1

Egypt – The Land of Pharaos

An Egypt travel guide, giving you a quick rundown of the destination, famous sightseeing points as well as customised itineraries to suit every traveler type.

2

Why travel to Egypt?

• Egypt has one of the oldest civilizations in

the world and has more than 70% of

historical monuments with history as old as

5,000yrs B.C.

• Not only does Egypt have many historical

attractions, It also has some of the finest

beaches world wide.

• See the Nile River the longest river in the

world, which extends from Lake Victoria in

Central Africa, flows through Uganda,

Sudan, and Egypt to the Mediterranean

Sea, a distance of 5584 km (3470 miles).

3

Map of Egypt

4

General Information

Clothing :

Mar to May (Spring) : Cotton clothing. Light warm clothing for evenings

May to Oct (Summer) : Short sleeves, cotton clothing, hats, sun glasses

Oct to early Dec (Autumn) : Cotton clothing. Light jackets for evening

Mid Dec to Feb (Winter) : Sweaters, a coat or jacket for evenings

Time difference : 2hours ahead of GMT and 3 ½ hours ahead of IST

Currency : Egyptian pound

Electricity : 220 Volts.

Temp JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Max 18 21 24 28 33 35 36 35 32 30 26 20

Min 8 9 11 14 17 20 21 22 20 18 14 10

Climate

5

Cairo AirportCairo International Airport• Located in Heliopolis, 22km from central Cairo and 40km

from the Giza. • International and Domestic Terminals are separate in the

same vicinity. • Upon arrival of the flight, before clearing customs and

immigration. Your local representative meets you and assist you in immigration, baggage and customs.

• Cairo International Airport can be compared to any of our India domestic airports, with basic shopping outlets, does not have a aero bridge.

6

• Cairo - capital city of Egypt.• Cairo is an under developed city you find

traffic jams throughout the city throughout the day.

• Being a muslim country, Non-vegetarian food is commonly found. Hence for vegetarian once should sell dinner inclusive package.

• In majority of hotels you find French, Italian, Arabic cuisine.

• Taxi’s are not recommended, below Indian standards.

• There are 02 areas where tourist would like to stay – The Giza area which is near the Pyramids.

– The city center which is closed to the main hustle and bustle of town.

Cairo – General

7

Transfers and Sightseeing• There is no SIC transportation.

• Egypt being an exporter of oil. Petrol/Diesel prices are very cheap when compared to Indian standards. Hence transportation in Egypt is quite cheap.

• All transfers and sightseeing are provided by private vehicle with driver and an English speaking guide throughout the tour (even on the cruise) irrespective whether there is 02 or 40 paxs travelling together.

• Transportation by taxis, buses, trains is not recommended for tourist, (a) Below touristic standards (b) Locals do not speak English (c ) Crowded.• Approx taxi fare from airport to city centre hotels – EGP 60 • Approx taxi fare from airport to hotels in Giza (Pyramids) area – EGP 80

8

Shopping in Egypt Shopping in Egypt is quite different from

ones in cities like Singapore, Paris. There are no huge malls. One can compare shops to what India had 10 years back.

• Egypt is famous for Papyrus paintings, Egyptian jewellery, shawls, handcrafted brass and copperware.• Ideally one should buy these from genuine shops recommeded by guides, or else one can land up with wake stuff. • One can shop at Cairo's world famous Khan-al-Khalili market. Aswan souk, Luxor bazaars.• Shopping outlets are also found in hotels and on the Nile Cruise.

9

Indian food in CairoThere are around 3 to 4 Indian restaurants

available in Cairo city wherein VEG NVG JVG authentic meal is available.

1.) Khandahar Indian restaurant :

• A good authentic Indian food served.

• Good ambience, good food, and service.

• Located in downtown city center.

• Grade I restaurant.

2.) Moghul Indian restaurant :

• An upmarket Indian restaurant

• Located in Mena House Oberoi Hotel.

• Ala-cart food served hence clients can go on their own.

There are 02 more restaurants one at Hilton Ramsees and the other in the residential area, but due to traffic problems Khandahar is widely used.

