Should you’re contemplating visiting Egypt with your loved ones it’s necessary to go together with your eyes open. It is stuffed with magical locations. However it isn’t Disneyland.
Historical Egypt was a complicated civilisation whose mind-blowing achievements are nonetheless being found and analysed all over the world. That is the Egypt folks dream about going to see.
Nonetheless, fashionable Egypt faces many challenges. Over inhabitants, poverty, local weather change and youth unemployment all issue excessive on its nationwide threat register.
It’s additionally a Muslim nation with completely different cultural norms to these of the European and US vacationers who’ve made up the majority of holiday makers lately.
*This publish incorporates affiliate hyperlinks*
Our expertise of visiting Egypt
We visited Egypt in April 2023. Our journey was booked via a journey agent and included a full-time skilled information, our lodging bookings, all our journey by highway utilizing a non-public mini bus, and a journey on the Egypt sleeper practice.
The whole lot was deliberate for us so we aren’t consultants in self-guided Egypt itineraries, however our experiences are related to households who wish to strive a DIY journey or a bundle.
Earlier than reserving our 10 day Egypt itinerary we did some analysis on-line and spoke to different households who’d visited.
We knew that vacationers may be harassed on the historical websites. We knew that girls in-particular may be topic to undesirable consideration. And we knew that we might be requested for ideas for something and every part.
However we nonetheless needed to go to Egypt.
In the long run I feel we went over-prepared for all the potential downsides and got here away pleasantly shocked that it wasn’t as dangerous as we imagined.
I believe that managing our expectations helped and I’d encourage different households visiting Egypt to do the identical to keep away from any disappointment.
On this publish I’m sharing a number of the issues we learnt about visiting Egypt. It consists of:
- Is Egypt protected to go to?
- Do you want a visa to journey to Egypt?
- Flights to Egypt
- The perfect time to go to Egypt
- Issues to learn about visiting Egypt throughout Ramadan
- Foreign money and tipping in Egypt
- Dealing with souqs and avenue hawkers
- What to put on in Egypt
- Journey occasions between historical websites
- Household lodging
- Safety in Egypt
- What to anticipate on Egypt’s roads
- What to not do in Egypt
- The place to go to in Egypt with children
- What to pack for travelling to Egypt
Issues to know earlier than travelling to Egypt
Right here’s some data that will help you handle your expectations earlier than visiting Egypt. A few of it is extremely factual, whereas different elements are based mostly on our private expertise.
1. Is Egypt protected to go to?
This was the query I used to be requested most on Fb and Instagram earlier than, throughout and after our journey.
It’s a good ask.
Egypt ranks within the prime 20 international locations on the planet affected by terrorism. And the UK authorities advises in opposition to travelling to some areas inside the nation.
On the whole there’s a heightened threat of terrorism in Egypt with 30 recorded incidents in 2022. You possibly can see how this compares with different international locations within the World Terrorism Index.
The battle in Sudan to the south may additionally make folks assume twice about how protected it’s to go to Egypt.
North East Africa is a area with vital political unrest. The Overseas Commonwealth Workplace is continually updating its journey recommendation.
Feeling protected in Egypt
Feeling protected is a really subjective factor. Our private expertise was that we felt very protected.
We had our personal information with us the entire time and we didn’t contact on any of the locations the UK authorities advises to not go. We additionally knew our journey agent would react to the newest journey steering.
Should you do have security issues then we are able to advocate reserving your tour via a journey agent so that you’ve your personal information and each a part of your journey is organized prematurely.
We used and had a fantastic expertise with Households Worldwide, a UK-based tour firm. Cussed Mule and Intrepid Journey additionally supply Egypt excursions for households.
Identical to you need to each time you go on vacation, be sure to have journey insurance coverage coverage* that adequately covers the nation you might be visiting and all the actions it’s possible you’ll do.
2. Do you want a visa to journey to Egypt?
Sure. Every individual visiting Egypt should have a vacationer visa until you might be solely staying within the Sharm el Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba or Taba resorts and are there for not more than 15 days.
