Egypt tourist information

There is a lot more to holiday travel in Egypt than tourist attractions such as pyramids and the Nile River.

Tourists can spend weeks, months, years exploring coral reefs, the Sinai, the Red Sea, fortresses and dunes of the eastern and western deserts.

Pictured below are the Sphinx and a close-up of the Great Pyramid of Cheops.

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Note: The mummy of the boy pharaoh Tutankhamen is on display for the first time in 3000 years from November 2007 inside his tomb in Luxor's Valley of the Kings. The mummy is now in a climate-controlled glass case in the tomb. The body is covered with linen and Tutankhamen's bare, black face is visible. Tutankhamen ruled Egypt between about 1361 and 1352BC and died as a teenager. The 1922 discovery of his intact tomb stunned the world's archaeological community.

Albeit still a developing Third World country, Egypt has extensive facilities for tourists on holiday.

Egyptian hotels are rated with a star system from 1 to 5 but a 2 or 3 star establishment is likely to be of a 1 star standard in western countries.

Prices often drop in the summer months from May to October with discount hotel reservations to lure tourists who can brave the heat. Nevertheless, there is usually plenty of holiday accommodation.

Spring is considered the ideal holiday season for tourists seeking comfortable weather, although prices are higher, there are more crowds and desert sand storms can sometimes be a problem from mid March into April.

Prices for hotel reservations, hostels and pensions are higher in Cairo than elsewhere in Egypt.

Tourists can find a bed for as little as US$5 a night, even in Cairo, but hot water might not be included.

For about US$10, tourists can usually book a hotel room for the night, although you may have to share because single rooms are usually scarce in Egypt.

A one star hotel reservation will set you backegypt/ around US$15 a night. If you find a hotel for about US$25 you should enjoy air conditioning, a television, a phone and a fridge, plus dining and entertainment facilities.

Cheap travel reservations in Egypt are sometimes shared with bugs such as fleas, mites and roaches.

Classy resort accommodation will set tourists back as much as US$220 a night, dependent upon facilities and the time of year.

Prices for food and hotel reservations are higher in the Sinai.

Food and locally produced drinks during most of your Egypt travel will be reasonably priced by western standards.

When shopping in Egypt, expect to haggle and don't be surprised to find stores without price tags because the locals usually negotiate an agreed figure.

Inexpensive train services are available north to Alexandria and south to Aswan along the Nile from Cairo, usually with at least half a dozen trips each day on major routes. Train tickets should be purchased in Cairo from the Ramses Station at Midan Ramses.

Constant fleets of buses provide transport from Cairo and Alexandria to most parts of Egypt. Air conditioned buses cost a fair bit more than buses without air conditioning. Be aware that the Egyptian heat is unforgiving and cool air can be well worth the cost, particularly for elderly tourists. Whichever, buses are the cheapest way for tourists to navigate their Egyptian holiday travel.

You can use local bus services but beware that they are usually very crowded and sometimes unpleasant in Cairo.

Taxis are identified by orange license plates. Be aware that sharing a taxi is not unusual. Check that the cab has a working meter and don't be afraid to bargain an agreed fare before you get in.

Most cabbies speak English, tipping isn't expected and it makes sense to carry plenty of small Egyptian notes so you can give the exact change.

Be wary of taxi drivers as they can spot a sucker tourist a mile away.

If you're planning to visit various tourist attractions during your Egyptian holiday travel, it's sensible to hire a taxi for the entire day at a predetermined price for the agreed journey and duration. Taxis in regional cities are usually more expensive than in Cairo and vehicles throughout the country are well below normal Western taxi standards.

Taxi drivers in Egypt are usually keen to become your travel guide and it may be cheaper to arrange a set taxi fee in advance for a certain number of hours if you're planning a monument trip during your tour of Egypt, say from Cairo to Memphis.

Organised tourist bus tours are usually cheaper than taxis if you want to spend the day roaming through ancient Egyptian tourist attractions.

