We have just passed 12 incredible days in Egypt. We have noted a number of things to know to makeyour future trip to Egypt easier, whether you want to do as we do (i.e. opt for a 100% customized luxury trip), or in a backpack/roots, or on an organized tour. Before leaving 1. Don’t be afraid of insecurity provided that you limit your movements in tourist areas (and recommended by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs). It is a country that has lost a lot of tourists since the Arab Spring Revolution in 2011 and they are trying to boost tourism. The security is reinforced, everyone is aware of the importance of getting tourists back and do everything possible to avoid creating a “bad buzz”. There are several routes that are done with military convoys to ensure maximum security, the police is present everywhere. There are check-points everywhere. More info on this point here 2. A trip without an organized tour, it’s in preparation If you are planning a trip to Egypt in backpack mode (read our recommended program & budget here), don’t expect to arrive there with your hands in your pocket and find out on the spot what there is to do. We aren’t in Thailand, you have to inquire a minimum. The cruises do not leave every day, you may have to wait 3 days before the departure of a boat. To leave with an up to date travel guide, combined with recent elements picked up on the forums is ideal. Besides, Egypt has a very good 4G connection if you want to check some information on the spot. Don’t believe everything you are told, check the information (e.g. if someone tells you that it is impossible to visit the pyramids without the camels, then they are lying to you). Here I explain how I planned my trip 3. You can’t make long car trips without declaring it Because of the check-points everywhere, you cannot leave a city by car without prior permission. So if you want to go to Abu Simbel from Aswan for example, you have to book *at least* one day in advance so that your driver/agency has time to declare the trip and get permission. But if you travel by plane, no permission is needed.So, before you come, prepare plenty of passport copies to give to your agency/driver the day before departure. They will need them to declare your trip. 4. The visa can be obtained on the spot 25$ or 25€, to be paid in foreign currency. As soon as you arrive at the airport, and before immigration, locate the bank counter. Go there to buy a tax stamp like this one to stick on your passport, before passing the immigration. If you leave with the organized tours, they will make you pay more for a visa. And even if you have already obtained one before coming, they still charge an extra 30€. Read the asterisks on your contract. 5. As a woman, it’s best to cover up a little bit Out of respect for local customs (almost all Egyptian women are veiled), and also to avoid sunburn and mosquito bites in the evening, come with loose, covering and opaque clothes. Here, Egyptians do not touch each other (0 kiss please), so especially if you travel alone, be careful not to give a “green light” in spite of yourself. Avoid hanging out alone late at night, wearing miniskirts, tank tops, sitting alone at the café. On the other hand, if you go to the Red Sea, you can be in a bikini on the beach of your hotel without any problem. Here is the style of clothes I wear to visit the temples. 6. Even if it’s not too hot in winter, the sun hits hard all year round 7. No, Christmas isn’t the ideal time to visit Egypt It’s really cold in the evening. The ideal times to visit Egypt : February/March and October/November, not too hot/cold, no sandstorms. 8. To put in your suitcase: Sunscreen SPF50++ in large quantities A big hat (I particularly like the one that is anti-UV and that covers the neck at Decathlon) Sunglasses A shawl to protect you from the sun, the dust, the cold (in the evening) A fleece for the evening (especially on the Nile) A few bags of smecta (hopefully you won’t need them) Very moisturizing cream (we are almost in the desert, the skin will be mistreated) A few euros (especially if you have excusions or hotels to pay on the spot – some prices may be posted and payable in euros or dollars); otherwise tell your bank that you are going to Egypt and withdraw the money on the spot. You can withdraw about 2000LE (the equivalent of 100 €) at a time. Be careful, ATMs are often empty. You will be more likely to find ATMs full of money near 5 star hotels. 9. Everybody understands Egyptian Arabic, but not the other way around If you plan to learn Arabic, it can be a “profitable” apprenticeship since you can express yourself and make yourself understood in many Arab countries… because Egypt is the Hollywood of Arab countries. But you won’t understand the answers. Egyptian Arabic is different from modern Arabic, so pay attention to the Arabic courses that you can find on the Internet. Learnhow to say “no thanks” (la choukran) because you will repeat it all day long to the beaters. Then download the Arabic dictionary offline on your phone (Google Translate). And ask for a business card at your hotel so that you can show the address in Arabic to the cab driver when you want to return home. 10. Egypt is expensive The cost of living is very low, but they have fun with the tourists on the entrance tickets, between 5€ and 50€. 