Visas to journey in every single place else in Egypt value $25 per individual and may be purchased on-line on the Egyptian Authorities’s official visa web site. Ours took 24 hours to return via.
The web site is somewhat clunky, so be affected person.
You may as well purchase visas on the airport earlier than you undergo immigration. I choose to get this type of element sorted nicely earlier than we land.
3. Flights to Egypt
We booked our personal flights to Egypt utilizing Skyscanner to test the most effective routes and costs. There are many direct flights to Cairo Worldwide Airport from the UK.
If you wish to skip Cairo and hop on to Luxor, Aswan or the Purple Sea you’ll have to get a connection. Egypt Air is the primary airline for inner flights.
We discovered their web site to be a bit ropey and their customer support was actually poor once we needed to make a change to our flights.
The flight itself – an inner journey from Hurghada to Cairo – was way more nice than the pre-travel admin.
Should you e-book your journey itinerary via a tour operator they will organise all of your flights as a part of your bundle. We needed to e-book out personal as we have been travelling from outdoors the UK.
4. The perfect time to go to Egypt
We visited Egypt firstly of April throughout our youngsters’s Easter faculty holidays.
The temperature in Cairo, on the Mediterranean coast in Alexandria and on the Purple Sea was under 30°C in the midst of the day, so sightseeing was attainable, though we had numerous water with us and sought out shade once we may.
Once we travelled south to Luxor and Aswan the daytime temperature peaked at 35°C, which was much less snug. We nonetheless managed to spend just a few hours exploring the traditional websites however the AC of our personal mini bus was a really welcome aid.
Between Might and September the tourism season in Egypt winds down because of the warmth. Temperatures rise above 40°C, which may make sightseeing troublesome, significantly with kids.
By October Egypt’s common temperature has slipped again all the way down to 30°C and in December via to February the thermometer lingers at round 20°C making exploring a lot simpler.
So if you wish to keep away from the worst of the North African warmth December and February half time period are the most effective occasions to go to Egypt for sightseeing.
October and April are the optimum occasions if you wish to mix seeing the traditional wonders with a seashore vacation at a Purple Sea resort.
As Egypt is a predominantly Muslim nation, you must also pay attention to the timing of Ramadan.
5. Visiting Egypt throughout Ramadan
We visited Egypt through the Muslim celebration of Ramadan. We dwell in Oman so we knew a few of what to anticipate however discovered Egypt to be way more liberal in how the foundations have been utilized for vacationers.
This is the reason I needed to share just a few ideas based mostly on our expertise of travelling to Egypt throughout Ramadan. Every Muslim nation has a barely completely different method, significantly if tourism performs an necessary position in its economic system.
Our information informed us that in Egypt they needed to encourage vacationers to proceed visiting throughout Ramadan, so allowances have been made for them.
In some international locations, equivalent to Oman, tourism isn’t so nicely developed and non-Muslims should observe the customs of Ramadan in all public areas.
So, when you go to Egypt throughout Ramadan, what do it’s worthwhile to know so you may respectfully observe its area and tradition?
Right here’s what we learnt:
Consuming and ingesting throughout Ramadan in Egypt
Eighty % of cafes and eating places in Egypt are closed throughout sunlight hours in Ramadan.
Those which might be open are there for vacationers, not locals, so we discovered them to be both very quiet or solely serving coach excursions.
All of the cafes on the historical websites, the place you should buy drinks and snacks, have been open.
Our information discovered us eating places the place we may have a meal at lunchtime. He all the time referred to as forward to test they have been open. Some opened only for us.
Should you have been organising your personal tour throughout Ramadan discovering locations to eat through the day could possibly be troublesome.
There was a particular distinction in high quality between the locations we ate through the day and the locations our information was in a position to take us to within the evenings. Each skilled traveller is aware of the most effective meals is served on the locations the place locals eat. However throughout Ramadan these locations are closed through the day.
