Egypt
Holidays in Egypt
Egypt is on the continent of Africa, at the eastern end of the Mediterranean and close to Israel and Jordan. It has a hot, dry climate making it a great destination for sunshine vacations. The official language of this east-meets-west country is Arabic, but English is widely spoken in the main resorts. The currency is the Egyptian pound, but the accommodating traders will often take dollars, euros or sterling – at their own favourable exchange rates, of course!
There are several international airports at Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Hurghada, Sharm El-Sheikh and Burg Al-Arab, making it easy to get to your chosen destination. A tourist visa is required and can be obtained in advance from the Egyptian Embassy or at points of entry on arrival.
To some, a holiday in Egypt conjures up dusty camel trains, felucca sailboats on the Nile, royal tombs, magnificent temples, mummified bodies and ancient pyramid architecture. To others it depicts blazing sunshine, soft sandy beaches and diving in crystal-clear waters. Both images are perfectly correct; Egypt offers the best of both worlds!
Red Sea Resorts
The beaches along the Red Sea coast are the perfect place to enjoy a sunshine beach vacation, with luxury resorts and great diving opportunities. The palm-fringed beaches are set against the unfamiliar desert backdrop, with crimson coloured mountains contrasting with golden sands and brilliant blue waters. Explore beneath the surface of the sea and marvel at the brilliantly colourful gardens of corals and anemones, shoals of brilliant fish, turtles and dolphins. Resorts such as Sharm El-Sheikh and Hurghada are also perfect for shopping and haggling in the bazaars, eating delicious local cuisine beneath the stars and partying till late.
Ancient Egyptian Civilizations
The flip-side of Egypt is the awe-inspiring wonders and rich treasures of Ancient Egypt; the mysteries of the pyramid builders, the wonders of beautifully carved obelisks, massive temples, falcon-headed gods and sacred tombs, still retaining their colourful painting and decorative hieroglyphs. The easiest ways to access these unparalleled wonders is from the River Nile, the lifeblood of the country. Most Egyptians today still live close to the fertile Nile Valley and use it as a source of water and for transport. It rises as the White Nile in the Great Lakes region of central Africa and flows through the Nubian Desert to Abu Simbel and the mighty Aswan Dam. It then meanders through Upper Egypt, past Edfu, Luxor, the Valley of the Kings at Karnak, down to the capital city of Cairo and ends in the Mediterranean at Alexandria. These magnificent cities are well worth a stop-over as part of your Egypt beach vacation.
What to Pack for Your Egypt Vacation
During the summer, Egypt can get incredibly hot, so pack plenty of cool, loose cotton clothes, a shady hat and plenty of sunscreen! The climate is ideal for winter vacations too, with temperatures ranging from 13-21C (55-70F). You may need a jacket as the desert temperatures drop quickly at night, but this is one vacation where you can leave your umbrella behind! As the region is predominantly Muslim, loose trousers and tops with longer sleeves are useful for visiting the sights and temples, to show respect to their more modest culture. Sandals are perfect and can be multipurpose for both sightseeing and for the beach.
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