Quick answer
As an indicative guide, a 12–14 day Egypt trip from Australia costs roughly AUD 5,000–7,500 per person on a budget, AUD 8,000–13,000 mid-range and AUD 15,000–30,000+ for luxury, including return economy or business flights. Flights are usually AUD 1,600–3,500 in economy. Prices vary with season, exchange rates and availability, so treat these as typical ranges, not quotes.
How much does a trip to Egypt cost from Australia?
Indicatively, expect to spend AUD 5,000–7,500 per person for a budget 12–14 day trip, AUD 8,000–13,000 mid-range, and AUD 15,000–30,000 or more for luxury, including international flights, twin-share accommodation, a Nile cruise, guiding, entry fees and tips.
All figures on this page are indicative market ranges in Australian dollars, based on typical prices at the time of writing. They are not Noble Travel package prices. Egypt's costs move with the Egyptian pound, fuel prices and frequent changes to monument ticket prices, and peak dates (Christmas, January, Easter) cost more. For an accurate figure for your dates, request a tailored quote.
How much are flights from Australia to Egypt?
Return economy flights from Australia to Cairo typically cost AUD 1,600–2,800 in shoulder and low season and AUD 2,200–3,500 or more in peak periods; business class is typically AUD 7,000–12,000+.
- Cheapest: one-stop routings via the Gulf in May–June or September–October.
- Most expensive: departures in mid-December to January and the Australian school holidays.
- Perth often has the shortest travel time; east-coast fares are similar between Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
- Domestic flights in Egypt (Cairo–Luxor, Aswan–Cairo) are indicatively AUD 120–300 each way.
See flights from Australia to Egypt for routes and timing.
How much do hotels in Egypt cost?
Indicative nightly rates for a double room: AUD 60–120 for simple 3-star hotels, AUD 150–350 for good 4–5 star hotels, and AUD 450–1,500+ for luxury and heritage hotels.
| Tier | Cairo / Giza | Luxor / Aswan | Red Sea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget (3-star) | AUD 60–120 | AUD 50–110 | AUD 80–150 (all-inclusive) |
| Mid-range (4–5 star) | AUD 150–350 | AUD 140–300 | AUD 180–400 |
| Luxury / heritage | AUD 450–1,200+ | AUD 450–1,500+ | AUD 500–1,200+ |
Iconic heritage hotels such as the Marriott Mena House at Giza and the Sofitel Legend Old Cataract in Aswan sit at the top end, especially for pyramid-view or Nile-view rooms in peak season.
Where you stay shapes the trip. In Cairo, a Giza hotel saves hours of traffic on pyramid and GEM days. In Luxor, a West Bank guesthouse is cheaper and quieter than the Corniche hotels, while in Aswan a room facing the Nile and Elephantine Island is worth paying a little more for. On the Red Sea, all-inclusive resorts often represent excellent value once meals and drinks are counted.
How much does a Nile cruise cost?
Indicatively, a 4-night Luxor to Aswan cruise costs AUD 600–1,200 per person twin share on a standard ship, AUD 1,300–3,000 on a deluxe 5-star ship, and AUD 3,500–8,000+ on a luxury boutique ship. A 4–5 night dahabiya typically runs AUD 2,500–6,000+ per person.
Fares normally include all meals and sometimes guided excursions and entry fees. Drinks, tips and special tombs are usually extra. Single travellers often pay a supplement of 50–100%. Compare in our Nile cruises guide and cruise vs dahabiya.
How much do guides, transfers and entry fees cost?
Indicatively, a private licensed Egyptologist costs AUD 80–180 per day and a private car with driver AUD 70–180 per day; entry fees for a classic 12–14 day route add up to roughly AUD 350–800 per person.
- Private Egyptologist guide: AUD 80–180 per day depending on experience and language.
- Private vehicle and driver: AUD 70–180 per day, more for long desert or Abu Simbel transfers.
- Entry fees: Egypt has increased ticket prices significantly in recent years. Major sites such as the Giza pyramids complex, the Grand Egyptian Museum, Karnak, the Valley of the Kings and Abu Simbel each carry a separate ticket, and special tombs (Tutankhamun, Seti I, Nefertari) and entry inside the Great Pyramid cost extra. Ticket prices change frequently; check the official Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities ticketing site for current rates.
- Abu Simbel: road transfer or flight from Aswan adds indicatively AUD 150–600 per person.
- Luxor balloon flight: indicatively AUD 100–250 per person.
How much should I budget for tipping in Egypt?
Budget around AUD 15–30 per person per day for tips, plus your guide and cruise crew. Tipping (baksheesh) is an expected part of the economy. Indicatively:
- Cruise crew: around AUD 8–15 per person per night, pooled.
- Private Egyptologist: around AUD 15–30 per person per day.
- Driver: around AUD 5–10 per person per day.
- Small tips (toilet attendants, porters, tomb guardians): carry EGP 20–50 notes.
See our detailed tipping in Egypt guide.
What is the total cost per person by travel style?
