Egypt Tours FAQ
How does the booking process work?
Once you contact us, your tour designer will listen carefully and be attentive to your demands, and will work with you to create an itinerary that suits your needs and budget. If there are any modifications to be implemented, our tour designers will implement such changes, and once you approve the program and confirm your dates, we will book the accommodations. At this point we require a 50% non-refundable deposit to hold the accommodation and services required. The balance of the total amount will be upon your arrival to Egypt via Cash. Fully detailed final travel documents and vouchers will forward to you upon your arrival. All the necessary contact information will be clearly identified in your booklet.
Can I change an option on one of your suggested private tours?
Yes you can! These tours are suggestions that can be altered and customized to your wishes. We will work with you on a variety of options until such time that the tours are fine tuned to your satisfaction.
Are your tour programs including airport transfers?
All our tour programs include door to door transfers! Our unique tour program has all round transfers included with the tour price. We provide a fleet of air conditioned buses, mini-buses, vans, and private limousines which are well maintained, clean and provide a comfortable means of transportation for our clients throughout their stay in Egypt.
In major airport, our staff is available, and will meet you upon arrival, and arrange for all special arrangements for our groups departing on domestic and international flights. In Cairo, the Middle East's busiest airport, wherever possible, we are able to bypass queues and crowds and help our guests through arrival formalities with relative ease and speed.
How about health in Egypt?
In Egypt, everything is quite safe, except sometimes the tap water, which you may choose not to drink as the water in Egypt is highly chlorinated. The fact is that we have no malaria in Egypt. We haven't had a malaria case in the last decades. Some travelers use Malaria tablets during their stay and don't realize that one of the many side-effects of the tablets is simply diarrhea!! That it is, in turn, unnecessary, and it spoils their whole holiday. However, it is always a good idea to bring mosquitoes repellent for open-air night events, just to minimize the annoyance factor.
Anyway, we would advise you to bring a supply of any medicines that you take regularly and bring the prescription too. But feel safe in the knowledge that in the unlikely event of serious trouble, your hotel or cruise boat staff will find and provide a doctor for you instantly.
Is Egypt safe?
Egypt is a fantastic place to visit, there is no need to worry, a trip to Egypt still entails far less danger than a trip to anywhere else in the world
Do you accept credit card?
We prefer bank transfers for your tour deposit. It is much safer for you and your credit card information. We put high importance on protecting the privacy of our clients.
Does the tour include travel insurance, or should I get one before I leave?
We recommend that you get your own travel insurance before you leave your country of residence. Travel insurance Policies are available to cover loss or damage to luggage, medical emergencies that your regular insurance might not cover when you are overseas, travel interruption, trip cancellation and unforeseen expenses if you have to cancel your trip.
What is the best time to visit Egypt?
Peak travel season in Egypt runs from mid October to May. After May for the rest of the year it is fairly hot, especially at Luxor and further south, yet the best thing about the heat, is that is a dry heat. On the other hand there is plenty of room everywhere at this time of the year. Although certain Cairo hotels fill up with Arab visitors at summer rather than put up with a hotter weather their countries. Advance bookings are rarely required and a variety of discounts are offered as incentives to brave the heat.
Do your tour programs go all year around?
Yes.
Am I going to join a big group or is it a private tour?
All our tours are privately organized for our clients.
Are your tourist guides licensed?
All our tourist guides are of the highest caliber in their Profession, and are certified in Egyptology. They have many years of experience providing interesting and informative assistance to all of our clients on our tours whether they are accompanying a complete group or an individual traveler.
Do you arrange family trips?
Yes, we arrange tailored made tours specially designed to suit families.
Do you give discount for frequent tourists?
We value our clients, so we give a 10 % discount for our repeated customers.
Can you tell me the schedule for the boats that travel between Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh? Do they need to be booked in advance?
The boat goes every Saturday and Tuesday . It costs about 30$ Per/Person, and it takes 1.30 hour; and, you need to book in advance.
Can you tell me how much money (in Egyptian Pounds) I am allowed to bring into Egypt?
It is not allowed for visitors to bring more than 1000EGP (Egyptian currency notes). The limit is 1000EGP in cash. That rule was put to decrease inflation and bring more hard currency. However, there are no limits of how much you can bring in dollars, or in any other foreign currency.
What does the tour price include?