Accommodations proceed to serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. They and any guides you use throughout your journey can also have the ability to advocate locations to eat. Converse to them beforehand to see what’s attainable.
Only a few eating places and bars, aside from those in motels, will serve alcohol in any respect throughout Ramadan.
Are you able to eat and drink round your information?
In case you have an Egyptian information it is extremely seemingly they and your driver can be fasting.
Ours was pleased for us to eat and drink on our mini bus and whereas out and about with him. This was a aid because it helped us to maintain on prime of the children’ day by day snack quota.
Having mentioned this, I don’t know if each information could be snug with this.
Should you intend to make use of a number of guides and drivers I’d advocate broaching the topic of consuming and ingesting if you first converse to them. Are they pleased so that you can do that round them or would they like you to carry off sipping water or nibbling on a snack till a sure level in your tour?
It is a well mannered and can be appreciated. I believe {most professional} guides received’t thoughts in any respect.
What to put on throughout Ramadan
On the whole, it’s respectful to cowl your shoulders and knees whereas in Egypt. Throughout Ramadan I’d go additional and put on lengthy sleeved tops and trousers when wherever aside from the vacationer websites.
In case you are visiting a mosque girl must also cowl their heads with a shawl.
You don’t have to be so conservative when at your resort the place western requirements of clothes are acceptable always.
I discuss extra about what to put on in Egypt additional down this publish.
Test when Ramadan falls this 12 months.
Extra helpful issues to know earlier than visiting Egypt
6. Foreign money in Egypt
Money is king in Egypt. And with lower than 3p per Egyptian Pound (EGP) you’ll need a wedge of it.
We picked up our forex at Cairo Airport, and at money machines inside and outdoors our motels. It was simple to get our palms on the bigger notes this fashion but it surely’s helpful to have one, 5 and 10 EGP notes for tipping, and for the bathrooms on the historic websites and highway facet bathroom breaks.
You’ll need to make a purchase order to pay money for these or ask in case your resort reception can swap huge notes for small ones.
A whole lot of locations, partiality souq merchants, may even settle for US {dollars} and Euros.
7. Tipping
The common month-to-month wage in Cairo is $100 (round £80). So elsewhere in Egypt you may count on folks to have even much less cash of their pockets.
Tipping isn’t just a pleasant factor to do for good service, it’s an important a part of the Egyptian economic system.
Everybody from rest room attendants to the blokes promoting camel rides and the guards at historic websites who supply to take pictures count on a tip.
The one place we noticed indicators saying you undoubtedly shouldn’t tip was on the airport.
The excellent news to your journey finances is that nobody expects a lot. You simply have to have numerous small change on you.
We budgeted £50 for ideas over our 10 days in Egypt and gave this to our full-time information to distribute on our behalf.
He tipped our drivers, employees at eating places and at motels. He additionally slipped tricks to cleansing employees on the historic websites. We left it to his discretion to distribute the cash in one of the best ways.
On the finish of our tour we additionally tipped our information. Our journey agent prompt between £2 and £5 per individual per day. We went for the highest finish of this after seeing how exhausting he labored.
8. Bathrooms
On the historic websites the usual cost to make use of the general public bathrooms gave the impression to be 5 EGP per individual. Some locations didn’t cost for youngsters whereas others did.
Essentially the most we paid to make use of highway facet bathrooms as 10EGP per individual.
Should you go to a restaurant or cafe with a bathroom attendant you can be anticipated to tip 1 to 2 EGP for every individual, even when you deliver your personal rest room roll and also you’ve purchased meals.
You’re much less prone to discover a rest room attendant in smaller eating places, however when you pop in off the road to make use of the bathroom count on to be charged.
On the way in which to the Valley of the Kings in Luxor my youngest daughter was determined for a wee to we stopped at a restaurant. The proprietor tried to cost us 10EGP every. I solely had 5EGP on me so he needed to accept that. We’d already been at that time so there wasn’t a lot he may do.
9. Souqs and avenue hawkers
We’re no strangers to souqs as we dwell within the Center East. Nonetheless, we discovered the gross sales techniques in Egypt a bit extra ahead than in Oman the place we dwell.
