Egypt Travel Frequently Asked Questions
When is the best season to go?
Along the Nile: December to February (the cruise season). In March/April
and October/November, things are less busy and the temperatures
are mild.
To the Red Sea: spring and autumn are the best seasons (be wary
of the sandstorms and intense heat of the desert climate. Cold nights
in winter).
What are the formalities? Do I need a visa?
A tourist visa
is required to enter Egypt. These are issued at the airport when
you arrive in the country and are valid for 90 days. Your passport
must not expire until at least 6 months after the end of your stay.
Where are the finest diving spots in the Red Sea?
In the Sinai:
- 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
Along the coast:
- Near Hurghada:
Shaab Abu Ramada
- Giftun island: Carless Reef
- Qosseir and the surrounding area:
Green Hole, Beit Goha, Sirena Beach Home Reef All year round, professional
diving clubs run by qualified instructors (PADI or CMAS) organize
introductory or sport dives (limited to a depth of 30 metres). A
medical certificate may be required. There are also plenty of lovely
things to see simply by snorkelling out from the beach.
Where can I play golf easily?
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 people not staying
with them.
In Cairo: Mena House Oberoi (founded in 1902), Gezira Club (9 holes)
Katameya Heights (27 holes), Mirage City, Pyramids Al Soleimania
(27 holes).
- the Royal Valley in Luxor, the Sporting Club in Alexandria.
- on the Red Sea: in Hurghada, the Cascades Golf Resort(18 holes),
in El Gouna (18 holes), in Sharm El-Sheik: Jolie Ville Golf Resort
(18 holes).
Where can I have fun when the sun goes down?
In the seaside resorts of Hurghada, Naama Bay and Sharm El-Sheik.
- in Cairo: bars in the Zamalek and Mohandissen districts, Cairo
Land and along the Mediterranean Coast in Alexandria and Agami.
Where are the finest beaches?
On the Red Sea and in the Sinai, where mountains run all the way
along the coastline. The beaches are often narrow and rocky, but
they have been well developed.
Along the Mediterranean coast, there are an increasing number of
resorts along the Marsa Matrouh road.
Is it easy to go hiking or trekking in the desert?
Specialized local agencies and the main hotels in Cairo, Sharm El-Sheik
and Hurghada organize 4 x 4 discovery excursions to the Sinai and
to the oases in the western desert: Egypt Exploration Society.
Which locations can be visited in the Sinai?
Moses Mountain, Saint Catherine's Monastery, the Ras Mohammed National
Park, Colored Canyon near Nuweiba…It is also possible to go hiking
and climbing in the natural mountain ranges.
Is it possible to rent a car and is it easy to drive around?
Driving in Egypt is fairly "adventurous". The traffic is not very
organized and is very dense. In town, it is better to use taxis.
For day trips, hire a chauffeur-driven car. In the desert, off-road
driving is not recommended. It is better to go with a guide.
What is the best way to travel long distances?
Flying is the quickest way to get to the main tourist locations.
Inner-city buses and trains are cheaper.
What is the best way to get around in Cairo and other large
cities?
In town, taxis and minibuses are an easy way to get around, and
in Cairo there is also an underground rail system. In Sharm El-Sheik,
only by taxi.
More
Egypt Travel Frequently Asked Questions - Page 2
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