Locals praying in the streets in Cairo, Egypt

Life in Egypt has been in a state of flux since the 2011 revolution. Many of the issues that motivated so many to take to the streets in protest continue to be points of contention, but Egyptians remain hopeful, relying on religion, family and humour to get them through, like they have for thousands of years. A strong sense of community binds people across the country. Families and communities support each other and there is a prevailing sense that everyone is in it together. For all these reasons, most express great pride in being Egyptian, despite their nation’s recent turmoil.

As a largely Muslim country (about 90% of the population is Muslim while most of the remaining 10% identify as Coptic Christian), Islam permeates daily activities. Life revolves around the five daily prayers and everything is closed on Friday, the Muslim holy day. A wide array of cultural norms, including how people dress and interact with the opposite sex, are influenced by religion. Women are largely defined by their role as a mother and matron of the house, whereas men are expected to be the provider.

Many Egyptians consider their country the gateway between the West and the rest of the Arab world, and take pride in their ability to mix tradition with modern influences. This mixing is most apparent in major cities, such as Cairo and Alexandria, where American fast food chains can be found next to traditional cafes, secular attitudes are more common, and pop music rings through city streets.

Many people seem to have the impression that Egypt is a small country, perhaps comparable with Luxembourg and/or Liechtenstein, and are genuinely amazed to find out that the train journey from Cairo to Luxor takes about 10 – 12 hours (415 miles, or 668 km), and that Abu Simbel is not just outside of Cairo: it is, in fact, 690 miles (1,111 km) south of Cairo.

In reality, Egypt has a landmass of approximately 38,6874 miles2 (1,002,000 km2) which is about 30th in the world, four times the size of the UK, three times bigger than Germany, and twice the size of France! The size misconception could maybe be explained by realizing that of its total landmass; only 3.5% is actually used for agriculture and settlements, the remaining 96.5% being desert: meaning that the habitable landmass is comparable with Moldova or Belgium!

Below is a table that shows the distances (by road and/or rail) between the major cities and sites in Egypt.

Cairo to Alexandria          178 km

Al Jizah to Port Said         173 km

Suez to Luxor                475 km

Asyut to Al Mansurah         429 km

Tanda to Al Fayyum           165 km

Zagazig to Ismailia          74 km

Aswan to Qina                 231 km

Damanhur to Al Minya          326 km

Sohag to Bani Suwayf          286 km

Shibin al Kawm to Banha        19 km

Kafr ash Shaykh to Arish       272 km

Hurghada to Damietta          501 km

Al Kharijah to Mersa Matruh    732 km

* All distances are in Km. (1 km. = 0.62 Miles)

English is studied in school all over Egypt. This is why most Egyptians, who live in the cities, speak or understand at least some English words or phrases. Fewer Egyptians can speak French, Italian, Spanish, and German; however, professionals, who work in the tourism sector, are accustomed to visitors who cannot speak Arabic and they will speak enough English and other languages to fulfill the needs of most travelers.

To enter Egypt you do require a tourist visa, which is valid for three months. This can be obtained in one of two ways:

1. By applying to the Arab Republic of Egypt Embassy, or Consulate, in your own country, or
2. At your Port of Entry into Egypt.

To apply for your visa, or to get one upon arrival, you must have a valid passport with more than six months left on it before it expires. Once purchased it is a simple matter of peeling off the backing paper and sticking the visa onto an empty page in your passport (please ensure this is done before passport control or you may be sent to the end of the queue).

PLEASE NOTE: If you are staying in a South Sinai resort for 14 days, or less, you may be exempt from requiring a visa, as long as you stay in that locale (no visits to Cairo or Luxor, for example). See full lists at the bottom of the page.

If you wish to stay for longer than three months, you can get your visa extended at the Visa Department of the Travel Documents, Immigration and Nationality Administration (TDINA), known locally as Mogamma.  This massive building can easily be found on one side of Tahrir Square in Downtown Cairo. Other major cities, in Egypt, also have offices which allow you to extend your visa:

• Alexandria: 28 Talaat Harb St. Intersection of El Falaky St., Raml Station, Alexandria
• Aswan: Corniche El Nil St., El Corniche
• Hurghada: Sharia an-Nasr, Ad-Dahar. Locally known as Gawazat
• Luxor: Khalid Ibn Walid St. opposite the Steigenberger Hotel.
• Sharm El Sheikh: The Amn Dawla office in Old Sharm El Sheikh, or El Tor passport office

To get your extended visa you will need:

1. Your passport
2. 2 passport photos
3. 2 copies of the pages in your passport that have (1) your photo and (2) your stamped entry visa, on them.

