Egypt holidays

Underwater explorers: With over 250km of coastal reefs, there’s plenty of opportunity for magical sea adventures. Sharks Bay will guarantee an unforgettable diving experience, whether you’re a green-gilled snorkeler or an expert deep sea swimmer, the Red Sea is renowned for its 1,200 species of fish, 120 of which are found nowhere else in the world. No wonder it’s one of the world’s top destinations for underwater explorations! 

Beach lover’s: Soaking up the sun on a powder-soft sand beach is a highlight of any holiday. While all of Egypt’s sand spots are stunning in themselves, there are a few jewels in the country’s crown: look out for the Sunken City of the Sahl Hasheesh Bay, El Nayzak in Marsa Alam, and Soma Bay, near Hurghada.

Active types: While there are plenty of watersports for you to get involved with on your holiday to Egypt, there’s even more on offer on land. Go rock-climbing in Dahab, kayak along the Nile; head over to Cairo for your history fix. Golf fanatics should check out Makadi Bay holidays for the ultimate 18-hole fairway. And did we mention you can even go skiing on an indoor slope, complete with over 7,000 tons of snow?

Language: The primary language spoken here is Arabic, so make sure to pack a phrasebook. But don’t worry, English is also widely spoken in many tourist areas making it easy to communicate with the locals.

Currency: The currency used here is the Egyptian pound (E£).

Local time: Egypt is 1 hour ahead of GMT/UK time.

Fly to: Hurghada International Airport. Transfer times to resorts are around 30 minutes. 

Flight time from UK: The flight time to Egypt is around 5 hours.

Tourist information: Further tourist information can be found at www.egypt.travel.

Visa / health: Before you travel, visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/egypt for recommendations and advice on visas and health for your holidays to Egypt.

Holiday destinations related to Egypt:

• Red Sea
• Hurghada
• Sharm El Sheikh
• El Gouna
• Makadi Bay

By bus: Each resort has a good network of minibuses operating around the main towns. There are three main companies to look out for all taking you to Cairo, which are advised to be booked in advance where possible. The Upper Egypt Company route provides a scenic trip to the Nile Valley down the Red Sea coast and to El-Quseir. Those holidaying in Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh will need to look out for the Middle Delta buses when you’re wanting to check out the Pyramids of Giza. And for Sinai and the Canal Zone, hop on an East Delta.

By taxi: It’s easy to flag down a taxi and it’s one of the most convenient ways to get around Egypt. It’s also an inexpensive way to travel. Metered taxis are common in big-name cities such as Cairo, but local resorts tend to have a fixed rate. It’s advised to agree on a price before your departure to avoid any confusion.

By shuttle bus: Many hotels operate shuttle buses into town or the nearest beach, simply ask reception for more details.

On the waterfront: Friday night is Marina Party night in El Gouna with live music and dancing beside the bobbing yachts, it's a party-goers paradise. 

Ramadan: The fasting month of Ramadan is marked across the country, although it won’t be as disruptive in the resorts as elsewhere in the country. Immediately afterwards, the festivals of Eid al-Fitr, and later Eid al-Adha, are holidays when Egyptian families will often travel to resorts, so these are likely to be busier.

Do I need a passport?

You’ll need a valid passport to enter Egypt. Passports must be valid for at least six months from the date you enter the country, otherwise, you won’t be allowed to travel.

For more Egypt passport information and details of entry requirements to the country, head to: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/egypt/entry-requirements.

Do I need a visa?

Depending on where in Egypt you’re travelling to, British passport holders may require a tourist visa to travel to Egypt. If you need one, you can get it online by visiting: Visa2Egypt and it will be valid for a maximum of three months.

If you’re a British national staying in the resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba and Taba, you’ll receive a free entry permission stamp upon arrival. This will be valid for up to 15 days. If you’re planning on travelling outside these areas or staying for longer than 15 days, you’ll need to get a visa.

It’s also possible to obtain a tourist visa when you arrive in Egypt. They’re available at approved bank kiosks in airport arrival halls, before you get to the immigration counter. The cost of a visa is US$25 and they’re valid for a maximum of 30 days. However, it’s strongly recommended that you get one before you travel to avoid any border issues.

For more Egypt visa information and details of entry requirements to the country, head to: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/egypt/entry-requirements. If you have any questions, contact the Egyptian Consulate in London.

Should I get travel health insurance?

You should always buy comprehensive travel and health insurance when you go on holiday. It means you’ll be covered for overseas medical expenses if anything happens, such as medical repatriation and legal costs. Just be sure to check what’s included in your policy before you buy it, and make sure it covers any activities you’ll be doing on holiday.

Any other tips?

It can get very hot in Egypt, so it’s important to stay hydrated. Keep a bottle of water with you at all times and fill it up as you go.

• Depending on when you’re going on holiday, there may be mosquitoes around. You’ll need to wear insect repellent to ensure you don’t get bitten; it’s available to buy while you’re out there, but it’s worth bringing some along with you in case you can’t find any.
• The political situation in the Middle East can be volatile, so please check with your holiday rep or hotel concierge if you want to head off on your own to go exploring. They’ll be able to give you advice on travelling safely in Egypt.
• For more information and Egypt travel advice, head to: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/egypt