Arab Republic of Egypt
Area: 1,002,450 sq km
Population: 75,500,662
Population density: 74 per sq km
Capital: Cairo
Area: 1,002,450 sq km
Population: 75,500,662
Population density: 74 per sq km
Capital: Cairo
Egypt country information
Passport & visa | Getting there | Cycling & maps | Cost of living | Accommodation | Food | Bike shops | Climate | Distances
Passport & Visa
| Visa Required? | |
|---|---|
| British | Yes |
| Australian | Yes |
| Canadian | Yes |
| USA | Yes |
| Other EU | Yes |
Passports
Passport valid for at least
six months from the date of travelling required
by all nationals referred to in the chart above.
Passport Note
Visitors from all countries, except nationals of the
EU and the USA, must register with the police
within one week of arrival in Egypt, although
this service is normally undertaken
by hotels.
Visas
Required by all nationals referred to in the chart above
except the following:
(a) 1. Nationals from the UK, EU and USA travelling to the Sinai peninsula for up to 14 days, who
will receive an entry permission stamp on arrival;
(b) those continuing their journey to a third
country within 24 hours and remaining in the airport,
provided holding confirmed onward tickets.
Note: nationals of the EU, USA, Canada, Japan and most other western countries can get a visa on arrival at any port (USD15), which gives them the right to stay in Egypt for 1 month. Most reports state that you can overstay by about two weeks, without having to pay a fine. After that, you'll need a letter of apology from your embassy and pay a fine. In the bigger cities it is possible to extend your visa for a small fee. We did so in Luxor. It cost 11,25 EGP per person and was ready the same day. Extensions are possible for up to twelve months (cost 150 EGP).
Visa Note
(a) Those in possession of a residence permit to Egypt are
not required to obtain an entry visa if they leave
Egypt and return within the validity of their
residence permit or within six months, whichever
period is less. (b) Visitors of Egyptian origin
or married to an Egyptian are entitled to obtain
a multiple-entry visa free of charge. (c) Nationals
not referred to in the chart above are advised
to contact the consulate/embassy to check visa
requirements.Types of Visa and Cost
Tourist and Business (single- and multiple-entry). Cost varies
according to nationality. For UK nationals: Tourist:
£15 (single-entry); £18 (multiple-entry).
Business: £53 (single-entry); £91
(multiple-entry).
For nationals from the USA: Tourist: £12
(single-entry); £12 (multiple-entry). Business:
£12 (single-entry); £12 (multiple-entry).
For nationals from the Canada: Tourist: £15
(single-entry); £18 (multiple-entry). Business:
£40 (single-entry); £70 (multiple-entry).
Processing fees for other nationals vary considerably;
nationals are advised to contact the consulate/embassy
to check cost.Validity
Single- and
multiple-entry visas are valid for six months
from date of issue for a maximum stay of three
months. Visas cannot be post-dated.
Extensions are available from the pasport office of any governorate (state) capital. A 1to 3 months extension cost LE 11.25 (2011)
Business visa applications must be submitted
with a letter from the company stating reasons
for the visit.
Applications to:
Consulate or consular section at embassy).
Working Days Required
Postal applications will be processed within five days.
Getting there
By Air
The national airline is EgyptAir (MS)
Approximate flight times to Cairo:
Istanbul: 1 hour and 30 minutes
London: 4 hours and 30 minutes
New York: 11 hours
Dubai: 3 hours
Singapore: 10 hours
Sydney: 18 hours
Buenos Aires: 15 hours
Main (international) airports
- Alexandria - Borg El Arab Airport (HBE)
- Aswan - Aswan International Airport (ASW)
- Cairo - Cairo Interntaional Airport (CAI)
- Hurghada - Hurghada International Airport (HRG)
- Luxor - Luxor International Airport (LXR)
- Marsa Alam - Marsa Alam International Airport (RMF)
- Sharm El-Sheikh Sharm El-Sheikh International Airport (SSH)
- Sohag - Mubarak International Airport (HMB)
- Taba - Taba International Airport (TCP)
By Water
Ferries from:- Aswan to/from Wadi Haifa, Sudan crossing Nasser Lake with the Nile River Valley Transport Co. (2) 97 230348
- Alexandria crossing to/from Venice, Italy / Tartous, Syria with Visemar
- Hurghada crossings to/from Duba, Saudi Arabia
- Nuweiba crossing to/from Aqaba, Jordan
- Safaga crossings to/from Duba and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Suez crossings to/from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Taba crossing to/from Aqaba*, Jordan via Sindbad Xpress
By Rail
There are no international rail links to any of Egypt's neighbours.
