About Egypt
Egypt, the land of Pharaohs, deserts and the Great Pyramids, is full of intrigue and mystery. Dating back 7000 years, the ancient history of Egypt can be found in almost every spot of the country. Egypt is full of life and exoticness; there is a story to be told everywhere you go. You can Embark on a journey back in time, when the great Pharaohs ruled the lands and discover the country’s hidden treasures. Visit the Great Pyramids of Giza, one of the seven wonders of the world, pass by the Karnak Temple, and don’t forget to check out the Valley of the Kings. Then you can come back to the now to experience the buzzing streets of Cairo city; mingle with the locals and enjoy their incomparable sense of humor; get the chance to walk like an Egyptian for a day.
Airports are hustling and bustling with activity, and navigating them at the best of times can be daunting. Now, imagine arriving in an international airport in a foreign country where the customs and formalities are unknown to you. Fear not, Citadel Tours offers private airport transfers from International airports in Egypt. We will pick you up and escort you to your hotel.
After a long flight, the last thing you’ll want to do is face unfamiliar public transit or the taxi queue. Let us do the heavy lifting, while you sit back and take in your new surroundings. Included in our tour prices are both arrival and departure airport transfers, however Citadel Tours also offers private airport transfers to the public at reasonable prices for groups of all sizes. Each Citadel Tour representative is intimately familiar with the countries we operate in, making them a useful resource for your first few moments a new city! We’ll take you right to your hotel, and answer your questions along the way. We know where all the best restaurants, dry cleaners, and shopping can be found, just ask!
Citadel Tours offers both arrival and departure private airport transfers throughout Egypt. Competitively priced private transfers are available for one direction, or both depending on your travel itinerary.
SHERATON MONTAZAH HOTEL
LE MERIDIEN PYRAMIDS HOTEL
FAIRMONT NILE CITY HOTEL
HELNAN ASWAN HOTEL
SONESTA ST.GEORGE LUXOR HOTEL
STEGENBERGER HOTEL EL TAHRIR
Create your very own custom adventure with Citadel Tours! We offer private, totally customizable tours to Egypt. Citadel Tours offers the very best in luxury, personalized service. Private tours are ideal for those seasoned, discerning travelers who know what they want to see! Tell us what your tour priorities are, and we’ll make it happen.
Make your next school trip, family reunion, or alumni trip one to remember with a personalized tour! Customized Private group tours are ideal for groups with specific interests. For example, religious groups, history buffs, or archaeology aficionados. We will create a tour that leads you through relevant, important sites and cities that resonate with your interests. Many of our private tours integrate academic lectures and professionally guided tours that correspond to the group’s interests.
Browse our pre-planned tours to get an idea of what Citadel Tours already offers. Each of our tours are totally customizable to suit the needs of your unique group. A private tour allows you to spend quality time with your party while experiencing everything that your destination has to offer. We take care of the logistics so you don’t have to. We want you to make memories, not plans!
Each of our private group tours includes a dedicated Citadel Tours Guide who will stay with you for the duration of the trip. All of our guides are experts and they love to show off the contemporary and historic significance of these great countries. Our qualified, experienced guides are well versed in local customs, and make your comfort their top priority.
Our Small Group tour offers the comfort and luxury service in our greatest destinations. We mind every detail so that you can fully enjoy your destination. Enjoy group size of no more than 18 guests. Small group is designed for those seeking new culture, meet new friends and inspiring travel experience.Every Small Group Journey is locally escorted with tour guide manager who will be your story teller of each place you visit, introduce you to your destination culture and will backed you by around the clock support. Citadel tours small group tours are guaranteed to operate with a minimum of two guests at an unbeatable value. Arrival, departure transfers are included and luxury is our service.
City gateway is the perfect way to discover a city for the first time or spend more time in your favorite destination. You’ll enjoy Beach relaxing, history in depth, safari or diving. It is ideal for extended stay, or enjoy stopover and learn new experience.
Cairo
Pyramids of Giza
The last of the ancient seven wonders of the world. Built during the 4th Dynasty, the site is comprised of three pyramids with three unique stories about ancient civilization.
