Egypt : Why go there?
Egypt : The good reasons to go
The Nile aboard a Dahabiya
Let yourself be transported by the hypnotic lights of the setting sun.
See one of the wonders of the world
The spirit of the souls who inhabit them will leave no one indifferent. Pyramids fascinate.
A unique underwater experience
Equipped with a mask and snorkel, a surprising universe awaits you.
A welcoming population
Naturally tolerant, Egyptians perpetuate an ancestral culture of hospitality.
Of Men and Gods
Follow in the footsteps of people whose names are everywhere.
Taste the flavors of the Orient
Spicy cuisine, spicy coffees and fragrant scents: come and enjoy a unique experience.
Time travel
A stroll through a city is a journey through the civilizations that have shaped history.
The Sinai mountains
Enjoy superb hiking on some of the world's most sacred mountains.
To the rhythm of oriental dances
To the sound of the music, the spectator drowns in a passionate, intoxicating aesthetic.
Encountering diverse cultures
Whether Nubian or Bedouin, the country has nothing to envy of its cultural riches.
Egypt : Good to know to visit
Timetable
Most tourist sites open between 9am and 4pm continuously, sometimes opening earlier around 7am and closing a little later, but rarely after 6pm. Some have night-time options.
To be booked
Depending on the site and the region, some are only accessible with a reservation, others are not. Find out in advance, as some sites can only be visited by appointment.
Please note that on some sites in Upper Egypt (particularly around Aswan), you can no longer pay for entry to tourist sites in cash, but simply by credit card.
Budget & Tips
Egypt relies heavily on its cultural tourism, and while you can eat and stay without breaking the bank, you'll need to budget for visits. Expect to pay between 60 and 400 LE for access to the major sites. Certain days should be avoided when planning visits, notably public holidays such as the end of Ramadan, Eid el-Kebir, Cham al-Nessim and October 6. Fridays should also be avoided if you want to visit sites such as the Giza or Saqqarah pyramids, the Egyptian Museum or the Nile ledges. The locals take advantage of these days to flock to these sites and public places, and you won't fully appreciate them.
Entrance fees to the tourist sites listed in this guide are subject to change, particularly due to inflation, which is particularly high in Egypt.
Main events
Egypt is not a country of festivals or recurring events, except for a few fairs and biennials. The international film festival at the end of the year, however, allows you to see Egyptian novelties and meet some of the actors. Of course, religious holidays are important, especially the month of Ramadan, during which the nights are extremely joyful and where all the cultural centres, the opera house and the restored houses of Islamic Cairo host many concerts. It is then better to have a weekly newspaper in French or English to make your choice.
Guided tours
They are advisable and even necessary for certain regions. Recommended to learn more about the sites and, incidentally, to discourage the many touts! Necessary, especially in certain parts of the desert which are only accessible in the presence of a guide. To find a guide, you can rely on the Egyptian Travel Agents Association, which lists the main Egyptian tourist agencies, of which there are over 2,500 throughout the country. Its website, https://www.etaa-egypt.org, lists the names and contact details of agencies validated by the association: a guarantee of confidence if you're organizing your own trip. Approved by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism, EETA or ETTA is certainly the most informed about current legislation and rates.
Tourist traps
Or the impression it gives that here the baksheesh is more than a tip, it is rather an informal economy in a country where wages are very low. The political and economic crisis has greatly increased poverty, and baksheesh has unfortunately become more a necessity for everyone than a game for some. It is also another way of "practicing" almsgiving by giving a pen, a piece of candy, a small note to someone who has only his eyes to offer and his hand to hold out.
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Egypt : Discover
The profile of Pharaoh wearing the double crown of Upper and Lower Egypt still projects its magnificence on the country. Great civilizations have shone on these varied lands. It is dense, but you also take the time to feel the country at the seven thousand year old rhythm of its civilizations, whose inhabitants today are the perfect example of serenity in the face of time: everything flows, like the Nile, the creative and nourishing river that has fed the country for thousands of years. From the depths of the Red Sea to the oases of the desert, meet a wise and peaceful people: their religion, their values, their different heritages - architectural, musical, culinary. Egypt invites you to discover its thousand and one facets. A long quest for love, like that of the traveller who is touched by Egyptomania before he has set foot on the ground and, once he has tasted the water of the Nile, will return a second time, and then often...
