If you are intending a tour to Egypt, there is no doubt that you have a lot of queries. Should you hire an instructor? What spots should you stop by? What do you need to pack? And the most important, is Egypt safe to travel to?
For starters, Egypt is a country that is profoundly celebrated for its magnificent monuments, sand-covered tombs, pharaonic temples, pyramids and not to forget the impressive Nile. Once you are in Egypt, the exotic beaches and welcoming surroundings will make you want to visit often and embrace the limitless enthralment of the country.
From sightseeing to food and the beautiful culture, the country has a lot to offer to an explorer. But there are a few things that you must follow to make the tour hassle-free and memorable. In this article we will cover 15 Egypt travel tips that you should know before landing in the country.
Table of Contents
15 Egypt travel tips to know
Following are our 15 Egypt travel tips that you must keep in mind while exploring the mighty Egypt.
Tip 1 : Never get on local cab, camel or horse ride. Instead, prefer Uber or talk a walk while exploring the places.
Be it a camel ride or cab ride, there is always a possibility to face scams and get involved in unnecessary price negotiations. Several tourists have confirmed cases where the cab driver approach them and claim same price as Uber and later on increase the price. You should also ensure not to get on camel or horse carriage while exploring the pyramids. They often claim lower price but they DON’T mean it. Ultimately, you will end up spending more than needed over transportation.
Tip 2 : Travel Insurance
When organising a journey to Egypt ensure that you make a wise investment toward your health and well-being. And to do so, you must purchase a flexible, reliable, and reasonable travel insurance scheme for your trip.
It will not only cover you if your backpacks are misplaced/stolen and if your flight is postponed/canceled, but also your all medical and injury-related problems as well.
Tip 3 : Bring Your Haggling Skills
Haggling is one of the most essential qualities that you should have while visiting Egypt. Everything is negotiable in Egypt, so don’t worry about embarrassing anyone with your offers.
Haggling is all you need to save some of your money while traveling across Egypt. You can use it anywhere from purchasing water at the nook store to shopping for souvenirs at the market.
Tip 4 : Stay Hydrated
No fuss about drinking tap water because nobody sips it (including the locals). During your journey, you’ll be purchasing plenty of bottled water.
You’ll need it to brush your teeth, drink throughout the day, and perhaps even to sprinkle over your head after being in the severe heat all day.
Note: As a foreigner, you’ll be charged anywhere from 4 to 10 EGP for a “big bottle” . However, the price varies depending on where you purchase it.
Tip 5 : Eat Where the Locals Eat
There is a traditional rule for eating up food in foreign countries. The rule is to only eat at street booths and cafes that are acquired by locals. If there’s nobody in the cafe during what should be a busy time of day, avoid it.
If there’s a line of citizens standing in front of a parkway stall, get in line because you know that it’s not only extraordinary food but it’s also very reasonable.
Tip 6 : Respect the Dress Code and Culture
If you’re planning on traveling to Egypt please do your research before you leave.
And this is one of the most crucial Egypt travel tips that you should take seriously. Many foreigners arrive in Egypt and dress like they’re still in their home state. This attitude can attract undesirable attention and can lead to physical advances by Egyptian men.
To blend in slightly more and avoid hurting the feelings of the culture. Our best advice is to select your outfit carefully.
Females:
- Be sure to keep your knees and shoulders covered at all times.
- Bring a bandanna to wrap your hair when visiting mosques and other spiritual sights.
- Always remove shoes before passing into a mosque.
- If you’re stopping by a mosque and do not have something to wrap your shoulders, legs, and hair, the squad will likely provide you with an oversized gown.
- Bikinis and other swimwear are acceptable to wear while at the hotels on the Red Sea.
Males:
- Wearing shorts when exploring the town isn’t an issue but you’ll need a couple of long pants or trousers for the nights as well as when you visit someone’s residence or get invited to an event.
- Sleeveless shirts, tank tops, and gym clothes are not favorable.
- Think light, comfy, and coatings for cold nights.
- Swimming trunks and other swimwear are favourable to wear at the hotels or strolling around destinations like the Red Sea.
Tip 7 : Tipping is very much expected
Because of the aforementioned poor
base earnings, tipping (or “baksheesh”) is pretty much common in Egypt. You must always have plenty of small change because you have to tip around often. And unlike in many western cities, no one is embarrassed about asking you outright for a tip.
