Путешествие по египту: Путешествие по Египту. Где побывать, что посетить. Фото, достопримечательности, экскурсии

Хургада — начальный и конечный пункты путешествия, отзыв от туриста Sergey_Kuznetsov на Туристер.Ру

Введение

Вероятно, в 2007-ом году я был одним из последних, кто начал свои заграничные путешествия в 90-ые годы и посетил Египет. К этому времени курорты Хургады и Шарм-аль-Шейха стали для россиян олицетворять недорогой отдых на море. Меня такой отдых не очень манил. Мне хватило пляжей Крыма и Кавказа в советские времена.

Может быть, я так и не поехал бы в Египет, но к тому времени я увлекся «новохронологической» версией истории, где ставится под сомнение древность Египта, и выдвигается ряд интересных альтернативных версий его истории, а также происхождения всемирно известных артефактов. Поэтому мне было интересно увидеть эти артефакты, а также местности, где они находятся или откуда они происходят. Это стало главной побудительной причиной выбора тура в Египет.

Вторая причина заключалась в том, что одной ежегодной поездки за границу в Германию с нашими собаками мне стало не хватать. Хотелось увидеть побольше, несколько таких, дополнительных к традиционной уже с 1999-го года поездке в Германию, уже состоялось. Это были Великобритания с сыном и Испания, куда я съездил один. Такие поездки я совершил весной, поэтому и для Египта я тоже выбрал апрель. Еще не слишком жарко, для экскурсий, подумалось мне, в самый раз.

Маршрут я выбрал такой. Перелет из Москвы в Хургаду. На следующий день формирование группы для круиза по Нилу. Переезд в Луксор. Трехдневный круиз до Асуана. Поездом до Гизы. Групповой осмотр Гизы, Каира и Александрии. Переезд на автобусе в Хургаду. Там один день, и возвращение в Москву. По карте это выглядело следующим образом.

Красный цвет — автобус,

черный цвет — поезд,

голубой цвет — речной корабль,

синий цвет — самолет.

Такой маршрут был интересен для меня потому, что он предполагал возможность увидеть основные исторические достопримечательности Египта, а пляжному отдыху отводилось всего полтора дня, да несколько часов — палубному отдыху на круизном корабле. Все это укладывалось в девять дней, из которых только пять дней были рабочими, а четыре — выходными. Десятый день захватывал лишь его утро, так что можно было, заехав из аэропорта домой и переодевшись, выйти в понедельник на работу. В общем, все продумано, в путь!

День первый, суббота 14 апреля

Перелет

Перелет Москва-Хургада запомнился изумительными видами из иллюминатора на оконечность Синайского полуострова и бирюзовым цветом вод Красного моря.

О популярности курорта Хургады говорит размер набитого российскими туристами самолета — Боинг 747 (Трансаэро).

Вылет из Домодедово в 9.15. Расстояние 3200 километров. Время в полете — 4 часа. Оформление визы в аэропорту и получение багажа заняло около часа. До отеля — 10 километров на микроавтобусе, который развез всех туристов, прибывших этим самолетом по своим отелям. Мой отель Хор Палас был одним из последних, для ехавших в микроавтобусе туристов. Но все равно, 12.30 я уже был на месте, и отдых начался.

Известно, что аэропорт Хургады — бывший военный аэродром, который строился совместно с советскими специалистами. Кто бы мог подумать тогда, что он станет одним из двух (наряду с Шарм-Аль-Шейхом) самых популярных для российских туристов аэропортов Египта.

Город называют Хургадой европейцы на английский манер, сами египтяне называют его Эль-Гурдака.

А еще, кто бы мог подумать, что я окажусь в тех местах, где проходило действие любимого с детства фильма «Последний дюйм» по роману Джеймса Олдриджа.

Отель Хор Палас (Hor Palace)

Я воспользовался этим отелем для того, чтобы начать и закончить мой тур по Египту. Поэтому провел в отеле всего две ночи, и был крайне рад, что всего две, а не неделю, или, не дай бог, — две недели! Обижаться особо не на что, раз выбрал «трешку», понимая, что это египетская «трешка». Так и вышло — общая оценка «удовлетворительно».

В первый день прибытия я выдержал несколько часов на пляже (вода в середине апреля была +22 градуса — не так, чтобы очень теплая, вход — мелкий, купание — так себе…).

Правда понравилась буйная цветущая растительность в парке при отеле.

Пообедал в кафе на берегу, познакомился с местным верблюдом Феликсом. Отказал его хозяину в заработке на поездке верхом. Как-то такое удовольствие меня не впечатлило!

Потом пошел в город, но скоро надоели приставучие продавцы, да и стемнело.

Можно сказать, что в Хургаде я ничего не увидел, да и не очень хотел. Просто погулял немного и насладился теплым апрельским вечером. Вернулся, в отеле — скучно. Хорошо, что на следующий день — выезд в Луксор.

На обратном пути из Каира — еще одна ночь в этом отеле. Так что могу рекомендовать этот отель как перевалочный пункт для круиза, но никак не для матрасного отдыха!

Я почти полный день провел на пляже, так как самолет был вечером. Вода в конце апреля уже была +24, поэтому купание было более приятным, чем в начале круиза. Однако скучно, только знакомый верблюд Феликс скрашивал времяпровождение.

Обратно летели «Атлант-Союзом» на Ил-86. Самолет опять был битком, я себя неважно чувствовал из-за того, что изрядно сгорел на пляже. Вылет в 21.15. Четыре часа перелета и два часа разницы с Москвой, и вот в 3.30 утра я во Внуково. Издержки чартера. Хорошо, что за мной приехала супруга на машине, а то пришлось бы ждать автобуса…