The railheads at Aswan and Wadi Halfa, in Sudan, are connected by a ferry across Lake Nasser.
By Road
The road border between Libya and Egypt at Amsaad (Musaad) is open to foreigners. The border is 12 km west of Saloum, a small port. When entering Egypt from Libya without a visa, you can buy a visa sticker for US$15 at the bank. The bank is conveniently located two hundred metres past (!) immigration... Buy the visa and head back to immigration to get it stamped. The border crossing between Libya and Egypt will take around two hours... we had to show our passports 9 times at 9 different check points! (December 2010)
There is one border crossings between Israel and Egypt: at Taba in the Sinai, connecting to Eilat in southern Israel. The crossing from Taba to Eilat is open 24 hours a day. Passengers in taxis and hired cars are not permitted to cross the border.
Egypt shares a land border with Palestinian Gaza at Rafah. As of May 28 2011, the Rafah border is open for Palestinians to cross into Egypt. Most travel restrictions have been dropped, although men between the ages of 18 to 40 must apply for visas and others need travel permits to enter 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 Driver's Permit. Visas should normally be obtained in advance; however, travellers entering Egypt via Taba may be able to obtain visas at the border. Contact the tourist office for further details of entry restrictions.
Cost of living
Egypt:
all prices in Egyptian Pounds (EGP)
| drinks and snacks | food: local markets; restaurants; and stores |
||||
| water (mineral) |
1 litre 1 litre 300ml 1 litre |
3.00 5.50 tba 4.00 |
bread loaf-white |
600g 750g |
5.00 10.00 |
| local market food pizza -takeaway |
one serving one serving one serving med |
tba tba tba tba |
|||
| beer - local wine |
330ml 750ml |
3.00 tba |
|||
| tea coffee (cafe / bar) Nescafe instant coffee - ground |
25 bags per cup 125g 500g |
4.80 7.50 5.50 12.00 |
rice (white) pasta eggs tinned tomatoes |
kg |
9.50 1.90 6.50 3.50 |
| milk yoghurt / curd cheese Magnum icecream |
1 litre 500g kg each |
4.90 |
potatoes onions tomatoes green beans |
kg kg kg kg |
2.00 1.70 1.80 3.50 |
| chips salted peanuts dried apricots |
200g pack kg kg |
tba tba tba |
apples oranges bananas |
kg kg kg |
10.00 3.50 4.00 |
cornflakes |
375g pack 100g block 200g pack 200g pack |
10.50 4.00 3.00 5.80 |
pineapple (can) oil (corn) |
500g can 500ml |
7.00 8.50 |
| peanut paste jam |
500g jar 500g jar |
tba 5.30 |
|||
| accommodation | personal | ||||
| budget city hostel budget city hotel |
17.50-30.00 per dorm bed 100-150 double with ensuite |
deodorant - roll-on soap shampoo toothbrush toothpaste disposable razor toilet paper |
50ml 150g bar 200ml each 100ml 5 pack each |
32.00 5.00 15.50 tba 39.00 10.00 tba |
|
| camping |
yes in desert |
||||
| internet | 3.00 - 5.00 per hour | ||||
* tba = price to be announced
* January 2009: at time of writing 1.00 USD = 5.61 EGP
all prices have been taken from internet resources such as wikitravel, hostel world, leading supermarket chains, travel blogs, forums and of course our own travel experiences and purchases of everyday products in food markets, bazaars and local shopping facilities. They are only an indication and designed to give you a general impression of the cost of living in Egypt. Items are geared towards the budget conscious traveller with an occasional craving for a bit of luxury.
* January 2009: at time of writing 1.00 USD = 5.61 EGP
all prices have been taken from internet resources such as wikitravel, hostel world, leading supermarket chains, travel blogs, forums and of course our own travel experiences and purchases of everyday products in food markets, bazaars and local shopping facilities. They are only an indication and designed to give you a general impression of the cost of living in Egypt. Items are geared towards the budget conscious traveller with an occasional craving for a bit of luxury.
Accommodation
Egypt's accommodation ranges from backpacker dorms to 5-star hotels. Big cities like Cairo, Luxor and Aswan have an abundance of affordable accommodation. Most of the budget hotels in these cities are located near the city centre, which makes it even easier when it comes to catching public transport or finding food and other supplies.
Most of Cairo's budget hotels and hostels are located in or near Downtown, a stones throw away from Tahrir Square, the Egyptian Museum, Ramses train station and Turgoman bus station. Downtown harbours plenty of restaurants, bars and other forms of entertainment, so it is the perfect place to start discovering this vibrant city. If you want to travel around Cairo a bit, the reliable and modern metro system has stops all over Downtown.
