Pyramid and Sphinx of Giza at dawn · Cairo · Egypt
Africa · Boutique

Egypt

The country that invented eternity

Few countries carry as much symbolic weight as Egypt. The Giza pyramids, the Nile, mummies in display cases, Agatha Christie on a cruise. The good news is that almost everything you imagine is real. The drawback is that the imagery hides the rest: a cuisine that blends the Mediterranean, the Levant and sub-Saharan Africa, a Red Sea with some of the best coral on the planet and a desert that changes color every hour.

Three thousand years breathing

Egypt is not visited, it is crossed. It is not seen, it is read. The traveler passes between Giza, Saqqara, Luxor and Aswan, and discovers that history here is not a museum: it is a daily conversation between the call to prayer at dawn, the desert dust, the cardamom of Cairo and the slanting light that enters through the Hypostyle Hall of Karnak. The cultural scale demands time, rhythm and a voice to accompany it. That is why what defines a good trip to Egypt is not the sites but the order, the gaze and the guide who opens them.

5,000+years of continuous history
3pyramids standing in Giza
6,650 kmof the Nile, the longest river in Africa
100,000+pieces in the Grand Egyptian Museum
Regions

Five Egypts in a single country

A pharaonic capital, antiquity without pause, the slow Nile, the coral of the Red Sea and the Bedouin desert. Each region is a different trip, each combination is the CocoVolare signature.

Mosque in Islamic Cairo 01 · Capital 3-5 nights

Cairo & Giza

Pharaonic capital

Cairo does not make you fall in love at first sight: it is noisy, dusty, dense. On the third day the visitor stops fighting the city and begins to read it. Minarets at sunset, Khan el-Khalili smelling of cardamom, terraces with a view of the Nile.

Hotels
Marriott Mena House · Four Seasons Nile Plaza · St. Regis Cairo
Must-see
Pyramids at dawn · Grand Egyptian Museum · Khan el-Khalili
Best time
October to April · sweet spot in November
Traveler among the columns of Karnak · Luxor 02 · Antiquity 3-4 nights

Luxor

Open-air museum

Luxor is the largest open-air museum in the world. This is where Thebes stood, where Hatshepsut, Ramesses II and Tutankhamun reigned. By the third sunset on a Nile terrace, Egyptian time works differently.

Hotels
Sofitel Winter Palace · Al Moudira Hotel · Hilton Luxor Resort
Must-see
Karnak with an Egyptologist · Valley of the Kings · Balloon at dawn
Best time
November to February · warm days, cool nights
Temple of Abu Simbel · Aswan 03 · Nile 2-3 nights

Aswan & Cruise

The slow Nile

Aswan is the most relaxed city in monumental Egypt. The Nile here is wide, calm, split by granite islands and palm trees. The sunset from a felucca, as Elephantine Island drifts past, is the image you remember years later.

Hotels
Sofitel Legend Old Cataract · Movenpick Aswan · dahabiya Sun Boat IV
Must-see
Temple of Philae · Abu Simbel at dawn · Felucca at sunset
Best time
November to February · in summer exceeds 45°C
Red Sea · atmospheric reference 04 · Coast 3-5 nights

Red Sea

Coral and coastal design

El Gouna, Sahl Hasheesh and Soma Bay overlook one of the best-preserved coral reefs on the planet. El Gouna, planned by Samih Sawiris, is a desert Venice with canals and contemporary Mediterranean architecture.

Hotels
The Oberoi Sahl Hasheesh · Casa Cook El Gouna · Steigenberger Golf Resort
Must-see
Snorkeling at Giftun · Diving on the SS Thistlegorm · Abu Tig Marina
Best time
March to May · September to November
Bedouin camel caravan in the Sinai desert 05 · Desert 2-3 nights

Sinai & Dahab

Bedouin desert

Sinai is the peninsula that separates Egypt from Israel and connects Africa with Asia. The desert drops straight to the sea, the mountains are red, the reefs begin a meter from the shore and the Bedouins are still nomads.

