Memphis Tours Egypt have assembled answers to frequently asked questions by the Egyptian Tourist authority

- You need a valid passport (valid for at least 6 months after the end of your stay) and a visa to enter Egypt, for which a fee is payable. According to your country of origin, you can check for specific regulations and obtain your visa either from Egyptian Diplomatic Bodies abroad or at any of the Major Entry Ports When you arrive.
- Visitors entering Egypt at the overland border, to visit Gulf of Aqaba coast and St. Catherine, can be exempted from visa and granted a free residence permit for fourteen days to visit the area.

Egypt is a safe destination.
- Crime in Egypt nearly does not exist. Security is good and there are specially trained Tourist Police, who can speak English and they are always nearby upon your request.
- The main Nile Valley sites are protected by the police. In Cairo, too, the police are always close at hand. In the Red Sea resorts a constant but discreet guard is maintained, and security measures have been strengthened at Sharm el-Sheikh.

- Between November and March: daytime pleasantly warm; cool evenings and nights. Daytime temperatures: 20-25°C (77°F) in Cairo, 24-30°C (86°F) in Luxor, 22-32°C (89.6°F) in Aswan.
- June to September: Strong change to warm sun, very little shade. Sunglasses, sunscreen, a hat and a bottle of water are essential. Temperatures 25-35°C (95°F) in Cairo, 30-40°C (107.6°F) in Luxor, 31-40°C (107.6°F) in Aswan.
- In April/May and September/October: Mild temperatures, ideal for touring the country.
- On the Nile: December to February is the high season for cruising. In March/April and October/November, things are less busy and the temperatures are mild.
- On the Red Sea: all year round destination

- Credit cards and travellers' cheques are accepted in the main hotels and large stores. Most tourist shops also accept foreign currencies.

- The national currency is the Egyptian pound (EGP), known as the guineh in Arabic. It is divided into 100 piasters (irsh in Arabic). There are ATMs in the main towns and in certain hotels.
- Money exchange service is easily available through banks and certain bureau. You can also use money change service on the web.

- Complaints should be made to the Tourist Police. For assistance, contact your agent, guide or hotel reception

- Local information offices provide information, brochures and advice to tourists.
- The list of the local information offices is available on this website in: Organize your trip/ On the spot.

- Taking a laptop on vacation to Egypt is easy.
- A lot of hotels provide free high-speed Internet access and a you will find Wi-Fi hotspots in the main towns.
- Pack an Internet connection kit that contains a spare phone cord, an extra Ethernet network cable, a phone adapter and a surge protector.
- And prepare for differences in electricity. You may need an adapter to accommodate type "C" plugs in Egypt. Check the voltage capacity of transformer block on your laptop. If it cannot handle 220 to 230V, buy a new transformer.

- Various international airlines, including EgyptAir, as well as the main charter companies, fly to Egyptian airports: Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor, Aswan, Hurghada, Sharm el-Sheikh, Taba, Saint Catherine, Burg el-Arab, Asyut.

- With the increase in the number of airlines operating in Egypt, safety controls have been strengthened.
- In line with directives issued by the Egyptian Directorate-General of Civil Aviation, from now until the end of 2008 all airlines, when renewing their airworthiness certificates or waiting for a new licence, must meet the international safety standards published by IOSA (new IATA standards), or their licences will be withdrawn.
- No aircraft more than 15 years old is allowed to fly.
- Charter companies sell tickets at foreign tourist offices, and have recently begun to sell direct to individual travellers.
- Also, Egypt air is now Star Alliance

- The traffic is dense in the main cities. And you need to have international license to drive. In the cities, it's best to take a taxi. For day trips, hire a car with a driver. In the desert, off-road driving is not recommended. It's better to go with a guide.

- Flying is the quickest way to get to the main tourist locations.
- Egypt Air, the national carrier, has a very effective domestic flights network, which links most of the tourist cities in Egypt.
- Inter-city buses and trains are cheaper.
- You can travel by train to visit Middle Egypt (south of Cairo).
- An excellent Turbo train service can be found between Cairo and among main cities. For Long distance trip to Upper Egypt, sleeping train is recommended.
- There is also an extensive network of long distance air conditioned coaches.

- In town, taxis are an easy way to get around, and in Cairo there is also an underground rail system. In Sharm el-Sheikh, only by taxi.

- Egypt boasts an assortment of magnificent monuments and historical attractions. Some of the must-see are Cairo, the pyramids, Alexandria, Karnak temples, Luxor temple and the valley of the kings. In order to make the most of your trip, it is important to plan ahead your stay there.
- If you are not travelling as part of a group, you can organize your route when you get there with agencies in Cairo or Luxor, or else hire a car with a guide.

