Destination:
Egypt

Overview

Egypt is synonymous with Pharaohs, the pyramids, temples and antiquities from ancient civilisations. And at the centre of these great civilisations lies the Nile River that has influenced their economics, social life, politics and religion. It is the oldest travel destination on earth: Greek and Roman travellers came in 430 BC to wonder at some of the very sights that make it a modern travel destination today. The magnificence of the painted Valley of the Kings, exquisite temples, and the pyramids were all sought-after objects of admiration, and many were already 2,500 years old!

From desert landscapes and dry, rugged mountains that reach to the sea, dusty cities full of exotic sounds and smells, and green strips of agricultural land snaking along the banks of the Nile, Egypt has something to offer travellers from all walks of life: Spectacular diving in the Red Sea; unique desert experiences, whether on the back of a camel to Mount Sinai or on a jeep safari to the inner oases; the colour and chaos of Cairo and its markets; and felucca cruises on the Nile River, are just some of the exotic attractions awaiting visitors. Egypt promises an unforgettable experience of history and relaxation - a mixture of discovery and pleasure.

Basics

Time
Local time in Egypt is GMT +2.

Electricity
Electrical current is 220 volts, 50Hz. European-style two-pin plugs are standard.

Language
Arabic is the official language although English and French are widely spoken, especially in the tourist areas.

Health
A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for entry into Egypt from travellers over one year of age coming from infected areas. No other vaccinations are needed but health authorities recommend that travellers are vaccinated against hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) and tetanus-diphtheria. There have been cases of bird flu in Egypt but all those infected had a history of close contact with dead or diseased poultry; bird flu is extremely unlikely to affect tourists but it is worth avoiding contact with poultry. Egypt has the highest incidence of hepatitis C in the world but the infection is only acquired through the sharing of contaminated needles and, less regularly, through unprotected sexual intercourse. Travellers to Egypt should come prepared to beat the heat with a high factor sunblock and drink plenty of water to combat dehydration. Drinking water in the main cities and towns is normally chlorinated but it is advisable to drink only bottled water. Visitors should only eat thoroughly cooked food and fruits they have peeled themselves to prevent travellers' diarrhea. The waters of the Nile are contaminated and should not be consumed or bathed in. Medical treatment can be expensive and standards vary so insurance is strongly advised, including evacuation insurance. Medical facilities outside of Cairo can be very basic.

Tipping
Tipping is known as 'baksheesh' and some small change is expected for most services, though small change can be hard to come by. 'Baksheesh' can be a useful practice in order to gain entry to seemingly inaccessible places, or for extra services - a small tip can open doors, literally. A service charge is added to most restaurant and hotel bills but a 5 percent tip is normally given directly to the waiter. Taxi drivers are tipped about 10 percent.

Safety
Egypt is generally a safe country to visit, however there is still ongoing tension from the 2011 revolution and in September 2012 several embassies in Cairo, particularly the US Embassy, were targeted in violent protests. Demonstrations are common near foreign embassies and around Tahrir Square in Cairo, and in other cities, including Alexandria. There remains a high-level threat from terrorism in Egypt. In the past Red Sea resorts on the Sinai Peninsula have been targeted, and there are active threats against Christian Coptic churches where several bombings and shootings have occurred, as recently as 2010. In general, there are increased security measures at all tourist sites, and especially in resort areas on the Sinai Peninsula, but visitors should be alert and are advised to avoid political demonstrations and public gatherings. There have been kidnappings of foreigners in the Sinai region and tourists are advised to travel in big groups and to avoid dangerous areas. The British Foreign Office advises against all travel north of the Suez-Taba road in Sinai, and in February 2012 several foreign tourists were kidnapped between Dahab and St Catherine's. The Sinai region is currently considered unsafe outside of the prominent beach resorts. Visitors to the cities and tourist sites will experience a fair amount of hassle from touts and are advised not to carry more money on them than needed at a time. Women should take extra caution when travelling alone as there are incidents of harassment, and sexual assault is not uncommon; women should be particularly alert when visiting spas and doing other tourist related activities, and should be careful to dress conservatively. There have been reports of sexual assaults on women during demonstrations. Racism towards black and Asian people is prevalent and considered acceptable. Egypt also has a poor train safety record with several fatal accidents each year.