The tour price includes the services mentioned in every tour page. You can also check the "services" section to have more idea about the services. The tour price covers mainly accommodation, transportation, guide service, breakfasts, sightseeing activities and some other inclusions depending on your itinerary (i.e. ferry transportation, gulet, felucca or Nile cruise etc). The tour price consists of two payments : tour cost and the local payment. Please view the third question/reply for the details of the local payment.
What is the local payment for ?
We know that it's not easy to get your cash together to cover the entire travel costs, especially when you book your flight ticket and the tour at once. We aim to ease your cash needs by dividing the tour cost into two payments : tour price and local payment. The amount of the local payment (£ 90) is clearly stated at the bottom of every "departure dates & rates" page of the related tour. You just need to pay the tour price to purchase your travel. The local payment will be paid when you join the trip. The local payment is a part of the tour price and also covers the services mentioned in the "what you get" section. Local payment has to be paid on arrival day of the tour and it does not cover any other services like meals, entry fees, tips, personal expenses or others not stated in the "what you get" section.
What is the age of people traveling with you?
Most of our passengers (they call themselves "Kenouz Tours Toursers") tend to be between 25 and 40 on our trips. However as long as you think that you can cope with the group, we can accept you even if you are out of this age bracket.
I'm a single traveller. Do I need to pay single supplement?
There are always single travellers in our tours. If you don't mind sharing your room with another single traveller of the same sex, we can match you up during the tour whereas pre-post accommodation needs to be in single room.
Do I need any vaccinations?
Please consult your travel agent or doctor to find out which vaccinations are required. If you suffer from any form of illness, be sure to have an adequate supply of medicines before departing on your trip.
Do I need to get my visa beforehand or can I get on arrival at the airport?
Some nationalities need to get their visa beforehand whereas some nationalities can obtain on arrival at the airport. Detailed information is available in pre-departure file of the relevant destination. You are responsible for obtaining all necessary visas prior to the departure of your trip. Please consult your travel agent or visa service well in advance to determine which visas you will require and how to obtain them. Failure to obtain all necessary visas could coast you to miss your trip and will result in considerable expense and inconvenience. Please also remember that on some tours you'll need multiple visas to enter the same country twice.
What are the optional extras?
Please check pre-departure file of the destination you are travelling to, where you will find detailed information. Please also check our "booking conditions" section for the details of the services which are not included in the tour price.
Is it safe to book online through your website, and how we pay for the tour?
Yes, it is absolutely safe, especially you don't have to pay online & give your very personal details, such as your credit card information, unlike other companies, we are not charging any payment in advance, full payment will be upon your arrival to Egypt. As we don't charge local payment or additional VAT charges, as simply we are located in Cairo, and the European overpricing taxes doesn't apply on your tours.
What other nationalities will be on the trip with me?
More than 90 travel agents around the world sell Kenouz Tours Tours. It is therefore typical to expect different nationalities on any trip i.e. Australians, New Zealanders, British, Americans, Canadians, Koreans and European citizens.
I'm arriving in the evening/at night. Will I be still picked up from the airport?
The airport pick-up & drop off are included in all our tours, you will be picked up from airport no matter what time you arrive (by a Kenouz Tours Tours rep holding a Kenouz Tours Tours sign).
How many people do you take on your overland trips?
On most of Kenouz Tours Tours we have a maximum number of groups up to 16 peoples, in case the group exceed that number we make of the extra number a new group to avoid crowds. Also in the small group you easily get to know everyone traveling with you, and will have enough space to ask & get answered by our Egyptologist tour guide.
How long beforehand should I book?
We recommend you to book at least 2 weeks before departure, but we always have space for last minute booking except in peak periods (Christmas, New Year, Easter and Anzac).
What is the rest of the group like on your trips?
Our tour groups are made up of mainly British, Australians and New Zealanders predominantly in their 20's & 30's. Some are on gap year travel and some are older. In Egypt it is normal to have a fairly even mix of sexes, however, on our Kenouz Tours Tours tour the mix is biased slightly toward females. Expect about half the group to have booked our tours on their own and the rest with a friend or in couples.
Why is Kenouz Tours Tours such good value compared to other operators?
We rely mainly on direct sales and we do not count on sub agents in Europe. Our office is located in Egypt therefore avoiding unnecessary premises and high rental costs of Europe offices. By being small we also avoid extra staff such as operations manager, marketing manager etc.
What about visas?
Generally speaking the majority of nationalities (British, New Zealand and Australians) require visas for Egypt. However these are obtainable at the airport, so there is no need for you to get them before you leave. Our Pre Departure Dossier which you will receive upon reserving your package tour will give you more up to date information regarding visas and the costs for each nationality along with a lot more general information.
