Early booking of tours to Egypt from Almaty: prices and conditions

Early booking of tours to Egypt is the purchase of a package 4–6 months before departure, when the price is minimal and the choice of hotels is maximal. For a tourist from Almaty, this is a way to lock in the cost of a direct flight and popular hotels in Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh before the seasonal price increase. Promotions open in waves and are limited in the number of seats, so it is worth booking immediately after sales start.

When to lock in the price

Early booking is a way to lock in the cost several months before departure. For a tourist from Almaty, promotions of this type open a window when the choice of hotels is maximal and the price has not yet risen.

Timing of the start of promotions at tour operators

Early booking of tours to Egypt is especially beneficial for New Year and May dates: this is where the difference between the starting price and the price a month before departure is most noticeable. Early booking to Egypt usually starts 4–6 months before the season. Operators open promotions in waves: the first wave falls at the start of season sales, the second — closer to high dates. For departures from Almaty, it is convenient to catch the first wave while direct flights and popular hotels in Hurghada are still available. The closer the departure date, the fewer options remain on the all inclusive system. Early booking promotions to Egypt are most often tied to specific check-in dates and are limited in the number of seats. It is worth checking the terms immediately as soon as the operator announces the start of sales.

How the price changes as the departure date approaches

The cost of tours to Egypt rises in steps, not smoothly. At the start of sales the price is minimal, then it rises as flights fill up. A month before departure, cheap room categories are usually already taken. Last minute offers do happen, but it is a lottery: you can fly cheaper, or you can be left without a seat on the dates you need. Early booking gives predictability — you pay a known amount and choose a hotel calmly. Tours to Egypt for New Year and May holidays rise in price fastest, so here early booking saves especially noticeably.

What is included in the early booking package

The early booking package is usually broader than a standard tour. Let's break down what the operator covers and what a tourist from Almaty will have to take on themselves.

Accommodation, transfer and insurance under the promotion terms

Basically, the package includes the flight, accommodation and a group transfer from the airport. Medical insurance for Egypt is not automatically included in the tour — it is arranged separately, and the presence of a policy is checked at the counter during check-in. Early booking often adds bonuses: a free room upgrade, late check-out or a discount for a second child. The transfer terms should be clarified in advance: an individual trip to Marsa Alam or Taba is paid differently than a group bus.

Visa and surcharges that remain with the tourist

Beyond the package, there remain expenses that the operator does not cover. The Egyptian stamp is placed upon arrival, but before departure it is worth checking the passport validity — usually at least 6 months from the date of entry is required. Cash dollars will be useful for paying for the visa upon arrival, if it is not included in the package, and for tips. Diving and snorkeling in Marsa Alam and Dahab are a separate expense item: equipment rental and a sea trip are paid on site. An excursion to the Pyramids of Giza and to Cairo takes a whole day with an early departure, the road from Hurghada one way is about 5–6 hours.

Which resorts and seasons to choose for early booking?

The resorts of Egypt differ in temperature, wind and depth. Early booking allows you to choose not only the hotel, but also the season that suits you.

Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh: when is the best time to fly

In Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh, the most comfortable time is from October to April. In winter the air stays around +22…+25, the water is cooler, but swimming is possible. In summer in Hurghada it is hot and windy, in Sharm El Sheikh it is milder thanks to the bays. Early booking for winter dates is taken up first of all, so tours to Egypt for this period should be planned six months in advance. In hotels in Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh, meals are most often on the all inclusive system, but drinks at the bar and dishes in a la carte restaurants may be paid.

Marsa Alam, Dahab and El Gouna for a quiet holiday

Marsa Alam, Dahab and El Gouna are suitable for those who go for the sea and quiet. In Marsa Alam there is the country's best diving, but there are few hotels and it takes longer to get there. Dahab is a windsurfing center, here the wind blows year-round and there are many budget guesthouses. El Gouna is lagoons and green spaces, here there are fewer tourists than in Hurghada, but it is calmer and closer to nature reserves. Early booking in these places is especially valuable: the choice of hotels is limited, and by the season there are almost no free rooms left. The sun in Egypt is active year-round, a high-SPF cream is needed even in winter, especially in Sharm El Sheikh and Dahab.

