- Tipping is listed as not included on 86 tours, and the rest of the price is paid in cash on the day, so plan cash for both.
- For a full day, sources suggest 100-500 EGP or $30-50 for a private guide and 150-350 EGP or $15-20 for a private driver.
- Restaurants often add a service charge of 10-12%; sources suggest a further 5-15%.
- Keep notes of 20 and 50 EGP ready, and avoid $1 bills.
- Withdraw Egyptian pounds on arrival: cards work at some hotels and restaurants, but cash is widely needed.
Tipping, called baksheesh in Egypt, is customary for guides, drivers and many small services, and it is handed over in cash. Published amounts differ widely: for a private guide, sources range from 100-500 EGP a day up to $30-50. On our tours at Egypt Day Tours tipping is listed as not included on 86 tours, so plan for it separately from the tour price.
What our tours say about tipping and cash
What is included in a day tour is set out tour by tour, and 86 tours list tipping as not included. A booking is confirmed with a 25% deposit paid online; the rest is paid in cash on the day of the tour. Tour prices are per person, for 2 or more people. So a day has two kinds of cash: the balance, which your quote states, and any tips. Ask in the reply to your request which currency the balance is paid in; the steps are in how to book an Egypt day tour, and how prices work on this site explains the quote.
Who is tipped, and the amounts in published sources
No official tariff exists; these are the ranges that travel guides and tour-operator pages give, as of October 2026 (the sources are dated between 2022 and 2026). They disagree, and the traveler decides.
| Who | Amounts in the sources | What the sources add |
|---|---|---|
| Private guide, full day | 100-500 EGP in three sources; $30-50 in one (May 2026) | More for a large group or a long day; usually given at the end of the trip. |
| Private driver, full day | 150-350 EGP in one source, $15-20 in another, about 100 EGP in a 2022 article | More for extra stops or help. |
| Guide on a shared group tour | 100-200 EGP per person for a full day | Often pooled; ask the organizer how it is collected. |
| Restaurant | A service charge of 10-12% is often already on the bill; sources suggest a further 5-15% | The charge may not reach the waiter. |
| Cafe or street food | 5-50 EGP, or round up the bill | Appreciated, not expected. |
| Toilet attendant | 5-20 EGP | Keep small notes ready. |
| Guard or caretaker who explains or helps at a site | 20-100 EGP | Agree the amount first; decline help you did not ask for. |
| Nile cruise crew | About $10 per person per night, pooled | For a cruise stay, not a day tour. |
For a short boat trip, such as a felucca (a traditional sailing boat), the sources give no amount; ask your guide what is usual that day. Lunch is included on 31 tours; a tip to restaurant staff is a separate, customary extra.
