Travel and transport agencies Nile Valley

Egypte Insolite is a local travel agency founded by Hussein, a fully-fledged French-speaking Egyptologist guide. Hussein is renowned for his love and extensive knowledge of his country, as well as his willingness to pass on his knowledge. The agency organizes tailor-made tours to suit even the most demanding travelers. Whether it's a visit to the Pyramids in Cairo, a cruise on the Nile between Luxor and Aswan, an adventure in the oases, the White Desert or the Red Sea, you can put your trust in Hussein.

Since 1981, unquestionably one of the best French-speaking agencies in Egypt. Around Sherif and his mother, this family-run agency brings together a team of extremely professional enthusiasts who organize tailor-made trips all over Egypt. With a thorough knowledge of Luxor and the Valley, as well as Cairo and the rest of the country, they and their experienced, French-speaking, sharp and Egyptologist guides will organize unforgettable experiences for you. They'll adapt to your every whim to create the trip of a lifetime. We recommend them 200%.

At Luxor station, two counters that are often overcrowded sell tickets on normal trains, while one counter specialises in sleeping car tickets. It is best to ask the hotel to pick up your tickets to avoid crowds. Ticket dispenser. Classic train: Cairo/Louxor: 119 LE in^2nd class, duration 9 hours; Luxor/Assouan: 62 LE in^2nd class, duration 3 hours. Sleeping car: Cairo/Louxor: 80 US$ in double cabin, departure 19h-arrival at 6am; Luxor/Cairo: 80 US$ in double cabin, departure 22h-arrival at 8am.

Arrival: two mats for local flights, three mats for international flights. Departure: ticket offices located in the same hall. Located 6 km from the city, a bus service connects the airport to Luxor. You will easily find a taxi, but be careful to negotiate the fare before getting in the car if the taxi does not have a meter. This small airport renovated in the early 2000s has all the necessary services (ATM, catering, duty free...)

Aswan railway station is a classic little station, with the same neo-Egyptian architecture as all the stations in Upper Egypt. There's a small cafeteria and a cash dispenser. There's also a special ticket office for sleeping cars. For conventional trains, you'll have to elbow your way to get your ticket, so it's best to ask your hotel concierge to arrange it for you. Cairo/Aswan: 137 LE in 2nd, duration 13h; Aswan/Louxor: 62 LE in 2nd, duration 3h. Sleeping car: Cairo/Aswan: US$80 in double cabin, departure at 7pm, arrival at 10am.

Time for luxury: sailing aboard the Steam Ship Sudan, the oldest steamer on the Nile, is an extraordinary experience. Built in the early ^20th century, it is the last remaining vintage steamer on the river. Its strengths? Small capacity and a way of reconciling the original atmosphere with modern-day comfort. A double teak deck, a black hull, paddle wheels and a ship's chimney that exhales steam: you really are in another world! The cruise lasts six days, departing from Luxor or Aswan. An experience in itself!

Enrique, Eléonore and Memdouh built their company with the aim of offering travelers an authentic way to discover this country and its river. The company owns several dahabiehs, including the Meroe, Malouka, Nile andAswan. The cruise lasts 6 days, with stops at Esna, Edfu and Kôm-Ombo, and visits to sites otherwise inaccessible by river. The dahabiyas are all built under the supervision of Memdouh, a sailor with over 30 years' experience of navigation on the Nile.

An Honorary Consul of France does not have authority to issue visas for France or the Schengen area or to marry French nationals on the ground. It can be consulted in cases of extreme urgency, difficulty being understood during hospitalization, arrest, fraud. French citizens abroad are subject to the civil and criminal laws of the countries they visit. French citizens who also have Egyptian citizenship cannot assert their French citizenship in Egypt.

The airport is located 16 km southwest of the city, which can be reached in about 30 minutes by taxi. We pass by the dam to reach it and we see Philae not far away: welcome! Although small, the airport is modern, there is a small catering service, wi-fi, an exchange office and an ATM. You can also rent a car there, although it is better not to take too much risk on the Egyptian roads!

Microbuses, the easiest way to get around the region, leave from the bus station. This is an economical option for visiting the temples of Kom-Ombo and Edfu on the way to Luxor. Bus journeys to the Red Sea from Aswan are not recommended. Here are the times for the main destinations served here: Aswan/Louxor, 4-hour journey, with stops at Kom-Ombo and Edfu. 5 buses a day Aswan/Kom-Ombo: 1-hour journey. 5 buses a day Aswan/Edfu: 2h journey. Aswan/Abou Simbel.

There are around ten buses a day to Hurghada, with four different companies each offering two to three buses a day. Aswan is best reached by microbus or train. For the Luxor/Hurghada and Safaga journey, allow 4/5 hours. Luxor/Cairo: 8-10 hrs. Luxor/Marsa Alam (with a stopover): approx. 6 hrs. There are buses to Sharm el-Sheikh and Dahab, but they take a long time as there are many checkpoints due to the unrest in Sinai, so it's better to take a domestic flight than a bus.

Captain Karim is remarkable among his colleagues for keeping his boat and the seriousness of his benefits. Instead of using any bâtelier, you can reserve its services and both boats.

The Aswan Agency also proposes to join cruises at the last moment.

Lazuli Nile Cruises offers cruises aboard the Nile's largest Latin sail fleet, 8 premium dahabiehs in Old England style. Many exclusive experiences are offered: visits to temples and sites off the beaten track, breakfast on an islet, meetings with villagers, romantic dinners... On board, traditional cuisine takes pride of place. Lazuli is also an agency dedicated to the authenticity of Egypt, past and present. It supports projects for the environment and local populations.

Felouques, sandals and dahabeya invite you to take the traditional Luxor-Assouan cruise, as well as more original excursions between Esna and Abu Simbel. The owner is French and has lived in Luxor for many years, so she knows the area like the back of her hand. Fares are a little steep on the boat, to be paid alone or with other customers, whereas the same services are sometimes offered by other companies for a more reasonable price. The boats are fitted out with restored old furniture, which adds a touch of cachet.

Many self-employed workers in the tourism sector, who do not have a wasta in the large travel agencies, cruise lines or hotels, are excluded from the tourism revival that has begun in 2016. Although the fully organised excursions make things easier for tourists, they are not always a guarantee of quality and economy. If you introduce this tourist guide (saying he is French), Mohammed Abdallah, owner of the felucca Rosina, should give you a good price for a sunset ride

With 19 years' experience as a French-speaking guide, Mina Wasfy knows Egypt like the back of her hand and speaks several languages fluently. This French-speaking guide offers personalized tours where he accompanies travelers to provide them with a privileged and personal approach to the country. Keen to satisfy his customers and share his love of Egypt, Mina pays close attention before the trip to devise the visit or tour best suited to his guests.

Egypte Éthique is a travel agency founded by a group of friends from France and Egypt. The agency stands out for its deep attachment to local culture and history. Indeed, the agency is deeply committed to the local population. Its proximity to the local population means it can take you off the beaten track to discover the real life of villagers and craftsmen. With Egypte Éthique, you'll experience authentic local life while discovering the ancient sites that abound along the Nile.

This cruise ship was completely renovated in 2017 and will be again at the end of 2023. It's a "big" boat that remains on a human scale, with its 60 fully-equipped cabins. The cruise lasts four nights from Luxor to Aswan, and three nights in the other direction. This mode of travel is ideal for enjoying the essentials of a Nile cruise and visiting the main sites at the various stops. The clientele is international, often in a convivial spirit. Service is particularly attentive.