A Travellers Guide for Egypt Tours

July 18th, 2017 Tags: egypt, egypt holidays, egypt tours, holidays egypt, tours, tours egypt, tours of egypt
Posted in Egypt tours

Egypt Tours are a Holiday of a Lifetime
When You Choose an Egypt Tour Specialist

Egypt tours are exotic and create memories that last well beyond your holiday in Egypt.  Egypt is a country that is on the bucket list for places to visit for many people all over the world. Millions of people do Egypt tours every year.  Some people have a connection to the pyramids, the sphinx, the temples (and let’s not forget the Mummies) that has been with them since childhood.

Others who do Egypt Tours hear the spiritual calling of Ancient Egypt and are drawn back to reconnect with their spiritual roots. Egypt holds mystique for all. For the lucky people that flock to Egypt every year, many discover that there is so much more to Egypt than what they see in the travel brochures.

The Energy of Egypt Creates a Tidal Wave of Experiences on our Egypt Tours

Egypt is a country where you not only explore the sites, but because of the way the ancients built the temples, tombs and pyramids, you truly “experience” the energy of Egypt.  For many who visit, something occurs within them – something that can be very subtle or a tidal wave of experience that envelops them and changes their thinking forever. The best part of Egypt you discover on your Egypt tours is her people and their generosity of spirit.

Is it Safe to Travel to Egypt and do an Egypt Tour?

The question I have been asked the most in this past year is of course “Is it safe to travel to Egypt?” The answer is a resounding Yes! What’s more, apart from early 2011 during the first revolution and mid 2013 during the second revolution, travelling through Egypt has been completely safe so long as you travelled with a reputable company.

Many media outlets have been guilty of sensationalising the news that comes out of Egypt. The reality is that the revolutions, though devastating with the loss of so many young lives, on the whole, have had a positive outcome for Egypt.  When you visit Egypt now, despite the financial and economic hardship the people are experiencing, you feel the optimism and hope in the people  There is evidence everywhere that progress being made. There has been a lot of new infrastructure constructed in the last 18 months.

Now all the Egyptians need is for the tourists to return to Egypt on Egypt tours so that they can truly get on with their lives.  There is a huge sector that relies on solely tourism for their survival.

Explore Dusty, Noisy, Chaotic Cairo on Egypt Tours

Most Egypt tours begin in Cairo which is a very large city of 83 square miles (and expanding rapidly) with 21 million inhabitants. It is actually made up of several satellite cities. It is not a picturesque city for tourists but instead it is noisy, dusty, crowded and very chaotic but with a magic and charm that has been handed down through the millennia. But it is also a modern city with a reasonably good road system and many beautiful buildings even if they are covered in dust from the surrounding desert.

Be Amazed By the Pyramids and Sphinx and the Treasures of Tutankhamun in the Cairo Museum on Egypt Tours

Most people head straight to Giza to see the pyramids and the mighty Sphinx on their Egypt Tours. Most Egypt tours include the famous Cairo Museum, the home of Tutankhamun’s treasures, which is located near Tahrir Square in downtown Cairo.

They are building a huge modern museum in Giza and it is shaping up to be very beautiful. It should be completed in 2018-2019. But I’m rather fond of the chaotic energy that has been created in the current Museum.  Artefacts that were never intended to stand together are doing so and this creates the amazing atmosphere that you feel in this Museum.

Egypt’s population is approx. 94% Muslim and 6% Coptic Christian. There are some marvellous mosques and exquisite Coptic churches in Cairo that are worth seeing. Certainly you should not leave Cairo without doing a tour of Old Cairo but you will need a local guide, because it isn’t hard to get lost in these areas and not a lot of English is spoken.

Shop Till You Drop in the Many Markets on Our Egypt Tours

The markets such as the Khan El-Khalili bazaar in downtown Cairo are interesting experiences and a must see on any Egypt tour. You can shop for spices, perfumes, jewellery, brass, copperware, ceramics, fabrics including Egyptian cotton and many more souvenir items including replicas of ancient Egyptian treasures. Be prepared to shop around and bargain though. Prices for the same items can vary greatly at different shops.

Shopping in Khan il Khalili Markets Cairo

Many shop owners are welcoming to customers and will often offer a soft drink or a cup of tea. But Egyptians are hard sellers and will put on the pressure to buy, so don’t be intimidated, because they respect someone who matches them at the bargaining table.

