Bus information can be obtained from hotels in Sinai and the oases, and tourist offices in Luxor, Aswan and the oases. Your email address will not be published. In Egypt you can arrange a trip on the spot from around $5060 per day (all per person in a twin cabin). There is an efficient rail network linking the Nile Valley, Delta and Canal Zone, and elsewhere you can travel easily enough by bus or shared (service) taxi. A host of nationalities including all Western European and Arab countries, USA, Australia and New Zealand, can obtain a one-month single entry visa on arrival at Cairo International airport or at the Egyptian land border. There is also a sporadic and not very reliable boat service from Aswan to Wadi Halfa in Sudan. Narrower thoroughfares may be termed darb, haret, sikket or zuqaq. Alexandria has buses and tramways, with first- and second-class and distance-regulated fares. The traditional Nile sailing boats, feluccas, can be hired by the hour for relaxed sailing on the Nile. And both these two and No.381 bus stops at the center of the city, and you can walk to the Egyptian Museum and Tahrir Square within 15 minutes from here. Petrol (benzene) and diesel stations are plentiful in larger towns but few and far between in rural and desert areas. Schedules usually posted in Arabic only change frequently. The hottest months, marked by the scorching, humid summer, are from May to October. 
You can enjoy a pleasant trip from Aswan in the south and Alexandria in the north by train. In reality, you could spend a few weeks there covering some serious, ancient ground, especially, if you want to take in every site and still have some time to take in the varying atmospheres of the main cities. Aswan and Luxor also have passenger boats criss-crossing the Nile. You may be dazzled by the various traveling transports and still don't know which one is the best way for your itinerary.
Most roads are bumpy, with potholes and all manner of traffic, including donkey carts and camels. When arriving at the airport, you can get to the city center or some attractions in many ways: You can go to the Bus Station located in the parking area in front of Terminal 1 and take the city buses to downtown. There is a useful information office, and tickets are sold there, or you can check the schedule and book tickets at the Egyptian Railways website https://enr.gov.eg. Desert roads get covered by sand in high winds, which can be disorientating and dangerous. You can travel to other hot destinations from Cairo through various means of transport, and here we recommend some practical options to you: CairoLuxor: Taking a flight is the fastest way from Cairo to Luxor. Look for windows (marked banks) selling these visas in the area where you line up to have your passport stamped. Budget, Avis, Sixt and Hertz have desks in Terminal 3. Tourism in Egypt is the largest and most easily decimated economic target in a politically fragile region, with ongoing frictions with neighbouring countries. However, on the CairoLuxor/Aswan route, foreigners are only allowed to use four tourist trains (two of which are sleepers), whose compartments are guarded by gun-toting plainclothes cops. Read more: Most Frequently Asked Questions About Egypt. Buying tickets can get complicated at the largest stations, where separate queues exist for different ticket classes. Subscribe to our newsletter so we can provide you with insider travel information, exclusive offers, and discounts. You can never walk in a bazaar or the main streets in Egypt in peace.
Fewer people travel after dark in winter or on Friday, when you might have to wait a while for a ride to a distant town; travelling in stages can be quicker. The easiest way to begin the haggling process is to half the original price offered, and know what you want to pay overall so that you can go back and forth and get as close to that. I found this behaviour particularly rampant at the Temple of Hatshepsut. Then board a felucca manned by a local from one of the Nile islands before visiting a Nubian village home for a walking tour and a delicious traditional dinner. To serve the Nile Valley tourist trade, several luxury air-conditioned day and night trains with sleeping and restaurant cars run from Cairo to Luxor and Aswan. Prices escalate dramatically for a luxury cruise.
The word bab signifies a medieval gate, after which certain quarters are named (for example, Bab al-Khalq in Cairo); kubri a bridge; and souk a market. Generally, when it comes to goods and services, tipping is common. Branches of Misr Travel, and numerous local tour agencies, can fix you up with one, or you can charter a taxi. Generally, this is only possible with cars from Hertz, Avis or Budget. In-depth, easy-to-use travel guides filled with expert advice. You can also charter a taxi useful for day excursions or on odd routes, but youll have to bargain hard to get the right price. It runs every 15 minutes from the Maspero near downtown Cairo to Giza (30 minutes, EGP 1.50 / USD 0.1), via the Giza Zoo and Cairo University.
