Travelling to a new place often presents uncertainties and worries, especially if you have very little to no knowledge of the area. For instance, Egypt is a wonderful country for tourists to visit but is so large that one can often get confused and lost along the way. This is why a handy travel guide to Egypt has been created for you, so that you may be able to figure out a plan to work on your itinerary and know which places are of relevance as well as important. Having a travel guide like this is very beneficial for every tourist, most especially for first-time visitors in Egypt. Just imagine going to this country without having any idea on where to go or learn of the rich history of it, all because you had nothing to guide you on your journey. Besides giving you information on the important places to go to in Egypt, World Interpreting, Inc. also offers the services of interpreters in Egypt, to punch through that language barrier. Simply use the contact information that is listed to avail of the services of an interpreter.

At World Interpreting, Inc. we offer more than language translation services. Besides interpretation and translation, we are also providing you with a concise travel guide to many countries all over the world. What makes us very different from other travel guides you may find is that we do not just tell you about the popular places you can visit. We provide you with information about the places not usually seen or are not that well-known, but are of equal importance. Other than those pieces of information, we are also providing you with a country-specific safety guide for when you arrive in Egypt such as the things you should avoid doing and what you should do to maintain your health and security.

The country of Egypt is such a magnificent place that it is no wonder that millions of tourists come to this country every year to experience everything they can in the limited amount of time that they have. No matter how long you are staying in Egypt, whether it is a week or a month, it will not be enough. There are so many things to do and places to see that your stay in Egypt will pass like a breeze and it will be over before you even realize it. This is why this travel guide has been created, so that you can fully maximize your stay in the country.Egypt, with the richness coming from the Nile River and its isolation from other cultural influences developed one of the world’s advanced and great civilizations. Their remarkable engineering, construction and architectural feats are still studied up to this day and age. Their many inventions, including medicine, agricultural tools, irrigations systems, mathematical systems, courts and justice systems, written language and everyday things such as combs, toothbrushes and toothpastes were all beneficial to modern man.

It is a vast North African country, bordered in the north by the Mediterranean Sea. Libya shares borders with Egypt in the west and the country is bounded by Israel and the Gaza Strip as well as the Red Sea in the east. Sudan is its neighbor on its southern side. Egypt is about the size of California and Texas combined or equal to the size of Central America, with a total land area of 1,001,450 square kilometers of 386,659 square miles. Its Mediterranean and Red Sea coastlines measure 2,450 kilometers or about 1,522 miles.

Officially named the Arab Republic of Egypt, it has an estimated population of over 83.5 million people as of 2012, with a median age of 24 years. It is one of the most populous countries in the Middle East as well as in Africa, the majority of which live along the fertile banks of the Nile River. The country has the largest population of Sunni Muslims, which is about 94% while the rest is composed of Coptic Christians and other minorities.

It is basically impossible to see all there is to see in Egypt in one go. It is necessary to have a well-planned travel itinerary when visiting a country as large as Egypt. While you may not be able to see all the popular destinations in Egypt during your initial travel, our Travel Guide Egypt gives you an overview of most of the popular destinations around the country. It is designed with you in mind and includes basic travel safety tips, a section on some useful words and phrases to help you make conversation with the locals, some interesting facts about the country, a deeper look at the climate in Egypt and bit of general knowledge about the country. One thing about the country of Egypt is that it is always changing and improving itself. You may have visited a certain tourist destination once in the past and yet you may be able to find something new about it when you return. Many tourists that have been in the country always find a new discovery or a recently opened destination that will surely thrill your senses. In short, wonders will never cease and the adventure never stops when you are in Egypt.

The economy of Egypt is driven by diverse industries including agriculture, services, media, petroleum exports and tourism. Egypt has huge reserves of natural gas and exports oil, gas and coal. The lure of its glorious past and the remnants of its ancient civilization are top tourist draw that ranks tourism in Egypt at par in income generation with the other industries. Part of its ancient charm can be seen in the famous Giza pyramids, the mysterious Sphinx, Thebes, Karnak, Luxor, Alexandria and the ancient town of Memphis. On the other hand, Egypt has invested in the development of modern tourist attractions such as the resort complexes in the Red Sea Coast and the Red Sea Riviera.

If you are traveling to Egypt for the first time, you cannot miss out on seeing the most popular tourist hotspots in the country. The west banks of Luxor, the Pyramids of Giza and the tombs at the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens are just some of the things that should be on the top of your list. Of course, there are many other sites that you should go to and things that you must experience that are not that popular but are of value nonetheless.

If you have limited time, touring Cairo will give you plenty of sights to see and things to do. In this city you will be able to see the Pyramids of Giza, the old town of Memphis, the Sphinx, the Egyptian Museum, the old souk of Khan el-Khalili and the Hanging Church.

For those with plenty of time to go around, head over to Luxor where you will have a wonderful time exploring the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens as well as view the Karnak Temples and the Memnon Colossi and take a side trip to Aswan.

For those who are after outdoor adventures like desert trekking, beachcombing and diving, the best place to be will be at the Red Sea Coast where diving and snorkeling are world-class. The area is fully developed to cater to international travelers and have hotels, apartments, villas, shopping complexes, spas and other top-caliber amenities.

Egypt is full of wonderful items that are worth taking home, for your own use or as gifts to friends back home. While it can be truly tempting to buy these items when you see them, it is best to wait as you can buy most of them from the Khan el-Khalili market, except maybe the authentic papyrus, which you can buy at the Papyrus Institute in Giza. Shop before you go back home and take home to take home with you some ground spices, blue beetle scarab rings and accessories for belly dancing if you have a penchant for it. You can also look for silky pashminas that are usually worn by Bedouins as scarves, small pyramids made of alabaster, cartouche necklaces with names written in colorful hieroglyphs and probably some camel stuff toys.

Egypt is a desert country and as such you should pack lightweight clothing made of cotton. You should also bring sun protection such as dark-colored sunglasses, plenty of sunscreen with high SPF, a travel umbrella, sun hats and caps, moisturizers and lip balm. Good-fitting and sturdy walking shoes are a must, as you will surely be walking on uneven ground, over sand and gravel and unpaved roads when you visit the temples, the pyramids and other ruins.

The country is an Arab country and follows the Islamic religion. It is recommended that you wear sensible clothing that does not expose too much skin. Avoid wearing shorts and sleeveless tops when you are going inside mosques and some temples. Look out for warning signs as photography is prohibited in some sites.

Arabic is the official language in Egypt and you can have a better feel for the language when you look at our section on useful Arabic words and phrases before you head off to Egypt. While it is not extensive, you will be able to learn some basic greetings and sentences that will help you ask for directions, buy some stuff from the shops and order simple meals. A good phrase book and/or dictionary will also be of great help.

Lastly, take a look at our section of the Places to See and Things to Do, as this can help you plan your itinerary for your journey to Egypt.