What to expect on an Egyptra tour

Q: What might I pay on the day, beyond the tour price?

Each tour page lists what the price includes under What's included and what is NOT included under What's not included . On some tours a cost is paid on the day, in local currency or EUR: Park entrance fees on some sea trips — Ras Mohammed National Park (about €5 / person), Blue Hole option on Dahab trips, Samadai (Dolphin House) at Marsa Alam. Monument tickets on Luxor and Cairo day trips — most are included in the tour price; some options (inside the Great Pyramid, a specific tomb like KV62 Tutankhamun) have an EXTRA ticket paid on site. Gear rental where snorkelling or diving gear is not included — typically €5–10 for mask/snorkel, more for scuba. Photos and videos on snorkelling and desert tours — a boat photographer or a desert buggy camera-rider may sell these on the day. They are always optional; you can politely decline. Camel ride add-on on some desert itineraries — typically €5–10 if not in the tour price. Drinks beyond the included ones , and tips for the guide and driver — tips are optional; a typical amount is €1–3 per person. If you want the price on paper before you go, screenshot the tour page's What's included / not included section and bring it with you.

Q: How big is the group, and what sort of travellers come along?

Shared group sizes depend on the boat or bus: Day cruises and boat trips — most run 20–40 guests on a boat, with 2–3 crew. Desert ATV, buggy and jeep safaris — typically 8–20 guests, in groups of 2–4 vehicles. Cairo and Luxor day trips — 10–30 guests on the bus, split into small guided groups at the sites. Walking city tours — small, usually 4–12 guests. Guests are a mix of nationalities, mostly families and couples. If you want it smaller, the matching private tour is usually only €30–60 more for the car or boat.

Q: Is snorkelling gear included? And what about scuba?

Snorkel gear (mask, snorkel, fins) is included on most boat trips — check each tour page's What's included line. A life vest is always provided , even where gear is not. Scuba diving needs certification or an “intro dive” booking; a separate fee applies, and it is listed on the tour page.

Q: What should I bring?

For a sea tour: a towel, sunscreen SPF 50+, a hat, sunglasses, flip-flops, some cash for drinks or tips, and a plastic bag for a wet swimsuit on the way back. Many boats have little shade — bring a light long-sleeve if you burn fast. For a desert tour: closed shoes, a scarf for dust, long sleeves for the evening, a jumper for a night tour (the desert cools fast), sunglasses, water. For a historical day trip: comfortable walking shoes, a hat, water, a passport copy (needed for some monument tickets). For all tours: an ID or a passport copy, a phone charged with WhatsApp, and the booking QR code (the voucher PDF, printed or on your phone).

Q: When can I cancel, and what's the exact window?

Most tours: cancel free up to 12 hours before the tour start, for a full refund. Change the date free up to 24 hours before . Tours with a domestic flight (for example Cairo from Hurghada by plane, Luxor from Sharm by plane): cancel free up to 48 hours before — the airline ticket is not refundable once issued. Multi-day packages and Nile cruises: a separate longer window applies — it is shown on each package page. To cancel, sign in to My Account and press Cancel on the booking, or reply to the WhatsApp confirmation thread. The refund, when you paid online, goes back to the same card in 5–10 working days.

Question 1

When will you pick me up, and how long does it take?

Answer

Every tour includes free hotel pickup within the departure area.

Shared tours (the price per person, you join a fixed-size group): the bus collects from several hotels along a route. From the first pickup to the first stop is typically 45–75 minutes in the Hurghada or Sharm hotel zones, longer in the larger El Gouna, Makadi, Sahl Hasheesh and Soma Bay stretches. Your exact pickup time is sent the evening before by WhatsApp, usually 15–60 minutes before the official tour start.

Private tours (the whole car or boat is only for your group): the driver comes straight to your hotel and leaves straight to the first stop. No other hotels on the route.

If you have a flight the next day, look for a tour length that leaves you a buffer — the return pickup times shown on each tour page are typical, not guaranteed, because Red Sea seas and Cairo traffic can push the return by 30–60 minutes.

Question 2

What might I pay on the day, beyond the tour price?

