Information

Egypt has so much to offer for couples, families and individuals, one visit will never be enough. Whether you are looking to relax on the beach, explore the stunning underwater world on one of the best coral reefs in the world, or become absorbed in the archaeological sites, Egypt has it all!


Let us guide you around our hand-picked selection of popular destinations in Egypt - the serene River Nile running through the centre of Egypt, Aswan and Luxor with ancient tombs and temples, Cairo with majestic Pyramids and Sphinx, the high life of the Red Sea Riviera encompassing Sharm el Sheikh, Dahab, Ain Suchna, Nuweiba, Taba where fun and diving the depths of the underwater world are the order of the day, the beaches in Hurghada, the turquoise lagoons of El Gouna, the family fun of Makadi Bay all with resort hotels for every taste and budget.


The History
This ancient land of pharaohs and kings lies between Africa and the Middle East. With a history stretching over 6,000 years and influenced by foreign princes and high rulers, this amazing country will never cease to amaze and inspire you.

Take a step back in time to experience the many wonders of an ancient past so rich in surviving artifacts that you can almost be living the time again, or simply relax in the year-round sunshine of this world-famous destination with its mix of cosmopolitan cities, velvet green golf courses, arid desert dunes, lush oases and the abundant marine life of the Red Sea Riviera. Read on and let us whet your appetite for the fantastic holiday you are about to experience. We have a huge selection of single and multi centre holidays to choose from, so browse the website or call out travel experts for guidance.

The Country
The sky sparkles with sunshine and the rainy days are few and far between - making Egypt the perfect all year round destination. Egypt boats a minimum of 345 sunny days a year with a daily average of 12 hours of hot sunshine and low humidity in the summer.


The Climate
Most of Egypt is subtropical area, but the southern part of Upper Egypt is tropical. Northern winds temper the climate along the Mediterranean, but the interior areas are very hot. The temperature sinks quickly after sunset because of the high radiation rate under cloudless skies. Rainfall averages about 2 inches a year, but sudden storms sometimes cause devastating flash floods. Precipitation often approaches 8 inches annually on the Mediterranean coast. Hot dry sandstorms, known as Khamsin, come off the Western desert in spring. In Cairo, average temperatures range from 7 to 29°C (45 to 85°F) in January, while July averages range from 21.6 to 35.5° C (71 to 96° F). Relative humidity varies from 68% in February to over 70% in August to 77% in December. The winter months are considered to be December, January and February.


The People
Egypt's inhabitants are mainly descended from the ancient Egyptians, Berbers, sub-Saharan Africans, Arabs, Greeks, and Turks. Arabic is the official language, although English is the universal language in the hotels and tourist resorts.

Middle Eastern culture and mentality is very different to that in the West. Deeply religious, customs and traditions are carried on throughout generations. Friendly and hospitable, an exceptional welcome to their land will be given by the locals and as such, expect a lot of attention too!

Food and Drink
Generally in the Middle East, eating heartily is part of the Arabic culture. Although different countries and regions have a speciality or two, hotels offer international cuisine in addition to local delicacies. With influences including Turkish, Greek, Lebanese and French, definitely worth trying are authentic dishes such as Taamiya (falafel- fried patty made from beans), Schawarma (sliced meat topped with tahini in pitta bread) and Kofta (a spicy round meat patty).

As Muslim countries import the majority of their alcohol, prices will be considerably higher than anything that is locally produced. Well-known brand soft drinks are widely available and bottled water is highly recommended and inexpensive.

Approximate Prices (UK): Soft Drink £1.00, Glass of Beer £2.00 and 3 Course Meal £10.00


Ramadam
Please note: During the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims do not eat and drink between sunrise and sunset. Non-Muslims are not expected to follow this but food and drink will not be as widely available outside the hotels. Hotels will continue to offer their guests food and drink throughout the day during Ramadan but will usually be in a closed off area. Whilst out of the hotel it is expected that visitors respect the religious beliefs and do not eat, drink or smoke in public during daylight hours.
Ramadan dates:

Money information
The local currency is the Egyptian pound (EGP), which is divided into 100 piastres. The currency is often written as LE (short for French livre égyptienne) or by using the pound sign £. In Arabic the pound is called gunaih (), in turn derived from English "guinea", and piastres are known as qirsh ().

