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’s not Disneyland.
Historic Egypt was a complicated civilisation whose mind-blowing achievements are nonetheless being found and analysed all over the world. That is the Egypt individuals dream about going to see.
Nevertheless, trendy 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 tourists in recent times.
*This submit accommodates affiliate hyperlinks*
Our expertise of visiting Egypt
We visited Egypt in April 2023. Our journey was booked by a journey agent and included a full-time skilled information, our lodging bookings, all our journey by street utilizing a non-public mini bus, and a journey on the Egypt sleeper prepare.
All the things was deliberate for us so we’re not consultants in self-guided Egypt itineraries, however our experiences are related to households who wish to attempt 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 might be harassed on the historic websites. We knew that girls in-particular might be topic to undesirable consideration. And we knew that we’d be requested for ideas for something and every thing.
However we nonetheless needed to go to Egypt.
Ultimately I feel we went over-prepared for all the potential downsides and got here away pleasantly shocked that it wasn’t as unhealthy 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 submit 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 most effective time to go to Egypt
- Issues to find out about visiting Egypt throughout Ramadan
- Forex and tipping in Egypt
- Dealing with souqs and avenue hawkers
- What to put on in Egypt
- Journey instances between historic 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 info that can assist 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 high 20 international locations on the earth 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 may see how this compares with different international locations within the International Terrorism Index.
The battle in Sudan to the south may additionally make individuals assume twice about how protected it’s to go to Egypt.
North East Africa is a area with important political unrest. The International 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 most recent journey steering.
Should you do have security issues then we will suggest reserving your tour by a journey agent so that you’ve got your personal information and each a part of your journey is organized prematurely.
We used and had an awesome expertise with Households Worldwide, a UK-based tour firm. Cussed Mule and Intrepid Journey additionally supply Egypt excursions for households.
Identical to it is best to each time you go on vacation, be sure you have a great journey insurance coverage coverage* that adequately covers the nation you might be visiting and all the actions you could do.
2. Do you want a visa to journey to Egypt?
Sure. Every particular person 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 all places else in Egypt value $25 per particular person and might be purchased on-line on the Egyptian Authorities’s official visa web site. Ours took 24 hours to come back by.
The web site is slightly clunky, so be affected person.
You can even purchase visas on the airport earlier than you undergo immigration. I want to get this sort of element sorted nicely earlier than we land.
3. Flights to Egypt
We booked our personal flights to Egypt utilizing Skyscanner to examine the perfect 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 Crimson Sea you’ll must get a connection. Egypt Air is the primary airline for inside 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 inside journey from Hurghada to Cairo – was rather more nice than the pre-travel admin.
Should you e-book your journey itinerary by 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 exterior the UK.
4. The most effective time to go to Egypt
We visited Egypt originally of April throughout our kids’s Easter faculty holidays.
The temperature in Cairo, on the Mediterranean coast in Alexandria and on the Crimson Sea was under 30°C in the midst of the day, so sightseeing was potential, though we had plenty of water with us and sought out shade once we might.
After we travelled south to Luxor and Aswan the daytime temperature peaked at 35°C, which was much less snug. We nonetheless managed to spend a couple of hours exploring the traditional websites however the AC of our non-public mini bus was a really welcome reduction.
Between Could and September the tourism season in Egypt winds down as a result of warmth. Temperatures rise above 40°C, which may make sightseeing tough, notably with kids.
By October Egypt’s common temperature has slipped again right down to 30°C and in December by 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 perfect instances to go to Egypt for sightseeing.
October and April are the optimum instances if you wish to mix seeing the traditional wonders with a seashore vacation at a Crimson 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 throughout the Muslim celebration of Ramadan. We dwell in Oman so we knew a few of what to anticipate however discovered Egypt to be rather more liberal in how the principles have been utilized for vacationers.
Because of this I needed to share a couple of ideas based mostly on our expertise of travelling to Egypt throughout Ramadan. Every Muslim nation has a barely completely different method, notably if tourism performs an necessary position in its financial system.
Our information instructed 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, corresponding to Oman, tourism will not be 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 you should know so you’ll be able to respectfully observe its area and tradition?
Right here’s what we learnt:
Consuming and ingesting throughout Ramadan in Egypt
Eighty p.c of cafes and eating places in Egypt are closed throughout daytime 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 historic websites, the place you should buy drinks and snacks, have been open.
Our information discovered us eating places the place we might have a meal at lunchtime. He all the time referred to as forward to examine they have been open. Some opened only for us.
Should you have been organising your personal tour throughout Ramadan discovering locations to eat throughout the day could possibly be tough.