Road hawkers
You’ll be approached by folks promoting issues and providers outdoors the historic websites and on the streets if you’re out at evening.
The adults and kids making an attempt to get you to take horse and carriage rides or purchase low-cost souvenirs are persistent. We discovered ourselves saying ‘la shukran’ (‘no thanks’ in Arabic) rather a lot.
Having mentioned that they weren’t impolite and took rejection nicely once they lastly gave up, merely strolling away.
The one impolite and aggressive folks we noticed in Egypt have been different vacationers.
A phrase of warning about souqs
The one unfavourable expertise we had was at Luxor souq. By day seven into our journey we had a little bit of downtime and determined to do some memento buying.
Our eyes had been caught by the free harem pants we’d seen on numerous markets on the historic sights, so we needed to get just a few pairs.
We haggled an inexpensive worth and have been then persuaded to purchase an costly trinket that we actually didn’t need. At this level we may see issues have been going to spiral out of our management if we didn’t depart.
So, the souq isn’t someplace I like to recommend looking with children.
The merchants are very eager so that you can go to their buddies’ outlets and as soon as inside it’s more durable to cease them urgent small items into kids’s palms.
Should you do go, have a mission and persist with it in any other case you can come away with all types of stuff you don’t need or want. We made a fast exit after shopping for our off mission memento, which is a disgrace as I’d favored to have seemed round some extra.
As I discussed earlier, lots of people have requested me if we felt protected in Egypt and we completely did. However did we really feel harassed?
This was the one time we felt actually hassled in Egypt. It was our one night out with out our information so I believe which may have shielded us from over-zealous gross sales pitches elsewhere.
10. Abdomen upsets
At any time when we go to a rustic the place there’s an opportunity of selecting up a humorous tummy I often do. It might not be a bug or dodgy meals as such, however I typically discover my abdomen is unsettled once we are travelling.
I had a rumbling throughout our Egypt journey but it surely was delicate and solely lasted half a day after I popped a precautionary Imodium.
Pack a packet of no matter you often use to assist settle your abdomen in case one finish or the opposite reacts to completely different meals and water. Rehydration sachets are additionally helpful to have in your journey first help package.
11. Ingesting water
Bottled water is far safer to drink than faucet water. Some folks go so far as avoiding salads and fruit that has not been peeled, however we ate small portions of each at our motels.
We used faucet water to brush our tooth in our motels however prevented it altogether throughout our practice journey from Cairo to Aswan. Even our Egyptian information used bottled water to scrub his tooth.
12. What to put on when visiting Egypt
Egypt is a predominantly Muslim nation the place conservative costume is anticipated in most circumstances.
Right here’s what to put on for various actions and somewhere else in Egypt:
Sightseeing
As I discussed larger up, overlaying shoulders and knees is anticipated when out in public in Egypt.
Cropped trousers, t-shirts and shirts created from cotton with sturdy sandals or trainers are the perfect garments for exploring in Egypt. Don’t neglect your hat and solar glasses too.
What to not put on
We noticed numerous folks in strappy tops and bum skimming shorts on the historical monuments, even throughout Ramadan.
These skimpy outfits made me cringe at these folks’s lack of cultural consciousness.
Females who present their legs and shoulders in public locations will draw unfavourable consideration. Sadly it’s a truth of life for Egyptian ladies. So until you desire a unfavourable expertise assume a bit about your outfit.
Fact bomb: I’d additionally not advocate not sporting floaty clothes for sightseeing.
Lots of people do as they appear dreamy in pictures.
However you’re going to get sweaty legs.
I noticed one poor girl at Hatshepsut’s temple who had gathered up her lengthy skirt and pulled it again up via her legs and into her neck line to cease her legs chaffing.
It’s additionally troublesome to climb inside a pyramid or down right into a tomb within the Valley of the Kings if you’re tripping over your skirt.
