Let’s get proper to the large query: Is Egypt secure to journey? For the traveler that knowledgeable and ready, the reply is sure, and it’s an extremely rewarding vacation spot. We’ve explored the nation ourselves a number of instances and may let you know that standing earlier than the Pyramids of Giza or wandering via the temples of Luxor is an expertise that stays with you perpetually.
Nevertheless it’s additionally not a visit to take flippantly. Egypt is an intense and infrequently chaotic place that requires a distinct stage of consciousness than, say, a street journey via Canada. The challenges are actual, from persistent touts to widespread journey scams, and it’s necessary to go in along with your eyes open.
We imagine in trustworthy, real-world recommendation that can assist you journey higher. On this information, we’re breaking down every part you really must find out about whether or not it’s secure to journey to Egypt. We’ll cowl the present state of affairs on the bottom, widespread scams to keep away from, particular recommendation for solo feminine travellers, and our greatest sensible suggestions from our personal journeys.
Is Egypt Secure To Journey Proper Now: Fast Abstract
For these in search of a fast reply, right here’s our abstract of the protection state of affairs in Egypt.
- General Threat: Medium. Whereas violent crime towards vacationers is uncommon, petty crime, scams, and harassment are widespread. Situational consciousness is important. Whereas the chance of terrorism exists, assaults concentrating on vacationers are uncommon and safety has been elevated at main websites.
- Widespread Vacationer Areas: Main vacationer websites like Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, and the Purple Sea resorts are closely policed and usually thought of secure.
- Solo Feminine Traveller Threat: Excessive. Solo ladies will probably face persistent and undesirable consideration. We suggest hiring a trusted information or becoming a member of a small group tour.
- Frequent Scams: Be ready for scams involving taxis, bazaar retailers, and unofficial guides. All the time agree on a worth beforehand.
- Faucet Water: Not secure to drink. Follow bottled or filtered water always.
- Our High Tip: Rent a licensed information or be a part of a good tour, particularly for main historic websites. It drastically reduces hassles and enhances the expertise.
Why Does Egypt Have a Popularity for Being Unsafe?
It’s a legitimate query, and the priority doesn’t come from nowhere. For many people, our primary publicity to fashionable Egypt has been via information studies protecting a decade of intense political change and remoted safety incidents.
The 2011 Revolution, a part of the broader Arab Spring, was a pivotal second of political unrest for the nation. Whereas it was essentially a home political occasion about the way forward for Egypt, the pictures of mass protests and instability had been broadcast globally. This era of upheaval understandably made many travellers hesitant, and the tourism business, which is a crucial a part of the nation’s economic system, took an enormous hit.
We had been in Egypt simply after the revolution, and sure, there have been plenty of safety forces and Egyptian police round, however we did really feel secure.
Within the years that adopted, there have been additionally a number of remoted however critical safety incidents that focused vacationer areas. These tragic occasions had been extensively reported and additional solidified the notion of danger within the minds of potential guests.
Nevertheless, it is very important place these occasions in immediately’s context. The state of affairs on the bottom has stabilized considerably. In response to previous incidents, there’s now an enormous emphasis on vacationer safety, with a visual police and army presence in any respect main websites, inns, and alongside the primary journey routes.
Whereas no nation is 100% free from danger, the occasions of the previous have led to among the most stringent safety measures you’ll discover wherever on the planet.
Present Egypt Journey Advisory & Safety Scenario
Earlier than any journey, we at all times suggest checking the official journey advisories out of your authorities, like International Affairs Canada or the U.S. Division of State. These advisories can sound intimidating, usually utilizing cautious language. It’s their job to tell you of each attainable danger, from petty crime to political instability.
Verify the Present Journey Advisories right here:
The secret’s to grasp that these warnings are sometimes for the whole nation and don’t at all times replicate the state of affairs in the primary vacationer areas. There’s an enormous distinction between the favored journey hall (Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, and the Purple Sea) and the areas which can be explicitly suggested towards, just like the North Sinai Peninsula or the western desert on the border with Libya.
We keep in mind studying the advisories earlier than our first journey, and to be trustworthy, it gave us a second of pause. However as soon as we had been on the bottom in Luxor, surrounded by native households and different travellers exploring the temples, the sensation was one in all pleasure, not worry. It’s reminder that whereas advisories are an necessary software, they don’t at all times seize the total, on-the-ground expertise.
Is Cairo, Egypt Secure? What About Different Cities?
Sure, Cairo and different main cities on the vacationer path are usually secure, nevertheless it’s necessary to keep in mind that Egypt is a big nation, and the expertise may be very totally different from one place to a different. The vibe in bustling Cairo is a world away from the relaxed tempo of a Nile-side city or a Purple Sea resort.
