Details

Frequently Asked Questions

Please click here to go to our general FAQ, which has essential information that applies to all of our programs.

Resources to Learn & Teach about Egypt

Visit our blog to see the list of books GEEO recommends reading before your program (this is not required reading). We also have lesson plans and Pinterest boards that may be useful for you as you learn about your destination and prepare to bring lessons back to your classroom.

Terms and Conditions

It is very important for you to visit our Terms and Conditions page before signing up for this program.

GEEO Program Confirmation Process

We require a minimum of 6 participants for most GEEO programs. We officially confirm that a program will run once at least 8 people have signed up, which provides a margin for individual cancellations. Nearly all GEEO programs ultimately meet this enrollment quota, and in the rare event that a program does not meet the minimum requirement and GEEO cancels the program, we will work with you to find a suitable alternative or provide a refund of your deposit if you prefer. We encourage you to sign up for any program that interests you, and we will notify the entire group once 6 people are booked and again once 8 people are booked. We always emphasize the importance of exercising caution when making non-refundable travel arrangements, especially given the unpredictable nature of travel. For example, we typically recommend booking flights with flexible change/cancellation policies.

Cancellation policy

All cancellations must be submitted to GEEO in written form by emailing your request for cancellation to travel@geeo.org. If you do not receive a confirmation that we have received your written cancellation request, please call us at 1-877-600-0105. Verbal cancellation requests will not be honored.

• If you cancel 60 days or more prior to departure, all your program fee payments will be refunded besides your $350 deposit, which is kept on file for future use
• If you cancel between 30 and 59 days prior to departure, you will receive a 50% refund and your deposit is kept on file for future use
• If you cancel within 30 days of departure, you will receive no refund, but your deposit is kept on file for future use

Trip Notes

1. WINTER TRIPS: Please note that some sites, museums, and restaurants may be closed over Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day. It is recommended that you check the operating hours of any sites or establishments that you plan to visit to avoid disappointment. It is also common for prices for meals and other services to increase during peak tourist seasons or holidays, including Christmas and New Year’s. Additionally, we may need to alter the itinerary on and around these holidays to maximize your time during your trip. Hopefully, you will be able to experience some local customs and traditions and see how people in other parts of the world experience the holidays. Traveling over Christmas and New Year’s can allow you to see a destination in a different light. You may be able to attend local festivals, try traditional foods, see special decorations, and participate in cultural activities that can add an extra layer of festivity and cheer to your trip. Overall, traveling over the holidays can be a fun and rewarding way to learn about and experience another culture.
2. EXCURSION RECOMMENDATIONS: Tourists are frequently over-charged for excursions bought from vendors on the street or at the airport. If you arrive a day or two early in Cairo and wish to do some excursions, we recommend that you wait until you get to the joining hotel and contact our local staff for more information on available tours and excursions. You can also book excursions through websites like Tripadvisor or Viator, as we have found those have good deals and are for the most part trustworthy. Throughout this trip there are many optional activities and often G Adventures can arrange them for you through your tour leader. We find this to be the simplest and safest way to book these activities, but sometimes it will cost more than a different local supplier that perhaps you have found yourself. We can’t vouch for the safety and quality of tours and activities not booked through G Adventures.
3. MONEY: U.S. Dollars that are series 1996 or earlier – identifiable by the year printed on the right side of the face of the bill – are not accepted and very difficult to change in regions of East and Southern Africa, as there are a lot of forgeries in circulation.
4. NILE CRUISE: Our Nile cruise boat is modern with many of the amenities of our comfortable hotels. Cabins are twin/double with air-conditioning and private bathrooms. Facilities on board include a large single-sitting restaurant, lounge with bar, and sun deck with a small pool. Often our cruise boats are referred to as “floating hotels,” as the actual sailing distance covered is not great and Egyptian law requires that all boats dock overnight.
5. INTERNAL FLIGHT: All local flights are included in the cost of your tour. It is important that we have your passport information ASAP in order to process these tickets. Internal flight tickets are issued locally and will be given to you prior to the flight departure. Domestic carriers for internal flights will be Egypt Air or Nile Air. Flight information will not be available until a couple of days prior to the tour departure. The domestic flight maximum weight allowance is 20 kg.