- For group visits, by booking passes and entry tickets in advance. The best time to visit the Cairo Museum is in the afternoon.

- When sightseeing, wear light cotton clothing, and remember your hat, sunscreen and sunglasses so you can cope with the conditions. When visiting religious buildings or walking around town, dress correctly. Take off your shoes before going into mosques. Women must cover their heads, shoulders and legs.

- Visitors can take photos freely except in some restricted areas e.g airports and ports, military areas. Some museums and historic sites restrict photography to protect artifacts and may charge a fee. When in doubt ask.

It is impossible to make a full tour of Egypt in a single trip.
One-week tour:
- Brief visits to the main sites: Cairo, the pyramids, Luxor, the Valley of the Kings, the temples of Luxor and Karnak, Aswan, Abu Simbel.
- Cruise on the Nile or a stay on the Red Sea coast or on the Mediterranean coast.
Two-week tour:
- Visits to the main sites, cruise for a few days on the Nile, plus seaside extension or an excursion to the oases.

- Egypt offers a variety of options: seaside holidays on the Red Sea or Mediterranean North Coast, tours mixing cultural and seaside visits, cruises, etc.
Also a very wide range of activities suitable for children and young teenagers: visiting theme parks, or kids clubs in many resorts or enjoying plenty of different sporting activities (swimming, snorkelling, scuba-diving, sailing, hiking, kite surfing, windsurfing or attending special schools for golf & diving). Babysitting service is available in many hotels.

- The perfect choice is a Sun & fun Sea Side vacation Holidays on the Red Sea, in club hotels, resorts or holiday villages (all-inclusive) are becoming more and more popular

- The classic formula: 8-day/7-night Nile cruise (all-inclusive), or Lake Nasser cruise.

- Mixed cultural and seaside programmes lasting 15 days/14 nights fit in well with the school holiday period.

The classic discovery tours offer:
- Visit to Cairo and the pyramids, followed by a cruise on the Nile with visits to the temples and tombs at Luxor, temples at Esna, Edfu and Kom Ombo, Aswan and the temple of Abu Simbel (by bus or plane)
- Lake Nasser cruise with visit to the temples at Abu Simbel.

- The cruise is the excellent way to explore ancient Egypt on board of modern boat through the charming Nile. This is the best way to soak up cultural experiences in the Nile Valley.
- Cruises include transfers from Cairo to Luxor (by air), then from Luxor to Aswan (by cruise ship), with visits to the various sites: Temples of Luxor and Karnak, the necropolis at Thebes, temples at Esna, Edfu and Kom Ombo, then Aswan and the temple of Philae. At Aswan, you can take a trip on the river in a felucca.

- Travel from Aswan to Abu Simbel is usually by air, so not all tours include a visit to Abu Simbel.

The best plan is a cruise in a felucca. These large boats with their white sails are the traditional form of transport, and let you get closest to the river and its timeless banks. They offer superb views of the temples from the river, local cooking and music, etc.

- 2 hours lunch or dinner cruise in Cairo and by enjoying oriental music and typical Egyptian Food
- Mini-cruise or excursion by felucca at Luxor and Aswan.
- Felucca/camel-back tour around Aswan offering camel rides across the dunes and visits to Nubian villages.
- Day Cruise from Luxor to Dandara includes excursion & Lunch( pre-reservation is a must)

- The variety of ideas for luxury holidays is endless. Upmarket charm and luxury are on offer. Choose your own package with accommodation in luxury hotel deeps back in history or with the view of pyramids ,or laying on the bank of the Nile , or cruising on one of the top-of-the-range cruise ships that have been restored or built in suitably old-fashioned style, pamper yourself in one of top notch spas or sailing the red Sea on your own yacht or golfing on the shore of Sea Side

- Egypt offers packages to suit everyone's desire and everyone's budget. You can significantly reduce costs by opting for a cruise package on the Nile with seaside extension, or an "all-inclusive" stay on the Red Sea coast.
- For a full cultural tour of 12 days or more, with guide, you should allow a larger budget.
- Your budget will also vary depending on the class of hotel you choose.
- And finally after all splendid experience you'll have in Egypt , you will definitely rethink about the real value got against your money.