Security in Cairo
Cairo is likely one of the world’s nice megacities. With greater than 20 million folks, it’s crowded, chaotic, and extremely vibrant. We’ve spent plenty of time navigating its streets, and whereas the power can really feel overwhelming, we by no means felt personally unsafe. The primary issues listed here are petty crime, like pickpocketing, in crowded areas just like the Khan el-Khalili bazaar, and the wild visitors. Use widespread sense: hold your valuables safe, and look each methods (three or 4 instances) earlier than crossing the road.
Security in Luxor and Aswan
When you journey south to Luxor and Aswan, the tempo slows down significantly. Life revolves across the Nile, and these cities really feel extra manageable than Cairo. The first problem right here isn’t crime, however the “problem issue.” You can be approached continuously by folks making an attempt to promote you a carriage trip, a felucca trip, or a tour.
In Aswan, we will need to have been supplied a ship trip 100 instances simply strolling alongside the river. A agency however pleasant “La, shukran” (No, thanks) and persevering with to stroll is one of the best ways to deal with it. It may be tiring, nevertheless it’s extra of an annoyance than a real security menace.
Security in Purple Sea Resorts (Sharm el-Sheikh, Hurghada)
The Purple Sea resorts are a very totally different world. Locations like Sharm el-Sheikh and Hurghada exist in a “resort bubble” with a heavy deal with tourism and safety. You’ll usually go via a safety checkpoint on the roads main into these areas. Throughout the resorts themselves, the environment is relaxed and the most important security issues are the identical as every other seashore vacation spot: watch your belongings and don’t overdo it within the solar.
Whenever you see journey warnings for Egypt, they’re virtually at all times referring to 2 particular areas: the Sinai Peninsula (however not the Sharm El Sheikh resorts) and the western desert. These will not be locations for unbiased journey, and any important journey there would require an armed escort for safety.
Frequent Scams and Annoyances in Egypt
A part of the journey expertise in Egypt is navigating the fixed gross sales pitches and customary scams. Foreknowledge is your finest defence. Most of those are extra of an annoyance than a hazard, however realizing what to search for will make your journey a lot smoother and prevent some cash. For instance, when somebody affords picture ‘help’ at a vacationer web site, they usually anticipate a small tip, identified domestically as ‘baksheesh’, in return. Listed below are a couple of of the commonest ones we’ve encountered.
The “Come See My Store” Method
You’ll be strolling close to a market or temple, and a pleasant native will strike up a dialog. After a couple of minutes of pleasantries, they may inevitably invite you to their cousin’s or brother’s store for a “particular worth.” This can be a quite common and usually innocent tactic. The most effective response is a smile and a agency, “No, thanks” as you proceed strolling.
Aggressive Taxi Drivers
This can be a basic journey rip-off worldwide. A driver may let you know their meter is damaged after which quote you a ridiculous worth on the finish of your trip. To keep away from this, at all times agree on the fare earlier than you get into the cab. Higher but, use a ride-sharing app like Uber or Careem the place the value is mounted and tracked within the app.
The Papyrus or Fragrance Store Detour
Our information in Giza was implausible, however he was very eager for us to go to a “government-approved” papyrus institute. We went together with it and it was an attention-grabbing, if prolonged, gross sales pitch. Many guides or drivers obtain a fee for bringing vacationers to those particular outlets. It’s completely tremendous to politely decline by saying, “Thanks for the supply, however we’d choose to spend extra time on the temple.” A great information will at all times respect your needs.
Picture “Help” for a Price
At main websites, somebody might supply to take a photograph of you from a “excellent spot.” After they’ve taken a couple of photographs along with your digital camera, they may then demand a hefty tip (baksheesh) for his or her service. When you don’t wish to pay for this, simply politely refuse any affords for assist along with your photographs from the beginning.
Well being & Hygiene in Egypt
Staying wholesome is a big a part of having fun with your journey. Slightly little bit of warning and pre-planning can go a good distance in ensuring you’re feeling your finest whereas exploring.
Are you able to drink the faucet water in Egypt?
Let’s be direct: no. You shouldn’t drink the faucet water in Egypt. The native water system isn’t handled to the identical requirements that guests are used to, and it accommodates totally different micro organism that may simply result in abdomen upset.
All the time stick with sealed bottled water. We even suggest utilizing bottled water to brush your tooth as an additional precaution. It might sound overly cautious, nevertheless it’s a easy step that may prevent from a day or two of discomfort.
Meals Security & Avoiding “Pharaoh’s Revenge”
The dreaded traveller’s abdomen is an actual concern for a lot of, however you don’t must stay in worry of the meals. We ate loads of scrumptious meals, together with road meals, and had been completely tremendous by following a couple of easy guidelines.
- Eat at busy locations. A restaurant or meals stall widespread with locals means excessive meals turnover and more energizing substances.
