Planning A Trip To Mystical Egypt? Here’s Your Egypt Travel Guide

Posted on: Apr 11, 2023 | | Written by:

Planning A Trip To Mystical Egypt? Here’s Your Egypt Travel Guide

Published on April 08, 2023. EST READ TIME: 3 minutes

With its archaic monuments, glistening golden sand and absolutely captivating culture, Egypt has been a fascinating destination for tourists from around the world. Whether you are looking for an action-packed holiday or simply want to relax in the sun, Egypt has something to offer everyone. We offer you the simplest yet most efficient advice on planning a successful trip to this mesmerising country. From the post-covid travel restrictions to the best time to visit, from international travel insurance to visa and passport, this Egypt travel guide will serve you as a handbook.

Is Egypt Safe To Visit?

Yes, Egypt is a pretty safe country to visit. It is intrinsically interested in ensuring visitor safety because tourism is a significant economic driver in the country. The best part is there are tourist police in towns and regular checkpoints along motorways. This factor reassures the safety of the travellers.

Nevertheless, it is always better to consider the potential risks when going to popular tourist destinations. Attacks on tourist destinations, especially religious places, are not unheard of. Hence, staying aware from threats via local news sources, trying to dodge crowded places, keeping a sharp eye aboard, respecting the cultural practices there, looking out for pickpockets and con artists, and being aware of any religious or governmental holidays that might spark unrest will assist you in remaining safe under disturbing circumstances.

Either way, it is advisable to secure a list of contact information about your "go-to" people in case of an emergency.

Areas To Avoid In Egypt

Although most of the tourist destinations in Egypt are safe, it is important to avoid some areas at all costs. Refrain from visiting the places listed below.

• The west desert bordering Sudan and Libya is a harbour for armed groups and criminals.

• Travel to Red Sea tourist areas, including Ain el-Sokhna, Marsa Alam, El-Gouna Bay, Soma Bay, Hurghada, Safaga, and the Upper Egypt cities of Aswan, with extreme caution.

• Terrorism on the high seas is a concern.

• Egyptian borders.

• North Sinai Governorate and the South Sinai.

• Sinai Peninsula (except for air travel to Sharm El-Sheikh).

COVID-19 Travel Restrictions:

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a serious influence over the globe and continues to haunt our subconscious whenever we consider travelling. However, Egypt does not have any travel restrictions currently. You can travel internationally by flight and explore this stunning country. In fact, due to the upsurge in vaccination rates, the number of cases of COVID-19 in the nation has declined. As a result, all travel limitations and restrictions associated with COVID-19 were taken down by the government on 17th June 2022.

Best Time To Visit Egypt

Generally, October, November, February, and March are the ideal months to visit Egypt due to the pleasant weather and low temperatures during these months. On the other hand, September and April are the least popular months. However, it is advised to be careful about visiting Egypt in December and January because these are the busiest travel seasons. If you do, it is highly recommended that you take the help of a local Egypt tour guide.

How To Reach Egypt?

Egypt is situated in Africa's northwestern region. It is bordered to the north by the Mediterranean Sea. The Red Sea, the Gulf of Aqaba, and the Gulf of Suez are all to the east. To get there, you need to book your air tickets beforehand. The official carrier in Egypt is Egypt Air. There are numerous flights to Egypt departing from prominent Indian cities. The main airport in the nation where flights from India land is the Cairo International Airport. Some other international airports in Egypt are situated in Luxor, Alexandria, Hurghada, Sharm el Sheik, and St.Catherine.

Best places to visit in Egypt:

The primary destinations to visit in Egypt are:

• Cairo:

For the museums, pyramids, Khan El Khalili Bazaar, mosques, and Coptic churches.

• Luxor:

Stunned with an old-world charm, and is adjacent to a good number of historical monuments and tombs.

• Hurghada, Dahab, and Sharm El Sheikh:

Ideal for diving and snorkelling in the Red Sea.

• White Desert/ Siwa Oasis:

Found in Egypt's Western Desert, the Siwa Oasis is recognised for its brilliant blue pools and ancient ruins, and the White Desert boasts a landscape unlike anything you've ever seen.

Things to do in Egypt:

The country extends a warm reception to all its visitors and lets them discover the incredible location with its oddities all around. Some of the things to do in Egypt include:

1. Sand Boarding:

As skiing is not an option, sandboarding is a superior alternative.