To rent a car, foreigners must have an international driver's license and be at least 25 years of age. There are few road signs and road rules are frequently ignored.

A reliable rail network extends from the Nile delta to the upper Nile River and tourists are usually only able to travel via reservations on the faster air-conditioned trains.

However, if your purse is almost empty it's still fairly easy to hop on one of the slower trains without air conditioning and buy a ticket from the conductor.

Student cards can secure a 30% discount and rail travellers should keep an eye on the train timetables.

Buses are cheaper, faster for short journeys and travel over a much broader area of Egypt than trains.

Collective service taxis, which are usually Peugeot saloons or microbuses better known as servees, are shared cabs which provide quick travel at a very reasonable rate, although the roads in Egypt are hazardous, the driving frenetic and accidents more common than they should be.

Servees, which hold up to a dozen passengers, will usually only travel to Egypt desert locations in the early morning or late afternoon, and tourists must usually wait for enough customers to get on board before the journey begins - unless you're willing to pay more.

The fare is normally fixed for whatever distance you want to travel and it's possible to bargain for a taxi reservation to be chartered just for yourself or your group.

Travel in Egypt by car or public transport can be crowded, uncomfortable and at times hazardous. Egypt has one of the worst road fatality rates in the world.

Even walking can sometimes be a challenge as many areas don't have sidewalks or pedestrian crossings and drivers don't give way to pedestrians.

It's worth pricing some of the organised cheap holiday tours as these can often work out a lot cheaper and without travel headaches in Egypt's somewhat chaotic transport system.

Egypt covers 1,001,450 square kilometres and is bounded to the west by Libya, to the north by the Mediterranean Sea, to the south by Sudan, and to the east by Israel and the Red Sea.

Less than 10% of the land mass is cultivated or settled, the rest being desert - the Libyan Desert in the west, the Nubian Desert and a portion of the Sahara in the south, and the Arabian Desert to the east.

The Sinai Peninsula has sandy desert in the north and mountains to the south, Mt Catherine being the highest peak in Egypt at 2,637 metres. Nearby Mt Sinai is believed by scholars to be where the Old Testament says Moses received the Ten Commandments from God.

The thousand kilometre oasis of the Nile River and its delta mouth sustain almost all life in Egypt.

There is almost no rainfall in Egypt south of Luxor.

The main crops in Egypt are corn, rice, cotton and some sugarcane, and farming still mostly involves manual labour and pack animals like donkeys and camels. Animals still share the roads outside Cairo.

Egypt is prone to terrorist attacks both in the capital of Cairo and in the Sinai Peninsula, where hundreds of people have been killed or injured by bomb blasts in Dahab, Nuweiba and Taba since 2004. Three consecutives bomb blasts killed 24 people in Dahab in late April, 2006, with western tourists an apparent target.

You'll sometimes see tourist police with machine guns sitting on camels, and security is so paranoiac it can at times be difficult getting to meet the locals if you're part of an organised tour group.

Tourist numbers have fallen after each terrorist attack, creating various bargains for wily tourists but also making local operators even more desperate to squeeze a few extra dollars from the pockets of tourists.

Americans in particular are advised to be vigilant during their holiday travel in Egypt. The US embassy has advised Americans to avoid tourist areas but most embassies still consider Egypt acceptably safe for travel.

Authorisation is required from the Travel Permits Department for journeys in Egypt to various areas such as near the Libyan border and off-road in the Sinai. Off-road travellers should check beforehand with local authorities for dangers such as land mines remaining from past conflicts.

To travel in Egypt, a valid passport is required with a renewable 30 day tourist visa which can be obtained at any port of entry except Taba and Rafah.

However, tourists arriving by land should obtain a visa prior to entry and evidence of an AIDS test is necessary for travel reservations in Egypt over 30 days.

Visas obtained at point of entry are less expensive but only valid for 30 days travel in Egypt, whereas visas obtained beforehand at embassies or consulates are valid for 90 days.

