Things you should know before you visit Egypt

Documents

If you are an American or a Canadian, you will need a valid passport for a least 6 months after the day you plan to return from Egypt. You must also provide proof that you intend to return or continue your travels elsewhere. You are responsible for ensuring your passport is current and that your name on your passport matches all other travel documents we will issue. If you find that your name differs between any documents, please let us know right away.

Visas

You will need a visa to travel to and inside Egypt. You can get one when you arrive at Cairo airport. We can include visa fees in your itinerary upon request or you can purchase a visa at the airport. Current fees (subject to change) is $25 US. When you leave Egypt, you must show proof of entry via a stamp on your valid passport. If you don’t provide this stamp, officials may prevent you from leaving Egypt.

Insurance

It is a good idea to have travel insurance if you need to cancel your trip or any medical need while abroad. Most insurance policies also cover baggage loss/damage or problems completing the trip due to circumstances beyond your control. Get a policy that provides medical coverage to avoid large health care expenses in an emergency. We can help you find the right insurance for your trip with us.

Clothing for Women

In general, for women traveling to Egypt, anything that is below the knee should be fine. Short sleeves should be fine as well, but nothing too short or too tiny. You do not need to cover your head in Egypt but do dress modestly. Wear pants or long skirts. It is hot in the summertime so that loose-fitting pants will be more comfortable that a pair of skinny jeans. It is also dusty and dirty, so that white clothing will appear soiled far more quickly than other color clothing.

Electricity, Internet and Phone

Egypt’s power grid is set up for 22oV AC. Some rural areas only have 110V AC. Sockets are either the “Type C” Europlug or the “Type E” and “Type F” Schuko plug. You’ll need to purchase an adapter for devices from North America. Outlets marked as 110V or “For Shavers Only” won’t work for devices not rated for 110V and may even damage them.

Mobile phone roaming charges are different between carriers, so be sure to check on costs with your phone provider in each area you’ll travel to. The large cities such as Dahab, Luxor, Cairo and Alexandria have man Internet cafes where you can pay to use the WiFi or wired network ports. Some small towns like Siwa have at least one Internet café. Hotel in-room or lobby WiFi can be expensive, so check the rates before connecting to their services. Nile Infinity Tours will not have control over which hotels have Internet access, but we do have information on which establishments are likely to provide it. We can help you find contact information to get in touch with the properties directly and ask what they make available.

• - Time Zone: UTC+2
• - Electricity: 220 V AC + 110V in certain rural areas
• - Telephone: Country code for calling you from outside Egypt is 20
• - Calling North America: Dial 00 + 1 and your 10-digit number
• - Emergency numbers in Egypt: Police: 122, Tourist Police: 126, Ambulance: 123, Fire: 125

Weather

Egypt is very dry in some places and very wet in others. Be prepared for a hot and dry climate. It can get cold in the northern regions if you happen to visit in the Winter. Most tourists visit during the cooler months from December to February.

February to April and October to November is the best time of the year climate-wide to see the pyramids and the Valley of the Kings. It can be very hot and dusty in April because of winds blowing in from the Sahara, so visiting sites can be a bit of a problem during that month. Updated weather forecasts can be obtained from Weather.com

Money

We recommend that you bring about $100 US per person for each day’s expenses. Small bills are best to tip waiters, porters and housekeeping. Tipping is at your discretion based on your satisfaction with the service you receive.

The Egyptian currency is called the “Egyptian Pound” (guinea in Arabic). Notes come in dominations of 10pt, 20pt, 25pt, 50pt, E£1, E£5, E£10, E£20, E£50 and E£100. Coins come in denominations of 10pt, 20pt, 25pt, 50pt, and E£1. Some tour operators and hotels only accept US dollars or Euros.

Get your Egyptian Pound currency from your own bank before leaving or from an Egyptian bank machine. Those methods are cheaper than in the airport currency exchange or in tourist areas. Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted, but your bank card may or may not be valid in-country.

Vaccinations

There are currently no vaccinations required to travel to Egypt. There have been some occurrences of “Bird Flue” (avian influenza) in Egypt. We recommend that you:

• - Avoid going to live animal farms or poultry markets.
• - Avoid eating eggs or poultry that have not been fully cooked.
• - Wash your hands regularly.
• - See a doctor is you feel any flue symptoms coming on while traveling or after you return home.

Medicines

Make a list of all the medicines and medical items you need to bring with you on your trip, plus dosages of prescription drugs, details of prescription glasses and contacts, and any other medical necessities. Put spare eyewear and medications in checked and carry-on bags in case some of your luggage gets lost in transit.

There are non-prescription, over-the-counter medicines available in Egypt, but it is often difficult to get prescription medication or eyewear. Bring water purification devices or iodine tablets in case bottled water is not available. We can advise which locations will have potable vs. non-potable water. We strongly recommend bringing some type of over-counter diarrhea medication.

Medical Needs Checklist

• - First aid & medicine available at local pharmacies.
• - Bring sunscreen, sunglasses & large bring hat.
• - Bring hand sanitizer & wipes.