Why Egypt should be your next destination?
Egypt is worthy of your bucket list. Why? It’s one of the greatest world’s destinations. It focuses both on the country’s glut of Pharaonic treasures and, sandy shores of the Red Sea. Egypt is the perfect place to escape from your daily routine life; take a break to receive a unique spiritual rebirth. It features a diversity of worship serene places, which allow you to open your mind and soul to a new different culture.
As well as the beaches, and the pyramids, tombs, and temples along the Nile, you’ll find cities such as Cairo and Alexandria, brimming with cultural monuments and vibrant city life, and the desert landscapes of both the Sinai and the Western Desert.
Best Time to Visit Egypt
Summer:
Egypt’s tourism low season are June, July, and August, when the extreme heat makes sightseeing a struggle. Egyptians go to Alexandria for beach vacations because the temperatures along the Mediterranean is more acceptable.
Fall (September & October):
From late-September, temperatures start dropping down from scorching, but the popular tourist sites still aren’t crowded, so October is a great time to travel.
Winter (November to February):
This is Egypt’s most popular tourism season for good reason. Sunny and warm weather in Upper Egypt (Luxor and Aswan) and along the Red Sea coast bring tourists flocking to both the beaches and to the major historic sites. This is also the best time for desert adventures in the Western Desert.
Spring (March to May):
Overall, this is a good time to travel, though be aware that occasional dust storms in March and April can hamper both sightseeing and transport.
Your Travel Guide to Cairo
Egypt’s capital is one of the world’s great historic capitals, with so many mosques and other buildings dating back to the time when Cairo was the center of Islamic empires that seeing them all would take months.
The Great Pyramid of Giza (known as either Khufu or Cheops) is literally the last existing Ancient Wonder of the World. At around 4500 years old, it’s kind of crazy that you can get so up and close to it, but indeed you can. Its surrounding pyramids and Sphinx are no less impressive, and it’s truly worth being on every single human’s bucket list.
Many visitors treat Cairo as a detour on their way to the Giza Pyramids (on the outskirts) before heading on to Luxor’s pharaonic treasures, yet Cairo is worth a visit in and of itself.
Your Travel Guide to Luxor
After the pyramids, the main reason most tourists visit Egypt is to travel back in time while exploring the country’s ancient temples. The temples are filled with interesting carvings, paintings and hieroglyphics.
Luxor alone has one third of the world’s ancient monuments, and many Egyptians like to call Aswan the “Egyptian Paradise.”
It’s Egypt’s highlight destination, with more temples and tombs that you’ll ever be able to see on one visit. For most travelers, this is a place to base yourself for a few days to explore famous Pharaonic sights such as the Temple of Karnak and Valley of the Kings. It’s also the key start or finish point on the most popular Nile cruise itinerary.
Don’t worry, if you are not that much into history, you can enjoy a morning ride in a flying balloon. Not only will you watch a sunrise, but you will watch it over the biggest open museum in the world.
Essential Stats & Facts
- Population of Egypt:The population of Egypt is 105 million. It is the 14th most populous country in the world. Nearly the entire population (95 percent) lives along the banks of the Nile.
- Capital of Egypt:The capital of Egypt is Cairo, with an estimated population of 20 million.
- Geography of Egypt:The vast amount of Egypt is desert, with the narrow fertile strip of the Nile River winding through the center of the country from south to north. Both the Sinai Peninsula and Eastern Desert have mountainous spines, while the Western Desert is speckled with isolated oases and large areas of undulating sand dunes.
- Language of Egypt:The official language of Egypt is Arabic.
- Currency of Egypt:The currency of Egypt is the Egyptian pound.
- Time Zone of Egypt:The time zone of Egypt is UTC+2.
First-Time Traveler Tips for Egypt
- Electricity: Egypt uses two-prong European-style plugs.
- Visiting Mosques: The grand mosques of Cairo are one of Egypt’s most spectacular architectural highlights. Most have free entrance (a few have small entry fees) for all visitors. Wear long trousers/skirts and long-sleeved tops if you want to visit, and female travelers should don a headscarf. Shoes are taken off at the door.
- Clothing: Except on the tourist beaches of South Sinai and the Red Sea coast, travelers should err on the conservative side with their clothing, covering knees and shoulders.
- Money: Egypt has a shortage of small bank notes (which are useful in small shops, cafés, and restaurants and for tipping). Always try to break big notes at every chance you get — at popular tourist sites when paying for tickets and at larger businesses
