Tipping in Egypt: A Simple Guide for American Travelers

Tipping, or baksheesh, is part of everyday life in Egypt. Many people in tourism rely on tips as a real part of their income, so knowing what to give in advance makes your trip smoother and takes the guesswork out of each moment.

Carry small Egyptian pound notes

Most tips are paid in Egyptian pounds (EGP). Ask your hotel or our team to break larger notes into 10, 20, 50 and 100 pound bills. U.S. dollars are welcome for larger tips at the end of a tour, such as for your guide and driver.

A practical guide to how much to tip

These are common guidelines used by tour operators in Egypt in 2026. They are suggestions, not rules: tip more for great service and less if you were not happy.

• Private Egyptologist guide: roughly USD 20 to 50 per day for a couple or small family, more for larger groups, given at the end of the tour.
• Private driver: roughly USD 10 to 20 per day in total.
• Nile cruise crew: roughly USD 10 to 15 per person per night, usually left in the envelope provided on the last evening and shared among the staff.
• Restaurants: check whether service is included; if so, leave an extra 5 to 10 percent in cash for your waiter.
• Hotel porters and housekeeping: around 50 to 100 EGP per bag or per room per day.
• Restroom attendants: 10 to 20 EGP.
• Felucca captains and camel handlers: a small tip after the ride, separate from the agreed price.

Tips to avoid awkward moments

• At temples and tombs, some guards offer to show you a “special” view or take your photo, then expect a tip. You can politely say “la, shukran” (no, thank you) if you did not ask for the service.
• Agree the price of rides and photos before you start.
• Keep tip money separate from your main wallet so you are not pulling out large notes in public.

Group trips

For church, sorority, alumni and family reunion groups, we suggest collecting a tip fund at the start of the trip. Your group leader or our tour manager can then handle tips throughout the journey, so nobody has to think about it. Read more in how to plan a group trip to Egypt and our Black traveler’s guide to Egypt.

Plan your trip with Black Egypt Tours

We plan private and group trips for African American and Black travelers, with Egyptologist guides and 24/7 support on WhatsApp. Browse our classic Egypt tours, Nile cruises and group trips, or send us your dates and we will design your itinerary.