Egypt Tours Attraction Centers Travelers Tourism Tips In Egypt
Most major airlines serve Cairo airport, with some also flying to Luxor, and other cities. Cheap flights can be obtained from many of the consolidators and internet based operations now springing up, but be aware that by and large, these are not direct, and a change of aircraft is nearly always needed somewhere en route, adding considerably to the journey time.
Entry Requirements:
visitors from different countries are required to be in possession of a passport which is valid for 6 months after the date of travel. Passport application forms can be obtained from larger Post Office branches.
Visas are required for both business travellers and tourists alike. A tourist visa is normally valid for 3 months from the date of issue, and can be either single or multiple entry. These can be obtained on arrival in Egypt.
Money:
Egyptian currency is the Egyptian pound. The Egyptian pound is written as LE. One pound equals 100 piastres (PT). Travellers cheques and cash can be exchanges at banks and larger hotels for a small fee.
Banks are often closed during the afternoon, but exchange desks at the larger hotels are open 24 hours a day. There is also an exchange desk at the international airport in Cairo, open 24 hour a day.
My advice to tourists and other travelers is not to exchange money until arrival in Egypt, as you will get a much better rate.
Like many countries, tipping in Egypt is a well established way of life, which is expected for the services rendered. The Arabic word for this is Baksheesh, which means to share the wealth. The situation is particularly bad at the major tourist sites, where guards, many of whom have little or no wages, will ask you to take their photograph and then demand a tip. The amount you offer is of course up to you, but as a general rule between LE 1 and 5 is usually acceptable.
It is a good idea to make sure you have a large supply of smaller notes to hand at all times, particularly for toilets, where a LE 1 tip seems to obligatory. The Tourist Police are not officially allowed to ask for tips, but this did not seem to stop them asking me. If you see them looking in your direction my advice to you is keep walking and look the other way!
Security
The Egyptians take the security of tourists extremely seriously, as there have been several incidents in the past. In addition to this, all bags will be scanned prior to entry to most tourist sites and museums. At airports bags are scanned twice, once upon entry and again at the boarding gate, even though barely a 10 second walk seems to separate the two. Although tiresome, it is also somewhat reassuring.
Some guide books advise tourists to avoid certain areas, in particular Minya, due to fundamentalists. However, the people in this area to be the friendly and hospitable. As few tourists visit this area, they are able to give a far more personal service.
Women travellers in particular are strongly advised to be vigilant at all times, especially when traveling alone. Tourists especially Women need to be careful of getting into a taxi on your own.
Weather:
Egypt’s weather varies considerably from north to south, with the north (Lower Egypt) being considerably cooler. Summers in Egypt (or even spring in the south) can be oppressively hot, with temperatures climbing up to 122 F (50 C) in June and July.
When to visit:
The best and most popular times to visit are spring and autumn, when the temperatures are a lot more pleasant. Winter weather is however often colder than people anticipate, especially at sunrise and sunset. Temperatures can plummet rapidly after dark even during the spring and autumn months, so ensure that you have brought enough warm clothes.
Sun protection is however the most important consideration for most travellers to Egypt, especially the fair skinned. Make sure you bring plenty with you, to suit your particular skin.
Drinks and Food: Food and water precautions
Do not drink tap water unless it has been boiled, filtered, or chemically disinfected. Do not drink unbolted beverages or drinks with ice. Do not eat fruits or vegetables unless they have been peeled or cooked. Avoid cooked foods that are no longer piping hot. Cooked foods that have been left at room temperature are particularly hazardous. Avoid unpasteurized milk and any products that might have been made from unpasteurized milk, such as ice cream. Avoid food and beverages obtained from street vendors.
Egypt is hot and it is very easy to become dehydrated if you don’t drink a lot. Buy and drink plenty of water. You will find it a lot cheaper to buy in the various shops, than buying at your hotel or cruise boat. You may not drink a lot of water at home, but make sure you do in Egypt
Tourists are often advised to avoid salads, and fresh fruit and vegetables. There are important things to be noted. In my opinion, wherever and whenever you travel in the world, eating meat has to be considered a far greater risk to health than eating fruit and vegetables.