Egyptian Museum
Home to amazing and rare collections of ancient Egyptian artifacts, including the treasures of King Tut Ankh Amon.
Islamic Cairo
One of the world’s oldest Islamic cities and well known as the City of a Thousand Minarets.Art, architecture, rich scents and shopping are all in one historical place .
Coptic Cairo
Coptic Cairo where the center of Christianity is located. Twisting alleyways and ancient churches that are stands for several centuries.
Abu Simble Temple
Temple Abu Simbel carved out of a mountain. Expertly, the rocky surface was transformed into one of the most powerful and breathtaking temples in all of Egypt!
Luxor
Karnak Temple
The largest temple in Egypt! The breathtaking complex is the largest temple in Egypt. Contains temples dedicated to a variety of gods and famous for 134 papyrus columns.
Valley Of The Kings
The secret underground burial sites carved into the Rocky Mountains. Colourful, vibrant carvings and paintings can be found on tomb walls, each telling the story of the Pharaoh buried within.
Red Sea
International center for snorkeling and scuba diving and many other aquatic sports. Warm waters and offshore reefs full of colorful exotic fish and corals. The coral reefs are notably some of the finest in the world.
Nile River
The world’s longest river flowing north from Victoria Lake to Egypt. Nile Cruise is the best way to discover the secrets of the Nile. Sit back and relax as the magnificent scenery pass you by.
Alexandria Library
Housed the world’s most extensive collection of literature. It was a major center for scholarship and intellectual activity.The new library continue to act as a public research library and to support the Arab world and the Middle East to retain their old position as scholars and researchers in different fields of science.
Desert Oasis
Siwa has many lakes and over a thousand springs. It has been designated as a protectorate for its faunal and cultural diversity. Also the world’s third largest dune field.
The White Desert is justifiably the most well-known desert destination in Egypt .The quantity of unearthly and beautiful wind-carved rock formations shaped in the form of giant mushrooms or pebbles is unequalled in any desert in the world
Capital
Cairo is the capital of Egypt
Visa
Most tourists require a visa to enter Egypt. A single entry visa can be obtained at the Customs and Immigration office. Cash is the only method of payment. A double entry visa can be obtained only through an Egyptian consulate in your home country.
Upon arrival at the Cairo International Airport, you can purchase your single entry visa at a banking institution located before the Customs and Immigration office. We highly recommended that you check the required visa updates through the Egyptian embassy or consulate in your home country before your departure.
Passports must be valid for at least six months beyond your expected departure date from Egypt.
Weather
Weather in Egypt can vary from the north to the south. Summers along the northern Mediterranean are hot and humid from June to late August. Winters are mild with some rain from November to March. Summer in the southern parts is hot and dry. Winter is mild during the day, however the temperature tends to drop down in the evening.
Average daily temperatures in Celsius:
Cairo | Luxor | |
Jan | 9 – 19 | 5 – 23 |
Feb | 9 – 21 | 7 – 25 |
Mar | 11 – 24 | 11 – 29 |
Apr | 14 – 28 | 16 – 35 |
May | 17 – 32 | 21 – 39 |
Jun | 18 – 35 | 25 – 41 |
Jul | 22 – 35 | 24 – 41 |
Aug | 22 – 35 | 24 – 41 |
Sep | 20 – 32 | 22 – 39 |
Oct | 18 – 30 | 18 – 35 |
Nov | 14 – 25 | 12 – 30 |
Health
There are no mandatory vaccinations for travellers to Egypt. However, Please check with your local travel clinic for the updated list of required vaccinations. We strongly recommend contacting your travel clinic at least 2 months before your departure.
Money
The currency is Egyptian Pounds (EGP) and consists of bills and coins. Credit cards and ATM cards can be used at banks, ATM machines and exchange offices at majority of the places you are visiting. You should inform your bank that you will be travelling out of the country so they may activate your cards internationally. For security reasons, banks and credit card companies have been known to block cards when clients are withdrawing cash in Egypt, thinking them to be fraudulent transactions. We strongly recommend bringing cash along with your cards.
