Get lost in Egypt (in all the right ways)

The excitement of cruising down the Nile at sunset or seeing the Pyramids of Giza for the first time is far too big to keep to yourself. If you've always dreamed about travelling to this bucket-list destination but you're not keen on going solo, then our small group tours are for you. As well as a local leader to handle the logistics, take you beyond the iconic sites and help you unlock the mysteries of this fascinating country, you'll have a bunch of ready-made (and adventure-keen!) friends to share all the memories with. Are you in?

Our Egypt solo tours

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Tailor-Made trips

Take four or more on an exclusive trip and tailor your itinerary

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The perks of solo travel in Egypt with Intrepid

Intrepid travellers and leader jump for joy in front of the Pyramids at Giza

Ready-made friends

Call us biased, but we think one of the best parts of travelling is making new memories with people who are just as hungry for adventure as you are. That's the beauty of a small group tour. There'll be plenty of time to do your own thing if you want to, but you'll always have someone to snap a photo of you with the Pyramids, grab a coffee or chat with on an overnight sleeper train from Cairo to Aswan.

An Intrepid leader discussing the history of the ancient Pyramids of Giza in Egypt

A local leader

Egypt's history is that rich, it can be hard to know where to start. With a local leader by your side, you'll have an on-tour history expert ready to answer your burning questions and help you uncover the mysteries of the Pyramids, Sphinx and the Valley of the Kings. They'll also introduce you to locals, show you hidden spots that you won't find on Google and give you top-notch recommendations for your free time.

A traveller buying herbs from a local trader at a market in Aswan, Egypt

Safety

Egypt is generally a safe place to travel to, as long as you keep your wits about you and adhere to the status quo. Crime rates are low, but be aware of scam artists and pickpockets which can be common in busy souqs and tourist hotspots. Your local leader knows the areas and tourist traps to avoid, will get you from A to B smoothly and will let you know the do's and don'ts when it comes to local customs.

Intrepid travellers cruise down the nile on a felucca

Logistics and convenience

Anxious about local bus rides or sleeper trains? Not sure about how to go about organising a felucca cruise (traditional Egyptian sailing boat)? No worries. When you travel with us, we'll take care of all the planning and logistics so you don't have to (there's enough admin to do in everyday life, right?). All you need to do is rock up – with your camera and a sense of adventure!

Egypt tour reviews

FAQs

Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards

From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travellers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises). However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travellers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.

Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.

Learn more about Intrepid's COVID-19 policy

It's your call. Rooming on our trips is organised on a twin-share basis, but most of our trips also have the option to pay an extra fee for your own room. Just let us know at the time of booking and we'll arrange it for you.

For twin-share rooms, we pair up solo travellers with another traveller of the same gender as per the gender marker on each of their passports. As a responsible tour operator, we strive to create a safe and inclusive environment for everyone. In the case that your gender identity differs from what's indicated on your passport, please contact us so that we can discuss rooming options with you.

On a small selection of itineraries some accommodations are booked on an open-gender, multi-share basis. In those instances it will clearly be stated in your Essential Trip Information.

Whether you’re travelling alone or with a partner, our trips have a set itinerary. But within that there’s time set aside for your own exploration (if you want to – no pressure). Depending on how you're feeling, you may want to have some downtime, ask your guide for a few tips then head out alone, or hang out with the group and see where the day takes you.

You sure do. All passengers travelling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of their tour. Your travel insurance details will be recorded by your leader on the first day of the trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is very much an essential and necessary part of every journey.

Learn more about travel insurance

Intrepid is committed to making travel widely accessible, regardless of ability or disability. That’s why we do our best to help as many people see the world as possible, regardless of any physical or mental limitations they might have. However, we’re always happy to talk to travellers with disabilities and see if we can help guide them towards the most suitable itinerary for their needs and where possible, make reasonable adjustments to our itineraries. 

Learn more about accessible travel with Intrepid

Our solo travel safety guide

Good advice for us all, but particularly for people travelling solo. Make copies of your itinerary, contact details, passport and travel insurance, then email them to yourself and to one or two friends/family at home. Check-in on social media when you can so people can keep track of where you are. 

If you’re arriving late in a city by yourself, book a hotel with a front desk or concierge service (many hotels also offer private transfers that don’t cost the earth from the airport or train station). If you're travelling with us, we can help you organise an arrival transfer. Read your maps before you head out for a walk (you can use a map app on your smartphone – or take screenshots of where you’re going if you don’t want to use up your precious data). If you need to check your map when you’re out and about, duck into a shop or café to do it. Leave the blingy jewellery, wedding rings and designer clothes at home, and aim to dress like the locals do – hit up the local markets if you haven’t packed the right outfits. Aim to keep track of travel times, so you’re not caught out after dark.

Most mobile/cell providers now offer travel passes to help manage your international roaming costs (which, let’s face it, are expensive!). For a few dollars a day, you’ll have access to data, which means you can log into your apps (like Skype, email and WhatsApp) when you’re out of WiFi zones and quickly get in touch with someone – a friend at home, someone in your group, or the police – if you need to. It might also be worth checking out the local cell/mobile providers as these can be quite cost effective. 

Solo travellers are way more likely to be ‘taken for a ride’ at the airport by unscrupulous taxi drivers, so do your research before you arrive. Make sure you get a cab from the airport/station taxi rank – if you’re not sure where to go, just head to the information desk for help. Touts tend to hang out in the arrivals area and promise cheaper rates, but can often be dodgy. When you get to the cab rank, ask the driver to use the meter or request a cost estimate before you hop in the car – if it’s way higher than it should be, pick another vehicle. A lot of airports have train stations attached as well, so consider public transport if you want to save a dollar or two.

It’s one of the advantages of travelling solo on a group tour: safety in numbers. The big, 50-person bus groups stand out on the road, but a small Intrepid group of eight or nine people, with a local leader showing the way – including areas to avoid and getting around safely – won’t draw much attention. Plus, it’s a great way to see parts of the world you may feel uncomfortable exploring on your own. If you want to do things on your own, consider a day tour to familiarise yourself with a city and get to know the local way of life. 

Solo travel is all about confidence. If you’re relaxed and self-assured on the street, you’re more likely to blend in. When you meet new people, don’t assume they’re all out to get you, but be sensible too and trust your gut. If it feels wrong, it probably is. Remember: the popular tourist areas are often the most well-lit and secure, but they’re often a juicier target for pickpockets and scammers. Just use your common sense; half of travel safety is simply being aware of your surroundings.

Read more about travel in Egypt