Why Visit Egypt?
Egypt and its ancient culture along the Nile has captivated and amazed travelers for centuries. From the sand-covered tombs of lost civilizations to the dusty, barren desert of the Sahara, Egypt will bring out the adventurer in all of us.
You get to learn the history of Ancient Egypt, see firsthand the ruins of the pinnacle of human achievements, and act out one of your favorite scenes from the Indiana Jones movies. Now, tell me why you would not want to visit Egypt? 😛
When to Visit Egypt?
October to April is usually the best time to visit due to mild weather, but in my opinion, the crowds and the increase in price might ruin it for you. I would recommend shoulder seasons like June or September, where you will have the best of both worlds with fewer people, okay weather, and not too expensive.
How to Get to Egypt?
Cairo is a big city, in fact, one of the biggest in Africa, and you will have no trouble finding a flight there. But be sure to browse through Skyscanner or Expedia to find the cheapest possible flight for your trip.
How to Get Around Egypt?
Trains and buses are well-connected with tourist cities. The cheapest mode of intercity transportation I found was buses, but trains do offer a nice way of seeing the country from a different perspective.
To learn more about the train schedule, I always consulted Seat61.com's comprehensive guide to trains in Egypt.
For buses, I always go with GoBus because they are comfortable, reliable, and cheaper than the trains.
In Cairo, taxis and metros are recommended. Metros are only accessible within the main city premises, so you might be required to take a taxi to go further, such as from Cairo to the pyramids of Giza. If you are taking a taxi, hail it from the street and don't ever get in until you verify that their meter is not "broken". If you don't have much choice, say coming back from the pyramid, bargain hard and don't ever get in a taxi until you and the driver agree upon a price.
How NOT to Get Scammed?
Scamming is common in Egypt, and it is important for you to know how they do it and how you can avoid getting scammed, like I did. I have written an entire article about it, so you can read more on ways to avoid getting scammed in Egypt here.
Here are a few things to keep in mind: Everyone gets scammed at the pyramid, whether it is the taxi driver who pretends the meter is broken, a person impersonating a guard and attaching themselves to you like leeches until you pay them, people pretending to give you free stuff which is actually not free, or people starting a friendly conversation out of nowhere. So keep your eyes open and ignore any interactions that seem out of the ordinary.
If you really have no time for these scammers and would like to visit Egypt in peace, I highly recommend that you go on either a day trip or an organized tour instead. Being with a local tour guide will significantly reduce your chances of having to deal with these people, and you will be able to enjoy Egypt without any hassles.
There are several day trips you can join in Egypt from Viator or GetYourGuide. If you want to explore further, you can also go on an organized multi-day trip that will help you avoid all the unnecessary annoyances that come with visiting Egypt.
Daily Budget
This location is less expensive than most countries, but it's not exceedingly cheap. Expect to spend around $30 - $50 USD per day per person, which includes both accommodation and meals.
Please keep in mind that these are suggested daily budgets based on my own style of travel, which leans more towards the budget side of things. If you aim to stick to this budget, anticipate sleeping in dormitories, dining out only occasionally, and being comfortable with the cheapest and most convenient modes of transportation, which often involve a considerable amount of walking.
Is it Safe in Egypt?
One thing to be aware of in Egypt is scams. Scamming is very common here, and it is important for you to know how they operate and how you can avoid getting scammed, as I did.
I have written an entire article about it, so you can read more on ways to avoid getting scammed in Egypt there. That said, not all locals are out to scam you. It's just that the scammers are the loudest, most aggressive, and they always make themselves known to you the moment you arrive at a tourist attraction.
Here are a few things to keep in mind: everyone gets scammed at the pyramid, whether it be the taxi driver who pretends the meter was broken, a person impersonating a security guard taking you to where you want to go before asking for money, or people pretending to give you free stuff but then aggressively asking you to pay.
There is simply no shortage of them, and there is no way to avoid them, either. So, whenever a person comes up to have a friendly conversation with you, be extremely skeptical about it, as more often than not, they will try to scam you along the way.
Which tourist SIM card is best for Egypt?
There are four major carriers in Egypt: Vodafone, Orange, Etisalat, and WE. All of these carriers offer a similar range of coverage and packages that are available for travelers.
I personally used Vodafone as they have a package specifically for tourists and can be easily obtained at the airport or in any Vodafone shop you find in the country. There are 2 packages available - one with 8 GB of data, 200 minutes, and 20 international minutes for 200 EGP, and another with 30 GB for 500 EGP.
The validity of these packages is 30 days and can be extended as you see fit with other packages. I recommend you get the 8 GB one, which should be more than enough for most tourists.
For more information about Egypt's local SIM card: Egypt's Prepaid Data SIM Card.
Tips: To stay connected with your loved ones at home, make sure to have a VPN service like NordVPN installed before traveling so that you can bypass any local Internet censorship you might encounter while in Egypt.
What to Pack for Egypt?
As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to Egypt:
- Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.
- Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.
- Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi's jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.
- Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It's lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.
- Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker's towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.
- Swim Suits: A swim trunk is a must-pack item if you are planning to visit Egypt in the summer, just in case there is a body of water you can jump in.
- Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.
- Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.
- Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It's a total game-changer.
- Universal Adapter: You'll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.
- Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.
- Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It's large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it's stylish as hell!
- Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can't go wrong with Osprey.
For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.