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We've given each of our tours a comfort rating and a tour pace, walking or cycling grade to give you a general idea about the level of activity on each tour and the standard of accommodation you will be staying in at the end of your day's adventure.
Often you'll stay in different styles of accommodation during your tour; so we make an average rating across the entire tour. For more information on where you'll stay each night, please refer to the day by day tour itinerary.
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The following excursions and/or activities are usually available and may be arranged locally. Estimated costs are provided below for guidance only, are on a per person basis unless shown otherwise, and may depend on the number of participants. Prices quoted are correct as of the date these trip notes were originally issued but may change at any time due to currency fluctuations.
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Local Crew: Although entirely voluntary, tipping is a recognized part of life in this region of the world. Some local staff will look to members of the group for personal recognition of particular services provided. In order to make things easier for you, the Tour Leaders may organise a group’s tips kitty and if this is the case, they will account for it throughout the tour.
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Accordingly, you should allow £30 for tipping.
Tour Leader: At your discretion you might also consider tipping your Tour Leader in appreciation of the efficiency and service you receive.
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Local Currency: Egyptian Pounds can be easily obtained before arrival although rate will be lower than purchasing in country.
Recommended Currency for Exchange: We recommend that you bring your money in cash, £GBP, US$ or Euros which are readily changeable.
Where to Exchange: Most major towns - your tour leader will advise you on arrival.
ATM Availability: You may also bring an ATM card, as these are available in main towns.
Credit Card Acceptance: Credit cards are rarely accepted.
Travellers Cheques: You may find it useful to bring some Travellers Cheques as a back up.
Additional Information: Scottish notes, Northern Irish notes and Australian Dollars Travellers Cheques are not accepted in Egypt.
Camera/Video Fees: At some sites an additional camera charge of up to £2 per site may be payable. Video filming fees can be as much as £20 at some sites, so budget accordingly.
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Up-to-date information on global exchange rates can be obtained at www.oanda.com
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| UK | Egypt | |
|---|---|---|
| Tea/Coffee | £1.50 | £0.70 |
| Soft Drink | £1.50 | £1.00 |
| Bottled Water | £1.50 | £0.75 |
| Bottle of Beer | £3.50 | £2.00 |
| 2 Course Meal* | £15.00 | £6.00 |
| 3 Course Meal** | £20.00 | £8.00 |
| Bottle of Wine | £14.50 | £12.00 |
| Breakfast | £5.00 |
*Cheap local fare in a small cafe or restaurant.
**Typical food in a simple, reasonably comfortable mid-range restaurant.
It is a condition of joining any of our tours that you must have valid travel insurance. It must indicate that you have cover for (at least) medical expenses and emergency repatriation in the event of illness or injury. We also strongly recommend your policy includes cancellation protection as all deposit paid are non-refundable.
If you require travel insurance for your tour, Explore Worldwide is an appointed representative of Campbell Irvine Limited, who is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services authority. Our travel insurance policy is specially tailored to the needs of the adventure traveller and will cover you for any included activity on any Explore trip. You can either purchase this at the time of booking or call us 0844 499 0901 after you have booked.
Back to topA single entry tourist visa for Egypt is required by all nationalities. For British passport holders with British citizenship, Egyptian visas can be obtained conveniently and inexpensively on arrival at the airport. You must purchase a visa stamp before proceeding to the immigration desk, at one of the banks located before immigration. Alternatively, visas can be obtained through your travel agent or through Explore’s visa service. Other nationalities should consult the relevant consulate.
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All visa information is subject to change. You should confirm all visa related issues with the relevant Embassy prior to departure.
Back to topNothing compulsory but we recommend protection against typhoid, tetanus, infectious hepatitis and polio. Though malaria does exist in Egypt it is not normally found in the areas in which we travel. For the most up to date advice please consult your travel clinic.
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The above is not an exhaustive list. Further information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice can be found by following the NHS and NaTHNaC links at http://www.explore.co.uk/Travelhealth/ and from your local healthcare provider.
Visa and vaccination requirements are subject to change and should be confirmed before departure.
