Egypt travel guide - Wikitravel. Egypt. Location. Flag. Quick Facts. Capital. Cairo. Government Republic. Currency Egyptian pound (EGP). Area 1,0. 01,4. 50km. There is also rising anti- foreigners sentiment, for example Mervat Al- Talawy (head of Egypt's National Women Council) kicked out a European Union delegation in front of press and to the applause of Egyptian spectators. Terrorist activities are not unheard of so please exercise caution. Egypt also extends into Asia by virtue of holding the Sinai Peninsula. Egypt is bordered by Israel and the Gaza Strip to the north- east, by Sudan to the south and by Libya to the west. The country is bounded by the Mediterranean and Red Seas (to the north and east respectively) and geographically dominated both by the Nile River and its fertile well- watered valley, and by the Eastern and Western deserts. Less well- known is Egypt's medieval heritage, courtesy of Coptic Christianity and Islam - ancient churches, monasteries and mosques punctuate the Egyptian landscape. Egypt stimulates the imagination of western tourists like few other countries and is probably one of the most popular tourist destinations world- wide. Because of the downturn in tourism, expect more persistent and aggressive touts, but prices are lower and you can avoid the gigantic crowds that, at other periods, were typically overflowing the marvellous sites. A unified kingdom arose around 3. BC and a series of dynasties ruled in Egypt for the next three millennia. The last native dynasty fell to the Persians in 3. BC, who in turn were replaced by the Greeks, Romans, and Byzantines. It was the Arabs who introduced Islam and the Arabic language in the 7th century and who ruled for the next six centuries. A local military caste, the Mamluks, took control about 1. Egypt by the Ottoman Turks in 1. Following the completion of the Suez Canal in 1. Egypt became an important world transportation hub, but also fell heavily into debt. Ostensibly to protect its investments, Britain seized control of Egypt's government in 1. Ottoman Empire continued until 1. Partially independent from the UK in 1. Egypt acquired full sovereignty following World War II. The completion of the Aswan High Dam in 1. Lake Nasser have altered the time- honoured place of the Nile River in agriculture and the ecology of Egypt. A rapidly growing population (the largest in the Arab world), limited arable land, and dependence on the Nile all continue to overtax resources and stress society. The government has struggled to prepare the economy for the new millennium through economic reform and massive investment in communications and physical infrastructure. Save for the thin strip of watered land along the Nile River broadening into the Nile delta, very little could survive here. As the ancient Greek historian Herodotus stated: . November through March are definitely the most comfortable months for travel in Egypt. There is almost no rain in the Nile valley, so you won't need wet weather gear! On the north coast along the Mediterranean Sea, a thin strip of land stretching from the sea to 5. Thunderstorms along with heavy rain showers that often last several hours are not uncommon here such as in Alexandria, Marsa Matruh and all other coastal areas, and even the Delta. In some years the rainstorms can last for a whole day or so, though the rain tends to be less heavy. Hail is also not uncommon, especially out in the desert where the weather is usually colder and allows for ice to fall and even frost to form on non- rainy days. Egypt consists geographically of two halves, the northern being the Delta, and the southern Upper Egypt, between Cairo and the First Cataract. Alexandria Independent Adventure. Delve into legendary Alexandria, Egypt's capital for a millennium and once home to one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Floods in these areas are a common weather phenomenon as so much rain can fall in a very short amount of time (often a day or two), with thunder and lightning as well. Because of the desert and lack of abundant vegetation, the water from the rain quickly falls down across the hills and mountains and floods local areas. In fact, every year there are stories in the local newspapers about flash floods in areas of the Sinai and also in Upper Egypt (southern Egypt) such as in Assiut, Luxor, Aswan, Sohag, etc. These floods, however, only generally happen two or three times a year, and often do not happen at all in some years, depending on the weather. When they happen though, it is often in early times of the season such as in September, October or late winter such as February or March (often the rainiest season in Egypt). It can sometimes carry a quite strong current that has been known to break down homes of rural people who build their homes from mud, bricks, and other weak materials. It is not surprising to hear that some people drown in the floods, which is strange for a desert country that doesn't receive much precipitation. Therefore, even though the weather might not be so cold for the Western traveller, inside the apartment it might be even colder as the temperature inside homes is generally a few or several degrees colder than out in the street. Commemorating the time when God revealed the Qur'an to Mohammed, during this holy month, Muslims abstain from eating, drinking or smoking until after sundown on each day. Although strict adherence to Ramadan is for Muslims only, some Muslims appreciate