Egypt Travel Basic Information

Egypt Travel Information:

Egypt is one of the most fascinating destinations on the world tourist map. This extra ordinary country is today the favourite vacation spot for many, just like it was in the days of the early Greeks and Romans. The thoroughly cultured Greeks, in particular, were fascinated by this civilization that predated theirs by at least 2000 years. The biggest draw in Egypt continues to be the amazing abundance of historical treasures- temples, pyramids and museums -contained in this one country. But the destination offers more than just the wonders of antiquity. Your Egyptian vacation can be rounded off by a cruise down the Nile and a beach vacation at the top notch Red Sea and Sinai resorts.

Below is some basic info concerning Egypt:

Egypt Health Info

Visitors over 1 year of age entering Egypt from yellow fever infected areas require yellow fever international certificate of vaccination. Such areas include: all countries in Africa south of the Sahara with the exception of Mauritania and a few counties in southern Africa and some selected countries in central and southern America. Cholera is a health risk in the country and precautions are essential. There is limited risk of malaria in the El Faiyoum area, particularly in the period June to October. Cairo and Alexandria are considered Malaria free.

It is recommended, that you take vaccinations against hepatitis B, polio and typhoid. The Nile Valley and Nile Delta are associated with risk of Bilharzia. You are advised not to swim or paddle in these areas except in well-chlorinated and maintained swimming pools. There are good hospitals and chemists in all the major towns in Egypt .

Egypt Visa

All visitors to Egypt require a visa except for citizens of some selected countries staying for various defined periods, upto a maximum of 6 months. Those covered by this conditional exemption include nationals of the Arab countries of Yemen, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Libya, Kuwait, Jordan, Bahrain, Oman and Yemen. Other countries are Djibouti, Macau, Guinea and Malaysia.

Airport visas may be available for citizens of the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States. This may however result in delays upon arrival and your airline may in any case not allow you to board without a visa. Whenever possible it is advisable to obtain visas in advance. Visa requirements vary from time to time and you are advised to check on prevailing status well ahead of travel.

Your passport should be valid for 6 months from date of entry and at least 1 week beyond the expected date of exit.

Egypt Peoples & Culture

By far, the majority of the people of Egypt are of Eastern Hamitic stock. Nubians, whose homeland is in the south of the country, Greeks, Armenians other Europeans represent the remainder. Though somewhat simplistic, four cultural groups can be delineated - Egyptian peasants or fellahin, Copts, Bedouins and Nubians. Fellahin is a rather dated classification as the majority of such people have immigrated to cities and transformed themselves. The traditional fellahin can however still be found in rural areas eking out a living from the land as they have done from the days of the Pharaohs. Copts are Christian adherents of the Eastern Orthodox Church. But they are of the same race and culture as other Egyptians.

Bedouins are a nomadic people who search the deserts for grazing and water for their camels and other livestock. Nobody really knows the desert more than the Bedouin. They know where to find water and get around by navigating by the stars. Like all nomads, they live a free and hardy lifestyle, and consider the sedentary ways of their compatriots as lacking in grace and dignity. But they also realize the advantages of a settled life and they have increasingly responded to efforts to ground them and give their children an education.

The Nubian are a dark skinned people whose ancestral land is to the south of Aswan. They have little relationship, cultural or genetic with other dark skinned Africans. Back in the days of the Pharaohs, they served very well in the military. In more recent times, they farmed the banks of the Nile River. Their lands have been mostly been inundated by the raising of the Aswan High Dam. Most Nubians have now migrated to towns and their lifestyle has changed.

Islam is the single most important influence on culture in Egypt. And this applies even for non-adherents like Coptic Christians. Perhaps for this reason, crime is virtually nonexistent. The society is conservative, especially on issues related to women. Women are expected to be modest in dress and manner- no flimsy attire or loud talking and laughing, for example. The men are very happy with their position in this patriarchal society. The people are generally friendly, hospitable and very accommodating especially towards visitors. But visitors need to keep their religion to themselves- proselytizing is illegal here.

The Lingua Franca is Arabic. But there are two versions- classical Arabic, the language of the Koran and the colloquial Arabic used in the street. English and French are widely used for business and by educated urbanites. In terms of culture, is important in the Arab world. And books, movies, music and TV programs produced here are popular throughout the Arabic speaking nations of the Middle East. The prolific Naguib Mahfouz gained worldwide fame and prestige when he won the literature Nobel Prize in 1998 for his book "The Cairo Trilogy". His works are however not very popular with religious radicals and an attempt was made in 1995 to rub him out.

Egyptian cuisine is to the best tradition of Middle East cooking. You are advised to try local specialties such as roast pigeon, grilled aubergines, kebabs and chickpeas. The hotels in the tourist areas serve cosmopolitan fare. Though this is a Muslim country, imbibers of alcohol will not go thirsty. Beers, wines and other drinks are available in bars and restaurants, especially at hotels catering for tourists. But you should defer to local sensitivities and avoid drinking in daylight hours in the month of Ramadan.