Мои видеоролики о пребывании в Хургаде

Перелет из Москвы в Хургаду

Отель Хор-Палас в Хургаде

Вечерняя прогулка по Хургаде

Хургада слайд-шоу

90000 Egypt — Travel guide at Wikivoyage 90001 90002 90003 90004 90005 90006 90007 90008 90009 WARNING: 90010 Several western governments have issued travel warnings to many areas in Egypt. The UK Foreign Office recommends against 90011 all travel 90012 to the northern Sinai, and against 90011 non-essential travel 90012 to the southern Sinai (although Sharm el-Sheikh is okay), and to the Western Desert region. 90015 In some places, travel by land is prohibited for non-Egyptians, and in others the army or the police provide security escorts for vehicles carrying tourists.90016 90007 90018 90004 90008 90009 Government travel advisories 90010 90007 90018 90004 90008 90011 (Information last updated Jan 2020) 90012 90007 90018 90031 90032 90015 The Arab Republic of 90009 Egypt 90010 (Arabic: مصر, 90011 màSr 90012) is in north-eastern Africa. Egypt is perhaps best known as the home of the ancient Egyptian civilization, with its art, temples, hieroglyphs, mummies, and above all, its pyramids. Less well-known is Egypt’s Coptic Christian and Muslim heritage, with ancient churches, monasteries and mosques dotted across the landscape.Egypt stimulates the imagination of tourists like few other countries. 90016 90039 Regions [edit] 90040 90041 A map of Egypt’s regions and major destinations 90002 90003 90004 90008 90007 90008 90009 Middle Egypt 90010 90050 The area along the Nile where the historical Upper and Lower kingdoms met 90007 90018 90031 90032 90002 90003 90004 90008 90007 90008 90009 Upper Egypt 90010 90050 A string of amazing temple towns located on the southern stretch of the Nile 90007 90018 90031 90032 90002 90003 90004 90008 90007 90008 90009 Western Desert 90010 90050 Location of the Western Oases: five pockets of green, each with their own unique attractions 90007 90018 90031 90032 90002 90003 90004 90008 90007 90008 90009 Sinai 90010 90050 Rugged and isolated peninsula, with fascinating relics of the past, high mountains and great scuba diving 90007 90018 90031 90032 90015 Map of Egypt 90016 90096 90097 90098 30.056111 90099 90098 31.239444 90099 1 90009 Cairo 90010 — the capital of Egypt, home to the Giza Pyramids, the Egyptian Museum and fabulous Islamic architecture 90104 90097 90098 31.2 90099 90098 29.916667 90099 2 90009 Alexandria 90010 — Egypt’s window on the Mediterranean, with still-palpable glimpses of the past 90104 90097 90098 24.088919 90099 90098 32.899731 90099 3 90009 Aswan 90010 — a more relaxed option than Luxor, full of amazing sights 90104 90097 90098 27.257778 90099 90098 33.811667 90099 4 90009 Hurghada 90010 — a town on the Red Sea, filled with all-inclusive resorts and numerous diving options 90104 90097 90098 25.696944 90099 90098 32.642222 90099 5 90009 Luxor 90010 — gateway to the Valley of the Kings, amongst other fabulous attractions, and hassle capital of Egypt 90104 90097 90098 31.25 90099 90098 32.283333 90099 6 90009 Port Said 90010 — the centre of the third largest metropolitan area, has a cosmopolitan heritage, home to the Lighthouse of Port Said 90104 90097 90098 27.978611 90099 90098 34.393611 90099 7 90009 Sharm el Sheikh 90010 — a hugely popular resort town on the Sinai peninsula, with some of the best scuba diving in the world 90104 90097 90098 26.1039 90099 90098 34.2811 90099 8 90009 Quseir 90010 — a historical town with a old Fort and Down Town at the Red Sea coast, with some of the best diving spots and holiday destination in Egypt 90104 90161 90039 Other destinations [edit] 90040 90096 90097 90098 22.336944 90099 90098 31.625556 90099 1 90009 Abu Simbel 90010 (Arabic: أبو سمبل) — a very remote town in the far south, with some impressive ancient temples and distinct history 90104 90097 90098 28.493056 90099 90098 34.504722 90099 2 90009 Dahab 90010 (Arabic: دهب) — at Sinai, east of Sharm el Sheikh, a backpacker central, with excellent scuba diving 90104 90097 90098 25.718611 90099 90098 32.658611 90099 3 90009 Karnak 90010 — scattered temples built with an emphasis on size, an impressive avenue of ram-headed sphinxes runs through the middle 90104 90097 90098 29.844722 90099 90098 31.250833 90099 4 90009 Memphis 90010 (Arabic: منف, 90011 Manf 90012) and 90098 29.871111 90099 90098 31.216389 90099 5 90009 Saqqara 90010 (Arabic: سقارة) — both filled with relics and ruins of ancient Egypt, they’re often combined as a day trip from Cairo 90104 90097 90098 29.183333 90099 90098 25.55 90099 6 90009 Siwa 90010 (Arabic: واحة سيوة, 90011 Wāḥat Sīwah 90012) — a stunning remote oasis near the Libyan border 90104 90097 90098 28.564377 90099 90098 33.95243 90099 7 90009 St. Katherine 90010 (Arabic: سانت كاترين) — home to the oldest continually inhabited monastery, Mount Sinai and Mount Katherine (highest mountain in Egypt) and truly Bedouin culture 90104 90097 90098 29.5 90099 90098 34.883333 90099 8 90009 Taba Heights 90010 (Arabic: طابا, 90011 Ṭāba 90012) — purpose built resort with views of Israel, Jordan and Saudi Arabia 90104 90097 90098 25.740833 90099 90098 32.602222 90099 9 90009 Valley of the Kings 90010 (Arabic: وادي الملوك, 90011 Wādī al Mulūk 90012) 90104 90161 90039 Understand [edit] 90040 90246 90003 90004 90249 90250 90007 90018 90004 90008 90009 Capital 90010 90007 90008 Cairo 90007 90018 90004 90008 90009 Currency 90010 90007 90008 Egyptian pound (EGP) 90007 90018 90004 90008 90009 Population 90010 90007 90008 94.7 million (2017) 90007 90018 90004 90008 90009 Electricity 90010 90007 90008 220 volt / 50 hertz (Europlug, Schuko) 90007 90018 90004 90008 90009 Country code 90010 90007 90008 +20 90007 90018 90004 90008 90009 Time zone 90010 90007 90008 UTC + 02: 00 90007 90018 90004 90008 90009 Emergencies 90010 90007 90008 122 (police), 123 (emergency medical services), 180 (fire department) 90007 90018 90004 90008 90009 Driving side 90010 90007 90008 right 90007 90018 90004 90018 90031 90032 90321 The St.Katherine monastery 90015 Egypt also extends into Asia by virtue of holding the Sinai Peninsula. Egypt is bordered by Israel and the Gaza Strip to the north-east, by Sudan to the south and by Libya to the west. The country is bounded by the Mediterranean and Red Seas (to the north and east respectively) and geographically dominated both by the Nile River and its fertile well-watered valley, and by the Eastern and Western deserts. 90016 90015 While Egypt is primarily known as a tourist destination and for the pyramids, it is also notable as having the largest population in the Arabic-speaking world, and the second largest economy in Africa after South Africa.90016 90326 History [edit] 90327 90328 90329 90011 Main article: Ancient Egypt 90012 90332 90329 90011 See also: Ancient Greece, Roman Empire, Ottoman Empire 90012 90332 90337 90338 The pyramids of Giza need no further introduction 90339 The Sphinx of Egypt (Giza) 90015 The regularity and richness of the annual Nile River flood, coupled with semi-isolation provided by deserts to the east and west, allowed for the development of one of the world’s great civilizations. A unified kingdom arose around 3200 BC and a series of dynasties ruled in Egypt for the next three millennia.The last native dynasty fell to the Persians in 341 BC, who in turn were replaced by the Greeks, Romans, and Byzantines. It was the Arabs who introduced Islam and the Arabic language in the 7th century and who ruled for the next six centuries. A local military caste, the Mamluks, took control about 1250 and continued to govern after the conquest of Egypt by the Ottoman Turks in 1517. Following the completion of the Suez Canal in тисяча вісімсот шістьдесят дев’ять, Egypt became an important world transportation hub, but also fell heavily into debt.Ostensibly to protect its investments, Britain seized control of Egypt’s government in 1882 році, but nominal allegiance to the Ottoman Empire continued until 1914. Egypt gained partial independence from the UK in 1922. The completion of the Aswan High Dam in 1971 and the resultant Lake Nasser have altered the time-honoured place of the Nile River in agriculture and the ecology of Egypt. A rapidly growing population (the largest in the Arab world), limited arable land, and dependence on the Nile all continue to overtax resources and stress society.The government has struggled to prepare the economy for the 21st century through economic reform and massive investment in communications and physical infrastructure. 90016 90326 Climate [edit] 90327 90015 Egypt’s climate is generally classified as desert. It is an extension of the great Sahara that bands North Africa, and except for the thin strip of watered land along the Nile River, very little could survive there. As the ancient Greek historian Herodotus stated: «Egypt is the gift of the Nile».90016 90015 Beware that from March till May, sand storms may occur, particularly during daytime. These storms not only make the air sandy and very dry, but also temporarily raise the temperature. Sand storms at other times of the year can still erupt but rarely and in winter, usually they will not raise the temperature. 90016 90015 Generally, the summers are hot, rainless and extremely sunny, but the air can be humid at the coasts and very dry at the south, away of the coasts and away of the Nile Delta.The winters are moderate. November through March are definitely the most comfortable months for travel in Egypt. Only the 90009 north coast 90010 (stretching from the sea to 50 km southwards) receives a little rain in winter; the rest of Egypt receives negligible or no rain. 90016 90015 Thunderstorms along with heavy rain showers that often last several hours are not uncommon in Alexandria, Marsa Matruh and all other northern coastal areas, and even the Delta. In some years the rainstorms can last for a whole day or so, though the rain tends to be lighter.Hail is also not uncommon, especially out in the desert where the weather is usually colder and allows for soft hail to fall and even frost to form on non-rainy days. 90016 90015 In the 90009 Sinai Mountains 90010 and also the Red Sea mountains, which stretch along the east side of the country along the shore of the Red Sea, there is generally more rain than the surrounding desert, as rain clouds tend to develop when warm air evaporates and rises as it moves across higher terrain. Floods in these areas are a common weather phenomenon as so much rain can fall in a very short amount of time (often a day or two), with thunder and lightning as well.Because of the desert and lack of abundant vegetation, the water from the rain quickly falls down across the hills and mountains and floods local areas. Every year there are stories in the local newspapers about flash floods in areas of the Sinai and also in Upper Egypt (southern Egypt) such as in Assiut, Luxor, Aswan, and Sohag. These floods, however, only generally happen two or three times a year, and do not happen at all in some years. When they happen, though, it is often in early times of the season such as in September or October, or in late winter such as February.Because of this risk, one should be careful when venturing out into the desert or camping in certain areas, as water can suddenly rush down from the nearby mountains and hills. It can sometimes carry a quite strong current that has been known to break down homes of rural people who build their homes from mud, bricks, and other weak materials. Poor people might drown in the floods, which is strange for a desert country that does not receive much precipitation. 90016 90015 Also, in higher elevations such as on top of the Sinai mountains, temperatures can drop much more than the surrounding areas, allowing for snowfall in winter months, since temperatures can drop down to below freezing, as well as formation of frost even in the low lying desert areas where the temperatures are generally several degrees colder than in the cities.90016 90015 December, January and February are the coldest months of the year. However, winter days of southern places at the Nile Valley are warmer, but their nights are as cool as northern places. 