How much spending money should I bring?
Again this is a bit difficult to accurately say, but generally on most of our tours we recommend between GBP7 - GBP10 /day. (Our Felucca adventures are significantly less). It depends on the individual and how much you want to eat out in restaurants, drink etc. This amount is separate to the costs of the optional excursions on offer.
Do I need insurance for Egypt holiday?
That is recommended to have travel insurance, but Egypt is safe compared to other Middle East & African countries. Also the medical services are cheap compare to the travel insurance costs which are sometimes extremely expensive in Europe.
What accommodation is provided?
We use top listed 3 star hotels in Cairo and Aswan but 4 star in Luxor &.
How much time do we spend on transportations between cities, and how is it like?
The trains that we book are always 1st class air-condition, large comfortable recliner seat trains equipped with toilets, The train takes 12 hours between Cairo and Aswan, 9 hours between Luxor & Cairo, 3 hours between Aswan & Luxor all are overnight trains. The coaches are comfortable Pullman air-conditioned equipped with toilets, the bus takes 8:30 hours between Cairo & Dahab.
Is there somewhere for my money and valuables during my trip to Egypt?
Yes, all our hotels & cruises have a safe boxes where we recommend that you leave your monies, passport and valuables etc.
Which are your favorite trips?
It's a question we get asked a lot. which one would you do if you had the choice? The answer is not simple. We truly believe that all of our itineraries are exceptional, and each one is designed to fit different people's needs. It's all dependent on how much time you have, which activities you like, and most importantly where you want to travel!
How far in advance do I need to book?
There is no guarantee as to when other people will book and hence when the tour will fill up. Our advice is that as soon as you know which one you want to book, don't delay - put your name down as soon as possible, that way you won't be disappointed. However, we can usually take bookings for most of our tours right up until the departure date if there are spaces left, so have a look at the availability, and if there’s still space we’ll gladly take your booking.
Can I just do part of the tour?
Some of the longer tours are made up of smaller tours completed back to back, and hence might be possible to book separately. You can book part of our tours, as we will send you the possible amendment whenever needed, as well as the price for the part you want to book.
Why are the prices of Kenouz Tours Tours so affordable?
Kenouz Tours Tours is a customer oriented company. The pricing policy is based on the profit of both parties : Kenouz Tours and the customer. While the other tour operators sell their tours with higher profit ranges, Kenouz Tours aims to serve more people with less profit ranges and to get the same profit amount at the end of the day. Kenouz Tours also uses effective cost control systems and keeps the administration and operation expenses as low as possible while increasing the standard of the services.
Are your tour programs including airport transfers?
All our tour programs include door to door transfers! Our unique tour program has all round transfers included with the tour price. We provide a fleet of air conditioned buses, mini-buses, vans, and private limousines which are well maintained, clean and provide a comfortable means of transportation for our clients throughout their stay in Egypt.
In major airport, our staff is available, and will meet you upon arrival, and arrange for all special arrangements for our groups departing on domestic and international flights. In Cairo, the Middle East's busiest airport, wherever possible, we are able to bypass queues and crowds and help our guests through arrival formalities with relative ease and speed.
How about health in Egypt?
In Egypt, everything is quite safe, except sometimes the tap water, which you may choose not to drink as the water in Egypt is highly chlorinated. The fact is that we have no malaria in Egypt. We haven't had a malaria case in the last decades. Some travelers use Malaria tablets during their stay and don't realize that one of the many side-effects of the tablets is simply diarrhea!! That it is, in turn, unnecessary, and it spoils their whole holiday. However, it is always a good idea to bring mosquitoes repellent for open-air night events, just to minimize the annoyance factor.
Anyway, we would advise you to bring a supply of any medicines that you take regularly and bring the prescription too. But feel safe in the knowledge that in the unlikely event of serious trouble, your hotel or cruise boat staff will find and provide a doctor for you instantly.
Is Egypt safe?
Egypt is a fantastic place to visit, there is no need to worry, a trip to Egypt still entails far less danger than a trip to anywhere else in the world
Do you accept credit card?
We prefer bank transfers for your tour deposit. It is much safer for you and your credit card information. We put high importance on protecting the privacy of our clients.
Does the tour include travel insurance, or should I get one before I leave?
We recommend that you get your own travel insurance before you leave your country of residence. Travel insurance Policies are available to cover loss or damage to luggage, medical emergencies that your regular insurance might not cover when you are overseas, travel interruption, trip cancellation and unforeseen expenses if you have to cancel your trip.