10

Full day Sightseeing in Cairo You visit Pyramids and Sphinx, Egyptian Museum, Khan Khalil market.

• Duration : 8 hours• Start and End time : 8.00am – 5.00pm• Pick Up/ Drop off : From Hotel / to Hotel• Days of Ops : Daily

Pyramids and Sphinx • There are in all 90 pyramids all over

Egypt. You visit the 3 famous ones which are in the Giza area which are built for King kofo, son Kafrin and Grand son Mycrines.

• The Great Pyramid - built around 2600 B.C. is 755 feet high and built from over 2.3 million blocks of stone used, weighing 2 ½ to 15 tons each with an area of 13 acres at the base. Original height 146 meters, current height 137 meters.

• These limestones were shipped from Aswan and were transported on wooden logs.

11

• One can enter the Pyramids, take a camel ride, Click photographs from a far away distance.

• Later you visit Sphinx - carved from the bedrock of the Giza plateau, which has body of a lion and the head of a king or god, is a symbol of strength and wisdom.

Egyptian Museum • Also referred to as Cairo Museum. You come across statues, tombs of the Pharoas which are still getting discovered. • The museum is huge and requires more than 3 hours to fully understand each monument.• One of the must see places is the Hall of the Royal mummies.

12

Khan El Khalil Market• The oldest shopping area in Cairo.• The Bazaar is quite similar to Crawford

Market in Mumbai.• There are shops selling curios of

Mummy, Pharaos, Belly dancing clothes. Cheap artifacts.

• Bargaining is a must.

13

Optional sightseeingDuration : 2 hours

Start and End time : 7.00 pm – 9.00pm

Pick Up/ Drop off : From Hotel / to Hotel

Days of Ops : Daily

• Egyptian dance and music is world famous.

• Enjoy a 90 minute evening cruisewith dinner.

• Dinner is a buffet dinner serving Egyptian and Arabic cuisine, mainly non-veg good.

• As you enjoy your meal. Egyptian belly dancers and singers entertain you throughout.

• Cruising experience is average, food is average. You cannot compare cruising with Sydney Show boat or Paris Seine cruising.

14

Sound and Light Show

Duration : 2 hrs Pick Up/ Drop off : From Hotel / to Hotel

Start and End time : 7.30 am to 9.00 pm Days of Ops : Daily

• A laser light show on Sphinx and Pyramids wherein you learn about the story of Sphinx who has been the vigilant guardian of the city for five thousand years.

• The show depicts the story of how the Pyramids were built of Keops, Kephren, Mykerinos and relates the history of great and famous figures of ancient Egypt.

• Its an open theater, the show starts at 8.15 pm for an hour.• One can order soft drinks on their own (at extra cost).• After the show one can buy curios and books to learn more about the history of Egypt.

15

• Its very crucial for one to select the right hotels. The categorization of hotels done by Egyptian tourism authority is not customized to Indian traveller.A basic 4 star hotel is classified as a 5 star. A basic 3 Star hotel is classified as a 4 star.By which our client will have a mis-conception of staying at a 5 star hotel.In general all hotels have generally Italian, French, Arabic cuisine restaurants.Majority of the 5 Star hotels have Inhouse 24-hour bank by which clients can exchange money.Live Arabic band or Belly dancing entertainment is available in 5 Star hotels.

HOTELS IN CAIRO

16

A newly opened 5 Star hotel in the Pyramids area.Certain rooms face the Pyramid.All rooms and suites are elegantly furnished with private bath, radio, color TV, video program, telephone, mini fridge and central air conditioning.Though its rated as 5 Star according to Indian standard it’s a good 4 star superior hotel.Rooms are large. Good for a family of 4. Generally the hotels in the Pyramids area are resort style with swimming pool Restaurants serving French, Italian, Arabic cuisine. This property can be used as an entry level

Grand Pyramids Hotel

17

A good 5 Star Hotel in the Pyramids area.Certain rooms are Pyramid facing. Restaurants serving French, Italian, Arabic cuisine.Rooms are large. Good for a family of 4.All rooms and suites are elegantly furnished with private bath, radio, color TV, video program, telephone, mini fridge and central air conditioning.This is a good 5 Star hotel in the Pyramids area.