Your first visit to Egypt should concentrate on visiting the must seen sites:
- The pyramids at Giza and the Sphinx
- Egyptian Museum in Cairo
- Valley of the Kings in Luxor
- Temple of Philae in Aswan
- or choose the perfect start with traditional Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor to feel the most of ancient Egypt and then flourish your experience including hurghade in Red Sea coast, with its scuba-diving sites and its resort hotels. Ideal for family holidays. ( 4 hours from Luxor by car )

Go beyond the popular tour routes:
- Go north to the Mediterranean coast, to Alexandria with its museum and library, its Greek and Roman ruins, Fort Qaitbey - site of the ancient lighthousfe (Pharos) of Alexandria - and nearby, the seaside resorts of Marsa Matruh and Ras el-Hekma.
- The oases and the White Desert: Siwa (starting from Marsa Matruh or Cairo), Bahariyya, Farafra, Dakhla, and Al-Kharga.
- Fayoum and Lake Qarun to the south of Cairo.
- In Upper Egypt: travel by felucca to discover the area around Aswan, the museum and Nubian villages, the Aga Khan mausoleum, and cruise across Lake Nasser to Abu Simbel.

Take the time to visit the museums more thoroughly: the Archaeological Museum in Cairo, Mummification Museum in Luxor, and so on.

The 430 km of Mediterranean coastline (between the city of Alexandria and the Libyan border) and the Western Desert have plenty of interesting archaeological and historical sites. This region is being fully developed for tourism.
The international airport at El Alamein, 104 km (65 miles) west of Alexandria, is driving the rapid development of the seaside complex at Sidi Abd el-Rahman, while the airport at Marsa Matruh, 60 km (37 miles) west of Alexandria, serves this part of the Mediterranean coast.

- Seaside activities: water sports and diving (on wrecks dating back to the time of Alexander or explore the underwater monuments )

- Sightseeing: the city of Alexandria; the oases of the Western Desert, particularly Siwa Oasis; safari trips into the desert to explore the White Desert oases.

- There are several possibilities for honeymoon in Egypt.
- Ancient Egypt is a land of endless fascination, romance and exotic charm.
- You can experience the magic of the pyramids at sunset, the awe inspiring monuments at Abu Simbel and the majesty of a cruise on the Nile.
- Take a jeep safari through desert wilderness, snorkel in the famous Red Sea, ride a balloon over the Valley of the Kings and bargain for souvenirs in bustling local markets. All this is combined with some of the finest hotels steeped in history, unique in design, and offering the best in Egyptian hospitality.

- Egypt offers a wide range of hotel accomodation that goes from deluxe , simple camping , echolodges to budget even you can have your own property or rent villa.
- Five-star hotel chains: Hilton, Sheraton, Intercontinental...
- Historical hotels: Mena House, El Salmlek, Old Catarct...
- Nile view hotels
- Very luxury hotels: Four Seasons, Marriott...
- Boutique hotels such as Mudera in Luxor
- Echolodge such as Basata in Red Sea
- Camps in Dahab & Newbie
- Eco-friendly resorts like El Gouna
- Resorts wiuth Golf possibility: JW Marriott in Cairo...
- Residential Tourism in Red Sea and North Coast
- For more information or booking, vist the Egyptian Hotel Association website: www.eha.org.eg

- The Minister of Tourism has recently launched new regulations for the classification of hotel's grades. This will lead to an equitable market distribution between different grades of hotels.

Historical hotels:
In Cairo: the Marriott Hotel, a former palace built for the Empress Eugenie, converted to a luxury hotel with casino. It is considered one of the finest hotels in the world.
Also in Cairo, the 5-star hotel Mena House.

Nile view:
- In Aswan: The Old Cataract, built in 1886 in the Victorian style, is famous for its terrace overlooking the Nile. It is a 5-star Sofitel.
- In Luxor: on an island in the Nile, the Mövenpick hotel "Jolie Ville".- and the Winter Palace

Red Sea Side:
- At Dahab, the 4-star Meridien Resort opened in May 2006 after renovations.
- At Taba, a seaside resort north of Dahab, the new 5-star Mövenpick deluxe resort: 434 rooms, suites and bungalows with sea and mountain views, sports centre, dive centre, tennis courts and conference centre. And there are other luxury hotels in Taba Heights.
- El Gouna, north of Hurghada, is an upmarket seaside resort with a marina, 18-hole golf course, water sports and dive centres, with a number of hotels.The major international operators have opened several 5-star hotels. There are also villas available for rent.
- In Hurghada, the Sahl Hasheesh and the Cascades.
- Port Ghalib in Marsa Alam

Mediterranean hotels:
- In Alexandria: the Four Seasons, the El Salamlek Palace Hotel and the Hilton Borg El Arab

The major hotel chains have opened luxury hotels in Cairo and Luxor, and at most of the main tourist sites.