Luxor's budget hotels are scattered around town, but most of them are situated on the east bank of the Nile. There are plenty of options near the train station and on the road towards the Corniche and the lively area around Televizyon street (close to the international hospital). If you're in Luxor to explore the Valley of the Kings, it might pay off finding rooms on the west bank; that will save you from ferrying the Nile. That said, all the other temples and attractions are on the east bank...
Aswan's prime hotel spots are overlooking the Nile: don't miss it. It is fabulous getting up in the morning and watching felucca's drifting on the mighty waterway. Probably the best viewing spots and budget hotels are situated just across Elephantine Island opposite the Mövenpick Resort.
Bike shops
Cairo
Abder Rabu (Modern Cycle) *
55 Najib El Rehany St. (opposite Cairo Hotel)
Cairo, Egypt
Tel: 25912092
Our experience: small shop, all low end Chinese parts, but at least a selection of it.
55 Najib El Rehany St. (opposite Cairo Hotel)
Cairo, Egypt
Tel: 25912092
Our experience: small shop, all low end Chinese parts, but at least a selection of it.
Abou el Goukh **
76 El Gomhoreya St.
Downtown, Cairo
Tel: 02 2593 2087
Fax: 02 2591 5011
website
Our experience: decent shop with middle to high end accessories; mostly road bikes and health equipment
76 El Gomhoreya St.
Downtown, Cairo
Tel: 02 2593 2087
Fax: 02 2591 5011
website
Our experience: decent shop with middle to high end accessories; mostly road bikes and health equipment
Bescletta
20A El-Khaleefa El-Maamoun st.
Heliopolis, Cairo
Tel: 24536664 - 24536689
Fax: 24536652
Mob: 0102168001 - 0107775121
20A El-Khaleefa El-Maamoun st.
Heliopolis, Cairo
Tel: 24536664 - 24536689
Fax: 24536652
Mob: 0102168001 - 0107775121
37 Ahmed Oraby St.
El-Mohandeseen, Cairo
Tel: 33052649
Fax: 33052639
Mob: 0102168002 - 0102168005 - 0107775141
El-Rehab City - Mall 2 - Beside Casino Door
New Cairo
Tel: 0102168006 - 0102168003
website
Supposedly the best bike shop in Cairo / Egypt. Several branches throughout Cairo.
Goukho 2000 *
99 El Gomhoria St.
Downtown, Cairo
Tel: 25892987
Fax: 25926876
www.abolgokh.com
Our experience: small shop, low end Chinese parts. Bought a very sturdy looking tyre here; has lasted for a few thousand kilometres and still going strong! (30LE)
99 El Gomhoria St.
Downtown, Cairo
Tel: 25892987
Fax: 25926876
www.abolgokh.com
Our experience: small shop, low end Chinese parts. Bought a very sturdy looking tyre here; has lasted for a few thousand kilometres and still going strong! (30LE)
Road distances
| Detailed distance chart from our trip through Egypt - December 2010-February 2011 (km/alti) | ||||
| accomm.: | km | metres climbed |
||
| H= hotel . C= camping . (altitude in brackets; where applicable) | ||||
| border Libya (203) | Salloum | H |
14 |
14 |
| Salloum | Baq Baq (ambulance station) | 42 |
100 |
|
| Baq Baq | Sidi Barrany | 42 |
162 |
|
| Sidi Barrany | turn-off El Nargile | 66 |
99 |
|
| turn-off El Nargile | El Mathani | 24 |
50 |
|
| El Mathani | turn-off Siwa | 36 |
46 |
|
| turn-off Siwa | Mersa Matrouh | H |
17 |
3 |
| Mersa Matrouh | turn-off highway | 17 |
42 |
|
| turn-off highway | turn-off Fuka | 59 |
163 |
|
| turn-off Fuka | El Daba | 53 |
108 |
|
| El Daba | turn-off Alamein airport | 7 |
6 |
|
| turn-off Alamein airport | Sidi Abd El Rahman | H |
23 |
63 |
| Sidi Abd El Rahman | Italian cemetary | 13 |
43 |
|
| Italian cemetary | German cemetary | C |
7 |
20 |
| German cemetary | El Alamein | H |
12 |
27 |
| El Alamein | turn-off Cairo | 3 |