Group Leader Description

All GEEO/G Adventures group trips are accompanied by one of G Adventure’s group leaders, which they refer to as Chief Experience Officers (CEO). The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. They will provide information on the places you are traveling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues, and introduce you to our local friends. Our itineraries often have plenty of free time to explore on your own. While not being guides in the traditional sense, you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the countries visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious, and social aspects. We also use local guides where we think more specific knowledge will add to the enjoyment of the places we are visiting – we think it’s the best of both worlds.

Fitness Level

Trip includes light walking and hiking that is suitable for most fitness levels.

Single Travelers

Half of the people that travel with GEEO are traveling by themselves, so please don’t worry if you have no one who can join you on your trip. Our pricing is based on double occupancy or, in other words, two people to a room. You never have to pay for a single room unless you want one. GEEO can find you a roommate of the same gender. Most of our trips have a “My Own Room” option, also known as a “Single Supplement,” which is an extra fee that will allow you to have a room to yourself. If you want to room alone, please email travel@geeo.org. To see the price for the “My Own Room” option, please click here where you can look up your trip in the extra services spreadsheet.

Joining Instructions

Day 1 is an arrival day, and no activities have been planned. Upon arrival to the city on Day 1, or earlier if you have booked pre-accommodation with us, please make your way to the joining hotel. Check-in time will be in the afternoon. Once you arrive at the hotel, look for a note at reception from your tour leader. This note will give the details of your Welcome Meeting on Day 1, usually between 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., at which you will get a chance to meet your tour leader and other travelers, as well as learn more about how the tour will run. If you don’t see a note, please ask reception for details! If you miss the Welcome Meeting, your tour leader will leave a note at reception for you with any information you may need and with instructions for the next morning. You will receive an arrival transfer included as part of your program fee. A G Adventures representative will be at the airport to meet you with your name on a sign. If for any reason you are not met at the airport, please call our local support line. If you are unable to make contact for whatever reason, please make your way to the joining point hotel via taxi. Unfortunately, there have been cases of people misrepresenting themselves as G Adventures representatives. Please check that your driver knows your name and the hotel to which you are going. If in doubt, ask them to ring their manager to confirm your transfer.

Emergency Contacts

Should you need to contact G Adventures during a situation of dire need, it is best to first call their local G Adventures office. If for any reason you do not receive an immediate answer, please leave a detailed message and contact information, so they may return your call and assist you as soon as possible. AIRPORT TRANSFER Your arrival transfer has been arranged based on flight information provided to us. If you are advised of a flight schedule change within 48 hours of your scheduled arrival time, we will do our best to rearrange your arrival transfer, but we cannot guarantee this. If your arrival transfer does not arrive within 30 minutes after you have exited the arrivals area, please take a taxi to your start point hotel. EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBERS G Adventures Local Representative (Cairo, Egypt) During office hours (Sun-Thu, 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. local time): +20 233 77 88 30 or +20 233 77 88 31 After hours Emergency number: +20 122 221 16 99 (Mohammed) G Adventures Middle East Manager Emergency number: : +20 122 221 16 99 -Mohammed (Cairo, Egypt) If you are unable for any reason to contact our local office, please call the numbers listed below, which will connect you directly with our 24-hour Sales team, who will happily assist you. If you are unable for any reason to contact G Adventures’ local office they have a toll-free line within North America which will connect you directly with their Toronto office: 1 888 800 4100. Outside of North America, call: +1 416 260 0999

