Private, escorted & small-group Egypt tours designed for American travelers — from New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and beyond. Certified Egyptologist guides. Transparent USD pricing. No hidden costs.
Planning an Egypt trip from the USA means navigating long flights, time zones, visa requirements, and a completely different world at arrival. At Egypt Tours by Locals, we specialize in making that transition effortless — from the moment you land at Cairo International Airport to your last view of the Nile before you fly home.
Our team of Cairo-based Egyptologists and licensed travel specialists have been designing Egypt itineraries for American travelers since 2012. We know the timing that works best with US flight connections. We know the Egypt e-Visa system inside out. We know which hotels in Cairo work for US guests battling jet lag on day one.
Since 2012, we've guided over 1,200 American tour groups from 32 US states through Egypt — with a consistent 4.9/5 average rating and a 100% satisfaction guarantee on every package.
14+
Years operating
1,200+
US tour groups
4.9★
Average rating
247
US reviews
"American travelers arrive with high expectations — and ancient Egypt always surpasses them. My goal is to make sure you leave not just having seen the monuments, but understanding them on a level most visitors never reach."
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Magdy Fattouh
Senior Egypt Travel Specialist · Cairo University, History & Archaeology
12+ yrs experienceCairo University Graduate1,000+ tours designedUS traveler specialist
Six expertly designed itineraries — 5 to 12 days in Egypt, all priced as land packages (international flights not included). Every package is customizable to your travel dates, group size, and interests.
Perfect for Americans with limited vacation days. Five focused days in Cairo covering the Great Pyramids, Grand Egyptian Museum, and Old Cairo — ideal as a standalone trip or a stopover add-on.
Great Pyramids of Giza, Sphinx & Solar Boat Museum
Egypt's greatest hits in 6 days — ideal for Americans on a tight vacation window who refuse to compromise on the essentials. Covers Cairo, Upper Egypt, and a Nile cruise segment.
A full Nile cruise experience without the premium price tag. Seven days combining Cairo's ancient wonders with the living history of sailing south along the Nile. Exceptional value for US travelers.
Our most popular choice for American travelers. Eight days covering every legendary site — the Pyramids, Grand Egyptian Museum, Nile cruise, Valley of the Kings, and the awe-inspiring Abu Simbel temples.
Egypt at its finest. Five-star hotels throughout, a premium Nile cruise vessel with gourmet dining, and private Egyptologist guides who deliver museum-quality commentary at every ancient site.
The ultimate Egypt journey from the USA. Combine ancient history in Cairo and the Nile Valley with total relaxation at a luxury Hurghada Red Sea resort — the perfect two-week American vacation.
* All packages priced in USD as land-only — international flights from the USA not included.
Planning from the USA
How to Plan Your Egypt Trip from America
Everything Americans need to know before booking — flights, visas, time zones, and the best season to travel from the US.
US Departure City
Approximate Flight Time
Common Connections
Airlines
New York (JFK)
11–12 hrs direct / 14–16 hrs connecting
London, Frankfurt, Dubai
EgyptAir, British Airways, Lufthansa, Emirates
Los Angeles (LAX)
18–22 hrs (via connection)
London, Istanbul, Frankfurt, Dubai
Turkish Airlines, British Airways, Delta, Emirates
Chicago (ORD)
13–16 hrs (via connection)
London, Frankfurt, Istanbul
United, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines
Washington DC (IAD)
12–15 hrs (via connection)
London, Frankfurt, Doha
Qatar Airways, United, British Airways
Miami (MIA)
14–17 hrs (via connection)
London, Dubai, Doha
Emirates, Qatar Airways, British Airways
Houston (IAH)
15–18 hrs (via connection)
London, Frankfurt, Istanbul
United, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines
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Time Zone
Cairo is UTC+2 (UTC+3 in summer). New York is 7 hours behind Cairo; Los Angeles is 10 hours behind. We build gentle first-day itineraries specifically for US guests recovering from the long flight.
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Flight Cost Estimates
Round-trip flights from the USA to Cairo typically range from $750–$1,400 per person depending on booking window and departure city. Book 3–4 months ahead for the best fares from New York.
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All Packages Land-Only
Our Egypt packages are priced as land-only packages starting in Cairo. International flights from the USA are not included — giving you freedom to book the best transatlantic fares independently.
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Egypt e-Visa (Recommended)
Apply online at visa2egypt.gov.eg before departure. Cost: $25 USD. Processing: 3–5 business days. Valid 90 days from entry. We guide all guests through the process after booking.