10€ on average, I let you calculate! There are so many temples, tombs, sites and museums to see that it represents a small budget. The cruises on the boats aren’t given. Gasoline is expensive everywhere in the world, and when at least ten people are at your service on the boat… well that makes the bill go up. However, it is possible to go independently, according to our estimated travel budget for Egypt (2019 ): for 965€/person (without cruise), in a backpack 1600€ with an organized tour cruise ship and from 2200€ in dahabiya (luxury, a traditional sailboat, 14 people max). ALL INCLUDED (plane, local fees, tip, visa etc.) The ideal program: I highly recommend finishing in Cairo because it has NOTHING to do with the rest – the day by day program and budgets in backpack/independent mode here, in luxury mode here arrival in Luxor and visit of the surroundings of Luxor. If you have time to spend an extra day in Dendera and Abydos cruise on the Nile to Aswan (or by car if you don’t have a lot of money/time) round trip to Abu Simbel from Aswan (by car or plane). We strongly advise you to spend a night in Abu Simbel and visit the site at sunrise. flight to Cairo and we finish in beauty with the visit of the Cairo museum and the pyramids. If you have time, spend an afternoon in Saqqarah Excursions, Cruises and Tours 11. For organized tours, please read the small * There is no shortage of all-inclusive tours for Egypt. But read the list of included excursions and optional tours carefully. It isn’t uncommon, if you *not* opt for the optional tours, to do nothing for one or two days because those days have been specifically reserved for the optional tours. It is important to list and compare everything. Like what I did with this Excel file (feel free to leave a comment if you want to receive my pre-filled Excel) . The web version is available and online here 12. A one-day guided tour (private or group) can easily be booked It is advisable to visit the country accompanied by a guide. On the one hand, the presence of a local guide will help you to be less bothered by the many beaters. But on the other hand, the guides will give you a very interesting and more complete insight than paper guides. The important thing is to choose a good agency that will send you a good guide and a nice driver. Thus, you can opt for private tours, without having to resort to all-inclusive group tours, and choose your own hotel, book your own plane … You will find the contact details of the boss of the Egyptian agency we went through (Mohamed) at the end of this article 13. Hotel excursions are more expensive Hotels rarely have their own tour desk. Do not go through them to book an excursion, the price will be more expensive because they add their commission to the price charged by travel agencies. Instead, book online, or contact one of the many agencies in the city. You need a real guide, and if possible, an Egyptologist. Many “fake guides” will tell tourists anything. In addition, many experienced guides have changed jobs as a result of the fall of post-revolutionary tourism, they have been replaced by junior guides with very random experience and skills. 14. Thereare 5 types of cruise ships in Egypt Feluccas(felucca in English): old sailing boats, which travel rather in the direction Aswan – Edfu*. The comfort is Spartan because there is no room, you sleep on the deck with other travelers, dock on the shore for toilet breaks (camping atmosphere) and you wash yourself in the Nile (there is no crocodile, don’t worry). This is the cheapest option. I was told about a more luxurious felucca: www.nilebreeze.com but I have not tested it personally. Les Gréements du Nil also offers some. Price: between 350€ and 500€/person. The proposed cuisine is Egyptian, homemade. Modern cruise boats (200 passengers), faster, more comfortable but more “club med”. These boats will moor for 2 days in Luxor, without moving, so that you can visit the temples and the Valley of the Kings. Be careful, many excursions aren’t included in the basic price. Price: between 300€ and 450€/person + 250€ of additional excursions (minimum). The proposed cuisine is international. Dahabiya: renovated traditional sailing boats (10 to 20 passengers). We have travelled on a boat like this one (see our travel diary) with Les Gréements du Nil (which I recommend). Price: between 750€ and 1200€/person. The proposed cuisine is Egyptian, homemade by a chef. Sandal: it is an old sailing boat, used to transport materials (6 to 8 passengers). It is smaller than the dahabiya while offering similar comfort (private room & bathroom). But who says smaller says more expensive. TheNile Rigging also offersthem. Price: 750€ to 1000€/person or more. The proposed cuisine is Egyptian, homemade. Steamboats are also the most expensive option. In “Murder on the Nile” mode. Price: within 2000$/person. The proposed kitchen is half Egyptian, half international. * big boats usually leave from Luxor, but small boats like dahabiya and feluccas don’t go to Luxor, they will moor at Esna (dahabiya, sandal) or Edfu (felucca). However, all the cruise companies that depart from/stop in Esna will offer you free car transportation between your hotel in Luxor and Esna. 15. We can still take steamboats finally… who still use diesel, but the look is nice: The historic Steam Ship Sudan (which now goes to Dendera). We can also mention the boat M/S Eugenie (which travels on lake Nasser). 16. There is no cruise Cairo -> Abu Simbel From Cairo, there are very few cruises to Luxor, but we can offer you a short trip of a few hours by felucca (not recommended because it is less beautiful than in Luxor). Because of the dam in Aswan, it isn’t possible to make the trip from Luxor to Abu Simbel on a single boat, you will have to get off and change boats in Aswan. That’s why … Continue reading 50 Things to Know Before Going to Egypt – Travel Travel Guide, Budget & Addresses