What to put on in mosques and church buildings
We didn’t go to any spiritual buildings throughout our journey. However we all know from visiting different Muslim and devoutly Christian international locations that shoulders and knees ought to be coated in mosques and church buildings.
Lady must also deliver a shawl to cowl their hair.
What ought to kids put on in Egypt?
Youngsters beneath the age of puberty can just about put on what they like. Simply be certain it’s sensible.
We packed quick sleeved t-shirts and lengthy cotton trousers to maintain our women snug within the warmth.
Hats and solar glasses are additionally a should.
At your resort
You possibly can put on what you want in your resort. Your regular swimwear is okay by the pool. Simply test the costume code for resort eating places.
At our last resort on the Purple Sea bikinis, thongs and speedos have been normal lounging apparel on the seashore, however tops/shirts have been required within the buffet and eating places.
Should you’d like a extra detailed checklist of garments to put on in Egypt check out my prompt packing checklist on the backside of this publish.
13. Journey occasions between Egypt’s historical websites
If you wish to see proportion of Egypt’s historical wonders in a single journey you can be doing a variety of journey.
For that reason I’m glad we did this journey when the women have been aged 10 and practically eight. It was tiring.
They spent a variety of time in our mini bus napping or on their tablets because the surroundings – typically very bland – rolled by
I introduced a bag filled with cereal bars, nuts and sweets with us and we topped this up through the journey.
Our longest journey day – apart from our 16 hour journey dwelling – was a 9 hour spherical journey to Abu Simbel. Seven hours of this was on the highway.
There have been additionally some very early mornings and late nights that youthful kids might discover troublesome. Our women have been pushed to their limits.
Once we first checked out Egypt as a attainable vacation spot we knew we would have liked so as to add some downtime to the tip of our journey for everybody’s sanity. We did seven straight days sightseeing and two full days on the finish enjoyable.
On reflection, if we’d had extra time, I’d have added an additional time off within the center.
14. Lodge star scores in Egypt
Egypt has a variety of 5 star motels, however they don’t essentially match the requirements of 5 star motels within the UK and Europe.
We stayed in three 5 star motels and one 4 star resort throughout our 10 day journey. Two of the 5 star motels have been fairly drained. Fixtures and fittings have been worn, significantly within the loos.
One among them didn’t present a kettle in our rooms and had a one thing bizarre happening within the rest room.
We additionally noticed a variety of previous Covid-19 signage and empty hand sanitiser dispensers at a few of our motels. Neither employees or company have been adhering to the directions, so that they have been simply outdated and wanted to be eliminated.
The rooms in our 4 star resort in Hurghada, which was aimed toward a European market, have been a lot better. However they didn’t have a lot character.
I’ve summarised the rooms, services and repair on the locations we stayed in my Egypt itinerary publish.
One thing else to remember is that Egypt’s metropolis motels not often do household rooms. You may discover household suites at a number of the Purple Sea resorts.
We had interconnecting rooms at three out of the 4 motels we stayed at and onboard the sleeper practice between Cairo and Aswan.
This isn’t an issue for us – we fairly favored having more room whereas nonetheless with the ability to control the children – however households with youthful kids may wish to keep in a single room.
15. Safety
There’s no getting away from the actual fact safety is tight in Egypt.
You’ll journey via numerous police test factors the place armed officers ask drivers who they’ve of their car. ‘4 anglaise’ was all the time our drivers’ reply and away we went. Just one police officer requested for the mini bus door to be slid open so he may eyeball us.
There are armed guards in any respect vacationer websites and every of our motels had safety folks on the entrance gate and bag scanners within the foyer.
We discovered this all reassuring reasonably than worrying. It’s what you’d count on in a rustic the place vacationers have been focused by terrorists.
16. Visitors and roads
The roads in Cairo are a tangle of horn pleased drivers, weaving bikes, tuk tuks, vans overloaded with folks or items, horses and carts, and pedestrians dashing throughout eight lane highways. It’s fairly a present!
The visitors is analogous in Alexandria however a lot slower paced in Luxor and significantly Aswan.