What is the best time to visit Egypt?
Peak travel season in Egypt runs from mid October to May. After May for the rest of the year it is fairly hot, especially at Luxor and further south, yet the best thing about the heat, is that is a dry heat. On the other hand there is plenty of room everywhere at this time of the year. Although certain Cairo hotels fill up with Arab visitors at summer rather than put up with a hotter weather their countries. Advance bookings are rarely required and a variety of discounts are offered as incentives to brave the heat.
Do your tour programs go all year around?
Yes.
Am I going to join a big group or is it a private tour?
All our tours are privately organized for our clients.
Are your tourist guides licensed?
All our tourist guides are of the highest caliber in their Profession, and are certified in Egyptology. They have many years of experience providing interesting and informative assistance to all of our clients on our tours whether they are accompanying a complete group or an individual traveler.
Do you arrange family trips?
Yes, we arrange tailored made tours specially designed to suit families.
Do you give discount for frequent tourists?
We value our clients, so we give a 10 % discount for our repeated customers.
Can you tell me the schedule for the boats that travel between Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh? Do they need to be booked in advance?
The boat goes every Saturday and Tuesday . It costs about 30$ Per/Person, and it takes 1.30 hour; and, you need to book in advance.
Can you tell me how much money (in Egyptian Pounds) I am allowed to bring into Egypt?
It is not allowed for visitors to bring more than 1000EGP (Egyptian currency notes). The limit is 1000EGP in cash. That rule was put to decrease inflation and bring more hard currency. However, there are no limits of how much you can bring in dollars, or in any other foreign currency.
What does the tour price include?
The tour price includes the services mentioned in every tour page. You can also check the "services" section to have more idea about the services. The tour price covers mainly accommodation, transportation, guide service, breakfasts, sightseeing activities and some other inclusions depending on your itinerary (i.e. ferry transportation, gulet, felucca or Nile cruise etc). The tour price consists of two payments : tour cost and the local payment. Please view the third question/reply for the details of the local payment.
What is the local payment for ?
We know that it's not easy to get your cash together to cover the entire travel costs, especially when you book your flight ticket and the tour at once. We aim to ease your cash needs by dividing the tour cost into two payments : tour price and local payment. The amount of the local payment (£ 90) is clearly stated at the bottom of every "departure dates & rates" page of the related tour. You just need to pay the tour price to purchase your travel. The local payment will be paid when you join the trip. The local payment is a part of the tour price and also covers the services mentioned in the "what you get" section. Local payment has to be paid on arrival day of the tour and it does not cover any other services like meals, entry fees, tips, personal expenses or others not stated in the "what you get" section.
What is the age of people traveling with you?
Most of our passengers (they call themselves "Kenouz Tours Toursers") tend to be between 25 and 40 on our trips. However as long as you think that you can cope with the group, we can accept you even if you are out of this age bracket.
I'm a single traveller. Do I need to pay single supplement?
There are always single travellers in our tours. If you don't mind sharing your room with another single traveller of the same sex, we can match you up during the tour whereas pre-post accommodation needs to be in single room.
Do I need any vaccinations?
Please consult your travel agent or doctor to find out which vaccinations are required. If you suffer from any form of illness, be sure to have an adequate supply of medicines before departing on your trip.
Do I need to get my visa beforehand or can I get on arrival at the airport?
Some nationalities need to get their visa beforehand whereas some nationalities can obtain on arrival at the airport. Detailed information is available in pre-departure file of the relevant destination. You are responsible for obtaining all necessary visas prior to the departure of your trip. Please consult your travel agent or visa service well in advance to determine which visas you will require and how to obtain them. Failure to obtain all necessary visas could coast you to miss your trip and will result in considerable expense and inconvenience. Please also remember that on some tours you'll need multiple visas to enter the same country twice.
What are the optional extras?
Please check pre-departure file of the destination you are travelling to, where you will find detailed information. Please also check our "booking conditions" section for the details of the services which are not included in the tour price.
Is it safe to book online through your website, and how we pay for the tour?
Yes, it is absolutely safe, especially you don't have to pay online & give your very personal details, such as your credit card information, unlike other companies, we are not charging any payment in advance, full payment will be upon your arrival to Egypt. As we don't charge local payment or additional VAT charges, as simply we are located in Cairo, and the European overpricing taxes doesn't apply on your tours.
What other nationalities will be on the trip with me?
