our representative Mahamond had the driver take us to the mall for clothing and the pharmacy. To top it all off, they tracked our luggage! It arrived safely the next day. Accommodations The hotels were the best of the best. The cruise was on the Mayfair. Absolutely the best cruise ship, excellent food, and exceptional staff. Again, a representative met us, took us to our hotels, and handled AĹL the paperwork. We had the VIP treatment from start to finish. Price: LESS than the other 2 major companies I contacted AND..... Top Class Egypt included MORE, more days, more places, a better ship, and a PRIVATE guide vs. group! I was shocked at the price. Affordable is an understatement. I broke down the price, and no other company could come close to it. Last but not least safety: We have visited many countries. Egypt was one of the places we felt extremely safe. Every Egyptian we met was friendly and kind to us. The culture there is welcoming and warm. If you have any fears, rest assured that Top Class Egypt is there for you 24/7. If we had any questions, they immeasurable responded. Guides and drivers are top notch. There is security everywhere we went and safety was never a concern for us. I can not say enough good things about Top Class Egypt, Mahmoud who planned our itinerary, the guides, the representatives, and the company. What started out as a wish list of places my son hoped to see but didn't think we would be able to,...Mahmoud made it happen!!!! During our trip,at the end of each day, my son would write about what we did... Each day was titled. "The best day of my life." 8 perfect days = perfect Dream vacation! Thank you, Mahmoud, Hassan Ashor, Mahomed, Mr. Sultan and Top Class Egypt Travel, for making this a trip of a lifetime and becoming lifelong friends. We won't be saying goodbye, we will be saying....until we meet again!
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Sayan D
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Most memorable trip ever!!!! The most precious item of childhood bucket list, Beautiful Egypt tour finally accomplished!!! Thanks to Top Class Egypt tours for making this happen and make our trip so memorable. A big thanks to our Egyptologist guides Mr. Mahmoud Sultan and Mr. Mohammed Hasan who made our time travel to ancient Egypt so exquisite!! Mr. Mahmoud Sultan guided us in Cairo and Alexandria. With him, we visited the ever-wonder Great Pyramids, museums, Coptic Cairo, Mohammed Ali Mosque in Cairo. In Alexandria we visited the Great library and the Citadel. Mr. Mahmoud Sultan is extremely knowledgeable, very caring, very thorough and precise in his description and a very nice company to be with. He can adeptly illustrate the great Egyptian civilization components to any amateur history-enthusiast. Mr. Mohammed Hasan took us in the Nile Cruise starting from Aswan to Luxor including Abu Simbel. Mr. Hasan walked us through the Philae temple, Abu Simbel, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Karnak Temple, Luxor temple and Valley of the Kings, Queens and Artisans in Luxor. Mr. Hasan is extremely eloquent and has an unique ability of storytelling which made us living the moments and experiencing a smooth surpass through the times of Great Pharaohs as well as Greco-Roman era of the ancient Egypt. Mr. Hasan often adds a tinge of humor in his description which makes the whole experience enjoyable. He describes every monuments with multiple perspectives of why, when, where, who and how in a very detailed logical fashion which always maintains the interest. From the arrangement point of view, Top Class Egypt Travel has taken great care of us in the whole trip. Excellent coordination, on time transport from all point A to point B, airport pick-up, hotel transfer, everything was impeccable. There was no waiting for a single thing, a wholesome experience was beautifully planned, gave back a very high value of trusting them. Many thanks to Mr. Amr Salah, the Chief, being all the time accessible through Whatsapp, supporting and accommodating us throughout and supervising to ensure everything goes right. I would highly recommend Top Class Egypt Travel to make the mission for Egypt memorable for the lifetime. Countless regards and compliments to the Egyptologists Mr. Mohammed Hasan and Mr. Mahmoud Sultan!!!
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Paul Ransley
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Excellent Seven Day Private Tour Overview We were referred to Top Class Egypt Travel by an Australian friend domiciled in the Middle East who visits Egypt regularly. Her recommendation was gold. Top Class is an extremely professional outfit. It made our visit easy, enjoyable, safe and highly rewarding. I have no hesitation recommending this company and its owners. Itinerary The company will create an itinerary designed specifically for your needs. We are an older couple and contacted the company from Australia by email with our wishlist. We had 7 days available and, from our research, a list of historic sites we wanted to visit in Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and Abu Simbel. We requested that Top Class provide us with domestic air fares, accommodation (except for Cairo where we would make our own arrangements) and a private vehicle with a driver and guide in each location. Our agent came back to us within a couple of days with an itinerary that absolutely met our needs and some additional options. Price Pricing was extremely competitive. We had previously consulted a foreign provider who required a $US400 deposit to create the itinerary and a total price which was three times that offered by Top Class. Service When we we landed in Cairo we were met in the arrivals area by the company's Cairo representative. He had already arranged out entry visas ($25 per person). He fast-tracked us through passport control and immigration and we were ready to collect our baggage within minutes of landing. No queues. Yes! That kind of service was standard for Top Class throughout our trip. We skipped the queue at just about every location we visited and at the end of each day we were advised that if we needed assistance someone would be available to help 24/7. On one ocassion we needed a vehicle and driver to meet a flight. This was provided at short notice without extra cost. Accommodation The hotels which Top Class booked for us in Luxor and Aswan were both 5-star (Steigenberger and Movinpick) and way above the standard of the so-called 5-star hotel we booked for ourselves in Cairo. We favoured the Cairo hotel because of a long standing club membership with the management chain. Unfortunately, we were charged exhorbitant prices for tired and run down rooms with no benefit gained from our previous association. I am confident that if I had left the arrangement of accommodation in Cairo to Top Class we would have paid less for much much better. Drivers and Guides We could not ask for anyone better to show us around. Our drivers were experienced and safe. Their vehicles were well maintained, comfortable and air-conditioned. Our guides were tertiary educated, excellent english speakers, pleasant, helpful and kind. We were fortunate to have the same driver and guide for our visits to Luxor, Aswan and Abu Simbel which contained the bulk of the monuments and temples we wanted to see. Our guide, Mohammed Hasan, has been guiding tourists of all nationalities for 20 years. He is an encyclopedia of ancient Egyption history, politics, religion and art. Thanks to Mohammed we received a deeper understanding of the meaning and significance of what we saw than we would have had we travelled alone. We were particularly pleased that on many ocassions he was able to ensure we visited some of the more popular monuments at times of least or minimal crowding. In Cairo, our guide Abdelselam Donia, was equally accomplished helping us to navigate the chaos of Cairo with relative ease and providing us with insight and understanding of the city and its culture. Safety We arrived in Egypt a fortnight after hostilities had erupted in Gaza, so like everybody else we had safety concerns. The truth is we never at anytime felt unsafe. Our guides and drivers ushered us quickly and easily through police and military road blocks and through the tight security at monuments allowing us to avoid any discomfort or issue. Last word Top Class Egypt Travel is one of the better travel agencies we have dealt with. We found them easy to communicate with, always willing to assist and always available when we needed them.