 Egypt Travel Guide
My Egypt Travel Guide: Wadi Hitan, the Whale Valley
Author: Tom Horton (Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic)
My Egypt Travel Guide gives you an insight into Egypt ahead of your vacation there. Egypt is a country on the northeast corner of the African continent. It is bordered by Libya to the west, Sudan to the south, and Israel to the northeast. The country is also bounded by the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Red Sea to the East.
The River Nile flows through Egypt, creating a ribbon of habitable land in an otherwise barren desert landscape. Due to the monumental artifacts of its ancient civilisation, Egypt is today one of the biggest tourist destinations of the world. Less spectacular perhaps, but not less important, is Eqypt's medieval heritage represented by the many ancient churches, monasteries and mosques of Coptic Christianity and Islamic origin, that can be found and visited all thorough Egypt.
With a population approaching 80 million people, Egypt is the most populous country in Africa and the Middle East. With a country of 1,010,000 square kilometers (390,000 sq miles), most of its population is concentrated along the banks of the River Nile, within an area of just 40,000 square kilometers (15,000 square miles). The capital of Egypt, Cairo, has a population of 6.8 million people. It is the largest city in Africa and one of the most densely populated cities of the world.
Egypt is a major tourist destination drawing visitors from around the world to admire the ruins of its ancient civilization. The most famous include the Pyramids of Giza, the Great Sphinx, the city of Luxor, the Temple of Karnak, the Valley of the Kings and the Temple of Abu Simbel. The city of Cairo, with its Islamic and Coptic Christian heritage, is also becoming more and more well-known to tourists.
Bedouin at Mount Sinai, Egypt
Author: Chmouel (Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0)
Fast Facts about Egypt
Official Name: Arab Republic of Egypt
Capital: Cairo (8,700,000)
Population of Egypt: 78,887,000
Languages: Arabic (official), English, French
Time Zone: UTC+2, in summer UTC+3.
Currency: Egyptian Pound
Religions: Islam (94%)
Size: 995,450 sq km (384,343 sq miles)
Region: Africa
The Colossi of Memnon, Egypt
Author: Olaf Tausch (Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported)
When to visit Egypt
Definitely not during summer, June to August, when it is unbearably hot during the day. December to February is the best time to visit, when the temperature becomes more pleasant.
What to wear in Egypt
Lightweight cotton clothes, long sleeves, hat and scarf are all useful items to wear, along with a good pair of sunglasses. Apply sunblock to exposed skin. During evenings, a jacket will keep out the chill. Umbrellas are not necessary, but you can bring a parasol to keep out the sun.
New library of Alexandria
Author: Elgourmet (Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported)
Budget Travel to Egypt
All nationals require at least Tourist Visa to enter Egypt. This can be easily obtained upon arrival, and usually costs around US$15. Citizens of the following countries require a visa before arrival: Afghanistan, Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bosnia-Herzegovina, China (People's Republic of; except Hong Kong and Macau), Croatia, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kirghizia, Lebanon, Macedonia, Malaysia (if you intend to stay for more than 15 days), Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, Pakistan, Palestine, the Philippines, Russia, Serbia, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and all African countries (except the citizens of Guinea and Libya).
By Plane
Cairo International Airport is the main entry point for most visitors to Egypt. Upon arrival, budget travelers can take the Cairo Airport Shuttle Bus. A trip to downtown Cairo costs 35 LE.
Budget Travel within Egypt
Getting around Egypt by train may be a little sticky for foreigners. Due to security measures, foreigners may encounter restrictions against buying train tickets. Even as a budget traveler, you should opt of at least a Second Class ticket on the Egyptian trains.
If you can afford it, taking domestic flight is the fastest way to cover Egypt. The national carrier Egyptair has services to most of the cities in the country. Until 2007, foreigners had to pay a fare which is as much as four times what the locals pay. The system has since been revamped, and now it is standard fare for all.
Also Available in this Travel Series
- Switzerland Travel Guide
Useful Links
Travel Insurance for Egypt - Travel Insurance Direct NZ
South Sinai Villas: Find the perfect villa on TripAdvisor.
Pyramid of Cheops and the Great Sphinx
Author: Hedwig Storch (Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported)
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