Extended visas can be purchased for one month to one year, though you may be asked why you wish to extend your stay. Remember: you are NOT allowed to work in Egypt with only a tourist visa!

Citizens of the following countries CAN get their tourist visa upon arrival:

• The USA, UK and EU member states, Australia, Canada, Croatia, Georgia, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Macedonia, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Serbia, and Ukraine

• Recently there has been a lot of talk about citizens of China and India being allowed to get their visas upon arrival, but there seems to be definitive answer as of yet. Therefore it is advised that any visitors from these countries check with the Arab Republic of Egypt Embassy, or Consulate, in their own country, before travelling.

Citizens of the following countries CANNOT get their tourist visa upon arrival and so have to apply via the Arab Republic of Egypt Embassy, or Consulate, in their own country:

• Iran, Tunisia, Somalia, Morocco, Algeria, Lebanon, Iraq, Palestine, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan (non-residents in the UK), Djibouti, Mauritania, Comoros, Burundi, Rwanda, Liberia, Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Mali, Niger, Chad, Israel, Afghanistan, Kosovo, Moldova, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Myanmar.

Citizens of the following countries do not require a visa prior to travelling to Sharm El Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba and Taba resorts, as long as they do not leave the locale. They are for a maximum of 14 days only:

• All European Union countries
• USA
• Israel (but ONLY through the Taba Border Crossing.

Citizens of all countries may obtain a Sinai resort visa on arrival at Sharm el-Sheikh, Taba, which is valid for 15 days, except for the citizens of:

• Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Comoros, R Congo, DR Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kenya, DPR Korea, R Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, Philippines, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey (except those aged below 20 and above 45), Turkmenistan, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

PLEASE NOTE: It is advised that any further questions, surrounding visa availability and rules, are directed to the Arab Republic of Egypt Embassy, or Consulate, in your own country.

The Major Ports of Entry to Egypt

Airports:

• Alexandria, Borg El Arab International Airport
• Alexandria, El Nouzha (or El Nozha) International Airport
• Aswan International Airport (or Daraw Airport)
• Cairo International Airport
• Hurghada International Airport
• Luxor International Airport
• Marsa Alam International Airport
• Sharm El Sheikh International Airport

Sea Harbours:

• Alexandria, Mediterranean
• Damietta, Mediterranean
• Port Said, Mediterranean
• Nuweiba, Gulf of Aqaba
• Hurghada, Red Sea
• Safaga, Red Sea
• Sharm El Sheikh, Red Sea
• Suez, Red Sea/Gulf of Suez

Overland Border Posts:

• Salloum: North-western border – Libya
• Rafah: North-eastern border – Gaza
• Taba: Eastern border – Israel

Egypt’s currency is known as the Egyptian Pound (LE for short, which means livre egyptienne: French for Egyptian Pound). One Egyptian Pound is divided into 100 piastres, coinage of which is available in 25, 50, and 100 piastres (1LE). 5, 10, and 20 piastres are still in circulation, but it is very rare to see them nowadays. Banknotes are available in 5 LE, 10 LE, 20 LE, 50 LE, 100 LE, and 200LE denominations, and you can still come across the rare sight of 25 and 50 piastre notes as well as 1LE.

As well as the local currency, the US Dollar ($), Pound Sterling (£), and Euro (€) are all accepted in most places, though transactions are much far better done by using LE (exchange rates in Egypt tend to be better than in the home countries of the aforementioned currencies).

ATM’s are plentiful throughout the country, as are the plethora of banks, the vast majority of the former issuing only Egyptian currency. After many years of struggle, Egypt is now capable of accepting Credit and Debit cards: once it was either cash, or bank wire transfer, which caused many problems for various institutes in the country: especially tourism!

Travellers’ cheques can still be used, but the amount of places that accept them nowadays is diminishing very quickly, so it is worthwhile forgetting about getting a supply of them before travel: even some banks refuse to exchange them now.

One word of warning! When negotiating with anyone, be it in a souq, a taxi, a horse drawn carriage (caleche), or in a shop, ENSURE you let the other person know you are dealing in Egyptian Pounds: many times tourists are scammed by thinking they have a bargain, only to find out the currency required is $, £, or €.

