Egypt is a land of dreams for travelers looking for a bustling destination with a vibrant culture. While it may not be the most common destination for Americans, a trip to Egypt can be an unforgettable experience.
Is Egypt Safe?
First things first: is Egypt safe? Absolutely! Tourist attractions are largely safe and not under any threat. Sure, there are some regions which are not safe, but there are also regions where are perfectly fine. Just like in any other country and city. When I visited Egypt back in 2008 safety wasn’t the biggest concern.
Egyptians are one of the most welcoming people I’ve ever encountered on my travels (among Iranians!) and they love tourists. Locals trying to help me on numerous occasions, asking me if I’m all right, and feeding me good food. I was very saddened to read a lot of other blog posts saying that everyone in Egypt wants your money, as it’s absolutely not my experience.
Best Time to Visit Egypt
Don’t make my mistake during my first visit by going to Egipt in the summer. The best time to go to Egypt is surely between October and April. Remember that nights can be freezing so bring a sweater and a pair of warm socks.
The tourist high season is considered from December to February, so if you come slightly out of season you will also enjoy cheaper hotel prices and fewer crowds.
Read also: JFK to Nigeria Flight Options
Budgeting for Your Trip
Egypt is comparatively cheap if you’re coming from a developed nation. Not much. For a bed in a dorm, you’ll usually pay about $4, guesthouse would be about $12 per night and a higher standard shouldn’t be more than $150.
Always carry a lot of coins and small bills. You will have to “tip” many times a day, for all kinds of reasons.
Food and Accommodation
I enjoyed the food in Egypt very much. I ate anything from basic kebabs to local vegetables and rice, to the most traditional dish - Koshary. If you’re staying in local hostels or hotels be prepared that you’ll be served a LOT of food.
Quite often for breakfast, I was receiving a few bread rolls, 8 balls of falafel, hummus, an omelet, hard-boiled eggs, french fried, yogurt and a fresh smoothie.
Transportation
Traffic jams and driving in Egypt, particularly in Cairo, can be quite intimidating. In Cairo, you can take Uber anywhere and it’s extremely cheap.
Read also: Flying LAX to Lagos
Domestic flights in Egypt as affordable and great. You’d be looking at two airlines: EgyptAir and NileAir (I can only personally vouch for EgyptAir and they’re great). If you’re on a strict backpacking budget, you might want to look into Go Bus.
There is a cruise on the Nile that starts in all of the touristic cities, and most tourists decide to do it. Keep in mind that it’s not going to be a very local experience hanging out at the pool and eating touristy food on the boat. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that but it might not be everyone’s cup of tea.
If you want to save on bottled water get a LifeStraw Water Bottle . Egypt gets extremely hot, particularly during the summer, so stay hydrated. Bring your own toilet paper.
Pyramids and King Tut (Full Episode) | Lost Treasures of Egypt | National Geographic
Read also: Zambia Travel Guide
