Intrepid Travel will resume its departures to Egypt on April 1 after pausing trips amid the U.S.-Iran war.
G Adventures and the Globus family of brands also temporarily halted Egypt tours. Egypt-based tour operators and destination specialists have said the U.S. State Department's mixed messaging about travel the country, which prompted companies to delay operations, has slowed tourism and was bound to hurt locals who depend on the tourism economy.
Intrepid's Jordan and Oman itineraries will be suspended until at least April 15. Impacted customers can rebook to another destination or receive a full credit or an 80% refund.
Egypt is hundreds of miles away from Iran but was listed as a country Americans should leave in a March 2 post on X shared by the State Department's assistant secretary for consular affairs. But the State Department has not raised its travel alert above Level 2.
The country had been making a tourism push in the U.S. ahead of the conflict.
"Travel has always been one of the most powerful ways to support local communities," said Leigh Barnes, Intrepid's president of the Americas. "Being able to return to Egypt means visitors can experience an incredible destination while helping bring much-needed income back to the guides, small businesses and families who rely on tourism."
Since postponing its Egypt trips, Intrepid said that more than 160 Americans have canceled their trips. Prior to the war, trips to Egypt were rising in demand for Americans, with premium Egypt itineraries in February up 196% year-over-year, it said.
Customers who can't reach their Egypt departures due to flight cancellations caused by the Middle East airspace closures will receive credit for their trip, Intrepid said.