21 January

Is It Safe to Travel to Egypt

Is it safe to travel to Egypt?
You might ask this question before deciding to visit this beautiful country.

After 2011, Egypt had been exposed to several attacks and some political instability due to the revolution it had witnessed.

That’s why some tourists might think it is not safe for them.

However, now you can travel to Egypt without any fear by following the rules and taking usual precautions; which any traveler considers before travelling anywhere.

So, no need to worry!
Egypt is much more stable, safer, and better now.

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Listening to Your Government Warnings before Traveling

‎It is important to follow your country guidelines listening to its warnings before your visit as there are relationships between the governments clarifying the status. For example, it was recommended by the UK government that no one travels to North Sinai, the area west of the Nile ‎Valley and the Nile Delta (but not between Mersa Matruh and the Delta) and not to go close to borders, especially, the Libya border.‎ You should keep pace with the political situation and terrorism-wise in ‎Egypt before and during your travels. Therefore, you can know which places to visit safely.

Have a SIM-Card

Bring a SIM card; it is recommended to have a local SIM card to easily communicate, to enjoy free calls ‎and good internet speed. When you arrive at the airport, you will find, out of the arrival hall, the booths of ‎the three mobile phone providers in Egypt: Vodafone, Etisalat, and Orange.

In this blog, you will know some top travel safety tips to help you during your visit to Egypt; and you will have the answers to some of your safety concerns when traveling alone to Egypt.

Moreover, females will find out whether it is safe to go solos or not and how they can protect themselves.

Be Out of Gatherings

It is preferable to be out of big gatherings. However, you can go to celebrations or take part in festivals if they are organized under a governmental authorized license because they will be safeguarded by security and there will be cameras everywhere; so, you can enjoy without fear.

Know Little Arabic

You will feel safer if you learn some common Arabic words because you will understand what is going on around you. For instance, you will realize greetings from people; you will perceive the signs in the streets and stations.

Moreover, learning Arabic numbers will make you safer when you ride a car since the number of plates of transports in Egypt is in Arabic.

You will also know how to deal with the venders when you decide to buy anything and you cannot be deceived by anyone. If you cannot learn any of these, do not worry because in Egypt; predominantly, in Cairo, many people know English well. So that, you will always find who helps you and guide you to your destination.

Read Further: Egyptian Language 101

Follow Traditions

When you travel to Egypt, try to adhere to Egyptian traditions and customs especially in dressing. Because Egypt is a Muslim Arab country, it is better to dress conservatively. Men can wear pants instead of shorts; women can wear long pants or dresses rather than shorts or mini-skirts and long or half sleeves ‎rather than tank tops. In addition, know that drinking alcohol in public streets is forbidden.

Be Careful of Scammers

People in Egypt are helpful, warm and friendly; they are enjoyed with hospitality especially ‎with foreigners. You will find them smile to you and try to help you if you ask them.

Some of ‎them, in the touristic places, may ask you for a picture with you as a kind of welcome and to be ‎memorable for them. However, be careful from people who may want to take you to other places without your tour guide. Do not go with anyone or trust anyone.

Keeping your money safe in Egypt

If you stay in a hotel, lock your valuables inside the safe in your room. During your wandering and visiting sites, keep your money in your bag and hold your bag carefully. Do not worry because pickpocketing and bag snatching rarely happens particularly in touristic places as they are perfectly safeguarded.

The local currency in Egypt is the Egyptian Pound. You can easily exchange your money ‎through the ATM. There are many ATMs everywhere; therefore, do not be worry about ‎running out of money as long as you have them on your account.

Protect Yourself from Sun

Sun in Egypt is very hot in summer (June, July, August and September); thus, you should put your sunblock if you go out; wear a hat and sunglasses in order not to be harmed by heat stroke. Try to stay out of the sun and keep a good water bottle on you.

Health Considerations & Vaccinations

Travel to Egypt is enjoyable yet it can be challenging. Therefore, it is important to look after yourself, take care of health vaccinations like vaccines for typhoid and hepatitis A which are highly recommended. Do not forget to have the first aid kit to use them if necessary.

Know emergency numbers in case if you need them. In an emergency, dial 123 and ask for an ambulance and communicate with your travel company and your insurance/medical assistance company if you are transferred to a medical facility for therapy.

General Safety Tips for Traveling to Egypt

There are general precautions you can take in your trip to Egypt:

Avoid assembles
Check government travel warnings regularly
Follow the Foreign Ministry on Twitter and Facebook
Register in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and to be easily followed in an emergency state.
Get insurance even if you are on a short trip

Traveling to Egypt Alone

Is it safe to go to Egypt alone? Yes, it is safe but with due diligence.‎ When you follow the rules and avoid the defined dangerous places, you are safe and you will enjoy your trip. Try to know some friendly locals or fellow travelers to help you if you need. ‎Avoid wandering in very quiet places. Use your GPS on your mobile to reach your destinations and not to get lost and be aware of your surroundings. Do not worry about visiting Egypt alone; Egypt’s Visitor Arrivals data is updated yearly and they record an increase in the visitors’ number. For example, Egypt’s Visitor Arrivals recorded 11,345,760 people in Dec 2018.