Le Meridien Pyramids

18

Rated as 5 Star as per Egyptian Tourism Board but good be graded as 4 Star hotel standard hotel as per Indian standards.Located in the Pyramids area. It’s a resort style hotel with one of the bug swimming pools in Cairo. Restaurants serving French, Italian, Arabic cuisine.Rooms are large. Good for a family of 4.All rooms and suites are elegantly furnished with private bath, radio, color TV, video program, telephone, mini fridge and central air conditioning. Though it’s a International brand its advisable not to sell this property.

Intercontinental Pyramids Park

19

Former known as Zosar Partner HotelRated as 5 Star as per Egyptian Tourism

Board but good be graded as 4 Star

standard hotel as per Indian standards.Located in the Pyramids area. It has a Atrium look with all 4 corners of

the room facing each other.Restaurants serving French, Italian,

Arabic cuisine.Rooms are large. Good for a family of 4.Recommended not to sell as a 5Star but

as a 4 Star.

Zosar Hotel

20

A 5 Star hotel Hotel owned by Oberoi Group

of hotels.Located in the Pyramids area with some

rooms facing the Pyramid.The hotel has 02 wings – Garden wing (no

rooms face the Pyramids) and Palace wing

(few rooms face the pyramid).Garden wing is currently under renovation

hence only Palace wing is open. The concept of the hotel is that of a castle,

hence it has athentic look to it..Since its an Indian hotel, it’s has upmarket

Indian restaurant ‘Moghul’ serving A-La Cart

meals.

Meena House Oberoi

21

Shepard Hotel is a good 4 Star hotel in the city center.Good location for shopping, just across the nile by which one can have a evening cruise.Grand Deluxe rooms are newly renovated and are facing the Nile.This is the only hotel recommended as a 4 Star.

Shepard Hotel

22

Marriott Hotel

A good 5 Star hotel right across the Nile

river. It’s a huge property, the concept is of a

castle, hence you find lot of entic style décor

in the hotel.

Rooms are just refurbished and has a new

look.

Hotel has Casino and shopping outlet.

Recommended for 5 Star deluxe clients

23

Departs10:00 hrs Duration : 8 hrsDays of Operation : Daily Tour Departure Point : Hotel Pick Up

• Alexandria the 2nd largest city in Egypt is located 225kms from Cairo.(3hours drive from Cairo)

• Known as "The Pearl of the Mediterranean“. At this point Nile River meets the Meditarranean Sea

• The atmosphere is more of Mediterranean style than the Middle Eastern• The city was founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BC.

Full day tour of Alexandria

24

On a full day tour of Alexandria you

visit

• Greco Roman Musuem –

Houses good collection of rare

Roman relics and coins.

• Qaitbay Citadel which was built

on the site of the ancient pharos

(lighthouse) of Alexandria.

• Afternoon visit the Catacombs

which are the largest Roman

Cemetery consisting of three

levels cut in the rock and finally

enjoy Montazah Palace.

25

Nile Cruises• There are more than 300 ships

sailing on the Nile.

• Categorized as 4 and 5 Star Cruise liners, 4 Star are not even worth looking at.

• The Cruise sails from Aswan to Luxor or vice versa on all days of the week.

• Since each Operator has contract with limited cruise ship.You have 4 to 5 times in a week.

• Depending upon your flight arrival you are transferred to Cruise center to board cruise.

26

Nile Cruises• Due to security reasons overnight

cruises do not sail in Cairo waters.

• The Cruise vessel is a ship which take around 300 passengers.

• Cruising on Nile should not be compared to cruising in other western countries or in the Far East.

• Your representative is on the ship to escort you throughout on the Cruise and on the sightseeing in Edfu / Kom mombo / Aswan and Luxor.

27

Facilities on Nile Cruises

• All the ships has similar facilities. There are mainly 3 decks on the ship.

– Top Deck which has Swimming Pool and Sun deck.

– Middle Deck which has Cabins, Shopping outlets.

– Lower Deck which is the entrance, lobby, Bar, Restaurant, Entertainment theater.

• Full board meals are provided. Mainly there is heavy spread of Non-veg meals, Veg needs to be requested in advance.