Packing List

Please read this article on GEEO’s blog for our staff’s suggestions on the best gear to pack for your upcoming travels. You must be prepared to carry your own bags and be comfortable carrying them up and downstairs, on and off transportation, and to hotels. As a rule, we try not to have to walk more than 15-20 minutes with your bags, which is why we recommend keeping the weight of your bags between 22-30 lb. Most travelers carry a backpack or rolling bag of small to medium size. No XXL bags please! A daypack is also essential for carrying everyday items. Space is limited on transportation, so there is a limit of one main piece of luggage per person plus a daypack per person. Health & Safety

• N95/KN95 face masks (at least three per week)
• Hand sanitizer
• Pen (please bring your own pen for filling out documents.)
• Rapid COVIC-19 test/antigen tests (at least 5, and 3 per week of travel)

Suggested Checklist

• Fleece top (it can get really cold)
• Light windproof/waterproof jacket – chances are it won’t rain much
• Scarf, warm hat, gloves
• Sun hat
• Personal clothing for variable weather ranging from the 40’s to low 60’s F
• Daypack
• Sturdy walking shoes
• Sport sandals or flip-flops
• Sunblock
• Sunglasses
• Watch or alarm clock
• Flashlight or headlamp
• Clothes for religious sites – knees and shoulders must be covered
• Toiletries – your hotels will have soap and shampoo
• Camera
• First-aid kit, including: lip salve, aspirin, bandaids, anti-histamine, Dramamine, Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, electrolyte powder, insect repellent, extra prescription drugs you may be taking

Optional Checklist

• Lightweight silk sleep sheet
• Travel pillow
• Money belt
• Water bottle
• Phone/Tablet for internet – most hotels have WiFi
• Chargers for electronics as well converters/adapters, if needed
• AirTags or Tile trackers
• Packing cubes
• Earplugs
• Snacks – packing a few granola bars is a good idea; you can buy snacks when you get there too, so don’t go crazy here
• Ziplock bags for wet clothing
• Reading/writing material
• Hand sanitizer/Baby wipes

Document Checklist

• Passport (with photocopies)
• Travel insurance (with photocopies)
• Airline tickets (with photocopies)
• EUR/USD cash
• Credit or debit card
• G Adventures vouchers, pre-departure information, and dossier
• Any entry visas or vaccination certificates required
• GEEO Classroom action plans for your group – this is sent 10-30 days before departure

Laundry

Laundry facilities are offered by some of our hotels for a charge or ask your group leader where the nearest laundromat is. If you want to do your own laundry, we suggest you bring your own non-polluting/biodegradable soap.

Passports and Visas

All GEEO trips require that the participant have a valid passport.  Please see our general FAQ for information on obtaining a passport. As with all of our trips, we try to provide the most accurate information we can, but governments sometimes change visa rules. It is your responsibility to double-check the information we provide below by searching here. U.S. citizens must have a visa to enter Egypt. We recommend getting a 1-month single entry visa on arrival at Cairo International airport or at the Egyptian land border. You must pay in cash (exact amount, no change), either in U.S. Dollars (USD), British Pounds (GBP), or Euros (EUR). The visa fee is $25 USD or the equivalent in your currency. Egyptian Pounds and credit cards are not accepted as payment methods when obtaining your Egyptian entry visa. Look for windows (marked “banks”) selling these visas in the area where you line up to have your passport stamped. You need to get the visa before entering the passport line. The visa is a sticker that you need to stick into your passport before handing it to the authorities for stamping. E-Visa in Advance: We feel it is much easier and more straightforward to receive your visa on arrival, but you may also apply for an e-visa in advance here: https://www.visa2egypt.gov.eg/eVisa/. The website can be buggy and difficult to use, but the GEEO team can assist you with the information you need to provide to obtain an e-visa if you have questions while filling out the application.