More than 90 travel agents around the world sell Kenouz Tours Tours. It is therefore typical to expect different nationalities on any trip i.e. Australians, New Zealanders, British, Americans, Canadians, Koreans and European citizens.
I'm arriving in the evening/at night. Will I be still picked up from the airport?
The airport pick-up & drop off are included in all our tours, you will be picked up from airport no matter what time you arrive (by a Kenouz Tours Tours rep holding a Kenouz Tours Tours sign).
How many people do you take on your overland trips?
On most of Kenouz Tours Tours we have a maximum number of groups up to 16 peoples, in case the group exceed that number we make of the extra number a new group to avoid crowds. Also in the small group you easily get to know everyone traveling with you, and will have enough space to ask & get answered by our Egyptologist tour guide.
How long beforehand should I book?
We recommend you to book at least 2 weeks before departure, but we always have space for last minute booking except in peak periods (Christmas, New Year, Easter and Anzac).
What is the rest of the group like on your trips?
Our tour groups are made up of mainly British, Australians and New Zealanders predominantly in their 20's & 30's. Some are on gap year travel and some are older. In Egypt it is normal to have a fairly even mix of sexes, however, on our Kenouz Tours Tours tour the mix is biased slightly toward females. Expect about half the group to have booked our tours on their own and the rest with a friend or in couples.
Why is Kenouz Tours Tours such good value compared to other operators?
We rely mainly on direct sales and we do not count on sub agents in Europe. Our office is located in Egypt therefore avoiding unnecessary premises and high rental costs of Europe offices. By being small we also avoid extra staff such as operations manager, marketing manager etc.
What about visas?
Generally speaking the majority of nationalities (British, New Zealand and Australians) require visas for Egypt. However these are obtainable at the airport, so there is no need for you to get them before you leave. Our Pre Departure Dossier which you will receive upon reserving your package tour will give you more up to date information regarding visas and the costs for each nationality along with a lot more general information.
How much spending money should I bring?
Again this is a bit difficult to accurately say, but generally on most of our tours we recommend between GBP7 - GBP10 /day. (Our Felucca adventures are significantly less). It depends on the individual and how much you want to eat out in restaurants, drink etc. This amount is separate to the costs of the optional excursions on offer.
Do I need insurance for Egypt holiday?
That is recommended to have travel insurance, but Egypt is safe compared to other Middle East & African countries. Also the medical services are cheap compare to the travel insurance costs which are sometimes extremely expensive in Europe.
What accommodation is provided?
We use top listed 3 star hotels in Cairo and Aswan but 4 star in Luxor &.
How much time do we spend on transportations between cities, and how is it like?
The trains that we book are always 1st class air-condition, large comfortable recliner seat trains equipped with toilets, The train takes 12 hours between Cairo and Aswan, 9 hours between Luxor & Cairo, 3 hours between Aswan & Luxor all are overnight trains. The coaches are comfortable Pullman air-conditioned equipped with toilets, the bus takes 8:30 hours between Cairo & Dahab.
Is there somewhere for my money and valuables during my trip to Egypt?
Yes, all our hotels & cruises have a safe boxes where we recommend that you leave your monies, passport and valuables etc.
Which are your favorite trips?
It's a question we get asked a lot. which one would you do if you had the choice? The answer is not simple. We truly believe that all of our itineraries are exceptional, and each one is designed to fit different people's needs. It's all dependent on how much time you have, which activities you like, and most importantly where you want to travel!
How far in advance do I need to book?
There is no guarantee as to when other people will book and hence when the tour will fill up. Our advice is that as soon as you know which one you want to book, don't delay - put your name down as soon as possible, that way you won't be disappointed. However, we can usually take bookings for most of our tours right up until the departure date if there are spaces left, so have a look at the availability, and if there’s still space we’ll gladly take your booking.
Can I just do part of the tour?
Some of the longer tours are made up of smaller tours completed back to back, and hence might be possible to book separately. You can book part of our tours, as we will send you the possible amendment whenever needed, as well as the price for the part you want to book.
Why are the prices of Kenouz Tours Tours so affordable?
Kenouz Tours Tours is a customer oriented company. The pricing policy is based on the profit of both parties : Kenouz Tours and the customer. While the other tour operators sell their tours with higher profit ranges, Kenouz Tours aims to serve more people with less profit ranges and to get the same profit amount at the end of the day. Kenouz Tours also uses effective cost control systems and keeps the administration and operation expenses as low as possible while increasing the standard of the services.
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