Cheap Flights to Egypt from the UK

Hurghada (HRG) is the biggest resort area, with a long coast of hotels, a lively marina and easy access to snorkelling and diving. Sharm El Sheikh (SSH), at the tip of the Sinai peninsula, is known for its reefs, big hotels and organised resort life.

Marsa Alam (RMF) is quieter and more focused on diving, with fewer flights. Cairo (CAI) and Luxor are the choices for pyramids and the Nile, usually combined with a few days at the sea.

Choose by the holiday you want. For a beach week with snorkelling, Hurghada or Sharm is the obvious choice. For history, fly to Cairo or Luxor, and our Cairo destination guide explains what the capital offers.

Flights run from Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton and Stansted, and from Manchester, Birmingham, East Midlands, Bristol, Newcastle, Leeds Bradford, Glasgow and Edinburgh. TUI, Jet2, EgyptAir, easyJet, British Airways and several charter operators fly the routes, and TUI added new winter flights to Marsa Alam and Sharm from several UK airports.

Regional departures are the big advantage of Egypt, since you can fly directly from your local airport. Compare two or three airports, and count the cost of getting there. Our guide to cheap flights from Manchester Airport shows how big regional programmes work.

October to April is the best time, with daytime temperatures from about 22 to 28 degrees and warm sea. This is also the most expensive period, with peaks at Christmas, New Year and the February half-term.

May and June are hot but good value, and July and August are very hot, with temperatures above 35 degrees, though the sea is warm and prices fall. The cheapest weeks are usually early November and late January, when weather is still good and school holidays are over.

British citizens need a visa to enter Egypt. You can get a single-entry tourist visa on arrival at the main airports for a fee, currently around 25 US dollars, or apply for an e-visa online in advance. Rules for the Red Sea resorts of South Sinai, including Sharm El Sheikh, have allowed a free entry stamp for stays within the region.

Your passport should be valid for at least six months from arrival. The details change, so check the Egyptian government and UK Foreign Office websites before you travel. Many tour operators arrange visas on arrival as part of the package.

Most British visitors to Egypt book packages, because all-inclusive hotels, transfers and flights are bundled and carry ATOL protection. TUI and Jet2holidays are the biggest operators, and the prices often beat what you would pay for flight and hotel separately.

Flight-only suits independent travellers and those combining Egypt with a Nile cruise or a tour. Compare both, and check what is included. Our all-inclusive resorts service and vacation packages service can help.

A Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan takes three to seven nights, passing temples at Edfu and Kom Ombo, and offers a gentler pace than a bus tour. Prices range from budget to luxury, and winter is the busy season.

Desert trips from Hurghada and Sharm, including quad biking, camel rides and Bedouin dinners, are popular and good value if booked locally. Check the company's safety record, and make sure you have sun protection and plenty of water.

The pyramids of Giza, the Egyptian Museum and the new Grand Egyptian Museum, a huge site near the pyramids that has been opening in phases, are the headline attractions near Cairo. Luxor offers Karnak, the Valley of the Kings and the temples on the Nile.

A day trip to Cairo from Hurghada is possible but long, and a short flight is more comfortable. Many visitors combine a week at the beach with two or three nights in Cairo or Luxor. Book tours with licensed operators and carry plenty of water.

Egypt is a Muslim-majority country, and dress is more modest outside resorts. Cover shoulders and knees in cities and religious sites, and take care during Ramadan, when daytime eating and drinking in public is less common outside tourist areas.

Alcohol is available in hotels and licensed venues, but not everywhere. Be polite and patient when bargaining in markets, and say no firmly but politely to persistent sellers.

The Egyptian pound is the local currency. Take pounds or dollars to exchange at banks or official bureaux, and avoid street changers. Cards are accepted in hotels and big shops, but cash is needed for tips and markets.

Prices for tourists can be higher than for locals, so agree prices before you start, especially for taxis and tours. Be wary of anyone offering free help that leads to a shop, and keep your valuables secure.

Egypt is popular with families, thanks to warm weather, kids' clubs and shallow bays. The flight is under six hours, which suits children, and all-inclusive hotels make costs predictable.

Choose a hotel with a good children's pool and shade, and pack sun hats and rash vests. Check the airline's rules on seats and pushchairs. Our family vacations service can help find a suitable hotel.

Give us which UK airport suits you, your dates and whether you want a beach week or a tour, and a specialist will check hotel options and see whether a package or separate bookings come out cheaper. We are happy to organise the airport transfer and anything you want to do on the ground.

The search box below pulls current fares, so move your dates around and watch what changes. When you find a price you like, call us before paying so we can confirm what the bag allowance and change rules really are.