Electricity
Electricity in Egypt is 220 V, 50 Hz. Most commonly found is the European two round prong plugs. You will need an adaptor/converter for North American appliances.
Communications
1. Email
Internet is available in most cities throughout Egypt. Hotels usually offer wireless service or access to an internet cafe. Additional cafes are available throughout major cities and are generally inexpensive.
2. Telephone
International calls are usually expensive. Many hotels offer this service for an additional charge. Public pay phones are the least expensive option, though not always efficient for international calls. There is good mobile coverage and roaming service available. Please check with your cell phone service provider regarding roaming and rates. Some cell phone providers offer a vacation phone package with a SIM card.
3. Postage
Postage is reliable and a reasonable way to share your journey with family friends. Post offices and mailboxes are available everywhere. Shipping is also available through post offices.
Food & Drinks
Egypt has a large variety of food options available, including Western, European and Asian cuisine, however; you must taste the delicious, authentic Egyptian food. Egyptian cuisine consists of local vegetables mixed with a traditional blend of spices. Some famous Egyptian dishes consist of beans, Koshary, Kebab and falafel.
We recommend a few tips with regards to food & drink: eat only foods that are thoroughly cooked, and raw fruits and vegetables that you have peeled yourself. Avoid fresh salads unless the vegetables are washed with purified water, and avoid dairy products that are unpasteurized or may not have been refrigerated properly. Don not buy food from street vendors or stalls.
Tap water in the city is heavily chlorinated, and the excessive chlorination can make some people feel ill. So we highly recommended drinking only bottled drinks or purified water at all times. Avoid tap water, fountain drinks and ice cubes. Bottled water is readily available, but make sure the bottles have been properly sealed.
Opening hours
It is always advisable to call ahead to ensure your specific location is open for business when you intend to visit.
Offices: | 08:00–18:00 | Sunday to Thursday |
Government: | 08:00–14:00 | Saturday to Thursday |
Stores/shops: | 11:00–11:00 | Saturday to Friday |
Banks: | 9:00-17:00 | Sunday to Thursday |
Shopping
This will definitely be one of the highlights of your trip. We always think about a gift or souvenir to bring home that will remind us about the place we visited. Souvenirs can hold special meaning about your journey and we encourage our clients to shop moderately. The shopping experience allows you to interact with local people and experience the culture. The following is a list of popular souvenir choices from Egypt: gold and silver jewellery, papyrus paintings, perfume oils, Pyrex perfume bottles, alabaster statues and Egyptian cotton products.
As you approach a tourist market, get ready for adventure. Middle Eastern markets are open in the morning and close after midnight. They are a place to sit with friends and observe the hectic daily Egyptian life. A few different markets require you to haggle and bargain to negotiate the best price possible. If you are shopping in a tourist or local market, definitely you will be required to haggle hard to get the cheapest price. Usually vendors start with 20 times higher than the original price and your response would be to ignore and walk a few steps away. The vendor will reduce the price by 5% and now negotiating begins. The experience is always fun and doesn’t take a long time. Most of the vendors are friendly enjoy engaging in conversation with visitors. There are also big modern stores or shopping malls available. The prices are fixed and labelled.
Tipping
It is the way of life in the Middle East; when a service is offered, gratuity is expected. Service industry employees (e.g. restaurants, coffee shops, gas stations) have very low salaries and are compensated with tips. We have developed a system called a tipping kitty. We have set precisely the minimum tip for every service included in the itinerary and it will act as your guideline. However, the bottom line remains that you have to be satisfied with the service before you tip anyone. The list would be attached with your final tour documents. If you would like to tip over the minimum, it is up to you. With regards to other services not included in your itinerary (eg. public restaurant), you should check the bill and leave 5 – 10 % of the bill.
Language
Arabic is the official language in Egypt. However, the Arabic spoken on the streets differs significantly from the standard or classical Arabic written in newspapers, spoken on the radio or recited in the mosque.
