10 Things not to miss in Egypt - Go Discovery Tours

 The pyramids

If you are in Cairo airport you can do Cairo airport transfers with go discovery travel then we will drop your directly to Pyramids with your Egyplogist tour guide who will organize  for you  directly
want to visit Egypt for one day you can you can Make your Day tour to Giza pyramids and sphinx where you will know more information about the pyramids and sphinx. you will be welcome inside the pyramids.you will enjoy your day tour.

It would be a travel-weary soul indeed who failed to be impressed by the spectacles of Giza, the only survivors of the seven wonders of the ancient world. It took teams of 10,000 workers the ?ve non-farming months of 20 years to build each pyramid and they are awesome. Although climbing the pyramids is no longer permitted, you can walk right around them, take a camel ride between them and even go inside to the main chambers (providing you don’t suffer from claustrophobia as the entry tunnela are narrow, steep and hot). By contrast, the nearby Sphinx is, as English playwright Alan Bennett observed, like meeting someone famous who turns out to be smaller than you might have imagined from seeing them on TV or in photographs.

2 Cairo’s Egyptian Museum

You could spend a month in this vast, fusty and cavernous museum and barely scratch the surface. Highlights include the Tutankhamun Galleries with everything from clothes, funerary couches, golden sarcophagi and statues to canopic jars containing the boy king’s internal organs. Tut’s death mask, 11kg of solid gold with details in lapis lazuli, obsidian and quartz, completes the sensory overload. Don’t miss the royal mummy room with 11 of Egypt’s most celebrated rulers laid out for the passing parade, or the animal mummy exhibit where royal pets from cats and dogs to crocodiles are preserved. The ancient Egyptian jewellery room is also astonishing, particularly for the inspiration it has provided modern jewellers with lots of seashell and star?sh motifs.

3 Old Cairo

Coptic Cairo is a fascinating precinct in Old Cairo, also home to Cairo’s oldest synagogue, Ben Ezra. The 9th century Hanging Church is so called because it’s built on top of the Water Gate of Roman Babylon — there’s a glass panel in the ?oor so you see the gate below. The Church of St Sergius has pillars dating from the 3rd and 4th centuries, but is said to be built over a cave where Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus lived for six weeks after ?eeing persecution by King Herod of Judea, who had decreed that all ?rst-born should be killed. The crypt is now ?ooded, but it’s still impossible not to feel the intense spirituality of the place.

4 Khan Al-Khalili

Cairo’s bustling central market since the 14th century, it meanders across countless alleys. In the midst of all the touts and tat, this is a great place to pick up souvenirs as long as you’re prepared to bargain. Take a break at Fishawi’s Co?eehouse, which claims not to have shut in 200 years except in the mornings during Ramadan when everyone is fasting. And try fateer from the stall that has “Egyptian pancakes” written on the wall.

5 A ride on the Nile

A felucca ride on the Nile is the best way to escape the hustle on land. We took a two-hour sunset cruise in Luxor, but there are full-day and even week-long cruises on these time-honoured Nile sailing boats. Longer cruises usually head up-river from Aswan — the strong current keeps you moving even when the wind drops

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6 The Luxor Museum

If Cairo’s museum is old-school, the Luxor Museum is new age, with multi- media presentations and well-documented exhibits. There are mummies (including one thought to be the mummy of Rameses I) and statues aplenty, but we delighted in the everyday objects including sandals, a quiver of arrows and even a slingshot from Tutankhamun’s tomb.

7 Luxor

Allow at least a couple of days to explore the temples and tombs of Luxor, about (where?, 
Luxor Day Tours , coming on proof ). Anything less and you’ll end up with pharaonic fatigue not able to tell a sphinx from a scarab. Karnak and Luxor temples are the highlights of the East Bank in the actual city of Luxor, while on the West Bank you can visit the underground tombs of The Valley of the Kings (including Rameses II and Tutankhamun), the temple of Hatshepsut, the queen who ruled ?rst as regent and then as pharaoh, even to the extent of dressing as a man, the twin pillars of the Colossi of Memnon and the tombs of the Valley of the Queens. It gets very hot in these parts, so start early, wear sunscreen and take plenty of water.