The Egypt Customs department allows tourists to bring in 200 cigarettes (or 250g of tobacco) and one litre of alcohol. You can usually buy more duty free alcohol for up to 24 hours after clearing customs either at Cairo and Luxor airports or at duty-free shops in the cities.

If you have to deal with customs officers or any other government bureaucrats during your Egypt holiday travel, remain patient because Egyptian civil administration can be cumbersome and inefficient.

No immunisations are required although there are a few nasty diseases you should defend against if you plan visiting a handful of remote areas well off the beaten track.

Although Egypt's tap water isn't polluted, it is heavily chlorinated and can easily cause stomach bugs for tourists whose bodies haven't adapted to cheap travel.

Bottled water is highly recommended and can be found almost everywhere at a low price. However, tap water is safe for brushing your teeth.

Prepare for some hygiene problems in Egypt. For example, public toilets are scarce and often putrid.

Be aware that fresh fruit juices may have been diluted with local water that hasn't been filtered and make sure all fruit and vegetables have been thoroughly washed before eating.

Food at most restaurants, markets and takeaways in Egypt is safe but it's best not to eat raw vegetables as this can cause diarrhoea.

Rabies is endemic in Egypt and tourists should have reservations about touching either wild or domestic animals.

Malaria tablets aren't necessary unless you want diarrhoea. If you need prescription medicines, it's safer to bring enough with you to last the journey.

Medical facilities away from Cairo and Egypt's tourist areas are below western standards, particularly for emergencies, so travellers with pre-existing medical conditions should come prepared. It's also wise to make sure your travel insurance includes suitable medical cover.

The quality of Egyptian hospitals varies widely, the most competent facilities being private and in Cairo or Alexandria. Elsewhere, the quality of care can be very basic.

Doctors in Egypt usually speak English or French and pharmacists are well trained.

Think twice about swimming, walking barefoot or drinking from the Nile River or in canals during your holiday travel through Egypt as there is a risk of infection from some unpleasant diseases.

Some tourists can acclimatise easily to the heat and local foods but others, particularly the young and old, might become ill. Diarrhoea is a common ailment for many people during their travel through Egypt.

Southern Egypt in particular can be intensely hot and it's important to avoid dehydration or sunburn. A hat, sunglasses and loose fitting clothes (not synthetic) are crucial. You should always seek shade throughout your Egypt holiday travel.

Sinuses and eyes can be irritated by desert dust and city smog, particularly relevant with contact lenses.

Mosquitoes and to a lesser extent flies are a constant plague throughout Egypt and you will need to wear repellents and appropriate clothing for protection during your travel.

Egypt usually slows down in the heat of the early afternoon as men gather to socialise in shaded areas.

Largely because of Islamic religious piety, Egypt has a low crime rate. However, tourists are still frequently targeted by pickpockets, purse-snatchers and thieves. Money belts, bag locks and vigilance are recommended during your holiday travel in Egypt.

Many Egyptians don't drink alcohol, partly explaining the low crime rate, but there is no cultural objection against people who do drink.

Women without a partner should be particularly careful if they travel away from tourist areas in Egypt, and the best way to avoid sexual harassment is to respect Muslim tradition regarding women's clothing. However, foreign women can still expect plenty of stares from Egyptian men wherever they go.

Egyptian society is a perverse but comfortable blend of the old and the new. The peasant fellaheen of the Nile and the bedouin people of the deserts live as they have for thousands of years, nowadays rubbing shoulders with Egypt's growing middle class of 21st Century businessmen.

Although locals in major travel centres sometimes have a somewhat jaded attitude toward tourists, the Egyptian people are mostly warm and hospitable with strangers.

The local currency is the Egyptian pound, which is composed of 100 piastres. You will be dealing with 100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1 pound notes, and coins in denominations of 50, 25, 20, 10 and 5 piastres.

