General: Egypt > Reviews (30)

Egypt is a magnet for travellers and tourists, one of the few countries within the North African and Middle Eastern regions that is well and truly open to foreigners. It combines culture and ancient history with sandy deserts, magnificent beaches, great diving and snorkeling opportunities, a wide-range of local handcrafts and it's also a very affordable place to holiday. Egyptologists will be able to spend months studying different monuments and museums, whilst thorough budget travellers that want to get to know every corner of the country will also find plenty to keep them busy. The average tourist will be pleasantly surprised on just how much is on offer to them and will undoubtedly be fulfilled by the end of their stay!

If you land in Hurghada or Sharm El-Sheikh Airport then it's likely you will quickly be taken from the airport to your organised accommodation and will be able to ease in to the bustle of Egypt, if you land in Cairo then it's a much more lively affair, the airport is quite small but very busy and taxis drive at breakneck speeds ploughing their way through older cars, switching lanes at speeds only usually witnessed in Television car chases.

Cairo is busy, it's dirty and it's overpopulated, it's also full of character but the hassle of hustlers often shocks visitors, realistically it takes a week or two to adapt to Cairene lifestyle and most visitors do not enjoy their stay there or get to appreciate the city for what it is. The National Egyptian Museum is of epic proportions and is full of interesting relics including the tomb of Tutankhamen, Islamic Cairo and the Citadel is spectacular (try to visit when the Sufi dancers are performing). Khan-Al-Khallily is an ancient market area where you will find the finest artecrafts in Egypt and also some of the cheekiest salesmen. Coptic Cairo, Maadi and the Burqash Camel Market should be next on your list.

Nearby Giza is home to the pyramids, which whilst obviously touristy are still a highlight of a visit to Egypt and not at all expensive considering it's a once in a life time chance to be near them. A truly magical time and you can ride a camel for an hour there from around $5, if you pick one up from the stables at the bottom. True pyramid fans will also want to venture out to Saqqara.

Sinai is fast becoming a tourist mecca with the forever expanding Sharm El-Sheikh very much the centre of it, Dahab is more relaxed with a great range of restaurants and undoubtedly the best diving and snorkelling whilst Taba is even quieter although ideal for trips to Israel and Jordan. Climbing Mt.Sinai is a rewarding experience but it's the beaches that really impress in Sinai.

Hurghada is very similar to Sharm-El-Sheikh but is nearer to The Valley of Kings, the seaside resorts further south like Marsa Alam offer a bit more peace but are usually dearer, although in these parts you do have the added possibility of bumping into a dugong in the sea.

Everything from Luxor down to Abu Simbel in Nubia, close to the heavily mined Sudanese border is going to be of great interest to people into Ancient Egypt, the usual way to do it is to take a train from Cairo to Aswan, visit Abu Simbel and then come down stream by river boat or its much cheaper cousin the dhow.

Often overlooked is Alexandria, the Mediterranean city of over 4 million, it has a flavour of its own and the nearby Montaza Palace is extremely pleasant, Marsa Matruh is another Mediterranean gem although a little isolated unless on your way to the back waters of Siwa Oasis home to the ethnic Berber population dwelling in mysterious mud buildings and the Temple of the Oracle of Amun standing out of the Libyan Desert. True hedonists can actually travel across the remote bumpy desert that joins the more trodden Black Desert and White Desert near Baharriya Oasis.

Getting around internally is not really an issue, trains are cheap and relatively quick, buses are plentiful, cheap, modern and comfortable and taxis are also cheap and will get you around the big cities.

Ride a camel, drink tea, try freshly squeezed juices, eat koshari, smoke sheesha (waterpipe), buy some natural perfumes, snorkel and have fun bartering, remember you don't have to buy even if sellers go for the hard sell! Egypt is full of interesting places to visit and poses no problems for independent travellers or people on package holidays, it's cheap and different standards of accommodation are plentiful. Single women will most likely attract the attention of men but by dressing modestly and interacting only when necessary, it should all go fine!