- Select cooked meals. Sizzling, freshly cooked dishes are at all times a safer wager than meals that has been sitting out, like uncooked salads.
- Peel it or neglect it. Solely eat fruit which you could peel your self, like bananas and oranges.
- Watch out with ice. Except you might be in a high-end lodge, it’s finest to ask in your drinks with no ice, as it might be produced from faucet water.
What vaccinations do I would like for Egypt?
We’re journey specialists, not medical professionals, so it’s important that you just seek the advice of along with your physician or a journey clinic earlier than your journey. They can provide you personalised recommendation primarily based in your well being historical past.
Usually, they may guarantee your routine vaccinations are updated. They might additionally suggest extra vaccinations resembling Hepatitis A and Typhoid, that are widespread for journey in lots of elements of the world.
Is Egypt Secure for Solo Feminine Travellers?
Egypt is a difficult vacation spot for solo feminine travellers, nevertheless it can be travelled safely by following a couple of key precautions. It’s a very totally different expertise from travelling as a person or as a pair. The primary problem is the excessive stage of verbal harassment and undesirable consideration you might be prone to obtain.
Talking from my (Deb’s) perspective, it’s a nation the place you continuously must have your guard up. Whereas this consideration is sort of at all times a case of annoying catcalls or persistent staring quite than a bodily menace, it may be mentally exhausting over time and may detract from the unbelievable expertise of being there.
This isn’t to say you shouldn’t go. Many ladies journey solo via Egypt and have a tremendous time. However being ready is the important thing to a profitable journey.
Right here is our greatest recommendation for solo feminine travellers:
- Gown Conservatively. That is our high tip. By protecting your shoulders and knees and sporting looser-fitting clothes, you present respect for the native tradition and can entice far much less undesirable consideration. A light-weight scarf can be an important software to have available to cowl your head when coming into mosques.
- Take into account a Tour or Information. Particularly for a primary go to, becoming a member of a small group tour or hiring a personal information could make a world of distinction. It means that you can deal with the historical past and fantastic thing about Egypt with out having to navigate the hassles by yourself.
- Be Assured. Stroll with goal and challenge confidence, even in case you are feeling a bit misplaced. Keep away from extended eye contact and don’t be afraid to be agency and say “no” loudly if somebody is bothering you.
- Put on a Pretend Marriage ceremony Ring. It’s a easy trick, however sporting a plain band in your ring finger might help deter some undesirable advances.
- Use Experience-Sharing Apps. Follow Uber or Careem as a substitute of hailing taxis on the road. It gives a digital report of your journey and driver, and the value is ready upfront.
High 10 Security Suggestions for Egypt
Here’s a fast abstract of our most necessary security suggestions for visiting Egypt. Following these will enable you keep secure, keep away from hassles, and deal with the unbelievable expertise of your journey.
- Rent a Licensed Egyptologist/Information. A great information is price their weight in gold. They won’t solely deliver the traditional websites to life however will even deal with logistics and hold touts at bay, making your day infinitely extra pleasing.
- Gown Conservatively. Present respect for the native tradition by protecting your shoulders and knees. Looser-fitting, light-weight clothes is essentially the most comfy and applicable possibility for each the local weather and the tradition.
- By no means Drink the Faucet Water. This can be a non-negotiable rule. All the time stick with sealed bottled water for ingesting and even for brushing your tooth to keep away from getting sick.
- Be taught to Say “La, Shukran”. A agency however well mannered “No, thanks” in Arabic is the simplest technique to cope with persistent sellers and touts.
- All the time Agree on a Value First. Earlier than you get in a taxi or conform to a carriage trip, verify the value with the motive force. This easy step prevents arguments and scams later.
- Maintain Valuables Safe. Use widespread sense. Don’t flash costly jewelry or money, and hold your pockets and cellphone in a safe entrance pocket or a zipped bag, particularly in crowded markets.
- Buy Journey Insurance coverage. Issues can and do go incorrect if you journey. Having good journey insurance coverage from a supplier like World Nomads or SafetyWing is important for peace of thoughts.
- Be Aware of Your Well being. Follow freshly cooked sizzling meals and fruit you may peel your self to reduce your danger of abdomen points.
- Share Your Itinerary. All the time go away a duplicate of your journey plans with somebody again house so that they know your basic whereabouts.
- Belief Your Intestine Instincts. That is the golden rule of journey. If a state of affairs or an individual feels off, it in all probability is. Don’t be afraid to take away your self from any state of affairs that makes you’re feeling uncomfortable.
Ought to You Use a Tour Operator or Group Tour?