So be warned, that the Egyptian markets are not relaxed places to shop, but they can be a lot of fun. The main thing is not to get upset by their hard sell tactics. It is just part of the adventure of shopping in a foreign land such as Egypt and just like back home, these traders are simply trying to make some money to feed their family and keep a roof over their heads.

Cairo is Being Revamped and is a City That Never Sleeps!

Parts of downtown Cairo are undergoing a huge facelift with many very old buildings being restored. Downtown is a buzz with many fabulous restaurants, outdoor cafes and cultural centres where you can experience the music and dancing of Egypt and mingle with the local people. At night thousands of lights turn this dusty city into a sparkling jewel and like New York, the city never seems to sleep.

Day Trips to the Sphinx and Pyramids as Part of a Cruise – Egypt Tours if You Only Want a Quick Glimpse of Egypt

Many people visit Egypt for just one day as part of a Mediterranean Cruise. If you just want to tick the pyramids and sphinx off your bucket list, these types of Egypt tours are fine. But if you want to experience Egypt, I would suggest you take longer Egypt tours.

The cruise boats dock and you travel with the crowds by bus for around 3 hours. On arrival, you have a quick visit to the Giza Plateau and Sphinx, take a few pics, then travel all the way back to your cruise boat. I have spoken to so many people who have done these Egypt tours who were so disappointed that they didn’t have more time to visit these world heritage sites.

Ideal Length For an Egypt Tour

The minimum time to visit Egypt is ideally 10 days if you want to see the pyramids, the sphinx, museum and take a 3 -4 day Nile River cruise to see the temples and tombs, but it is very rushed. If you want to see the majestic temples at Abu Simbel and explore the lesser known sites that are in and around Luxor, you really need 12 – 14 days.

What to See and Do On An Egypt Tour

Most Egypt tour itineraries include seeing the pyramids and the mighty Sphinx and maybe a Nile Cruise visiting the temples and tombs in the South of Egypt and along the Nile River. But there is so much more to see and do in Egypt.

If you go with a tour company with the right connections in Egypt, you can really get to know the real Egypt and her people beyond the tourist sites. You need to plan your Egypt tours well and in advance. You are strongly advised to go with a tour company that specialises in Egypt travel to truly get the most out of your holiday of a lifetime.

There are Egypt tours to suit all budgets and interests. Perhaps a 5-star luxury tour visiting sites from one end of Egypt to the other with an extended Nile cruises on a privately owned luxurious dhahabaya that is your own small floating luxury hotel complete with chef and staff to take care of you, appeals to your senses.

Maybe you want to visit a remote oasis in the desert or go diving and snorkelling on the beautiful coral reefs in the Red Sea or laze by the pool doing nothing at a luxurious Red Sea Resort.

Perhaps you want to ride a camel or feel the wind in your hair riding an Arabian Stallion through the desert.

Possibly you would like to Sail the Nile River on a cruise boat from Cairo all the way to Aswan. The choice is endless.

For the more adventurous, there are tour companies that specialise in backpacking through Egypt where you stay in 1-3 star hotels or camp out in the desert or in remote oases. You can sail the Nile from Luxor to Aswan on a felucca but you need to be very adventurous for this because there aren’t too many creature comforts aboard.

Best Time of Year to do Egypt Tours

The best time to do Egypt Tours is between October and May when the weather is cooler. Dress for comfort and for ladies, while it is not required, I suggest you dress conservatively and cover your arms and legs particularly in Cairo.

Currency and Banking Matters to be Considered During Your Egypt Tours

Currency is the Egyptian Pound and exchange rates are actually better in Egypt than here in Australia. I advise my tour guests to travel with US dollars as the exchange rate is a lot better in Egypt.  Most hotels have banks onsite where you can easily exchange money.   Travel cards and cash cards are becoming more readily accepted in Egypt as well.

Staying in Touch While on Your Egypt Tours

Mobile phone and internet coverage is good but I would suggest obtaining a local data sim card on arrival. Your tour guide can usually assist you with obtaining one.

Fulfill Your Dream of Going to Egypt Check Out Our Egypt Tours Today 
Egypt is Waiting For You Right Now

If doing an Egypt tour has always been a dream of yours, or, if you have been to Egypt before and you would like to return, now is exactly the right time to go. While the tourists have been gone, they have been building new hotels and revitalising many of the sites as well as opening new sites ready for the return of the tourists to this magical land.

Discover the richness of Egypt’s past and the vibrant optimism of Egypt’s future for yourself. Discover our Egypt Tour for your next holiday and the memories will stay with you forever.