Hotels
Four Seasons Sharm el Sheikh · Le Méridien Dahab · Habiba Beach Lodge
Must-see
Ras Mohammed · Blue Hole · Mount Sinai · Saint Catherine
Best time
March to May · September to November
Intermezzo

Three thousand years breathing.

Pyramids that have stood for 4,500 years. A Nile of 6,650 kilometers that invented agriculture, writing and the idea of eternity. Temples where Hatshepsut and Ramesses II reigned. A Red Sea with some of the best coral on the planet and a desert that changes color every hour. Egypt is not seen, it is read, slowly and with a voice to accompany it.

"Egypt is not visited, it is crossed. It is not seen, it is read."· CocoVolare master document
The NileEternal current
Upper EgyptTemples still standing
DesertLiving dunes
CairoA city without pause
Climate

When to travel and why

Average for Cairo and Upper Egypt. Our chart shows the twelve months with estimated cost, weather and calendar icons. Marked in gold, the seasons when we recommend experiencing Egypt with us · not for price, but for the experience.

Egypt is best experienced from October to April. Our chart shows the twelve months with estimated cost, temperature and the iconic festivals. Marked in gold, the seasons when we recommend experiencing Egypt with us · not for price, but for the experience.

Summary by region

Region
Summer (Jun-Aug)
Autumn (Sep-Nov)
Winter (Dec-Feb)
Spring (Mar-May)
Optimal window
Cairo
Hot and dry · 35°C
Mild · 26°C
Cool · 18°C
Gentle · jacaranda · 24°C
Oct-Apr
Luxor
Extreme · 42°C+
Warm · 30°C
Ideal · 23°C · cool nights
Warm · khamsin possible
Nov-Feb
Aswan
Extreme · 45°C+
Warm · 32°C
Ideal · 24°C · dry
Warm and dry · 33°C
Nov-Feb
Red Sea
Hot · water 28°C
Ideal · water 27°C
Warm · water 22°C
Ideal · water 24°C
Mar-May · Sep-Nov
Sinai
Hot and dry · cool nights
Mild · ideal
Cool · cold in the mountains
Mild · perfect
Mar-May · Sep-Nov
Practical

The essentials before you travel

Information verified by our travel designers, updated for 2026. Browse by category.

Currency Egyptian pound (EGP). Reference exchange rate 48-53 EGP per USD (check before the trip).
Pricing Hotels and agencies quote in USD or EUR. Local cash is handy for markets and tips.
USD cash Bring new bills issued after 2009 in denominations of 20, 50 and 100.
ATMs Plentiful in Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and resorts. Reliable for occasional withdrawals.
Exchange Avoid street money changers: counterfeit bills circulate. Exchange at a bank or hotel.
Cards Visa and Mastercard are accepted in tourist hotels and restaurants, less so in markets.
Latin America + Spain Most passports require a tourist visa to enter Egypt.
e-visa Obtained online at visa2egypt.gov.eg at least seven days in advance.
On arrival Also available at Cairo airport. Reference cost 25 USD.
Validity Visa valid for 30 days. Passport valid for at least 6 months on entry.
Documents Voucher for the first accommodation, international insurance and a return flight.
Egypt in general No mandatory vaccines are required for entry from most countries.
Yellow fever Certificate mandatory only if you arrive from an endemic country, including much of Colombian territory.
Recommended Hepatitis A and B, typhoid fever and tetanus up to date.
Insurance Minimum coverage of USD 100,000 in medical expenses, with repatriation included.
Water Always bottled, even for brushing your teeth. Conservative for the first two days.
Domestic flights EgyptAir for long distances. Cairo-Luxor 1h · Cairo-Aswan 1h 20.
Night train Watania between Cairo and the south in a private cabin, a romantic option.
Car with driver The CocoVolare standard for urban routes and travel between sites.
Apps Uber and Careem work in Cairo and Alexandria.
Car rental Not advised: Cairo traffic is chaotic and signage is irregular.
Official Modern Standard Arabic. The Egyptian dialect is the most widely understood in the Arab world.
English Functional, sometimes fluent, among guides, receptions and tourist restaurants.
Spanish Rare but growing among guides specializing in the Latin market.
Vocabulary Shukran (thank you) · salam aleikum (hello) · la (no) · naam (yes) · bakhshish (tip).
Detail Learning ten words of Arabic completely changes the welcome you receive.
Dress In urban areas, shoulders and knees covered for both sexes.
Mosques Women cover their hair (a scarf is provided). Shoes off in temples and mosques.
Right hand Used for eating and serving. The left is considered impure.
Tips The bakhshish is structural: for guardians, drivers, guides and porters.
Photography Do not photograph people, especially women, without asking permission.
Public affection Discretion is advised outside resorts and tourist areas.
Itineraries

