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Egypt

Egypt

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The pyramids of Giza are the first thing that comes to mind when we think of Egypt. It’s a home of historic treasure, vast desert, Nile River cruises, and renowned for Scuba Diving at the Red Sea. Egypt is a land of temples & tombs; holding the oldest & the longest history.

 

Egypt is a place wherein one can enjoy staying at luxury hotels without shelling a bomb as they would in other locations. It is always advisable to stay in 4.5* & 5* hotels here because the standard and service aren’t great with other categories.

 

One fact of Egypt that is surprising – is that they believe in a countless number of Gods. They worship so many Gods that almost every city have its Gods during ancient times. The Egyptians believed that physical manifestations of themselves were sent to Earth by Gods in the forms of symbolic animals. The temple walls are designed and engraved in hieroglyphics depicting their glory and reign.

 

From the founder’s desk – By the end of my trip to Egypt, I was inundated with the facts and history which kept floating around in my head and it took me a while to process everything I saw and learned as to share with people.

Transportation & Cuisines

Transportation

AIR

Egypt Air is the national airline of the country and has wide frequencies across the country. Land & Air transportation is the best for tourists who wish to explore this beautiful cultural country. Land Transport among cities and nearby different locations. For the cities and destinations that are far, Egypt Air provides reliable air service domestically and internationally.

Cuisines

Egyptian cuisine is renowned across the world and usually difficult to find in any other country.

 

“Koshari” is one of the staples and common food and is mixed with pasta, rice, tomato sauce, onion, lentils, chickpeas, or hummus & garlic. One can eat this at any time in the day and is very easy to grab as its available almost everywhere across the Egyptian streets. It’s an easy pick along with Mahshi (Dolmas – Capsicum stuffed rice).

 

Mahshi can be made as a vegetarian dish – it’s a stuffing of rice which is seasoned with spices, pepper, crushed tomatoes, parsley, and onions & are put into vegetables like green, red, yellow bell peppers, eggplants, tomatoes, cabbage leaves, etc and placed in a pot. Mahshi is cooked with chicken and beef broth for non-veg eaters.

 

Another best commonly eaten street food in Egypt is Ta’meya well known as Falafel. It’s quite common for breakfast or a quick snack as it’s filling. It’s pretty cheap and extremely tasty. They also serve Falafel pockets – Falafels stuffed inside chewy pita bread along with lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumbers with all sorts of seasoning & dressing. It’s mouth-watering and one cannot just eat one. It is combined with sugarcane juice which is widely available across Egypt.

 

Egyptian Cuisine is a paradise for non-vegetarians and one can dwell in the delicacies of Fesikh (made of grey mullets), Sayyadiyah (for seafood lovers), Fattah (closer relative to Biryani & made by layered rice and meat), etc.

 

Egyptian Tea is renowned and a must-try if you are a tea lover. Egyptians drink tea in the morning, noon and night. During morning hours, it is usually drunk along with smoking Hookah at cafes.

 

When we think of Arab Nations – Hookah is a customary tradition there.  You would find many cafes and local tea places serving hookahs. Social smoking often takes place during parties or small gatherings with single or double hose Hookah. Egyptian Hookahs are world-famous for their designs with different heights and multicoloured options and are extremely impressive to look at.

 

Good To Know

Read the basic info and also some fun facts about Australia! Here you will find everything you should know about the ‘’Land of Plenty’’!

Currency

Egyptian Pound (1 USD = 15.68 EGP) (1 GBP = 21.78 EGP) (1 INR = 0.21 EGP)

Denominations

Coin Denominations – 10 Piaster, 25 Piaster, 50 Piaster, 1 EGP Bank Note Denominations – 25 Piaster, 50 Piaster, 1 EGP, 5 EGP, 10 EGP, 20 EGP, 50 EGP, 100 EGP, 200 EGP

Time Zone

3.5 Hours behind of Indian Standard Time (IST)

Tap Water

Mineral Water is advisable to drink. Avoid drinking tap water.

Languages Spoken

Arabic (English is widely spoken)

Electricity Voltage

220V - 230V, power plugs and sockets are Type C & F

Tipping

Tipping is usually expected in Egypt at around 10% of the bill. Restaurants may include “Service Charge” which goes to the restaurant so waiters expect the tips. Bell boys, concierge, taxi drivers, waiters, etc... expect tips.