90016 90015 Visitors should be aware that most houses and apartments in Egypt do not have central heating like countries with colder climates, because the main weather concern in Egypt is the heat. Therefore, even though the weather might not be so cold for a westerner, inside the apartment it might be colder at day but the temperature indoors is more stable than outdoors.In Cairo, in indoor buildings without air-conditioning, temperatures are about 15 ° C (59 ° F) in the coldest winter days and about 34 ° C (93 ° F) in the hottest summer days. 90016 90326 Holidays [edit] 90327 90015 Banks, shops and businesses close for the following Egyptian national holidays (civil and religious), and public transport may run only limited services: 90016 90096 90097 7 January (Eastern Orthodox Christmas) 90104 90097 25 January (Egyptian Revolution Day) 90104 90097 25 April (Sinai Liberation Day) 90104 90097 1 May (Labour Day) 90104 90097 23 July (July Revolution Day) 90104 90097 6 October (Armed Forces Day) 90104 90097 1st Shawwal, the 10th Hijri month (Eid al Fitr, «Breakfast Feast») 90104 90097 10th Dhu al Hijjah, the 12th Hijri month (Eid al Adha, «Sacrifice Feast») 90104 90097 Working for shorter day hours for 29 or 30 days of Ramadan 90104 90161 90015 Since Islamic holidays are based on the lunar calendar, their exact dates vary between years 90016 90390 Ramadan [edit] 90391 90392 90003 90004 90008 90015 90009 Ramadan 90010 90016 90015 Ramadan is the 9th and holiest month in the Islamic calendar and lasts 29-30 days.Muslims fast every day for its duration and most restaurants will be closed until the fast breaks at dusk. Nothing (including water and cigarettes) is supposed to pass through the lips from dawn to sunset. Non-Muslims are exempt from this, but should still refrain from eating or drinking in public as this is considered very impolite. Working hours are decreased as well in the corporate world. Exact dates of Ramadan depend on local astronomical observations and may vary somewhat from country to country.Ramadan concludes with the festival of 90011 Eid al-Fitr 90012, which may last several days, usually three in most countries. 90016 90096 90097 24 April — 23 May 2020 (90011 тисячі чотиреста сорок-один AH 90012) 90104 90097 13 April — 12 May 2021 (90011 1442 AH 90012) 90104 90097 2 April — 1 May 2022 (90011 1443 AH 90012) 90104 90097 23 March — 20 April 2023 (90011 тисячу чотиреста сорок чотири AH 90012) 90104 90097 11 March — 9 April 2024 (90011 1445 AH 90012) 90104 90161 90015 If you’re planning to travel to Egypt during Ramadan, consider reading Travelling during Ramadan.90016 90007 90018 90031 90032 90015 Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and the most important month in the Islamic Calendar for Muslims, the majority religion in Egypt. Commemorating the time when God revealed the Qur’an to Mohammed, during this holy month, Muslims abstain from eating, drinking or smoking until after sundown on each day. Although strict adherence to Ramadan is for Muslims only, some Muslims appreciate that non-Muslims do not take meals or smoke in public places.During Ramadan, many restaurants and cafes will not open until after sundown. Public transport is less frequent, shops close earlier before sunset and the pace of life (especially business) is generally slow. 90016 90015 As expected, exactly at sunset minute, the entire country quiets down and busy itself with the main meal of the day (iftar, «breaking-fast») that are almost always done as social events in large groups of friends. Many richer people offer (Tables of the Gracious God موائد الرحمن) in Cairo’s streets that cater full-meals for free for the passers-by, the poorer ones or workers who could not leave their shifts at the time.Prayers become popular ‘social’ events that some like to enrich with special food treats before and after. An hour or two later, an astonishing springing to life of the cities takes place. Streets sometimes richly decorated for the whole month have continuous rush hours till very early in the morning. Some shops and cafes make the biggest chunk of their annual profit at this time of year. Costs of advertising on television and radio soars for this period and entertainment performances are at their peak.90016 90326 Terrain [edit] 90327 90015 Egypt consists of vast desert plateau interrupted by the Nile valley and delta, along with the Sinai peninsula. Portions of the Nile River valley are bounded by steep rocky cliffs, while the banks are relatively flat in other areas, allowing for agricultural production. 90016 90326 Spelling [edit] 90327 90015 There is no standard way of transcribing Arabic words into western script. The main effect on these pages is on place names, and that little word 90011 el 90012 for «the» — a common prefix — is a good example.Arabic does not spell out short vowels so 90011 el 90012 could also be «al» or «il» (sometimes even «ul»). It does not distinguish upper and lower case, and words are run together rather than hyphenated, so 90011 el 90012 could also be «El», «El-» or «el-«. Permute the short vowels and you’ve got twelve ways to spell a place. And then there are the «sun letters» such as «Sh» which assimilate the «el» when spoken, though the Arabic spelling does not alter. Thus «Sharm el-Sheikh» is pronounced «Sharm esh-Sheikh»; western script preserves the «el» in that example but for other towns may follow the pronunciation.The Arabic glottal stop may be transcribed as an apostrophe or omitted. «Q» may be transcribed «Qu» or «K» or «Kh» or not at all, since the Egyptian «koph» is often silent. But after that it gets complicated. . . 90016 90015 Individual pages here tend to settle on a particular spelling for consistency, but there’s inevitable variation on other pages and other sources such as maps. 90016 90015 Egypt is one of only three Middle Eastern countries that tolerate Israeli citizens in their country.As such, entry into Egypt will not be a problem for Israeli passport holders. However, if this issue is of concern to you, read Visa trouble. 90016 90454 90326 Visa [edit] 90327 90015 As a major tourist destination whose economy is dependent upon tourist money, Egypt is relatively easy to enter and / or obtain 90009 visas 90010 for if necessary. There are three types of Egyptian visa: 90016 90096 90097 Tourist Visa — usually valid for 3 months or less and granted on either a single or multiple entry basis 90104 90097 Entry Visa — required for any foreigner arriving in Egypt for purposes other than tourism, e.g. work, study. The possession of a valid Entry Visa is needed to complete the residence procedure in Egypt. 90104 90097 Transit Visa — rarely needed and only for certain nationalities 90104 90161 90015 Entry visas may be obtained from Egyptian diplomatic and consular missions abroad or from the Entry Visa Department at the Travel Documents, Immigration and Nationality Administration (TDINA). Non-Egyptians are required to have a valid passport. 90016 90015 90009 Visa on arrival 90010 is available for many western countries; see below.Citizens, however, of the following countries are required to have a visa before arriving, which must be applied for through an Egyptian consulate or embassy outside of Egypt: 90016 90096 90097 Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Comoros, R Congo, DR Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kenya, DPR Korea, R Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, Philippines, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey (except those aged below 20 and above 45), Turkmenistan, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Zambia and Zimbabwe.90104 90161 Sharm el Sheikh and surroundings can be visited visa-free by some nationalities that otherwise need an Egyptian visa 90015 Visitors entering Egypt at the overland border crossing at Taba or at Sharm el Sheikh airport can be exempted from a visa and granted a free fourteen day entry visa to visit the Aqaba coast of the Sinai peninsula, including Sharm el Sheikh, Dahab and St. Catherine’s Monastery. Visitors wishing to leave the Sinai peninsula and to visit Cairo and other Egyptian cities are required to hold full Egyptian visas, although strictly speaking there is a small possibility no one will check for this unless you attempt to exit the country.These are not issued at the Taba border crossing and must be acquired in advance either in the country of residence, at the Egyptian consulate in Eilat or airport upon arrival. Visitors on organized tours often may be able to have their visas issued at the border, but should verify in advance with their travel agent or tour operator if this option is available. Those in possession of a residence permit are not required to obtain an entry visa if they leave the country and return to it within the validity of their residence permit or within six months, whichever period is less.90016 90015 Tourists visiting Sharm el Sheikh who are planning to undertake scuba diving outside local areas (i.e. Ras Mohammed) must obtain the tourist visa in order to leave the Sharm el Sheikh area. Officials on boats may check dive boats whilst on the waters so you are advised to obtain the visa beforehand: there may be fines involved for you and the boat captain if you are caught without the appropriate visa. Most reputable dive centres will ask to see your visa before allowing you on trips.90016 90015 Egypt has peaceful relations with Israel, but the degree of friendliness varies, and with it, the direct connections between the two countries. A direct air service between Cairo and Tel Aviv is operated by EgyptAir under the guise of «Air Sinai». Bus service seems to continue, as described below. In any case, verify the situation as you plan, and again at the last minute. 90016 90390 Visa on arrival [edit] 90391 90015 Citizens of Bahrain, Guinea, South Korea, Libya, Oman, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen receive a 3-month visa on arrival.Citizens of Kuwait can obtain 6-month Residence Permit upon arrival. China and Malaysian citizens receive a 15-day visa on arrival. Citizens of China (only Hong Kong and Macau SAR) may have a 30-day visit without visa. 90016 90015 Citizens of UK, EU, Australia, Canada, Croatia, Georgia, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Macedonia, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Serbia, Ukraine and USA may also obtain a 90009 visa on arrival 90010 at major points of entry. 90016 90015 The visa on arrival is 90009 US $ 25 90010 for everyone.You will not necessarily need US dollars, most major currencies, down to small notes ($ 1, € 5, £ 5), are accepted and exchanged by the visa fee collecting officer at a more than fair rate. The officer will also put the visa fee sticker into you passport, with which you will have to pass through passport control. The sticker is quite loose: if you feel like it is at the wrong location or taking too much space, you can move it to a more convenient location, or hide a stamp with it that you might want to conceal for certain reasons.90016 90002 90003 90004 90500 90501 90007 90008 90009 E-visas: 90010 As of August 2018, many companies offer e-visas through websites that look like official websites, and have official-sounding names like «egyptvisa.com». They will charge you significantly more than you would pay for a visa-on-arrival (e.g., US $ 90 instead of US $ 25). There are complaints that they may not even provide e-visas after charging you. 90007 90018 90031 90032 90326 By plane [edit] 90327 90015 Egypt has several international airports: 90016 90326 By boat [edit] 90327 90328 90329 90011 See also: Ferries in The Red Sea 90012 90332 90337 90015 Ferries run regularly from Aqaba across to Nuweiba on the Sinai peninsula, bypassing Israel and the sometimes complicated border arrangements.Generally there is no visa fee for entering Jordan through Aqaba since it is a part of the free trade zone. The line to Nuweiba is operated by 90009 AB Maritime 90010. It is also possible to travel from Saudi Arabia to several Red Sea coast ports. 90016 90015 A weekly ferry also runs between Wadi Halfa, Sudan and Aswan, connecting with the train from Khartoum. 