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Visa on Arrival
Available at Cairo International Airport for US citizens. Cost: $25 USD cash. Single-entry tourist visa, valid 30 days. Note: US cards sometimes not accepted — bring USD cash as backup.
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What You'll Need
Valid US passport (6+ months remaining), return flight ticket, hotel booking or tour confirmation, and $25 USD. No vaccination certificates required for entry from the USA as of 2026.
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Our Visa Support
Every Egypt Tours by Locals guest receives a step-by-step US visa guide and a template hotel letter for your application after booking is confirmed.
🟢 Oct–Nov · Best Season
Temperatures 22–30°C (72–86°F). Comfortable for all sites. Perfect timing for US travelers on fall break. Book 3+ months ahead.
🔴 Dec–Jan · Peak US Season
Cooler — 15–22°C (59–72°F). Ideal weather but highest demand. Christmas and New Year departures sell out fast. Book 4–6 months ahead.
🟢 Feb–Apr · Spring Break Window
Excellent temperatures — 20–28°C (68–82°F). Spring Break is one of the most popular windows for American families visiting Egypt.
🟡 May · Shoulder Season
Warming quickly — 28–34°C (82–93°F). Fewer crowds and better prices, but midday can feel intense at open desert sites.
⚫ Jun–Aug · Not Recommended
Extremely hot — 38–45°C (100–113°F) at desert sites including the Pyramids and Abu Simbel. Summer travel to Egypt is not advised.
🟡 Sep · Late Summer
Still warm at 34–40°C (93–104°F) but improving. Fewer tourists, competitive prices. Manageable with early morning starts.
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Currency for US Travelers
Egypt's currency is the Egyptian Pound (EGP). USD is widely accepted at tourist sites and hotels. Bring $100–$200 USD in small bills for tips and market shopping.
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SIM Cards & Connectivity
Purchase a local Egyptian SIM card at Cairo Airport (Vodafone or Orange) for around $5–10 USD with 10GB data. Far cheaper than US international roaming.
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Dress Code
Egypt is a Muslim-majority country. Cover shoulders and knees when visiting mosques and religious sites. Loose, light-colored fabrics work best in the heat.
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Food & Water
Drink bottled water only — tap water is not safe for visitors. Bottled water is cheap and universally available. Egyptian food at 4–5-star hotels is safe for US travelers.
Fully Guided Options
Escorted Tours to Egypt from the USA
An escorted tour means a professional tour director or certified Egyptologist accompanies your group for the entire duration of your Egypt trip — from the Cairo airport welcome to your final departure. Every hotel, transport transfer, monument entry, and meal is pre-arranged and managed on your behalf.
Unlike a self-guided itinerary, escorted tours remove all logistical uncertainty from your Egypt experience. You never need to negotiate with taxi drivers, figure out which temple entrance to use, or wonder what you're looking at. Your Egyptologist guide handles everything — you simply absorb the experience.
At Egypt Tours by Locals, all our escorted group tours are kept to a maximum of 12 travelers — meaning you get the intimacy of a private tour with the social experience of a small group. Our US travelers consistently rate the escorted format as the best way to experience Egypt for the first time.
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Expert commentary at every site — certified Egyptologist, not a generic guide
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All logistics pre-managed — transfers, hotels, entries, domestic flights
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Maximum 12 travelers — small group for a personal experience
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24/7 local support — US-friendly communication, WhatsApp available
If this is your first time in Egypt, an escorted tour removes all guesswork. You'll understand every monument you visit — not just see it.
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American Families
Children stay engaged when guides bring pharaohs and mummies to life with expert storytelling. All logistics handled — parents can focus on the experience.
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Couples & Solo Travelers
Private escorted tours for two, or small-group tours where you'll meet like-minded travelers from the US, UK, and Australia.
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History & Culture Enthusiasts
For travelers who want depth — certified Egyptologists go far beyond surface-level facts into archaeology, mythology, and hieroglyphic translation.
Must-See Sites
Egypt's Greatest Wonders — Included in Every Tour
Every Egypt package from the USA covers these defining monuments. Here's what awaits you — and what our Egyptologist guides unlock at each site.
Cairo · All packages
Great Pyramids of Giza & the Sphinx
The last surviving wonder of the ancient world — and the image every American who visits Egypt carries home for life. Built over 4,500 years ago, the Giza complex includes the Great Pyramid of Khufu, the Pyramid of Khafre, and the Great Sphinx. Our guides explain the engineering mystery most textbooks still debate.
Giza · All packages
Grand Egyptian Museum — Tutankhamun's Treasures
The world's largest archaeological museum, opened on the doorstep of the Pyramids. Home to the complete Tutankhamun collection — over 5,000 artifacts including his solid gold funeral mask, golden throne, and the royal chariots. An experience no museum in the USA can replicate.