Tip 8 : The summer seasons are sweltering heated
Majority of the tourists avoid touring in Egypt during the summer seasons (from May to August). It is because the climate is somewhat intolerable and most exploring landmarks offer the least shade.
Tip 9 : Be prepared for the additional payments
There are numerous additional expenses that you need to be aware of. That includes the independent ticket for the Royal Mummy display at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo and a photography ticket to the Valley of the Kings.
You will also have to pay extra for a passenger train at the Temple of Hatshepsut, and access to the burial compartments of the pyramids.
Tip 10 : Leave your drone at home
Hoping to fly your drone over the pyramids of Giza? Think again. Egypt restricts the use or possession of drones without a permit from the Ministry of Defense.
There are many tales of people risking the penalties and getting their drones seized at the airport. Besides, the violators can encounter severe punishments or even lockup time. And it isn’t worth the hassle so don’t bother carrying your drone if you are just a recreational user.
Tip 11 : Be prepared to see a huge military presence
This is one of my main tips for touring Egypt – don’t be surprised at the somewhat intimidating military presence.
Egyptian martial and safety personnel are everywhere and it’s not unusual to notice heavy-duty weapons at tourist landmarks.
When entering any main landmark, you will also be required to have your bags surveyed and step through a metal sensor.
Tip 12 : It’s easy to get a visa on arrival
The visa is acceptable for 30 days while travelling to Egypt. It is necessary to ensure that your passport has at least 6 months of validity beyond your planned return date. However, in most cases, the tour organizers will also take care of this for you.
Tip 13 : Hire an Egypt Tour Guide
If there’s one spot in the world that I would suggest hiring an instructor, it’s Egypt. Why? Because Egypt is a very different and difficult nation to travel to if you don’t have any preliminary knowledge.
Planning a trip to Egypt isn’t as simple as you’d guess. From lodgings to transport and scheduling all the smaller logistics, there is always something you might miss out.
Tip 14 : You probably don’t need to hire a car in Egypt
The driving in Egypt is bonkers, mad, hectic, and insane. Specified lanes and signaling lane changes don’t exist and roads are usually very busy.
Tip 15 : Egypt’s history and landmarks are mind-blowing
- Temple of Horus in Edfu in Egypt
- Valley of the Kings in Luxor Egypt
- Luxor Temple entrance in Luxor Egypt
The past and wonderful artifacts in Egypt are, simply put, astounding. From the sprawling Karnak Temple complex in Luxor to the fallen statue of Ramses II in Memphis, you’ll be surely left wide-eyed.
Make sure you look into these extraordinary sights in Cairo and these remarkable landmarks in Luxor. Not to forget the exceptional Carvings in the Valley of the Kings in Egypt.
One of the significant tips for visiting Egypt is to prepare yourself for the journey. We recommend reading Egyptian folklore and acquainting yourself with the chronology of Egyptian history.
Tip 16 : It’s not worth the extra fees to enter the Great Pyramid of Giza or King Tut’s Tomb Pyramids of Giza Plateau in Cairo Egypt
This is one of the tips for Egypt that will save you some money.
The pyramids of Cheops, Khafre, and Menkaure are the only survivors of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. You can explore them for an additional fee: 400 LE/US$25 and 100 LE/US$6 for the Great Pyramid and each of the 2nd or 3rd pyramids respectively.
You can also see some pictures from the core of the Great Pyramid of Giza here. However, the burial halls are extremely bare so the entrance tariff isn’t necessarily worth the money.
Instead, wait until you visit Sakkara to arrive at the burial compartment of King Teti. The interior is in perfect condition and you can still see the carved stars on the tops and hieroglyphics on the walls.
Wrap Up
Egypt, a country that you should visit if you are looking forward to take a break from your day-to-day hustle and bustle. And if you are an enthusiastic traveller, you would surely love trekking into the desert while exploring the outlines of Roman trading colonies. All that you need is sunscreen and follow the tricks and tips mentioned above. And this wraps up our travel tips for Egypt. We expect these Egypt travel tips were beneficial and that you have a better idea of what to do beforehand and expect from your trip!
