5 Essential Tips For Traveling Egypt

Photo by Spencer Davis on Unsplash

If you want to immerse yourself in history and culture, Egypt makes for a great vacation. Here are five top tips for traveling the mysterious country.

Be Prepared

No doubt sunscreen, tummy medication and mosquito spray will be on your packing list. But make sure you have lots of toilet paper and hand sanitiser, as washrooms in Egypt will often not have any. To save space, consider buying toilet paper with the inside cardboard roll already removed.

Avoid Browsing

If you do not have any intention to buy, do not browse the market stalls. As tourism has decreased, vendors have become a lot more aggressive in their sales techniques and it can be an unpleasant experience. Simple techniques like wearing sun-glasses and obvious head-phones can work a treat.

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5 Star Experience

It may be tempting to stay in your plush hotel or cruise ship for an evening’s entertainment, but it is definitely worth exploring the city. Many of the pyramids and tourist areas, such as Abu Simbel and Aswan put on a light show coupled with an interactive storytelling experience.  

Best Place to Shop

Khan el-Khalili is a great collection of stalls selling traditional Egyptian wear in Cairo. It is a lot less aggressive than other market areas. If you do overspend, you can always buy yourself a cheap suitcase to bring everything home. 

Do your Homework

Make the time to read up on the pyramids and the ancient deities. The more you understand about the ancient culture, the more you will get from your vacation. There will be signage at the main sites you visit, but they are sometimes simplistic and a little more knowledge will really enhance your experience.