Here are some basic words that will be helpful as you attempt to reach out to locals in their language.
- Yes: I-ewa or naam
- No: La
- Please: Min fudluck (male)/Min fudlik (female)
- Thank you: Shukran
- You’re welcome: Afwan or el afw
- Sorry/excuse me: Assef
- Welcome: Marhaba (informal hello)
- Welcome: Ah-lan
- Response to welcome: Ahlan wa sahlan
- Never mind: Ma’alish
- Good morning: Sabah el-kheir
- Good evening: Masa el-kheir
- Good night: Tesbah ala kheir
- Goodbye: Salaam
Culture
1. People
Egyptians are a very friendly and generous people. By respecting the culture and with consideration for your hosts, you can be a welcomed guest in Egypt. Egyptians enjoy approaching tourists in order to engage in conversation to practice their English. Just remember, it is not western country and they have their own customs. Listed are some tips that could help better understand the Egyptian etiquette. Handshakes are customary among people of the same genders, once a relationship exists; it’s common among members of the same gender to kiss on either cheek in succession while shaking hands. Men should wait for the woman to extend her hand first. If she doesn’t, he should bow his head instead. Things to avoid include: pointing at people, crossing your legs when seated and pointing the soles of your feet at anyone, public displays of affection with the opposite sex, placing religious books on the floor and joking about Islam, Mohammed or Muslim practices.
2. Dress code
Egypt is a Muslim country and the dress codes vary in different cities. The big cities are moderately conservative, but the smaller cities and villages are very conservative. Locals are used to seeing tourists in the famous sites throughout the country. Mostly the weather is hot in Egypt and you want to consider light clothing and preferably cotton made. When you are visiting Cairo, you can wear half sleeve shirts and Capri pants. When visiting religious sites, men are required to wear pants and women are required to cover their hair and show no bare arms or legs. At the tourist sites and in the cities, you can wear knee length shorts and skirts. You are free to wear whatever you like at the beach resorts, but please consider that locals are everywhere. When you are visiting any local market or bazaar, please consider long or short sleeve shirts and Capri or long pants.
3. Religion
Egyptian law allows the practice of religions other than Islam, however; Islam is the national religion. Ninety percent of Egypt’s population is Muslim, with a Sunni majority. Nine percent of the population is Coptic Christian. Other religions and forms of Christianity comprise the remaining one percent.
Egypt Holidays 2017
- Coptic Christmas January 7
Celebrates the nativity of Jesus Christ, according to the Oriental Coptic Orthodox Church
- Egypt National Police Day January 25
Celebrates Egypt Police
- Prophet Mohamed’s Birthday November 30
The Birthday of Prophet Mohamed - Sinai Liberation Day April 25
Celebrates the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Sinai peninsula
- Sham El Nessim (Spring festival) April 09
The Monday following the Orthodox Easter Sunday - Labor Day May 1
International Workers’ Day - Revolution Day July 23
Celebrates the 1952 Revolution - Bairam Feast / Eid al-Fitr June 26
Ramadan Feast. Islamic religious holiday for 3 days - Armed Forces Day October 6
Celebrates the Crossing of the Suez Canal by Egyptian forces during the October War - Qurban / Eid al-Adha August 31
Sacrifice Feast. Islamic religious holiday for 4 days - Islamic New Year Wednesday, October 14, 2015
The new year based on the lunar Islamic calendar
Ramadan
Ramadan is the fasting month and big celebration for the Muslims country. It is really good time to visit and experience Ramadan atmosphere. Usually the opening hours change during this time of Ramadan. The night time is most lively time. Shops and restaurants extend the opening hours to late time in the evening. Everything shut during the sunset time and opens after. It is dry month and Alcohol served only at the hotels for non Muslims.
Essentials
- Passport
- Airline Ticket
- Tour vouchers
- Insurance policy
- Visa
- Label on your travel bags
- Money & Credit cards
- Excitement
TASTE OF EGYPT
- Tour length: 11 Days
- Tour Theme: Small group
- Tour Style: Signature