T & Cs Mara House Accommodation, Tours, and Packages

Mara House has built a reputation for honesty and transparency since opening in 2005 and guiding visitors in Egypt since 2000.  I believe in being completely clear about our pricing, policies, and procedures.  As with any professional service, all bookings are subject to availability and the Terms & Conditions below.

Some of the following may seem strict, unusual, or overly cautious — but each clause has been added because we’ve learned from real experiences. If anything is unclear, please feel free to ask questions before booking.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

Payment of a deposit is taken as confirmation that you — and all persons accompanying you — have read, understood, and accepted the following Terms and Conditions.

INSURANCE

It is highly recommended that you take out travel insurance covering the following, at a minimum:

  • Personal Accident and Death

  • Health, Medical Expenses, and Emergency Repatriation

  • Travel Delays and Cancellations

  • Loss or Theft of Personal Belongings and Valuables

  • Personal Liability

Cancellation insurance is especially important in case of illness, unforeseen family events, or other emergencies that may require you to cancel or cut short your trip.

Insurance is intended to protect you from loss.  If you choose not to follow this advice, any and all expenses arising from loss, illness, or injury during your stay will be your own sole responsibility.  Please be aware, for example, that Egyptian hospitals may not allow you to leave without settling your account in full.  Having valid insurance often activates coverage automatically upon hospital admission.

LIABILITY DISCLAIMER

Whether you take out the above insurance or not:

Neither Mara House, nor the organisers of your tours, nor any foreign or Egyptian agents, owners, managers, or staff accept any responsibility or liability for injury, death, illness, loss, or damage to persons or property while on our premises, during tours, excursions, or while in transit.

Furthermore, none of the above are financially responsible for the following:

  • Delays or cancellations due to flight changes, civil unrest, terrorism, pandemics, weather events, acts of God, political decisions, or government-issued travel warnings

  • Being refused entry to Egypt due to improper or missing documentation

  • Changes or cancellations to your personal travel plans due to health, visa, travel disruptions or any other event.

Your Responsibilities Before Travel:

  • Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your departure from Egypt

  • If you are from a country that requires a pre-arranged visa, you must obtain it before arrival

  • If you are from a country that requires vaccinations or proof of return flight, you must ensure all requirements are met

  • It is your responsibility to check your country’s visa status for Egypt

  • Photos of passports are required at time of booking or shortly afterwards as they are required for permits.
  • We ask our guests to provide a contact number for a family member back home who should be contacted in case of emergency.  This would be to save time of having to ask foreign embassies to contact family members in cases of medical emergencies etc.
  • Guests are advised to carry a sheet of paper in their wallet or on their person detailing any medical conditions or other information that would be relevant to doctors/hospitals in cases of emergencies.

UNUSED SERVICES

If you choose not to use any part of your booked itinerary (accommodation, tours, transfers, etc.), no refund or partial refund will be considered.

PAYMENT TERMS

Bookings are not confirmed until the required deposit has been received.

CANCELLATION POLICY

  • If you cancel after paying the deposit, the deposit is non-refundable.

  • If you cancel after paying the balance, that balance is also non-refundable, regardless of circumstances.

  • If the tour is cancelled by Mara House or Egypt & Africa Travel, all amounts paid will be refunded.

  • No refunds are given for flights or incidental expenses. You are advised to have insurance covering all such costs.

CONDUCT & SAFETY REQUIREMENTS

All participants agree to:

  • Follow the health, safety, and conduct guidelines provided by Mara, her staff, guides, and security personnel at all times

  • Not separate from the group or go to any public place (including shops, markets, restaurants, entertainment venues, or non-tourist areas) without prior agreement from the person responsible for you at the time.

  • Respect the judgment of the organisers regarding what areas are deemed safe

Both Mara House and Egyptian security forces take your safety seriously, and only safe, supervised locations will be included in your itinerary.

RIGHT OF REFUSAL & CANCELLATION BY MARA HOUSE

Mara House reserves the right to cancel a booking, refuse admission, or terminate participation in any part of a trip if:

  • A guest behaves in a way that jeopardizes the safety or comfort of others

  • A false identity is used in the booking process

  • The booking was made under misleading or false pretenses

  • Safety protocols or legal requirements are violated

  • There is any misleading information provided as regards the purpose of the visit to Egypt

No refund will be given in such cases.

ACCOMMODATION RULES

  • Bathrooms are wet rooms.  For hygiene and safety, guests must wear non-slip flip-flops while showering (you may bring your own or use those provided).

  • In accordance with Egyptian law, non-Egyptian guests may not share accommodation with Egyptian nationals unless married and able to provide a valid marriage certificate.

  • Mara House is not open to visitors or walk-in trade.  Facilities are for pre-registered guests only.

  • Visitors are not permitted in guest suites.

  • Mara House does not have a lift.

TOUR FORMAT

Unless otherwise specifically agreed in advance, day tours included in our packages are not private tours. Other Mara House guests may join the same tour, with a maximum group size of 8 participants.

Private tours may be arranged upon request, particularly in cases where families with young children or guests with specific needs may feel more comfortable touring independently.

Please note: If a private tour is requested after a quote has been given for a non-private tour, and there are limited transport or guide resources available, an additional fee may apply to accommodate the request.

Normal Tours include:

  • Transport, driver,  and a licensed Egyptologist guide

  • Entry tickets and any other applicable admission fees to the monuments and sites listed in the itineraries.

  • Any required government permits

We do not use unreliable public transport such as buses or taxis for our tours, and our drivers are not doubling as guides.  Nor do we have what others might term VIP tours.  All guests

ERRORS & OMISSIONS

We do our best to keep all offers, information, and itineraries up to date.  However, all offers are subject to errors and omissions, and we reserve the right to issue updated paperwork correcting any issues we become aware of.

If you spot anything you believe to be incorrect or missing, please bring it to our attention as soon as possible.