Climate
Egypt’s climate is dry all year round. Its winter months are very moderate with little rain. In summer, despite the hot climate during the day, the weather remains pleasant with a cool northerly breeze.
Time
Standard time zone: GMT +2 hours during winter (October to April) and +3 hours during summer (May to September).
Passports & Visa
Passports must be valid for at least three months subsequent to the date of the proposed visit. For a stay of less than seven days a transit visa is sufficient. Visas can be granted at all Egyptian Consulates as well as from the Passport Authorities at all Egyptian ports of entry. Visa charge US$ 15.00.
Airline
Egyptair is the official carrier of Egypt and member of Star Alliance. You can check the flights’ schedules by consulting their website www.egyptair.com
Vaccination
Vaccination against Yellow Fever is required. For visitors coming from endemic areas, vaccinations against Cholera, Typhoid (TAB), Tetanus and Polio are requested. We highly recommend to drink mineral waters and not to accept any drink with ice cubes as well as bottles that are not opened in front on you. We also recommend not eating unwashed fruits and vegetables.
Customs
Egypt visitors are allowed to bring to the country freely all personal belongings and reasonable presents. Duty Free shops’ items are limited to cosmetics, perfumes, cigarettes up to 200 cigarettes and alcoholic drinks up to only 4 bottles per person.
Weights and Measures
Metric System (kilometers and kilograms)
Electric current
It is A/C 220 volts 50Hz. Wall plugs are the round, two-prong European type.
American and English appliances will require adapter plugs and transformers.
Languages
Arabic is the official language; however, English and French are widely spoken in Egypt.
Currency
The Egyptian Pound (L.E.) is divided into 100 Piaster (PT).Banknotes (paper currency) are available in the following denominations: 0.25, 0.50, 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 Pounds (L.E.).The commercial banks announce a daily rate for the Egyptian Pound against hard currency.International hard currencies in cash or travelers checks and all major credit cards are accepted everywhere, especially in tourist resorts and sites.Any tourist can import an unlimited quantity of banknotes, bank or travelers checks in foreign currency Provided he declares the amount on the official custom declaration form.Foreign currency can be exchanged at all banks and authorized exchange offices where the official exchange rates are announced daily.
Photos, Video & Cine cameras
There is no restriction for still photography. Certain sites will charge a small additional amount for photography. At Abu Simbel Temple photography is allowed inside the temples. The use of flash is prohibited in all sites.Video and Cine cameras may be used in Egypt for a fee calculated on an hourly basis depending on the site.
Business Hours
Government Offices from 08:30 to 14:00 Sunday to Thursday
Banks from 08:30 to 17:00 Sunday to Thursday
Shops from 10:00 to 23:00 Monday to Saturday
During Ramadan business hours are shortened and touristic sites close at 3 PM.
Shopping
Traditional Egyptian accessories and gifts are easily available in bazaars where you can pick up some souvenirs of Egyptian handicrafts: blown glass, papyrus, leather and copper goods, silver ware, rugs, cotton and linen products and oriental jewelry. Bargaining is a common practice in some bazaars and since the prices are not fixed, they can easily be reduced by 20 to 25%.
Clothing
During summer months (May through September) light cotton clothes are a must. In winter months (October through April) light wool, pullovers, knitted suits and dresses with long sleeves and jackets are quite suitable. We recommend sunglasses, sunhats and protective head gear or a cap as well as sun cream for protection against the harsh rays of the sun; the sun can be intense, especially in summer. Comfortable shoes which are both lightweight and sturdy will prove to be very useful.
Dress code for sightseeing
During visits and sightseeing, one should dress appropriately in more conservative surroundings. Whilst visiting religious sites such as churches and mosques, it is recommended that your attire be respectful of the situation and to wear comfortable shoes that can be easily removed. Appropriate clothing involves little skin showing, legs and shoulders in particular. Outside of a religious setting, however, locals are used to tourists and have no problem with different types of clothing.
Ramadan: The Holy month
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, moving ahead approximately 11 days each year. It is the month of fasting for Muslims during which they abstain from eating, drinking and smoking throughout daylight hours. The fast begins at dawn and ends after sunset and is broken by a meal called “iftar”, after which, the evening is filled with festivities and people gather in the main squares of towns throughout Egypt and adopt social habits like smoking shisha and socializing over evening tea. Just before dawn another meal is served in preparation for the long day of fasting called “Sohour”. Although it is considered un-appropriate to eat, drink or smoke openly in public, most hotels and restaurants continue to serve food throughout the day.Alcohol is strictly forbidden even to foreigners only two nights in the year: on “Mouled Al-Nabi” (Birthday of the Prophet Mohammed) & on “Leilet El Kadr” (The night of Predestination) which is usually the 27th day of Ramadan.During Ramadan business hours are shortened and touristic sites close at 3 PM.
Desert Safaris
When going on a safari, try to keep luggage and clothing as simple as possible. For further assistant, our Safari team has made a list of the most important items needed. Please do not hesitate to contact them. |