The standard of rural roads in Southern Egypt is especially dangerous.
After the Arab Spring in 2011 many villagers put in velocity bumps and test factors so they might management who got here to their space. The bumps are nonetheless in place and make the agricultural roads uncomfortable to journey.
You’ll additionally see donkey drawn carts, tuk tuks and even vans loaded with camels outdoors the cities.
Our Egypt journey ideas – dos and don’ts
Right here’s some issues to do and to not do to benefit from your loved ones vacation in Egypt:
17. What to not do when visiting Egypt
Earlier than I share our favorite experiences and the locations we advocate seeing in Egypt I’m going to counsel some issues to not do.
Don’t decide up a information on the fly
Getting every part agreed prematurely means you may be sure to are pleased together with your information’s credentials and the worth you will be charged. We discovered this a lot much less demanding. I’ve learn loads of tales on-line by individuals who felt they obtained conned by guides they’d employed final minute.
We organized our information via our journey agent. He studied Egyptology on the College of Cairo and was with us for the entire 10 days we have been in Egypt. We weren’t taken on any surprising ‘manufacturing unit excursions’, taken to locations we didn’t really feel protected or requested for extra cash on the finish.
And since we booked via a journey agent specialising in household holidays our information was nice with our youngsters. He entertained them fascinating tales, discovered us shady spots the place he may inform us in regards to the temples and browse the room when the children had had sufficient.
Don’t trouble bringing a correct digital camera
All the historical websites we visited charged additional when you needed to make use of a correct digital camera.
If a guard sees you utilizing a digital camera they are going to ask to see your ticket for it (or for a tip to let you use it beneath the radar).
For that reason, I made a decision to go away my DSLR at dwelling. It wasn’t definitely worth the faff.
All of the pictures and movies from our vacation in Egypt have been taken on our iPhones.
Smartphone cameras can be utilized in every single place without spending a dime. The one vacationer place pictures couldn’t be taken was contained in the Tutankhamun exhibition within the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.
Don’t deliver a drone
It’s unlawful to fly a drone in Egypt, so you probably have one depart it at dwelling.
Don’t take pictures at test factors
Taking pictures of test factors, safety guards, police or official authorities buildings is a no-no. We have been even instructed to not take footage at Aswan Increased Dam for safety causes.
Keep away from the sleeper practice
It is a tip particularly for clear freaks. Should you can’t bear the considered travelling on a lower than spotless and comfy mode of transport then the sleeper practice isn’t for you.
Personally, I’m glad we did it however I wouldn’t journey by practice in Egypt once more. I’d fly or e-book a cruise (with out the children).
Examine our expertise on the Cairo to Aswan sleeper practice to determine for your self.
Don’t contact cats and canine
There have been numerous cats and canine on the historical temple websites we visited in Egypt. We discovered this a bit stunning as the place we dwell in Oman they’d have been chased away or worse.
In Egypt stray animals are a part of the road furnishings. Locals feed them and depart them to their very own gadgets. We even noticed puppies taking part in outdoors the Sphinx complicated.
Your children could also be tempted to pet animals however they’re nonetheless wild and received’t have been vaccinated or handled for parasites. So remind animal-loving little folks to not contact them, nevertheless tame they may seem.
Don’t climb on historical buildings
It’s apparent actually, however you will get in bother with the safety guards when you begin climbing everywhere in the centuries previous buildings.
Don’t settle for presents to see inside roped off rooms
Workers at some historical websites will invite you into roped off areas and over boundaries for a tip.
Our information warned us about this at Hatshepshut’s temple. Certain sufficient, once we reached the highest tier we have been requested if we’d prefer to go round a barrier. We additionally noticed it taking place within the tombs on the Valley of the Kings.
It’s in opposition to the legislation for workers to allow you to into restricted areas, so don’t feed this criminal activity.
Don’t settle for assist until you might be pleased to tip
If a temple information presents to take your picture, if somebody asks to hold your bag or if somebody says they will present you the most effective view, count on to be requested for a tip.
