Hurghada

The transfer time from Hurghada airport to our hotel is approximately 35 minutes

You may wish to take an optional excursion during the course of your stay. Full details will be given at the Information Meeting. Your Tour Leader will help arrange these for you but may not necessarily accompany you. Please note:- Optional excursions are not guaranteed and are based on minimum numbers. The prices quoted are guideline only and may involve other non-Solos holidaymakers. City Tour: Late afternoon drive to Hurghada, the city itself, in our air-conditioned bus accompanied by an English speaking guide. Visit the mosque, orthodox church, the down town EL Dahar and Sakala. See a side of the real Egyptian life and have a seat in a local coffee shop, visit the new marina. Have nice shopping for local artifacts, spices, papyrus and souvenirs and get back to your hotel by dinner time. Currently £30.00 Cairo by bus: Be amazed by the only survivor of the 7 wonders of the ancient world, the pyramids and the great sphinx! Lose yourself in the famous Egyptian museum displaying 5000 years of the most precious collection of the Egyptian treasures in the world. All guided events with lunch, transfer and entrance fees are included. Currently £140.00 Luxor by bus (o/d): Luxor is the jewel in the crown; It is described as the greatest open air museum in the world. Feel like you are in one of Indiana Jones movies at the amazing Karnak Temples. Across the Nile river the Valley of the Kings, with the most famous royal pharos tombs and carved into the rock face of the Deir el Bahri mountain is the spectacular temple of Queen Hatshepsut. Lunch, transport, guide & program, entrance fees, alabaster factory and papyrus bazar are included. Currently £120.00 Quads Safari (3h): This one is especially for all adventure enthusiasts.  Get on your own quad at the early morning and drive for one hour then relax, ride camel, smoke water pipe and have Bedouin tea for other hour, then drive the quad bike back for the third hour. Currently £50.00 Giftun Island: We take you to the biggest island all over the Red Sea, which is known for its magnificent coral reefs and relaxing beach. We do two snorkeling stops by the fantastic coral reefs between the islands around the Giftun Island. Snorkeling equipment is provided, drinks and lunch are included on the boat. Currently £50.00 Semi submarine: Join us for a fantastic excursion underwater. You can clearly see, film and photograph the Red Sea most famous corals, fish and other marine life. Through large panoramic windows, in air-conditioned area, and in your personal swiveling chair you surely don’t miss a thing! Currently £45.00 Diving: Ask your Tour Leader for details.

Casual, cotton, lightweight daytime wear is the order of the day. Comfortable shoes are a must for sightseeing. Smart casual clothes will be ideal for the evening, with the emphasis throughout being informal but with no shorts or vests in the restaurants in the evenings. Early and late season evenings can be cool so do ensure that you take a cardigan or jacket. Remember to cover up in any religious sites.

There is often confusion on the question of gratuities, since it frequently depends on the type of holiday, location and, of course, your attitude towards tipping, as to what is normally expected. In order to give you a rough idea, we have given appropriate guidance below. Your Tour Leader will be on hand to offer advice or suggestions if required but gratuities are offered entirely at the sole discretion of the individual. We suggest a group collection to cover drivers, porters and hotel staff of $20.00 per week. Your Tour Leader will collect this on your behalf and distribute it accordingly, thus relieving you of the burden of who, when and how much to tip. The tipping of housekeeping will be left to your individual discretion (a small amount left in your room on departure should cover this and would be much appreciated). As is customary, ‘the hat’ will be passed around for the driver and guide on all optional excursions. For any meals that are not included in your itinerary, or taxi fares, your Tour Leader can advise of an appropriate add on.

A full 10-year passport is required and should be valid for 6 months beyond your stay. Entry Visa For stays in the Sharm el Sheikh region of less that 15 days, British passport holders do not need a visa. If you plan to travel outside of the area e.g. to Cairo or stay longer than 15 days then you will need a visa. Visas are easily available on arrival at the airport. This is now the recommended method to get them if you are vaccinated, instead of only. The current cost of a visa is $25. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct visa, a valid passport and any other travel documents for your holiday.  All information provided relates to British citizens who hold or are entitled to apply for a British passport. For the most up-to-date visa information please visit; Egypt Foreign Office If you are not a British citizen and do not hold a British passport, you must make your own enquiries as to the applicable requirements. All Visas and Tourist Cards are non transferable and non refundable. Below is the names of our agent we use in Egypt for the relevant tours. These need to be placed under the Address in Egypt section on the application form. Hurghada:  c/o Coral on Travel

Travel insurance is Mandatory at present for entry to Egypt. If on a cruise, please ensure it is adequate cruise insurance. 

Compulsory vaccinations:  Yellow fever certificate if arriving from infected areas. Check whether you need a yellow fever certificate by visiting the National Travel Health Network and Centre’s TravelHealthPro website.

Some prescribed and over the counter medicines that are available in the UK are considered controlled substances in Egypt and can’t be brought into the country without prior permission from Egypt’s Ministry of Health. If you arrive in Egypt without this permission and the required documentation, the medication will not be allowed into the country and you may be prosecuted under Egyptian law. 

If you’re travelling with any prescription medication you should  keep it in its original packaging, carry a medical certificate confirming that the medication has been prescribed for a medical condition. The Egyptian Embassy website states that this should be in the form of an official letter from your GP, specifying details of your condition, the quantity of medication you will be carrying and that the medication is for your personal use only. Medication should be carried in Hand Luggage not placed in your hold bags. For further information and specific queries, contact the Egyptian Medical Office in London on 020 7370 6944.

You are responsible for acquainting yourself with up to date health information of the countries being visited and where necessary take the required precautions. We recommend that you check with your doctor prior to departure as this information can change.  You can also visit the travel health website for more information; Travel Health Egypt

Egyptian Pound. 

Some shops accept credit cards or Sterling for larger purchases. There is a surcharge in most places for using a credit card of 3% to 5%, throughout Egypt. In the bazaars, and smaller shops, dollars or Egyptian pounds cash will only be taken.

For ease we recommend that you pay by cash for any optional excursions. Credit cards are NOT accepted. US dollars, Sterling and Egyptian pounds can be used at the Duty Free shop. We also recommend you bring with you a good amount of cash Sterling as cash point machines are not easy to find especially during the Nile Cruise. Cash money can be easily exchanged to Egyptian pounds in Egypt and you get a better exchange for the sterling in Egypt.

We recommend that when travelling to Egypt you call your bank or credit card company to inform them of your trip so they do not block your cards.