Egypt

Overview

Visa & Entry

You need a visa to enter Egypt, for which a fee is payable.
According to your country of origin, you can obtain your visa either from the embassy or at the airport when you arrive.
Upon arrival, go to the bank (in the Arrivals hall) to obtain stamps for your visa. Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months after the end of your visit. Customs officials may ask to see your return ticket.

Health

According to WHO “A limited risk of malaria exists in parts of Algeria, Egypt, and Morocco. Taking an antimalarial drug is not recommended as the risk for travelers is considered to be extremely low. However, travelers should use insect repellent to prevent mosquito bites.”
Do not swim in River's or Canal's water or ocean water, as parasites are prevalent. Skin infections are common; even the smallest wound should be disinfected and covered with a bandage.

Weather

Egypt generally has a warm and hot weather with cooler nights. There are 2 seasons in Egypt, winter which is from November to April and summer from May to October. Average temperature during winter ranges from 18° C to 25° C while in summer, average temperature will be from 25° C to 35° C. During the months of March & April, there will be periods of sand storms blowing in different places due to the Khamsin.

Dressing

Summer temperatures in southern cities like Aswan can reach heights of 50°C (122°F) and don’t always drop at night. Light fabrics like linen, cotton and athletic gear made to take the heat are best. Just remember to cover up from your shoulders to below the knee. While women are expected to dress more conservatively than men, even the fellas should leave the short shorts and tight singlets at home. Also, avoid packing anything in white. While standing in front of the pyramids in an all-white linen suit makes for a great photo, the desert dust will quickly turn those light-coloured clothes a not-so-delightful shade of brown.

Credit Cards & Money

The official currency in Egypt is the Egyptian pound. Hotels and some stores accept credit cards (Visa or MasterCard only). However, for “street shopping” you will need local currency or U.S. Dollars. Hotels, banks and foreign exchange bureaus will be able to exchange cash to local currency.. For small purchases, we recommend that you use the ATM machines to get cash in local currency

Shopping

You will have ample opportunity during your visit to Egypt to shop for souvenirs, including artwork, handicrafts and even jewelry. If you purchase such items, do so with the understanding that these items may not have the same high value you were led to believe. A good rule of thumb when shopping abroad is to choose items that you love and that will remind you of the destination. If you want to shop for high value items, better do so from a trusted merchant at home unless the pleasure of the happy memory of your trip will keep you from regretting your purchase.

Electricity & Power

220 volts. Plug C. You will need a voltage converter and plug adapter in order to use U.S. appliances. We recommend getting a universal adapter and converter kit.

Cell Phones & Internet

Want to take your cell phone, tablet or laptop, but not sure how to get cell service or wifi? Check in google world connections before

Photography

Cameras and video recorders are permitted, and photography is generally permitted everywhere except at airports and military installations. Memory cards for digital cameras will be available in major cities.The use of flash is prohibited in museums and tombs in order to protect the exhibits. Photography inside museums and historical mounments subject to a Photography Fee!

For your info

The ancient Egyptians invented the 365-days a year calendar in order to predict the yearly floodings of the Nile river.
Egyptians used hieroglyphs containing over 700 symbols (with no vowels!) to write and communicate, making it one of the earliest languages to be used.
Calling all fashionistas! Aged over 5000 years, the oldest dress in the world is found in Egypt.
The Great Pyramid of Giza still has unexplored passageways, making it the only remaining ancient wonder of the world.
Although Egypt is known for its pyramids, the country has neither the tallest pyramid in the world nor the most pyramids in the world: Mexico is home to the tallest pyramid, and Sudan hosts the most pyramids.