Things to Know Before Visiting Egypt
Egypt is one of the most exotic countries we have visited and we are sure that you will be amazed in many ways. Planning to visit Egypt but not too sure whether you will like it? We feel you! This blog contains everything you need to know. From expenses, packing guide, useful Egypt travel tips to expectations and advices, we have got you covered. You can decide after this to see whether Egypt is a country that suits you.
Safety and Security
This is definitely the biggest concern we got from our audience, families and friends! Before we visit Egypt, everyone be like: “Egypt is dangerous, why would you go there”? We agree that media and news have portrayed it as a dangerous destination because of extremist activities and unstable political situations. The areas we visited in Egypt do not fall under the “Advise Against All Travel” category (accurate as of December 2019), it means that things are still under control as most attacks occur in North Sinai. Unfortunately, the latest attack was in May 2019, just a month before our visit where 16 people suffered minor injuries in an explosion targeting tourist bus near Grand Museum (in Cairo, the supposedly “ok” area).
Let us tell you why all these news didn’t deter our intention to explore this amazing country. We believe that nowadays no country is 100% safe. Whenever you travel, there is bound to be some risk. It all depends on individual because everyone perceives risk differently. But try to avoid going to countries that are having war or unstable political issues. Be extra vigilant (a must wherever you travel to) and do your research well. Check official travel advisories, keep up with the latest news about the country be it political or civil issues because they are going to influence your travel experience.
Now we will go to the facts. In every major attractions we visited, there are security checks at the entrance and they have record of every person who enters the place. You will be required to scan your bags too. Extra measures are in place at tourist sites because authorities in Egypt maintain a significant security presence across the country.
Besides, there are polices and armies at every city’s entry point. Some even have two checkpoints before you arrive in the city. If you are travelling in a group in tourist buses at night from the airport, there will be police escort to your hotel. Even in hotels and resorts, bags and body scans are very common. After all, no one can foresee what is going to happen in the future. Bring an open mind with you and just enjoy.
This would be helpful: Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Egypt Travel Advisories
Best Time to Visit Egypt
Summer in Egypt (May to October) is very dry with extremely hot temperatures which can reach up to 50 degree celsius in Southern cities like Aswan. Winter (December to April) is the most pleasant period to travel. It is cool, windy, humid and rain is very minimal. Temperature during the day can reach to 18 degree celsius and can be as low as 9 degree celsius at night. If you are seeking good weather and lower travel prices, shoulder months like February to April, and November will be great.
The Most Wanted Travel Tips
We visited Egypt in Summer which is always crowded at beach destinations like Hurghada and Sharm el Sheikh. As for popular cities like Cairo, Luxor and Aswan, Summer is not the peak season as the heat is scorching. Benefits of Summer vacation: Longer day time, lesser crowd and way lower prices, but unbearable heat at times. Winter attracts more people for its comfortable weather – this also means crowded attractions and higher prices.
We always choose to visit a country during transition period or low season where the prices are cheaper. With that we managed to save money on accommodation, flight, tours and activities. There goes our purpose of starting this travel blog – inspire you to travel like us.
Local Etiquette and Customs
It is important to respect the local customs and etiquette whenever you travel. Majority of the Egyptian population is Muslim, with a small minority of Jews and Christians. Arabic is their main language but Egyptian street traders in cities who earn a living from tourism activities can converse in English. Like most of other Muslim countries (Malaysia, for example), Egypt follows the same etiquette which we are familiar with.
- Remove your shoes before entering a house or mosque.
- Dress conservatively, especially ladies.
- Handshakes are common for individuals of the same sex.
- Using your right hand to eat and greet.
- Public affection is a no-no.
Things to be Mindful
The Most Wanted Travel Tips
- Just beware of over friendly people trying to sell tours, packages, souvenirs or offer to help you to take pictures. Especially those vendors walking towards you on the street – if you have no intention to buy, don’t take or try it. Most of the time they will demand some money from you and left you clueless when you think it is merely a kind gesture. If you are fed up with any approach from strangers, just say La Shukran (No Thanks) with a cool face, but politely (up to you). The more you react to them, the more they will bother you.
Still, there are always good people! We met a kind Uber driver who drove us to a restaurant 1 km away from original destination without extra charge. And we had a young Egyptian guy who helped us to direct an Uber driver to our location. - BARGAIN, BARGAIN, BARGAIN. Always negotiate starting from 50% off the price offered by street vendors. When we tried to buy something like a bottle of water or whatever, some vendors charged us twice the actual price. Price discrimination is an issue! And we both obviously don’t look like locals..
