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Social Conventions
Islam is the dominant influence and many traditional customs and
beliefs are tied up with religion. The people are generally courteous
and hospitable and expect similar respect from visitors. Shaking hands
will suffice as a greeting. Because Egypt is a Muslim country, dress
should be conservative and women should not wear revealing clothes,
particularly when in religious buildings and in towns (although the
Western style of dress is accepted in modern nightclubs, restaurants,
hotels and bars in Cairo, Alexandria and other tourist destinations).
Official or social functions
and smart restaurants
usually require more formal wear. Smoking is very common.
Photography: Tourists will have to pay a fee to take photographs
inside pyramids, tombs and museums.
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International Travel:
Getting There by Air
The national airline is EgyptAir (MS) (website:
www.egyptair.com.eg).
Departure Tax
None.
Main Airports
Cairo International (CAI), 24km (15 miles) northeast of the
city at Heliopolis (journey time – 1 hour). To/from the airport:
There are bus services every 30 minutes, and taxis are available.
Special limousines are offered by local and international operators.
Hotel cars may also be available. Facilities: Incoming and
outgoing duty free shops selling a wide range of goods, several car
hire firms, post office, bank/bureau de change, restaurants and bar,
hotel reservation service, souvenir shops, bookshop and travel
insurance services.
Borg El Arab (HBE), has replaced El Nouzha airport as the
main international airport for Alexandria. It lies 60 km (37 miles)
southwest of Alexandria. Facilities: Duty-free shop, bank and
exchange services, VIP lounge, post office and restaurant. |
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Luxor
Airport (LXR) is 5.5km (3.5 miles)
from Luxor. To/from the airport: There is a regular bus service
to the city center (journey time – 15 minutes). Special limousine and
local taxi services are available. Facilities: Car hire,
bank and exchange services, and a bar and restaurant. Improvement
works have taken place and are expected to continue to meet the
increasing flow of tourists.
Getting There by Water
Main ports: Alexandria, Nuweiba,
Port Said and Suez.
The Saudi Sea Transport Company runs a regular car ferry
service between Suez and Jeddah. A ferry service usually travels twice
per week up the Nile between Wadi Halfa (Sudan) and Egypt High Dam.
However, it is occasionally suspended. For further information,
contact the Nile Valley Association (tel: (2) 578 9256). There
is also a ferry service that operates between South Sinai and Aqaba
(Jordan). For more information, contact us
(info@desertparamours.com)
Many cruise ships stop over in Egypt as part of their African
itinerary.
Getting There by Rail
There are no international rail links to any of Egypt’s northwestern
neighbors. The railheads at Aswan and Wadi Halfa, Sudan are connected
by a ferry across Lake Nasser.
Getting There by Road
The road border between Libya and Egypt is open. There are two border
crossings between Israel and Egypt: one runs from Cairo via El Arish
to Rafiah on the north Sinai coast; and the other from Cairo via Suez
and Taba to Eilat. Daily coaches leave early in the morning from Tel
Aviv and Jerusalem in Israel for travel via El Arish/Rafiah to Cairo
and vice versa. There are no direct buses from Eilat to Cairo; it is
necessary to change in Taba. The crossing from Taba to Eilat is now
open 24 hours a day. Passengers in taxis and rented cars are not
permitted to cross the borders between Israel and Egypt.
Privately-owned vehicles may be taken across other borders, provided
the appropriate documentation is obtained. All private vehicles
entering Egypt must have a three-month triptyche or Carnet
de passage en douane from an automobile club in the country of
registration. The driver must hold an international drivers’ license.
Visas should normally be obtained in advance; however, travelers
entering Egypt via Taba may be able to obtain visas at the border.
Contact the tourist office for further details of entry restrictions |
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Overview
The following goods may be imported into Egypt without incurring
customs duty:
200 cigarettes or 25 cigars or 200g of tobacco; 1l of
alcoholic beverages; 1l of perfume or eau de cologne;
gifts up to the value of EŁ500.
Persons traveling with valuable electronic equipment such as cameras,
video cameras or computers may be required to list these in their
passports to ensure that they will be exported on departure.
All cash, travelers cheques and gold over EŁ500 should be declared on
arrival.
Narcotics, firearms, cotton, gold and silver purchased locally unless
for personal use only and in small quantities; for a full list,
contact us |
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Cruise in the Nile
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Beach in Al Arish |
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