Egypt as a country for tourists. Tourist information about Egypt.

You as a tourist would proberbly want to get as much information as possible before going to Egypt.
Egypt has as you proberbly know a desert climate, this means that the summers are dry and the temperature can rise to 40 degrees celsius. The Winters are milder.
This also makes this country such a nice country to be in the entire year.
The capital of Egypt is Cairo.
Timezone for Egypt is GMT+2.
Languages: Arabic is spoken by everyone, but alot of people in the touristindustry aswell as in the areas where tourists visit will speak English aswell as sometimes french.
Electricity: There is 220 V as we from scandinavia are used with, so there is no need for converters.
Currency: Egyptien Pounds (EGP or LE). 1 Egyptian Pound or LE is 100 piaster. Make sure you look at the bills when you get them, the 50 piaster can be hard to tell from the 50 EGP bill. So it can be easy to confuse these two with each other.
It could also be a good idea to bring either Euro or US dollars. This is that most tourist attractions wants that you pay in US dollars or Euro.
Bargain: It's possible to bargain for prices. As a rule you should think that you can bargain and get a closing price that is 50-60% of the original price.
Tip: Its recommended that you tip. 10 % rule will work just fine.

Tourist attractions in Egypt

There are alot of tourist attractions in Egypt. Here is two of the largest ones.

The pyramids in Egypt

The pyramids in Egypt was built to show how much power a pharao had. When the pharao dies he and his mistresses was buried in the pyramids.
The largest and most famous pyramids is the Cheops pyramid, Chefren aswell as Mykernios.
The Cheops pyramid is over 140 meters high and more then 200 meters wide.

Red Sea

The Red Sea is a treasure chest for us divers.
To dive and/or go snorkling in the Red Sea is something above other tings.
When you go down for not more then 50 cm you will see more colorfull fishes then you could imaginge.
If you go out further you will have the possibility to see sharks, stingrays etc.

Shopping in Egypt - Bring home some souvenirs from Egypt.

When you go shopping in Egypt you will have to think of haggling.
Haggling is important if you don't want to overpay for the merchandise you are buying.
Depending on the merchandise you are aquiring you can get the price down to as much as 50-60 % of the original price.
Haggling can take some time and experince to master, so try to just look around the first couple of days and haggling for prices. After you have tested it you will proberbly find out how much you can get the price down with.
The store owners in most stores in Egypt will offer you Tea. This is most of the time not a salespinch but just something that egyptian people do.
So if you don't want the tea try to be polite when you turn down their offer. The same goes to buying their products.

What to shop in Egypt

What Egypt is most famous for merchandise wise that is.
Silver is something that is popular, Egypt is known for it's fine handemade silver ornaments.
The prices for silver ornaments is fair compared to other places in Europe.

Glas souvenirs is also something that Egypt is known for.
Perfumes. Just try to smell some of their perfumes and compare the prices for the perfumes that you buy at home. You will find out why it's soo popular to buy perfumes from Egypt. One thought before buying perfumes, is that perfume doesn't last that long when you store it in glascontainers.
Waterpipes is also a popular souvenir from Egypt.
When you buy a waterpipe and want to take it through customs, make sure that you have removed the metalparts in the waterpipe.
Otherwise the waterpipe wont go through the metal detector if you have it as a carryon luggage.
Last but not least.
Papyrus is also something that almost ALL tourists buy. Papyrus can be bought in multiple forms aswell as with different patterns.

Egypt as a country. Facts about Egypt.

Egypt is a state in Africa. It's located in the east Northafrica. This part of Africa is just by the mediterranean sea aswell as by the Red sea.
This part of Egypt is also the inhabitated, this is due to the fact that it's water in the vicinity. So along the Nile, the mediterranean sea aswell as by the Red Sea.
A large part of Egypt is desert area and uninhabited.

Facts about Egypt

There are approx 80 million people living on a 1 001 450 square kilometer area.
The capital in Egypt is Cairo.
A large part of Egypt is the Sahara desert where there are almost no vegetation. The official language in Egypt is Arabic, but alot of the people in the cities talk both English and French.

Top 5 Things To Do In Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt

Sharm el Sheikh is a city situated on the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, in South Sinai Governorate, Egypt. It is located on the coastal strip along the beautiful shores of the Red Sea, approximately a one hour flight from Cairo. With plenty of things to see and do, Sharm el Sheikh attracts international travelers from around the world with a warm and inviting climate 12 months of the year.