2. Wadi-Al-Hitan:

The region of whale skeletons known as Wadi-Al-Hitan gives breathtaking panoramas of items created from skeletons. It is eccentric by nature and gorgeous, given its picturesque surroundings.

3. South Sinai Safari:

South Sinai is the finest place to seek secret valleys and peculiar caverns due to the vibrant-coloured canyon. It is extraordinary in sight and appears to be humanity's greatest magic and nature's best-kept secrets.

4. Blue Desert in South Sinai:

Look out for the unusual baby blue rocks in the South Sinai desert region. We bet you won't be finding the same site elsewhere.

5. Temple of Luxor:

The complex contains 6 enormous temples honouring kings and pharaohs, thus making it one of the biggest and most ancient temple complexes along the east bank of the Nile River.

Pyramid tour Egypt:

Pyramids are a must-see when visiting Egypt. Certainly, the pyramids of Giza are considered to be Egypt's oldest and biggest pyramids. The structure has been kept intact so that visitors can experience a distinct world. There are a lot more pyramids, and each one is considered to be the most important attraction of an actual Egypt tour.

A. Accommodation:

Egypt has a wide range of pocket-friendly lodging options that will fit your budget even at the busiest times of the year. There are hotels available in categories with one to five stars.

For travellers on a tight budget, hostels are another alternative. Nonetheless, these lodgings provide separate rooms for men and women, a nighttime curfew, and daily lockouts. A campsite is an additional option.

B. Visa & Passport:

India does not fall under the category of visa-free nations for Egypt. Thus, to travel to Egypt from India, you must first obtain a tourist visa or an e-visa. An e-visa is a legal document that enables travel and admission into Egypt.

Indian citizens cannot enter Egypt without a visa. You are granted 90 days on your tourist visa. But you can only stay in Egypt for 30 days or less. You can opt for a single-entry tourist visa; the visa processing time is around 2–3 working days. Make sure you invest in suitable travel insurance coverage before your trip.

C. Language & culture:

The official language of Egypt is Egyptian Arabic. Several Egyptians, primarily street vendors who attempt to earn the livelihood of foreign tourists, speak English. Some of them even speak French to entice even more outsiders. Nonetheless, you can always learn a few Arabic words so you can have fun communicating with the locals.

Speaking of culture, it is quite strict. Make sure you follow the given guidelines or ask for more from your Egypt travel guide:

• Avoid discussing religion and politics.

• Drinking in public is not permitted.

• You should not use, sell, or traffic drugs. Doing so could result in criminal charges against you and a lengthy jail sentence/even the death penalty.

• Protesting is not acceptable.

• You risk being prosecuted if you disparage or criticise the Egyptian government in any way/on social media.

• When in public, women must wear modest and conservative clothing.

• Intimate behaviour, kissing and cuddling should surely be avoided when in public.

• Take off your shoes when entering someone’s house.

• When eating communally, do not use your left hand.

• Avoid taking pictures of officials or military sites without their consent.

D. Food & Shopping:

Speaking of food tips, you should not drink or clean your mouth with tap water. The use of solely bottled water is always advised as it's safer. Avoid foods such as peeled fruit, raw vegetables, unpasteurised milk, or milk products to prevent serious infection. Any food or beverage supplied by street sellers should be avoided. You can try:

• Ful Medames:

A classic Egyptian breakfast made of fava beans stewed with salt and oil.

• Falafel or Ta'meya:

A breakfast dish prepared from fava beans.

• Koshari:

Has caramelised onion-flavoured macaroni, rice, lentils, and chickpeas.

• Mahshi:

A veggie platter with a filling made of rice.

• Shawarma:

Prepared with Middle Eastern seasonings and either meat or chicken.

• Macaroni Béchamel:

An Egyptian-inspired lasagna.

Shopping is quite affordable in Egypt. However, make sure you analyse the currency rate and the credit card receipts in-depth prior to shopping. Additionally, bring your goods home with you when feasible. Airfreight might require extended periods and have expensive transportation costs. Regulations, fines, and customs delays can complicate the situation.

Conclusion

Travelling to Egypt can be an exciting and rewarding experience which is sure to be one that you will remember for years to come. At the same time, it’s important to make sure that you are adequately protected before embarking on your journey. International travel insurance coverage is essential in ensuring that unexpected events or accidents don’t ruin your trip. Even if things do go wrong when you are so far away from home, you know that you have someone to rely on in any kind of troubled time.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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