Don’t neglect you might be in a Muslim nation
Simply bear in mind just a few easy guidelines with the intention to act respectfully and keep away from the fallacious type of consideration:
- Put on conservative clothes – see above.
- Don’t kiss, cuddle or maintain palms together with your accomplice in public. LGBTQ+ {couples} should hold their relationship secret as a result of Egypt isn’t a really tolerant nation.
- Don’t drink alcohol in public locations. Accommodations and a few eating places will serve it.
- Keep away from discussing faith and politics – Egyptians are very protecting of their views. NB we obtained away with this a bit with our information as he was nicely travelled and we obtained to know him over a interval of days.
18. The place to go to in Egypt with children – our prime 5 websites
Right here’s a correct conundrum. What must you see in Egypt with children?
We squeezed rather a lot into our 10 days and will have nonetheless accomplished extra in addition to including additional time to loosen up on the Purple Coastline.
I’d undoubtedly recommenced exploring additional than Cairo. The pyramids are one among Egypt’s finest identified points of interest however there’s a lot extra to the nation’s historic treasures.
To be sincere, it was Egypt’s temples that impressed us most.
We additionally wouldn’t have missed Southern Egypt. Reaching Abu Simbel from Aswan is an journey in itself and the Valley of the Kings in Luxor was way more spectacular than we had imagined.
So what are the most effective locations for households visiting Egypt? Right here’s our prime 5:
The Pyramids of Giza
Despite the fact that they weren’t our favorite vacation spot who may go to Egypt with out seeing the pyramids? Particularly with travelling with children!
In spite of everything they’re essentially the most recognisable landmark and one many little ones will know from Go Jetters.
Add a visit to Cairo’s Egyptian Museum (or the Grand Egyptian Museum when it opens) to construct a basis of information that can enrich the remaining you time in Egypt.
Kom Ombo
Mummified crocodiles…want I say extra?
OK, I’ll. Kom Ombo’s assortment of 300 preserved crocs have been discovered buried at this Roman-Greaco web site beside the River Nile.
The Temple itself is devoted to 2 gods: Sobek and Horus.
A lot of it’s ruined however there’s loads of unimaginable hieroglyphs to see together with one depicting a mom giving start. This sort of picture has not been discovered nowhere else in Egypt.
The Temple of Philae
A go to the Temple of Philae requires a ship journey to the island of Agilkia.
The temple was moved right here within the twentieth Century through the development of the Aswan Dam which led to the unique Philae web site being flooded.
It’s a phenomenal temple and its location makes it an additional particular place to discover.
Valley of the Kings
I’m undecided why however I wasn’t anticipating a lot from the Valley of the Kings. Tunnels lower into sand with a naked chamber on the finish was what I suppose I had in thoughts.
However the Valley supplied a lot extra. The colors of the hieroglyphs have been shielded from the solar and grave robbers by no means hung round lengthy sufficient to trouble defacing them in the way in which some temples have suffered.
They’re additionally a marvel of historical Egyptian engineering. It’s superb to assume that the architects, artists and employees spent years creating them under the floor.
Deir el-Bahri
Queen Hatshepsut’s mortuary temple was my favorite Egyptian temple. Not solely is it a novel design, it was fascinating to expertise a spot impressed by such a captivating determine in Egypt’s historical past.
Hatshepsut isn’t born to rule as pharaoh. However she talked herself into the job and dominated alongside her youthful brother and the rightful inheritor, Tutmose III.
She constructed Deir el-Bahri temple for the god Amun and, in response to historical gossip, the architect was her lover. After she died and was buried within the Valley of the Kings he had a tunnel constructed from his personal tomb to hers.
Bonus place: Abu Simbel
OK, so I couldn’t miss this one off. The temples of Rameses II and Queen Nefertari on the sting of Lake Nassar are unimaginable. BUT! It’s a protracted drive and households with younger children may discover it an excessive amount of.