90016 90015 There are no scheduled passenger ferries between Europe and Egypt. For those intent to recreate the classical way of reaching Egypt, freighter travel remains an option.90016 90326 By bus [edit] 90327 Taba border terminal, at the border with Israel 90015 Travelling to Egypt by bus is a cheaper option than short-haul flights from neighbouring countries. A trip between Jordan and Cairo can cost as little as US $ 45 (€ 35). The downside, of course, is that it’s time consuming and, even if buses nowadays have plush seats and air-con, quite uncomfortable as you’re confined to a seat for up to 40 hr. Also, foreigners entering Egypt by bus must pay a LE63 tax (Egyptian pounds).90016 90015 Israel is the most popular country to travel by bus from and travellers can easily access Egypt by bus from Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. There are however no cross-border services. The most common route is to take a bus to Eilat where you can cross over the border into Taba and take a bus to Cairo or into the Sinai. Generally, only two or three buses leave from Taba to the various destinations each day; one morning and one afternoon service, with an early evening departure from time to time.Plan the arrival in Eilat accordingly, and be prepared to spend the night in either Eilat or Taba if arriving late. As usual, crossing into Israel by bus means getting your passport stamped and many Arab countries denying you entry (read Visa trouble). 90016 90015 Other routes to Cairo includes; direct services from Amman twice a week by the Jordanian state bus company, 90009 JETT 90010. There’s daily services by 90009 SAPTCO 90010 from Dammam, Jeddah and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia. There are also buses from Benghazi, although they can be suspended due to the fluid security situation there.Journey times for all these destinations are between 25 and 40 hours. 90016 90039 Get around [edit] 90040 90326 By plane [edit] 90327 90015 Overland journeys between cities in Egypt are often long, hot, bumpy, dusty, and not altogether safe. There is a good domestic air network, and advance fares are not expensive, so flying internally is often a good option. Obvious exceptions are Cairo — Alexandria and Luxor — Aswan, both only 220 km apart so ground transport will be quicker, and you’d only fly between them to connect onto another domestic or international flight.90016 90015 Cairo has direct flights to every other major city, including Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel, Hurghada, Sharm el-Sheikh, Alexandria, Marsa Matruh, Marsa Alam and Kharga oasis. These run at least daily, and the main cities have several flights a day. There are also daily flights directly between Alexandria, Aswan, Luxor, Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh. 90016 90015 Most flights are operated by the national carrier, EgyptAir. This is the first place to go looking. Some internet booking sites (e.g. Expedia) do not offer their flights — it’ll appear as if you need to fly via Istanbul or similar nonsense. If you do not have internet access, Egyptair does not do phone sales, but they have lots of downtown booking offices — your hotel can point these out. 90016 90015 There are rival airlines such as Nile Air and Al Masria. Nile Air has flights from Cairo and Alexandria. Al Masria flies to Cairo from Hurghada, and Sharm El Sheikh. Foreign package airlines (e.g. TUI) sometimes fly an internal route, but that’s to move their clients around on multi-centre holidays, and they’re not available to book as point-to-point domestic flights.90016 90326 By train [edit] 90327 90556 90015 Egypt’s mainline railway follows the Nile: from Aswan north through Luxor to Cairo and Alexandria. Branch lines fan out across the Nile delta, as far east as Suez and Port Said, and west along the coast through El Alamein as far as Mersa Matruh. Train is an excellent way to travel between Cairo and Alexandria, and between Luxor and Aswan, with frequent daytime services taking 2-3 hrs. Trains also run between Cairo and Luxor and Aswan, both daytime and overnight.There are no trains to the Red Sea resorts or to Siwa oasis. 90016 90015 Almost all trains are run by the state-owned company 90009 Egyptian National Railways (ENR) 90010 (the exception is the Cairo-Luxor-Aswan sleeper run by Watania, described below). 90009 Express trains 90010 have air-conditioned classes called AC1 and AC2 (1st and 2nd class). They are clean and comfortable. For 90009 ordinary trains 90010 the classes AC1 and AC2 are likewise available, with A / C sometimes in AC1, but never in AC2.Fares are very cheap by Western standards, even the priciest Cairo-Alexandria single ticket is only about LE51 (Oct 2018). It is half that for slower trains, and half again for AC2, respectively. Punctuality could be described as «not bad for Egypt»: trains generally start out from their first station on time but pick up delays along the way. Delays of up to an hour are not uncommon, especially between Cairo and Luxor. So, if your train is coming from somewhere else, do not expect it to be on time.90016 90015 In addition, 90009 local 3rd class trains 90010 are a great way to explore attractions in the surrounding area. They can also be used for longer distances if you want to connect with the locals and are on a tight budget. 3rd class sounds worse than it actually is-the chairs are wooden but the interior is sometimes painted well. They are dirt cheap, LE1.50-4 for 50 km, but make sure you have small notes or coins available-even a LE5 note can be a problem. The local train schedule is not available online, so you need to make enquiries at the station.Be insistent, they might just tell you the regular train schedule that you already know from the ENR website, expecting that you would no 90016.90000 Travel advice and advisories for Egypt 90001 Risk level (s) 90002 Risk level (s) 90003 90004 COVID-19 — Global travel advisory 90005 90006 Effective date: March 13, 2020 90007 90006 Avoid non-essential travel outside Canada until further notice. 90007 90006 This advisory overrides other risk levels on this page, with the exception of any risk levels for countries or regions where we advise to avoid all travel. 90007 90006 More about the Global travel advisory 90007 90004 The Sinai Peninsula (except Sharm el-Sheikh) — Avoid all travel 90005 90006 Avoid all travel to the Sinai Peninsula, due to terrorist activity and ongoing military operations by the Egyptian Armed Forces.This does not include the coastal resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, the area within the Sharm el-Sheikh perimeter barrier, the Sharm el-Sheikh International Airport and the areas of Hadaba, Naama Bay, Nabq, Sharks Bay and Sharm el Maya. 90007 90006 Safety and security situation 90007 90004 The Western desert and Libyan border area — Avoid all travel 90005 90006 Avoid all travel to the area within 50 kilometres of the border with Libya, the Siwa Oasis, the Western Desert, including the oases of Bahariya, Bawati, Dakhla and Farafra, and the White and Black deserts, due to smuggling, terrorist activities, the presence of armed groups and ongoing military operations.90007 90006 Safety and security situation 90007 Safety and security 90002 Safety and security 90003 90028 90006 COVID-19 — Preventative measures and restrictions 90007 90006 Preventative measures and restrictions are in place. 90007 90033 90034 Follow the instructions of local authorities, including those related to physical distancing 90035 90034 Avoid crowded areas 90035 90034 You must wear a face covering in closed public spaces 90035 90040 90006 If you fail to respect preventative measures, you could be fined and face serious criminal charges for endangering public health.90007 90006 The security situation in Egypt is unpredictable and certain regions of the country (for instance, North Sinai, Western Desert, etc.) are particularly volatile and should be avoided. There is a significant risk of terrorist attacks throughout the country. Attacks can be indiscriminate and occur with no warning, including in Cairo. While attacks in the North Sinai are frequent and mainly target security forces, terrorists have also targeted popular tourist destinations, places of worship, and other places frequented by foreigners throughout Egypt.90007 90006 Terrorists have targeted Coptic Christians and their places of worship, in both urban and isolated areas. Terrorists also attacked a mosque in the North Sinai on November 24 2017, killing over 300 people. Avoid all religious institutions in Egypt. 90007 90006 There is a significant presence of armed security forces and police in most governorates throughout the country. A state of emergency is in effect. Curfews may be imposed on very short notice. 90007 90006 On May 19, 2019 and December 28, 2018, attacks on buses carrying tourists took place near the pyramids of Giza.The explosions resulted in multiple casualties. 90007 90006 There is an increased risk of incidents and attacks on and around dates of national significance, including: 90007 90033 90034 January 25, the anniversary of the 2011 Egyptian revolution; 90035 90034 The week of Orthodox Easter; 90035 90034 June 30 to July 3, the anniversary of the removal of former president Mohamed Morsi in 2013; 90035 90034 August 14, the anniversary of clearing protesters from Rabaa and al-Nahda squares in 2013; and 90035 90034 Other religious observances and holidays.90035 90040 90006 Exercise increased caution during these periods. 90007 90006 Be particularly cautious in commercial establishments, government facilities, public areas, tourist sites, the vicinity of churches and mosques at the time of religious services and any other areas frequented by foreigners. Avoid police stations, security installations and government buildings, as well as all crowds and demonstrations. 90007 90004 Western Desert 90005 90006 Borders with Sudan and Libya are porous, and bandits and armed groups are active in these areas.Attacks on security checkpoints and forces are expected to continue. Egyptian military and security personnel are also engaged in security operations in the area. If you intend to travel to these areas, consider the risks to your personal safety and ensure you have made appropriate security arrangements. Travel to these areas requires a permit from the Travel Permits Department at the Egyptian Ministry of Interior Affairs. 90007 90006 Risk level (s) 90007 90004 North Sinai Governorate 90005 90006 The security situation in North Sinai Governorate, particularly the areas bordering Israel and the Gaza Strip, is extremely unpredictable.Terrorist groups regularly carry out attacks against Egyptian security forces. A state of emergency is in effect, as is a curfew from 5 p.m. to 7 a.m., due to ongoing Egyptian military operations against terrorist groups in the region. Road blockades by unsanctioned groups, kidnappings, robberies and carjackings by armed groups and terrorists occur. 90007 90004 South Sinai Governorate 90005 90006 While attacks are significantly less frequent than in North Sinai, terrorists have carried out attacks in South Sinai Governorate, targeting both security forces and tourists.Terrorist groups may expand targeted areas to include coastal resorts such as Sharm el-Sheikh. While enhanced security measures are in place to protect the tourism infrastructure in Sharm el-Sheikh, the area may be seen as a high-value target by terrorists. Be aware of your surroundings at all times and follow the advice of local authorities. 90007 90006 Coastal resorts in Sinai, including Dahab, Nuweiba and Sharm el-Sheikh, have seen incidents of petty theft. Tensions between security authorities and local Bedouin tribes may rise unexpectedly, affecting tourism.90007 90004 Red Sea resorts and Upper Egypt 90005 90006 Exercise a high degree of caution when travelling to Red Sea coastal resorts (such as Ain el-Sokhna, el-Gouna Bay, Hurghada, Marsa Alam, Safaga and Soma Bay) and to the Upper Egypt cities of Aswan and Luxor. While the beach resort areas are generally considered safe, sporadic terrorist attacks have targeted foreign tourists in recent years. Pay particular attention to local conditions if you are visiting Upper Egypt and the historic sites of the Nile Valley.Sectarian, economic and family-related disputes have occurred and can quickly become violent. Travel in large groups and by organized transportation, and follow the advice of local authorities, hotels and tour guides if you are travelling to rural areas. 