About Us

1. Introduction
Real Egypt is a culturally driven and community-focused tour operator committed to protecting Egypt’s natural and cultural heritage. We believe that responsible tourism is not only an environmental necessity but also a social responsibility that strengthens communities, empowers individuals, and enriches the travel experience for our guests. Our mission is to promote meaningful travel that builds bridges of understanding between cultures while ensuring that the destinations we operate in continue to thrive for future generations.

2. Our Sustainability Vision
We envision a tourism model that celebrates Egypt’s rich heritage, supports local communities, and minimizes environmental impact. Through our tours, dahabiya operations, partnerships, and guest engagement, we aim to contribute to a more sustainable, equitable, and culturally respectful future.

3. Commitments Already Implemented Real Egypt has already taken significant steps toward sustainability, including:
Environmental Practices
Reducing single-use plastics by providing refillable bottles and installing filtered water stations onboard our dahabiyas.
Using biodegradable materials where possible (bags, drinking containers, etc.).
Operating eco-conscious dahabiyas designed to minimize emissions and reduce resource consumption.
Integrating sustainable transportation such as feluccas, bicycles, donkeys, camels, and trains where feasible.
Community Engagement
Supporting community projects such as:
A dispensary clinic in Bisaw Island and a women-led Makrameya initiative.
A women-led sewing workshop established by Asmaa to support local female artisans.
Employing local suppliers, guides, drivers, and service providers in Luxor, Aswan, Fayoum, Cairo, and surrounding regions.
Partnering with local artists to promote cultural expression, such as Maha Gamil.
Cultural Heritage Protection
Offering experiences that go beyond monuments—introducing guests to local families, homes, traditions, arts, and ways of life.
Ensuring guides serve as cultural storytellers, promoting understanding, respect, and curiosity.
Raising awareness about UNESCO heritage sites and the importance of their protection.

4. Future Commitments
Real Egypt is committed to continuous improvement through:
Environmental Goals
Strengthening waste-management and recycling practices.
Further reducing plastic consumption across all operations.
Lowering energy and water usage on tours and accommodations (when within our control).
Expanding the use of renewable energy (e.g., solar power) onboard dahabiyas.
Social & Community Goals
Supporting additional community-based tourism initiatives.
Increasing opportunities for women in tourism.
Strengthening partnerships with local businesses, handicraft makers, and farmers.
Encouraging guests to contribute positively to local communities through responsible choices.
Governance & Internal Development
Conducting annual sustainability training for all employees.
Introducing a gradual system for evaluating supplier sustainability performance.
Raising customer awareness on responsible travel through pre-trip information and onboard briefings.
Annual review and update of the sustainability action plan.

5. Resources Dedicated to Implementing This Policy
To ensure successful implementation, Real Egypt commits to:
Allocating time and tools for annual staff training.
Continuous involvement and leadership from the Sustainability Coordinator.
Internal meetings to monitor goals and progress.
Maintaining documentation, reporting templates, and sustainability tracking systems.

6. Expectations from Stakeholders
Real Egypt expects:
Leadership
To champion and embed sustainability within strategic decisions.
Employees
To apply responsible practices and actively participate in training and implementation.
Suppliers & Partners
To align gradually with sustainability standards, prioritize local sourcing, reduce waste, and respect cultural and environmental guidelines.
Local Communities
To collaborate in creating responsible tourism experiences that protect heritage and improve livelihoods.
Guests
To engage respectfully with communities, reduce waste, conserve resources, and support local culture.

7. Policy Importance
This policy is essential because it:
Protects Egypt’s natural ecosystems and cultural heritage.
Enhances the wellbeing of local communities.
Raises guest awareness of responsible travel.
Strengthens Real Egypt’s commitment to high-quality, ethical, and educational travel.
Supports compliance with international standards including Travelife Certified.

8. Objectives of the Policy
Through this policy, Real Egypt aims to:
Promote a culture of sustainability across all operations.
Reduce environmental impact in measurable ways.
Increase community benefit and local economic participation.
Deliver tours that respect heritage, culture, and local identity.
Ensure continuous progress through training, evaluation, and monitoring.

9. Implementation Steps
Implementation will be achieved through:
Annual sustainability training for all staff.
Regular monitoring of sustainability metrics.
Annual review of suppliers and integration of sustainability questions into evaluations.
Updating guest communication to include sustainability guidance.
Enhancing operational procedures to reduce waste, conserve energy, and support local communities.
Updating the sustainability policy every two years.

10. Responsible Person
Implementation and monitoring of this policy will be overseen by the Sustainability Coordinator, who ensures compliance, reporting, staff training, and internal communication.

11. Scope & Impact
This policy applies to:
All Real Egypt employees and departments.

12. Areas Not Covered by This Policy
This policy does not apply to external services outside of Real Egypt operational control, such as hotels and accommodations not owned or operated by Real Egypt and other providers.