The best diving spots are found in:
- Dahab and the surrounding area: Blue Hole, the Canyon, the Islands;
- Sharm el-Sheikh and the surrounding area: End of the Road Reef;
- Ras Mohammed: Ras Ghozlani;

... and along the coast:
- Near Hurghada: Sha'ab Abu Ramada;
- Giftun islands: Carless Reef;
- Al-Quseir and the surrounding area: Green Hole, Beit Goha, Sirena Beach Home Reef.

Professional diving clubs, run by qualified instructors (PADI or CMAS), are open all year round and offer introductory or recreational dives (limited to a depth of 30 metres). You may need a medical certificate. But you can also see plenty of interesting things from the beaches, just using a mask and snorkel.

Many hotels provide dive centres run by outside contractors, who are in turn supervised by the Egyptian authorities. This is the best guarantee of safety, because in the interests of good-quality conservation of Egypt's underwater environment, the government has put a strictly regulated regime in place.

If you haven't booked a golf theme holiday, you can still play golf once you arrive. The big hotels offer daily services, (including a shuttle service), which are also available to guests who aren't staying with them.

There are 17 golf courses in Egypt:
1 Alexandria Sporting Club
2 Porto Marina El Alamein
3 Katameya Heights Golf & Tennis Resort
4 Gezira Sporting Club
5 Solaimaneyah Golf City
6 Dreamland Golf & Tennis Resort
7 Mena House Golf Club
8 JW Marriott Mirage City Golf Club
9 Amarante Golf City
10 Luxor Royal Valley Golf Club
11 Stella Di Mare Golf Resort
12 El Gouna Golf Club
13 Madinat Makadi Golf Resort
14 Steigenberger Al Dau Resort
15 The Cascades Golf & Country Club
16 Taba Heights Golf Resort
17 Maritim Jolie Ville Golf & Resort

- Specialized local agencies and the main hotels in Cairo, Red Sea,Sinai, organize 4 x 4 discovery excursions to Sinai and to the oases in the western desert.

- A number of luxury hotels have health spas and golf courses.
- These combined holidays are popular with a steadily growing number of tourists and cater well for business tourists.
- Worthy of particular note is the 5-star luxury resort La Residence des Cascades at Soma Bay (Hurghada), which combines a golf course with a thalassotherapy centre known as "The Cascades Hot Sea Baths".

* Egypt Cradle of Civilization
- Traditional Nile Cruise between Luxor & Aswan
- Giza: the pyramids the last remaining wonder of ancient word and the Sphinx. The site at Saqqara. The first building in the history
- Temples in Karnak and Luxor, on the east bank of the Nile; on the west bank: the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens, the Valley of the Nobles, the Valley of the Artisans (Deir al-Medina), the temple of Hatshepsut, the temple of Medinat Habu, the colossi of Memnon, the Ramesseum.
- The valley sites: Esna, Kom Ombo, Dendera, Abydos.
- Aswan and Elephantine Island, the temple of Philae and the temples at Abu Simbel.

In Cairo:
- trip to old Cairo: the earliest Christian churches, the Coptic quarter and its museum; El Fustat Market
- the Muslim quarter, the mosques, Fatimid mausoleums, and the souk (market) of Khan el-Khalili;
- the Citadel of Saladin and the view over the city from the top of its ramparts;
- the archaeological museum in Cairo.

In Alexandria:
- the Greek and Roman ruins,Roman Theater
- explore Qaitbey fortress
- take a mysterious journey down 115ft into the catacombs of Kom ash-Shuqqafa
El Alamien Cemeteries
Monasteries of Wadi El Nutruin
the Western Desert, the ruins at the oases of Siwa, Bahariyya and Farafra.
In Eastern Desert Sant Paoulo,Sant Antonio

In the Sinai: travel to the top of Mount Moses and St. Katherine's Monastery.

On the Red Sea:
- Sharm el-Sheikh on the Sinai coast, a seaside resort renowned for the beauty of the surrounding countryside, the quality of the hotels available, and its internationally famous diving sites.
- Spend a day on a boat to Ras Mohamed National Park
- Hurghada: for its beautiful beaches, the riches of its underwater scenery and the choice of accommodation, including hotels and tourist villages equipped with superb swimming-pools. Diving in the islands just off the coast.
- Enjoy the underwater beauty with your children from glass boat
- El Gouna: a new seaside resort 25 km (25 miles) north of Hurghada, day-trips, boat trips on the canals, and so on.
-Play golf on shore of Red Sea in Taba Heights

On the Mediterranean coast:
- Marsa Matruh, a seaside resort with pleasant summer temperatures and plenty of water sports.
- The beaches near Alexandria: diving on ancient wrecks. Take a yacht tour in Porto Marina

In the west of Egypt, everybody wants to see the oases. 4x4 excursions take you on day trips to explore the oases, starting from Cairo to the nearest oases Al Baharyyia , or about 5 hours from Alexandria to visit Siwa Oases. You can opt to stay there in a echologe or safari camp.

