Vacation in Egypt: The Great Pyramids & The Red Sea

Information About Egypt

There are currently around 96 million inhabitants living in an area of ​​over 390,000 square miles, making Egypt the most populous country in Africa. Most of the inhabitants live in the urban centers of Cairo and Alexandria and along the Nile. The official language is Arabic and over 90 percent of the population are Muslims. Egypt borders Libya to the west, Sudan to the south, and Israel to the east along the Sinai Peninsula.

Arrival in Egypt

Egypts major airports served are Hurghada, Sharm el Sheikh, and Marsa Alam on the Red Sea. The providers include Lufthansa, Condor, EgyptAir, Air Cairo, Eurowings, and EasyJet.

Entry

Despite the current political situation, there are many vacation regions that are considered safe, but also areas for which explicit travel warnings or at least safety advice have been issued.

The current entry regulations and safety information can be found on the website of the travel.state.gov. Please always read the current safety information before your trip, as it may change.

U.S. citizens must obtain a visa to enter Egypt. US travelers can purchase a single-entry 30-day tourist visa on arrival at Egyptian airports for a fee of roughly $25 USD. US travelers can also purchase a $60 USD mult-entry visa. Alternatively, you can apply for an e-visa for Egypt online before you leave.

With illustrations from various historical periods of Egypt and being located on the fertile lands of the River Nile, Cairo presents you with the most famous natural beauties of the country. Some of these attractions include:

1. The Red Sea

2. Nasser Lake

3. Suez Canal

4. Nile Valley

5. Sinai Peninsula

But the highlights of the city are not limited to its natural attractions. With its historical bazaar, madrasas, statues, towers, and European architecture, it is an appealing city that will feel like a time travelling experience. In the Khan el Khalili Bazaar, one of the major markets of Egypt, you can find souvenirs and pieces of jewelery made of silver, copper, and gold and enjoy the flavours of exotic spices of the East that soar through the colourful bazaars. You will surely find something to remember your Egyptian holiday by.

Delicious Local Food and Drinks

Influenced by the Mediterranean and Red Sea cuisines, the Egyptian cuisine consists of a unique and broad culinary culture. Fish, meat, rice and cereals, and spices are used quite frequently in the Egyptian cuisine. Cheese, salad, pickles and hummus, on the other hand, are generally served as starters appealing to all types of tastes. Ful medames, for instance, is one of the most consumed local foods: a local dish of cooked fava beans served with vegetable oil and cumin.

Another typical food, also common to many people is shawarma. You will feel the difference of the local shawarma prepared in chopsticks of meat pieces and tomato slices and cooked well in the oven. Whether you are in Cairo, Sharm El Sheikh or Luxor, you should definitely taste the cheap local food, the flavor of which will linger for a long time – even after your stay.

• Falafel (in Egypt they are called Ta'meya and are made from green beans) are the perfect snack between meals. They taste a little spicier than the falafel we know and are made from fava beans and lots of herbs.

• "Koshari" is considered the Egyptian national dish and is the perfect cheap meal between meals - made from pasta, rice, lentils, and tomato sauce. Sometimes ingredients like chickpeas and fried onions are added. Vegetarian, cheap, delicious and REALLY filling!

• “Meze” are the delicious starters that are usually served with fresh flatbread: These include delicious dips such as Baba Ganoush (made from baked eggplant), Kischk (yogurt) and of course hummus (made from chickpeas)

• Mashi - Whether zucchini, eggplant, vine leaves or peppers: Mashi can be prepared with various vegetables, which are filled with rice, herbs, tomato sauce and oriental spices such as cinnamon and allspice.

• Alcohol is prohibited on the streets, but this does not prevent Egypt from brewing its own good beers such as "Stella", which are available in bars, restaurants, and hotels. Alternatively, you can do as the locals do and avoid alcohol altogether and instead enjoy the delicious Arabic coffee or the Bedouin black sweetened mint tea, which is available at any time of the day and often even for free in Egypt.

Experience Fun and Entertainment During Your Egypt Vacation

One of the most entertaining activities during your Egypt vacation is the desert safari. An insider tip for experiencing a combination of sea, sun and desert is the city of Hurghada. Located at the north-east of Luxor, Hurghada offers rich options not only for desert safaris, during which you will closely observe Bedouin lifestyle, but also scuba diving to discover the under water mysteries of the Red Sea. Perfect for a sunny beach vacation.

The Nile stretches for over 4,225 miles through the otherwise dry desert of North Africa and provides green fields and palm forests on its banks. Nile cruises usually start in luxury and allow you to experience a large part of Egypt's sightseeing highlights in just a few days, including Thebes, Abu Simbel, Aswan, the Valley of the Kings, and much more.