Most establishments accept other currencies, especially American dollars, but antiquity site entry fees are always in Egyptian pounds. American dollars and British pounds are easy and cheap to exchange in Egypt.

Taxes and service charges can add as much as 25% to restaurant bills and hotel reservations but tipping is nevertheless regarded as a common courtesy in Egypt.

It's smart to hoard plenty of small Egyptian pound notes and piastres during your Egypt holiday travel so you can give tips for just about every small service delivered. Children can be particularly persistent in demanding baksheesh (tips) and most Egyptians want to con or make money from travellers.

Try not to be turned off by the incessant demands for baksheesh. It's cheap, usually provides a helpful service, and provides a financial lifeline for many struggling families.

Be generous in the face of poverty, but don't be a sucker.

Credit cards are mostly only accepted at major tourist venues and shops in Egypt but ATMs are becoming more widely established and these mostly allow credit card cash advances, although there's a steep commission.

Egyptian banks are usually open Monday to Thursday from 8.30am to 2pm and then in the evening till as late as 9pm during summer. Some open with similar hours on Saturdays and even for a couple of hours on Sunday mornings.

Cairo Airport and tourist border crossing banks are open 24 hours daily.

Egypt has a black market for money exchange which can pay about 20% more than the banks.

However, the few street dealers you meet are often dishonest and it's safer to change money at banks, although street deals are sometimes necessary and profitable in Egypt's desert areas and in the Sinai.

Be mindful that the peak tourist holiday season in the upper Nile River and the Sinai is winter, and in the lower Nile surrounding Alexandria it is summer.

It's worth noting that shorts are only culturally acceptable at beach resorts (private resorts for women) and shirts should cover your shoulders. You won't be run out of town if you flout these clothing conventions in Egypt, but the locals will think less of you.

Another Egypt convention demands that you take your shoes off before entering the reception area of homes into which you've been invited, and a small gift is also customary.

Be courteous by asking permission before taking a photograph of local people, and be wary of photographing military personnel or sites.

Another quirk in Egypt is the expectation that you don't use your left hand for eating, shaking hands, delivering items, etc, as this hand is supposed to be used only for unhygienic activities.

It's also worth noting that many cheap hotels in Egypt and other tourist accommodation have antiquated telephone connections. It's well worth finding out the cost, particularly for international phone calls, before dialling.

Most local phone boxes are only good for local calls.

However, phonecard booths are becoming more common in Egypt and these allow direct international lines. You can purchase phonecards in many shops.

Prices for Egypt travel facilities and services are normally quite a bit more than for locals, which is fair considering the comparatively low average income of Egyptians. However, budget travellers are advised to stock up whenever possible at supermarkets for items such as cigarettes and drinks.

If you're planning to tour historic sites for a few days, it's well worth stocking up at Cairo supermarkets because prices in Egypt travel destinations such as Aswan and Luxor are mostly higher than in the major cities.

Drive a car or motorbike in Egypt at your own peril. Local drivers pay little attention to road markings or rules and will swerve into whatever space they can find.

Egypt has a famous heritage and it's worth keeping in mind that because of this history, quite a few Egyptians have an ancestry linked to Rome, Greece, Turkey, France and/or England.

Many Egyptians speak English and/or French as a second language, and the native tongue of Egypt is a colloquial Arabic which differs from classical Arabic.

Well over 90% of Egyptians are muslims and religion plays a greater role in everyday affairs than in most western countries. Female tourists shouldn't wear revealing clothing in religious buildings or small towns.

Topless or nude bathing isn't permitted.

Maybe because of their overwhelming religious peity, most (but not all) Egyptians are honest and courteous toward tourists. Even the back alleys are generally safe.

Egypt has a high unemployment rate and just over 20% of people live below the poverty line, so it's sensible to take precautions against thieves who often target tourists and travel spots. The country has seen violent brawls and some deaths caused by bread shortages and high inflation rates in early 2008.

Nearly 70 million people live in Egypt. More than a third are aged less than 14, according to the 2001 Census, and just over 50% can read and write.