Six Egypts to choose your own

Six bases that adjust to your dates, rhythm and budget. No CocoVolare client travels with the same copy as another. Each itinerary is rewritten.

None of them fit you? We design one of your own.

We tailor for honeymoons, families with children or teenagers, foodies, slow travel, diving or desert adventure. Zero templates. A quote in 24 hours with a dedicated travel designer.

Start your quote
Experiences

Ten moments you will remember

They are not tours. They are private access, expert guides and a rhythm tailored to you. Ten experiences worth going out of your way to live.

Hot-air balloon over Luxor
I

Hot-air balloon over Luxor

Takeoff before dawn. An hour in the air watching Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut, the Nile and the farmland appearing with the first light.

Luxor · at dawn
Private dahabiya on the Nile
II

Private dahabiya on the Nile

A traditional sailboat of 6 to 12 cabins, no crowds, with stops in small villages and real silence at sunset between Esna and Aswan.

Esna-Aswan · 3-4 days
Pyramid of Cheops at dawn
III

Private access to the pyramids

Walking between Cheops and the Sphinx without a single tourist in the frame, with a dedicated Egyptologist and the first golden light.

Giza · before opening
Felucca at sunset in Aswan
IV

Felucca at sunset in Aswan

A lateen sail, the golden hour, Elephantine Island and the Aga Khan mausoleum on the west bank, with a Nubian sailor and hibiscus tea on board.

Aswan · at sunset
Abu Simbel at dawn
V

Abu Simbel at dawn

Four colossi 20 meters tall carved into the rock by Ramesses II around 1264 BC, relocated by UNESCO. On 22 February and 22 October the sun penetrates the inner sanctuary.

Abu Simbel · at dawn
Nubian dinner in Gharb Soheil
VI

Nubian dinner in Gharb Soheil

A private house in a village painted in blues, ochres and pinks, with a traditional chef, lamb tagine, molokhia, cardamom coffee and a night of Sufi zikr.

Gharb Soheil · Aswan
Hypostyle columns of Karnak
VII

Karnak at dawn with an Egyptologist

A photo session before general opening, with the slanting light entering through the Hypostyle Hall of 134 columns.

Luxor · before opening
Diving in the Red Sea
VIII

Diving on the SS Thistlegorm

A British wreck from 1941 at 30 meters, loaded with BSA motorcycles, Bedford trucks and locomotives. One of the most spectacular wrecks in the world.

Red Sea · diving
Camels in Giza with guides
IX

Mount Sinai at dawn

A night climb from Saint Catherine, the biblical summit of Moses at 2,285 m, a 360-degree view over the red mountains, descent to the 6th-century monastery.

Sinai · at dawn
Caravan in the desert
X

Dinner under the stars in Siwa

Berber silence, a campfire, traditional music, a dinner of lamb baked in a clay oven in the Great Sand Sea, the oasis of Alexander's oracle.

Siwa · night
Hotels

Eighteen boutique hotels with signature

Each hotel is in our private network with confidential rates. They are not "the most famous" in the country, they are the ones that open doors and understand the CocoVolare rhythm.