Customs
Egypt is a conservative society and visitors should respect local customs and sensitivities. Homosexuality is solemnly frowned upon and homosexual acts are illegal. Religious customs should be recognised, particularly during the month of Ramadan when eating, drinking and smoking during daylight hours is forbidden in the Muslim culture. Travellers should be discreet or choose to partake in the custom themselves. Travellers to Egypt should dress modestly. Photography of military institutions is prohibited.

Business
Egyptians are friendly and approachable at work, and personal relationships are very important when conducting business. Business is usually conducted formally in Egypt; however, meetings may not take place in private and it is normal for them to be interrupted with other matters. Punctuality is important, though don't be surprised if your contact is late or postpones the meeting. Be patient. Dress should be formal and conservative; suits and ties are standard and women should dress modestly. Women may encounter some sexism in the business world. Most Egyptians are Muslim and therefore one should be mindful of Islamic customs. English is widely spoken and understood, although attempting to speak some basic Arabic will be highly appreciated. The normal working week runs from Sunday to Thursday. Business hours vary, but in the private sector it is usually 9am to 5pm and in the public sector is it usually 8am to 3pm. Avoid scheduling business trips during the month of Ramadan as working hours are minimised during the holiday period in August, as many key players will not be available.

Communications
The international access code for Egypt is +20. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0027 for South Africa). The city code for Cairo is (0)2. There are high surcharges on international calls from hotels; it is cheaper to phone long-distance from the 24-hour Post, Telephone and Telegraph (PTT) offices that are available in the major cities. For international directory phone enquiries dial 120. The local mobile phone operators use GSM 900 networks and have roaming agreements with all major operators. Internet cafes are available in the main tourist areas.

Duty Free
Travellers arriving in Egypt do not have to pay customs duty on 200 cigarettes or 25 cigars or 200g tobacco; alcoholic beverages up to 1 litre; perfume for personal use and 1 litre of eau de cologne; and goods for consumption to the value of LE 100. Prohibited items include narcotics and drugs.

Currency

The unit of currency is the Egyptian Pound (EGP), which is divided into 100 piastres. Most credit cards are accepted in major hotels and restaurants. Visitors are advised to take travellers cheques in US Dollars or Pounds to avoid additional exchange rate charges. Banks are usually closed on Friday and Saturday, but private exchange bureaux, called 'Forex', are open daily and banks in major hotels are open 24 hours. Cairo branches of the Egyptian British Bank and Banque Misr now have ATMs available that accept Visa, MasterCard and Cirrus and are quite common in the main tourist areas.

EGP 1 =

US$ 0.16

£ 0.11

C$ 0.17

A$ 0.16

R 1.39

EUR 0.13

NZ$ 0.21

Note: These currency exchange rates are not updated daily and should be used as a guideline only.

Health

Health Overview
A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for entry into Egypt from travellers over one year of age coming from infected areas. No other vaccinations are needed but health authorities recommend that travellers are vaccinated against hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) and tetanus-diphtheria. There have been cases of bird flu in Egypt but all those infected had a history of close contact with dead or diseased poultry; bird flu is extremely unlikely to affect tourists but it is worth avoiding contact with poultry. Egypt has the highest incidence of hepatitis C in the world but the infection is only acquired through the sharing of contaminated needles and, less regularly, through unprotected sexual intercourse. Travellers to Egypt should come prepared to beat the heat with a high factor sunblock and drink plenty of water to combat dehydration. Drinking water in the main cities and towns is normally chlorinated but it is advisable to drink only bottled water. Visitors should only eat thoroughly cooked food and fruits they have peeled themselves to prevent travellers' diarrhea. The waters of the Nile are contaminated and should not be consumed or bathed in. Medical treatment can be expensive and standards vary so insurance is strongly advised, including evacuation insurance. Medical facilities outside of Cairo can be very basic.

Visa

Americans


UK nationals


Canadians


Australians


South Africans


Irish nationals


New Zealanders

Passport/Visa Note
A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required to enter Egypt, if arriving within 6 days after leaving or transiting through infected areas. NOTE: Persons without a valid yellow fever certificate, if one is required, will be subject to quarantine. It is highly recommended that your passport has at least six months validity remaining after your intended date of departure from your travel destination. Immigration officials often apply different rules to those stated by travel agents and official sources.

