First Time in Egypt? A Guide for Gulf Families, Luxury Travellers and Honeymooners
Where to go, what to see and what to buy on a first visit — from the pyramids and Khan El Khalili to a felucca at sunset and a Red Sea resort, arranged end to end.
A first week in Egypt, day by day
| Days | Where | Why first-timers love it |
|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | Cairo and Giza | The pyramids and the Sphinx, the old city, Khan El Khalili and evenings by the Nile |
| 4–7 | Nile cruise · Luxor and Aswan | Temples, the Valley of the Kings and a slow river journey — see also cruises for families and private events |
| 8–10 | Sharm el-Sheikh, Hurghada or Safaga | Sea, shade and rest — compare 5-star hotels in Sharm el-Sheikh |
| Summer | North Coast villas | A private villa on the Mediterranean from June to September |
Prefer a ready plan? See our holiday packages and stays and transfers, or work out a budget with the trip cost calculator.
Khan El Khalili: souvenirs and the old city
Khan El Khalili is Cairo's historic bazaar, a maze of lanes in the old city next to Al-Azhar and Al-Hussein. It is the classic place to buy souvenirs on a first visit, and the best hours are late afternoon and evening, when the lanes are cooler and full of life.
- Look before you buy. Visit two or three stalls and compare prices and quality.
- Bargain with a smile. Ask the price, offer lower and be ready to walk away; agree the final price before anything is wrapped.
- Carry small notes in Egyptian pounds, and keep your valuables close in crowds.
- Buy replicas, not antiquities. Genuine antiquities cannot leave Egypt, and "papyrus" must be made from the real plant.
- Go with a guide if it is your first time. A licensed guide knows the lanes, and you decide which stalls to visit.
A felucca on the Nile
A felucca is a traditional sailing boat, and an hour on one at sunset is the most relaxed thing you can do in Egypt: no engine noise, a breeze on the water and the city lights coming on. You can sail in Cairo, in Luxor and, most beautifully, around the islands of Aswan. Agree the price, the duration and the number of passengers before boarding, and ask for life jackets for children. Honeymooners often book a private felucca; families choose a shorter ride in the late afternoon. We add it to your itinerary on request.
Cafés and mint tea in the old city
Egyptian café culture is part of the trip. Sit in the old lanes of Khan El Khalili at El Fishawy or the Naguib Mahfouz Café for mint tea and Arabic coffee, take a quiet table in Al-Azhar Park with a view of the minarets, or watch the Nile from a café in Zamalek and Garden City. Ask us for a family-friendly evening route that suits your children and prayer times.
Choose your way to visit
Families
Plan short sightseeing mornings, a rest in the hotel at midday and a Nile or park evening. A private car or family van keeps luggage and children easy — about 375–560 SAR a day for a sedan with driver and 790–1,125 SAR a day for a family van. A doctor can visit your hotel if someone feels unwell: see Doctor at Your Hotel and video consultation. Explore Cairo for families, North Coast villas and family Nile cruises.
Luxury travellers
Private guides, early or after-hours access where available, a luxury Nile cruise (from about 5,250 SAR per person for 4 nights) and 5-star beach hotels. See VIP trips and 5-star hotels in Sharm el-Sheikh.
Honeymooners
Three nights in Cairo, a Nile cruise with a felucca at sunset, then a calm Red Sea resort in Safaga and Soma Bay or Sharm el-Sheikh. In summer, swap the last leg for a private villa on the North Coast. Tell us the dates and we will shape the route and keep the evenings private.
Good to know before you go
- Entry rules depend on your passport: check the official Egyptian visa rules before you book.
- Currency: bring small Egyptian pound notes for bazaars, cafés and tips; we quote in riyals.
- Dress and prayer: light, modest clothing works everywhere; we can plan around prayer times.
- Already in Egypt? See services for visitors in Egypt.
- More guidance: travel guide · how to choose a coordinator · contact us.
Questions first-time visitors ask
How many days do I need for a first trip to Egypt?
Most first-timers are happiest with 7 to 10 days: three or four in Cairo (the pyramids, the Egyptian Museum area, Khan El Khalili), a Nile cruise or flight to Luxor and Aswan, and a few beach days on the Red Sea. With young children, shorten the sightseeing days and add rest days.
When is the best time for a first visit?
For Cairo, Luxor and Aswan, the cooler months from October to April are the most comfortable; summer is very hot in Upper Egypt. The Red Sea (Sharm el-Sheikh, Hurghada, Safaga) works most of the year, and the North Coast is a June–September summer coast.
Is Khan El Khalili worth visiting, and how do I bargain?
Yes — it is Cairo's historic bazaar and the classic place to buy souvenirs. Bargaining is normal and friendly: look at two or three stalls first, ask the price, offer lower, smile and be ready to walk away. Agree the price before the item is wrapped.
What souvenirs should I buy in Egypt?
Popular choices are brass and copper lanterns, spices and herbal teas, perfume oils, Egyptian cotton, inlaid wooden boxes, alabaster pieces and papyrus. Check papyrus is real (it is made from the plant, not painted banana leaf) and buy replicas only: genuine antiquities cannot be taken out of Egypt.
What is a felucca and how do I book one?
A felucca is a traditional Nile sailing boat. Sunset is the best time, in Cairo, Luxor or Aswan. Agree the price, duration and the number of people before boarding, and ask for life jackets for children. We can arrange a private felucca as part of your itinerary.
Where should honeymooners go in Egypt?
A popular route is a few nights in Cairo, a Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan with a felucca at sunset, then a quiet Red Sea resort in Safaga, Soma Bay or Sharm el-Sheikh. In summer, a private villa on the North Coast is an option.
How much does a first trip cost?
It depends on the season and level. Our indicative 2026 prices, excluding flights, include a 4-night Nile cruise from 1,650 SAR per person, 5 nights in Sharm el-Sheikh at 3,500–9,700 SAR per room, and a car with driver from 375 SAR a day. We send a written, itemised quote before you pay.
Hayakkom specialities
Where Gulf families book most with us — each with a written, itemised quote before you pay.
Our specialityNorth Coast villasPrivate villas and chalets in gated Sahel resorts · 900–3,750 SAR a night in Jul–AugExplore →
Families & eventsNile cruise for families and eventsLuxor to Aswan · from 1,650 SAR per person for 4 nightsExplore →
5-star stays5-star hotels in Sharm el-SheikhFamily packages · 3,500–9,700 SAR per room for 5 nightsExplore →Plan your first trip to Egypt with us on WhatsApp
Tell us your dates, who is travelling and your budget. We reply in Arabic or English with a written, itemised quote.
📱 WhatsApp +20 103 156 7949✉️ support@hayakkom.com