Safaga, Taba and Nuweiba: destinations near the border

Safaga, Taba and Nuweiba are destinations for those who value proximity to the border. Taba and Nuweiba in Sinai are convenient if you want to combine the sea with a trip to Israel or Jordan — the border is nearby. Safaga stands between Hurghada and Marsa Alam, here there are fewer hotels and tourists, but it is calmer and closer to nature reserves. Early booking in these cities gives a chance to take the few good hotels. For trips around the country outside the resort area, a separate document is needed — a movement permit, it is arranged at the hotel or with the tour operator.

How to prepare for a trip from Almaty

Gathering for Egypt from Almaty takes less time than it seems. The main thing is to close household issues in advance so as not to spend the first days on formalities on site.

Documents, currency and cash for the first days

It is better to bring currency to Egypt in US dollars or euros: rubles and tenge are rarely accepted at exchange offices in resort areas and at an unfavorable rate. Visa and Mastercard cards from Kazakh banks work in hotels and large stores, but at markets and in taxis payment is cash only. Cash dollars will come in handy for paying for a visa on arrival, if it is not included in the package, and for tips — in Egypt this is an expected part of the service. Early booking of tours to Egypt should be completed before you start collecting documents: the operator requests some papers in advance.

Time difference and acclimatization

The time difference with Almaty is 3 hours in winter and 2 hours in summer: Egypt changes its clocks (UTC+2 in winter, UTC+3 in summer), while Kazakhstan stays on UTC+5 all year round. The first day should be planned without excursions: the body is adjusting, and the heat adds stress. Acclimatization in Egypt is easier if on the first day you drink more and spend less time in the open sun. You cannot drink tap water even in hotels; bottled water is bought for drinking, and it is better to ask about ice in drinks outside the hotel. Early booking allows you to choose dates so that the first days are spent on a quiet rest rather than on transfers.

What to put in the first aid kit and how to protect yourself from the sun

It is better to take first aid kits with familiar Kazakh medicines with you: the assortment of local pharmacies differs, and the names may be unfamiliar. The list should include remedies for stomach upset, a fever reducer, an antihistamine and bandages. The sun in Egypt is active all year round; a cream with high SPF is needed even in winter, especially in Sharm El Sheikh and Dahab. A hat and UV-filter glasses will be useful in any season. Early booking does not save you from this packing, but it gives you time to assemble the first aid kit without haste.

What rules and features of holidays on site?

Egypt is a country with its own rhythm, and some everyday rules differ from the usual ones. Knowing them in advance, you will avoid awkward situations and unnecessary expenses.

Dress code, haggling at markets and tips

The dress code outside the beach is more modest than in Turkey: in cities and at markets, covered shoulders and knees are appropriate, especially for women. At markets and in shops it is customary to haggle; the starting price may be inflated by 2–3 times the real one. Tips in Egypt are an expected part of the service; small amounts are given to the porter, maid and waiter. Early booking does not affect these expenses, but allows you to include them in the budget in advance. In hotels in Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh, the staff speaks English; in remote areas a couple of phrases in Arabic will come in handy.

Paid options in all inclusive hotels

The all inclusive system in Egypt covers the main things, but not everything. In hotels in Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh, meals are most often on an all inclusive basis, but drinks at the bar and dishes in a la carte restaurants may be paid. Spa treatments, hotel excursions and some water entertainment are paid separately. Diving and snorkeling in Marsa Alam and Dahab are a separate expense item: equipment rental and going out to sea are paid on site. Early booking sometimes includes bonuses such as a free dinner in an a la carte restaurant, so the terms should be read carefully.

Travel permit and excursions around the country

For trips around the country outside the resort area, a separate document is needed — a travel permit; it is arranged at the hotel or with the tour operator. An excursion to the Pyramids of Giza and to Cairo takes a whole day with an early departure; the road from Hurghada one way is about 5–6 hours. Taba and Nuweiba in Sinai are convenient for those who want to combine the sea with a trip to Israel or Jordan — the border is nearby. Early booking gives time to choose excursions in advance and not decide this on the last day. Some routes require a guide; details are clarified with the operator on site.

Visa and entry rules change: check with the primary source — the electronic visa portal of the Arab Republic of Egypt, https://visa2egypt.gov.eg/eVisa/. The information on this page was verified on 13.09.2026.

Briefly

• Early booking opens 4–6 months before the season and fixes the package price.
• For departures from Almaty, the first wave of sales gives the best choice of hotels and flights.
• The package usually includes a flight, accommodation and group transfer; insurance is separate.
• Resorts differ by season: Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh are comfortable from October to April.
• Before paying, clarify what is included in the package and what cancellation terms apply.