90007 90004 Civil unrest 90005 90006 While the size and frequency of demonstrations has decreased significantly in recent years, they can still occur anywhere at any time without warning, but are most likely to occur on Fridays following noon prayers.90007 90006 Be extremely vigilant. Avoid all demonstrations or large public gatherings. Keep well informed of developing situations by monitoring local news reports and follow the advice of local authorities. Women should take particular care, as there is a serious risk of sexual assault during demonstrations; once surrounded by a group, it can be difficult to escape. 90007 90004 Crime 90005 90006 Rates of violent and petty crime have historically been low in Egypt, although there are reports that such crime has been on the rise given the economic downturn since 2011 року.Crimes such as pickpocketing, bag and purse snatching and home invasion, while rare, have become more common. Purse snatching and pickpocketing occur most often in tourist locations and on the metro. Be aware of your surroundings and vigilant for thieves using different strategies to distract and rob you. 90007 90006 Reports of carjackings are extremely rare, however they do occur. They generally target sports utility or other high-value vehicles. Although isolated areas and night driving present the greatest threat, there have been reported incidents in daylight hours and in busy areas of Cairo.Assailants are usually armed, and a variety of tactics may be used to get vehicles to stop, including throwing objects at the windshield, feigning a traffic accident or minor collision with the target vehicle, or «sandwiching» the target vehicle to force it off the road. If you find yourself in such a situation, do not resist as carjackers are typically after the vehicle and, if the carjacking is successful, will leave the driver unharmed. 90007 90006 If you are a victim of crime, report it to the Tourist Police or at a nearby police station as soon as possible.Request a copy of the police report at the time the report is made. Failure to report the crime while in Egypt makes it much more difficult to seek prosecution. 90007 90004 Women’s safety 90005 90006 Women, particularly foreigners, are frequently subject to unpleasant male attention, sexual harassment and verbal abuse. This often takes the form of staring, inappropriate remarks, catcalls and touching. The risks increase around public holidays, when more men are in the streets. 90007 90006 Safe-travel guide for women 90007 90004 Landmines 90005 90006 Unexploded landmines remain a risk in some desert and coastal areas, notably the Mediterranean shore, the Western Desert, the Sinai Peninsula and the western shore of the Gulf of Suez.Known minefields are not marked by signs, but may be enclosed by barbed wire. Seek local advice, especially if travelling off-road. 90007 90004 Regional travel 90005 90006 On June 5 2017, the governments of Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen announced the severing of diplomatic relations with Qatar. Some airlines have suspended flights to and from Qatar. Further measures could impact transportation. If you are planning to travel between Qatar and one of these countries, or transit through Qatar, verify your travel plans with your airline or travel agent.Monitor local media for the latest development. 90007 90004 Road safety 90005 90006 Road conditions are often poor and the rate of vehicular accidents is one of the highest in the world. Drivers generally have little regard for traffic regulations and do not follow safe driving practices. Be cautious when crossing streets as drivers do not give pedestrians the right of way. 90007 90006 In the event of an accident, do not move the vehicle until the police arrive, unless you are in immediate danger, such as from a crowd and need to move to safety.Exercise caution when using taxis and the metro. There have been robberies and accidents involving both. Many taxis do not have working metres, and back seats are rarely equipped with seat belts. Women should not sit in the front seat, as this could be misinterpreted by the driver. The metro can be overcrowded and is not climate controlled but does have cars for women only on most lines. 90007 90006 Use vehicles and hire drivers from reputable travel agencies. 90007 90004 Public transportation 90005 90006 Safety standards for rail travel vary throughout Egypt.There have been major accidents in recent years, attributed to aging infrastructure, poor maintenance and human error. Exercise a high degree of caution. 90007 90006 Avoid microbuses because of hazardous driving habits. 90007 90006 Overcrowding and poor safety standards on ferries have caused accidents. Use reputable ferry operators. 90007 90004 Air travel 90005 90006 We do not make assessments on the compliance of foreign domestic airlines with international safety standards. 90007 90006 General information about foreign domestic airlines 90007 90004 Scuba diving / aquatic activities 90005 90006 Sharks and other potentially dangerous aquatic animals are present in the waters off Egypt.Certain beaches and dive areas may be subject to temporary closures. Exercise caution and seek advice from local authorities, and ensure to dive with reputable and licensed operators. 90007 90004 Israeli Border 90005 90006 Crossing the border between Egypt and Israel is strongly discouraged at this time. The status of all crossing points can be verified prior to arrival with the Egyptian embassy in Israel or the Israeli embassy in Egypt. Cross-border movement regulations and restrictions are subject to change at any time and are the prerogative of the responsible authorities.90007 90006 The Rafah border crossing point to the Gaza Strip, which is controlled by border authorities in both Egypt and Gaza, is subject to sporadic openings. Global Affairs Canada advises against all travel in this area due to ongoing military operations against terrorists. Consult local authorities and refer to the travel advice for Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip for further information. 90007 90006 Beyond the provision of a travel document (the passport), the Canadian government does not facilitate the crossing of borders by private citizens.It is the citizen’s responsibility to meet the entry requirements of the country where they wish to travel, in most cases either through application for a visa or simply by going to a point of entry. Authorities at the Rafah border crossing from Egypt to Gaza have sometimes requested a letter or witnessed declaration from the Embassy of Canada to Egypt as a requirement to cross the border. The Canadian embassy is unable to provide such a letter or declaration. You should avoid all travel to Gaza.Furthermore, the Canadian government has very limited ability to provide consular services to Canadians in the Gaza Strip and once there, it may be difficult to leave. 90007 90004 General safety information 90005 90006 Although most tourist sites are open, the situation across Egypt remains unpredictable and less consistently safe than it was before January 2011. There is a potential for rapid escalation into violence where large groups of people are assembled 90007 90006 Egypt has a special police force to assist tourists.Officers wearing a distinctive arm band saying «Tourism Police,» can be found in hotels and at tourist sites. 90007 90006 Carry identification at all times. Photocopy your passport and other identification in case of loss or seizure. 90007 90004 90005 Entry / exit requirements 90002 Entry / exit requirements 90003 90004 COVID-19 — Entry, exit and transit restrictions and requirements 90005 90006 In an attempt to limit the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), most governments have implemented special entry and exit restrictions and requirements for their territory.Consider even your transit points, as many destinations have implemented strict transit rules which could disrupt your travel. 90007 90006 Before travelling, verify if the local authorities of both your current location and destinations have implemented any specific restrictions or requirements related to this situation. 90007 90006 These could include: 90007 90033 90034 entry bans, particularly for non-residents 90035 90034 exit bans 90035 90034 quarantines of 14 days or more upon arrival, some in designated facilities, at your own cost 90035 90034 health screenings and certificates as well as proof of adequate travel health insurance 90035 90034 travel authorization documents to be obtained before you travel 90035 90034 border closures 90035 90034 airport closures 90035 90034 flight suspensions to / from certain destinations, and in some cases, all destinations 90035 90034 suspensions or reductions of other international transportation options 90035 90040 90006 Additional restrictions can be imposed suddenly.Airlines can also suspend or reduce flights without notice. Your travel plans may be severely disrupted, making it difficult for you to return home. You should not depend on the Government of Canada for assistance related to changes to your travel plans. 90007 90033 90034 Monitor the media for the latest information 90035 90034 Contact your airline or tour operator to determine if the situation will disrupt your travel plans 90035 90034 Contact the nearest foreign diplomatic office for information on destination-specific restrictions 90035 90040 90006 Foreign diplomatic offices in Canada — Global Affairs Canada 90007 90006 Every country or territory decides who can enter or exit through its borders.The Government of Canada can not intervene on your behalf if you do not meet your destination’s entry or exit requirements. 90007 90006 We have obtained the information on this page from the Egyptian authorities. It can, however, change at any time. 90007 90006 Verify this information with foreign diplomatic missions and consulates in Canada. 90007 90004 Passport 90005 90006 Entry requirements vary depending on the type of passport you use for travel. 90007 90006 Before you travel, check with your transportation company about passport requirements.Its rules on passport validity may be more stringent than the country’s entry rules. 90007 90215 Regular Canadian passport 90216 90006 Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date you expect to leave Egypt. 90007 90215 Passport for official travel 90216 90006 Different entry rules may apply. 90007 90006 Official travel 90007 90215 Other travel documents 90216 90006 Different entry rules may apply when travelling with a temporary passport or an emergency travel document.Before you leave, check with the closest diplomatic mission for your destination. 90007 90215 Useful links 90216 90006 Diplomatic and Special passport holders are required to have visas before arrival in Egypt. 90007 90006 Travelers attempting to enter Egypt with diplomatic or official passports who do not have visas will be required to remain, at their own expense, in the airport transit area until their immediate departure from Egypt can be arranged. The Embassy of Canada in Egypt can not intervene in such matters.90007 90004 Visas 90005 90006 Canadians must be in possession of a visa to visit Egypt. 90007 90006 Tourist visa: Required 90240 Business visa: Required 90240 Student visa: Required 90007 90006 Although a tourist visa to Egypt can be obtained at Egyptian airports for 25 USD for single entry, or 60 USD for multiple entry (the fee is subject to change at any time by the Egyptian authorities), it is advisable to obtain a visa to Egypt from the nearest Egyptian Embassy or consulate prior to arrival.90007 90006 You may also apply for a tourist visa online through the website visa2egypt.gov.eg. There are other websites purporting to offer electronic visas, some of which reportedly charge double the official price, but the link above is the only official Government of Egypt portal for this service. 90007 90006 Canadian citizens who wish to extend the period of their stay in Egypt should address the Immigration Authority of Egypt. The Embassy of Canada does not issue documents to assist in extending the period of stay in Egypt.Canadian citizens attempting to depart Egypt after the expiration of their visa may be required to pay a fine at the airport. Travellers should ensure that they arrive to the airport early with sufficient Egyptian currency to pay any fines. If you intend to stay for more than one month and have obtained a visa from an Egyptian embassy or consulate abroad, a 30-day visa will be stamped in your passport regardless of the visa previously granted. You are responsible for renewing this visa. 90007 90004 Entry and exit stamps 90005 90006 You must show proof of an entry stamp in your passport when you leave Egypt.If you can not provide proof of entry, you can not obtain an exit stamp and will be denied exit. 90007 90006 If you have entered the country with a Canadian passport and have obtained a new one while in Egypt, you must have the entry stamp transferred to the new passport by the Egyptian Immigration Authority.This requirement also applies to newborns and dual citizens. 