"Great Service and Value", "Exceed All Expectations", "Highly Recommend". Like any destinations, some neighbourhoods are safer than others. Driving in Egypt is not for the faint-hearted or inexperienced motorist. Many people grapple with the idea of arranging everything in each city and traveling to Egypt independently, which is doable but with a lot more hassle, or choosing the comfort of a small group where the main components of travel are organised. English- or French-speaking staff are fairly common at the larger ones, but rare in the provinces. No elements found. It pays off to be an astute and smart traveller at all times, constantly be aware of your surroundings and not venture off-track. Another option is to take a taxi or call an Uber. Book your individual trip, stress-free with local Anything planned outside of the itinerary, such as free time and exploring at our leisure, means releasing the company you are travelling with from any responsibility concerning your safety. Taking a bus is the major way for locals to get around Egypt. There are ATMs in all major cities in Egypt as well as the large hotels, which accept Visa and MasterCard. Her writing combines storytelling with insight into the social, historical, political and economic factors that shape the country or place in relation to tourism. Hiking shoes are not needed, just comfortable walking shoes for when you will be wandering the sites for up to three hours. The passing car usually flashes its lights as a warning, but not always. Copyright 2005-2022 Odynovo Tours Co., Ltd. We use cookies to provide you with a better experience on our website. However, it pays to indulge with precaution: The oppressive heat in Egypt can easily lead to dehydration, with the risks increased through long periods of exploration. Getting around a new country may be an adventure. Most airport transfers cost between USD 1520 each way. Beware in particular of the overpriced trips sold by touts and some hotels in Cairo. The haggling process is expected here and a part of the culture, so dont be afraid to enter negotiation mode on everything from spice to large souvenirs. So even though shorts, singlets and dresses to the knee at tomb and temple sites are not frowned upon, generally you should wear loose-fitting clothes that cover knees and shoulders. We support you to make the most of your time on earth. No trip to Egyptis complete without visiting the vast archaeological site of the Valley of the Kings located on the ancient site of Thebes in Luxors West Bank. Tickets can be booked for all routes at the Cairo Gateway bus terminal. Students with ISIC cards Dropdown content get at least a third off on all fares except on sleepers. Most sail from Luxor to Aswan (or the other way), a three- to five-day trip, stopping at Esna, Edfu and Kom Ombo. Cities, highways, backroads and pistes each pose a challenge to drivers skills and nerve. Solo travel in Egypt is not at all impossible but is at your own risk. Deluxe boats with swimming pools can be wonderful, but not all offer value for money. The ticket for the Valley of the Kings grants you entrance to three tombs out of the 63 on-site with the most impressive being the tomb of Ramses IV and Tutankhamens tomb which is worth the extra ticket cost and to complete the story after viewing his treasures at the Egyptian Museum. READ MORE: On the best places to visit in Egypt a list of all the major historical and famed sites in further detail which you can use to plan your preferred Egypt itinerary. Flight times are short; between Cairo and Luxor, for example, the flight is just 45 minutes. The CDC (Centres for Disease Control and Prevention) notes that all travellers should be up-to-date with their routine vaccines which include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) and tetanus-diphtheria, for example. Hepatitis A and Typhoid are highly recommended since you can get these through contaminated food or water in Egypt. I visit my local tropical disease clinic at least six weeks before I travel, where I can highlight the exact locations I am travelling to and what activities I will be undertaking. The safest, and quickest, way to get around Egypt is by air, especially as travel by road can be hazardous. Middle East and North Africa: 10 spectacular sights off the beaten track, The most spectacular deserts around the world, Plan your tailor-made trip with a local expert, Travel stress-free with local assistance and 24/7 support, Getting around Egypt: Transportation Tips, Travel Tips Egypt for planning and on the go. Also, avoid protests and demonstrations that have the potential to turn violent with no warning.