There was a particular distinction in high quality between the locations we ate throughout 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 perfect meals is served on the locations the place locals eat. However throughout Ramadan these locations are closed throughout the day.
Resorts proceed to serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. They and any guides you use throughout your journey might also be capable of suggest locations to eat. Communicate to them beforehand to see what’s potential.
Only a few eating places and bars, other than those in resorts, 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 glad for us to eat and drink on our mini bus and whereas out and about with him. This was a reduction because it helped us to maintain on high of the children’ every day snack quota.
Having stated this, I don’t know if each information can be snug with this.
Should you intend to make use of a number of guides and drivers I’d suggest broaching the topic of consuming and ingesting once you first communicate to them. Are they glad 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?
This can be a well mannered and can be appreciated. I believe {most professional} guides gained’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 apart from the vacationer websites.
If you’re visiting a mosque girl must also cowl their heads with a shawl.
You don’t must be so conservative when at your resort the place western requirements of clothes are acceptable always.
I speak extra about what to put on in Egypt additional down this submit.
Verify when Ramadan falls this yr.
Extra helpful issues to know earlier than visiting Egypt
6. Forex in Egypt
Money is king in Egypt. And with lower than 3p per Egyptian Pound (EGP) you will want a wedge of it.
We picked up our forex at Cairo Airport, and at money machines inside and out of doors our resorts. It was straightforward 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 bogs on the historic websites and street 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 large notes for small ones.
Quite a lot of locations, partiality souq merchants, will 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’ll be able to count on individuals 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 financial system.
Everybody from rest room attendants to the fellows 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 mustn’t tip was on the airport.
The excellent news to your journey finances is that nobody expects a lot. You simply must have plenty of 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, workers at eating places and at resorts. He additionally slipped tricks to cleansing workers 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 advised between £2 and £5 per particular person per day. We went for the highest finish of this after seeing how exhausting he labored.
8. Bogs
On the historic websites the usual cost to make use of the general public bogs appeared to be 5 EGP per particular person. Some locations didn’t cost for kids whereas others did.
Essentially the most we paid to make use of street facet bogs as 10EGP per particular person.
Should you go to a restaurant or cafe with a bathroom attendant you’ll be anticipated to tip 1 to 2 EGP for every particular person, 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 best way 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 might do.
9. Souqs and avenue hawkers
We’re no strangers to souqs as we dwell within the Center East. Nevertheless, we discovered the gross sales techniques in Egypt a bit extra ahead than in Oman the place we dwell.
Avenue hawkers
You’ll be approached by individuals promoting issues and providers exterior the historic websites and on the streets in case you are out at evening.
The adults and youngsters 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) lots.
Having stated that they weren’t impolite and took rejection nicely once they lastly gave up, merely strolling away.
The one impolite and aggressive individuals we noticed in Egypt have been different vacationers.
A phrase of warning about souqs
The one detrimental 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 purchasing.
Our eyes had been caught by the unfastened harem pants we’d seen on plenty of markets on the historic sights, so we needed to get a couple of pairs.
We haggled an affordable worth and have been then persuaded to purchase an costly trinket that we actually didn’t need. At this level we might 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 searching with children.
The merchants are very eager so that you can go to their mates’ outlets and as soon as inside it’s tougher to cease them urgent small items into kids’s palms.
Should you do go, have a mission and follow it in any other case you could possibly come away with every kind of belongings you don’t need or want. We made a rapid exit after shopping for our off mission memento, which is a disgrace as I’d favored to have regarded 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 normally do. It is probably not a bug or dodgy meals as such, however I usually 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 normally 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 assist equipment.
11. Consuming water
Bottled water is far safer to drink than faucet water. Some individuals go so far as avoiding salads and fruit that has not been peeled, however we ate small portions of each at our resorts.
We used faucet water to brush our enamel in our resorts however averted it altogether throughout our prepare experience from Cairo to Aswan. Even our Egyptian information used bottled water to wash his enamel.
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 in other places in Egypt:
Sightseeing
As I discussed larger up, masking shoulders and knees is anticipated when out in public in Egypt.
Cropped trousers, t-shirts and shirts produced 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 plenty of individuals in strappy tops and bum skimming shorts on the historic monuments, even throughout Ramadan.
These skimpy outfits made me cringe at these individuals’s lack of cultural consciousness.
Females who present their legs and shoulders in public locations will draw detrimental consideration. Sadly it’s a truth of life for Egyptian girls. So until you need a detrimental expertise assume a bit about your outfit.
Reality bomb: I’d additionally not suggest not carrying 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 woman at Hatshepsut’s temple who had gathered up her lengthy skirt and pulled it again up by her legs and into her neck line to cease her legs chaffing.
