I’ve been reading here for a while, and I’ve noticed that people have very different opinions about traveling to Egypt. Some share amazing stories about ancient sites and great hospitality, while others talk about scams, pushy sellers, or messy tours.
As a group of young Egyptians who run a small tour company, it’s tough to hear about the bad experiences. Egypt definitely has its issues (we know it’s not perfect!), but there’s also a lot of good things to enjoy. As the saying goes, “not all fingers are the same,” and not every agency or tour is bad.
We started Island Egypt Tours to show that you can explore Egypt safely, comfortably, and stress-free. Many travelers have told us they had a fantastic time—whether they were visiting the Pyramids, cruising the Nile, or discovering Egypt’s hidden gems. It’s great to see how we’ve helped change some people’s views.
So, I’d love to know: What were your biggest concerns or challenges when thinking about traveling to Egypt? If you had a great experience here, what made it special for you?
Please feel free to share your thoughts! If you’ve been to Egypt, we’d love to hear about it (good or bad). If not, what would make you want to give Egypt a try?
Looking forward to hearing your stories and ideas. Let’s work together to make travel better for everyone!
I’m also in the tour business in other places, and even the best plans can fall apart if you don’t plan for things outside your control. In Egypt, dealing with scams at tourist spots is a huge challenge, no matter how careful you are with your guests. Some of these scams can be done in under 30 seconds. I wish you all the best with your tours though! I checked out your operation, and it looks like you’re on the right track.
Thanks so much for the encouragement! It really means a lot coming from someone else in the same business. You’re totally right, no matter how well-prepared we are, some things slip through. We’re doing our best to offer safer experiences for everyone. Wishing you success with your tours too!
I’m hesitant to go as a woman. Too many women have told me they felt harassed or unsafe there. I just don’t want that on my vacation. I would love to visit, but it feels like India, where it just doesn’t seem safe for women.
I lived in Egypt for a year when I was young and I never felt unsafe there. Honestly, I’ve felt more unsafe in some American cities. I’ve visited Egypt many times since then, and nothing has changed. I never had the issues with harassment that I’ve faced back in the States.
I totally get your concerns—harassment and scams are real, but with good planning or a trusted guide, many travelers do have positive experiences. Egypt is a beautiful country, and I hope you’ll get the chance to visit and enjoy it safely.
I think you’re just seeing it through rose-colored glasses. If you had zero issues, you were lucky. Even with a trusted guide, they can’t protect you from everyone else.
It’s really about who you know. I’ve been to Egypt three times in the last couple of years, and my wife, a travel advisor, even has clients there now! I love it so much, I’m thinking about buying real estate there. I do get that the hospitality industry can be tough—there’s always people trying to take advantage of tourists. But until they realize they’d do better with repeat visitors, that’s just how it is. I still highly recommend Egypt, and my wife, who is Egyptian-American, helps people plan amazing trips there.
It’s great to hear how much you love Egypt! You’re right about the hospitality challenges, but it’s nice to see people like your wife helping others plan trips. Thanks for recommending Egypt and supporting its tourism industry. Wishing you and your wife continued success!
My wife and I travel a lot—around 30 countries, including many in the Middle East. We spent a week in Cairo and Luxor last year and had an incredible time. In Luxor, we did a tour of the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, and the hot air balloon ride. We also explored the pyramids in Cairo on our own. Egypt isn’t for the average tourist, though. It can be overwhelming, especially if you don’t travel much or visit similar regions. The scams are nonstop, and many people aren’t comfortable saying no. There’s also the poverty, traffic, and animal abuse that you’ll see. Still, if you love ancient ruins, Luxor is better than Ephesus, Petra, Machu Picchu, and many other famous sites.
At Luxor airport: Wife tries to use the restroom, and a woman charges her for toilet paper since they removed it. A guy tried to charge me to wash my hands. Another guy took my bag off the baggage belt before I could get to it and demanded a tip. Then, he tried to get me to pay him to take my bag through customs. When we finally reached the taxi, a guy said he could help us get there, but we didn’t need help. He followed us and demanded a tip for walking us to the taxi. We saw him do this to other tourists. In Luxor, it was the same: overcharging for taxis, people starting to walk with us, demanding tips. In the temples: extra tips for access to rooms, taking photos, and demanding money for your phone. In Cairo, there’s a street near the pyramids where people are relentless. It’s exhausting for any traveler.
That stuff has been going on for a while, but it’s gotten worse since COVID hit, and with the war in Ukraine, people are desperate. I couldn’t believe how bad it was in Khan el Khalili. It used to be a nice place to stroll, but in 2022, it was just a nonstop barrage of vendors trying to sell stuff made in China. It made me sad.
I had a similar experience in Chicago when someone started polishing my shoes on the sidewalk and then demanded money. It was super awkward. Was it the same kind of scam in Egypt? Did people get hostile or just persistent?