Women’s Safety When Travelling to Egypt Solo

There is a question always raised in females’ minds when traveling; is it safe to travel as a solo? ‎In Egypt, yes, it is safe. You can go around and wander without any worries; however, try to ‎follow the cultural etiquette and customs of the country such as in clothes; ‎because Egypt is a Muslim country, it is better for women to dress conservatively.

On public transport, try to sit next to another woman or family to feel more ‎comfortable. If you are exposed to any kind of harassment, do not hesitate to go to the police station but do not worry because you will find ‎all the people around you help you. Use the women-only carriages on the Cairo metro.

One of the females Polish tourists who visited Egypt said, “Tourist attractions are largely safe and not under any threat. Egyptians ‎are one of the most welcoming people I’ve ever encountered on my ‎travels and they love tourists.” She added, “Not once I felt in any ‎danger anywhere in the country, people constantly had my back when I ‎looked lost or unsure.” She wrote an article narrating about her trip to Egypt expressing how she was pleased with the locals who tried to help her on many occasions.

Egypt becomes safer more than the previous years after 2011 and the tourists come from all ‎over the world without facing any problems. Nevertheless, taking precautions before your travel is very ‎important. If you follow the rules related to ‎the country taking into account their traditions, you will not have any troubles and you will enjoy your trip. You can also ‎travel to Egypt alone whether you are a male or female without any fear.‎

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   Marwa Ahmed 
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 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. شركه � حتر� ه وبتوفر ناس � حتر� ه للتعا� ل والتعا� ل � عاه� سهل و� ريح ولو كل� ته� ف اي وقت بلاقيه� 
  
 
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   Ash D 
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 Verified 6/5 stars 6/5 stars GAT tours took care of every detail and were amazing in every way. Would highly recommend them
  
 
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   Ihor George C 
 148 days ago
 
 
 Verified Trip of a lifetime We just got back from a family "trip of a lifetime" to Egypt: 3 couples arrived in Cairo from different parts of US and Canada, at different flights and times, and yet the reception and arrival coordination and documents arrangement could not have been smoother. All was arranged, and the trip was custom designed by Ahmet from GAT Tours. We were a bit apprehensive considering the issues in the Middle East, but really there never has been a moment of concern and a complete feeling of safety as we were chauffeured, flown and sailed to the various destinations of this great country of Egypt. We visited the important sites around Cairo : the fantastic, new, Grand Egyptian Museum, the pyramids, the Sphinx, Civilization Museum, the market, Citadel, and other sites. Our hotel was first class. Our voyage down the Nile from Luxor was in upgraded suites (courtesy of GAT) on top of the line Sonesta Cruise line : gourmet meals in absolute comfort! We were lucky to have Asmaa in Cairo and Simon in Luxor and Aswan to guide us through the exhilarating sites of Karnak Temple, Valley of the Kings, Kim Ombo, Edfu, Abu Simbel etc. in a very knowledgeable and entertaining fashion. WOW !! What a trip. GAT Tours made it happen. George C.
  
 
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   Andrew C 
 154 days ago
 
 
 Verified Fantastic family trip to Cairo and Luxor. GAT tours was great Our tour guides Asmaa and Simon made our trip to Cairo and our Nile cruise so much more meaningful.
  
 
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   Marc C 
 154 days ago
 
 
 Verified Cairo and Nile Cruise This was an excellent tour! GAT Tours planned every detail and was very accommodating. We were initially going to cancel the tour considering the recent instability in the Gulf Region, however, the tour manager (Ahmed Omar) ensured our safety. We felt very safe in the hands of our tour guides (Asmaa - in Cairo and Simon in Luxor/Aswan). Both tour guides were extremely knowledgeable, personable, engaging, and advised us well on how to save time and money at the various sites and markets. Strongly recommend Asmaa and Simon as tour guides! Our travel/logistics person (Seif) was also great. He ensured our transportation, pick-ups, and meals were all on time. Everyone operating the tour was accessible and responsive via iPhone. The tour guides really showed us how rich their culture (ancient or modern) is. Highly recommend this tour: Six adults (incl. 2 seniors). My personal favorites: Valley of the Kings, GEM, and any of the evening tours of the temples!
  