- The principal oases, Siwa, Bahariyya, Farafra, Dakhla and Al-Kharga, are vast palm groves in the middle of the desert. They harbour numerous springs, streams, lakes and pools. Their isolation means that the Bedouin culture (e.g. at Siwa) has been preserved, along with interesting archaeological remains from the Pharaonic, Graeco-Roman and Christian eras, many of which are still being excavated.

* Wonderful excursions and hikes on camel-back are available in the Jebel Uweinat and on the Gilf Kebir plateau, across the great Sea of Sand (to the southeast).

- 100 km (60 miles) south east of Cairo, the oasis of Fayoum has become known as a result of the discovery of funerary portraits painted on mummies dating from the Graeco-Roman period. Many remains from the Pharaonic period can be found in this area.
- 20 km (12.5 miles) away, Lake Qarun is surrounded by a very fertile agricultural zone, well provided with facilities for welcoming tourists. Tourist villages and hotels offer starting points for excursions to the oases and waterfalls of Wadi el-Rayan. Activities: fishing and bird-watching.

- Moses Mountain, Saint Catherine's Monastery, the Ras Mohammed National Park, Nabq National Park, Serbat El Khadim ,Colored Canyon near Nuweiba.It is also possible to go hiking and climbing in the unspoilt mountain ranges.

- On the Red Sea and in the Sinai.
- Along the Mediterranean coast, there are an increasing number of resorts along the Marsa Matruh road, Porto Marina,Sidi Adb El Rahman.

- Egyptian Dishes are very delicious and moderately spiced, with a wide range of choices to suit all tastes and budgets, try; stuffed pigeon with rice, grilled meat Kebab and Kofta or Molokhaya soup with Fresh Baladi (typical Egyptian bread). " Ful" and Falafel " taameya" sandwiches are to be found everywhere. Fresh Sea food makes perfect dishes in coastal and Nile cities as well. There is a wide variety of deserts for all occasions. Vegetarians can easily find their interest too.

International Cuisine is also easily founded in Egypt.

In Alexandria: Mohammed Ahmed, Kadura, Abu Ashraf, Zephyrion (Abu Qir beach).

In Cairo: Felfella, Andréa's, , Samakmak, Abu Sid.

In Luxor: El Soufra , Peace Abuzeid.

In Aswan: Al-Masry.

In Sharm el-Sheikh: Fish Restaurant.

- In the seaside resorts of Hurghada, Na'ama Bay in Sharm el-Sheikh.

In Cairo: bars in the Zamalek and Mohandissen districts and along the Mediterranean Coast in Alexandria and Agami.

- The cafés in the small streets of the town centre:, Fichaoui, Horreyya...

The old cinemas: the Metro, the Radio, Diana Palace.

Cairo stadium, during the football season (from September to May).

- We offer cruises combined with tours of the main attractions, from Luxor, Aswan or Abu Simble. Possibilities include a trip in a felucca, a trip along the Nile at sunset, or a several-day cruise (minimum 5 people). You can also have two hour-Cruise to enjoy Egyptian Cuisine & Folkloric dance in Cairo

- Egypt has a wide range of local handcrafts reflect the spirit of a land which is deeply steeped in history including e.g. blown glass, pottery, jewellery, papyrus, carpets, leather goods, Scarves, Cotton textiles, Alabaster, perfumes and spices ,Gold and silver jewellery and semi-precious stones. Bedouin embroidery from the Sinai.

- For craft goods and clothes, go to the souks or to shops run by organizations that support traditional craftsmanship:

In Cairo, go to the town centre shopping centres, the Nomad and the Egypt Craft Center, to the fine boutiques and the "Souvenirs" souk in Khan al-Khalili street. Or El Fustat in old Cairo

Luxor souk: spices, fabrics

Aswan souk: Nubian baskets, shawls embroidered in Aswan.

In El Arish: Bedouin crafts, jewellery...

In Alexandria, El-Attarine souk, which specialises in ancient objects and antiques. (Genuine antiquities are not allowed to leave the country.)