About Egypt

On every street corner and in every grain of sand, Egypt is steeped in history and can trace its origins to 10th millennium BC where evidence has been found of hunters and fishermen along the banks of the River Nile, to the great architects of the pyramids, temples and statues, to Moses and the bible and the creation of the modern Islamic world. Every school child is aware of the Pharaonic history of Egypt, all have seen pictures of the great mask of the boy king Tutankhamun, the Sphinx (head of man and body of a lion) located at the foot of the great Pyramid of Giza (the last remaining Seventh Wonder of the Ancient World), the mummies of the ancient world.

Egypt has been a holiday destination for centuries and today’s visitors still stand open-mouthed at the magnificent temples, statutes, mummies of the Pharaohs and artifacts that have been preserved. However there is more to Egypt than the pyramids, Egypt has adapted to today’s business and leisure needs by offering world class conference facilities and hotels, golf courses, aquamarine seas with diving to some of the best dives sites in the world, water sports and for those wanting peace and relaxation sandy beaches and spa resorts.

Below are some useful tips to ensure that you enjoy this amazing country …………….. Cairo is a city that does not sleep, which means there is always traffic on the roads, please allow plenty of time when travelling around the city. Whilst Cairo Airport distance wise is not that far from downtown, allow at least 1 hour for travelling. Please take care when crossing the road, there are no official pedestrian crossings and there is no such thing as a one way street!

Taxis are available with or without meters. The ‘Yellow Cab’ all have meters and it is possible to book one by calling the free phone number 16516 or 19155. The new ‘Black & White’ cabs that you will see are also metered whereas the old ‘Black & White’ taxis are not and this is where you will need to agree a fare before setting off on your journey.

Phone boxes are widely available in airports and on street corners and are used buying prepaid cards which are available from kiosks.

GSM mobiles may be used in Egypt if you have roaming. Please contact you mobile phone provider before leaving home to ensure that your roaming is in force. There are three mobile providers in Egypt Vodafone, Mobinil and Etislat; your mobile provider will advise which one is compatible with your home network.

ATM machines are widely available in Egypt and all hotels will take major credit cards. It is advisable to have a small amount of local currency with you when you arrive in Egypt for tipping and payment for a taxi to your hotel; it is also possible to obtain this at Cairo Airport.

Tipping or baksheesh as it is known locally is a way of life. If you are receive good service a small gesture is usual, we recommend you keep your small notes for this.

Local currency, the currency is the Egyptian Pound which is normally shown on menus as LE. There are 100 Piasters to 1 Egyptian Pound, the smallest note is 25 piaster and the highest note is 200 pound, you will find the denominations written in English on the notes. There are some coins in circulation, mainly 1 pound, these can be saved for tipping or bathrooms (see below).

Water, please do not use the tap water for drinking as it is highly chlorinated and may cause an upset stomach. For all drinking please purchase bottled water which is readily available everywhere.

Public Bathrooms, it is customary to find a person either at the doorway or just inside the public toilets handing out toilet paper and a tip is normal, usually 1 Egyptian pound. We would also recommend that you keep additional tissues with you at all times, just in case.

Sightseeing, we recommend sensible walking shoes as during some of your excursions we will be crossing over uneven ground. Please remember to look down as well as up! During some of your excursions there may be a dress code, for instance at the Citadel please ensure that your arms are covered to the elbows and legs are covered to the knees (this applies to both men and women). If you are in doubt of the dress code please ask your representative for guidance. There are restrictions on where you can take photographs, for instance inside the tombs in the Valley of the Kings, flash photography is forbidden and strictly enforced. Some places will allow photography but with a small charge. If in doubt please ask your representative.

Weather in November, daytime temperatures will be approximately 24 degrees in Cairo, however the evenings will be cooler and a light jacket or even a fleece will be required. .