Egypt from India
Planning Egypt from India: the nonstop flights from Mumbai and Delhi, the e-visa, vegetarian food, the best months and festival holidays, and how a private journey works.
6 min read · Updated 2026-10
Key takeaways
- EgyptAir flies nonstop to Cairo from Mumbai and Delhi several times a week, in about six hours
- Indian passport holders should apply for the e-visa online, well before travel — do not count on a visa on arrival
- Vegetarians eat very well: koshari, ful, ta'meya and most of the sweets are meat-free
- Diwali and the winter holidays fall in Egypt's best weather
Getting there
EgyptAir flies nonstop to Cairo from Mumbai and from Delhi several times a week, in about six hours — check the current schedule when you book. From other Indian cities, one stop through the Gulf is the easy route. Our journeys can start at Cairo airport: we meet you on arrival and take you to your hotel.
The visa
Indian passport holders should apply for Egypt's tourist e-visa online, on the official portal visa2egypt.gov.eg, at least two weeks before travel. A visa on arrival is generally not available to Indian passports except in specific cases, so do not count on one. Requirements change, so check the official portal, or the Egyptian embassy in New Delhi, before you apply — and pay only on the official portal.
We send the documents a visa application usually asks for — your itinerary and hotel confirmations — as soon as your journey is confirmed.
Important: Apply for the e-visa only on visa2egypt.gov.eg, and in good time: do not plan on a visa at the airport.
Vegetarian food
Egypt is an easy country for vegetarians. The everyday food of Cairo is largely meat-free: koshari, the national dish of rice, lentils, pasta and chickpeas; ful, slow-cooked fava beans; ta'meya, Egypt's green, herb-filled falafel; and most of the sweets, from basbousa to kunafa. Some dishes that look vegetarian, such as molokhia, are often cooked in a meat broth, so ask, or let your guide ask.
Tell us your rules — vegetarian, no egg, no onion and garlic — and we plan the meals around them and brief the hotels and boats before you arrive.
When to come
October to April is the season: warm, dry days and cool evenings. Diwali — 8 November 2026 — falls right in it, with 29–31°C by day in Luxor; the winter holidays in December and January are the coolest and the busiest weeks, so book three to four months ahead. May and June holidays are hot in Upper Egypt: the Red Sea and Alexandria suit them better.
Honeymoons
Egypt is a honeymoon that is also a story to tell: the pyramids at sunrise, a private felucca on the Nile at sunset, a cabin on a Nile boat and a few days by the Red Sea. A professional photographer can be arranged on request for a photo session at the pyramids.
Money and payment
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.
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 Indians need a visa for Egypt?
Yes. Apply for the tourist e-visa online on the official portal visa2egypt.gov.eg, at least two weeks before travel. A visa on arrival is generally not available to Indian passports except in specific cases, so do not rely on one.
Are there direct flights from India to Egypt?
Yes. EgyptAir flies nonstop to Cairo from Mumbai and Delhi several times a week, in about six hours. From other cities it is one stop, usually through the Gulf.
Is it easy to eat vegetarian in Egypt?
Very. Koshari, ful, ta'meya and most of the sweets are meat-free, and we brief the hotels and boats on your rules before you arrive. Ask about dishes like molokhia, which are often cooked in a meat broth.
When is the best time to visit Egypt from India?
October to April. Diwali and the December–January holidays fall in Egypt's best weather; book three to four months ahead for those weeks.
- Apply for the e-visa at least two weeks before travel, on the official portal only.
- For Diwali and the December holidays, book three to four months ahead.
- Tell us your food rules when you enquire, so the hotels and boats are briefed in advance.
- A visa on arrival is generally not available to Indian passports except in specific cases — apply for the e-visa in advance.
- Your passport should be valid for at least six months after the day you arrive.
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 Highlights Deluxe
The headline acts of Egypt in seven days — the Egyptian Museum, Alexandria, the temples and tombs of Luxor, and the Pyramids of Giza.
Honeymoon on the Nile
Egypt as a honeymoon should be — private sunrise at the pyramids, a felucca at golden hour, three nights on the Nile and suites chosen for the view.
Related guides
Egyptian Food Guide
A practical guide to Egyptian cuisine — the dishes to seek out, how Egyptians eat, where to find the best food, and what to expect for dietary requirements.
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.
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.