Egypt has been attracting tourists longer than any where else on earth.
It has the irresistible draw of the pyramids, the spectacular monuments of the Nile and some of the best diving in the world. The country has suffered from political unrest and terrorism, but many adventure tourists still travel safely to Egypt each year. You need to do your research, keep an eye on the FCO travel site, have good insurance and be scam savvy, but it remains one of our favourite destinations.
Pros:
The sights. Whole areas and cities are UNESCO heritage sites – Islamic Cairo, the pyramids, Abu Simbel, Luxor, St Catherine’s Monastery in the Sinai – to name a few.
The scale of historical sights and heritage are unrivalled anywhere on earth.
The coral reefs in Red Sea have some of the best diving in the world.
It’s easy to live on a budget.
The street and cafe food is cheap and delicious.
The deserts are stunning and home to monasteries, oases, dunes and fortresses.
Cons:
Safety is the main concern. There is a high risk of terrorism and tourist groups have been targeted in the past. Most terrorist activity is in the Sinai, and the government has put extra safety measures in place at major tourist sites across the country.
Egypt is politically unstable – you need to keep an eye on events.
Women need to dress conservatively at all times and exercise caution if travelling alone.
There’s a high level of road accidents.
Scams are prevalent – be wary of giving your name to vendors as they may carve your name on an item in hieroglyphs and demand payment.
There is often a lack of hygiene, so extra care needs to be taken.
Medical standards aren’t as high as most western countries.
Egypt has a conservative culture, so there’s not much of a drinking scene.