Sure, for many first-time travellers to Egypt, we extremely suggest utilizing a good tour operator. Whereas we frequently journey independently, for a rustic like Egypt, we extremely suggest utilizing a good tour operator or becoming a member of a small group tour, particularly for a primary go to. The worth it provides to your journey when it comes to each enjoyment and peace of thoughts is big.
Right here’s why we predict it’s a wise alternative:
- It Eliminates the Trouble. That is the one largest benefit. A great information and operator will deal with all of the logistics, from shopping for tickets to arranging transportation. Most significantly, they act as a buffer between you and the persistent touts, permitting you to really benefit from the websites.
- You Get Invaluable Context. Exploring a 4,000-year-old temple is spectacular, however having a professional Egyptologist clarify what you’re seeing brings the historical past to life in a method no guidebook can.
- It Provides a Layer of Safety. Navigating a brand new nation may be intimidating. Having a neighborhood information who is aware of the customs and a small group of fellow travellers gives a welcome sense of safety and assist.
- It’s Extra Environment friendly. Tour operators know the most effective instances to go to websites to keep away from the worst of the crowds and the noon warmth. You’ll probably see extra, and in larger consolation, than when you had been arranging every part by yourself.
This doesn’t imply you may’t journey Egypt independently, as many individuals do. Nevertheless, it requires an excessive amount of persistence and planning. For a primary journey, we imagine the advantages of an organized tour far outweigh the prices. It streamlines the expertise and means that you can deal with the magic of the place, not the frustrations. We regularly ebook day excursions via websites like GetYourGuide or Viator to vet native operators.
What Ought to I Put on in Egypt?
Deciding what to put on in Egypt is about balancing consolation for the warmth with respect for the conservative tradition. For each women and men, we suggest light-weight, loose-fitting clothes that covers your shoulders and knees.
This isn’t nearly coming into spiritual websites; dressing extra conservatively will enable you mix in and may considerably cut back undesirable consideration, particularly for girls. Suppose linen trousers, lengthy skirts or clothes, and t-shirts or blouses quite than tank tops. A light-weight scarf is essentially the most helpful accent you may pack, excellent for solar safety, a bit of heat on a cool night, or for girls to make use of as a head protecting when visiting a mosque.
The Verdict: So, Ought to You Journey to Egypt?
So in any case that, we come again to the large query: do you have to journey to Egypt? Our reply is a particular sure, however on one situation: it’s important to be a ready and aware traveller.
Let’s be clear, Egypt isn’t a vacation spot the place you may fully swap off your mind. There are areas to keep away from, because the official journey advisories level out, and the hassles in the primary vacationer areas are actual. It’s a nation with a fancy current in addition to an impressive previous.
However from our expertise, the reward massively outweighs the challenges. The need to welcome travellers again is one thing you may really feel from the folks you meet. Accountable tourism is extremely necessary right here, and there’s a shared understanding {that a} secure and constructive expertise for guests is essential for the nation’s future.
For us, the possibility to face within the shadow of monuments constructed 1000’s of years in the past is a real privilege. In case you are a traveller who’s resilient, affected person, and armed with good info, we imagine you must completely go. It’s a journey that can problem you, awe you, and keep on with you lengthy after you could have come house.
Regularly Requested Questions on Egypt Journey Security
Sure, taking a Nile cruise is taken into account one of many most secure methods to see the main historic websites between Luxor and Aswan. The boats are safe, and all journey is completed inside the closely protected vacationer hall.
For police, dial 122. For an ambulance, dial 123. It’s a good suggestion to avoid wasting these in your cellphone, together with the contact info in your nation’s embassy in Cairo.
Most travellers, together with these from Canada, the USA, and the UK, want a visa to enter Egypt. These can usually be obtained on arrival on the airport or upfront via the official e-Visa portal.
We don’t suggest driving in Egypt. The visitors, particularly in Cairo, is extraordinarily chaotic, and driving guidelines are very totally different from what most guests are used to. For transport, it’s a lot safer to depend on respected tour operators, home flights, trains, or ride-sharing apps like Uber.
Sure, Egypt could be a implausible vacation spot for households. Egyptians adore kids, and your youngsters might act as an icebreaker. Nevertheless, the warmth, lengthy journey days, and chaotic cities may be difficult for little ones, so we suggest becoming a member of a family-focused tour with a slower tempo.
Completely. Haggling is part of the tradition in markets and bazaars just like the Khan el-Khalili. The primary worth you might be quoted isn’t the ultimate worth. All the time be well mannered and hold a way of humour, and don’t be afraid to stroll away when you can’t agree on a worth you’re comfy with.
The official foreign money is the Egyptian Pound (EGP). Whereas some tour operators or inns might settle for US {Dollars} or Euros, it’s finest to make use of Egyptian Kilos for day by day bills like meals, taxis, and market purchases for the most effective charges. ATMs are extensively out there in cities.