We visited as a day journey from Aswan which meant setting off at 4.30am and 7 hours in our personal mini bus. Should you do go to Abu Simbel, take a non-public tour to maximise your consolation.
Additionally plan in some down time on both facet and pack all of the snacks!
Discover out extra about every of those locations and all of locations we visited by studying about our 10 day Egypt itinerary.
19. What to pack for visiting Egypt
By now I hope I’ve answered a variety of your questions on visiting Egypt and also you’re able to pack your luggage. However what must you take?
Right here’s my packing checklist together with what you’re going to wish whilst you’re travelling and sightseeing:
Journey paperwork
Right here’s the necessary paperwork to deliver with you:
- Passports – they have to be at the very least six months in date from the day you arrive. Test the gov.uk web site for the newest entry necessities and journey recommendation.
- Your journey insurance coverage – I all the time have a digital and printed copy with me.
- Your visas – if you apply on-line you might be instructed to have printed copies with you.
- Foreign money – we couldn’t pay money for any Egyptian Kilos earlier than we travelled so introduced some spare US {dollars} with us. We picked up extra cash on the airport and different money machines.
Hand baggage
In addition to taking three flights we have been on the highway rather a lot throughout our 10 days in Egypt. So we every had a stick with it sized bag filled with leisure and issues we needed shut at hand.
We took a wide range of luggage. Mr Tin Field has been utilizing his versatile journey bag the Osprey Farpoint for years, the 10-year-old and I took OLPRO rucksacks*, and the seven-year-old, who likes to be completely different, had her rainbow sample Landsend rucksack.
Right here’s what we packed in our rucksacks:
- Studying books
- Observe e-book
- Pencil case
- Pill and earphones
- Snacks
- Squishaboo/journey pillow
- Tissues
- Hand sanitiser
- Reusable water bottle
- Cuddly toys
- Hat
- Solar glasses
- Journey paperwork
Predominant baggage packing checklist for visiting Egypt
Right here’s the garments we every packed in our principal bag for sightseeing and hanging out at our motels:
- Two pairs of cotton/gentle trousers
- 10 cotton t-shirts or shirts for day time
- 3 night outfits – longer is extra versatile for utilizing inside and outdoors your resort
- Mild jumper
- 12 pairs of underwear
- 2 swimsuits with lengthy sleeves or separate rash vest
- Sarong or seashore shirt/costume
- Hat
- Sun shades
- Strolling sandals or trainers
- Flip flops
- Night sneakers
Right here’s the opposite necessities we packed:
- Toiletaries
- Small first help package together with journey illness and Imodium tablets
- Moist wipes
- Packets of tissues
- Cellphone and pill charger leads
- Battery packs
- Energy adaptors
In fact if you wish to journey tremendous gentle you may in the reduction of on a number of the modifications of tops and underwear and wash them as you go.
Nonetheless, we weren’t staying at any of our motels lengthy sufficient to have out garments laundered and I didn’t fancy hand washing in our downtime.
20. Egypt books for youths and households visiting Egypt
We gave every of our women a e-book about Egypt earlier than our journey. It was a good way to get them excited and remind us all in regards to the extraordinary locations we have been fortunate sufficient to be visiting.
We are able to personally advocate Nationwide Geographic’s Historical Egypt: Stage 4* e-book for youngsters aged seven and up and Nationwide Geographic’s 1,000 Information About Historical Egypt e-book for bite-sized data to share with kids of all ages.
Youthful kids may choose a sticker e-book. The British Museum* does a beautiful one that enables children so as to add stickers to Egyptian scenes. And right here’s loads a brief tales for younger readers in Meet the Egyptians*, which is a part of the Horrible Histories e-book collection.
Should you’re in search of e-book about Egypt for your self I can advocate Lonely Planet*. There’s a brand new journey information for Egypt popping out in November 2023. You possibly can pre-order* it now.
We visited Egypt in April 2023 and the following pointers are based mostly on our private expertise then.
Have you ever visited Egypt? What was your expertise? Or are you in your manner? Let me know if there’s something you’d prefer to know.
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