90007 90006 If a child is born in Egypt to a Canadian parent, a data stamp proving that the child was born in Egypt must be added to the child’s Canadian passport before the child can exit the country.Since there will be no entry stamp in the child’s passport, you must submit both the child’s birth certificate and Canadian passport to the Egyptian Immigration Authority to obtain what Egyptian authorities term the «data stamp.» Parents are advised to contact the Embassy of Canada as soon as possible to apply for citizenship and a passport for their child, so as not to further delay what can be a lengthy process. 90007 90004 Regional travel 90005 90006 If you are contemplating onward travel to other Arab countries, bear in mind that Canadians have been denied entry because their passports bore an Israeli visa, an Israeli border stamp or an Egyptian or Jordanian border stamp issued by an office bordering Israel, which would indicate they entered from Israel.90007 90004 Medication and cosmetics 90005 90006 Egyptian authorities consider some prescription and over-the-counter medicines medications controlled substances. They will seize all narcotic and psychotropic medications, even if you have the original prescription. For all other prescription and over-the-counter medications: 90007 90033 90034 Carry the original prescription 90035 90034 Ensure the medication is in its original packaging 90035 90034 Do not attempt to enter with more than 3 months ‘supply.90035 90040 90006 Authorities also regulate the import of cosmetics and veterinary products. 90007 90006 Learn more from the Egyptian Drug Authority. 90007 90004 Health entry requirements 90005 90006 All foreigners planning to study, work or train in Egypt for longer than one month may be required to undergo testing for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Egyptian immigration authorities in Cairo’s Mogamma building provide information on this procedure upon application. 90007 90006 When entering from another country you may be required to provide proof of immunizations.Please verify with the Egyptian Embassy nearest to you before travelling. 90007 90004 Children and travel 90005 90006 Learn about travel with children. 90007 90004 Yellow fever 90005 90006 Learn about potential entry requirements related to yellow fever (vaccines section). 90007 Health 90002 Health 90003 90006 Related Travel Health Notices 90007 90006 Consult a health care professional or visit a travel health clinic preferably six weeks before you travel.90007 Vaccines 90004 Routine Vaccines 90005 90006 Be sure that your routine vaccines, as per your province or territory, are up-to-date regardless of your travel destination. 90007 90006 Some of these vaccines include: measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, varicella (chickenpox), influenza and others. 90007 90004 Vaccines to Consider 90005 90006 You may be at risk for these vaccine-preventable diseases while travelling in this country. Talk to your travel health professional about which ones are right for you.90007 Hepatitis A 90006 Hepatitis A is a disease of the liver spread through contaminated food and water or contact with an infected person. All those travelling to regions with a risk of hepatitis A infection should get vaccinated. 90007 Hepatitis B 90006 Hepatitis B is a disease of the liver spread through blood or other bodily fluids. Travellers who may be exposed (e.g., through sexual contact, medical treatment, sharing needles, tattooing, acupuncture or occupational exposure) should get vaccinated.90007 Influenza 90006 Seasonal influenza occurs worldwide. The flu season usually runs from November to April in the northern hemisphere, between April and October in the southern hemisphere and year round in the tropics. Influenza (flu) is caused by a virus spread from person to person when they cough or sneeze or by touching objects and surfaces that have been contaminated with the virus. Get the flu shot. 90007 Measles 90006 Measles is a highly contagious viral disease. It can spread quickly from person to person by direct contact and through droplets in the air.90007 90006 Anyone who is not protected against measles is at risk of being infected with it when travelling internationally. 90007 90006 Regardless of where you are going, talk to a health care professional before travelling to make sure you are fully protected against measles. 90007 Rabies 90006 Rabies is a deadly illness spread to humans through a bite, scratch or lick from an infected animal. Vaccination should be considered for travellers going to areas where rabies exists and who have a high risk of exposure (e.g., are children, have an occupational risk, or in close contact with animals, including free roaming dogs in communities). 90007 Yellow Fever — Country Entry Requirements 90006 Yellow fever is a disease caused by a flavivirus from the bite of an infected mosquito. 90007 90006 Travellers get vaccinated either because it is required to enter a country or because it is recommended for their protection. 90007 90006 90326 Risk 90327 90007 90033 90034 There is no risk of yellow fever in this country.90035 90040 90006 90326 Country Entry Requirement * 90327 90007 90033 90034 Proof of vaccination is required if you are coming from or have transited through an airport of a country where yellow fever occurs. Proof of vaccination is also required for travellers coming from or having transited through Eritrea, Rwanda, Somalia, United Republic of Tanzania, and Zambia. 90035 90040 90006 90326 Recommendation 90327 90007 90033 90034 Vaccination is not recommended. 90035 90034 Discuss travel plans, activities, and destinations with a health care professional.90035 90034 90326 There is currently a shortage of the yellow fever vaccine in Canada. 90327 It is important for travellers to contact a designated Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre well in advance of their trip to ensure that the vaccine is available. 90035 90040 90006 About Yellow Fever 90240 Yellow Fever Vaccination Centres in Canada 90240 * It is important to note that country entry requirements may not reflect your risk of yellow fever at your destination. It is recommended that you contact the nearest diplomatic or consular office of the destination (s) you will be visiting to verify any additional entry requirements.90007 Food / Water 90004 Food and Water-borne Diseases 90005 90006 Travellers to any destination in the world can develop travellers ‘diarrhea from consuming contaminated water or food. 90007 90006 In some areas in North Africa, food and water can also carry diseases like hepatitis A, schistosomiasis and typhoid. Practise safe food and water precautions while travelling in North Africa. 90326 90365 Remember: Boil it, cook it, peel it, or leave it! 90366 90327 90007 Schistosomiasis 90006 Schistosomiasis can be spread to humans through freshwater sources contaminated by blood flukes (tiny worms).The eggs of the worms can cause stomach illnesses like diarrhea and cramps or urinary problems. Risk is generally low for most travellers. Avoid swimming in freshwater sources (lakes, rivers, ponds). There is no vaccine available for schistosomiasis. 90007 Travellers ‘diarrhea 90033 90034 Travellers ‘diarrhea is the most common illness affecting travellers. It is spread from eating or drinking contaminated food or water. 90035 90034 Risk of developing travellers ‘diarrhea increases when travelling in regions with poor standards of hygiene and sanitation.Practise safe food and water precautions. 90035 90034 The most important treatment for travellers ‘diarrhea is rehydration (drinking lots of fluids). Carry oral rehydration salts when travelling. 90035 90040 Typhoid 90006 Typhoid is a bacterial infection spread by contaminated food or water. Risk is higher among children, travellers going to rural areas, travellers visiting friends and relatives or those travelling for a long period of time. 90007 90006 Travellers visiting regions with a risk typhoid, especially those exposed to places with poor sanitation should speak to a health care professional about vaccination.90007 90240 Insects 90004 Insects and Illness 90005 90006 In some areas in North Africa, certain insects carry and spread diseases like Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, leishmaniasis, lymphatic filariasis, malaria, Rift Valley fever, West Nile virus, and Zika virus. 90007 90006 Travellers are advised to take precautions against bites. 90007 Chikungunya 90006 There is currently a risk of chikungunya in this country. Chikungunya is a virus spread through the bite of an infected mosquito. Chikungunya can cause a viral disease that typically causes fever and pain in the joints.In some cases, the joint pain can be severe and last for months or years. 90007 90006 Protect yourself from mosquito bites at all times. There is no vaccine available for chikungunya. 90007 Dengue 90033 90034 In this country, dengue fever may occur sporadically. It is a viral disease spread to humans by mosquito bites. 90035 90034 Dengue fever can cause severe flu-like symptoms. In some cases, it can lead to dengue haemorrhagic fever, which can be fatal. 90035 90034 The level of risk of dengue fever changes seasonally, and varies from year to year.After a decline in reported dengue cases worldwide in 2017 and 2018, numbers have been steeply rising again. 90035 90034 Mosquitoes carrying dengue typically bite during the daytime, particularly around sunrise and sunset. 90035 90034 Protect yourself from mosquito bites. There is no vaccine or medication that protects against dengue fever. 90035 90040 90240 Malaria 90004 Malaria 90005 90006 There is no risk of malaria in this country. 90007 90240 Animals 90004 Animals and Illness 90005 90006 Travellers are cautioned to avoid contact with animals, including dogs, monkeys, snakes, rodents, birds, and bats.Certain infections found in some areas in North Africa, like avian influenza and rabies, can be shared between humans and animals. 90007 Avian Influenza 90006 There have been human cases of avian influenza in this country. 90007 90006 Avian influenza is a viral infection that can spread quickly and easily among birds. In rare cases, it can infect people. 90007 90006 Protect yourself: 90007 90033 90034 avoid high risk areas such as poultry farms and live animal markets 90035 90034 avoid areas where poultry may be slaughtered 90035 90034 avoid contact with birds (alive or dead) 90035 90034 avoid surfaces that may have bird droppings or secretions on them 90035 90034 ensure all poultry dishes, including eggs, are well cooked 90035 90040 90240 Person-to-Person 90004 Person-to-Person Infections 90005 90006 Crowded conditions can increase your risk of certain illnesses.Remember to wash your hands often and practice proper cough and sneeze etiquette to avoid colds, the flu and other illnesses. 90007 90006 Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV are spread through blood and bodily fluids; practise safer sex. 90007 90240 90004 Medical services and facilities 90005 90006 Medical facilities are below Canadian standards. 90007 90006 Make sure you get travel insurance that includes coverage for medical evacuation and hospital stays. 90007 90006 Travel health and safety 90007 90004 Keep in Mind… 90005 90006 The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller. The traveller is also responsible for his or her own personal safety. 90007 90006 Be prepared. Do not expect medical services to be the same as in Canada. Pack a travel health kit, especially if you will be travelling away from major city centres. 90007 Laws and culture 90002 Laws & culture 90003 90006 You must abide by local laws. 90007 90006 Learn about what you should do and how we can help if you are arrested or detained abroad.90007 90004 Driving 90005 90006 An International Driving Permit is recommended. 