Global Founder's Retreat

Invitations are sent via email to our Élanoura Collective members only. If you are already a member, please check your email (and spam) for a link to the sign up page. If you are not a member, you can join for free, here.

Yes. The Collective is free to join! This ensures a curated group is selected for every retreat. Once approved, you’ll receive an invitation to sign up for the retreat. Fill out our quick intake form here.

Women founders, solopreneurs, side hustlers, and founders-to-be are all welcome to join.

Fly in and out of Cairo International Airport (CAI)

We recommend arriving by 11am to settle in and enjoy some time in Cairo before our welcome reception at 6:30pm and dinner. We will lead an optional excursion to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilizations for those who arrive early and wish to get started with their adventure.

There are no activities planned for the last day, so you may leave any time you wish after breakfast. The airport is approximately 10 minutes away from the hotel where we will be staying for our last night. 

• Airport transfers on arrival day March 7th and departure day March 14th for departure are included in the program and cost. 
• If you arrive earlier or you would like to leave later, the trip leader can gladly arrange a private transfer for you with additional cost. 
• Arrival transfers are private and will be in groups depending on flight times. Sometimes this means waiting in the airport for a short while until other flights have arrived. (There is a Starbucks right by the arrival gate to enjoy coffee and snacks while waiting.) 

The luggage allowance for internal flights is 23kg plus a carry-on bag weighing up to 7kg.

Most visitors will require a visa to enter Egypt, including those from the USA, UK, Australia, New, Zealand, Canada and the EU. Please check with your local embassy to find out what the requirements are for your nationality.

Single entry visas cost USD 25 (whether you buy them on arrival or online) and are valid for 30 days of travel within Egypt. Passports must be valid for at least six months after your arrival date.

Visa on arrival
For most nationalities, the easiest way to get a visa is on arrival at Cairo International Airport.

• Purchase the visa at an approved bank kiosk within the arrivals hall before proceeding to the immigration counters. Visas can be purchased in US dollars, British pounds or euros, and only in cash.
• You will be given a stamp that you then need to put into your passport yourself.
• Proceed to the immigration counters where you need to present your stamped passport, plus a print-out of your travel itinerary, including accommodation and tour bookings.

E-visa
You can also apply online for a visa through the official Egypt e-visa portal www.visa2egypt.gov.eg (beware of other websites falsely claiming to provide this service, often at twice the price). 30-day tourist visas are valid for three months from the date of issue. You must create an application at least seven days before your arrival.

• Follow the prompts to sign up, sign in, apply, and pay online. Payments can be made using a credit or debit card in US dollars or euros only.
• After your visa application has been processed, you will receive an email updating you on the status of your application.
• If successful, you will be emailed a link to download and print your e-visa.
• On arrival in Egypt, you must present a printout of your e-visa, along with your passport and a print-out of your travel itinerary, including accommodation and tour bookings.

Entry requirements can change at any time, so it’s important that you check for the latest information.

As of August 2023, “Passengers traveling to Egypt are not required to take a COVID-19 test to fly to Egypt. Egypt’s COVID-19 entry restrictions were lifted on June 17, 2022. Previously, travelers who did not have a valid vaccination certificate needed to take a COVID-19 PCR or antigen test before flying.” Those who have a vaccination card may want to bring it, just in case. Please note, as the COVID situation is fluid, these requirements may change.

It’s rare, but please be aware that the itinerary, activities, and hotels are subject to change due to circumstances beyond our control. We will notify you as soon as possible and be with you every step of the way to provide a smooth experience.

Anything not listed such as international airfare in/out of Cairo, alcoholic beverages, your souvenir shopping, and two dinners we will have out in town together to explore the city.

The celebration of Ramadan will begin on March 10, 2024. Tourist sites will remain open, but some shops and restaurants may be closed. 

All of our Global Founder's Retreats are invite-only, and all guests are Élanoura Collective approved members. 

• If you know a guest with whom you'd like to share your double occupancy room, you may provide her name at checkout.
• If you know a woman founder whom you would like to refer, you may receive a $150 refund once your referred guest has been approved and her trip paid in full. (Limit 2 per guest.) To receive the refund, have her input your name in the "Referred by" field at checkout. 
• If you are traveling alone and do not have a guest to pair with or refer, not to worry: you will be thoughtfully paired with a fellow woman founder from the Élanoura Collective to enhance your experience. It's an opportunity to stretch out of your bubble, expand your network, and engage with a like-minded and like-hearted woman founder from around the world. (Suitemates from past retreats have become fast friends and collaborators, to this day!)

We understand that life happens. But we do have a Cancellation Policy in place to ensure that those off the waitlist are given ample time to book their arrangements, and in order to fulfill the commitments to vendors on your behalf. Please read the Cancellation Policy before booking.