 
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   Angustias R 
 155 days ago
 
 
 Verified Una agencia muy fiable Fue todo excelente desde Dina hasta Omar el representante de la agencia , los guías auténticos profesionales , nos sentimos muy agustos y protegidos
  
 
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   Neil91 
 157 days ago
 
 
 Verified Good experience overall It’s a mixed review of the tour and I will divide it into office staff and guide & drivers. Ahmed Omar in Cairo office helped us with our 5 days-Nile cruise and associated sightseeing. He was very prompt, polite and professional. As we didn’t get the morning flight on the day of our cruise, Ahmed helped us book a Luxor hotel for the night before. He also asked us for a personal favour and we obliged. Ahmed was thoughtful and offered to arrange ‘meet and greet’ at Cairo airport, in addition to the pick up on our return to Cairo after the cruise. Mr Mina met us at Cairo airport for helping with visa, Sim and money exchange. Despite Ahmed’s assurance that we would be helped with exchanging money, Mr Mina was walking out without doing that. When my wife pointed that out, he tried to blame us for not reminding him, which was not very nice! At Luxor airport, we were expecting My Ayman, but someone else came, which is fine. He was helpful and went to the hotel with us and next morning picked us up from hotel and dropped us at the cruise. We chose Sonesta star goddess for our trip and Ahmed had arranged everything. The guide Mohamed Refaat met us at 3pm. He said was a freelancer, and that he was given to us because he is a close friend of Mr Ayman. We found difficult to understand his English initially and his knowledge was just ok. He spent 20 minutes outside the Karnak temple talking about canals etc and as a result we had to rush at the end. He didn’t offer to take photos, but obliged whenever we asked. He repeated himself a lot and was not very interesting or engaging. We did think of calling the office to change him but didn’t. In Aswan, he said that we should pay for the felucca ride which was included. And then went on to say that we should pay the driver as he is not paid well and that we have to spend a lot during our Abu Simbel trip. On the final day, Mohamed went to our cruise reception and asked the person to give us an envelope and then turned around and told me to give them tips, before he leaves. That was very disrespectful behaviour and we were angry. Then we went to Abu Simbel and throughout the journey, he mostly chatted with the driver or slept. The driver, Kareem, was holding his phone with his left hand and talking while driving on the highway, which we found quite scary. Despite clearly telling Mohamed that we will not take out money using our card and that we will exchange money when we return to Aswan, after our trip finishes, he kept asking us to take money out throughout the day whenever he saw an ATM, very irritating behaviour. It left us with a bad taste. On the positive side, he was always on time, was friendly and did the basics. There were other little negative things like the car didn’t have water or tissue box, though it was sorted after informing Ahmed twice. It would have been good if someone from Gat tour contacted us directly to see if we were ok. We had to keep texting Ahmed for all minor issues, and he was always prompt. The representatives for Aswan airport and then again at Cairo airport were all on time and professional. So overall it was good. Gat tours is recommended but the guide Mohamed is definitely not.
  
 
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   Malau M 
 190 days ago
 
 
 Verified Agence au top Agence vraiment au top gestion des visites, transports, choix des hôtels malgré des changements d’horaires causer par les avions, une personne était là à chaque étape au moment de notre arrivée. Un grand merci à Dina qui nous a organisé un séjour sur mesure en famille dont nous garderons de merveilleux souvenirs
  
 
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   Anne 
 193 days ago
 
 
 Verified The best! Highly recommended! 10 out of 10 The best. Seamless from start to finish. Nothing is too much. Excellent communications. We did the Renaissance 5 day river cruise from Luxor to Aswan. 4 of us. We had our own knowledgeable and very solicitous guide who accompanied us throughout the cruise. GAT also met us at the airport and in Luxor to take us to the boat and introduce us to our tour guide. Everything on time, with clear communication. GAT also booked us the Elite sleeper train from Cairo to Luxor. Their cost was was very reasonable and it was a fabulous experience: a wonderful, clean and well designed compartment with excellent service, they even provided slippers! Mr Omar, one of the managers, based in Cairo, was superb in choreographing our entire trip. Thank you GAT
  
 
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   Ehab Marzouk 
 200 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. شركه في غايه الاحترا� .� واعيد � حتر� ه وأسعار � ناسبه جدا ..بصراحه � كنتش شايل ه� اي حاجه وانا � عاه� 
  
 
 
  
 
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Is It Safe to Travel to Egypt

You will read in this article

Feeling Lost ?

Listening to Your Government Warnings before Traveling

Have a SIM-Card

Be Out of Gatherings

Know Little Arabic

Follow Traditions

Be Careful of Scammers

Keeping your money safe in Egypt

Protect Yourself from Sun

Health Considerations & Vaccinations

General Safety Tips for Traveling to Egypt

Traveling to Egypt Alone

Women’s Safety When Travelling to Egypt Solo

Your Journey, Your Way

Related Articles

Related Tours

Cairo Nile Cruise Sharm El Sheikh

Unforgettable Honeymoon in Egypt and Greece

Pyramids Nile Cruise Alexandria

Cairo & Aswan to Luxor Nile Cruise

Cairo Dinner

What Our Travelers Say