How to Plan Egypt Holidays

How to plan and organize a holidays Egypt with plenty of advice and lots of information on activities, what to do and what to see. Featuring travel advice, tips, suggested itineraries and country photos. Plan your journey quickly and easily before you go. Get inspiration for your travel adventure.

Steps

1. Research your destination. Egypt is known to many as the land of the ancients and from its wide and hot desert sands to the lush Nile River delta and to the ancient and mysterious pyramids, Egypt appears to hold the story of the ancient world. Egypt is a land of mystery, for instance who built the pyramids and whose face is actually captured on the sphinx? Just how were these ancient people able to attain such a high level of scientific knowledge?
   
2. Plan your trip. Holidays Egypt are surely the stuff of legends with many sites that are a must see on your visit. The land of Egypt conjures up images of Alexander the Great, of Mark Anthony and Cleopatra floating idly down the Nile. If you choose to holiday in Egypt, you will be walking in the footsteps of the great, and near great, the famous and the infamous, saints and sinners. Egypt is the land where Moses faced the Pharaoh and emancipated the people of the God of Israel. Egypt is where Jesus, Mary and Joseph fled for safety. Egypt is the land of the mysterious system to which Aristotle and Plato owe their vast knowledge.
   
3. Organise your tours. Plan your tours in advance and walk on the desert sands of Egypt and look upon the towering pyramids is an awe inspiring experience. To visit ancient Memphis or the site of the great library at Alexandria, these are experiences many could not even dream to have. But today, you can be blessed to take your holidays in Egypt.
   
4. Finalize your plans. If you are organizing your travel adventure then ensure you use some of the many planning resources to help you to plan your trip with ease, such as travel guide books, tour brochures and travel guides online.
   

Tips

• Use a reputable tour operator to actually book your holiday with.
  

How to Time Your Trip to Cairo

Remnants of Egypt's ancient civilization blend with the modern city of Cairo as the Nile river winds through the city. Egypt's capital city is the largest city in Egypt and all of Africa. A Cairo trip offers much for the traveler to see and do, particularly if you learn how to time your trip to Cairo.

Steps

1. Know that Cairo's peak season for travel is from October to May.
   
   • Prices go up during this high season, particularly hotel costs.
     
   • Reservations are recommended for hotels when you visit Cairo during peak travel times.
     
2. Consider a Cairo trip during the summer low season if you don't mind the heat.
   
   • The hottest time of year is from April through October with July as the warmest month.
     
   • Highs can top 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius).
     
   • Egyptians like to escape the heat of Cairo weather when possible, so Cairo hotels often offer discounts and incentives at this time.
     
   • Fewer crowds are found at Cairo attractions during this time.
     
3. Pay attention to other aspects of Cairo weather and climate when planning your trip.
   
   • The first half of the year is often a dry period with May often being the driest month.
     
   • January has the lowest temperatures, around 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius).
     
   • The Khamsin wind is a warm wind that blows sand in from the desert for a few days in March or April.
     
4. Enjoy Cairo weather during the brief spring from March to April (aside from the Khamsin wind).
   
5. Protect yourself from Cairo's pollution, which is the worst in autumn before the winter rains.
   
6. Pass up a Cairo trip during school holidays if you plan on spending time on the Mediterranean beaches north of the city.
   
   • Beaches can be extremely crowded during the school holidays.
     
7. Visit Cairo with care during holidays. Egypt has a large number of secular and religious holidays.
   
   • Government and public buildings are often closed on secular holidays like National Day and Armed Forces Day, although tourist attractions remain open.
     
   • Religious holidays also affect the availability of public services. The Orthodox Christmas on Jan. 7 is a national holiday in Egypt.
     
8. Remain flexible if you visit Cairo during the month of Ramadan, usually beginning in early September.
   
   • Ramadan is the month of fasting between sunrise and sunset.
     
   • Ramadan ends with Eid el Fitr, a 3-day celebration during which traditional sweets are consumed.
     
   • Night time festivals and neighborhood celebrations during Ramadan can be enjoyable to watch and experience.
     
   • Many public buildings and retailers have shorter work days during Ramadan.
     
9. Avoid travel to Cairo during the holiday of Eid Al Adha, which is held around Dec. 8 (many Islamic holidays are determined by the lunar calendar).
   
   • This holiday is celebrated by the slaughtering of animals, such as cows, goats, and sheep. The slaughter takes place in streets, parking lots, and basically anywhere else.
     
   • Westerners often dislike the sight of animals bleeding to death in Cairo's streets.
     
   • In the days leading up to Eid Al Adha, the streets are jammed with trucks bringing livestock into the city.
     

