Egypt

What to see

Cairo

Popularly considered to be one of the greatest cities in the Islamic world. Chaotic, sprawling and all-consuming, it is a place of mystery and mayhem. It is home to the world’s largest bazaars, Khan el-Khalili, where you can snap up reproduction antiques, jewellery, spices and Coptic cloth. The Egyptian Museum, which houses 136,000 artefacts, is also an essential stop.

Luxor

The site of the ancient city of Thebes is now a tourist hub with people flocking to see the celebrated monuments of Luxor, Karnak, Hatshepsut and Ramses II as well as The Valley of the Kings, which includes the tomb of Tutankhamun.

Sinai and the Red Sea

The Sinai Peninsula boasts some of the world’s best diving and snorkelling, with the Red Sea full of tropical fish, rays and sharks. Highlights include the marine park at Ras Mohamed and The Blue Hole close to Dahab, a one-time beach-side hippy colony that has grown up but remains a favourite with independent travellers and divers alike. Inland, Mount Sinai and St Catherine’s Monastery, site of the Biblical burning bush, offer trekking and cultural opportunities; climb through the night to the summit to watch the sunrise.

River Nile

To explore and experience the river take to a traditional felucca or more modern sailing boat and cruise through the historic landscape, past historic villages and significant sites of interest.

Top experiences / sites of particular interest

Giza

Once a separate town and now a sprawling suburb of Cairo, Giza is the site of the Great Pyramids, the last intact Ancient Wonder of the World. These extraordinary structures remain breathtaking; the Pyramid of Khufu was the tallest structure in the world for more than three thousand millennia. The impressive Sphinx also stands close by.

Aswan

Site of the substantial Aswan Dam, this low-key market town full of Nubian culture is a great place to relax or admire the Nile. For the best view take a felucca from the High Dam to Lake Nasser.

Abu Simbel

Brought to the world’s attention in the Nineteenth century by the Italian explorer The Great Belzoni, this impressive archaeological site, arguably the most impressive landmark from Ancient Egypt, comprises two vast rock temples constructed during the reign of Rameses II.

Siwa

One of the Sahara’s most enigmatic and enchanting oasis towns, full of mystery and myth, is a superb place to stop and relax, with palm groves and cold springs shading you during the day and the Western Desert’s best café and restaurant scene to keep you warm at night.

When to go

Weather & Seasons: Egypt is warm year-round, with the highest temperatures experienced between June and September. The best time to visit is October to May, outside of this period when the heat is less intense. Nights can still be cold though. There is minimal rainfall, except along the coast. During April the hot, dusty Khamsin wind blows across the country from the Sahara.

Important Dates and Festivals: Much of Egypt’s festival scene is centred on the Islamic calendar, with Ramadan a particularly important time of year.

Getting there / around

Flights:There are international airports close to Alexandria, Cairo, Hurghada, Luxor and Sharm El Shiekh. There are regular internal flights between major cities.

Bus:The bus network is patchy although there is a good paved road along the Nile Valley and along the Mediterranean and Red Sea coasts.

Road:Driving in the desert should not be taken lightly or tackled if you are ill-equipped or inexperienced.

Sea: A regular ferry service connects Hurghada with Sharm El Sheikh. You can also readily hire feluccas to sail down the Nile or take a cruise from Luxor to Aswan.

Potential itineraries

Short Trips: A week or two is just about long enough for a whistle-stop tour of the Nile, allowing you to travel from Cairo to Abu Simbel through the 1000km long Nile Valley and still see a couple of pyramids en route. Up to a month is far more realistic, especially if you want to take in Sinai as well.

Longer Trips: Alternatively, a fortnight will let you get to grips with the Western Desert or really explore the underwater and desert landscapes of the Sinai Peninsula.

Guides

Overall Country Guides: Look out for comprehensive guidebooks to Egypt from Lonely Planet, Rough Guides, Footprint or the Berlitz Egypt Handbook. Alternatively scour the Lonely Planet Discover Egypt, or the Insight Guide toEgypt or the Footprint guide to Egypt, The Nile Valley and the Red Sea.

Pocket Guides: Berlitz have compact pocket-sized guides toEgypt and Egypt, Red Sea Coast. Thomas Cook also have a guide to Egypt, Red Sea Resorts.

City Guides: Berlitz have a handy compact guide to Cairo. The Signal guide to Cairo is an excellent cultural overview.

Guides to The Nile: The Insight Guide to The Nile provides comprehensive coverage.

Maps

Country Maps:There are good maps of Egypt from Freytag & Berndt, ITMB and Nelles. Gizimaps offer an interesting geographical map of Egypt.

The Sinai Peninsula: Reise Know-How produces a map of Sinai at a decent scale.

Map of Cairo: Pick up Cairo street plans from Berlitz.

Read More

IES Edwards’ book the Pyramids of Egypt is one of the classic examinations of Egyptian archaeology. For a general overview, the Eland anthology,Egypt through Writers Eyes is an excellent introduction.

Journalist Anthony Sattin sought out ancient customs alive in contemporary Egypt for his account In the Pharaoh’s Shadow whilst his history of Florence Nightingale in Egypt, Winter on the Nile, tells the story of her time in the country. Stanley Stewart travelled from the Nile Delta to the Mountains of the moon, recording his observations in Old Serpent Nile.

Naguib Mahfouz is one of Egypt’s most widely read authors and a Nobel Prize winner. His Cairo Trilogy (Palace Walk, Palace of Desire and Sugar Sweet) are the best places to start.In the Eye of the Sun and The Map of Love by Ahdaf Soueif provide deep insights into Egyptian culture as does The Yacoubian Building by Alaa Al Aswany.

Local Dishes

For a flavour of the country try fuul (salty fava bean paste), taamia (falafel) or kushari (noodles, rice, black lentils and dried onions in a spicy tomato sauce). Wash food down with fresh fruit juices and mint tea.

Sight & Sound

Music: Seek out the songs of Umm Koltham, Egypt’s leading diva.

Film: For insights into modern Egypt watch the film version of The Yacoubian Building by Marwan Hamed or the seminal Baby Doll Night by Adel Adeeb.

Language

Arabic, with English spoken in tourist centres.

Currency

Egyptian Pound (E£) which is made up of 100 piastres.

Visas

UK and US citizens require a visa before entering the country.

Health issues

Vaccinations for Hep A, Hep B, Polio, Typhoid and Yellow Fever are recommended. Malaria is also present in parts of the country.

Safety, FO travel advice

As long as you are sensible and observe Islamic customs then you should be OK. There is a slight threat of terrorism in some tourist areas.

Useful Telephone Numbers

Egyptian country representatives can be found

in the UK at

and in the US at

There is a tourist board

in the UK at

and in the US at

For more information visit www.egyptianconsulate.co.uk, www.egypttourism.org, www.egyptvoyager.com or www.cairotourist.com.