Note: Passport and visa requirements are liable to change at short notice. Travellers are advised to check their entry requirements with their embassy or consulate.

Contacts

Egypt Tourism
Egyptian Tourist Authority: www.egypt.travel

Foreign Embassies in Egypt

Egypt Embassies

Regions and Cities

Cairo

Africa's largest city, with a population of nearly 18 million, Cairo is a chaotic mixture of sights, sounds and smells. It is heaving with life, volatile, polluted and boisterous, with an intensity that both exhausts and invigorates the visitor. It is also distinctive with its ancient monuments in juxtaposition to the modern and cosmopolitan. The congested streets of Islamic Cairo are full of donkey carts, traders and mosques, while camels weave their way haughtily between the crumbling pyramids on the outskirts. Taxis clamour for attention and pedestrians elbow their way past busy coffee houses, where those seeking a brief escape from the hustle and bustle sit sipping at a strong cup of coffee while contemplating the smoke rings of a 'hubbly bubbly' water pipe - in true Egyptian style.

Visitors can also practice the age-old art of bargaining for trinkets, spices and perfume in one of the world's largest bazaars, or pay a visit to the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities, which houses treasures from Tutankhamun's tomb and is one of the country's main attractions.

Situated on the Nile, Egyptians arrogantly refer to Cairo as the 'Mother of all Cities'; many visitors who have experienced its unruliness would perhaps describe it in less endearing terms. But no matter how it goes down there is no doubt that Cairo is as beguiling as it is messy, and its charm lies in the blend of African, Arab and European influences, the timelessness of the old, and the energy of the present.

The Nile Valley

The Nile River has been the lifeblood of Egypt for thousands of years. The narrow fertile strip on either side of the river lies in stark contrast to the desert wasteland beyond. The annual flooding of the Nile, and the resultant deposit of silt on its banks, has left layers of archaeological remains from previous settlements that have been discovered underneath almost every town and village in the valley. Excavations have revealed thousands of tombs, temples and monuments along the banks of the river, and the best places to explore some of these relics are the historic towns of Luxor and Aswan.

Cruises along the mighty Nile River are very popular and allow tourists the chance to visit the numerous ancient attractions along the banks as well as view rural Egyptian life slowly passing them by. The sunsets on the river are legendary. Popular sightseeing stops include the magnificent Abu Simbel temples, built by Ramses II, the Temple of Karnak - still the largest temple complex in the world - and the West Bank, which includes the famous Valley of the Kings. Visitors who aren't keen on a river cruise can easily travel on their own steam to all these incredible places.

The Sinai Peninsula and the Red Sea

Warning: Parts of the Sinai Peninsula are currently not considered safe for tourists due to some kidnappings of foreigners in the area. Sadly, Mount Sinai and St. Catherine's Monastery are in an area previously targetted and visits there are risky. The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office advises against all travel to the Governorate of North Sinai, and against all but essential travel to parts of South Sinai. They emphasise, however, that the major tourist resorts are still very safe.

Sinai is about contrasts. This is a desert interior full of history: here Moses received the Ten Commandments en route to the Promised Land; the Pharaohs found gold and searched for their gods; and the Bedouins still camp beside ruins of Crusader Forts. Christianity, Judaism and Islam know Sinai as a holy land and over the years prophets, saints, pilgrims and warriors have crossed this vast nothingness. Mount Sinai and St Catherine's Monastery, at its foot, are frequently visited.

The desert comes to an abrupt end at the Red Sea, where exquisite coral reefs provide a fine underwater playground for divers and snorkellers from around the world. The coral reefs along the Sinai coastline are among the best in the world and 'diving tourism' is the most recent catchphrase on the peninsula. The Red Sea has one of the highest amounts of marine life variety in all the tropical seas. There are numerous popular beach resorts along the Red Sea coast which offer all sorts of activities and sightseeing excursions out into the desert.

Visitors come to Sinai and the Red Sea to experience the simplicity of sun, sea and sand, and surround themselves by rugged mountains, history and modern Bedouin culture.