90007 90004 Laws 90005 90006 The use of drugs and open consumption of alcohol (other than in licensed facilities such as hotels and restaurants) are prohibited. Transgressions could be punished by detention or other penalties. 90007 90006 Penalties for possession, use or trafficking of illegal drugs are strict. Convicted offenders can expect jail sentences and heavy fines. Capital punishment is a sentencing option for certain drug-related crimes.90007 90006 The importation and use of drones is strictly prohibited; anyone convicted of unauthorized import or use of drone technology could be subject to lengthy jail terms. 90007 90006 Photography of bridges, canals (including the Suez Canal), government, police and embassy buildings and vehicles, as well as military personnel and establishments is prohibited. 90007 90006 Publishing or posting social media or other content that could be perceived as critical of Egyptian society, government, security forces or the President may be considered illegal under Egyptian law.Convictions can carry heavy fines and lengthy prison sentences. There is a high risk of arrest in connection to social media posts considered critical of Egypt. 90007 90006 Due to the current security context and political sensitivities, be conscious of your behaviour and how it may be interpreted by Egyptian authorities. Visitors including researchers, journalists, activists and development workers could encounter problems with authorities, if their activities are perceived as suspicious. Meeting with members of or expressing support for organizations banned in Egypt could be perceived as criminal behaviour.90007 90006 Suspects may be detained without charges or access to immediate legal counsel during investigative stages of a criminal case. 90007 90004 Customs 90005 90006 Strict duties apply on the importation of expensive electronics, including video and photographic equipment, laptops, and computer software and hardware. Such equipment should be for personal use and you should list it (model and serial number) and check it upon arrival and departure, in which case no duty will be collected. Appropriate permits and authorizations are required for the commercial importation of any type of electronics.90007 90006 It is prohibited to export any antiquity or any item older than 100 years without a licence. Contact the Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt in Ottawa for further information regarding customs requirements. 90007 90004 Money 90005 90006 The currency is the Egyptian pound (EGP, E £). 90007 90006 A maximum of E £ 5,000 can be brought into or taken out of Egypt. You must declare any amount of currency equivalent to US $ 10,000 or more. 90007 90006 Traveller’s cheques and foreign currency are easily exchanged in hotels and banks.U.S. dollars are preferred, particularly at tourist sites. Some travel agents and tour operators request payment in U.S. cash only. 90007 90006 Major credit cards are accepted in larger stores and for larger purchases, but many merchants will only accept cash or may charge a fee for payment by credit card. 90007 90004 Forced marriages 90005 90006 There are reports of Canadian citizens being forced into marriage without their prior knowledge or consent. For more information about forced marriages, see Marriage Overseas and Safe-travel guide for women 90007 90004 Dual citizenship 90005 90006 Dual citizenship is legally recognized in Egypt.90007 90006 If you are a Canadian citizen, but also a citizen of Egypt, our ability to offer you consular services may be limited while you’re there. You may also be subject to different entry / exit requirements. 90007 90006 General information for travellers with dual citizenship 90007 90006 The Egyptian government considers Canadians who also hold Egyptian citizenship to be Egyptian while in Egypt, therefore our ability to offer consular services may be limited. You may be considered an Egyptian citizen if you were born to an Egyptian father, regardless of birth place.90007 90006 Egyptian-Canadian men may be subject to military service when in Egypt. In order to be exempted, dual citizens are required to present many documents before leaving Egypt, including a document of discharge due to dual citizenship. This document does not necessarily provide an exemption, and obtaining it may be a lengthy process that could affect your departure date. The Government of Canada has no jurisdiction in the process, as the decision on military service rests solely with the Egyptian government.You should contact the Egyptian embassy or consulate in Canada before travelling. 90007 90004 Culture 90005 90006 The work week is Sunday through Thursday.Egypt’s customs, laws and regulations adhere closely to Islamic practices and beliefs. Exercise common sense and discretion in dress and behaviour. Dress conservatively: for women, knee-length or longer dresses and long sleeves are preferable, and men should not wear shorts outside tourist areas. Respect religious and social traditions to avoid offending local sensitivities.Overt public displays of intimate affection are frowned upon in Egyptian culture. 90007 90006 During the lunar month of Ramadan (the ninth month of the Muslim calendar), use discretion when drinking, eating, and smoking in public between sunrise and sunset. In 2020 року, Ramadan is expected to begin on or around April 23. 90007 90004 LGBTQ2 travellers 90005 90006 Although the laws of Egypt do not prohibit sexual acts between individuals of the same sex, homosexuality is not socially tolerated. Members of the LGBTQ2 community could face arrest under other charges, such as committing indecency, debauchery or scandalous acts.Members of the LGBTQ2 community in Egypt, as well as LGBTQ2 travelers in Egypt, have been subject to arrests by authorities for using online dating apps and social media. LGBTQ2 travellers should carefully consider the risks of travelling to Egypt. 90007 90006 General safety information and advice for LGBTQ2 travellers abroad 90007 90004 90005 Natural disasters and climate 90002 Natural disasters & climate 90003 90006 Egypt, particularly Cairo and Eastern Sinai, is located in an active seismic zone.The country is also subject to sand and dust storms. 90007 Assistance 90002 Assistance 90003 90004 Local services 90005 Emergency services 90006 In case of emergency, dial: 90007 90033 90034 police: 112 90035 90034 medical assistance: 113 90035 90034 firefighters: 110 90035 90034 COVID-19 inquiries: 105 90035 90040 90004 Consular assistance 90005 90326 Cairo 90327 — Embassy of Canada 90006 For emergency consular assistance, call the embassy of Canada in Cairo and follow the instructions.At any time, you may also contact the Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa. 90007 .90000 Travel in Egypt | Market Research Report 90001 90002 New Report Guarantee 90003 90004 If you purchase a report that is 90005 updated in the next 60 days 90006, we will send you the 90005 new edition 90006 and data extract 90005 FREE 90006! 90011 90002 Egypt’s comeback continues in 2019 thanks to careful planning 90003 90004 Travel and tourism in Egypt continued its impressive turnaround during 2019 thanks to wider economic reforms in the country, which attracted foreign investment, as well as focused efforts on improving safety and security in the country.There has also been a rethink of Egypt’s tourism strategy, with a focus on new source markets; regaining the confidence of lost markets through negotiating with countries to remove travel bans; improving the legislative structure and facilitating investment in human resources, lodging and transport fleet capacity. 90011 90002 Investment and innovation the key drivers of growth in online travel 90003 90004 Online sales are seeing strong growth in Egypt with platforms such as Expedia, Booking.com and Travelstart making it easier for consumers to make their arrangements online. 90011 90002 Local players lead the way but increased foreign investment expected 90003 90004 EgyptAir, the national carrier, continues to hold a strong lead in terms of domestic air travel, having a presence in both scheduled and low cost carriers. State-backed financial support also enables the airline to continue despite economic challenges. 90011 90002 Grand Egyptian Museum set to open 90003 90004 2020 should see the opening of the much anticipated Grand Egyptian Museum.The project has been subject to various delays but once it opens it will be a centrepiece in Egypt’s touristic offer, with over 100,000 artefacts, of which around 3,500 are from the world famous King Tutankhamen. 90011 90002 Travel in Egypt looks set for bright future but threats remain 90003 90004 Egypt Vision 2030 aims to deliver a competitive, balanced and diversified economy, with tourism being one of the key pillars of economic development in the country.As a result, travel and tourism should continue to receive strong support from the government, although regional political disturbances and the threat of terrorist attacks could still negatively impact the progress of the industry over the forecast period. 90011 90004 90005 90034 Files are delivered directly into your account within a few minutes of purchase. 90035 90006 90011 90038 90039 Overview 90040 90002 Why buy this report? 90003 90004 90005 Gain 90006 competitive intelligence about market leaders.90005 Track 90006 key industry trends, opportunities and threats. 90005 Inform 90006 your marketing, brand, strategy and market development, sales and supply functions. 90011 90002 90005 Samples: 90006 FAQs about samples 90003 90004 90005 Delivery 90006 90005: 90006 90011 90004 Files are delivered directly into your account within a few minutes of purchase, when you pay by credit card. For payments made by invoice, access to reports will be provided upon confirmation of payment.90011 90004 90005 Overview: 90006 90011 90004 Discover the latest market trends and uncover sources of future market growth for the Travel industry in Egypt with research from Euromonitor’s team of in-country analysts. 90011 90004 Find hidden opportunities in the most current research data available, understand competitive threats with our detailed market analysis, and plan your corporate strategy with our expert qualitative analysis and growth projections. 90011 90004 If you are in the Travel industry in Egypt, our research will save you time and money while empowering you to make informed, profitable decisions.90011 90004 When you purchase this report, you also get the data and the content from these category reports in Egypt for free: 90011 90004 90005 The Travel in Egypt market research report includes: 90006 90011 90079 90080 Analysis of trends 90081 90080 Detailed segmentation 90081 90080 Historic volumes and values, company and brand market shares 90081 90080 Forecasts 90081 90080 Robust and transparent market research methodology, conducted in-country 90081 90090 90004 90005 Our market research reports answer questions such as: 90006 90011 90079 90080 What is the market size of Travel in Egypt? 90081 90080 What are the major brands in Egypt? 90081 90090 90004 90005 Why buy this report? 90006 90011 90079 90080 Gain competitive intelligence about market leaders 90081 90080 Track key industry trends, opportunities and threats 90081 90080 Inform your marketing, brand, strategy and market development, sales and supply functions 90081 90090 90004 This industry report originates from Passport, our Travel market research database.90011 90004 Each report is delivered with the following components: 90116 Report: PDF 90116 Market statistics: Excel workbook 90011 .90000 Traveling Safely in Egypt with Intrepid Travel 90001 It’s not currently a safe or responsible time to be traveling the world. Any travel content you find here is only meant for inspiration and research right now! Also, some posts on this site contain affiliate links, meaning if you book or buy something through one of these links, I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you!). Read the full disclosure policy here. 90002 90003 As a really nerdy kid who loved history and books and things like mythology, I’m not sure there was ever a time when visiting Egypt was not on my travel bucket list.I wanted to see the tombs of the pharaohs and the ancient temples and the mighty Nile River. I wanted to visit the Pyramids and see all those exotic-sounding cities that I learned about in history class .. 