Holidays in Egypt

Officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a Middle Eastern country in North Africa. While the country is geographically situated in Africa, the Sinai Peninsula, east of the Suez Canal, is a land bridge to Asia. Covering an area of about 1,001,450 square kilometres (386,560 square miles), Egypt borders Libya to the west, Sudan to the south, and Israel and the Gaza Strip to the northeast; on the north and the east are the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea, respectively.

• Country Profile - Egypt Holidays
• Getting Around Egypt
• Climate for Egypt Holidays
• Places of Interest in Egypt
• Eating/Drinking in Egypt
• Activities in Egypt
• General Information for Holidays in Egypt
• View Google Map of Egypt

View Map of Egypt

Country Profile - Egypt Holidays

If ever there was a land of diversity then surely it must be Egypt. It is a country that will attack all your senses with its mysterious ancient past and it will delight you with its fabulous azure waters and superb underwater world along the Red Sea coast. It will mesmerise you with its amazing wonders of the ancient world and will seduce you with the magical, romantic atmosphere of the spectacular River Nile.

Since the early days of world travel the time-defying temples and wonders of Egypt have attracted seekers of the romantic and the exotic. Vast monuments and tombs stand proudly along the serene waters of the mighty River Nile, symbolic of long-gone civilisations and 6,000 years of continuous history. Today, the wealth of history, together with the sheer size and splendour of the country's impressive monuments, will captivate you.

Bursting with character and charm, wherever you go in this land of the Pharaohs you cannot fail to be impressed by both the amazing sights and the people, who are warm, friendly, generous, intelligent and very proud of everything this wonderful country has to offer.

The eastern coastline and the southern tip of the Sinai have a number of beach resort regions, though by far the most developed region is the region in and around Sharm el Sheikh.

At the other end of the Gulf of Aqaba to the north, Taba has also seen significant development, including an attempt to reproduce the success of El-Gouna on Egypt's mainland Red Sea coast in a project called Taba Heights.

Between Taba and Sharm el-Sheikh, the major resorts are found at Nuweiba and Dahab.

Holidays in Sharm El Sheikh: The simplicity of sun, sea and sand. The luxury of five-star hotels, water sports, shopping and entertainment. This is Sharm el-Sheikh, one of the most accessible and developed tourist resort communities on the Sinai peninsula. All around are Bedouins, colourful tents, mountains and sea.

There are small, intimate hotels with modern designs, as well as larger hotel complexes belonging to International chains, plus about all the amenities one could expect of a tourist centre, including casinos, discos and nightclubs, golf courses and health facilities. In fact, with diving and snorkeling, windsurfing and other water sports, horses and camel riding, desert safaris, and great nearby antiquities attractions, it is almost impossible for a visitor to ever suffer from boredom.

Sharm El Sheikh diving holidays; Package holidays in Sharm El Sheikh

Holidays in Hurghada: Known in Egypt as Ghardaga, was at one time just a simple fishing village. But now, with it's crystal clear water, untouched reefs and a multitude of ship wrecks, it has become one of the best Egyptian tourist destinations.

With more than 20 km of hotels along the beach, Hurghada can satisfy the needs of every visitor, from scuba diving to windsurfing to desert safaris. One can choose from the finest 5 Star Hotels to simple Guest Houses, and everything in-between.

Hurghada is world renowned as a centre for some of the world's best Diving. Within a couple of hours from your hotel you can be amongst a group of islands that are the home to Dive Sites guaranteed to astound even the most experienced divers.

Hurghada diving holidays; Package holidays in Hurghada

Holidays in El Gouna: El Gouna, the Red Sea's Premier Leisure Destination, is built on 10kms of scenic beach front; boasts unique; diverse architecture. Spread across a myriad of islands interlinked together by beautiful turquoise lagoons, El Gouna offers a wide range of accommodation facilities, from comfortable guest houses to luxurious beach-front resorts. Once in El Gouna you will find a wide variety of activities to keep yourself busy. El Gouna is a diver's paradise with internationally certified diving centres. Windsurfing, kite surfing & first professional centre in Egypt, water-skiing, para-sailing, snorkeling; many other water sport activities are available.

Or maybe, you prefer to laze up and soak up the sun's rays at one of our many beaches.

El Gouna diving holidays; Package holidays in El Gouna

Holidays in Dahab: The Arabic word for gold, and it is almost certain that this locale in eastern Sinai derived its name from the fine yellow sand that colours its beaches. Though it has not yet achieved the popularity of Sharm el-Sheik to the south, Dahab has a growing following, and the name may soon refer to the wealth that tourism is bringing to the small Bedouin village of Assalah. The combination of soft sand, gorgeous blue water, and a luxuriant strip of palm trees is pulling in the world.