It’s additionally tough to climb inside a pyramid or down right into a tomb within the Valley of the Kings in case you are 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 needs 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 below the age of puberty can just about put on what they like. Simply ensure 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 may put on what you want in your resort. Your regular swimwear is ok by the pool. Simply examine the costume code for resort eating places.
At our remaining resort on the Crimson Sea bikinis, thongs and speedos have been commonplace lounging apparel on the seashore, however tops/shirts have been required within the buffet and eating places.
Should you’d like a extra detailed listing of garments to put on in Egypt check out my advised packing listing on the backside of this submit.
13. Journey instances between Egypt’s historic websites
If you wish to see a great proportion of Egypt’s historic wonders in a single journey you’ll be doing plenty of journey.
Because of this I’m glad we did this journey when the women have been aged 10 and practically eight. It was tiring.
They spent plenty of time in our mini bus napping or on their tablets because the surroundings – usually very bland – rolled by
I introduced a bag filled with cereal bars, nuts and sweets with us and we topped this up throughout the journey.
Our longest journey day – except for our 16 hour journey dwelling – was a 9 hour spherical journey to Abu Simbel. Seven hours of this was on the street.
There have been additionally some very early mornings and late nights that youthful kids might discover tough. Our women have been pushed to their limits.
After we first checked out Egypt as a potential vacation spot we knew we wanted so as to add some downtime to the top 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 break day within the center.
14. Lodge star rankings in Egypt
Egypt has plenty of 5 star resorts, however they don’t essentially match the requirements of 5 star resorts within the UK and Europe.
We stayed in three 5 star resorts and one 4 star resort throughout our 10 day journey. Two of the 5 star resorts have been fairly drained. Fixtures and fittings have been worn, notably within the bogs.
One in every of them didn’t present a kettle in our rooms and had a one thing bizarre occurring within the toilet.
We additionally noticed plenty of previous Covid-19 signage and empty hand sanitiser dispensers at a few of our resorts. Neither workers or visitors have been adhering to the directions, so that they have been simply old-fashioned and wanted to be eliminated.
The rooms in our 4 star resort in Hurghada, which was aimed toward a European market, have been significantly better. However they didn’t have a lot character.
I’ve summarised the rooms, amenities and repair on the locations we stayed in my Egypt itinerary submit.
One thing else to keep in mind is that Egypt’s metropolis resorts hardly ever do household rooms. You may discover household suites at a number of the Crimson Sea resorts.
We had interconnecting rooms at three out of the 4 resorts we stayed at and onboard the sleeper prepare between Cairo and Aswan.
This isn’t an issue for us – we fairly favored having extra space whereas nonetheless with the ability to regulate 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 by numerous police examine 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 might eyeball us.
There are armed guards in any respect vacationer websites and every of our resorts had safety individuals on the entrance gate and bag scanners within the foyer.
We discovered this all reassuring slightly than worrying. It’s what you’d count on in a rustic the place vacationers have been focused by terrorists.
16. Site visitors and roads
The roads in Cairo are a tangle of horn glad drivers, weaving bikes, tuk tuks, vans overloaded with individuals or items, horses and carts, and pedestrians dashing throughout eight lane highways. It’s fairly a present!
The site visitors is analogous in Alexandria however a lot slower paced in Luxor and notably Aswan.
The standard of rural roads in Southern Egypt is especially unhealthy.
After the Arab Spring in 2011 many villagers put in velocity bumps and examine 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 exterior the cities.
Our Egypt journey ideas – dos and don’ts
Right here’s some issues to do and to not do to take advantage of 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 suggest seeing in Egypt I’m going to recommend some issues to not do.
Don’t decide up a information on the fly
Getting every thing agreed prematurely means you’ll be able to be sure you are glad 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 received conned by guides they’d employed final minute.
We organized our information by 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 facility excursions’, taken to locations we didn’t really feel protected or requested for more money on the finish.
And since we booked by a journey agent specialising in household holidays our information was nice with our children. He entertained them fascinating tales, discovered us shady spots the place he might inform us concerning the temples and browse the room when the children had had sufficient.
Don’t trouble bringing a correct digital camera
All the historic websites we visited charged further when you needed to make use of a correct digital camera.
If a guard sees you utilizing a digital camera they’ll ask to see your ticket for it (or for a tip to assist you to use it below the radar).
Because of this, I made a decision to go away my DSLR at dwelling. It wasn’t well 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 all places totally free. 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 if in case you have one depart it at dwelling.
