Do You Need Travel Insurance for Egypt? What to Check Before You Go

For most nationalities, travel insurance is not something the Egyptian border asks to see — check the current entry rules for your passport. But it is what pays when a holiday goes slightly wrong: a stomach bug that needs a doctor, a cut from coral, a twisted ankle on temple steps, or a cancelled flight home.

Why it matters in Egypt

• Medical care. Private clinics and hospitals in the resort towns are used to tourists, but they usually expect payment or a guarantee from an insurer before treatment.
• The heat and the sea. Sunstroke, dehydration, stomach upsets and reef cuts are the most common reasons visitors see a doctor.
• Distances. Many trips are long days by road, boat or plane — Luxor from Hurghada, Abu Simbel from Aswan, Cairo by flight. Delays and missed connections happen.
• Your belongings. Phones, cameras and sunglasses travel to the beach, the boat and the desert.

What a good policy covers

• Emergency medical treatment and, if needed, transport home.
• Trip cancellation and interruption, for when you have to cancel or come home early.
• Delayed or lost luggage.
• A 24/7 assistance line that can direct you to a clinic and talk to the hospital for you.

The small print to read for an Egypt trip

Many of the best things to do here are activities that some policies leave out. Check yours covers what you plan to do:

• Scuba diving — and to what depth. Snorkelling is usually covered; diving sometimes needs an add-on.
• Quad bikes, buggies and jeeps on desert safaris.
• Hot-air balloon flights in Luxor.
• Horse and camel rides.

Also check the excess you pay on each claim, and whether existing medical conditions are covered.

When to buy

Buy it as soon as your flights are booked: cancellation cover only protects you from the day the policy starts.

Our partner

We work with EKTA, which sells travel insurance online for trips abroad. Before you buy, check that the policy is available for your country of residence and that it covers the activities you have in mind.

On the trip

Keep the policy and the assistance number on your phone, and keep receipts for any medical care or expenses you might claim.

Plan your days

Planning to dive in Hurghada or fly over Luxor at sunrise? Compare the best-rated tours there — and check your cover first.

Trivaway earns a small commission if you buy through our partner link — your price stays the same.