Egypt Tours from France

Egypt is one of the easiest long-haul trips a French traveller can plan. Paris sits roughly four and a half hours from Cairo by direct flight, French nationals get a straightforward e-visa, and the Nile-cruise market TUI France and independent operators have sold for decades means a well-worn path from Charles de Gaulle to the temples of Luxor. The tours below are bookable now. Here is what to know before you choose one.

Getting there from France

Air France and EgyptAir both fly direct from Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) to Cairo (CAI), with a flight time of about 4h30 (the fastest scheduled hops come in near 4h15), typically on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The route is busy: as of mid-2026 there were roughly 56 flights a week between the two cities, so you rarely have to build a trip around a single departure. Indicative return economy fares have run in the region of 200 to 350 euros, though prices move with season and demand, so verify live before booking.

If the Red Sea is your goal, the pattern differs. Hurghada (HRG), Marsa Alam (RMF) and Sharm el-Sheikh (SSH) are served largely by charter and low-cost carriers rather than daily scheduled flights, with Transavia France among those flying to Hurghada. One quirk to plan around: if you arrive on a charter into a Red Sea airport, you are generally required to return by charter from the same airport, so confirm the rules with your operator.

Visa for French citizens

French nationals are eligible for the Egyptian e-visa through the official portal at visa2egypt.gov.eg. Apply at least seven days before departure. As of 2026 the e-visa costs about 25 USD for single entry or 60 USD for multiple entry, each granting a 30-day stay, with processing usually inside 24 to 72 hours. A traditional visa-on-arrival has also been available at Egyptian airports for roughly 25 to 30 USD in cash.

One change worth flagging: from 1 August 2026, Cairo International Airport began piloting a digital visa-on-arrival across all terminals, replacing the paper sticker with a QR code generated online, via a mobile app or at airport machines. The single-entry cost is 36 USD (30 USD plus a 6 USD processing fee), with the QR valid 48 hours from issuance; paper visas still run in parallel during the pilot. There is also a reported nuance that French citizens travelling in organised groups may enter on a national identity card rather than a passport, but conditions apply, so treat it as a check with your operator and the French authorities. Whichever route you take, keep your passport valid at least six months beyond your return date.

What a trip costs

Most French travellers buy Egypt as a package rather than piece by piece. TUI France is the dominant packager, selling Luxor-to-Aswan Nile cruises like "Les legendes du Nil", a Cairo pre-tour plus cruise combo, and smaller dahabiya sailings. Independent French operators bundle Nile cruise, Cairo pyramids and Red Sea all-inclusive extensions. Exact 2026 prices swing with ship class, season and whether flights are included, so verify the final figure on the operator's page. A typical product is a seven-night Cairo plus Nile cruise circuit, sometimes extended with a Hurghada beach stay.

Best time to go

For a Nile cruise, October to April is the comfortable season, with daytime temperatures around 25 to 30C and November widely rated the single best month. The Red Sea coast is warm-water from roughly April to November, with June to August hot for sightseeing but prime for diving. The French Toussaint break (late October to early November) lines up neatly with the best Nile weather, while the Christmas holidays bring higher prices. Verify exact 2026 school-holiday dates by academie zone.

Nile cruise or Red Sea?

These are two different holidays. A Nile cruise is the classic cultural circuit: Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae, usually sailing between Luxor and Aswan. The Red Sea is a beach-and-dive escape reached mostly by charter. Many French packages combine both, pairing a few cruise nights with a Hurghada extension. If you want the temples, start with our Nile cruise guide.

What to book

Browse the tours below and match them to your dates. For a first visit, a Cairo-and-cruise circuit covers the essentials; add a Red Sea leg to slow down at the end. Prices shown are guidance ranges only, so confirm current fares, inclusions and visa costs before you commit.