Money Exchange

The currency used in Egypt is the Egyptian Pound (EGP). ATMs are found within main cities in Egypt and will generally accept cards on the Visa and Mastercard networks. It is a great idea to travel with both a Visa and Mastercard, if at all possible, as, while there is no hard and fast rule, some banks seem to only work with one brand of card. Please note: Your bank will charge a fee for overseas withdrawals. Cash is recommended for times when ATMs are not accessible. Euros, British Pounds, and U.S. Dollars are all easy to exchange for the local currency. You should bring some cash with you for emergency situations, but carrying only cash is a high safety risk. ATM cards and some cash is the ideal mix. If you are bringing U.S. Dollars, please make sure that the notes are new and in good condition. Notes older than 1996 – as identified on the right-hand side of the face of any USD bill – or with any tears or blemishes may not be accepted. Be fussy with your bank when buying cash! As currency exchange rates can fluctuate, we ask that you refer to the following website for daily exchange rates: www.xe.com

Tipping

Tipping (also widely referred to by its Arabic term as “baksheesh”) is a way of life in the Middle East. Locals themselves will usually tip anyone who provides them with services. In many cases, people depend on the tips they receive to supplement the low salary and wages of the Middle East region. While on tour in the Middle East, it is customary and even expected to tip small service providers such as restaurant and bar waiters, hotel staff, reception, cleaning personnel, bell boys, and taxi and van drivers. Tips are regarded as an essential means of supplementing income for those working in the tourism industry. To make things as easy as possible and avoid embarrassing situations, G Adventures has developed a tipping kitty system where your tour leader will collect a contribution from everybody at the start of your tour and use this kitty to tip anybody who has provided services to the group as a whole. A guideline for tipping is about $5-$10 USD per day, depending on the quality of the service, but this does not include your G Adventures tour leader. On Day 1 of your tour, your tour leader will be able to advise on the amount required from everybody to form the tipping kitty for your trip. You can pay in USD or the equivalent local currency, preferably the latter. The tour leader will be able to advise you on the exchange rate and the total required in either currency. If at any time you feel that any service provider failed in maintaining or delivering good service, please bring it immediately to the attention of your tour leader so a deduction of tips can take place. Also, at the end of each trip, if you felt your G Adventures Tour Leader did an outstanding job, tipping is appreciated. The amount is entirely a personal preference. As a budgeting guideline, $45-$55 USD per person per week can be used. Please budget a similar, but slightly smaller tip for your driver as well.

Vaccinations

We legally cannot give you any medical advice. It is very important to consult your doctor or a travel clinic about which vaccinations you will need for your trip. Please take this seriously!

Flights

We find the best prices for flights are often available 60 days before departure, but of course this varies greatly from route to route and year to year. We advise that you wait until this trip is confirmed before booking non-refundable and non-changeable flights. GEEO and G Adventures bear no responsibility for any flights purchased before the trip is confirmed. Your trip begins and ends in Cairo. Please double-check our itinerary for the date by which you must arrive in Cairo. You can arrive at any time of the day you choose, but we strongly urge you to arrive by 6:00 p.m. on Day 1 for our group meeting. You can depart from Cairo at any time on the final day of the trip.

Plugs and Converters

There are two components to provide external power to your device: adapters and transformers. The adapter is the plug, adapting the prongs on a standard U.S. two to three-pronged power cord to match the prongs required by the local outlets. The transformer changes the local voltage to that required by your device. Egypt uses a Type C, European-style two-prong plug. Their voltage is 220 Volts. U.S. outlets are 120V. Most new devices (phones and laptops) can handle the different voltage rates, but some devices only work on the U.S. standard of 120V. Check your device to see what voltage range it handles. Most transformer blocks will have an “Input” line that defines its voltage capacity. For example, “Input: 100-240V” means that it will work on voltages from 100V to 240V. If your transformer can’t handle the different voltage, you’ll need to purchase a voltage converter. You can find world regional voltage converters power packs at various vendors.

Expectations

Before you decide on traveling with GEEO, it is important that you read all of the information about the program you are considering. Remember, our programs are quite adventurous.