that non- Muslims do not take meals or smoke in public places. During Ramadan, many restaurants and caf. Public transport is less frequent, shops close earlier before sunset and the pace of life (especially business) is generally slow. For women in Egypt, harassment on the street is a constant. Reporter Julia Simon got so tired of it that one day, she decided to interview the man harassing her. Enjoy one of Egypt's oldest and most popular Red Sea destinations. Enjoy one of Egypt's oldest and most popular Red Sea destinations. EGYPTAIR Mobile App . The English name Egypt is derived from the Ancient Greek A. It is reflected in early Greek. A resource for Egypt Travel, Tours, Vacations, Ancient Egypt, News, History, Nile Cruises and Shopping - Travel to Egypt with Tour Egypt. Many richer people offer (Tables of the Gracious God . Prayers become popular 'social' events that some like to enrich with special food treats before and after. An hour or two later, an astonishing springing to life of the cities takes place. Streets sometimes richly decorated for the whole month have continuous rush hours till very early in the morning. Costs of advertising on television and radio soars for this period and entertainment performances are at their peak. Katherine home to the oldest continually inhabited monastery, Mount Sinai and Mount Katherine (highest mountain in Egypt) and truly Bedouin culture. Taba Heights – purpose built resort with views of Israel, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. Valley of the Kings. As a major tourist destination whose economy is dependent upon tourist money, Egypt is relatively easy to enter and/or obtain visas for if necessary. There are three types of Egyptian visa. Tourist Visa - usually valid for a period not exceeding 3 months and granted on either a single or multiple entry basis Entry Visa - required for any foreigner arriving in Egypt for purposes other than tourism, e. The possession of a valid Entry Visa is needed to complete the residence procedure in Egypt. Non- Egyptian travellers are required to have a valid passport. It is advisable to pay the fee in US dollars and in the exact amount as otherwise your currency will be exchanged for Egyptian pounds which will only then be exchanged into US dollars with double conversion fees. Change will be given in Egyptian pounds (EGP). At airports, you must obtain these from a bank office before passport control; however, you will have no problem obtaining one. Check with your nearest Egyptian Consular mission for more details concerning visa regulations applying to your citizenship. Citizens of Kuwait can obtain 6- month Residence Permit upon arrival. China and Malaysian citizens receive a 1. Citizens of China (only Hong Kong and Macau SAR) may have a 3. Catherine's Monastery. Visitors wishing to leave the Sinai peninsula and to visit Cairo and other Egyptian cities are required to hold full Egyptian visas, although strictly speaking there is a small possibility no one will check for this unless you attempt to exit the country. These are not issued at the Taba border crossing and must be acquired in advance either in the country of residence, at the Egyptian consulate in Eilat or airport upon arrival. Visitors travelling on organized tours often may be able to have their visas issued at the border, but you should verify in advance with their travel agent or tour operator if this option is available to them. Those in possession of a residence permit in Egypt are not required to obtain an entry visa if they leave the country and return to it within the validity of their residence permit or within six months, whichever period is less. Officials on boats may check dive boats whilst on the waters so you are advised to obtain the visa beforehand: there may be fines involved for you and the boat captain if you are caught without the appropriate visa. Most reputable dive centres will ask to see your visa before allowing you on trips. As of Dec 2. 00. 9, the direct air service between Cairo and Tel Aviv has been suspended for some years. In any case, verify the situation as you plan, and again at the last minute. Generally there is no visa fee for entering Jordan through Aqaba since it is a part of the free trade zone. The line to Nuweiba is operated by ABMaritime. Ferry boats also ply between the Red Sea coast to ports in Saudi Arabia and Jordan. You will take a bus to Eilat where you can cross over the border into Taba and take a bus to Cairo or into the Sinai. The Jordanian state bus company, JETT, also operates a direct bus between Amman and Cairo which leaves at 0. JETT terminal in Amman and takes approximately 1. Cairo. Generally, only two or three buses leave from Taba to the various destinations each day: one in the morning and one in the afternoon and sometimes one in the early evening. You should plan your arrival by bus in Eilat accordingly, and be prepared to spend the night in either Eilat or Taba if you will arrive in the evening. All foreigners must pay a EGP6. Also, be aware that all of the routes by bus must by necessity cross Israel; keep this in mind if you plan on further to travel to Syria, Iran, Libya, or other countries which routinely deny entry to those with evidence of travel to Israel in their passports. If you decide to rent a car, you will not add significantly to the cost through gas. Car rental sites require you to be at least 2.
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