Dahab was originally a Bedouin fishing village that today is world-renowned for its windsurfing because of the reliable winds that provide outstanding flat water conditions. However, there are many reefs immediately adjacent to the waterfront hotels, so scuba diving and snorkeling are also very popular sports, especially considering the nearby Blue Hole.

Dahab diving holidays; Package holidays in Dahab

Capital: Cairo

Population: 78,887,007

Language: Arabic

Currency: Egyptian Pounds (EGP) - US dollars also accepted

Religion: Muslim

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Getting Around Egypt

Modes of transportation range from 1st class trains to taxis to local buses.

Renting a car or motorbike is perfect for those who like to stop and explore; get off the beaten track. And of course, there is the ever present taxi.

Climate for Egypt Holidays

The summer weather in the Red Sea is hot and dry. However the low humidity makes the high temperatures much more bearable.

The winter months in the Red Sea are between November to March. In this time the day temperature is warm and the night time temperature can drop. In the winter months it can rain for a few seconds and every few years a storm can come through.

Egypt Holidays - View 5 Day Forecast

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Places of Interest in Egypt

Bedouin Evening: An evening not to be missed, enjoy a spectacular sunset in the Sinai desert from the back of a camel. Arrive at a traditional Bedouin tent, relax and get ready for a typical dinner including entertainment, aromatic tea and soft drinks. This is a great opportunity to discover the real local life of the Bedouins.

St Catherine's Monastery: Depart for St Catherine's Monastery at the foot of Mount Sinai. The spectacular setting of this Monastery, built in AD330 around the site of Moses; Burning Bush, has remained largely unchanged over the centuries. Still inhabited by monks, you will have the opportunity to see the library, museum and Chapel of Burning Bush

Boat Trip to Ras Mohammed National Park: For the joy of those who love uncontaminated nature, Ras Mohammed is without doubt an ideal spot. This is a fabulous boat trip with the opportunity to snorkel in one of the most amazing coral gardens and is always a popular choice.

Cairo Excursion: No visit to Egypt is complete without a visit to Cairo. The pyramids at Giza are the world's oldest tourist attraction and the Great Pyramid is one of the wonders of the ancient world. The day will include a tour of the Giza plateau to visit the Pyramids and the Sphinx. Also, just as famous the Egyptian Museum and the Tutankhamen treasures will be included. An Egyptologist will be on hand throughout the day to guide you around the museum and explain some of the history and legends behind the famous boy king and the other Egyptian pharaohs. Don't miss the chance to explore the souk area of the Khan el Khalili bazaar in the centre of the Cairo and enjoy lunch overlooking the river Nile. Travel by bus or plane.

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Eating/Drinking in Egypt

There are a variety of ways to eat while you are in Egypt: local, either in homes or restaurants; tourist, restaurants that have a local flavour but cater to the tourist market; five-star, where you can choose to eat Western or "Egyptianised" cuisine or western-style takeaway, yes, McDonald's is in Egypt!

So, what are some of the dishes you can hope to enjoy while you are in Egypt? Probably one of the first things you will try is grilled chicken or pigeon with salad.

Falafel, Shish Kebab and Kofta are almost staples in tourist restaurants as are Hummus, Tahini and Baba Ghannouj. Vegetarians will thrive in Egypt, most restaurants offering good vegetable soups, a variety of fresh salads, and wonderful dishes such as stuffed aubergines and zucchinis.

If you think that you can't possibly give up Western food while you are away, don't despair as most restaurants serve pizza, hamburgers and spaghetti. Hot chips are available absolutely everywhere!

But what do you drink in Egypt? Egypt is an Islamic country so alcohol is not widely available. The exception to this is Stella beer, made in Egypt and is available absolutely everywhere. An ice-cold Stella is great after a hard-day's sight-seeing. Bottled water is available everywhere, as are Western soft-drinks, including the diet varieties.

Tea is also available everywhere and no trip to Egypt is complete without a cup of Kakade (or Hibiscus tea), a deliciously refreshing beverage that can be served hot or cold. Coffee and Turkish coffee are widely available and the fruit juices are a must-try. Stalls in the bazaar or souk will sell you a refreshing glass of sugar-cane juice (this has to be the most refreshing drink ever invented).

The Red Sea Riviera offers a great variety of destinations, each with its own peculiar atmosphere and character. From the quaint, relaxing and silent Taba, to the bustling party towns of Hurghada and Sharm el Sheikh, through the chilled-out new age Dahab and El Gouna.

