October through April keeps you comfortable - hot but not scorching, with calm Red Sea conditions. Summer heat (May-September) is intense and many tours operate on reduced schedules, so check before you go if you're visiting then.

People book overnight Cairo flights and 2-day desert experiences anywhere from a few days to a week out, but booking earlier gives you better flight times and less chance of disappointment. For anything involving ferries or Mount Sinai climbs, a week ahead is safer.

The catalog here shows plenty of private day trips and desert experiences - people do them because you skip the waiting around and go at your own pace. If you're splitting costs with travel companions, private guides aren't much pricier and beat sitting through someone else's itinerary.

For far-flung trips like Cairo or Luxor, flights are the standard move. For Petra and the Dead Sea, you're taking a ferry from nearby Taba. Local desert tours, St. Catherine, and Mount Sinai runs happen by road - your guide handles transport once you book.

Short boat hires and Cairo day flights work fine for families, but Mount Sinai requires hiking and many desert camps involve uneven terrain. Check the specific tour details before booking - operators will tell you what's realistic for your group's fitness level.

A 2-day Sinai desert experience usually covers camping, meals, and a Bedouin guide - you're sleeping under stars and eating around a fire. Always confirm what transport, accommodation style, and meals are bundled in before you pay, since tours vary.

You'll need an Egyptian visa (usually on-arrival), and if you're crossing to Jordan for Petra, that's a separate stamp. Tour operators handle the logistics, but check your passport validity and current entry requirements well before your trip.