Visa

Visa is required for Indians to travel here and its very easy to get one

Travel Insurance

Is a must when travelling to Egypt

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From our gallery

Tour Plan

1

Historical Egypt

Cairo (2N) + Aswan (1N) + Nile Cruise (3N) + Luxor (1N) + Hurghada (2N) + Cairo (1N)

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2

Egyptian Wonder

Cairo (2N) + Aswan (1N) + Nile Cruise (3N) + Luxor (1N) + Cairo (1N)

View Full Itinerary

3

Historical Egypt

Cairo (2N) + Aswan (1N) + Nile Cruise (3N) + Luxor (1N) + Sharm-el-Sheikh (2N) + Cairo (1N)

View Full Itinerary

Best Time To Visit

Egypt enjoys sunshine throughout the year; however, the weather varies from region to region. Egypt enjoys more of the Mediterranean Climate on the coast & desert-like climate inland.

 

December to February is the best time to visit Egypt as the weather is cool and with mild sunshine for exploring archaeological sites and ruins. Winters of Egypt are the best times to visit as it's sunny as well as cold. It’s a peak season of Egypt so flocked with tourists and so the prices are surely high as compared to the shoulder and low months.  

 

March to May & September to November are the shoulder months of Egypt which also serve as a really good time to visit to avoid huge crowds and cheaper deals on accommodation and flights. March to May is when the desert starts heating up and temperatures start rising but it's still warm and not extremely sunny. September onwards the heat starts to reduce and it becomes more enjoyable with winter's setting in serving as a great time to visit Egypt.

 

June to August are the summer months of Egypt with extreme heat but still, it’s kind of a peak season in Egypt as travelers from Europe and other countries visit during this time due to their vacation season. It’s extremely sunny and temperatures cross 40 degrees. So if you can’t handle the heat please avoid this season.

Cities

 

Pyramids one of the wonders of the world resides in Cairo. Cairo is the capital and largest city of Egypt. Cairo is incredibly crowded with almost over 20 million population and filled with traffic and pollution. It’s a blend of Old & New Egypt.

 

Old Cairo is the historic area where the famous Tahrir Square stands giving you a feel of Egyptian street life and the main area to stay when in Cairo. New (Greater) Cairo is a modern city that was built to alleviate the congestion of the city. Cairo offers all sorts of accommodation suiting every type of traveler (budget to luxury) and even 5* falls within the required range.

 

However, if one plans to stay near pyramids for 1 night then Le Meridien is the best-suited option near to the Pyramids which isn’t very expensive and provides good pyramid views. If travelers are ready to shell out a bit then Marriott Mena House is for them and is an excellent stay option boasting pyramid view rooms.

 

Experience the ride on the Traditional Egyptian Sailboat often known as Felucca to see the Cairo sights from the water along with the sunset at the Nile River located within Cairo.

 

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Aswan serves of strategic importance and is majorly ruled by the military of Egypt. One can take an overnight sleeper train from Cairo to Aswan or a domestic flight to reach here.

 

Aswan offers a stunning view of the river Nile and is a starting or ending point for the Nile River Cruise. Aswan boasts a rich cultural experience showcasing temples, monuments, and varied other tourist attractions of Upper Egypt.

 

The best luxurious place to stay in Aswan is the hotel Sofitel Legend Old Cataract at the edge of the Nubian Desert which is pretty expensive followed by Movenpick. Agatha Christie & many Royals have stayed at this most famous hotel in Egypt. The views offered by Sofitel Aswan are out of the world overlooking the Nubian Desert, Elephantine Island, etc making you fall in love with this place instantly. One can feel the royalty and old-world charm of this location.

 

One can even find 5-star hotels here well within the budget. One of the best ways to explore Aswan is riding a traditional Felucca along the Nile River and getting lost in its beauty.

 

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Luxor serves perfectly for travelers who want to dwell in the culture. It’s like an open-air museum to get yourself involved in the ancient world charm. It is divided between the 2 areas – East Bank and the West Bank which symbolized life & death in ancient Egyptian times.

 

East Bank is more of a modern city with a lush green environment and traditional bazaars with 2 major temples (Luxor & Karnak Temples) while West Bank is famed for its beauty of temples and tombs (valley of Kings & Queens).

 

East Bank boasts an exceptional hotel like Old Winter Palace (Under Sofitel brand) – it’s a Victorian-style establishment overlooking the Nile River. It used to be one of the King’s winter palaces and offers modern décor and comfort along with its preserved history. The stunning views, tropical gardens, services offered, and lavish spread meals are worth every penny.

 

West Bank is also famous for its Hot Air Balloon Rides offering aerial views over the west bank which is a must-do experience for adventure seekers but everyone can enjoy this ride.

