Egypt & Nile River Cruise for Solo Travelers | EF Go Ahead Tours (2023)

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• In order to enter Egypt, U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport with an expiration date extending at least six months beyond the date of reentry.
• We recommend having at least two blank passport pages for entry stamps.
• U.S. and Canadian passport holders must obtain a visa in order to enter Egypt. You can purchase your visa at the airport upon arrival for $25. The entry authorities require exact change in crisp, new bills. You can also purchase your visa in advance by using a visa provider, such as our partner, VisaCentral. Additionally, you can opt to purchase an electronic visa on the Egyptian Electronic Visa Portal website. Passport control officers at ports of entry can verify your e-visa in their systems. However, we advise keeping either a digital or hard copy of your e-visa in case of any system failures.
• If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact your destination country’s consulate for your specific entry requirements.
• You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by going to goaheadtours.com/entry-requirements and searching the code EG6.

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• You will walk for at least 2.5 hours daily across uneven terrain, including cobblestone streets and paved roads, with some hills and stairs.
• Travelers should be healthy enough to participate in all included walks without assistance. Adding optional excursions may increase the total amount of walking on your tour.
• You should feel comfortable managing your own baggage at times, as well as getting in and out of small boats.
• Go Ahead Tours and the Tour Director who accompanies your group are unable to provide special, individual mobility assistance to travelers on tour. The responsibility of the Tour Director is to ensure the group as a whole enjoys a relaxing and informative journey, and he or she cannot be relied upon to provide ongoing, individualized assistance to any one traveler.
• If you have any mobility concerns or physical restrictions, please contact our Customer Experience Team.

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• Your Tour Director, who’s also an Egyptologist, will be with you throughout the duration of your Egypt tour. Additional staff will also be working alongside your Tour Director to confirm logistics, and to assist with transfers and on-tour flights. Having these staffers, who are solely focused on ensuring all on-tour logistics go smoothly, allows your Tour Director to dedicate even more one-on-one time to sharing Egyptian history and culture with your group. While it’s customary to tip your Tour Director, you don’t need to tip these additional staff members.

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• Round-trip flights booked through Go Ahead Tours arrive in and depart from Cairo. A representative from Go Ahead Tours will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. Please remain in the arrival lounge, as the representative might be escorting one of your fellow travelers to the bus at the time of your arrival.
• Transfers to and from the airport at your destination are included for travelers who have purchased their flights through Go Ahead Tours. Travelers who purchase their own flights may request airport transfers with Go Ahead Tours for an additional cost.
• Flights from Cairo to Aswan and Luxor to Cairo are included in the price of your tour.
• A three-night Nile River cruise and boat rides are also included in the price of your tour.
• All other included transportation on this tour is by private motor coach.

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• Please note that our travelers are limited to one checked bag and one carry-on bag per person due to storage limitations on motor coaches and other transfers, which may include train connections or flights.
• Contact your airline(s) for baggage size and weight restrictions for your flights, which may include on-tour flights in addition to your round-trip flights to and from tour. Please note that your included on-tour flights may have more restrictive baggage limits.
• Some airlines may impose additional charges if you choose to check any baggage or exceed baggage size and weight restrictions. Be advised that you are responsible for any baggage fees incurred on all flights.
• Make sure to label your baggage, and to keep valuables, medication, and documents in your carry-on bag.

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• We recommend packing lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that can be easily layered, as well as a light jacket or rainwear. While many places in Egypt have a warm, sunny climate, the desert can be very cold at night and temperatures will dip with changes in elevation throughout your tour. Therefore, we also recommend packing a few long-sleeve shirts and warmer layers to wear at night.
• We suggest bringing a sturdy pair of walking shoes or sneakers for sightseeing.
• A sun hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen is recommended for outdoor activities.
• A small bottle of hand sanitizer may be helpful when other facilities are not readily available while on the road.
• You may want to pack dressier attire if you plan to visit a high-end restaurant or attend a special performance.
• It is preferable not to visit mosques or other religious sites with bare legs or shoulders (entrance may be denied on this basis).

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• At least 60 days prior to departure, check with your healthcare provider for the latest updates and entry requirements, or visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at cdc.gov.
• Please be sure to take proper care with sun exposure, as the sun can be especially strong in some of the areas you are visiting.
• Drink bottled water only. Refrain from drinking tap water, including when brushing your teeth.
• Bring a small first-aid kit, including antacids, anti-diarrhea medication, motion sickness medication, and any prescription medications in your carry-on bag.
• Avoid eating fresh fruits and vegetables unless they are cooked or washed in clean water and peeled.
• Public restrooms in Egypt can be quite bare. We suggest carrying bathroom tissue and hand sanitizer with you.
• Depending on the seasons and weather patterns, air pollution in Cairo may be problematic for travelers with a history of respiratory problems. Based on your health history, please discuss any precautions with your healthcare provider prior to departure.
• If you have medication that you take daily, be sure you have enough for each day of the tour and any possible delays encountered.
• Certain over-the-counter and prescription medications may be banned in Egypt. Importing these drugs can carry severe consequences, including imprisonment. Please consult your healthcare provider prior to departure to ensure that any drugs you may want to bring with you are legal in Egypt.
• If you have dietary restrictions and/or food allergies please notify Go Ahead Tours at least 30 days prior to your departure by logging in to your account and updating your traveler info. To update this information closer to your departure date, please call our Customer Experience Team.
• You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for Egypt by going to goaheadtours.com/entry-requirements and searching the code EG6.