Driving your own vehicle, you will need to take out Egyptian insurance. Also, ensure the street food vendor is of a good hygiene standard and food hasnt been left out. Superjet buses have a/c, toilets, videos and expensive snacks. Major car hire companies like Hertz, Avis and Budget, which have offices in the airports, offer breakdown services. Egypts vendors at major sites live up to the reputation of extreme hassling. Before making a reservation, be sure to find out if you can pick up the car in one city and return it in another. In the provinces, tickets may only be available an hour or so before departure, or on the bus itself in the case of through services, which are often standing-room only when they arrive. Eid al-Fitr is another holiday and is the celebration that marks the end of Ramadan. On country roads including the two-lane east- and west-bank highways along the Nile Valley trucks and cars routinely overtake in the face of incoming traffic. From temples, tombs and slow journeys on the Nile, to understanding the delicate tourism situation as the country always tries to catch a break, theres a lot to understand, and even more to enjoy, when you travel to Egypt. That of desperation, in a developed country sidetracked by political upheaval where tourism dollars mean everything. Kom Ombo was built during the Graeco-Roman period (332 BC-AD 395) and dedicated to the crocodile god, Sobek and the falcon god Horus. Luxor has minibuses with fixed routes. If you do purchase bottled water, consider buying larger sized plastic water bottles (to keep refilling your smaller travel bottle), to save on plastic waste. An International Driving Permit is required to drive any motor vehicle. Line 3 or green line (AttabaEl Shams Club): reaches Heliopolis (Al Ahram station) easily and soon will connect to the airport (it is said in 2019 or 2020). Namely, fewer crowds and the necessity to get to sites ultra-early to escape the heat but ultimately be the first in, leaving time for further exploration in the area or time to rest by the pool. Passengers get a comfortable two-bed cabin (a single traveller can book one exclusively for $120, or pay the normal fare and share with someone of the same sex) with a sink, plus breakfast and dinner, and access to a dining car and a bar. The host family can use this local living moment on our trip as a regular source of income, where your money stays in local hands. With my favourite small group adventure tour company G Adventures, I was able to see some of the most colossal, famous, magnificent (and still being uncovered) highlights and wonders of Egypt. It covers all aspects, from cities to airports, cruise ports to ski and beach resorts, attractions to events, and it also includes weekly travel news, features and quizzes. Baksheesh which operates as either a tip or a bribe is standard in Egypt. They also screen videos until midnight. Dont take taxis waiting outside expensive hotels or tourist sites, nor those that hustle you in the street, as they are sure to overcharge you. One common difficulty is that return tickets cant necessarily be booked at the point of origin. Available in English, German and Spanish versions, the WTG provides detailed and accurate travel content designed to inspire global travellers. Visiting Egypt usually puts people in two minds. Words for street (sharia), avenue (tariq) and square (midan) precede the name.
The best deals are available from local agents in Luxor and Aswan (or directly from the boats). Whether sun lounging and diving in the Sinai Peninsula and the Red Sea Resorts such as Sharm El-Sheikh, or chasing history on the Cairo-Luxor-Aswan trail; Egypt has long been a popular tourism destination. Local routes usually have cheaper non-a/c buses, generally old rattletraps. While those tumultuous days are over, sporadic attacks still occur, and you should keep up to date with political news and your governments advice on travel to Egypt before you leave. Yet that doesnt mean its inaccessible, just a little more for the adventurous minded. Women should never hitch without a male companion. Also avoid eating, drinking or smoking in public out of respect for those who cant during that time. Two beeps means Im alongside and about to overtake. A single long blast warns I cant (wont) stop and Im coming through! Extending your hand, fingers raised and tips together, is the signal for Watch out, dont pass now; spreading your fingers and flipping them forwards indicates Go ahead. Although the car in front usually has right of way, buses and trams always take precedence. A comprehensive guide to the worlds best travel destinations, its print heritage stretches back more than 30 years, with the online portal reaching its 20-year anniversary in 2019. In a few small towns, mostly in Middle Egypt, the hantour remains part of local city transport. Hitchhiking is largely confined to areas with minimal public transport, or trunk routes if passing service taxis or scheduled buses are full. This is at no extra cost to you and allows this site to keep running. The taxis are usually big Peugeot saloons carrying seven passengers, or microbuses (meecros) seating a dozen. Such scenarios included an armed plain-clothed security guard in our car when driving all-around Alexandria and a six-manned police truck escorting us out of a quiet desert area after visiting a well-known monastery. If your destination is obscure or hard to pronounce, get it written down in Arabic. If you want to explore in a comfortable climate and escape the period of high heat, then September to April is seen as the best time to go to Egypt. I have gone through your blog which is very informative and I have bookmarked this blog, as it will be helpful for us while traveling. Therefore you somehow get lucky with your shot, but dont think you can outsmart these guys if you are cheeky they will come and ask for their baksheesh. 
The Library of Alexandria was one of the greatest and most famous libraries of the ancient world, destroyed by a fire in the 1st Century BC. Travellers often overlook the northern city of Alexandria on the Mediterranean coast. Motorcycling could be a good way to travel around Egypt, but the red tape involved in bringing your own bike is diabolical (ask your national motoring organization and the Egyptian consulate for details). Covering a limited network of routes (Cairo to Alexandria, the Delta and the Canal Zone, along the coast to Mersa Matrouh and up the Nile Valley to Luxor and Aswan), Egypts trains are best used for long hauls, when air-conditioned services offer a comfier alternative to buses and taxis. Always reconfirm 72 hours prior to the journey, as overbooking is commonplace.
