Trip Planner

Full Country Name Arab Republic of Egypt
Area
 1,001,450 sq km

Population
92.519 million (UN 2015)
Capital and largest City Cairo
Borders Libya, Sudan, Israel and the Palestinian Territories

Religion About 90% of the population follows Islam; the majority of the rest is Christian. All types of Christianity are represented, especially the Coptic Christian Church and a small Jewish minority
Time Zone Standard time is two hours in advance of Greenwich Mean Time
Languages Arabic is the official language but English and French are widely spoken as well
Country Dialling Code +20

The Climate in Egypt

• Throughout Egypt, days are commonly warm or hot and nights are cool.
• Egypt has only two seasons: a mild winter from November to April and a hot summer from May to October.
• March and April are popular months to visit Egypt. Temperatures vary from pleasant to hot, so sightseeing visits may start early to avoid the midday sun. Sand-laden winds tend to occur during these months.

DO I NEED A VISA TO TRAVEL TO Egypt?

At the time of writing, a visa for Egypt is required for Australian Passport Holders.

WHAT IS THE COST OF An Egyptian VISA?

A single Entry Visa: USD 15 per person on an Australian Passport (subject to change).

The visa can be obtained on arrival at the airport.

Please double check this with Bench Africa or your travel agent as this may change at any time

 

CURRENCY

Local currency in Egypt is the Egyptian Pound (EGL), divided into 100 piasters.

YOU SHOULD KNOW...

• Local currency is easily obtainable on arrival at the banks or from the ATM machines in most hotels.
• It is recommended to carry some cash in US Dollar notes in small denominations.

Accommodation

Although there are hotels that are not set up for children, there are some that were designed with children in mind. If you speak to one of our consultants they can tailor-make an itinerary specifically for you and your family.

WHY CHOOSE Egypt FOR YOUR FAMILY HOLIDAY?

• Egypt is a highly educational, warm and welcoming country for families with children.
• There are many highlights that are especially recommended for children, including the Nile Valley, the Western Desert, the Red Sea Coast and Sharm el-Sheikh.

VOLTAGE & FREQUENCY

In Egypt the general voltage is 220 and frequency is 50 Hz.

TOP TIPS

• As the sockets can vary a ‘Travellers Adaptor Set’ is recommended.
• Voltage sometimes fluctuates and whilst power cuts are rare, they are not unknown. It is useful to carry a torch.

• An account of Egypt: Herodotus
• The Religion of Ancient Egypt: Sir W.M. Flinders Petrie
• The Mummy Maker’s Daughter: Jens E Huebner
• The Cat of Bubastes – A Tale of Ancient Egypt : G.A. Henty
• Pharaoh’s Daughter: Julius Lester

TIPPING GUIDELINES

Tipping is usually considered customary in Africa although not as widespread as the United States or Europe. It is always at your discretion. If you feel that someone has gone the extra mile to make your stay more enjoyable, a tip would be considered a nice way of saying thank you.

To help you budget for your trip, the following is given as a guideline only (shown in US Dollars):

Airport Representative (per person): $1.50
Airport Assistance (per person): $2.50
Airport Driver (per person): $1.50
Driver (per person per full day): $5.00
Guide (per person per full day): $10.00
Cruise Staff (per person per night): $5.00
Hotel Porter (per bag): $1.00
Hotel House Keeping Staff (per person per night): $1.00
Restaurant (per person per meal): $1.00
A la Carte dining (% of the bill): 10%

Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt

1 Darwin Avenue, Yarralumla ACT 2600, Australia
Tel: +61 2 6273 4437

Australian Embassy in Egypt

11th Floor World Trade Centre
1191 Corniche El-Nil, Boulak, Cairo, Egypt
Tel: +202 2575 0444

• Egypt is a predominantly Muslim country and visitors should respect religious sensitivity, particularly in the matter of dress and public conduct. Women, in particular, should wear appropriate clothing.
• Eating, drinking and smoking in public during the holy month of Ramadan should be avoided, as it is forbidden by the Muslim culture.
• Alcohol is available only at licensed hotels and restaurants.

Smart Traveller advice on travel to Egypt from Australia. Here you can find Egypt’s most up to date COVID-19 health screening requirements for entry, exit and transit, which may include recent COVID-19 test results and/or vaccination requirements.

Subsequently we advise you to subscribe to Smartraveller for updates to stay informed if something changes.

Smart Traveller’s Global Covid-19 Health and Travel Advisory.

Subsequently we advise you to subscribe to Smartraveller for updates to stay informed if something changes.