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• Egyptian cuisine uses the bountiful harvests of the Nile Valley; corn, eggplant, zucchini, onions, tomatoes, cabbage, chickpeas, and citrus fruits are popular in many dishes. Don’t miss out on Egyptian interpretations of typical Mediterranean staples, like baba ghanoush, falafel, and stuffed grape leaves. Tea is the national drink and is offered at breakfast, after lunch, and in most social situations.
• Meal times vary greatly in Egypt, and locals often skip lunch. While on tour, breakfast will be served around 8am, and lunch is often served around 3pm. Therefore, we recommended bringing energy bars, crackers, or other packable snacks with you during the day.
• Meals on the cruise ship are served buffet-style and provide a wide variety of international offerings. Afternoon tea is offered every day.

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• Egypt operates on 220 volts and uses Types C or F plugs with two round pins.
• We recommend packing a universal adapter, as well as a voltage converter if you plan to use your own hairdryer or other device without a built-in converter.
• The strength of air-conditioning in hotels in Egypt is often not as strong or as cool as what one might be used to in the U.S. or Canada. When air-conditioning is available, it is usually regulated seasonally and controlled centrally by the hotel.
• Your hotels may provide hairdryers, irons, and other small appliances. However, these amenities cannot be guaranteed.

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• Wi-Fi is available in most hotels, though some charges may apply.
• There is no Wi-Fi on any of the motor coaches.
• Please contact your mobile service provider for information on roaming charges.

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• Egypt is 6 hours ahead of Eastern Time (ET).
• When it’s noon in New York City, it’s 6pm in Egypt.

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• You will use the Egyptian pound on tour.
• Better rates of exchange are usually available abroad, although it’s worth ordering some currency from your local bank to use when you first arrive.
• We strongly advise that you take debit/bank cards and credit cards, which can be used to withdraw cash at local banks as needed.
• You can use most debit/credit cards at ATMs on the international networks Cirrus and Plus, but make sure to check with your home bank about withdrawal fees.
• Inform your bank and credit card company of your travel plans so that they won’t confuse your international purchases for fraudulent charges.
• International banks and businesses primarily accept debit and credit cards that work with the EMV chip system. If you do not already have at least one debit or credit card with a chip in it, we strongly recommend requesting one from your bank prior to your tour.
• Any shipboard purchases are directly added to your room account. Purchases made from on-board shops can be paid in USD or Egyptian pounds.
• You may find it useful to have a supply of U.S. currency in small denominations when bargaining for everything from taxi rides to souvenirs.

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• At the conclusion of your tour, it’s customary to offer your Tour Director and driver a gratuity in local currency. Please keep current exchange rates in mind.
• We recommend tipping the equivalent of $7USD to $10USD per person per day for your Tour Director, $1USD per person per day for the bus helper, $3USD per person per day for your driver, and $20USD to $25USD per person for cruise ship personnel.
• If applicable, we also recommend the equivalent of $2USD per local guide.
• In Egypt, tipping is an important part of the local culture and you will be expected to tip for services including, but not limited to, taking photos in some areas or seeing additional exhibits. Travelers should carry small bills (in USD) for this purpose.
• Tips can only be paid in cash.

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• Most optional excursions will be available for purchase while you are on tour.
• Your Tour Director will only accept cash (in USD only), Visa, or MasterCard as payment for excursions.
• Please be advised that if you pay for an excursion by credit card while on tour, it may take up to three months for your card to be charged.
• Some optional excursions may only be purchased in advance. See page four of your tour itinerary for more information.
• International travel is, by its very nature, unpredictable. We must therefore reserve the right to change this itinerary, without advance notice, to meet with local conditions at the time of travel. We appreciate your understanding. Please refer to our website for Terms & Conditions, dates, and prices.

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• As dictated by Egyptian Tourism Police, all foreign groups must be accompanied by an armed guard and/or convoy.
• Be aware of your surroundings, as pickpockets are active at most tourist sites. We recommend leaving your passport in the hotel safe, and concealing credit cards and cash in a money belt or a hidden pouch.
• Bring photocopies of your passport, credit cards, and other important documents. Keep them separate from the originals.

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