Marriott Mena House
Giza · Cairo
Built in 1869, historic wings with a frontal view of the pyramids and gardens.
Four Seasons Nile Plaza
Garden City · Cairo
Suites with a Nile view, a top-level spa and signature Four Seasons service.
St. Regis Cairo
Cairo · Luxury
Contemporary suites with a Nile view and a dedicated butler.
Sofitel El Gezirah
Zamalek · Cairo
A cylindrical hotel on the tip of Gezira with a 270-degree view of the Nile.
Kempinski Nile Hotel
Garden City · Cairo
A European boutique in a restored historic building, balconies over the Nile.
Sofitel Winter Palace
Luxor · Historic
A historic hotel from 1886. Suites with a balcony over the Nile and a tea ritual.
Al Moudira Hotel
West bank · Luxor
54 suites with private courtyards in the middle of the Theban farmland.
Hilton Luxor Resort & Spa
East bank · Luxor
Pools with a Nile view and a spa with yoga at dawn.
Sofitel Legend Old Cataract
Aswan · Historic
An 1899 hotel where Agatha Christie wrote part of "Death on the Nile".
Movenpick Resort Aswan
Elephantine Island · Aswan
The only resort on the island, accessed by boat with a view of the Nubian desert.
Anakato Nubian Houses
Heisa · Aswan
Guesthouses painted in Nubian colors on the west bank.
The Oberoi Sahl Hasheesh
Sahl Hasheesh · Red Sea
Villas with a private pool facing the sea and snorkeling from the shore.
Casa Cook El Gouna
El Gouna · Red Sea
An adults-only design boutique with a contemporary Mediterranean atmosphere.
Steigenberger Golf Resort
El Gouna · Red Sea
Villas with a garden, a golf course and access to Abu Tig Marina.
Four Seasons Sharm el Sheikh
Sharm el-Sheikh · Sinai
Villas with a private pool on a cliff and direct snorkeling in Naama Bay.
Le Méridien Dahab Resort
Dahab · Sinai
Suites with a pool in a bohemian setting facing the sea of Dahab.
Habiba Beach Lodge
Nuweiba · Sinai
A contemplative lodge on the Red Sea, ideal for silent retreats.
Adrère Amellal
Siwa Oasis
An eco-lodge with no electricity, lit by candles, beside the oracle of Amun.

We work with 40+ more properties in dahabiyas, desert lodges and private houses. The final selection depends on the profile of the trip.

Flavor

Egyptian flavor

From street koshary to a tasting menu with a Michelin star. Egyptian cuisine blends the Mediterranean, the Levant and sub-Saharan Africa. Where Egyptian cooking becomes memory.

Khufu's by Alain Ducasse

Pyramids Complex · Giza

A Michelin star since 2024. Contemporary Egyptian cuisine with French technique signed by Mostafa Seif and a direct view of the Pyramid of Khafre.

Abou El Sid

26th of July Street · Zamalek · Cairo

Traditional Egyptian cuisine in an Ottoman-salon setting: mahshi, molokhia, hamam mahshi, fattah. Almost 30 years of service.

Abou Tarek

Champollion · Downtown · Cairo

A temple of koshary since 1950: rice, lentils, macaroni, chickpeas, spiced tomato sauce and crispy onion.

1886 Restaurant

Sofitel Winter Palace · Luxor

Franco-Egyptian cuisine in a Victorian gala hall with original tableware. Dress code required. Dinner with the atmosphere of a colonial novel over the Nile.

1902 Restaurant

Sofitel Legend Old Cataract · Aswan

A Moorish art deco hall where Agatha Christie was inspired, with a live orchestra and a terrace at sunset.

Kadoura

Bahari · Alexandria

Mediterranean fish on ice, choose your piece, grilled with tahini and Alexandrian mezze. The best seafood table in the country.