Egyptian food has been influenced throughout history, particularly by its neighbours from the Middle East, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, and Ottomans first influenced Egyptian cuisine thousands of years ago. More recently, the foods of other Arabic people in the Middle East such as the Lebanese, Palestinians, Syrians, as well as some foods from Europe, have affected the Egyptian diet. However, Egyptian cuisine maintains its uniqueness. After thousands of years, rice and bread remain staple foods, and molokhiyya (a spinach-like vegetable) and fuul (cooked, creamy fava beans), a national dish, are nearly as popular as long ago.
When holidaying in Luxor don’t be scared to venture into a local restaurant and try some of the delicious food.

In conjunction with this list please also see the traveller article on common Arabic words and phrases

WHAT MIGHT BE ON THE MENU?

Shurbit firakh – Chicken soup

Shurbit ‘adas – Lentil soup

Shurbit khudaar – Vegetable soup

Fuul – Fava beans served with oil and lemon, sometimes also with onions, meat, eggs or tomato sauce

Taamiya (Falafel) – balls of deep-fried mashed chickpeas and spices

Shawarma – Slivers of pressed, spit-roasted lamb, chicken or beef served in pitta bread

Tahina – Sesame-seed paste mixed with spices, garlic and lemon, eaten with pitta bread

Babaghanoug – Paste of aubergines mashed with tahina

Kushari – Mixture of noodles, lentils and rice, topped with fried onions and a spicy tomato sauce

Hawawshi – Minced meat with added spices and cooked in pitta bread.

Shakshouka – Chopped meat and tomato sauce, cooked with an egg on top

Makarona – Macaroni “cake” baked in a white sauce or mincemeat gravy

Mahshi – Literally “stuffed”, variety of vegetables (peppers, tomatoes, aubergines, courgettes) filled with mincemeat and/or rice, herbs and pine nuts

Wara einab – Vine leaves filled as above and flavoured with lemon juice

Fiteer- A pancake/pizza made of layers of flaky filo pastry with sweet or savoury fillings

Kofta – Mincemeat flavoured with spices and onions, grilled on a skewer

Molukhiyya – Jew’s mallow, a leafy vegetable stewed with meat (often Rabbit) or chicken broth and garlic

Firakh – Chicken grilled or stewed and served with vegetables

Fatta – Mutton or chicken stew, cooked with bread

Hamam mashwi – Grilled pigeon

Kibda – Liver

Samak mashwi – Grilled fish served with salad, bread and dips

Tagen – Meat, Fish or Vegetables cooked in a spicy tomato sauce.

Located in the north-east corner of Africa, Egypt shares its borders with Israel and the Palestinian Territories, Libya and Sudan, as well as the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Red Sea to the east. The two seas are connected by the man-made Suez Canal.

The remote triangle-shaped peninsula is largely characterized by limestone and desert, but also has vibrant coral reef along the Red Sea coastline. Hot, dry desert covers most of the country’s terrain, with the Western Desert occupying much of the west, and the Arabian (or Eastern) Desert stretching the length of the eastern coast. These two regions are dissected by the Nile River, which runs the length of the country, emptying into the Mediterranean Sea. The Nile Valley, a narrow fertile band extending from the river, is the country’s only fertile land and where 98% of the population lives.

Recent History
Napoleon Bonaparte, the infamous pint-sized French leader, invaded Egypt in 1798, seeking to set up a French colony. However, not long after, the French were repelled, and Egypt became a part of the Ottoman Empire once again.

From 1882, the British Army occupied Egypt to protect the Suez Canal. Muhammad Ali officially ruled from the early 1800s, and his family and successors continued to rule for decades (alongside and during British occupation) until overthrown by a military coup in 1952.

During World War II, Egypt became a crucial element in Britain’s defence. The Italian Army tried to advance into Egypt in 1940 but was stopped by the British Army at Mersa Matruh. Egypt continued to serve as a vital base for British troops during World War II and despite the disruption, Egypt’s shopkeepers and retail trade benefitted from the thousands of Allied troops staying in Egypt.

In 1953, Egypt was officially declared a republic and a year later, Colonel Nasser was declared Prime Minister, then President. In 1979, after decades of confrontation with neighbouring Israel, the historic Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty was signed. This agreement made Egypt the first Arab country to officially recognise Israel as a country – a significant step in the peace process. More recently, in February 2011, large scale protests and mass demonstrations resulted in the removal of President Mubarak after decades of autocratic rule.