Looking at the world with a different angle to change perceptions of misunderstood places, for the best in travel. All countries entering Egypt require a valid passport (with a minimum six months validity). The easiest way to get around Cairo is using the modern Metro. The most efficient way to get around Cairo is by metro (tel: +20 225748354, http://www.cairometro.gov.eg/). You dont currently need a permit to travel directly from Mersa Matrouh to the Libyan border, for example if taking a bus or service taxi to Benghazi or Tripoli, but the rules sometimes change, so its wise to check first. Driving in Cairo is nerve-racking due to the heavy traffic and limited parking space.
Altogether, it is not something to be alarmed by, but its good to understand why such measures exist. The minimum age for driving in Egypt is 25 years, the maximum is 70. The temperature during Egyptian nights can drop and evenings get chilly, so a light fleece or jacket or cardigan comes in useful to layer up. Many travel agencies sell first-class tickets for a small commission, saving you from having to queue. The tiered complex built into limestone rocks of Temple of Hatshepsut is a symbol of the power of female rulers to the throne of Egypt Queen Hatshepsut disguised herself as a man, which is why you will still see carvings of the typical Pharaoh figure. Both classes are comfortable enough to allow you to sleep on an overnight journey, at a fraction of the cost of a sleeper (see Wagons-lits (sleepers)). Which category it falls under is determined by the situation, and its interchangeability and existence is a part of everyday life in Egypt and cultural custom. Most business is along specific routes, with more or less nonstop departures throughout the day on the main ones, while cross-desert traffic is restricted to early morning and late afternoon. Fares are very reasonable: Cairo to Alexandria costs E17 by ordinary bus, or E30 on the deluxe Superjet service, while Cairo to Luxor is E100 by Superjet. Details about the Egypt Online Visa commonly asked questions on visa fees, requirements and eligibility to apply can be found here. That said, in Luxor its a pleasant way to get around town, and there are many places for bicycle hire especially on the west bank. Vehicles drive on the right, although traffic in cities is relentless and anarchic, with vehicles weaving to and fro between lanes, signalling by horn. site may be reprodiced without our written permission. There is no advance booking for seats on these services and you neednt even queue for a ticket at the station these can be bought on-board from the conductor, with just a small penalty fee of E12 added to the fare. I choose to get an Egypt E-Visa a recently introduced electronic travel authorisation system for from the following eligible nationalities wishing to travel to Egypt for tourism: Albania, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Korea, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States, Ukraine, The Vatican. Before setting out, make sure the car has a spare tyre, tool kit and full documentation including insurance cover, which is compulsory with all rentals. You can use the private microbuses for certain routes (GEP 25 / USD 0.10.3), for example, from the Giza metro to the main gate of the Pyramids, and from Midan Ataba to Midan Al Hussein for Islamic Cairo. During my trip, I have plenty of time to rest, explore each town and city, and after initial insight at an ancient site, was left with time to explore on my own. So we are here to offer you the most popular transportation options and useful traffic information. In the case of an accident, get a written report from the police and from the doctor who first treats any injuries, without which your insurance may not cover the costs. You can spend GEP 2 / USD 0.1 to any stop. From travel tips on when and where to go and how to get around, to responsible travel decisions and tackling general safety concerns, this Egypt travel guide has you covered. Seats are reservable up to seven days in advance. The service not only runs to Cairo city center but also to Heliopolis, Nasr City, Giza, Mohandessin, Zamalek, Maadi and thePyramids area. I never once felt unsafe, but I did see and sense the maximum security in place, which can be a shock to some people at first especially if you are not used to travelling in post-conflict destinations. So it's recommended hiring a car with driver. You can get to most cities and towns by bus, at a reasonable cost. Its not uncommon to think or ask: Is Egypt safe to travel to right now?. The driver must be at least 25 years of age. All car rentals must by law be sold with third-party insurance. Euros, British Pounds and US Dollars (new and in good condition) are all easy to exchange to Egyptian Pounds. It is my long time desire to travel to visit and to capture the best memories. A more picturesque way to travel around the city is in a caleche (horse-drawn cart). Fares rise as seats on the plane get booked up, so its best to book early if possible. Egyptian mechanics are usually excellent at coping with breakdowns, and all medium-sized towns have garages (most with a range of spare parts for French, German and Japanese cars). Routes operate from Salloum on the Libyan border to Alexandria and Cairo, and south down the Nile from Cairo to Luxor and Aswan. Eastern Delta serves the Canal area, Mansoura and Damietta; Middle Delta runs to Kafr El-Sheikh, Manufiyyah and Tanta; Western Delta serves Damanhur, Alexandria, the NW coast and Siwa; Southern areas serves all areas in the Nile Valley and along the Red Sea Coast; Sinai Buses Company serves all areas of Sinai. Give 15-30 EGP ($1-2) tip per person, and service industries such as hotel and restaurant staff where you may round up the bill to a lump sum or add 10% of the total as the tip.