The unmissable

Koshary
The national dish · rice, lentils, macaroni and chickpeas with spiced sauce and crispy onion
Ful medames
The quintessential Egyptian breakfast · slow-cooked fava beans with cumin, lemon and olive oil
Molokhia
A green jute stew with garlic and coriander · a unique texture served with rabbit or farm chicken
Lamb tagine
Slow-cooked in a clay pot · tender lamb with onion, tomato and spices of the Nile
Mahshi
Vine leaves and vegetables stuffed with rice and herbs · the Sunday cooking of an Egyptian home
Cardamom coffee
Thick, spiced Egyptian ahwa · the ritual of every terrace, from Islamic Cairo to Gharb Soheil
Calendar

Eight dates to travel with intent

A well-chosen date turns a trip into a memory. We design your itinerary around the moment that interests you most.

7 January

Coptic Christmas

An official holiday. Masses at the Hanging Church and processions in old Coptic Cairo.

22 Feb · 22 Oct

Abu Simbel solar event

The sun penetrates the corridor of the great temple and illuminates the statues of the inner sanctuary at dawn, calculated 3,300 years ago.

April

Sham el-Nessim

A spring festival with pharaonic roots, celebrated by Egyptians of all religions with picnics and painted eggs.

Feb-Mar

Ramadan

The Muslim month of fasting. The cities come alive at sunset with the iftar dinner and continue until dawn.

October

Mawlid of Tanta

The largest Sufi festival in Egypt, in Tanta. Processions, music and whirling dervishes with local accompaniment.

November

Cairo Film Festival

The oldest film festival in the Arab world (1976). Screenings, a red carpet, panels and film personalities.

October

El Gouna Film Festival

A young festival since 2017 with independent cinema from the Arab world and beyond, combined with a seaside holiday.

February

Hot Air Balloon Festival

One week a year in Luxor with formation flights and a night-time balloon show over the Valley of the Kings.

CocoVolare travelers

Testimonials from those who have already flown with us

Real client reviews, rotating automatically.

★ 5 verified testimonials

What those who have already flown say

Real stories from CocoVolare travelers in Egypt. Rotating every 6 seconds. Pause on hover.

4.9out of 5 · rating
98%would recommend
★★★★★

We arrived at the pyramids before they opened to the public. There was no one. Only the wind, the dust and the light rising from the east above Cheops. Five years later I still cannot find the words.

M

Mariana Restrepo · Bogotá

Honeymoon · 10 nights

Trip: Cairo, a private dahabiya and Luxor

★★★★★

I thought I knew what to expect from Egypt. I had read everything. And then the guide opened a tomb closed to the public in the Valley of the Nobles and I understood that the trip was not what I had read. It was what CocoVolare had imagined for us.

J

Javier Mendoza · Mexico City

Trip as a couple · 12 nights

Trip: Cairo, Siwa, Aswan and Luxor

★★★★★

The Old Cataract at sunset, a felucca passing slowly, hibiscus tea in hand. My wife looked at me and said: this is what we were going to look for in the Maldives. It was here.

A

Andrés Lozano · Medellín

Extended honeymoon · 14 nights

Trip: Cairo, the Nile and Sinai

★★★★★

I traveled alone and never felt alone. The Egyptologist, the driver, the dahabiya team, even the concierge at Mena House, they all knew my name by the third day. CocoVolare builds a network you do not see but that holds everything up.

C

Carolina Vidal · Madrid

Solo trip · 9 nights

Trip: Cairo, Luxor and Aswan

★★★★★

My children are 12 and 15. I thought they would get bored at the second temple. The Egyptologist told them the story of Hatshepsut as if it were Netflix, and by the fourth day they were the ones asking for more Karnak. I did not expect it.

L

Lucía Fernández-Salas · Madrid

Egypt as a family · 11 nights

Trip: Cairo, Luxor and the Red Sea

Questions

Questions we do want to answer

No unnecessary disclaimers, no inflated marketing. This is what Egypt travelers ask us most.