 

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A trip to Egypt without cruising the Nile is incomplete – it’s a worthwhile experience invariably feeling Egypt closely. The cruise itineraries run between Aswan & Luxor. It’s a 3 Nights itinerary from Aswan to Luxor (starting around 3 am so one can explore Aswan that day even after check-in into the cruise) and 4 Nights from Luxor to Aswan and longer itineraries are also available.

 

Nile Cruises are categorized among 2 to 5 stars Deluxe Nile Cruises. However, there is a lot of difference even among similar ratings of the Cruise so the selection of the cruise has to be of utmost importance. Knowing the age of the cruise is crucial for the best experience.

 

One has to select the cruise based on the following:

  • Cruise Facilities (special features like – Gym, Sauna, Swimming Pool, etc, onboard entertainment)
  • Cruise Cabins (Size, has balcony or windows, cabin features, on which deck the cabin would be allotted)
  • Food and Beverage (Buffet or Set Menus, availability of Vegetarian Food, quality standard of the food)
  • Cost of the cruise
  • Usually, the onboard entertainments included belly dancing, Tanoura Dance (He is a man with a big jepone or big colorful scarf keep dancing circularly), high tea session, etc.

 

Certain Nile Cruises have set itineraries and they operate accordingly making their customers visit sightseeing based on their structure. However, the majority of cruises do permit taking private tours based on customer’s planned itinerary and this is the best way to explore as to avoid groups so that one can understand its history efficiently and its most recommendable.

 

Usually, the itinerary of the Nile Cruises flows as - visiting Kom Ombo, Edfu Temples, East (Luxor and Karnak Temple) & West Banks (Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut, and Colossi of Memnon) of Luxor.

 

These are some of the best Nile Cruises that are recommended – Esmeralda Nile Cruise, Farah Nile Cruise (best for guests who are vegetarians), Amwaj Livingstone Nile Cruise, Movenpick Royal Lily & Royal Lotus, Sonesta Moon Nile Cruise, etc.

 

If one can shell a bit more money for luxurious cruising then these are the recommendable ones are – Oberoi Nile Cruise (Philae, Zahra, etc), Esplanade Nile Cruise, Mayfair Cruises, Sonesta St. George Nile Cruise, Viking Ra, Sanctuary Sun Boat Nile Cruise (III & IV), etc.

 

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Alexandria is the 2nd largest city in Egypt and is often referred to as “The Mediterranean Pearl” due to its rugged coastline. It was founded by Alexander the Great and is also associated with Cleopatra (who ruled ancient Egypt).

 

It’s well known for its promenade (Corniche – wide waterfront roads) and catacombs. One can admire the beautiful sunset along the coastline while sitting in the cafes across the promenade. Alexandria can also be done as a day’s excursion from Cairo if you have fewer days in hand.

 

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Hurghada is a Red Sea Coastal town renowned for its incredible coral reefs and turquoise waters attracting flocks of tourists to this location. It’s a prime winter escape destination with white sandy beaches for Europeans who are major tourists here.

 

Hurghada Marina is a modern addition to the district of Sigala with major dining places of the town. Since it’s a coastal town there are many water sport activities one can choose from like snorkelling, submarine experience, etc.

 

Hurghada’s beaches are beautiful but majorly have become part of its seaside luxury hotels and resorts. Sahl Hasheesh is one of the finest beaches in Hurghada and also home to the luxurious hotel Baron Palace and Oberoi Sahl Hasheesh.

 

There are many areas tourists can consider for staying which can be within Hurghada or areas within the proximity of 20-30kms from the main town as they boast seaside resorts and exceptional hotels. Hurghada is a place with relaxed vibes.

 

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Sharm-El-Sheikh is located on the tip of the Sinai Peninsula boasting exciting water sports. It has been one of the world’s best diving spots and is a paradise for scuba divers and snorkelers. It’s perfect for adventurous travelers as it's not only concentrated on water sports but also offers golfing and quad biking.

 

Warm waters and sunshine all around the year make it attractive to tourists to visit here for a short break. It’s also home to some of the finest and luxurious hotels adding spice to your stay like Four Seasons, Rixos, etc, and also has mid-range hotels as per pocket.

 

Marsalam is located far south on the Red Sea’s coastline and further south of Hurghada. Its popularity is increasing among the tourists as it’s a lesser-known place. It serves as a premium tourist destination especially for scuba divers as the waters here offer perfect dive sites with extensive marine life. There are lovely luxury hotels in Marsalam for your secluded stay durations.

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