Don’t take pictures at examine factors
Taking pictures of examine 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 prepare
This can be a tip particularly for clear freaks. Should you can’t bear the considered travelling on a lower than spotless and cozy mode of transport then the sleeper prepare will not be for you.
Personally, I’m glad we did it however I wouldn’t journey by prepare 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 prepare to resolve for your self.
Don’t contact cats and canines
There have been plenty of cats and canines on the historic temple websites we visited in Egypt. We discovered this a bit shocking 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 units. We even noticed puppies enjoying exterior the Sphinx complicated.
Your children could also be tempted to pet animals however they’re nonetheless wild and gained’t have been vaccinated or handled for parasites. So remind animal-loving little individuals to not contact them, nonetheless tame they could seem.
Don’t climb on historic 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 affords to see inside roped off rooms
Workers at some historic websites will invite you into roped off areas and over obstacles 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 employees to allow you to into restricted areas, so don’t feed this criminality.
Don’t settle for assist until you might be glad to tip
If a temple information affords to take your picture, if somebody asks to hold your bag or if somebody says they will present you the perfect view, count on to be requested for a tip.
Don’t neglect you might be in a Muslim nation
Simply keep in mind a couple of easy guidelines so as 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 will not be a really tolerant nation.
- Don’t drink alcohol in public locations. Resorts and a few eating places will serve it.
- Keep away from discussing faith and politics – Egyptians are very protecting of their views. NB we received away with this a bit with our information as he was nicely travelled and we received to know him over a interval of days.
18. The place to go to in Egypt with children – our high 5 websites
Right here’s a correct conundrum. What must you see in Egypt with children?
We squeezed lots into our 10 days and will have nonetheless achieved extra in addition to including further time to calm down on the Crimson Coastline.
I’d undoubtedly recommenced exploring additional than Cairo. The pyramids are certainly one of Egypt’s finest identified sights however there’s a lot extra to the nation’s historic treasures.
To be trustworthy, 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 rather more spectacular than we had imagined.
So what are the perfect locations for households visiting Egypt? Right here’s our high 5:
The Pyramids of Giza
Though they weren’t our favorite vacation spot who might 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 may 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 delivery. This type 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 throughout the development of the Aswan Dam which led to the unique Philae web site being flooded.
It’s an attractive 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 best way some temples have suffered.
They’re additionally a marvel of historic 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 historic 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 non-public 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 plenty of your questions on visiting Egypt and also you’re able to pack your baggage. However what must you take?
Right here’s my packing listing together with what you’re going to want whilst you’re travelling and sightseeing:
Journey paperwork
Right here’s the necessary paperwork to deliver with you:
- Passports – they must be no less than six months in date from the day you arrive. Verify the gov.uk web site for the most recent entry necessities and journey recommendation.
- Your journey insurance coverage – I all the time have a digital and printed copy with me.
- Your visas – once you apply on-line you might be instructed to have printed copies with you.
- Forex – 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 street lots throughout our 10 days in Egypt. So we every had a stick with it sized bag filled with leisure and issues we needed shut handy.
We took quite a lot of baggage. 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
- Word e-book
- Pencil case
- Pill and earphones
- Snacks
- Squishaboo/journey pillow
- Tissues
- Hand sanitiser
- Reusable water bottle
- Cuddly toys
- Hat
- Solar glasses
- Journey paperwork
Important baggage packing listing for visiting Egypt
Right here’s the garments we every packed in our predominant bag for sightseeing and hanging out at our resorts:
- 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 out of doors 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 assist equipment together with journey illness and Imodium tablets
- Moist wipes
- Packets of tissues
- Telephone and pill charger leads
- Battery packs
- Energy adaptors
In fact if you wish to journey tremendous gentle you’ll be able to in the reduction of on a number of the adjustments of tops and underwear and wash them as you go.
Nevertheless, we weren’t staying at any of our resorts 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 an effective way to get them excited and remind us all concerning the extraordinary locations we have been fortunate sufficient to be visiting.
We will personally suggest Nationwide Geographic’s Historic Egypt: Degree 4* e-book for kids aged seven and up and Nationwide Geographic’s 1,000 Details About Historic Egypt e-book for bite-sized info to share with kids of all ages.
Youthful kids may want 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 suggest Lonely Planet*. There’s a brand new journey information for Egypt popping out in November 2023. You may 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 approach? Let me know if there’s something you’d prefer to know.
Right here’s some extra posts you may prefer to learn:
Disclosure: this submit accommodates affiliate hyperlinks marked with *. Should you click on on certainly one of these and make a purchase order I’ll earn some fee. This doesn’t have an effect on the worth you pay.