Do I need a visa to enter Egypt?
Yes. Most Latin American passports and the Spanish one require a tourist visa. It is obtained online at visa2egypt.gov.eg at least seven days in advance, or on arrival at Cairo airport. Cost 25 USD, valid for 30 days, passport valid for at least 6 months.
Is it safe to travel to Egypt in 2026?
Yes, on the usual tourist routes: Cairo, Giza, Luxor, Aswan, Hurghada, El Gouna, Sharm el-Sheikh, Dahab and Alexandria. Areas to avoid: northern Sinai, the border with Libya and the western desert without an authorized operator.
How should I dress in Egypt?
In urban areas, shoulders and knees covered for both sexes. In mosques, women cover their hair (a scarf is provided). In resorts and tourist areas there is complete freedom. Light cotton or linen clothing, long sleeves for sun and mosques.
What currency is used in Egypt?
The Egyptian pound (EGP). Reference exchange rate 48-53 EGP per USD. Hotels and agencies quote in USD or EUR. Bring new USD bills in denominations of 20, 50 and 100 (issued after 2009).
What is the best time to travel to Egypt?
From October to April. November and March offer the best balance between weather and absence of crowding. December and January are the peak months with the highest prices. Avoid July and August: the heat in Luxor and Aswan exceeds 42 degrees.
What scams should I avoid?
Taxis without a meter (use Uber), street money changers with counterfeit bills, drivers who offer to take you to shops with commissions of 30-40%, and fake guides at the pyramids. Book everything through your boutique hotel.
Is street food safe?
Yes, with judgment. Choose stalls with high turnover, food cooked to order, avoid raw salads and always drink bottled water. For the first two days it is wise to be conservative.
Can I drink the tap water?
No. Always drink bottled water, even for brushing your teeth in three-star hotels or Nile cruises. In urban five-star hotels it improves, but the recommendation stands.
Is Spanish or English spoken in Egypt?
English is spoken well in hotels, by guides and in tourist restaurants. Spanish is rare but growing among guides specializing in the Latin market. Learning ten words of Arabic changes how you are treated.
What is internal transport like?
Domestic EgyptAir flights for long distances (Cairo-Luxor 1 hour). The Watania night train with a private cabin. Uber and Careem in Cairo and Alexandria. A car with a driver is the CocoVolare standard.
Can I take photos at archaeological sites?
Yes in general, with a surcharge in some premium tombs. Do not photograph people, especially women, without asking permission. In mosques, do not photograph people praying.
How much should I tip?
The baksheesh system is structural. Budget 8-12% of the total. An Egyptologist guide 200-400 EGP per person/day, a driver 100-200 EGP, a cruise crew 10-15 USD per person/night.
Is it very hot in Egypt?
It depends on the month and the region. From October to April the weather is pleasant (18-28°C in Cairo). From June to August the south exceeds 45°C at midday. The Red Sea stays warm all year.
Is it safe for a woman to travel alone?
Yes, with precautions. Conservative clothing, transport by Uber or private driver, accommodation in boutique hotels. Travelling with a private guide almost completely neutralizes verbal harassment.
Can you travel to Egypt during Ramadan?
Yes. Archaeological sites remain open and tourist restaurants serve as usual. Urban life speeds up at night, which adds character. Avoid eating and drinking in public during the day out of respect.
Is it worth paying for a private Egyptologist?
Yes, without question. The difference between an improvised guide and an Egyptologist certified by the Ministry of Antiquities is the difference between seeing stones and understanding a civilization.
How many days do you recommend for a first trip?
A minimum of 5 nights for Cairo and Luxor. Ideal: 7-10 nights to add the private dahabiya on the Nile. Extended: 14 nights to include the Red Sea, Sinai or the Siwa oasis.

Your Egypt, without molds

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★★★★★ 4.9 · 287 reviews
"I traveled alone and never felt alone. CocoVolare builds a network you do not see but that holds everything up."· Carolina Vidal · Madrid