Egypt Communication

Telephone, fax, telegram, and post services are available in the principal urban centers. International direct dialing to most countries is available. You will find Internet cafes in the main urban centres and at tourist hotels. The country code for Egypt is 20.

Mobile phones are based on GSM 900 network. Coverage tends to map the population and therefore extends to Alexandria, Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, and the main towns along the Nile and parts of the Red Sea area from Suez to Sharm el-Sheikh. You are however advised to check beforehand whether your GSM phone is usable if you are traveling outside any of the areas specifically mentioned here. Network service providers include Vodafone Egypt (www.vodafone.com.eg) and ECMS-MobiNil (www.mobinil.com).

Egypt Accommodation

Tourism is a serious business in Egypt. You will find a wide variety of accommodation ranging from 5-star luxury to budget stay in the main cities and locations popular with visitors. This in particular covers: Cairo, Alexandria and the north coast, Luxor, Aswan and at the Red Sea and Sinai resorts towns. Approved campsites are few in the country. During the popular winter season, advance booking is advised. Egypt is very good value and you will find accommodation cheaper here than the equivalent in most other destinations. See our Egypt Hotels & Resorts page to view info and book accommodation for your say in Egypt.

Egyptian Currency

The local currency is the Egyptian Pound (LE). There are no restrictions on the import and export of foreign currency. The export of local currency is however prohibited.

Major currencies such as US dollars and Euro and travelers cheques can be converted at banks and forex bureaus in the main towns and tourist areas. You will get best exchange rates for cash or travelers cheques if you are dealing in US dollars, Euro or Pound Sterling. Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Diners Club are accepted at various stores and hotels. Your Visa and Mastercard can be used to access cash at a limited number of bank outlets -particularly for Banque Misr and Bank of Egypt.

Egyptian Climate

The summer, which falls between April and October, is hot and dry. The winter months are mild with cold nights. You will be surprised to learn that there is virtually no rain in this country. The best time to visit is between November and March, outside the intolerable summer season. Beware of the khamsin, the hot dry wind that blows from the Sahara around April. This treacherous wind creates dust storms that can reduce visibility to less than 30 metres. In terms of weather, the Red Sea coast is most favoured and it is pleasant year round. In Cairo, winter temperatures range from lows of 9°C at night to highs of 25°C, while summers vary between 9°C and 35°C.

International Travel

All the main air carriers, including Air France, British Airways, JAT, KLM, Lufthansa and SWISS, compete for the more than 4 million tourists who visit Egypt annually. The national airline is Egypt Air. There are a small number of charter flights flying in not only to Cairo but also to Alexandria, Luxor, and Sharm el-Sheikh directly from European airports.

There are ferry services connecting Egypt to Saudi Arabia, Jordan and also the Sudan. Some cruise ships stop over at Egypt as part of their African sailing itinerary. You can travel to Libya and Israel by road from Egypt. There is a coach service operating between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem in Israel and Cairo via El Arish and Rafiah in Sinai. You can also use a private vehicle to reach Israel through Eilat via Suez and Taba.

Local Travel in Egypt

Virtually every significant town in the country can be reached by bus. This is the cheapest way to travel around Egypt. Some of the buses have onboard videos that play Indian and Arabic movies at top volume, presumably to entertain customers. This can be quite an annoyance for visitors. This is why you may consider using the luxury shuttle services, which operate to and from Cairo, Alexandria, the Nile Valley and the Red Sea, Sinai, and Suez Canal cities.

You can also get to most towns in the country by standard trains, whose hub is Cairo. Luxury air-conditioned trains run from Cairo to Luxor and Aswan and are used as an alternative to flying to these popular tourist locations. Alexandria too can be reached from Cairo by using luxury trains. Within Cairo, you can use the metro, which is clean, reliable and inexpensive. Luxury ferry service links Aswan and Luxor along the Nile. The adventurous and thrifty can also sail along the Nile by using traditional boats, feluccas.

Rental cars can give you some freedom from the schedule of bus and train services. If you pick this option, it is advisable that you rent a car together with a driver. Driving in Egypt is very aggressive and few visitors within their short stay are able to gain the necessary experience to drive around safely. Generally, road links are good throughout the main population centres. Driving is on the right. Review our rental cars in Egypt web page and do your booking here.

Egypt Air operates daily flights linking Cairo with the main locations popular with tourists. This includes Alexandria, Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel, and Hurghada. Air Sinai, flies to Sinai and Red Sea towns and resorts, particularly Eilat, Hurghada, St Catherine, Sharm el-Sheikh and Taba.

Travel Insurance

Health and travel insurance are recommended. Ensure your travel insurance includes emergency evacuation.

What to Wear in Egypt