Early History
Ancient Egypt has been the focus of much fascination, investigation, speculation and intrigue. It’s hard to escape the education system without having studied Ancient Egypt in some way. Drawn in by the mighty pyramids, mysterious hieroglyphics, distinct burial rituals and animal-headed gods – scholars, students, historians and travellers are all amazed by this civilisation which has endured cycles of dynastic rule, invasion and natural disasters.
Through key archaeological finds, historians have been able to unravel some of the mysteries of this great land. What is known is that the daily life of the average Egyptian usually involved working in agriculture with the waters of the Nile providing fertile ground for planting of crops. Egyptians usually lived in modest homes with children and domestic pets. Professions were usually inherited – so if your father was a farmer, then so were you.

While most Egyptians led simple lives, dynasties of Pharaohs led lavish lifestyles, with the most well-known being Ramses II, Hatshepsut, Akhenaten, Tutankhamun and Cleopatra. Huge monuments, imposing pyramids, golden artefacts and detailed paintings all hold details about pharaonic rule and succession, as well as commonly held beliefs about religion and the afterlife.

Spanning centuries and full of drama worthy of a soap opera, the epic history of Ancient Egypt is complex and we suggest you read about it before visiting.

You can travel to Egypt during the month of Ramadan. Ramadan falls in the 9th month of the Islamic calendar, which is why it changes every year in the Gregorian calendar (also known as the Western or Christian calendar), moving forward approximately 11 days per annum. It commemorates when Allah (Arabic for God) first started to reveal the passages of the Holy Qur’an to the prophet Mohammed, via the angel Gabriel.

During this month all Muslims are expected to fast from daybreak until sunset, refraining from activities such as eating, drinking, smoking and sexual deeds. Some of the more devout Muslims will not even swallow their own saliva.

Once the sun has set the fasting ends with large meals known as Iftar. This is usually an event for the whole family and close friends, but outsiders are often invited to take part in the celebrations. At the end of the month, Ramadan’s completion is celebrated with a three day festival known as “Eid El Fitr” (the festival of breaking the fast).

One of the main reasons that Muslims fast is because it gives them an appreciation of being poor, giving compassion to those who are not as well off. Fasting is also a good way of achieving self-control over the body: resisting the natural urges makes it easier to resist non-natural ones (alcohol and drugs for example).

Many travellers are shocked when they return back home from their holidays to discover a hefty mobile phone bill to pay. What to do with your mobile phone when you go on holiday?

With the new technology you can still use your mobile phone and pay minimum fees whilst abroad. But firstly let’s underline that a mobile phone device is nowadays a combination of a telephone and a minicomputer at the same time. You can use it for mobile communication and Internet search, Email messages etc.

Secondly, let’s mention the two most important connection systems available and then choose the one that is more suitable: Mobile Network and Wi-Fi.

What is a Mobile Network?
It’s a system that allows a mobile phone to retrieve and send data through a mobile phone operator (Orange, Vodaphone etc). This is the regular system that we use to answer, make mobile calls or use the Internet on our mobile devices whilst at home. The use of this connection system whilst abroad is VERY expensive.

What is Wi-Fi?
It’s a wireless system that allows a personal computer, mobile phone etc. to connect to the Internet through a LOCAL internet connection device implemented in a hotel, restaurant, coffee shop etc. Nowadays Wi-Fi systems are widely spread. Most people have it at home as well. In some places it’s free to use a Wi-Fi, even in Egypt. You only need a user name and a password to connect.

As a conclusion you can either use a Wi-Fi connection or a Mobile Network to operate your mobile phone. When you are at home you can use the two connections simultaneously without paying high extra charges. However the problem occurs when you go on holiday.

What to do with your mobile phone when you go on holiday?

1. Turn off the use of Mobile Networks (data roaming). By doing so you:
– Disable all data traffic through a Mobile Network.
– Disable all automatic e-mail alerts, Facebook alerts, web browsing etc., but still allows incoming and outgoing international calls.

2. Connect your mobile phone to a local Wi-Fi system. Some hotels and other places offer this service free (especially in a hotel lobby), or they charge on hourly/daily basis (5- 10 USD per day in Egypt), regardless the amount of data used.
With a local Wi-Fi system you can:

– Send or receive as many E-mail messages as you desire.
– Search the internet continuously.
– Use your FaceBook, TripAdvisor and other networks.
– Communicate with your family/friends at home using applications such as Skype (many mobile phones support Skype).
– Play your Apps.

3. Buy a local SIM card to use for your local communication with guides, drivers etc. Your family/friends can also reach you. In Egypt it costs about 100 – 150 EGP to buy a SIM card, including call units. Note that if your phone is blocked by your operator at home then you can’t change the SIM card, but you can still use a Wi-Fi. Ask your home operator. If your new phone is blocked then use an old mobile phone device that you might still have to make local calls.