Tips

• Women may want to dress modestly to avoid unwanted attention when they travel to Cairo.
  

Warnings

• In early 2011, the U.S. State Department issued a travel warning advising against travel to Egypt due to political unrest. Before travel to Cairo, view the latest information from the U.S. government at http://travel.state.gov/.
  

Sources and Citations

• http://www.frommers.com/destinations/egypt/0398020006.html
  
• http://www.ask-aladdin.com/offseason.htm
  
• http://www.weather-and-climate.com/average-monthly-Rainfall-Temperature-Sunshine-fahrenheit,Cairo,Egypt
  

How to Travel to Egypt

This is how you travel to Egypt in style.

Steps

1. Pack your suitcases with everything you'll need to be in Egypt. Clothes, toothbrush, etc.
   
2. Take a car to your local airport and go through security. No metal!
   
3. Hop on the plane and prepare for takeoff!! Once you takeoff, bring out your laptop, iPod touch, or MP3-player and play around on that until we arrive!!
   
4. Go through security again. Same rules apply-No metal!!
   
5. Drive to your hotel and get your room key. Go in your room, dump your stuff any ol' where and take a nap before you take a tour of the pyramids and the Sphinx.
   
6. You have the tour and you get home to have dinner. After you eat, take a bath and take out your laptop, iPod, or MP3-player and turn on your music and text or email your friends about the day.
   

How to Pack for a Trip to Egypt

Egypt is a fascinating country, with a history stretching back 4,000 years. Best known for its towering pyramids, it also has fine museums, an exciting nightlife, and some of the best beaches and diving centers in the world. Follow these tips to be prepared for your trip.

Steps

1. Make sure you have all of your documentation:
   
   • A valid passport with an Egyptian visa.
     
   • A student ID card (if you have one). This will help you get discount in hotels and tourist attractions.
     
   • A slip of paper with contact information for the nearest embassy of your home country. While Egypt is generally safe, you may get in trouble, and will want to be able to find your embassy quickly.
     
   • An antiquities card. These are useful for gaining access to certain sites that are off the beaten tourist trail. You may be able to get one by approaching the archeology department of a local university.
     
   • Medical history records, in case you are in an accident. This is especially important if you have a medical condition or require certain medications.
     
   • Business cards. These can be printed out cheaply, but they still hold a lot of weight in highly stratified Egyptian society. A business card can serve as a letter of recommendation, and gain you access to people and places that you might otherwise miss.
     
2. Be prepared for Egyptian weather and terrain.
   
   • Bring Sunscreen. Egypt is a desert country, and it is very difficult to get high SPFs there.
     
   • Pack a canteen or water bottle. You will find yourself drinking quite a bit in the heat to avoid dehydration. In addition, many tourists have problems with the local tap water, so make sure you buy bottled water there. If possible, however, do not drink Baraka, as it has been rumored to have mercury in it.
     
   • Bring hats to protect yourself against the sun.
     
   • It is okay to bring flip flops to wear on particularly hot days. However, it is also smart to bring comfortable, strong quality shoes that will resistant against damage if you will come across an oppurtunity to do some rock or mountain climbing.
     
3. Remember that Egyptian culture is different than that in the west.
   
   • Men should wear long pants. Egyptian men do not wear shorts, and you will generally be denied access to mosques and other religious sites if you are wearing them. However, capris are okay.
     
   • Women should bring at least two shawls or long scarves. Egyptian women tend to cover up more of their bodies than women in the West, and exposing shoulders, legs, or in some instances, hair, can looked down upon. A shawl can easily be pulled out of a backpack to cover yourself up when appropriate. It is okay not to cover your hair, but never wear tanks or camisole tops unless you're on the beach (however, remember that it is not appropriate for older women to be jumping around like children running with bikinis) It is okay not to cover your hair. If you stick to wearing long pants, a long short-sleeve shirt or a long-sleeve shirt, you will be fine.
     
4. Bring anything else you may need.
   
   • It is a good idea to bring a flat drain stopper. This can be used for taking a bath, but also to stop a sink so that you can do some hand laundry.
     
   • 6-10 feet of thin rope. This can be used as a quick laundry line, as well as a way to tie a torn backpack.
     
   • A sturdy lock to protect your possessions when you stay in hostels.
     
   • An extra pair of glasses.
     
   • Contact lens solution.
     
   • Contraceptives—the local brands are not as effective as one may want, and birth control for women is much more difficult to come by than in the West.
     

Warnings

• Egyptians can be very traditional, and will often expect visitors to act the same way. Be respectful of their opinions, and do not come into conflict with them.