What Mistakes Do Travelers Make in Egypt, and How Do You Avoid Them?

Knowing what not to do in Egypt mostly comes down to a few habits that work fine at home but cause problems here: drinking from the tap, flying a drone, photographing anything, swimming wherever there's water and paying by card. None of these are dangerous on their own, but each can cost you a day, some money or a little goodwill.

Egypt is one of the most welcoming destinations in the world, and the rules are easy once you know them. Below are 10 mistakes to avoid in Egypt, written for American travelers planning Cairo, a Nile cruise and the temples of Luxor and Aswan. For dress codes and greetings, see our Egypt cultural etiquette tips.

Drink sealed bottled water, choose cooked food and peeled fruit, and use bottled water to brush your teeth. Tap water, ice and raw salads are the most common cause of a ruined travel day in Egypt.

Why it happens: Egypt's tap water is treated, but it isn't what most American stomachs are used to. The problem rarely comes from an obvious glass of water; it comes from ice in a street juice, a rinsed salad or a toothbrush under the faucet. Cruise ships and good hotels serve safe filtered water, but once you're ashore it's easy to forget.

Do this instead:

• Drink sealed bottled water and check the cap is intact.
• Ask for drinks without ice at street stalls.
• Pack oral rehydration salts and a basic travel medicine kit.

★ Nile Cruise Vacation Expert Tip

Refill a reusable bottle from your cruise ship's filtered water station before each excursion. You'll always have cool water at the temples and cut down on plastic along the river.

Leave it at home and book a hot-air balloon ride over Luxor for aerial views instead. Drones need a government permit, which is very hard for tourists to get, and are routinely confiscated at Egyptian airports.

Why it happens: Egypt treats drones as a security matter, and customs officers check bags on arrival. Travelers who arrive with one often have it held at the airport until departure, if they get it back at all. Flying one near monuments or government buildings can lead to much bigger problems than a lost gadget.

Do this instead:

• Leave your drone at home.
• Book a sunrise balloon flight over Luxor's West Bank.
• Check customs rules if you work in film or media.

Keep your camera down at police, military sites, checkpoints, bridges and government buildings, and ask before photographing people. Most monuments are fine to photograph, but check the rules at each tomb and museum.

Why it happens: Security sites are off limits, and officers may ask you to delete photos. With people, it's about respect: many Egyptians, especially women and older residents, prefer not to be photographed, and some expect a small tip if they pose. Photographing street life freely can cause offense without meaning to.

Do this instead:

• Ask "mumkin sura?" (may I take a photo?) before photographing someone.
• Keep your camera away at checkpoints and airports.
• Check photography rules at each tomb and museum.

Look, don't touch, never use flash in tombs and follow the photo rules at each site. The paintings are thousands of years old and fragile, and climbing the Pyramids is illegal.

Why it happens: Oils from hands damage painted surfaces, which is why some tombs in the Valley of the Kings rotate closures for conservation. Flash fades ancient pigments and is banned in tombs. Guards at some sites may offer to let you behind a rope or onto a wall for a tip; it's best to politely refuse.

Do this instead:

• Keep your hands off painted walls and carved reliefs.
• Switch off your flash before entering tombs.
• Decline any offer to "go behind the rope".

Visit temples at opening time, then rest, swim or sail through the hottest hours. Most temples are open-air with little shade, and from May to September Luxor and Aswan often pass 104°F (40°C).

Why it happens: Visitors often plan a relaxed start and a 10 a.m. pickup, which puts them at the most exposed sites at the hottest, busiest time of day. A Nile cruise helps: most ships schedule temple visits for early morning and late afternoon and sail through the middle of the day.

Do this instead:

• Visit open-air sites as they open, often around 6 a.m. in Luxor.
• Use midday for the pool, lunch or the sun deck.
• Carry water, a wide-brimmed hat and SPF 50 sunscreen.

★ Nile Cruise Vacation Expert Tip

On Luxor's West Bank, visit the Valley of the Kings first, then Hatshepsut's temple. Most groups go the other way around, so you'll reach the tombs while they're cooler and quieter.

Swim in your cruise ship's pool or save it for the Red Sea. Health advice from the CDC is to avoid swimming or wading in fresh water in Egypt because of bilharzia (schistosomiasis), a parasite found in the Nile and canals.

Why it happens: On a hot afternoon in Aswan, a dip from a sandbank or felucca looks irresistible, and some locals and guides will tell you it's fine. The risk varies by location, but the parasite enters through the skin and can cause illness weeks later. Strong currents near the cataracts add another hazard.

Do this instead:

• Use the cruise ship pool or hotel pool for a swim.
• Save sea swimming for Hurghada, Marsa Alam or Sharm El Sheikh.
• If you do get wet, dry off quickly and mention it to a doctor if you feel unwell later.

Carry small Egyptian pound bills every day. Cards work on cruise ships and in hotels, but tips, carriage drivers at Edfu, felucca crews in Aswan and temple-side stalls are cash only, and ATMs along the river are limited.