2 |
|
| turn-off Cairo | El Hammam | 39 |
62 |
|
| El Hammam | turn-off Burg El Arab | 15 |
18 |
|
| turn-off Burg El Arab | turn-off Cairo-Alex. Desert Road | 15 |
8 |
|
| turn-off Cairo-Alex. Desert Road | Ezba Khamis | H |
12 |
13 |
| Ezba Khamis | Alexandria | H |
37 |
84 |
| Cairo | pyramids | 16 |
17 |
|
| pyramids | turn-off 6th of October City (110) | 17 |
102 |
|
| turn-off 6th of October City (110) | 6th of October City (155) | 15 |
100 |
|
| 6th of October City (155) | ambulance station (251) | 47 |
163 |
|
| ambulance station (251) | ambulance station (263) | 47 |
95 |
|
| ambulance station (263) | rest house + ambulance station (280) | 41 |
71 |
|
| rest house + ambulance station (280) | ambulance station (163) | 58 |
74 |
|
| ambulance station (163) | ambulance station (159) | 60 |
192 |
|
| ambulance station (159) | Iron Mine City (ambulance station) (212) | 33 |
163 |
|
| Iron Mine City (ambulance station) (212) | Mandesha (96) | 34 |
98 |
|
| Mandesha (96) | Bawity (Bahariya) (107) | H/C |
7 |
26 |
| Bawity (Bahariya) (107) | ambulance station (121) | H/C |
42 |
126 |
| ambulance station (121) | check point (Oasis café) (121) | 6 |
23 |
|
| check point (Oasis café) (121) | check point (185) | 46 |
200 |
|
| check point (185) | check point + ambulance station (170) | 26 |
60 |
|
| check point + ambulance station (170) | check point (15) | 36 |
57 |
|
| check point (15) | check point (53) | 22 |
81 |
|
| check point (53) | Farafra (56) | H/C |
3 |
7 |
| Farafra (56) | Abu Minqar 2 check points (175) | 94 |
352 |
|
| Abu Minqar 2 check points (175) | check point (192) | 94 |
269 |
|
| check point (192) | Gharb Mawhub (119) | 39 |
32 |
|
| Gharb Mawhub (119) | 1st oasis (126) | 39 |
127 |
|
| 1st oasis (126) | Qasr (116) | H |
7 |
19 |
| Qasr (116) | Mut (Dhakla) (134) | H |
31 |
67 |
| Mut (Dhakla) (134) | Bulat (92) | 32 |
77 |
|
| Bulat (92) | Teneda check point (97) | 10 |
16 |
|
| Teneda check point (97) | check point (114) | 8 |
17 |
|
| check point (114) | ambulance station (172) | 18 |
72 |
|
| ambulance station (172) | check point + ambulance station (153) | 28 |
53 |
|
| check point + ambulance station (153) | village (155) | 16 |
6 |
|
| village (155) | Abu Tartur (133) | 45 |
112 |
|
| Abu Tartur (133) | ambulance station (87) | 18 |
39 |
|
| ambulance station (87) | check point (58) | 20 |
62 |
|
| check point (58) | Al Kharga (51) | H |
7 |
62 |
| Al Kharga (51) | check point (43) | 7 |
6 |
|
| check point (43) | town (34) | 14 |
32 |
|
| town (34) | ambulance station (26) | 7 |
8 |
|
| ambulance station (26) | check point Bagdad (turn-off Luxor) (52) | 46 |
82 |
|
| check point Bagdad (turn-off Luxor) (52) | military check point (75) | 4 |
23 |
|
| military check point (75) | check point + ambulance station (247) | 52 |
228 |
|
| check point + ambulance station (247) | top climb/start plateau (410) | 8 |
164 |
|
| top climb/start plateau (410) | check point + ambulance station (448) | 43 |
86 |
|
| check point + ambulance station (448) | check point + ambulance station (436) | 60 |
128 |
|
| check point + ambulance station (436) | top climb (520) | 27 |
111 |
|
| top climb (520) | turn-off Sohag/Asyut (café) (420) | 8 |
1 |
|
| turn-off Sohag/Asyut (café) (420) | turn-off Aswan desert road (255) | 15 |
-- |
|
| turn-off Aswan desert road (255) | check point (90) | 20 |
-- |
|
| check point (90) | turn-off Luxor/Edfu (89) | 2 |
-- |
|
| turn-off Luxor/Edfu (89) | check point (90) | 16 |
10 |
|
| check point (90) | Nile bridge (90) | 5 |
-- |
|
| Nile bridge (90) | Luxor (87) | H/C |