Luxor · 6-day packages+
Valley of the Kings — Luxor's Royal Tombs
Carved deep into the desert cliffs west of Luxor, the Valley holds the tombs of over 60 New Kingdom pharaohs — including Tutankhamun and Ramesses II. The painted murals inside are remarkably preserved after 3,000+ years. Each tomb tells a different story from the Book of the Dead.
Luxor · 6-day packages+
Karnak Temple — The World's Largest Religious Site
Covering 2.5 square kilometers and built continuously by 30 pharaohs over 2,000 years, Karnak is so vast it can contain 10 cathedrals. The Great Hypostyle Hall — 134 sandstone columns, some 24 meters tall — is one of Egypt's most transformative spaces. Without an expert guide, its scale is overwhelming.
Nile · 6-day packages+
Nile River Cruise — Sailing Egypt's Lifeblood
The Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan remains one of the world's great travel experiences. Gliding between temple banks, stopping at Edfu and Kom Ombo temples only reachable by boat. Evenings on deck under the desert night sky — unforgettable for American travelers.
Aswan · 8-day packages+
Abu Simbel — Ramesses II's Greatest Monument
Twice a year the sun aligns to illuminate the inner sanctum — a feat of ancient astronomical engineering. Carved entirely from sandstone cliffs of Nubia, then physically relocated in the 1960s to save it from Lake Nasser. Abu Simbel stands as one of the most extraordinary human achievements in history.
US Traveler Reviews
What American Travelers Say About Our Egypt Tours
Real reviews from real US guests — verified on TripAdvisor, Google, and direct traveler feedback. Our most honest marketing.
4.9Average rating
247US traveler reviews
98%Would recommend
32US states represented
★★★★★
"We flew from New York and had never been to the Middle East before. From the airport pickup to our last dinner in Cairo, the experience was completely seamless. The guide's knowledge of ancient Egypt was extraordinary — we left understanding things we'd wondered about for years. Already planning our return trip."
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Sarah & Tom B.
New York, NY · 8-Day Best of Egypt Tour
★★★★★
"I was nervous about traveling to Egypt solo as an American woman. My Egyptologist guide and the team made me feel completely safe and cared for the entire trip. The Valley of the Kings was the single greatest thing I have ever seen in my life. I've been to 40 countries — this tops the list."
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Jennifer M.
Chicago, IL · 10-Day Luxury Egypt Tour
★★★★★
"Brought my family of four from Los Angeles — two kids ages 10 and 14. Our guide turned every monument into a story the kids were genuinely captivated by. My daughter said standing inside the Great Pyramid was better than any movie. That sentence was worth the entire trip cost."
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David & Rachel K.
Los Angeles, CA · 12-Day Tour with Red Sea
★★★★★
"I'm a retired history professor. I've read about ancient Egypt my entire career. The Egyptologist guide our tour company provided was the first guide I've ever encountered who actually expanded my knowledge rather than summarizing what I already knew. This is the only Egypt tour operator I would ever recommend to colleagues."
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Professor R. Harrington
Boston, MA · 8-Day Egypt Tour
★★★★★
"The visa guidance alone was worth booking with Egypt Tours by Locals. They walked me through the e-Visa process step by step, told me exactly what to expect at Cairo Airport, and had a driver holding a sign for me within minutes of landing. The whole trip felt effortless — quite something for a first-time Egypt visitor flying from Miami."
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Carlos V.
Miami, FL · 7-Day Budget Nile Cruise
★★★★★
"We booked the 8-day escorted tour as a couple from Texas. The small group (just 9 of us) meant the experience felt private, not rushed. Abu Simbel was unlike anything I can describe — you genuinely have to be there. The Nile cruise evenings were deeply peaceful. We cannot recommend this company highly enough."
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James & Linda W.
Houston, TX · 8-Day Best of Egypt Tour
The Egypt Tours by Locals Difference
Why Americans Choose Egypt Tours by Locals
Every Egypt tour operator can show you the Pyramids. Not every one can make you understand them. Here's what sets us apart.
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Certified Egyptologists — Not Tour Guides
Our guides hold university degrees in Egyptology and Archaeology from Cairo University — the world's leading institution for ancient Egyptian studies. You receive expert-level commentary at every site, not a rehearsed script.
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Maximum 12 Travelers per Group
We cap all escorted group tours at 12 travelers. This means your guide can spend time with each guest, answer your specific questions, and access smaller sections of monuments that larger groups cannot enter.