8 Alexandria’s waterfront walk

A stroll along the Corniche in Alexandria, two hours drive north of Cairo, provides a pleasant respite from antiquity overload. The fishing boats place you firmly on the Mediterranean and the Alexandrian Bibliotheca (library) is a modern architectural wonder worth visiting. Stroll down the seafront to see the Hotel Cecil where Lawrence Durrell stayed when he came to Alexandria in 1942 and later immortalised in the Alexandria Quartet. Somewhat incongruously, it’s now a Sofitel.

9 Oriental eating

From dips such as baba ganouj and homous to salads including tabbouleh and fattoush and chickpea-based felafel, it’s almost impossible to eat badly in Egypt. We fell in love with fattah, a slow-roasted lamb dish with a rich tomato sauce, and hamam, pigeon stu?ed with spiced rice. Sweet-tooths are well catered for, with honey-sodden pastries ?avoured with rosewater and pistachios, pinenuts, almonds and cashews. Though most Egyptians don’t drink alcohol, beer is easy to come by (a bit harder during Ramadan). Egypt also has an emerging wine industry producing creditable wines under licence to French winemakers. Wine and spirits are mainly available in the tourist hotels. There’s also an astonishing array of juices, from limoon (lemon) and rumman (pomegranate) to karkadai (hibiscus flower).

10 A dip in the Red Sea

The Red Sea is justi?ably famous for the spectacular coral reefs and more than 1000 species of ?sh, making it a diving and snorkelling paradise. Many Egyptians and tourists base themselves in the resort town of Sharm el Sheikh on the point of the Sinai Peninsula and explore Ras Mohammed National Park, 20km to the west.

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Terms of US

Tour price:

Our Egypt package prices are estimated according to the season of travel, and the chosen hotel/cruise category. We basically quote all out travel programs based on 3,4 and 5 star  accommodation.

Payments options:

A deposit of 30% of tour cost per person should be placed to the organizer, required at the time of booking to confirm and guarantee your tour booking. Deposits may be made by US Dollar, English money or Euros by Wire Transfer direct to our company bank account as Wire transfer is the safest and secured way for placing deposits. 

Payment conditions

* Deposit of 30% of tour cost per person should paid as deposit 45 days before arrival.

*Balanceof 20%to be paid 30 days before the starting date of the.

*Balance of 50%to be paid upon arrival

Refunds and Cancellations:

Penalties for cancellations received 30 days or more prior to departure are as follows:

·                                 30 - 15 days before the tour starts: 0% of total tour cost.

·                                 15 - 10 days before the tour starts: 10% of total tour cost.

·                                 14 - 03 days before the tour starts: 50% of total tour cost.

All arrangements are inclusive. No refund is granted for unused accommodations, meals, or if cruise ships alter their itineraries. All cancellations must be made in writing and within 60 days from tour date.

Travel Insurance:

Travel insurance is available. We strongly recommend and advise that you obtain travel insurance before you arrive to Egypt. Policies are available to cover loss or damage to luggage, medical emergencies that your regular insurance might not cover when you are overseas, travel interruption, trip cancellation and unforeseen expenses if you have to cancel your trip.

Charges not mentioned elsewhere for this tour such as: entry visa fees, personal laundry, telephone calls, all alcoholic beverages including wine and beer, mineral water, insurance of any kind, custom duties, gratuities to tour guides, excess baggage charges, etc. 