Back to topWe strongly recommend that you check your government’s travel advisory for up-to-date information and advice about your destination: safety and security, entry requirements, health, local laws and customs, including advice re: the legality of and local attitudes towards same-sex relationships. For UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office Advice follow the link at http://www.explore.co.uk/Traveladvice/
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We must obtain special permission and permits from the Egyptian Authorities to travel to certain parts of the Desert. To obtain these we MUST have a photocopy from each member of the tour. We cannot begin to apply for these permits without ALL of these. Therefore, if we do not receive your passport photocopy 5 weeks before departure, you may be cancelled off the tour.
Back to topWinter in Egypt is cool (particularly on the Nile) and dry, Nov-Mar average day temperature 18°C. Summer temperatures Apr-Oct average 32°C, but can frequently rise to 40°C. Winter nights are cold in the desert.
Back to topSeasonal weather patterns can be unpredictable. For up-to-date information on the weather worldwide please visit www.bbc.co.uk/weather.
Back to topTo assist with packing for your tour, we have detailed some of the essential items you should take with you.
Back to topUnfortunately it does occasionally happen that luggage does not always reach its destination on the same flight as its owner, or possibly it may be damaged in transit. If you are unlucky enough for this to occur, it is important that you file a PIR (Property Irregularity Report) with the airline before leaving the airport. This is essential when you come to make a claim either against the airline or from your travel insurance company
Back to topOne main piece of baggage and daypack. Total allowance: 44lb/20kg. Remember you are expected to carry your own luggage so don't overload yourself.
Back to topEgypt is a Muslim country and it is important to dress with respect for local customs. Brief shorts/skirts should be avoided in towns and you should cover your head when entering a mosque. In more traditional towns and market areas we advise women to wear long loose fitting trousers or skirts and have shoulders covered to avoid unwanted attention. Men should also be aware that shorts are not generally worn by Egyptians.
Back to topComfortable shoes and sandals.
Back to topFor use in the oasis camp in the Western Desert, a 2 season (temperature 0°C to 5°C) sleeping bag is necessary between April and October, 4 season (temperature –10°C to –5°C) for colder nights in December and January, and a 3 season (temperature –5°C to 0°C) for November, Febuary and March. Also bring a water bottle, insect repellent and a small torch. In the Western Desert camp we sleep on bedouin rugs, but you may wish to bring your own sleeping mat for additional comfort/insulation. Don’t forget your swimming costume! You may want to bring wet-wipes, and water free hand sanitiser will be an invaluable addition to your day-sac. Please note that for the optional donkey trek, we are unable to supply hard hats. If head protection is felt to be necessary, please bring your own with you as these cannot be purchased locally.
Back to topThen we suggest you contact Nomad Travel, our equipment partner, who specialise in kitting people out for adventurous travel. You receive a special 10% discount in-store or online. Visit one of their stores, phone 0845 260 0044, or visit their website www.nomadtravel.co.uk/explore for further information.
Back to topWe will be taking full advantage of the cooler early mornings, taking care to avoid the heat of the day, so please be prepared for some early starts. Summers in Egypt can be extremely hot and dry, especially between May and August, when daytime temperatures regularly exceed 35 degrees, however, evenings and mornings are cooler and even cold in winter.
Please be prepared for some basic conditions while camping, however, the experience of sleeping out under the stars in spectacular locations, and the ambience of camp life will more than compensate for the simple, limited facilities.
On our combination tours in Egypt, you may be accompanied by a different tour leader for each section of your itinerary.
Back to topOptional Donkey Trek- The comfort and safety of both donkeys and their riders is of great importance to us. Given this, donkeys are available to travellers of 85kg/13st, or under.
Back to topTwice yearly Esna Lock closes for essential maintenance work. The dates of these closures are rarely confirmed far in advance but do generally take place in June and December. Should the closure take place during your cruise the itinerary may need to be amended slightly to take this closure into account. This amendment will not affect the balance of time you spend in each place and the sights visited will also remain unchanged.
Back to topRAMADAN 2013 - 9th July to 8th August
Ramadan is a month of fasting observed by Muslims throughout the world, during which time the followers of Islam should not eat or drink between sunrise and sunset. There may be some restrictions to services and minor amendments to the itinerary. Restaurants may have limited supplies of fresh food available during this period.
Area: 1,001,450 sq km.
Population: 67 million.
Language: Arabici, English and French.
Religion: Sunni Muslim 90%, Coptic Christian 7%.
Local Time: GMT +2.
Electric Supply & Plugs: 220v Round Pin adaptors.
