Egypt Tours from the UK

Egypt is one of the easiest big trips to organise from the UK. Direct flights to Cairo run daily, the Red Sea is a short charter hop, and you can book a full escorted tour or a self-guided cruise without much fuss. The tours below are all bookable — this page is the honest briefing that goes with them, covering how you get there, the visa rules for British passport holders, what it costs and when to go, so you can pick with your eyes open. Prices here are broad ranges; always verify the live price before you book.

Getting there from the UK

For Cairo, British Airways and EgyptAir fly direct from London Heathrow, with roughly 30 flights a week on the LHR–CAI route and a typical flight time of around 5 hours (scheduled block times run from about 4h05 to 5h10 — verify). Return economy fares swing widely: aggregators show low-season London–Cairo returns from around £160–£250, while named-carrier round-trips sit higher (verify at the time you book). If you're heading for the beach, the Red Sea airports of Hurghada (HRG) and Sharm el-Sheikh (SSH) are served mainly by UK charter and leisure carriers — TUI Airways, easyJet, Jet2 and First Choice — from Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham and other regional airports, with a flight time of roughly 4h30–5h. Charter traffic peaks November to April for winter sun and diving.

Visas for UK citizens

British passport holders normally need a visa for Egypt. There are a few ways to sort it. The classic visa on arrival at approved airports costs US$30, cash only, and is valid for up to 30 days. You can also get an e-visa in advance through the official government portal at visa2egypt.gov.eg — tourist e-visas are valid for up to three months, and widely reported fees run around US$25 single-entry (verify; use only the government site, as unofficial ones charge multiples). New from 1 August 2026, Cairo Airport offers a self-service digital visa for US$36 (including a US$6 digital service fee), paid by card. One useful exception: if you fly into Sharm el-Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba or Taba and stay up to 15 days in Sinai, no visa is needed — you get a free entry stamp on arrival. Make sure your passport is valid for at least six months after arrival with one blank page.

What an Egypt trip costs

For a classic culture trip, UK operators like On The Go Tours and Wendy Wu sell escorted Cairo-plus-Nile-cruise tours; On The Go advertises Egypt tours "from £345" for the land portion (some flights excluded), while Wendy Wu bundles international flights, hotels, most meals, transport, guides and the visa into one price (verify). For the Red Sea, a 7-night 5-star all-inclusive with charter flights runs roughly £700–£900pp in shoulder season (Oct–Nov, Mar–Apr), rising to around £1,100–£1,500pp in UK school-holiday peaks (verify). Egypt is cash-heavy on the ground: cards work in upscale hotels, restaurants and tour bookings, but you'll want Egyptian pounds for souks, taxis and tipping, which is expected everywhere.

When to go

For sightseeing, aim for October to April, when days are a pleasant 20–30°C. December to February is the busiest and priciest window, while March and April can bring khamsin dust and wind. June to August is fiercely hot and best avoided for temple days — though it's exactly when UK families fill the Red Sea resorts during the summer holidays. UK demand tracks the school calendar: February half-term, Easter, summer, October half-term and Christmas. It's also worth checking Ramadan dates, as restaurant and shop hours reduce.

What to book

Most first-timers do the Cairo-and-Nile classic: pyramids and the museum, then a cruise between Luxor and Aswan. Read our Nile cruise guide before you choose a boat, and our Grand Egyptian Museum guide to plan your Cairo days. If you're after sun and diving rather than temples, book a Red Sea package to Hurghada or Sharm. Browse the bookable tours below to lock in your dates.