Health:
One needs to carry essential accessories like soap, wet wipes, a small tub of water free hand wash as well as a supply of paper tissues. This is because public toilets in Egypt often have no above facilities.
Another problem worth mentioning is mosquitoes, which cause problems to some tourists. Although Egypt is not considered to be a malaria risk, the bites may cause tourists a nasty allergic response. Tourists should carry a good supply of anti-histamine tablets and insect repellent for such an eventuality.
Medical Facilities:
Make up a small “medical-kit” before you go! Include things like safety pins, plasters (different sizes), antiseptic cream, diarrhoea tablets, headache tablets and sun cream (high factor advised.
Dress Code:
Egypt is a predominantly Muslim country, and although no one expects tourists to dress in the traditional head scarf and cover themselves completely but travelers must note that some common sense rules should be observed. The fact that Egypt is if anything, less conservative than many other Islamic states does not mean that these rules should be ignored, as the culture and way of life should be respected at all times.
Practically speaking, during the warmer months, loose cotton clothing is best. For women this means simple cropped or full length trousers or skirts, with sleeves that cover at least the shoulders would do. In Luxor you will see plenty of foreign women obviously flouting these rules by wearing shorts and sleeveless tops, and by and large they are not bothered by the local men.
As strong as the sun is in Egypt, it can also be quite chilly in the mornings and evenings. If you plan to get up early ensure that you have bought enough warm clothes. Taking along lightweight hooded fleece jacket could be found ideal.
Ladies, if you intend visiting the inside of one of the pyramids, please wear trousers or jeans. You may have to ascend/descend ladders and/or crawl through narrow passages. For the same reasons, I would advise men to avoid wearing short trousers.
Comfortable shoes are also essential, as a visit to Egypt involves a fair amount of walking. In this case, Trainers are better than walking boots, as they are lighter, while still offering adequate support and breathability.
If you run of out clean clothes, then most hotels and cruise ships offer a laundry service at very reasonable prices.
Photography
Egypt is undoubtedly one of the most photogenic countries in the world. It is not only in terms of not just the monuments themselves, but also in terms of human interest. You should be aware though, that if you choose to take photographs of the native Egyptians in market places or whatever, then they may well demand a fee for their trouble. In these situations a small, unobtrusive compact camera can be a real boon.
On the issue of photographing the monuments, the wider angle lens you can get your hands on the better. For temples such as Karnak, a 19 mm or similar will probably be all you need.
Whichever type of photography you do, there are three things that are absolutely essential for a successful trip. Firstly spare batteries, secondly adequate cleaning equipment to protect your valuable equipment from sand and grit, and thirdly a good set of polarizing filters. These have the effect of absorbing stray UV light and intensifying the blue skies.
As with any destination, a few common sense rules apply with regard to photographing military installations such as bridges and airports. In a word, don't! Use of zoom lenses is prohibited at the Aswan Dam. When I visited it was too hazy to see much anyway.
Religion and Behaviour:
Egypt is a Muslim country, so please respect their faith. Many things that you take as the norm, such as kissing and/or fondling your partner in public, wearing revealing clothing etc., are frowned upon here, so try and be more conservative in your attitude. Homosexuality is actually illegal in Muslim countries!
Spiritual Matters
There is an increase in the number of people visiting Egypt at this time, and it is very easy to see why, given its history. The whole country seems to be situated in a whole other dimension, far higher in frequency than any other country.
Egypt is almost unrivalled in its capacity to stir distant memories and emotions from past lives. Sometimes these can be rather intense and difficult to handle. Be prepared for this, but also remember to place them in context with the life you are living now. Yes, the past is important, and can help us to understand who we are in this life.
Driving in Egypt:
In Egypt they drive on the right, be careful when crossing roads. Take special care in Cairo, where the traffic is a lot busier than in other Egyptian cities – especially outside the Egyptian museum! UK and Japanese travelers should be extra careful, as you will be used to traffic driving on the left.
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