• You must be able to easily carry or roll your luggage, so do not over-pack.
• We recommend always carrying snacks with you. Meals can sometimes be far apart.
• Please make sure you understand the role of your tour leader on this trip, as they are not the traditional “guide” you may be expecting. While our trips are educational, they aren’t study/lecture trips. We want you to learn through exploring, and much of your experience will be based on how active you choose to be in acquiring knowledge and interacting with locals.

Hopefully this is the kind of adventure you are interested in!

Itinerary Disclaimer

While it is our intention to adhere to the routes described on our website, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and on occasion it may be necessary, or desirable, to make alterations. The itinerary is brief, as we never know exactly where our journey will take us. Due to our style of travel and the regions we visit, travel can be unpredictable. The information on our website is a general guide to the tour and region, and any mention of specific destinations or wildlife is by no means a guarantee that they will be visited or encountered. Additionally, any travel times listed are approximations only and subject to vary due to local circumstances.

Weather

December is a great time to visit Egypt. Mostly sunshine with very little rain with temperatures typically in the 50s and 60’s. However, our winter Egypt groups have told us it was a lot colder than expected. Please make sure you have warm clothes too, including a winter coat, hat and gloves.

Here is some advice from past travelers:

• Bring toilet paper- it is not readily available in many places and you may need to pay extra. I found it helpful to just have some in my purse or backpack.
• Bottled water is an absolute must- I would not recommend drinking anything with ice in it.
• My favorite part of the trip was our time on the Nile River cruise and our visit to the Nubian village. Treat yourself to some henna!
• The food was difficult for my stomach so I stuck to mostly vegetarian options.
• You will want to ask about seeing a papyrus shop and stone shop. Your guide can arrange this and you will get to see paper and art being made. It was amazing. We also did this with an essential oil shop on our visit.
• It is a heavy tipping culture, but lots of banks and ATMs can be found at any point of your trip.
• The camel rides by the pyramids were disappointing - I would not recommend them. The camels seemed worn down and not as healthy as other ones we saw later on in the trip. (See our animal welfare policy here.)"
• There is cold water bottles available for sale on the bus.
• Bringing a filter for purifying water can save you from wasting so much plastic. (See GEEO's gear recommendation list.)
• It's not pretty, but everyone really should get a prescription for diarrhea. I think everyone had some rough days and Imodium just won't cut it.
• "I washed my clothes by hand a lot. We had laundry options on the boat and I think one hotel because we moved so frequently. Laundry was kind of pricey to folks, and I found hand washing to be fine. But I think just to let folks know to bring clothes that can handwash and dry well or at least a shirt or two that are specifically made to wick wetness and such. I brought one t-shirt from REI that was so brilliant for this trip, and I wore it a majority of the days, handwashing it each night!"
• Don’t bring $1 and $5 bills for tips - the vendors say “$1 dollars pretty lady” but the currency exchanges won’t take the small currencies so it is useless to them. The currency exchange also won’t take US bills that have the slightest flaw in them (tears, pen marks, excessive wear, etc.) so if you bring US cash and want to exchange it instead of using the ATMs make sure you go to the bank in the US and get new bills.
• Getting small Egyptian currency is a problem and a lot of shops would not accept 100 or 200 pound bills which is what most of us were getting from the ATMs. I found out on the last day that some ATMs at banks dispense only small currency.
• If the bill is 35 Egyptian pounds and you have a 50 and a 200 bill try the big bill first to see if they can break it and save the small stuff for water and bathrooms. Sometimes they can break it and other times they will ask for something smaller. If they don’t have the correct change they will give you what they can and keep the difference.
• I never had any luck withdrawing cash from an ATM using my Visa credit card but fortunately, I also had my debit card - otherwise, I would have been in trouble.
• Many of us found our menstruation cycles were off. It can be hard to find feminine products outside of pharmacies, so bring enough supplies regardless of where the trip falls in your cycle.