2 Weeks in Egypt

What You Should Know Before Going On A Egypt Tour

Is it safe to travel to Egypt?

As of September 2021 - a Level 3 Travel Advisory has been in place by the US State Department. This advises "increased caution" when traveling to Egypt, as a result of certain terrorist activities and threats, and military activity on the border. 

But what does this mean? It is advised that when you are visiting Egypt to remain cautious and aware of your surroundings at all times. It also means that the specified areas, e.g. the Sinai Peninsula and the borders, should be avoided. However, the Egyptian government emphasizes that all areas with a high concentration of tourism are heavily guarded to ensure your safety.

Yes, you can travel to Egypt, but there are certain precautions that you should take to keep yourself safe. The first is to know your country’s embassy location and number in case of an emergency which can be accessed through your country’s government website. You should also remain within the areas that are deemed safe.

Most government websites also provide a link to a site where you can input your information so you get messages from your embassy about safety conditions in the area. For visitors from the US, you can enroll in STEP (Smart Traveler Enrollment Program). Also, it is advised to remain away from any political protests or crowds.

Finally, we at Travelstride highly recommend booking a guided tour, rather than trying to navigate the foreign country yourself. 

Guided Tours to Egypt

Guided tours are always advised. Because they are always well-informed and know how to avoid, as well as respond to dangerous situations, guided tours are the safest option for foreign travelers. 

Certain areas in Egypt, like the Sinai Peninsula, have a higher risk of danger, and most to all tours do not visit these places. Before your trip to Egypt, you can always contact your tour company to see what specific precautions they take to ensure everyone’s safety.

What should women wear in Egypt?

Another common question that many people often ask before traveling to Egypt is, generally, what to wear? 

A general rule of thumb for women should be to dress conservatively. This means covering as much skin as you can -- your shoulders and legs, especially. When surrounded by other tourists, you will likely be able to wear whatever you want, but it is traveling in between these locations, or at night, that you may run into problems. Certain mosques will also require you to cover your arms and hair. 

Here is a list of items every woman should pack when visiting Egypt (or any other conservative Muslim country):

1. Lightweight scarf: this scarf will be your best friend. You can wrap it over your head and shoulders when you need to enter a mosque without having to drag around an entirely new outfit. 
2. Sunglasses: Making eye contact in Egypt is considered to be flirting, so these will help you avoid the gaze of any men who might call out to you. These will also be useful in general as Egypt is a sunny place! 
3. Maxi skirt: Maxi skirts made of lightweight, loosely-fitting material are a great way to avoid getting too hot.
4. Tunic shirt: Wearing a cotton or linen tunic-style shirt is a great way to beat the heat and make sure you're covering up. This style of shirt will not only be long enough to cover your hips if you are wearing skinny jeans, but they usually have high necklines and longer sleeves.