1. Quad Bikes and Dune Buggies

Quad biking and dune buggy rentals are  the number one activity for action and adventure in the desert.
The off-road vehicle tours meet up daily in the heart of Naama Bay for 2 to 11 hour excursions across the rugged terrain.
Guests are taken on the fast track through scenic desert beauty and a thrill ride away from civilization on open-air dune buggies.

2. Ras Mohammed National Park.

The perfect escape from the desert is to visit Ras Mohammed National Park. These tranquil waters and unspoiled protected wildlife is only a quick journey southward.
Ras Mohammed National Park is a picture perfect setting for rest and relaxation, scuba diving, snorkeling or hiking for visitors of all ages and fitness levels.

3. Glass Bottom Boat

Sharm el Sheikh is known for it’s friendly and colorful sea creatures, and there’s no better way to meet them up-close and personal than an excursion in a glass bottom boat.
Tours generally last about two hours and offer vessel seating with indoor or shaded areas.
Take in magnificent coral reefs, exotic fish and perhaps a glimpse of a dolphin or two.

4. St. Catherine’s Monastery

The best way to visit the St. Catherine’s Monastery is to book a motor coach tour from the hotels or tour operators in Sharm el-Sheikh.
Additional sightseeing may be had with an overnight reservation in one of the hotels central to this attraction, however, the St. Catherine’s Monastery tour may be completed in less than two hours.
Visit the dwellings of the monks who keep the monastery working and meet and greet your local hosts.
The St. Catherine’s Monastery is regarded as the most famous of it’s kind in the world and should be visited with modest attire and a respectful attitude.

5. Climbing Mount Moses

For the fit and feisty, a midnight climb up the steep slopes of Mount Moses is the ultimate adventure in Sharm el Sheikh.
The upward trek contains over three-thousand steps leading to the summit at dawn for a breathtaking bird’s eye view over the jagged Sinai canyons. Jebel Mousa, as it is known in Egypt, takes at least three hours of exhausting climbing with intermittent rest periods along the way.
Make sure you bring warm clothing in the winter months as Mount Moses can reach freezing temperatures at night. In addition, nothing but the best walking shoes will do and don’t forget to pack your flashlight and some extra batteries.
If you are interested in visiting Sharm el Sheikh, sites like A1sharm.com offer a bunch of great discounts on what did you think of the place? are there any other great things you can recommend doing while there? – leave them in the comments below!

Egypt Travel Tips – 5 things you should know before you goEgypt Travel Tips – 5 things you should know before you go

Most of the guests who come on our trips have never been to Egypt before – hey, some of them have never left their country before!  We want to make everyone comfortable and at ease, but we do always get the same questions in advance of a trip and after ten years, I thought this should be the first thing I address in my brand new blog!


1. How safe is it?  Everyone ALWAYS wants to know this one.  The answer is, it’s incredibly safe, and if you’re traveling in one of our groups, it’s even more so!  Our groups are registered as VIPs when we enter the country, so we always have a special escort with us.  If you’re traveling with another group, check with them to see what their procedures are.
The simple statistical fact is that Egypt is a much safer place than the US or any country in Western Europe. Personal crime rates are much lower than in the west, and violent crime directed at tourists is unheard of –  Egypt thrives on tourism – I think it’s the 2nd largest national product these days – so they really don’t want anything happening to you. We ran some stats comparing death by violence in Egypt to those in Washington DC, and you are something like 75 times more likely to be killed while vacationing in our fair capitol.
By far the biggest threat you will face in Egypt is from clever friendly locals who are very adept at getting you to buy souvenirs.


