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useful info
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Visas
Visas are required by all visitors to Egypt. Contrary to popular belief, the Embassy of Egypt advises all travellers to procure their visa prior to entry into Egypt. It still remains possible for nationals of some countries to procure their tourist visa upon arrival at Cairo International Airport. Please click here for further info. |
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Voltage
220 Volts. Sockets are of the European, 2 pronged variety. If taking a camera, mobile phone or hairdryer, be sure to pack a power adaptor. |
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Health
It is recommended that you be vaccinated for Tetanus and Polio, if you haven't had a booster in the last ten years. Food and waterborne diseases are more common, so we recommend vaccinations for typhoid (valid 3 years) and Hepatitis A (validity varies).
Additionally, we recommend you be vaccinated for Meningitis due to recent reports that have indicated its presence. Please call us in the UK on 020 7371 1113 or in Australia on 1300 855 684 and we'll recommend whom to call for impartial advice and appointments.
Recommended Vaccinations
 Tetanus |
Polio |
Typhoid |
Hepatits A |
Meningitis | |
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Average max temp °C |
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Cairo |
Luxor |
| Jan |
19 |
23 |
| Feb |
20 |
24 |
| Mar |
22 |
28 |
| Apr |
27 |
34 |
| May |
32 |
39 |
| Jun |
34 |
40 |
| Jul |
34 |
41 |
| Aug |
34 |
40 |
| Sep |
33 |
39 |
| Oct |
29 |
34 |
| Nov |
24 |
28 |
| Dec |
20 |
23 | | |
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Climate
Summer: Temperatures in Egypt and Jordan are generally high, particularly during the summer months from May to September, when the sun can be fierce and temperatures are at industrial levels, so take sunscreen.
Winter: In Cairo and the Nile Delta region, winter (October to February) can be cooler - so take a jacket, long-sleeved tops and pants for the cooler evenings. The south remains warm during this time but again, temperatures do drop in the evenings.
Note: Travellers embarking on our felucca cruise (applicable to our King Tutankhamen, King Ramses , Dunes & Tombs, Sandblaster and Road to Jordan ) or Petra & Wadi Rum & Western desert bolt-ons are advised to pack a sleeping bag for additional warmth as temperatures anytime of the year do fall at night. Rainfall is negligible, except on Egypt’s coast.
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Time
Egypt and Jordan are 2 Hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time. From April to September, Egypt is 3 hours ahead of British Summer Time. |
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Money
EGYPT - GBP £1 = £10.56LE USD $1 = £5.30LE AUD $1 = £5.15LE
JORDAN - GBP £1 = JOD 1.41 USD $1 = JOD 0.71 AUD $ = JOD 0.69 (rates correct as of July 08 but subject to fluctuation)
Exchange facilities are available at various bureau de changes and banks in major towns have ATMs. If visiting Dahab or Petra, have a supply of cash on you as ATMs are more scarce. |
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Food, glorious food
Egyptian cuisine is not unlike the cuisine of Turkey, Syria and other Middle Eastern countries.The basic staple centres on pulses - fuul medames (fava beans) and ta'amiyya (chickpea patties). These tend to be the centrepiece of a meal that will normally include salads, seasoned vegetables and meats. Houmous and other yoghurt based dips, coupled with fresh pitta, schwarma (similar to a Turkish doner kebab), kofta (a skewered spiced meat dish) and fiteer (a kind of pizza) are other popular dishes. The lunchtime bargain has to be kushari, though. A curious mix of noodles, rice, lentils, fried onion and spicy sauce. It's very tasty and exceedingly cheap at less than GBP 0.50! Exotic juices freshly squeezed from the fruits of mango, guava and other seasonal varieties are also widely available, as is fresh fruit. |
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Shopping
Egypt is a virtual Aladdin’s Cave. Khan al-Khalili bazaar in Cairo is cavernous and full of unusual and everyday objects. Souks and bazaars abound in other towns, too. Top buys include - perfume concentrate, carpets and rugs in innumerable hand-loomed designs, backgammon boards, hand-crafted sheesha pipes, Pharaonic objects fashioned in marble and alabaster, Egyptian cotton sheets, clothing and of course - authentic papyrus. See our Egypt A to Z guide, supplied on booking, for further information. Jordan offers a range of quality souvenirs. Look out for high-quality artefacts produced by local Jordanian women under the auspices of the Queen Noor Foundation. Colourful platters depicting biblical fish and goblets in riotous colours are a popular buy, as are mosaics, expertly made carpets, Dead Sea products of all guises, olive oil and sweetmeats. |
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Oases hotels and Desert camps
On our Dunes & Tombs and Sandblaster tours Road to Jordan and Western desert bolt-on we travel to remote areas of the country where accomodation and facilites are limited. With plenty of research we can safely say we use the best, reasonably priced hotels within these regions. Additionally, sometimes we are able to camp freely under a blanket of the stars, such as in the White Desert.
On our Road to Jordan and Petra & Wadi Rum bolt-on we spend a night in the Wadi Rum desert where you can choose to camp under the stars or in tents at our remote Bedouin camp. Desert camping, although basic, is fun and is the best way for us to experience the desertscape. Please pack a sleeping bag, water bottle, rucksack and good walking shoes.
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