Travel vaccinations for Egypt
One of the most popular sun and history destinations from Kent, from Red Sea resorts to Nile cruises and Cairo's ancient sites.
Do I need injections for Egypt?
For most UK travellers, yes, though the list is shorter than for South East Asia. The travel injection usually discussed for Egypt is combined hepatitis A and B, with typhoid considered for longer stays or if you will be eating widely outside resorts and cruise ships. Check your routine NHS vaccinations too, including a diphtheria, tetanus and polio booster if it has been over 10 years. Egypt has no malaria risk. The World Health Organization declared it malaria-free in October 2024, so no tablets are needed, though bite avoidance is still sensible.
Egypt does not ask travellers arriving from the UK for any vaccination certificates, so these jabs are about protecting you rather than paperwork. For a Red Sea resort or Nile cruise the main concern is food and water hygiene, which is how hepatitis A and typhoid are picked up.
Book 6 to 8 weeks before you fly if you can. The combined hepatitis A and B course has an accelerated schedule that needs 3 to 4 weeks. Travelling sooner? Book anyway. Single-dose jabs still give useful protection.
Egypt attracts everyone from all-inclusive beach holidaymakers to those on cultural Nile cruises, and health considerations differ somewhat between the two.
Nile cruises bring their own food and water hygiene considerations worth discussing separately from a resort-only stay.
Assessed individually
Vaccines commonly discussed for Egypt
- Hepatitis A and B combinedMost travellers. Commonly recommendedFull course £195
- TyphoidSome travellers. Considered for those at increased risk, for example longer stays or eating widely outside resorts and cruise shipsFull course £50
- Diphtheria, tetanus and polioEveryone - check you are up to date. Booster if it's been over 10 yearsFull course £50
No vaccine for this
Malaria in Egypt
No malaria risk. The World Health Organization declared Egypt malaria-free in October 2024. Bite avoidance is still sensible.
Antimalarial tablets and pricesOnly if arriving via a risk country
Yellow fever
No yellow fever vaccination is needed for travel from the UK. A certificate is only required from travellers over 9 months of age arriving from a yellow fever risk country.
Yellow fever certificates and exemptionsBeyond the jabs
Before you go
- Food and water hygiene, particularly on Nile cruises
- Sun protection and heat management
- Traveller's diarrhoea is common - plan accordingly
- Entry requirements
- A visa or e-visa is generally required for UK travellers.
- When to go
- October to April avoids the most extreme summer heat.
Common questions
Travelling to Egypt
Is a Nile cruise different from a Red Sea resort holiday in terms of preparation?
Somewhat. Cruises involve more varied food and water sources across different stops, so hepatitis A remains the key vaccine and typhoid is worth considering, whereas a resort-only stay usually needs less. Neither needs malaria tablets, as Egypt has been malaria-free since 2024.