- Egyptians have mad driving skills! Traffic congestion is serious in Cairo and drivers don’t really adhere to traffic rules.. Sometimes a three-lane road becomes five-lane ones. They drive pretty fast too. Accidents are very common and people just stop their vehicle in the middle of road. We were so impressed by our driver who managed to move his way through traffic. Our heart skipped a beat whenever our vehicle is 1 cm away from the vehicle beside us.
Travel Duration in Egypt
Our 12 days trip may seem long but it is less tiring because our daily schedule is not packed. Basically we managed to cover most of the must visit places in Egypt and even spent a few days in Hurghada, a famous coastal town. We have Egypt Ultimate Itinerary and Guide as well as Incredible Places You Must Visit blogs to give you a better idea of our trip. Feel free to see what experiences you like and customize your own itinerary. In our opinion, a minimum of 8 days would be required for you to experience Egypt.
Travel Expenses & Tipping in Egypt
Go to local restaurants for authentic food with reasonable price. The place we had Koshari – two bowls of Koshari (large) and fresh Egyptian Mango smoothie cost only EGP 50 (MYR 13 / USD 3). Of course in touristic places, prices are more expensive. For example the Mango smoothie, it may cost from EGP 30 to EGP 50 each! Tipping is not mandatory. But feel free to tip if you enjoy the service. Souvenirs are normally for tourists, so it is expected to be expensive. The only difference is your bargaining power.
We spent a total of MYR 8000++ per pax (USD 2000) for the entire private trip. It is our last year having the “student” status so we are still entitled to 50% discount for all entrance tickets which helped us to save MYR 193 (USD 46) in total. Yay! If you are a student, remember to bring your student card to enjoy this privilege.
It is cheaper to buy from an Egypt local operator. We normally arrange our own trips by booking everything ourselves. However in this case we took a package because it saves us a lot of time and the price is almost the same! Conclusion: always do your homework well. We listed the prices below.
Attractions Entrance Fee 2019 (Regular Price)
MYR 1 is equivalent to approximately EGP 3.8.
Giza Plateau: EGP 160
Saqqara Step Pyramid: EGP 150
Memphis: EGP 80
Egyptian Museum: EGP 300 (Including Mummy Room)
Cairo Citadel: EGP 140
High Dam: EGP 75
Philae Temple: EGP 140
Unfinished Obelisk: EGP 80
Abu Simbel: EGP 200
Edfu Temple: EGP 140
Kom-Ombo Temple: EGP 100
Karnak Temple: EGP 150
Luxor Temple: EGP 140
Temple of Hatshepsut: EGP 100
Valley of The Kings: EGP 200 (Photography fee EGP 300 per device )
Breakdown of expenses per pax in a glance:
Flight: MYR 3080 / USD 736
Return flight with Emirates in economy class.
Tour & Hotel: MYR 3900 / USD 925
All transfers in private air-conditioned vehicle, private English speaking tour guide, 3 nights all inclusive stay in Princess Sarah II Nile Cruise, 5 nights stay with daily breakfast in Cairo (except Marriott Mena House), 2 nights all inclusive stay in Hurghada, all student entrance tickets in Cairo, Memphis, Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel, Edfu, Domestic flight ticket (Cairo-Aswan), Go Bus tickets (Luxor-Hurghada & Hurghada-Cairo).
Travel Insurance: MYR 84 / USD 20
Local SIM: MYR 40 / USD 10
5 GB Internet for 12 days (Vodafone).
Others: MYR 900 / USD 215
Marriott Mena House stay, Uber, meals (Mostly dinners), beverages, personal shopping, etc. If you would like to join additional tours like island hopping, snorkelling or diving trips in Hurghada and hot air balloon tour in Luxor, the total expenses will be at least MYR 500 more.
Type of Travel
We took a luxury private tour (only two of us with personal tour guide) in Egypt because to our surprise, it is cheaper than group tours from Malaysia! You just need to do more homework to find a reliable local operator that offers good price and service. Perks of a private tour, more flexibility, privacy and no shopping stops. Make sure you negotiate the best deal based on what you want.
Free & Easy and backpacking are also options but we will not recommend. For safety purposes, we suggest to go with a local group or private tour. Your trip will be more enjoyable and hassle free. There is no need to worry about language barrier and your experienced Egyptian guide will tell you many interesting stories about the country.
