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Egypt


Egypt is located on the northern tip of the African continent and is bordered by Libya in the west, Sudan in the south, Israel in the east and the Mediterranean in the north.

Population - Approx 75 million, the majority living in Cairo & along the fertile Nile Valley. 90% Muslim, remainder Coptic Christians, Catholics and Jews.

Languages - Arabic is the official language of Egypt. English is understood in most hotels and restaurants.

Passport and Entry Requirements - Aust/NZ passport holders require a tourist visa. This can be obtained overseas or on arrival at Cairo Airport.

Australian Embassy
World Trade Centre
11th Floor, 1191 Corniche el-Nil, Cairo
Ph: +20 2 575 0444.
Hours: Sun-Wed 8-12.30 & 1-4.15pm
Thu 8-1.45pm

Health - Best to consult your doctor or Travellers Medical Centre. If passengers are arriving from East Africa or Sudan, it is vital they have a current Yellow Fever certificate. Full medical insurance is recommended.

Duty Free - 1 litre of alcohol, 1 litre perfume, 200 cigarettes or 25 cigars. No foreign currency restrictions.

Banking Hours – Sun-Thu 8.30am to 2pm. Some banks re-open from 5 or 6pm for 2-3 hrs, mainly for foreign exchange transactions.

Phone and Post - Post Offices are generally open 8.30 to 3pm daily except Friday.
Fixed line services can be haphazard but mobile GSM works throughout most of the country.

Medical Services – In Cairo there are several hospitals with modern facilities; in Aswan and Luxor hospitals are satisfactory; elsewhere medical services are generally fairly basic.

Tipping - Tipping or ‘baksheesh’ is expected for anything from giving directions to carrying your bags. In hotels & restaurants there is a 12% service fee.

Voltage and Plugs - 220 volts AC, 50Hz. 2 prong cylindrical type plug.

Climate – For much of the year (except for the winter months Dec- Feb) it is hot and dry. Rainfall is scarce, particularly in the south. The most comfortable time to travel is from September to May.


Average temperatures:

Dec-Feb: 12-22 degrees Celsius
Mar-Apr: 20-27 degrees Celsius
May: 18-35 degrees Celsius
Jun-Aug: 22-41 degrees Celsius
Sep-Oct: 18-35 degrees Celsius
Nov: 13-28 degrees Celsius

Currency - Egyptian pound (EGL). 1 pound=100 piastres. Preferred currency for travel USD. Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted; Amex and Diners less so. ATMs are widely available. There is one rate of exchange controlled by government, established daily, and available from all banks and hotels. There are no restrictions on the amount of foreign currency or travellers cheques that can be brought into the country.

Safety and Dress - Security at airports, major hotels & tourist sites has been significantly tightened in recent years. Egypt is a predominantly Muslim and visitors are asked to respect local customs. Women should avoid shorts, miniskirts and low-necked dresses in public places such as markets and shopping areas. Modest dress is particularly important when visiting mosques, synagogues and churches. Men should wear short or long-sleeved shirts and long trousers. Shorts and beachwear should only be worn at the beach or hotel pool area.

Transport – Many flight options ex Australia, with Emirates, Gulf Air and Singapore Airlines all offering regular services. Internal Transport: Air, bus & train services are available throughout. Egypt Air connects all main cities.

Accommodation - Egypt offers a wide range of quality hotel accommodation including 5, 4 and 3-star hotels, excellent beach resorts, budget hotels and a few camping grounds. In addition there is a wide selection of Nile Cruises, with choices ranging from 3 to 5-star.

Food and Drink - A full range of international cuisine is available, however there is plenty of opportunity to eat local specialities such as mezze, lentil soup, kebabs, rice and fish dishes. Bottled water is advised at all times and easily available. No restrictions on alcohol which is widely available. The local beers, Stella, Sakkara and Meister are all very good. Local wine is improving and imported wine is available (at a price).

Major Attractions -
Cairo : Pyramids & Sphinx, Egyptian Museum, Islamic Cairo, Khan al-Khalili bazaar.
Luxor : Temples of Luxor & Karnak, Valley of the Kings & Queens, Temple of Hatshepsut.
Aswan: Philae Temple, the Dams, Abu Simbel & Lake Nasser
Red Sea & Sinai: Hurghada, Sharm el-Sheikh, Mt Sinai, St Catherine's Monastery and Dahab.
North : Alexandria, El Alamein, Siwa Oasis
Western Desert : Bahariya, White Desert, Farafra Oasis, Dakhla

Entertainment - Many choices from cinemas, discos, nightclubs, casinos and traditional belly dancing.

Shopping - Egypt is a shopper’s paradise with many excellent bazaars to explore. Best buys: jewellery, carpets, alabaster, inlaid wooden boxes, hand-etched copper plates, perfumes & papyrus.

Public Holidays - Egypt's holidays and festivals are primarily Islamic or Coptic religious celebrations. Public holidays celebrated are :

1 Jan New Year's Day
25 Apr Sinai Liberation Day
1 May May Day
23 Jul Revolution Day
6 Oct National Day

NB: In addition there is a major feast (Eid El Fitr) at the end of Ramadan each year, the date of which varies.

 
   

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