Travel Tips

Currency:

• Egyptian Pound

• Always have cash on hand. This is especially helpful in markets and while shopping.

• Public bathrooms often have a fee.

When to go:

• Best time of year to go is from November to April as this is Egypt’s cooler season.

Getting there:

• A passport and visa are required for this trip

Language:

• Arabic

Packing:

• Egypt uses different outlets from the United States so make sure to pack an outlet converter.

• Public bathrooms in Egypt can be quite bare so bring toilet paper and hand sanitizer with you.

• While Egypt is generally hot during the day, it can be surprisingly cold early in the morning and at night. Make sure to bring a jacket and layers with you.

• Women in Egypt tend to dress conservatively and it is advised to cover shoulders, knees, and cleavage, especially when visiting a mosque. Packing a lightweight cover up or scarf is recommended. In beach areas near the Red Sea, shorts, tank tops, and swim suits are appropriate.

• Pack comfortable shoes since there will be a ton of walking in Egypt.

  Customs & Tips:

• Beware of scams. It is common for scammers to promise you free photos, free camel rides, etc. Nothing is free at the pyramids and other temples. By accepting the offer, payment will be expected from you.

• Sellers at the market and outside of temples are very persistent. If you are not interested in what they are selling, try to avoid making eye contact and answering with a simple “no thank you” and keep walking along.

• There is no technical speed limit, no lanes and no traffic lights in many parts of Egypt. Use extra caution when crossing the street.

• Do not drink the tap water in Egypt to avoid getting sick. Stick to bottled water.

Tours:

• There are several tour group companies that can take you throughout Egypt. If you don’t want to be apart of a tour group and want more flexibility on how you spend your time, consider hiring a personal tour guide. You can either hire a personal guide to stay with you the entire trip or, hire a tour guide for the day in each city you are in. This way, you have someone to teach you about the historical significance of each location without spending a lot on an all inclusive tour.

Food:

There are several great dishes Egypt has to offer. Look out for these foods in local restaurants:

• Ful Medammes: This dish of fava beans is the most common breakfast for Egyptians, usually served with eggs, cheese, or bread.

• Mahshi: Vegetables stuffed with rice and grape leaves.

• Shwarma: This popular street food consists of either chicken or beef marinated with spices, placed in a wrap and served with tahini.

• Roz Bel Laban: Egypt’s version of rice pudding.

• Falafel: Another common breakfast food, made with fava beans instead of the traditional chick peas.

• Fattah: Tracing back to ancient Egypt, this is a main dish that combines crispy bread, rice, meat and sauce.

• Sayadeya: Fried fish marinated in lemon juice and spices.