Private holidays · Ministry-licensed local guides · for South African travellers
Private, Tailor-Made Egypt Holidays for South African Travellers
Same continent, a whole other world — a direct hop up Africa to the Pyramids and the Nile. Tailor-made holidays with Ministry-licensed local guides, priced in rand, timed around the December–January break and the school holidays.
60+Verified reviews
100%Private & tailor-made
FreeCustom itinerary
24/7
Cairo support team
Most booked by South African travellers
Handcrafted local holidays
Six expertly designed journeys — 5 to 12 days, led by a licensed local guide and fully tailorable to your dates and group. Prices shown in rand.
5 Days · Cairo
Cairo Local Tour — Pyramids, GEM & Islamic Cairo
📍 Giza Pyramids · GEM · Islamic Cairo
From
$560/pp
⭐ Most popular
7 Days · Best value
Budget Egypt — 7 Days Cairo & Nile Cruise
📍 Cairo · Luxor · Aswan · Nile cruise
From
$1,500/pp
⭐ Editor's pick
Best of Egypt — Cairo, Cruise & Abu Simbel
📍 Cairo · Nile cruise · Abu Simbel
From
$1,700/pp
10 Days · Premium
12 Days · Complete
Complete Egypt — Cairo, Cruise & Hurghada
📍 Cairo · Nile cruise · Hurghada
From
$2,000/pp
Ways to travel
Find the trip that fits your kind of travel
Every tour is private and tailor-made — start from the style that suits you and we'll shape the rest around your group.
Best value
Budget & value tours
Big highlights, smart pricing — without cutting the experience.
Explore budget tours →
For all ages
Family tours
Paced for kids and grandparents alike, with guides who love teaching.
Explore family tours →
Just the two of you
Honeymoon & couples
Felucca sunsets, private dinners, and unforgettable romantic moments.
Explore honeymoons →
Five-star
Luxury & 5-star
The finest hotels, luxury cruisers, and seamless white-glove service.
Explore luxury tours →
On the water
Nile cruises
Sail Luxor to Aswan — temples by day, the river drifting past by night.
Explore cruises →
Built for you
Fully custom trip
None quite right? Tell us your dream — we build it from scratch, free.
Design my trip →Why travelers choose local
Why South African travellers choose local
Every operator can show you the Pyramids. Very few can help you understand them. The difference begins with who leads your tour.
Licensed local guides
Every guide is licensed by Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities — born here, based here, and guiding year-round. Not international tour leaders passing through.
Fully private, your pace
No strangers, no fixed schedule. Your tour belongs entirely to your group. Start when you like, linger where you're moved, adapt on the fly — at no extra cost.
Free tailored planning
We don't sell rigid packages. Tell us your dates, interests, and budget — we build a personal day-by-day plan within 24 hours, revised as many times as you need.
24/7 Cairo support team
From landing to departure, our Cairo-based team is reachable by phone and WhatsApp. Real local people who know every driver, hotel, and contingency plan.
Transparent pricing
All monument entrance fees in your itinerary are included — no surprises at the gate. 30% deposit holds your booking; full refund up to 45 days before travel.
Operated by Egypt Planners
A licensed Egyptian tour operator (Reg #256841) based in Giza. A real, registered company on the ground — not a faceless booking platform.
Booked with confidence
Every private tour includes
Real guarantees, not fine print — the things that make a local-run trip feel effortless.
Licensed local guides
Officially licensed — and Egyptian.
Fully private
Your group only — never a shared coach.
Entrance fees included
No tickets to sort out on the day.
Free custom itinerary
A tailored plan within 24 hours.
Free cancellation
Change your plans up to 45 days out.
Where we'll take you
From Cairo to Abu Simbel
Every destination deserves a guide who knows it intimately — from the alleys of Islamic Cairo to the sunrise light at Abu Simbel.
Cairo · Giza
Cairo & the Pyramids
The last standing Wonder of the Ancient World, the Grand Egyptian Museum, Islamic Cairo and Saqqara's Step Pyramid.
Explore Cairo tours →
60+
★★★★★
Verified reviews across Google & TripAdvisor — for tours operated by Egypt Planners.
🇬 Google
🦉 TripAdvisor
Read Egypt Planners reviews on TripAdvisor →
Traveler stories
What South African travellers say about travelling local
Genuine reviews from real travelers on our multi-day tours and Nile cruises. Egypt Tours by Locals is operated by Egypt Planners — specialists in complete Egypt travel packages, not just day trips.
★★★★★
"Our guide didn't just show us the Pyramids — she made us feel what it meant to build them. The private morning at the Grand Egyptian Museum with no crowds was extraordinary. A truly local experience, not a tourist conveyor belt."
SL
Sarah & James L.
★★★★★
"Our consultant knew every guard, every way around the crowds, and told us stories not in any guidebook. We've done tours in 30 countries. This was the most engaged we've ever been."
JT
James & Rebecca T.
★★★★★
"They designed our entire 12-day itinerary personally, then guided us through every day. As history enthusiasts we had very specific requests — they exceeded every one. Their knowledge of Nubian culture in Aswan was extraordinary."
LH
Linda & Mark H.
Good to know before you go
Egypt holidays from South Africa — questions & tips
The questions South African travellers ask us most — answered by our Cairo team.
How much does an Egypt holiday from South Africa cost?
Our land packages run from around R10,500 for a 5-day Cairo short break to roughly R38,000 for a 10-day luxury trip, per person — including licensed guides, entrance fees, hotels, daily breakfast and all listed domestic flights. International flights are separate. See the full range on our Egypt tours from South Africa.
Do South African citizens need a visa for Egypt?
Yes — South African passport holders need a tourist visa. The simplest route is the $25 e-Visa applied for online before you travel; keep your passport valid for at least six months. We send a step-by-step guide once your dates are set.
How long is the flight from South Africa to Egypt?
About 8 hours non-stop from Johannesburg (JNB) to Cairo with EgyptAir. From Cape Town and Durban, most routes connect once through Johannesburg or a Gulf hub.
When is the best time to travel from South Africa?
October to April gives the most comfortable sightseeing weather in Egypt. The December–January summer break and the Easter and mid-year school holidays are the busiest South African windows, so book early for those dates.
Start planning — it's free
Your Egypt holiday is one message away
Tell us your dates, group size and interests — we'll send a complete tailor-made itinerary with full pricing in rand within 24 hours. No obligation, completely free.
🔒 30% deposit to reserve · Free cancellation up to 45 days before travel