12 |
13 |
| Luxor | Nile bridge | 12 |
14 |
|
| Nile bridge | check point, turn off to Edfu | 5 |
-- |
|
| check point, turn off to Edfu | turn off to Bagdad | 16 |
9 |
|
| turn off to Bagdad | village | 16 |
6 |
|
| village | Esna | 18 |
13 |
|
| Esna | check point border Aswan Gov. | 18 |
17 |
|
| check point border Aswan Gov. | El Sabaya Gharbi | 3 |
-- |
|
| El Sabaya Gharbi | Edfu | H |
34 |
11 |
| Edfu | turn off desert road | 8 |
4 |
|
| turn off desert road | ambulance station | 64 |
240 |
|
| ambulance station | Aswan bridge | 27 |
78 |
|
| Aswan brdige | Aswan | H |
15 |
11 |
| Luxor | Qena highway checkpoint (103) | 20 |
16 |
|
| Qena highway checkpoint (103) | Qus (104) | 16 |
11 |
|
| Qus (104) | Qeft (105) | 10 |
6 |
|
| Qeft (105) | Qena (120) | H |
21 |
15 |
| Qena (120) | check point (144) | 9 |
14 |
|
| check point (144) | turn-off Luxor desert road (156) | 5 |
12 |
|
| turn-off Luxor desert road (156) | ambulance station (194) | 5 |
42 |
|
| ambulance station (194) | check point (230) | 9 |
47 |
|
| check point (230) | check point (250) | 15 |
48 |
|
| check point (250) | ambulance station (345) | 18 |
95 |
|
| ambulance station (345) | check point (Red Sea governorate) (404) | 8 |
59 |
|
| check point (Red Sea governorate) (404) | check point, petrol station + rest house (526) | 16 |
126 |
|
| check point, petrol station + rest house (526) | top cimb (771) | 24 |
249 |
|
| top cimb (771) | ambulance station + rest house (642) | 14 |
30 |
|
| ambulance station + rest house (642) | Sufaga check point (85) | H |
39 |
30 |
| Sufaga check point (85) | round-about + turn-off north Safaga (50) | 10 |
45 |
|
| round-about + turn-off north Safaga (50) | Hurghada (approx. distances) | H |
50 |
-- |
| Port Tawfik / Suez (H) | Ahmed Hamdi Suez Canal tunnel | 20 |
10 |
|
| Ahmed Hamdi Suez Canal tunnel | turn-off Taba (ambulance station) | 8 |
-- |
|
| turn-off Taba (ambulance station) | ambulance station | 19 |
72 |
|
| ambulance station | check point | 2 |
-- |
|
| check point | Ras Sudr | H |
32 |
60 |
| Ras Sudr | Ras Matarma | H |
23 |
30 |
| Ras Matarma | La Hacienda | H |
6 |
13 |
| La Hacienda | ambulance station | 15 |
51 |
|
| ambulance station | turn-off Hammam Faraun | 6 |
14 |
|
| turn-off Hammam Faraun | Abu Zenima | 33 |
198 |
|
| Abu Zenima | check point | 12 |
37 |
|
| check point | Abu Redeis | 11 |
21 |
|
| Abu Redeis | turn-off Sharm el-Shiekh check point (140) | 38 |
167 |
|
| turn-off Sharm el-Shiekh check point (140) | Wadi Feiran (717) | 47 |
577 |
|
| Wadi Feiran (717) | Al Tarfa check point (1134) | 31 |
421 |
|
| Al Tarfa check point (1134) | St. Catherine check point (1364) | 15 |
233 |
|
| St. Catherine check point (1364) | St. Catherine (1577) | H / C |
12 |
225 |
| St. Catherine | St. Catherine check point (1364) | 12 |
5 |
|
| St. Catherine check point (1364) | turn-off St. Catherine airport (1455) | 5 |
118 |
|
| turn-off St. Catherine airport (1455) | military check point (724) | 60 |
216 |
|
| military check point (804) | turn-off Dahab/Nuweiba (690) | 10 |
104 |
|
| turn-off Dahab/Nuweiba (770) | turn-off Sharm El-Sheikh (103) | 37 |
62 |
|
| turn-off Sharm El-Sheikh (183) | Dahab (5) | H / C |
10 |
13 |
| Dahab | turn-off St. Catherine / Nuweiba (690) | 47 |
709 |
|
| turn-off St. Catherine / Nuweiba (690) | Migrah 1 (754) | 5 |
68 |
|
| Migrah 1 (754) | top climb (804) | 4 |
91 |
|
| top climb (804) | start downhill (763) | 2 |
30 |
|
| start downhill (763) | turn-off Port Nuweiba (70) | 13 |
7 |
|
| turn-off Port Nuweiba (70) | Nuweiba (5) | H / C |
9 |
51 |