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Transparent USD Pricing — No Hidden Costs
All our packages are priced in US Dollars. What you see is what you pay — entrance fees, domestic flights, guide fees, and transfers are fully itemized. No on-tour "optional" costs that actually aren't optional.
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Full US Visa & Pre-Trip Support
Every booked guest receives our Egypt Visa Guide for US Travelers, a packing checklist, currency guidance, and WhatsApp access to your Egypt trip coordinator — available for questions from the day you book.
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Fully Customizable Itineraries
Our packages are starting points, not locked schedules. Want to add a hot air balloon over Luxor at sunrise? A cooking class in Cairo? An extra day at Abu Simbel? Every itinerary can be tailored at no extra service charge.
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14 Years of US Traveler Experience
Since 2012, we've refined our Egypt tours specifically for American guests — understanding your expectations, your questions, and your communication style. We know how to make the long journey from the US feel completely worthwhile.
Booking Your Tour
How to Book Your Egypt Tour from the USA
Six simple steps — from first inquiry to landing in Cairo. Most US guests complete the process in under a week.
1
Choose Your Package
Browse our packages above or contact us for a custom itinerary recommendation based on your vacation days and budget.
2
Receive a Detailed Quote
We send a full itemized USD quote within 24 hours — including all inclusions, hotel options, and domestic flight details.
3
Confirm with a Deposit
A 30% deposit secures your dates. We accept all major US credit cards, PayPal, and bank transfers. Balance due 30 days before travel.
4
Apply for Your Egypt e-Visa
We send you a step-by-step US visa guide. The Egypt e-Visa takes 10 minutes to apply and costs $25 USD at visa2egypt.gov.eg.
5
Book International Flights
We'll advise on optimal Cairo arrival times that work with your tour itinerary and help you select domestic connection timings if needed.
6
Arrive in Cairo — We Handle the Rest
Your Egyptologist guide and private transfer meet you at Cairo Airport. From this moment, every detail of your Egypt journey is managed.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs — Egypt Tours from the USA
Yes, US citizens require a tourist visa to enter Egypt. The simplest option is the Egypt e-Visa, obtained at visa2egypt.gov.eg before departure — it costs $25 USD and is valid for 90 days from arrival. You can also get a visa on arrival at Cairo International Airport for $25 USD cash. Egypt Tours by Locals provides a complete visa guide to all confirmed American guests.
Flights from the USA to Cairo range from 11 to 22 hours depending on your city. From New York: approximately 11–12 hours direct, or 14–16 hours via a European or Middle Eastern connection. From Los Angeles: 18–22 hours with connections. From Chicago: 13–16 hours. Common connection hubs are London, Frankfurt, Istanbul, Dubai, and Doha.
October through April is the ideal window — comfortable temperatures of 15–30°C (59–86°F) and manageable crowds. For US travelers, October–November, Christmas/New Year, and Spring Break in March–April are the most popular windows. Avoid June–August; desert site temperatures regularly exceed 40°C (104°F).
Our land packages (starting and ending at Cairo Airport) range from $899 to $2,299 per person. International flights from the USA typically add $750–$1,400 per person. For an 8-day escorted tour — our most popular choice for Americans — the total budget including flights is typically $2,400–$3,200 per person depending on your US departure city and hotel preference.
Yes. The US State Department maintains a Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) advisory for Egypt's main tourist regions — Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, and the Nile Valley corridor. These are the areas all our tours cover. Tourist police are stationed at every major monument. Egypt welcomed over 15 million international visitors in 2025.
A private tour means just your party and a dedicated guide — no other travelers. A small-group escorted tour joins you with up to 11 other travelers (maximum 12 total) and follows a set departure date. Private tours offer complete flexibility on pace and timing; escorted group tours offer a social dimension and are slightly more economical. We offer both.
We recommend at least 8 days in Egypt (plus 2 travel days for the long-haul flights). This allows 2 days in Cairo, a 4-night Nile cruise, and a visit to Abu Simbel. For a more relaxed pace — and to add the White Desert, Siwa Oasis, or Hurghada — a 10–12 day trip is ideal for American travelers with a two-week vacation window.
No — our packages are land-only, starting at Cairo International Airport. International flights from the USA are not included, allowing you to book the best transatlantic fares independently. All domestic flights within Egypt required by the itinerary (e.g., Cairo to Luxor, or Aswan to Abu Simbel) are included in the package price.
Ready to Plan Your Egypt Trip from the USA?
Contact our Egypt specialists — based in Cairo, available on US business hours. Get a free, no-obligation custom itinerary tailored to your departure city, travel dates, and budget.
5 Days
Cairo Only
