Destination Egypt: Traveling From the United States

In existence since approximately 5000 B.C., Egypt is the world’s oldest travel destination. After all, it possesses the only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World that’s still standing (the Great Pyramid of Giza). When Egypt comes to mind, most everyone thinks of the Pyramids, the Sphinx, pharaohs, hieroglyphs, the Nile River, deserts and camels, just to name a few. Nevertheless, if you’re planning an Egypt vacation there are several matters you should familiarize yourself with beforehand.

Required Vaccines

Make sure that all of your vaccinations are up to date. Egypt doesn’t require any special vaccines for people traveling from the U.S. However, the CDC recommends that anyone traveling to Egypt gets vaccinated for Hepatitis A and Typhoid; contaminated food and water is a danger throughout Egypt.

Visa Requirement

Egypt requires all U.S. citizens to have a visa for entry. You can obtain a tourist visa for $15; it should take around two weeks to receive. Kansas Overseas Careers is a team of experts who can assist with the application process and answer other travel-related questions.

Clothing Suggestions

Unless you’re visiting the northern Mediterranean coast, you can leave your raincoat at home. Egypt gets virtually no rain anywhere except for the coast, mostly during the winter. The coast is also the coolest area due to the prevailing wind coming from the Mediterranean Sea. Even in the winter it generally doesn’t get much below 50 degrees. However, the central and southern regions of Egypt can surpass 100 degrees in the summer. Wherever you go, you will most definitely see a lot of the sun; make sure to pack sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat. Despite the intense heat, you may want to wear a bit more clothing than normal to be respectful of the Egyptians’ conservative Muslim culture (especially if you’re traveling to less touristy destinations).

Egypt’s Currency

The Egyptian pound is the standard currency in Egypt, abbreviated as EGP, LE, L.E., E£ or £E. Currently, one Egyptian pound converts to approximately 0.064 U.S. dollars. Needless to say, your money will go a long way in Egypt.

Egyptian People

Egyptian people are very welcoming to tourists, so much so that they will often invite travelers to visit their homes. The family takes precedence in Egyptian society; the individual is only secondary to the entire family unit.

Egyptian Culture

Most Egyptians practice Islam, and its ideology governs virtually every aspect of their lives. Since the Muslim holy day is Friday, everything is closed on that day. Many businesses are also closed on Thursday. If you’re in Egypt during the holy month of Ramadan (check before you travel as the month varies each year) you’ll find that life is a little slower than usual and you may have to follow a few more rules than is normally the case. Since Muslim people fast from dawn to dusk during this month, no one is allowed to eat, drink, smoke or chew gum in public during these hours.

Egyptian Etiquette

Greetings vary depending on the religion and class of the individual being addressed. So, during an initial meeting with someone, it’s best to follow their lead. Egyptians only eat with their right hands and it’s considered rude to eat with your left.

Egyptian Cuisine

Much of the food in Egypt is vegetarian mainly due to the high cost of meat, and also due to some religious beliefs. However, common meats are chicken, lamb, rabbit and pigeon. Seafood is common on the coast. Food is often seasoned with garlic, onions, cardamom, cinnamon, bay leaves, ginger and parsley, just to name a few. Pita bread, rice, vegetables, lentils and cheese are also very common. In fact, cheese is supposed to have originated in this region of the world. Egyptian tea and coffee are the most consumed drinks in Egypt.

During your vacation, you’ll probably find Egypt to be one of the most interesting places you’ve ever visited, if not the most interesting. Remember to not only visit all the ancient attractions but to also immerse yourself into the day-to-day life of Egypt’s rich culture, taking time to interact with its people.