90004 90003 And I definitely am not alone. Prior to the Arab Spring and string of revolutions that rocked northern Africa beginning in 2011, Egypt was a hugely popular tourist destination. 90006 Every 90007 one wanted that photo at the pyramids and to see King Tut’s tomb and to sail on a felucca on the Nile.90004 90003 Pre-2011, Egypt was seeing upwards of 12 million tourists per year. Post-revolution, however, tourist numbers in the country plummeted; at its lowest point, Egypt was getting less than 1 million visitors per year. 90004 90011 90011 So many of these boats in Aswan now sit empty. 90003 Thankfully, things have finally started to improve in Egypt. While there are still parts of the country that are not safe for tourists, the vast majority of it (and definitely the major tourist sites) is safe and open for business.90004 90003 So when I was debating over which destination in Africa to pair up with a trip to the Seychelles, my attention immediately went to Egypt. 90004 90017 Should you book a tour in Egypt? 90018 90003 Once I decided that I wanted to go to Egypt, I began shopping around for group tours in the country. This is not necessarily because I was afraid to visit Egypt on my own, but more about the fact that I knew I would feel more comfortable in a small group and with a local guide. 90004 90003 This would be my first real trip to the Middle East, and I wanted to give myself the best chance of having a positive experience there.I’ve traveled with small groups all around the world and knew Egypt would be an ideal place to book a tour like this. 90004 90023 90023 Hypostyle Hall at Karnak Temple 90003 You do not * have * to book a tour in Egypt (plenty of people travel there independently), but after going, it IS a place that I’d recommend exploring with a guide in order to get the most out of your experience . 90004 90017 The Egypt tour I chose 90018 90003 I settled on the 12-day Egypt Experience tour with Intrepid Travel, a company that I’ve traveled with 6 times previously.This is a «Comfort» trip with Intrepid (the most luxurious trip category they offer), meaning it was going to be a little more comfortable and a little more expensive — but at $ 2000- $ 2400 per person, I still think it’s pretty affordable for a 12-day trip. 90004 90031 90031 Temple of Hatshepsut 90003 90006 (If you want a more budget-friendly trip in Egypt, Intrepid also offers an 8-day Egypt Adventure trip, which is about half the price of the trip I went on.) 90007 90004 90017 Before you go to Egypt 90018 90003 You most likely will need a 90040 visa for Egypt 90041, but if you’re from the US, Europe / UK, Australia, or Canada (as well as several other nations), you can get your visa when you arrive in Egypt.A visa costs $ 25 USD and is valid for 30 days. When booking this tour with Intrepid Travel, a representative will meet you when you arrive in Egypt and help you obtain your visa, which is a nice bonus. 90004 90003 Intrepid Travel does require you to have 90040 travel insurance 90041 for the entirety of your trip in Egypt. You may be covered under your regular insurance plan, but if you’re not, I recommend buying coverage through World Nomads. They offer the most affordable basic travel insurance out there.90004 90003 And if you’re wondering what to pack, you can check out my Egypt packing guide! 90004 90003 90050 90050 90004 90017 What will you do on this tour? 90018 90003 This Egypt Experience tour is absolutely jam-packed with amazing ancient sites and experiences. It hits all the highlights of Egypt and then some. 90004 90003 Cities you’ll visit on this tour include Cairo, Alexandria, Aswan, and Luxor, and the following sites / experiences are also included: 90004 90059 90060 The Great Pyramids and Sphinx 90061 90060 Guided tour around the The Egyptian Museum in Cairo 90061 90060 Visiting the Catacombs of Kom Ash-Suqqafa and the new library in Alexandria 90061 90060 Philae Temple and a felucca ride in Aswan 90061 90060 Visit to a Nubian Village near Aswan and dinner with a local family 90061 90060 Flights and visit to Abu Simbel temples (this was a major highlight for me!) 90061 90060 A 3-night cruise on the Nile, including a stop at Kom Ombo Temple 90061 90060 Guided tour of Karnak Temple in Luxor 90061 90060 Valley of the Kings, including entry to King Tut’s tomb 90061 90060 Colossi of Memnon and Hatshepsut Temple near Luxor 90061 90060 A visit to the Khan al-Khalili bazaar (Cairo) and a walking tour around Islamic Cairo 90061 90082 90083 90083 Sphinx and Great Pyramid 90085 90085 Ramses II statues at Abu Simbel 90087 90087 Khan el-Khalili bazaar in Cairo 90003 Our guide, Ahmed, was also really intent on making sure that people saw as much as they wanted to.He was always happy to arrange extra outings for us, and usually came along to act as a guide. 90004 90003 Some of the optional extras that a few of us added included: 90004 90059 90060 Going to a mosque and the Citadel of Qaitbay in Alexandria 90061 90060 Seeing the Unfinished Obelisk and Nubian Museum in Aswan 90061 90060 Visiting Deir el-Medina (the tombs of the workers) and Habu Temple in Luxor 90061 90082 90101 90101 Citadel of Qaitbay in Alexandria 90103 90103 Original paint at Madinat Habu Temple 90003 There is SO much to do and see in Egypt, and this Intrepid tour really ensures that you see a ton of it.90004 90003 90040 RELATED: 8 of the Best Ancient Sites to See in Egypt 90041 90004 90017 Who will you travel with? 90018 90003 I’ve now traveled with Intrepid on more than half a dozen trips, and the group make-up is always pretty similar. Ages in my group on this trip ranged from mid-20s to mid-60s, with people hailing from Australia, the US, Canada, Scotland, and Switzerland. Intrepid travelers tend to be fairly well-traveled and open-minded, which is one of the reasons I think I keep traveling with them again and again! 90004 90115 90115 Part of our group dressed up on our Nile cruise 90003 As always when traveling with Intrepid, our group was small — there were only 12 of us (the max on this tour is 16).And half of the people in my group were solo travelers like me! 90004 90017 Who is the guide? 90018 90003 Intrepid always hires local trip leaders who live in (and in most cases have grown up in) the country you’re visiting. Our guide was Ahmed, an Alexandria native who has been guiding tours in Egypt for years. Ahmed was funny and friendly, but also super knowledgable and super passionate about Egypt. He could read hieroglyphics, knew all the lineages of the pharaohs, and recommended the best places in each city to get falafel (and also, you know, made sure we all got where we needed to be safely).90004 90123 90123 Our awesome guide Ahmed at the Egyptian Museum 90003 I think the biggest benefit of traveling in a small group is having a guide; you end up seeing and learning so much more than you would on your own. And Ahmed was one of the best guides I’ve ever had on a tour! 90004 90017 How will you travel? 90018 90003 As far as transport goes, this tour was quite varied! 90004 90003 We traveled in a private mini bus in every city, spent one night on the train between Cairo and Aswan, and flew between Aswan and Abu Simbel and also from Luxor back to Cairo.Our tour also included traveling on a cruise ship up the Nile for 3 nights. 90004 90133 90133 We also took a felucca ride, but did not sleep on one on this tour. 90003 The thing you should know about traveling in Egypt is that the traffic is INSANE. In Cairo especially, it will take forever to drive most places and nobody uses the lanes on the road — it’s just mass chaos! 90004 90017 Where will you stay? 90018 90003 This is a «comfort» trip, but be aware that «5-star» in Egypt does not really equate to 5-star in other parts of the world.The hotels we stayed in often had opulent lobbies and amenities, but most rooms were fairly basic and usually a bit dated. The overnight train to Aswan is similarly not * that * fancy, but perfectly fine. And the cruise ship we sailed on was nice enough, but if you’ve been on «luxury» river cruise ships anywhere else in the world, this one really will not compare. 90004 90141 90141 My cabin on the Nile cruise ship (I paid the single supplement to have my own room). 90003 If you’re traveling solo, you’ll be paired up with another solo traveler (of the same gender) as a roommate, unless you pay the single supplement fee.90004 90145 90145 The yellow building was our hotel in Alexandria, right on the Mediterranean. 90003 At the end of the day, though, this trip is all about the sites and not really about where you sleep at night. 90004 90017 How is this tour different? 90018 90003 One of the reasons I keep traveling with Intrepid Travel is because I really like the company as a whole. They are dedicated to responsible and sustainable tourism (they were the first major tour operator to stop including elephant rides in their itineraries), which I am happy to support.90004 90003 On this Egypt tour in particular, we skipped what used to be an included visit to Edfu Temple as we sailed down the Nile because the only way to reach the temple is by horse carriage — and in Egypt, most people do not treat their working animals very nicely. The fact that Intrepid cares enough about animal welfare to remove the temple visit from the itinerary says a lot. 90004 90155 90155 Sad horses in Luxor — Intrepid does not encourage taking these carriages. 90003 Instead of visiting Edfu Temple, you now get a ticket to go into King Tutankhamen’s tomb instead (which is actually a way more valuable thing to have included!).And you also visit Animal Care in Egypt, an Intrepid Foundation project that offers free animal care in Luxor as well as educational programs for local kids about animal welfare. 90004 90017 Is Egypt safe? 90018 90003 No country is completely safe, but Egypt is not as dangerous as the media might make you believe, either. 90004 90003 There are certain parts of Egypt that are no-gos right now (like most of the Sinai and the Western Desert), and yes there there have been recent terror attacks in Egypt that have claimed lives.But to put it in perspective, there have been terror attacks in places like London and Las Vegas in recent months that have been deadly, too. 90004 90003 The main touristy sites in Egypt are no more dangerous than popular places you might visit in the US or Europe. There’s a strong military presence at most major sites in Egypt (armed guards, metal detectors, and bag checks become second nature as you visit temples and museums) but I did not find myself feeling «in danger» at any point during my trip to Egypt.90004 90167 90167 The Great Temple of Abu Simbel 90169 90169 Sunset in Alexandria 90003 I actually think safety is another good argument for traveling to Egypt on a tour. Having a local guide to look out for us (as well as fellow travelers to hang out with) made me feel much more comfortable overall in Egypt. 90004 90003 90040 RELATED: 7 Things That Surprised Me About Traveling in Egypt 90041 90004 90017 Would you recommend it? 90018 90003 Absolutely, 100 times YES — both this Intrepid Travel tour specifically and Egypt in general.I loved geeking out over all the ancient sites, and really felt safe and comfortable during the entire tour. 90004 90003 I also think that right now is an excellent time to visit Egypt. Tourism is beginning to rebound in the country, but it’s still nowhere near the overwhelming levels that it was back in 2010 and earlier. 90004 90183 90183 Philae Temple in Aswan 90185 ESSENTIAL INFO 90186 90003 90040 The tour: 90041 Egypt Experience with Intrepid Travel 90004 90003 90040 The price: 90041 The tour price averages around $ 2300 per person, depending on departure date.90004 90003 90040 The best time of year to go: 90041 Egypt gets ridiculously HOT during the summer months, so I highly recommend visiting as close to winter as you can. I went in late November / early December, and temperatures averaged around 60 F in Cairo, and close to 80 F further south in Aswan and Luxor. 90004 90003 90040 What to pack: 90041 Read my Egypt packing guide here. 90004 90185 Would you travel to Egypt on a tour? 90186 90003 90004 90003 90006 90040 Pin it for later: 90041 90007 90004 90003 90004 .