Egypt from Australia & New Zealand
Planning Egypt from Australia or New Zealand: the one-stop flights, the visa, the time difference, which school holidays work best, and how much to fit in.
6 min read · Updated 2026-10
Key takeaways
- There is no nonstop flight: one stop through Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi or Asia, about a day door to door
- Australian and New Zealand passports can get Egypt's tourist visa online before flying, or on arrival in Cairo
- Your summer holidays fall in Egypt's best weather — and its busiest weeks, so book four to six months ahead
- After a flight that long, ten days or more lets Egypt unfold: Cairo, the Nile, Aswan, perhaps the Red Sea
Getting there
No airline flies nonstop between Australia or New Zealand and Egypt, but one stop is all it takes: through Dubai, Doha or Abu Dhabi on the Gulf carriers, or through an Asian hub. From Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth or Auckland, plan on about a day door to door.
Our journeys can start at Cairo airport: we meet you on arrival and take you to your hotel, and the first day is kept free of early starts.
The visa
Australian and New Zealand passport holders can apply for Egypt's tourist e-visa online before they fly, on the official portal, visa2egypt.gov.eg, or buy a visa on arrival at the airport. Cairo began moving the visa on arrival to a digital version in 2026, and the fees changed during the year — check the current amount on the official portal, and pay only there.
Your passport should be valid for at least six months beyond your stay. With your itinerary we send the up-to-date steps for your passport.
Important: Pay for an e-visa only on visa2egypt.gov.eg. Other sites that look official add their own fee.
Time difference and the first days
Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane are seven to nine hours ahead of Cairo, Perth five to six, and Auckland nine to eleven — the gap shifts as each country moves its clocks. Jet lag from the east is real, so we keep the first two days gentle: a late start, the Nile at sunset, and the pyramids once your body has caught up.
Which school holidays work
December and January — your summer holidays — are Egypt's best weather: 22–24°C by day in Luxor and 19–21°C in Cairo. They are also the busiest weeks of the year, when the best Nile cabins and hotel rooms go first, so book four to six months ahead.
The April holidays work well too — 34–37°C in Luxor, with early mornings and a rest at noon — and the late September–October holidays catch the start of the season, warm but settling. The July holidays fall in Egypt's hottest month: the Red Sea and Alexandria are at their best then, the temples of Upper Egypt are a dawn affair.
Make the long flight count
After a day of flying, a short trip is a waste. Ten days or more lets Egypt unfold at its own pace: Cairo and Giza, a flight to Luxor, the Nile to Aswan, and, if you have the days, the Red Sea to finish. Our longest journey covers all of it in fourteen days.
Money, cards and tipping
Egypt's currency is the Egyptian pound. Cards work in hotels and most restaurants; keep some pounds for small purchases. Our prices are set in euros, and you can pay us by PayPal, by card or by bank transfer. Tipping is part of daily life in Egypt, in small and frequent amounts — we send a short tipping guide with your itinerary.
How a private journey works
Everything is private: your own licensed Egyptologist, your own vehicle and driver, and hotels chosen for the room rather than the star rating. Tell us your dates and how many of you are travelling; we reply within one working day with a real itinerary and a clear price, with no obligation.
Frequently asked questions
Do Australians and New Zealanders need a visa for Egypt?
Yes, but it is simple: apply for the tourist e-visa online before you fly, on the official portal visa2egypt.gov.eg, or buy a visa on arrival at the airport. Check the current fee on the official portal — it changed during 2026.
Are there direct flights from Australia to Egypt?
No. It is one stop, usually through Dubai, Doha or Abu Dhabi, or through an Asian hub — about a day door to door from the east coast of Australia or from Auckland.
What is the best time to visit Egypt from Australia?
Your summer holidays, December and January: 22–24°C in Luxor and 19–21°C in Cairo, cool evenings and clear skies. Book four to six months ahead, because they are Egypt's busiest weeks.
How many days do we need?
After a flight that long, ten days or more. That covers Cairo and Giza, Luxor, the Nile to Aswan, and leaves room for the Red Sea if you have the time.
- For December and January, book four to six months ahead — the best cabins and rooms go first.
- Keep the first two days after arrival free of early starts.
- Check the e-visa fee on visa2egypt.gov.eg when you book; it changed during 2026.
- Your passport should be valid for at least six months beyond your stay in Egypt.
Related destinations
Places covered in this guide.
Cairo
Egypt's capital on the Nile — medieval Islamic and Coptic quarters, the Egyptian Museum, and the gateway to Giza.
Explore →Giza
Home of the Great Pyramid and the Sphinx, on the desert plateau across the Nile from Cairo.
Explore →Luxor
The open-air museum of ancient Thebes — Karnak, Luxor Temple and the royal tombs of the Valley of the Kings.
Explore →Aswan
Egypt's tranquil southern city on the Nile — Nubian culture, the High Dam and the island temple of Philae.
Explore →Related tours
Egypt Icons & Nile Cruise
Our signature journey: Cairo, Alexandria, a sleeper train south, and a three-night Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor — every layer of Egypt in one arc.
The Grand Tour of Egypt
Our most complete journey: Cairo and Alexandria, a Nile cruise, Ramesses II's mountain temple at Abu Simbel, and three Red Sea nights to absorb it all.
Related guides
Best Time to Visit Egypt
Egypt's best travel season is October to April, when Nile Valley temperatures are mild and monuments are comfortable to explore. Here is what to expect season by season and destination by destination.
The Ideal 10-Day Egypt Itinerary
A field-tested 10-day Egypt route — Cairo and Giza, a flight south, Luxor's two banks, a three-night Nile cruise to Aswan and Abu Simbel — with the pacing mistakes to avoid.
Related experiences
Private activities at the destinations covered in this guide.
Sunrise at the Giza Pyramids
Be in place before sunrise at a quiet viewpoint where all nine pyramids of Giza stand in one line, with time of your own for sunrise yoga, a photo session or simply the view — then the plateau with a licensed Egyptologist before it opens to day visitors.
Private Felucca Sailing on the Nile
Charter an entire traditional felucca and drift down the Nile past ancient temples, granite boulders and palm-lined riverbanks — at the same unhurried pace Egyptians have sailed for millennia.
Old Cairo Walking Experience
Walk the medieval lanes of Islamic Cairo and the Coptic quarter with a historian guide who reads nearly two thousand years of layered city — from Roman fortifications to Ottoman merchant palaces.
Book a travel consultation
A short conversation can save weeks of research. Speak to our team about destinations, timing, budgets and what to expect.