The table below shows indicative totals per person, twin share, for a 12–14 day trip including return flights from an Australian capital city.
| Component | Budget | Mid-range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Return flights | AUD 1,600–2,500 (economy) | AUD 2,000–3,500 (economy / premium) | AUD 7,000–12,000+ (business) |
| Hotels (8–9 nights) | AUD 300–600 | AUD 900–1,800 | AUD 3,000–7,000+ |
| Nile cruise (4 nights) | AUD 600–1,200 | AUD 1,300–3,000 | AUD 3,500–8,000+ |
| Guides, transfers, domestic flights | AUD 1,200–1,800 | AUD 2,000–3,000 | AUD 3,000–5,000 |
| Entry fees and extras | AUD 350–550 | AUD 500–800 | AUD 700–1,200 |
| Meals, drinks, tips | AUD 500–800 | AUD 800–1,200 | AUD 1,000–2,000 |
| Indicative total | AUD 5,000–7,500 | AUD 8,000–13,000 | AUD 15,000–30,000+ |
Indicative only. Actual costs depend on dates, availability, exchange rates and your choices.
How much does food and drink cost in Egypt?
Food is one of the cheapest parts of an Egypt trip: indicatively AUD 3–8 for a filling local meal, AUD 20–45 per person at a good restaurant, and AUD 60–150+ per person for fine dining in a luxury hotel.
- Street food and local cafés: a bowl of koshari, a falafel (ta'ameya) sandwich or ful medames costs a few dollars. These are delicious and, eaten freshly cooked from busy places, generally safe.
- Mid-range restaurants: mezze, grilled meats, fresh fish in Alexandria or a Nubian meal in Aswan typically cost AUD 20–45 per person.
- Hotels and cruise ships: five-star hotel restaurants charge prices closer to Australian levels. On a full-board cruise, your main extra spend is drinks.
- Alcohol: available in hotels, cruise ships and some restaurants. Local beer is inexpensive in shops but imported wine and spirits in hotels are pricey, often AUD 12–25 a glass.
- Water and soft drinks: bottled water costs very little in shops but far more in hotel minibars; buy large bottles.
Most tours include breakfast daily and full board on the cruise, so a mid-range traveller typically spends indicatively AUD 40–90 per day on meals and drinks not included.
Is a package or independent travel better value in Egypt?
For most Australians, a tailor-made private tour offers similar or better value than booking everything separately, once you add up guides, drivers, domestic flights, tickets and the time spent organising. Independent travel can be cheaper in cash terms if you use public transport, budget hotels and join group excursions, but it involves negotiating taxis and touts, queuing for tickets and managing connections yourself.
What you pay for with a specialist:
- Logistics: airport meet-and-assist, transfers, domestic flights and timings that fit together.
- Expert guiding: licensed Egyptologists who know when each site is quietest.
- Buying power: access to cruise ships, hotel rooms and dahabiya cabins that are scarce in peak season.
- Support: someone to call if a flight changes, you fall ill or the itinerary needs to change.
- Protection: booking flights and land arrangements together with an Australian agency makes it easier to manage changes.
Where budget matters most, we'll suggest where to save (for example a deluxe rather than luxury cruise) and where to spend (a great guide at Giza and Luxor). Ask us for a tailored quote.
How can I save money on an Egypt trip?
- Travel in shoulder season: late October–November or March, avoiding Christmas and school holidays.
- Book flights early and be flexible by a few days.
- Spend on what matters: a great guide and a good cruise ship make more difference than a luxury hotel in Cairo.
- Choose a 3-night cruise (Aswan to Luxor) if time and budget are tight.
- Bundle: a specialist package with flights, cruise and guiding is often better value than separate bookings, and you're protected if plans change.
- Pick your special tombs: extra tickets for Tutankhamun, Seti I and Nefertari add up quickly. Your guide can recommend the one or two that matter most to you.
- Share a private tour: the cost of a private guide and vehicle is shared across your group, so travelling as four or six brings the per-person price down noticeably.
- Use local currency: pay in Egyptian pounds where possible; prices quoted in US dollars or euros on the spot are often rounded up.
- Watch exchange rates: the Egyptian pound has moved sharply in recent years, so lock in larger payments when the rate suits you.
Explore options from our Essential Egypt to the Luxury Egypt tour.
Frequently asked questions
Is Egypt expensive for Australians?
Day-to-day costs such as food and transport are low compared with Australia, but long-haul flights, quality cruises and rising monument ticket prices make up most of the budget.
How much spending money do I need for Egypt?
Indicatively AUD 50–120 per person per day for meals not included, drinks, tips and small purchases, depending on your style.
Should I take Australian dollars or US dollars to Egypt?
Use ATMs for Egyptian pounds and carry some US dollars in small notes for the visa on arrival and certain tips. Australian dollars are harder to exchange.
How much is a 10-day Egypt tour?
Indicatively AUD 3,500–9,000 per person on the ground for a mid-range to upper-end 10-day private tour, plus flights. Exact pricing depends on season and hotel choice.
When is the cheapest time to fly to Egypt from Australia?
Generally May–June and September–October, outside Australian school holidays and the Christmas peak.
Are entry fees included in Egypt tours?
On most private tours, standard entry fees for the sites in the itinerary are included, while special tombs and optional extras are not. Always check the inclusions.