Banknotes are available in all denominations ranging from 100 pounds to the thoroughly useless 5 piastres, while coins were rather rare until new 50-piastre and 1-pound coins were introduced in the summer of 2006. Counterfeit or obsolete notes are not a major problem, but exchanging pounds outside the country can be difficult.

American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are accepted, but only bigger hotels or restaurants in Cairo and restaurants in tourist areas will accept credit cards as payment. Traveller's cheques in US Dollars, Euros or Pounds Sterling are the most cost-effective to exchange.

Bank hours are Sun-Thu 8:30am-2:00pm

Shopping
Egypt is a shopper's paradise - especially if you're interested in Egyptian-themed souvenirs and kitsch, of course. That said, a number of high quality goods are to be had, often at bargain prices. Some of the most popular purchases include:

Antiques (NB: not antiquities, the trade of which is illegal in Egypt) , Carpets and rugs , Cotton goods and clothing , Jewellery , Leather goods , Papyrus , Perfume , Water-pipes (Sheeshas) , Spices - can be bought at colourful stalls in most Egyptian markets. Dried herbs and spices are generally of a higher quality than that available in Western supermarkets and are up to 4 or 5 times cheaper, though the final price will depend of bargaining and local conditions.

Useful phrases
Yes: naam, aywa
No: la
Please: men fadlak (m.), men fadlik (f.)
Thank you: shukran
Sorry/Excuse me: assef
Good morning: sabah el-kheir
Good evening: masa el-kheir
Welcome: Marhaba
Goodbye: salam (peace)
I don't speak Arabic: ma-batkallamsh 'arabi?
I don't understand: ana mish fahem
Do you speak English?: int betetkalem inglizi?
Can you help me?: mumken tsaa'dni?

Transport
Flights for Egypt from the UK operate to Luxor, Cairo, Taba, Sharm el Sheikh and Hurghada. Aswan is via an internal flight. Transfers in Upper Egypt between different areas such as Luxor and Aswan and Luxor and Hurghada and vice versa can take approximately 4-5 hours by luxury coach transfers. In addition it is government procedure to have a police escort.

VISAS & IMMIGRATION
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 (note it is not visas are not chargeable when visiting the red sea resorts of Taba and Sharm-el-Sheikh)

Entry Visa - required for any foreigner arriving in Egypt for purposes other than tourism, e.g. work, study, etc. 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.

Entry visas may be obtained from Egyptian Diplomatic and Consular Missions Abroad or from the Entry Visa Department at the Travel Documents, Immigration and Nationality Administration (TDINA).

Citizens of many countries may obtain a visa on arrival at major points of entry. The fees for a single-entry visa are as follows:

UK citizens: £15

Please check with your nearest Egyptian Consular mission for more details concerning visa regulations applying to your citizenship.

These details are correct to the best of our knowledge but we strongly advise to check on with the relevant embassy / consular in your home country as rules are subject to change at any point and we cannot accept any liability for the information contained on www.preferredegypt.co.uk.

The address of the Egyptian Consulate General in London is:
2 Lowndes Street, London SW1X 9ET
Tel: 0207 235 9719

TRAVEL INSURANCE / HEALTH
For inoculation requirements contact your own GP. Recommended vaccinations may vary from time to time.

If you need medical care whilst in Egypt, it is best to be aware that medical providers may not accept payment through your insurance company. In these circumstances you will have to pay in full after your treatment and file a claim with your insurance company for reimbursement. Therefore you should have access to cash, either from a credit card or by wire transfer. If you need assistance contact the country's local embassy or representative.

To be compensated you must be treated by licensed medical personnel and provide your insurance company with proper documentation and receipts.

It is a condition of booking to always ensure you have a comprehensive travel insurance policy which covers you for repatriation to your home country.