Destination: Egypt
LONELY PLANET'S OFFICIAL GUIDEBOOK INFORMATION
Getting Started
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Exploring Egypt is easy. Most of the tourist hotspots are well connected by cheap buses, and many are also linked by train and plane. Accommodation is plentiful, particularly in the budget and top-end categories, and decent eateries are thick on the ground in every corner of the country except the oases. Unlike some other parts of the Middle East, enjoying a beer, meeting the locals and accessing the Internet are all things that can be taken for granted. Preplanning your trip will usually guarantee your accommodation of choice, but on the whole it’s not necessary – unless you’re on a tight timetable, it’s usually more enjoyable to leave your itinerary in the lap of the gods. After all, there are a lot of them to call on…
DON`T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT...
There is very little that you might need that you won’t be able to find in Egypt. That said, you may not have the same degree of choice as at home. So bring sunglasses, a torch (flashlight), sunscreen (anything above factor eight is hard to find in Egypt) and a hat. If you’re a light sleeper you may also want to bring earplugs – bus rides are rarely quiet, Cairo is a very noisy city and throughout the country dawn is accompanied by the amplified voice of the muezzin calling the faithful to prayer. If you are visiting during winter a sweater is necessary for evenings, especially in desert areas. Although most toiletries can be found in city pharmacies and supermarkets, certain items can be difficult to get. When you do find them they can be expensive, too. This is certainly the case with contact-lens solution, roll-on mosquito repellent, tampons and contraceptives (local condoms have a distressingly high failure rate).
Finally, make sure you check travel advisories for a current security update.
Lonely Planet recommends World Nomads Travel insurance
