Africa > Egypt

The north of Egypt can be quite cold in winter, but generally the country benefits all year round from a warm and dry climate, except the months from January to March: The temperature varies between 20°C and 32°C throughout the Mediterranean area and between 28°C and 50°C around Aswan, which rarely sees rain.

The desert is evidently a place of extremes, with stifling days and cold nights.

You would be best to choose spring or autumn to discover the country but avoid March and April when the Rhamcin blows; sandy winds that saturate the air with dust making any outing difficult.

Full of history and bathed with light like no other city, Egypt continues to make tourists dream and seduce its visitors.

Cairo, the capital, is not the least of its attractions: Huge and multicultural, it is almost a museum in itself; the innumerable minarets, the mosques, narrow streets, the Coptic Museum and the Egyptian Museum as well as Giza with the Pyramids and the Sphinx. These are some examples of the wonders it holds.

Alexandria was an international intellectual center, of which a few traces still remain: the Greco-Roman Museum has artifacts from the 3rd century BC and you may also wish to visit the Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa.

Luxor is a definite place to include in your schedule: It’s built along the Nile from which you can you can view it perfectly; you will be awed by its amazing architecture. At the same place, the Temple of Karnak and the tombs of the Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens will enchant you with their timeless majesty.

Further south, Aswan is another of this country’s treasures: The splendour of the Nile at this point, the Elephantine Island, the Nubian villages on the east coast, the Aswan Dam, and the Temple of Philae saved from the water by UNESCO, are just some of the stopovers that cannot be missed, not forgetting the magical and unforgettable journey to Abu Simbel.

You can fly to Egypt from various airports; there are many flights to Cairo.
Many organized tours are available, the majority including a Nile cruise, highly recommended to appreciate the peaceful rhythm and the eternal atmosphere that is so much a part of this timeless river.

The currency in circulation is the Egyptian Pound.
A visa is required to enter the country.

The required budget is fairly moderate, but you should take into account the charges for visiting various sites which will cost about €10 each time. Concerning food, with €10 you will be able to get a decent meal, sometimes excellent; and a double room with breakfast will cost you about €30.

The main health problem is TD, a form of gastro enteritis common to tourists. However, keep all normal vaccines up to date and include that for hepatitis A which is frequent here and easy to catch through the food. Also, protect yourself from the sun.

The buses connect the main cities. Renting a car will allow you to discover the more hidden places. Be adventurous and take a journey on a Nile Felucca, you will not regret it.