Why it happens: In the US, tapping a card covers almost everything. On a Nile cruise, tipping (called baksheesh) happens many times a day, and port stops are short. Travelers who only carry cards or large bills end up over-tipping or searching for an ATM instead of seeing the temple.

Do this instead:

• Withdraw Egyptian pounds in Cairo or Luxor before you board.
• Keep a separate pocket of small bills for tips.
• Ask your cruise for its recommended crew gratuity.

Compare cabin size, excursion group size, guides and recent reviews rather than the star label. Star ratings on the Nile aren't standardized, so two "five-star" ships can feel very different.

Why it happens: Cabin sizes can differ by half between ships sold at the same rating, and some cheaper sailings combine guests from several boats into large excursion groups with one guide. That means more waiting and less time at each temple. Sun deck space, food quality and whether a licensed Egyptologist leads every excursion all shape your week.

Do this instead:

• Compare cabin sizes in square feet.
• Ask how many guests share one guide.
• Consider a dahabiya for a quieter, small-group sailing.

Compare our luxury Nile cruises and dahabiya Nile cruises side by side.

Book Cairo, domestic flights, the cruise and Abu Simbel as one plan. A cruise alone doesn't include the Pyramids, the Grand Egyptian Museum or Abu Simbel, and pieces booked separately rarely line up.

Why it happens: Cairo is about 400 miles north of Luxor, and Abu Simbel is roughly 175 miles south of Aswan. Travelers who book only the cruise often scramble for flights, timed museum tickets and an Abu Simbel slot later. Abu Simbel is usually an optional extra from Aswan, by road or a short flight, and it's one of Egypt's most spectacular sights.

Practical info: Abu Simbel

Do this instead:

• Plan two to three nights in Cairo before or after your cruise.
• Add Abu Simbel to your Aswan days.
• Fly between Cairo and Luxor or Aswan; flights take about an hour.

Our Luxury Trip to Egypt combines Cairo, a 5-star Nile cruise and Aswan in one itinerary, or browse all Egypt tour packages.

Choose operators whose animals look healthy, rested and well fed, and walk away if they don't. Horse-drawn carriages at Edfu and camel or horse rides at Giza are part of many cruise days, and your choice sends a message.

Why it happens: Most carriage drivers and camel owners care for their animals, but some work horses hard in the heat with little water or shade. Travelers often feel awkward refusing a ride once they've been approached. Choosing well, and tipping drivers who treat their animals kindly, encourages better standards.

Do this instead:

• Check the animal has water, shade and no visible wounds.
• Ask your guide to recommend a trusted driver or owner.
• Walk or take a vehicle if an animal looks unwell or overloaded.

Use this checklist two to four weeks before departure, and you'll avoid most of the mistakes travelers make in Egypt without thinking about it.

• Passport valid for six months; e-visa bought or US$30 cash ready
• Travel insurance with medical and emergency evacuation cover
• Drone left at home
• Bottled water plan and travel medicine kit packed
• Cruise compared on cabins, group size and guides
• Cairo nights, domestic flights and Nile cruise booked together
• Abu Simbel excursion booked
• Small Egyptian pound bills and a gratuity guide ready
• Swimwear packed for the ship's pool, not the river

Want more help? Read 5 places to visit in Aswan and how to pack a suitcase for a Nile cruise.
 

Plan your Egypt trip with a specialist

Browse our Nile river cruises, compare Egypt tour packages or customize your tour with our team.

What should you not do in Egypt as a tourist?

Don't drink tap water, bring a drone, photograph police or military sites, touch tomb paintings, climb the pyramids or swim in the Nile. Also avoid midday sightseeing in summer and accepting rides before agreeing a price. Following these simple rules keeps your trip smooth, healthy and respectful.

Can you swim in the Nile?

It's best not to. Health advice is to avoid swimming or wading in fresh water in Egypt because of bilharzia, a parasite found in the Nile and canals, and currents can be strong near Aswan. Use your cruise ship's pool instead, and save open-water swimming for the Red Sea.

Can you take photos inside Egyptian tombs?

In many tombs and museums you can take photos with your phone, but flash is always banned because it damages ancient paint. Rules vary by site, and some tombs or professional cameras need an extra ticket. Ask your guide or check the rules at the ticket office before you shoot.

Is it safe to eat street food in Egypt?

Freshly cooked, hot street food such as koshari or ta'ameya (Egyptian falafel) is usually fine from busy stalls with high turnover. Avoid ice, raw salads and anything sitting out in the heat. If you have a sensitive stomach, stick to your cruise ship, hotel and restaurants your guide recommends.

Is Abu Simbel included in a Nile cruise?

Usually not. Abu Simbel sits about 175 miles south of Aswan, so it's offered as an optional excursion by road or a short flight. It's one of the most spectacular sights in Egypt and well worth adding. Ask for the price and timing when you book your cruise.

Are horse carriage rides in Edfu ethical?

They can be. Many drivers care well for their horses, but standards vary. Choose a carriage whose horse looks healthy, rested and has access to water and shade, and don't be afraid to walk away. Your guide can recommend trusted drivers, and fair tips encourage better care.