About 57 million are Sunni Muslims with the rest Coptic Christians.

Egyptians are a mixed bag of middle class businesspeople and more tribal groupings in the lower classes, and most are friendly toward visitors and tourists who can be seen just about everywhere enjoying cheap travel or exploring Egypt's tourist attractions.

Egyptian society is loosely divided into cultural groups consisting of Copts, Bedouins, Nubians, Fallahin, or rural peasants, and the new middle to upper class of blue and white collar tradesmen and businessmen.

The smell of fruit and flower flavoured tobacco smoke often fills the air in Egyptian villages, towns and cities, particularly in the afternoon.

Egyptian villages mostly consist of homes with thick mud brick walls insulating against the afternoon heat, and flat roofs exposed to cooling evening breezes. Electricity and running water are often non-existent.

The Egyptian summer is hot and dry throughout with humid air in the Nile delta and the Mediterranean coast. Cairo also becomes very sticky during August.

Winters are mild with occasional rain and mostly sunny days with cold nights. Dust storms can occasionally blow up between March and May.

There are essentially two different climates in the Nile Basin.

In the northern area straddled by Sudan and Egypt, there is barely a drop of rain in the summer months.

However, in the southern portion encompassed by the Ethiopian Plateau, heavy rain falls in summer.

The summer months are stifling in Cairo and extremely hot in the upper Nile, forcing many tourists to do their sightseeing early in the morning.

Temperatures are much more comfortable between October and May.

Cairo can be chilly at night during winter so appropriate clothing such as a jacket or jumper should be brought or bought.

The average July maximum in Cairo is 37 degrees Celsius and in Aswan it is 43 degrees.

The summer atmosphere is dry south of Cairo but the city and northern delta are humid. Average annual rainfall along the Mediterranean coast is about 200mm and in Cairo about 29mm.

If you're planning to travel into the desert areas during your holidays, be aware of the simple fact that the further south you go, the more arid and dangerous is your journey.

Sahara temperatures can exceed 55 degrees Celsius - the hottest in the world. This is a hostile environment and every possible precaution should be taken.

When packing your holiday bags before flying to Cairo to begin your Egyptian holiday travel, make sure you bring plenty of clothes that are loose, flowing and breathe, and aren't synthetic.

Cotton is a good idea during summer and it's sensible during winter to have layers of light clothing that you wear according to the heat of day or cool of night.

It's smart to bring a hat to protect yourself from the summer sun, as well as sunglasses. Quality shoes are necessary for trekking between and through ancient temples.

Electricity in Egypt is at 220 volts and it's a good idea for tourists to bring a transformer and an adapter for the two pronged power sockets.

Being an Islamic country, Egypt business hours are from Sunday to Thursday but not on Friday and Saturday, although tourist attractions are open every day except New Years Day.

The holy month of Ramadan is a wonderful, tranquil period with plenty of nightime joviality, but alcohol isn't allowed during the day, restaurants don't open till nightime and there are shorter opening hours at tourist sites.

Arabic is the official native tongue of Egypt, although many Egyptians also speak English and/or French.

If you want to spend much of your travel in Egypt admiring the ruins of ancient Egyptian kingdoms, most historic tourist attractions have detailed information plaques so independent travellers can learn plenty at little cost.

The more expensive peak tour seasons for holiday travel in Egypt are from the middle of June to the middle of September, at Ramadan and over the Christmas festive period.

If you're in an Egyptian tourist market, expect to bargain hard on the price of trinkets and be aware that almost everybody giving advice or recommending a particular tourist attraction is being paid a commission to do so.

Bird flu was detected in the north of Egypt in early 2006 but poses no greater risk than in other countries travellers might visit.

Great Sphinx of Egypt

Luxor Egypt holiday tips

Ancient Egyptian statues

Pyramids of Egypt

Cairo holidays

Sinai holiday travel

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Mt Sinai snaps in Egypt

Mt Sinai

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