• Evening entertainment has Belly dance show, Arabic Band.

28

• Cabins are generally of standard hotel room with Bed, TV, Intercom, Bathroom, Toilet, Lights, Air conditioning.

• All the cabins are outside facing with a window.

• There are mainly 02 categories Standard room and Suite room.

29

• A 4-Star Cruise which has very basic amenities.

• The crew is not well presented the food presentation is low, Lobby is not decorative.

• The difference between a 5 Star and 4 Star for 3 nights cruise is just USD 20 (approx)

30

Sightseeing in Luxor

Duration : 5 hrs Pick Up/ Drop off : From Cruise / to Cruise

Start and End time : 10 am to 3pm Days of Ops : Daily

Luxor has often been called the world’s greatest open air museum, as indeed it is and much more.

• In your 2 days halt in Luxor you visit

– East Bank of Luxor

– West Bank of Luxor

31

Sightseeing in Luxor

On a full day tour of West Bank You will be transferred to Valley of the Kings which is magnificent in its grandeur of architecture, Valley of the Queens containing the masterpieces of the ancient Egyptian tombs, that of Nefertari, wife of Ramses II and the Temple of Queen Hatshpsute, the only Pharaonic woman who reigned ancient Egypt.

32

Sightseeing in Luxor

Duration : 4 hrs

Pick Up/ Drop off : From Cruise / to Cruise

Start and End time : 10 am to 2pm

Days of Ops : Daily

On a half day tour of the East Bank of

Luxor you visit 2 temples

– Karnak Temple, the greatest

example of worship in history.

– And Luxor temple which was

dedicated to Amoun- Ra. It is

famous for its Obelisk of Ramses II

in front of the 1st Pylon.

33

Sightseeing in Esna and Edfu

Duration : 6 hrs Pick Up/ Drop off : From Cruise / to Cruise

Start and End time : 10 am to 4pm Days of Ops : Daily

• Relish a trip to Esna at the East side of the Nile.

• At Esna, cross the barrage visiting Esna Temple on the West side. Then proceed to Edfu

and see the temple of Horus.

34

Full day sightseeing in AswanDuration : 5 hrs

Pick Up/ Drop off : From Cruise / to Cruise

Start and End time : 10 am to 3pm

Days of Ops : Daily

• In Aswan you visit Unfinished Obelisk, A huge stone which has a crack discovered as it was being hewn from the rock. It would have weighed over 2.3 million pounds (1 million kilograms) and would have been the worlds largest piece of stone ever handled.

• Next you visit High Dam, is the world famous High Dam built in 1960s.

• It contains 18 times the material used in the Great Pyramid of Cheops. The Dam is 11,811 feet long, 3215 feet thick at the base and 364 feet tall.

• Today it provides irrigation and electricity for the whole of Egypt.

• From the top of the High Dam you can gaze across Lake Nassar.

35

Full day sightseeing in Aswan

• Enjoy ride on Faluka a small

boat maximum 8 seater

• Visit Philae Temple, the

temple is dedicated to the

goddess Isis.

• Dismantled and reassembled

(on Agilika Island about 1,800

feet (550 meters) from its

original home on Philae

Island). Its a a beautiful setting

which has been landscaped to

match its original site.

36

Abu SimbelDuration : 9 hrs Pick Up/ Drop off : From Cruise / to Cruise

Start and End time : 8 am to 4pm Days of Ops : Daily

• Next to the Pyramids of Giza, Abu Simbel is perhaps the most recognized monument of ancient Egypt.

• Abu Simbel lies near the Egyptian border with Sudan.

• Almost as impressive as the monument itself is the story of its restoration in the

1960's.

37

• The temples had to be dismantled and physically moved 60 meters up a cliff where they were reassembled in the exact same relation to each other and the sun.

• A daily sound and light show is a highlight not to be missed.

• The closest major town is Aswan. You can get to Abu Simbel by

air from Cairo or Aswan. Daily bus tours are avaibale from Aswan to

Abu Simbel.

38

Book Egypt holidays on Ezeego1

Egypt Holidays & Tour Packages

call our travel experts1800 209 0800