New Year in Egypt from Almaty: tours

New Year in Egypt means a warm sea, +22…+24 °C during the day and a festive atmosphere at the resorts of Hurghada, Sharm El Sheikh, Marsa Alam, Dahab, El Gouna, Safaga and Taba. It is convenient to fly from Almaty on direct flights. The peak of prices and occupancy is from December 28 to January 3, so it is more profitable to book a tour two to three months before departure.

When to book a New Year tour and how to choose dates

A holiday in Egypt on New Year dates becomes more expensive and sells out faster. Let's break down when to book, how the first half of December differs from the holiday week and by what deadline to prepare documents.

The first half of December versus the holiday week

New Year in Egypt is cheapest to celebrate with arrival before the 20th of December. A tour to Hurghada or Sharm El Sheikh on these dates costs noticeably less, and hotels are not yet filled to the limit. The peak of demand falls on December 28 — January 3, and that is when the package price rises most. The difference is noticeable even with the same set of services. Those who can shift the trip a week earlier save money and get a quiet resort. The holiday week takes its toll in another way: parties, gala dinners and an atmosphere that does not exist on quiet December days. The choice is between saving and celebration, not between a bad and a good holiday.

Deadlines for booking and submitting documents

It is better to book a New Year tour to Egypt two to three months before departure. By the beginning of December, mainly expensive categories and inconvenient dates remain in Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh. The practice is simple: the closer the holiday, the less choice and the higher the price for the Egyptian destination. Those traveling with family and wanting a specific hotel should not wait until December.

What happens at the resorts during the holiday days?

The holiday days change the resorts of Egypt beyond recognition. Hotels operate at full occupancy, evenings are scheduled in advance, and queues accumulate at arrival airports.

Mandatory dinner on December 31 and its cost

Dinner on December 31 at hotels in Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh is most often mandatory and paid separately from the package. Hotels sell New Year dates only with it; refusing and having dinner in the city will not work. The cost depends on the hotel category and the format of the evening; specific amounts change every season. The table usually combines European dishes and local cuisine, and a separate menu is often prepared for children. Alcohol in Egypt is served in hotels and sold in specialized stores; restrictions are possible in certain areas. It is better to clarify the format of the dinner and its price at booking, not at the reception. That way the festive evening will not become an unpleasant surprise on the bill.

Hotel occupancy and queues at the arrival airport

Hotel occupancy in Egypt during the holidays approaches the maximum, and this is felt from the first hours. Queues at Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh airports on New Year flights can take more than an hour. The Egyptian visa for citizens of Kazakhstan is issued on arrival, but it is precisely on these dates that the procedure drags on. The transfer also waits: buses leave as they fill up, not according to schedule. Free sunbeds by the pool run out by noon, and tables in restaurants are booked in advance. Those who arrive on December 30 or 31 fall into the densest flow. Arrival on December 26–27 is noticeably calmer, although the holiday does not disappear anywhere.

Visa and entry rules change: check with the primary source — the portal of the electronic visa of the Arab Republic of Egypt, https://visa2egypt.gov.eg/eVisa/. The information on this page was verified on 12.09.2026.

Where to go for a different format of celebration

The resorts of Egypt offer different celebrations: noisy, quiet or active. Choosing the destination here is more important than the hotel category.

Quiet options for couples and families

Marsa Alam, Safaga and El Gouna are suitable for a calm celebration. Marsa Alam and Safaga are options for those who want to celebrate New Year without noisy parties and large crowds of tourists. El Gouna is liked by couples and families: there are fewer hotels here than in Hurghada, but it is quieter and greener. The weather in late December — early January in Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh is about +22…+24 °C during the day, and cool in the evening. In Marsa Alam and El Gouna the air stays within similar limits, but there is less wind than in Dahab and Taba. A warm sweater in the suitcase will come in handy anywhere on the Egyptian coast. A quiet resort gives the opportunity to have dinner without a queue and stroll along the promenade in the evening.

Windy and active destinations for divers

Divers should look at Dahab, Sharm El Sheikh and Taba. In Dahab and Taba it is windy in winter; this is felt both by those who spend the whole day on the beach and by those who go out on the water. The water in the Red Sea off the coast of Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh stays around +21…+23 °C in winter. It is comfortable to swim in a wetsuit or after a quick dip. Diving and snorkeling in Dahab and Sharm El Sheikh are possible in winter, but visibility and water temperature are lower than in spring and autumn. The holiday dates add dense groups at popular sites to this. Booking dives in advance is reasonable: places go quickly at the end of December.

How to prepare for a trip from Almaty?

Preparations from Almaty for the Egyptian destination require attention to money and insurance. Below — what to clarify before departure and how not to be left without cash.

Insurance and coverage of active holidays

Medical insurance for Egypt is mandatory, and it is the first thing to check before departure. Separately clarify whether the policy covers diving and active types of recreation: ordinary tourist insurance does not always include diving and water entertainment. In Dahab and Sharm El Sheikh, where people dive most often, this point is especially important. It is worth making sure that the coverage is valid for the entire duration of the trip and for all resorts, including Marsa Alam and Taba. If you are traveling with children, check whether the insurance applies to the child and to windsurfing in Dahab. This is the point where saving costs the most.

Cash, cards and New Year's table at the hotel

The exchange rate of the Egyptian pound to the tenge is unstable, so it is better to bring part of the cash in dollars or euros. It is worth exchanging them as needed, and not the entire amount at once. Cards from Kazakhstani banks are not accepted everywhere; in small cafes and markets it is safer to pay in cash. In Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh there are ATMs, but during the holidays the lines for them grow. The New Year's table at the hotel is usually already included in the mandatory dinner on December 31. Alcohol in Egypt is sold in hotels and specialized stores; restrictions are possible in certain areas. Keep small change for tips: it will be useful both at the hotel and on excursions.

What to consider with children and on excursion days

Traveling with children and excursion days require separate preparation. The hotel, water and pre-purchased tickets decide more than it seems.

Hotels with a heated pool and kids' club

For a trip with children during the New Year holidays, choose hotels with a heated pool and kids' club. In Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh there are many such options, but for the holidays they are taken first. Heating is important: the sea in winter is invigorating, while the pool by the shore remains warm. The kids' club gives parents free hours and keeps the child occupied on cool evenings. Clarify the age from which children are accepted and the club's opening hours. In El Gouna and Marsa Alam the choice of such hotels is narrower, but it is calmer. It is worth booking a family room in advance, otherwise options without heating will remain.

Booking excursions in advance and winter restrictions on the water

Excursions on holidays are booked in advance: the Pyramids of Giza, Luxor and the Cairo Museum are in high demand at the end of December. A trip from Hurghada or Sharm El Sheikh takes a whole day, and at peak times groups fill up completely. In winter it gets dark early, so some routes are shortened. There are also restrictions on the water: wind in Dahab and Taba cancels sea outings, and diving is postponed. Long journeys are hard for children, so it is better to choose short routes. Plan excursions for the first days of the trip, while there is no fatigue.

Briefly

• A holiday trip to the Red Sea resorts is more profitable with arrival before the 20s of December.
• Peak demand and prices last from December 28 to January 3; tours are taken in advance.
• Dinner on December 31 at hotels is paid separately and most often mandatory.
• During the day around +22…+24 °C, in the evening a sweater is needed, the water in winter is +21…+23 °C.
• With children, book a hotel with a heated pool and kids' club.