In the major party towns of Hurghada and Sharm you will find a busy crowded night life, with a big number of pubs, bars, trendy eateries and international clubs, from Hard Rock Cafes to Pacha clubs, Buddha bars and many other local popular ventures which keep everybody rocking until the wee hours of the day. If you are a party night creature these are the places to go without doubt. El Gouna offers instead a relaxed elegance and has a sophisticated hippyesque flair. Dahab is dubbed the Koh Samui of the Red Sea, with its beach-front promenade packed with Bedouin joints. Everywhere though, you will find some interesting local hang out, whether it is the local shawerma shop or cafeteria, where you can spend some entertaining time watching the locals play backgammon while sipping tea and smoking shisha (the local water-pipe).

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Activities in Egypt

Mount Sinai: Mount Sinai, just south of the Monastery of St Katherine, is of great religious importance to Jews, Christians and Muslims. According to the Old Testament this is where Moses received the Ten commandments.

Throughout the centuries the mountain has drawn thousands of pilgrims from all over the world. You can ascend to the summit (2285 m, 7497 ft) to experience the ultimate spiritual high; either by climbing some 4000 steps built by monks or by following an easier but longer path. Both lead to an open area known as Elija's Basin where you walk up the remaining 750 steps to the top. At the summit you will find the Chapel of the Holy Trinity that was built in 1934 on the site of a much earlier chapel built in 363 AD. The climb takes about three hours but the view from the top is truly breathtaking, especially at sunrise.

Scuba Diving: Sharm el Sheikh, along with Hurghada, is where it all started. These where the first two destinations of the nearly 20-years-old diving history of the Red Sea. Diving sites in Sharm are world famous. A paradise for a perfect Red Sea diving holiday, Sharm has it all: hard and soft coral, turtles and dolphins, mantas and moray eels, napoleons and tuna, hammerheads, barracudas, reef and pelagic sharks, and much more, including the legendary World War II wreck of the Thistlegorm. For further information visit Red Sea diving holidays

Snorkeling: Snorkeling is the waterspout par excellence in the Red Sea. With the wealth of underwater life in all destinations, snorkeling is an easy and very enjoyable way to spend some time and discover the wonders of the marine life. Whether you go out from your resort beach, or you spend a day or half a day on a snorkeling boat, you will collect unforgettable memories.

Watersports: The Red Sea Riviera is not only scuba diving! The sea here is a paradise for a number of watersports, and some destinations are particularly famous because of their perfect conditions for one activity or the other.

When you think of board sports, as windsurf and kite-surf, you think of five main destinations: Dahab in Sinai, and El Gouna, Hurghada, Safaga and Marsa Alam on the Red Sea coast. Sandy beaches, constant wind and professional centres.

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General Information for Holidays in Egypt

Time: +2 hours GMT

Electricity: 220V, 50 Hz

Weights and Measures: Kilo and Metric system.

Banks: Some open 7 days a week.

Passport/Visa: Passport valid for at least six months after date of entry required by all. A visa is required for British citizens to enter Egypt, but this can be purchased locally on entry.

Shopping: One of the great delights of Egypt is the shopping!However, there are many challenges: from learning how to bargain to knowing where the best places are to buy certain goods. You will be truly amazed at the range of goods, from souvenirs to treasures, that you can purchase and package to take on the plane flight home with you. Everything from exotic spices to exquisite jewellery; gorgeously textured shawls and scarves to brilliantly coloured papyri; handcrafted brass and copperware to quality reproductions of antiquities; and delicately glowing alabaster to fabulously designed carpets and rugs.

The souks and markets of Egypt have an excitement and flavour that is all their own and quite unlike anything that you will experience elsewhere. The range of wares on display is mind-boggling and the friendliness and hospitality of the shop owners is unrivalled. The sights, smells and sounds will overwhelm your senses at the same time that the exotic atmosphere created by the place and its people will dazzle your imagination.

Business Hours: 8am - 2:30pm (6 days a week). Fridays: Most shops open. Some shops are closed during prayer times. Most shops open until the wee hours of the morning. Most tourist shops and services are open 7 days a week. However, some businesses will close completely on Fridays. The official weekend in Egypt is Friday and Saturday with Friday being the Holy Day. It is not unusual for shops to be closed during mid day for a few hours.

Duty Free: Allowance when returning to the UK is: Tobacco: 200 cigarettes; or 50 cigars; or 250 grams of tobacco.

Alcohol: 2 litres of still table wine or 1 litre of spirits.

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