Cairo
Cairo is awash with companies offering tours and guides, but the quality varies greatly. Official tour guides have to be licensed by the Egyptian authorities and must undergo a strict program of training and examination before they receive their accreditation. This is your assurance of quality, so always make sure that any guide you engage is licensed. If you intend to visit the sites at Dahshur, Wadi Natrun, or Fayyum, booking a guided tour with a well-respected company or an accredited personal guide is your best option because you'll have travel and navigation taken care of, plus an expert on hand to answer questions you have during the tour. Booking through a company will also take care of any security issues with police escorts. If you are looking for a guided tour, your best bet is to try to set it up with a travel agent.
One well-respected American tour guide based in Cairo is Debbie Senters of Casual Cairo Detours. She organizes bespoke tours of any length and is happy to create a personal program for you. These tours are not cheap, but her guides are licensed, and tours include all transportation.