Answer

Each tour page lists what the price includes under What's included and what is NOT included under What's not included. On some tours a cost is paid on the day, in local currency or EUR:

Park entrance fees on some sea trips — Ras Mohammed National Park (about €5 / person), Blue Hole option on Dahab trips, Samadai (Dolphin House) at Marsa Alam.
Monument tickets on Luxor and Cairo day trips — most are included in the tour price; some options (inside the Great Pyramid, a specific tomb like KV62 Tutankhamun) have an EXTRA ticket paid on site.
Gear rental where snorkelling or diving gear is not included — typically €5–10 for mask/snorkel, more for scuba.
Photos and videos on snorkelling and desert tours — a boat photographer or a desert buggy camera-rider may sell these on the day. They are always optional; you can politely decline.
Camel ride add-on on some desert itineraries — typically €5–10 if not in the tour price.
Drinks beyond the included ones, and tips for the guide and driver — tips are optional; a typical amount is €1–3 per person.

If you want the price on paper before you go, screenshot the tour page's What's included / not included section and bring it with you.

Question 3

How big is the group, and what sort of travellers come along?

Answer

Shared group sizes depend on the boat or bus:

Day cruises and boat trips — most run 20–40 guests on a boat, with 2–3 crew.
Desert ATV, buggy and jeep safaris — typically 8–20 guests, in groups of 2–4 vehicles.
Cairo and Luxor day trips — 10–30 guests on the bus, split into small guided groups at the sites.
Walking city tours — small, usually 4–12 guests.

Guests are a mix of nationalities, mostly families and couples. If you want it smaller, the matching private tour is usually only €30–60 more for the car or boat.

Question 4

Is snorkelling gear included? And what about scuba?

Answer

Snorkel gear (mask, snorkel, fins) is included on most boat trips — check each tour page's What's included line.
A life vest is always provided, even where gear is not.
Scuba diving needs certification or an “intro dive” booking; a separate fee applies, and it is listed on the tour page.

Question 5

What languages do the guides speak?

Answer

Guides speak English and Arabic on every tour. The booking form lets you request a guide in German, Italian, French, Spanish, Russian, Polish or Turkish. We confirm a same-language guide before the tour; where one is not available on your date, we tell you in time to switch.

Question 6

What should I bring?

Answer

For a sea tour: a towel, sunscreen SPF 50+, a hat, sunglasses, flip-flops, some cash for drinks or tips, and a plastic bag for a wet swimsuit on the way back. Many boats have little shade — bring a light long-sleeve if you burn fast.

For a desert tour: closed shoes, a scarf for dust, long sleeves for the evening, a jumper for a night tour (the desert cools fast), sunglasses, water.

For a historical day trip: comfortable walking shoes, a hat, water, a passport copy (needed for some monument tickets).

For all tours: an ID or a passport copy, a phone charged with WhatsApp, and the booking QR code (the voucher PDF, printed or on your phone).

Question 7

What if the weather changes the plan?

Answer

In rough sea or a sandstorm, the tour may be moved to a different reef, run at a different time, or rescheduled free of charge to another date. If the tour must be cancelled because of safety, you get a full refund — and we tell you before you set out, not when you arrive at the marina.

Question 8

When can I cancel, and what's the exact window?

Answer

Most tours: cancel free up to 12 hours before the tour start, for a full refund. Change the date free up to 24 hours before.
Tours with a domestic flight (for example Cairo from Hurghada by plane, Luxor from Sharm by plane): cancel free up to 48 hours before — the airline ticket is not refundable once issued.
Multi-day packages and Nile cruises: a separate longer window applies — it is shown on each package page.

To cancel, sign in to My Account and press Cancel on the booking, or reply to the WhatsApp confirmation thread. The refund, when you paid online, goes back to the same card in 5–10 working days.

Question 9

How do I pay?

Answer

Egyptra never asks for a card at booking. After you book you get an instant email with a QR code voucher. Then one of two paths:

Pay cash on the day at the meeting point, in EUR, USD, GBP or EGP — your tour page lists what we accept. The guide gives you a printed receipt.
Pay online before the tour with a secure link our team sends on request. Visa, Mastercard, Amex and Apple Pay / Google Pay.

The published price never changes between the booking page and the payment link. No booking fees, no card surcharge.

Question 10

What if something goes wrong — who do I call?

Answer

WhatsApp +20 101 195 7868 is answered by Egyptra's own operations desk in Hurghada, 09:00 to 21:00 Egypt time. For urgent issues outside those hours (missing driver, lost phone, emergency), WhatsApp is still monitored — reply to any message in the booking thread and the night team sees it.

Phone: +20 155 110 7070 (office hours). Email: [email protected].

Every tour is run by Egyptra Travel Services, Egyptian Ministry of Tourism License No. 2221 (Category A), operating since 2010.