Most people book a beach week in Hurghada and then realize, somewhere around day three, that the Pyramids are a day trip away. This guide is about planning the whole thing properly from the start.

When to go

  • October–November and March–April — the best months. Warm, comfortable, sea still swimmable, sites bearable at midday.
  • December–February — pleasant days, cool nights, and the cheapest prices. Bring a jacket; the evenings surprise people.
  • May, June, September — hot but workable, particularly on the coast.
  • July–August — severe inland. Cairo and Luxor day trips are hard work. The sea, the aquarium and the semi-submarines are your friends.

How long to stay

A week is the practical minimum for the Red Sea plus one long excursion. Ten days lets you combine the coast with both Cairo and Luxor without spending the whole holiday in a vehicle. Two weeks allows a Nile cruise as well.

Entry requirements

Most nationalities need a visa, available on arrival or online in advance, and a passport valid for at least six months. Requirements change — check your own government's current advice rather than a blog post, and note that some Sinai-only arrangements do not cover mainland Egypt.

Building the itinerary

A structure that works for a week:

  • Day 1 — arrive, do nothing. Jet lag and sun are a bad combination.
  • Day 2 — an island day. It sets the tone for the trip.
  • Day 3 — something in the water: diving, snorkeling or the submarine.
  • Day 4 — the long one. Cairo or the Grand Egyptian Museum. Start early, finish late.
  • Day 5 — recover. Beach, pool, the aquarium if it is hot.
  • Day 6 — the desert safari, which runs from mid-afternoon into the night.
  • Day 7 — the city, the markets, and packing.

Note what is missing: two long excursions back to back. It is the most common planning mistake and it exhausts people.

Budget

Egypt is inexpensive by European standards. Excursions from Hurghada run from around $10 for a semi-submarine trip to $280 for the day crossing to Petra. Food ranges from a couple of dollars for koshari in El Dahar to a full seafood dinner at the marina for a fraction of what it would cost at home. Budget separately for tips, entry fees at the islands, and the $3 national park fee on some dive trips.

Booking trips: what to ask

Wherever you book, get these in writing:

  • What exactly is included — transfers, lunch, equipment, guide, entry fees.
  • What is not included, and what it will cost on the day.
  • Whether transfers cover your specific hotel, and the supplement if not.
  • Total price per person, not "from" price.

Street and lobby sellers are not all bad, but they are not all accountable either. A written confirmation is your protection.

Practical rules that save trips

  • No flying within 24 hours of diving. Schedule diving early in the trip.
  • Book balloon flights early in your stay — they are cancelled for wind and you want a second chance.
  • Bottled water only, and check the seal.
  • Cover shoulders and knees away from the resort. It is courtesy, and it changes how you are treated.
  • Carry small notes for tips, taxis and markets.

Tell us your dates and what you want out of the week, and we will put a plan together on WhatsApp — free, and with no obligation to book anything with us.