Currency Exchange
We couldn’t find a place that exchanges Egyptian Pound in Malaysia. So we had no choice but to get US dollars and exchanged it in Egypt. If you have the same situation like us, we will advise you to bring either US dollars or Euro because they are widely accepted.
The Most Wanted Travel Tips
- Remember to always exchange your currency at a trustable place like the currency exchange machines in hotels and banks. Everywhere will have the same exchange rate throughout Egypt, so no worries on losing too much money and it is also safer to change with the machines to avoid getting scam or receiving fake notes. Always prepare and try to get more small notes because some vendors might give excuses that they do not have small change!
- Credit cards are commonly accepted in hotels, resorts and bigger restaurants. Bring more cash if you plan to spend on street food, local shops and stalls.
Packing Guide
One of the most important Egypt travel tips. Generally, it is best to wear modestly when you are in cities not only to respect local culture, but also to avoid unnecessary attention. Dear ladies, please wear appropriately during mosque visit. Make sure you have scarves, knee-length dress or skirts in your packing list.
What you should bring and wear during Summer:
(1) Apply sunscreen and wear a hat to protect yourself from the harmful sun rays.
(2) Don your most airy and light-coloured clothes.
(3) Clothes that cover your shoulders and knees.
(4) Linen is a cool fabric to wear as it works well in the hot climate of Egypt.
(5) Please avoid tight pants and go for breathable culottes.
(6) Comfortable sandals or canvas slip ons will be the best for sightseeing tours in Egypt.
(7) A mini portable fan for the dry weather.
(8) Sunnies is a must and can be a life saviour for harsh sun.
Note for ladies:
(1) A light make up will keep you comfortable in the hot weather.
(2) A big canvas or rattan bag is very useful to carry all your stuff during sightseeing tours.
Gadgets:
You can bring as many sophisticated cameras as you want. Please be reminded that some attractions will charge photography fee (For example, Valley of the Kings & inside Abu Simbel Temple). You are not allowed to operate a drone as you wish in Egypt! It is not legal unless you obtain permission from the Civil Aviation Authority.
Getting Around Egypt
It is common to travel in private cars, vans or tourist buses in cities. Horse carriage is a unique way to explore Edfu and Luxor as you will see Egyptians waving at you to board their carriage. Normally they will bring you to nook and cranny of the town.
Attractions in Egypt are pretty scattered as the country is big. Nile Cruise is a good way to experience destinations in the southern cities like Edfu, Luxor and Aswan. You will need to either take a domestic flight (1 and a half hour) or night train (15± hours) from Cairo to Aswan or Luxor to board the Nile cruise. If you want to visit Hurghada, you can hire a private transfer, get on local bus or flight. Again, it totally depends on your budget and preference. You know what is best for you.
Watch: Our Experience with Egypt Air (Cairo – Aswan)
Places to Stay
Egypt has many accommodation options for everyone with different budgets. No worries, you will surely find a place that suits you.
Cairo: Stay in a hotel with the Pyramids view!
South Egypt: Nile Cruise is the best way you can experience Egypt, where you can relax, enjoy getting some tan, sip on some local fruit juice while overlooking the ancient monuments from the sun deck. We will recommend nothing less than 4 stars because most of the ships are quite old.
Hurghada: All-inclusive resorts like Desert Rose Hurghada are really good and worth every penny with plenty of activities to do and never ending of eating and drinking sessions.
The Most Wanted Travel Tips
Luxury hotels or 5 stars are always recommended as minimum in Egypt. Plus, it is worth the money as they are very affordable in the country. For example, Le Meridien hotels can easily cost 30% more in other destinations when compared to the one in Cairo.
Internet & WiFi Connection
Unfortunately WiFi is not available in all places. It is either you use roaming or a local Sim Card which cost around MYR 40 (USD 10) for 5 GB Internet within 12 days and limited calls. The telecom company we used is Vodafone recommended by our tour representative. Connection is good even you are sailing on the Nile River, except when you are travelling through deserts.
Overall
To be honest, Egypt is a once-in-a-lifetime destination you must visit. It is also very insta-worthy. So if you want to “do it for the gram”, go ahead. However, we think that nothing is more beautiful than the country’s rich history, heritage and culture. It is also the main reason why we decided to visit Egypt.
Voila! Hope this blog post gives you great Egypt travel tips. Have more doubts about the country or your concerns are not listed above? Feel free to comment below. We would love to see you on our Instagram too. Any feedback is welcomed!
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