2. What shots/medical preparation do I need?  In a word?  None.  Surprisingly to most people, nothing is required, or even recommended, and after watching hundreds of people vacation there, I don’t think those who went to the doctor stateside fared any better once the trip began.  The one thing you may come down with in Egypt is politely called “Pharoah’s Revenge”.  The bad news?  You probably won’t eat for a day.  The good news?  We were all eating like pigs prior to this, so perhaps it’s not so bad after all.  The thing that knocks out Pharoah’s Revenge is a regionally produced antibiotic – Antinol – which is Egypt’s answer to Cipro, and is available at every pharmacy for $1 a box.  DON’T drink local water, DO drink bottled water, avoid the skins of fresh vegetables, and you’ll be fine.  We do recommend travel insurance, though, in case you get sick before you leave, or something comes up on the trip (even lost luggage).  You can get great quotes through our friends at Squaremouth http://www.squaremouth.com/travel-insurance/index.pl?pid=20129

 3. What should I wear? If you’re lucky enough to visit Egypt between November and February, pack a sweater.  You’ll need it – the desert gets chilly at night.  During the day, the temperature will be balmy and comfortable.  Any other time, pack like you’re going to Phoenix or Vegas in August.  It’s a dry heat  When you travel with Spirit Quest, we make sure to schedule most activities in the morning or evening, so you can siesta by the pool in the afternoon.  Plan to wear natural fabrics – cotton, silk, or linen are best bets.  Yes, you can wear sport clothes designed to wick the sweat off, but breathable fabrics are always my suggestion.  Bring sturdy walking shoes, ones you can get sand or dirt in, unless you plan to stay in your hotel the whole time. If you are lucky enough to take a Nile Cruise (we always include a 4 star cruise on our trips, because it’s a great way to see most of the country while only having to unpack once, and there’s nothing like sailing the Nile for relaxation) you can wear sporty, casual beach-style clothes.  Really dressy resort wear is hardly appropriate anywhere, and besides, once you’re there a few days you will likely buy a floor length caftan (both men and women) called a galabeya.  If you need something fancy, you can always put this on.  For the ladies, bathing suits are normal if there’s a pool where you’re going, but leave the string bikini/thong at home – it is a Muslim country, after all.  Last, if you are planning on visiting any mosques or certain parts of upper Egypt, ladies will need to plan on bringing something that comes at least to the elbow, and no shorts for men or women in those areas.  A note on shopping – it’s wonderful there, especially many outdoor markets where you can bargain, and everything is very cheap.  Many many of our guests end up bringing back an extra suitcase, and you can always pick one up for about $20 US.  
4.  What special things do I need to pack?  One of my favorite things in the world to bring to Egypt is an Evian Mister, an atomizer with a fine mist of Evian water.  You may be able to find it in your local drug store, or else click this link to buy it http://www.spiritquesttours.com/store.html
Spray a little on your face or head, and your body temp will feel like it’s dropped 10 or 15 degrees.  Yes, you can use it with make-up, but trust me, if you go when it’s hot, you may want to leave your makeup at home, at least the foundation and mascara.  I’ve seen more women travel up the Nile with raccoon eyes because they weren’t willing to adapt – just a suggestion



Other items include your camera (duh, but you would be surprised how many people forget theirs; power adaptors (you need the kind that work in England, no matter what anyone else tells you!); sunblock – the highest SPF you can find, and try a baby sunblock, which usually is the highest, as well as the gentlest; extra batteries (nothing like standing a the Colossus of Memnon bargaining for batteries you could have bought for $3 at home); and oh!  Ladies, don’t forget tampons and pads – they’re available in the pharmacy, too – but only one kind of each, and that may or not be what you’re used to.
5. How do I communicate with home? Internet cafes are plentiful everywhere, especially Cairo, Luxor, and Alexandria.  If you have international calling on your phone, you should be able to use it – AT&T and Sprint both work internationally for sure, but make sure you have the international coverage.  A satellite phone is best if you are certain to need coverage in the middle of the country, like while cruising up the Nile, but for most people these days a cell phone is fine.  But these days cell coverage is extensive. We’ve made calls from the peak of Mount Moses in the Sinai!
Each of the 4 star hotels Spirit Quest Tours stays in offers wireless in all the rooms and internet at the business center.  Just remember there is a 7-10 hour time difference… and you’re on vacation!
6. Here’s a bonus, since you stuck it out to the end… the most important piece of advice I can give you is, learn a few words of Arabic before you go.  Thank you = shokran (show-krahn’); Good morning = saba al khir (sah-bah’ al – khear’); Tea with milk = chai bi laban (shay’ bee la-bahn’)  This means the world to the Egyptians, and they do love Americans.  You will find that even saying “thank you” in Arabic will bring a smile to everyone’s face.  It will make you more than just a traveler; it will allow you to be what you really are by traveling to this foreign country halfway around the world – an ambassador of peace.