A quick guide to planning your trip to Egypt
The pyramids of Giza. The Great Sphinx. Land of ancient tombs and temples juxtaposed with a bustling modern culture. This is Egypt, home to one of the oldest civilizations in the world. With so much rich historical significance and ancient sites waiting to be explored, Egypt is on most people’s travel bucket list.
However, traveling to Egypt can be daunting, as it is a place unlike our familiar, comfortable day-to-day lives. But rather than miss out on the opportunity to delve deep into this unforgettable part of the world, let us break it down for you with this handy guide to travel in Egypt.
Before you go:
- An Egyptian summer is not for the faint of heart (or body). The temperatures can reach a sweltering 130°F! Most people agree that the best time to visit is between October and April.
- You can purchase your visa at the airport, which should cost you $25. Also, it’s a good idea to check the U.S. Dept. of State website for information regarding current travel to Egypt.
- Consider hiring a guide. The language, avoiding being targeted as a gullible tourist, finding your way around, driving (the traffic there is insane, so don’t even think about hiring a car!)… These are all issues a guide can solve for you. (Or go one better and book a trip with an experienced travel agent!)
- Bring cash. And toilet paper. The bathrooms will have attendants who will need tipping, and toilet paper isn’t common in Egypt. (They use shatafas, a sort of bidet.)
- Learn some basic Arabic. The common greeting is “As-salaam alaikum,” which means “peace be with you.” The response to this is “Wa alaikum salaam,” which means “peace be also upon you.”
- Pick up an Egyptian SIM card at the airport. The top networks with the best coverage are Orange, Vodafone, or Etisalat.
- Stock up on bottled water and avoid the tap water. This includes skipping ice in your drinks! And use caution in restaurants with things like salads, as the lettuce will have been rinsed in tap water.
- See something you like in a souk (market)? Be prepared to haggle. Bartering is commonplace here, and tourists tend to get charged more anyway, so go ahead and negotiate!
- Be respectful. Religious buildings will have certain rules, particularly around dress code. Do your research before you visit any mosques to avoid giving offense or getting in trouble.
- It’s common for certain areas to not allow the use of larger cameras (meaning anything more than your phone camera), so leave the big DSLR at home. And always follow the rules regarding when photos are allowed or not.
