Egypt
Why go?
You don’t need us to tell you that Egypt has much to offer.
From the Pyramids to the Valley of the Kings, from the Nile to the
Red Sea, this is a country blessed not only with sensational
history, but also with landscapes to thrill your eyes. Desert,
river, mountain, sea – all are within your grasp. You can
dive on coral reefs, snowboard down vast sand dunes, take to the
skies in a hot-air balloon, disappear into a pyramid. Then,
there’s the small matter of the sun, which shines every day.
Given that it’s only a short flight from Europe, it’s
easy to understand the appeal to tourists.
There is, in fact, too much to do, and those who race from one
destination to another are doomed to a hot-and-bothered holiday. So
pick your route and give yourself enough time to enjoy each
place you visit. You will be much happier with a week here and a
week there than trying to cram four destinations into a two-week
holiday. Travelling between cities can be tiring and Egypt Air is
unreliable (hence its nickname Insh’allah Air). But the
frustrations of life in Egypt are far outweighed by moments of wild
amazement: floating down the Nile on a luxurious sailboat,
discovering fossil beds in the Western desert, the jaw-dropping awe
of the Hypostyle Hall at Karnak – these moments will stay
with you forever. As for the Egyptians, hospitality is a matter
of honour: tea will be made, cushions plumped up, stories told,
all with a genuine smile. Perhaps the biggest surprise is their
great sense of humour: absurd, self-mocking, not unlike the
British.
Any Downsides?
Egypt is a safe country to travel in, property theft is uncommon.
However, at any major tourist sight expect to be bothered by
hawkers of every kind. From shoeshine boys to taxi drivers
and papyrus sellers, they’ll think you’re the loveliest
human being on earth until you refuse to hand over some money. It
can be infuriating on a hot day, but there is nothing to be gained
by getting angry.
Driving is an issue, too. In Cairo the roads aren’t
roads at all, rather a massive circuit for bumper cars. A new car
in Cairo will look ten years old after six months. It’s not
much better out in the country. How do they drive at night? With
their lights off! If you insist on your taxi driver turning his on,
any approaching car will flash him full beam as if he were an
idiot. This tradition is hard to understand and resembles the
mating dance of an endangered species soon to become extinct.
With thanks to Dylan Chandler for use of his photos
What's where?
- Cairo: Africa's largest city is a frenzy of activity: car-clogged roads, feluccas on the Nile, bustling souks and mosques, Giza's timeless Pyramids Read More >>
- Luxor & The Nile: Egypt's most unmissable sights are here: the vast Valley of the Kings, the Ramesseum, breathtakingly preserved temples, and the Eternal River itself Read More >>
- Red Sea & Sinai: World-class diving & windsurfing, St Catherine's monastery, camel treks into the rocky Sinai, glitzy Sharm & hippy Dahab are among the highlights Read More >>
Current Weather – Time
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