Egypt: 10 commandments for a safe trip

1. TOURIST SAFETY & SECURITY
You are the one responsible for your own safety and security. Use your common sense and don’t take for granted that accidents don’t happen to you!

After Egypt’s revolution many questions have been raised about the tourist safety in the country. Generally speaking, Egypt is still a safe country but nobody can predict how the situation will develop in the near future. It’s important to consult the travel advisory of your home country before you leave. While in Egypt, stay away from demonstrations and large gatherings of people.

2. TRAVEL INSURANCE
Get your own travel and medical insurance. Make your own assessment of your plans, activities, belongings, and the practice of extreme sports such as professional diving etc. Then ask your insurance company to provide you with the right insurance. Check your travel insurance carefully. A wise man said:” If you can’t afford to buy a good insurance, you really can’t afford to travel at all”.

It’s important to note that according to the international diving safety regulations you should allow a minimum gap of 24 hours between when your final dive ends and your flight.

3. ETHICAL CONDUCT
What is acceptable in your country might not be tolerable in other societies. Take into consideration that Egypt is an Islamic country and the society is conservative. Most Egyptian’s don’t drink alcohol. Most Egyptian men don’t walk on the street wearing shorts. Most Egyptian Muslim women wear headscarves and keep their neck, ankles and wrists covered. Display of affection in public is intolerable. As a visitor, you should respect those differences and try to behave accordingly. You don’t want to offend the very people you’re visiting!

4. VISA
Most nationalities (not all) can obtain a tourist entry visa at any of the major ports of entry to Egypt. The visa sticker costs 25 USD. Check with your travel company or with the nearest Egyptian consulate/embassy for specific details and regulations relevant to your nationality.

5. IMPORTANT CONTACTS
Keep important contact details within reach. Useful contacts include those of tourist police, hospitals, emergencies, hotels, your embassy, insurance company, etc.

It has recently become a common practice to have a contact number marked as ICE (In case of emergency). Save all those contacts on your mobile phone AND write them on a piece of paper that you can keep together with other important travel documents.

6. CASH AND CREDIT CARDS
Do you still remember the story of all the eggs in one basket? Never store all your money cash and credit card(s) in one pocket. Spread them between two or three different places to minimize the chocking result of theft. Consider using safe boxes provided by hotels.

It’s also recommended to have more than one credit card in case of theft or card deactivation. Make sure that all your cards will actually work abroad. Besides, inform your bank about your travel plans to avoid any card deactivation. Some banks may deactivate credit cards if the frequency of use increases suddenly abroad. Note that in case of theft, it’s always easy to call the bank and deactivate a card.

7. IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS
Scan your travel and other important documents into electronic copies. Important documents include your passport, air ticket, travel insurance, driver’s license etc. Attach those copies to an Email message and send them to your Email address. A HOTMAIL, YAHOO or any other web-based Email system could be useful for this purpose. In case of theft, you’ll always be able to access those documents in your Email box from any computer that has access to the Internet.

Alternatively, save those copies on a small USB memory stick that you can wear around your neck, or keep copies with your family/friends at home, or take pictures of your important documents with your smart mobile phone and keep those pictures in a special folder in your mobile phone album.

8. HYGIENE
It’s not uncommon that visitors to Egypt get upset stomachs or other sicknesses from eating food. That’s due to many reasons mainly lack of hygiene. Here are some pieces of advice that might help you in preventing stomach problems. Most importantly, trust your instincts:

– Eat at restaurants that look and feel clean.
– Wash your hands often or use antibacterial hand cleaner especially after touching money or before eating.
– Avoid drinking tap water or adding ice to your drink.
– Don’t drink directly from a can. If so, wash the can well before drinking and use a straw.

– Avoid eating food bought from stalls at the side of the road, ie. burgers, and local delicacies.

9. SWIMMING
Is it safe to swim in the Nile? Generally speaking, the answer is No, especially in Cairo. The Nile is polluted by many sources mainly raw sewage from cruise ships and villages, all sorts of garbage, and dead animals. However some tourists do swim in Upper Egypt, especially Aswan where the Nile water is considered to be cleaner. If you decide to take a swim after all, then it would be at your own risk.

10. SUN
Egypt is known as The Land of the Sun. In Upper Egypt, especially Aswan, the sun shines 365 days a year and it’s considered one of the driest places. Be aware and use sun cream with adequate SPF to avoid skin burn. It does happen often that tourists get sun burns. Last but not least, drink enough water to avoid dehydration.

ENJOY YOUR TRIP.

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