Extra charges for food ordered a la carte or from room service. These charges must be paid directly to the hotel or the restaurant where ordered from

Service Inquiries:

If you have a problem with any of the Tour Services provided it should be brought to the immediate attention of our representative or the company directly whilst on the Tour. We will then attempt to rectify the situation immediately. Upon return it is almost impossible to correct a situation ,that could have been corrected during the Tour. Please note that if you choose for any reason not to participate in any part of the program once on the tour, there will be NO refund for these services, as they are prepaid based on the number participating. 

(Note: If you miss part of the tour due to medical reasons your Insurance should cover this portion if pre-purchased.)

Responsibility:
We act as an agent for the owners and contractors providing transportation, hotel or other services We make every effort to ensure that all travel arrangements and services, connected with the tour, will be carried out as specified. However, in some instances we do not have direct control over the provision of services by suppliers and we do not accept liability for errors and omissions of such suppliers.

Changes:

Only our authorized representative, who would have a document in writing, is authorized to add or waive any term or condition in this document.

Children Policy

0 – 01.99 Free of charge
2 – 11.99 50% of total tour cost
12+ considered adults
*** If your tour packages includes flight , an extra supplement for child may apply

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Entry Visa

Your Entry Visa To Egypt

Most tourists and visitors to Egypt can obtain an entry visa at any of the major airports or ports of entry. All foreigners arriving in Egypt should have a valid passport (with at least 6 months left before expiry) to get an entry visa. 
The visa can also be obtained from Egyptian Diplomatic and Consular Missions abroad, or when in Egypt ( for extension or renewal) from the visa department at the Travel Documents, Immigration and Nationality Administration (TDINA) at Mogamma building located at Tahrir squire in Cairo  city center.

There are 2 types of Egyptian Visa:

Entry Visa: is required for any foreigner arriving in Egypt for purposes other than tourism, e.g. work, study, etc. The possession of a valid entry visa is needed to complete the residence procedure in Egypt.

Tourist Visa: is usually valid for a period not exceeding three months and granted on either single or multiple entry basis.

Egypt Entry Visa is valid only for travel within three months from the date of issue and is valid only for One- month stay in Egypt, beginning on the date of arrival. If you have a reason to extend your stay, you can do that from the ministry of interior affairs in Egypt after declaring the reasons for that and their acceptance for that reasons.

Egyptian with foreign passports:

Any Egyptian citizen holds foreign passport will be granted a courtesy visa after declaring proof for Egyptian nationality like Egyptian (passport, personal or family identification card or birth certificate), also the foreign wife to Egyptian husband will be granted a courtesy visa after declaring a proof for their marriage.

How to get your visa at the airport:

The visa is simply a stamp (like a mail or postage stamp ) that you buy from the visa office, at the port of entry just before the immigration booth; you can't really miss it!

The visa will cost you around $15 and after buying it; you just stick in any empty page on your passport. Don't worry; it's so easy! Once you have bought your visa you then stand in line to get your passport stamped by the immigration officer.

USEFUL TIP: 

While you are buying your visa, use the opportunity to exchange your currency, but please note, only $US, UK or Euros can be accepted.

Visitors entering Egypt at the overland border post at Taba, to visit the Gulf of Aqaba coast and St. Catherine's, can be exempt from requiring a visa and be granted a free residence permit, valid for fourteen days, to visit the area. 

Those in possession of a residence permit, in Egypt, are not required to obtain an entry visa if they leave the country and return to it within the validity of their residence permit, or within six months, whichever period is less.

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Weather in Egypt

weather in Egypt

The Egyptian summer is hot and dry in most of the country, and humid in the

Delta and along the Mediterranean Coast. In recent years the humidity has spread to Cairo, and the city swelters in August! Winter is mild with some rain, but usually it is bright, sunny days with cold nights.

During the summertime, sun protection is the most important single consideration for an Egypt trip, especially for the fair-skinned. Wearing a sunhat is essential. Cheap, and pure cotton, sunhats are made locally and available everywhere. Travel clothing should be light and comfortable, 100% cotton clothing is the best and robust shoes are a must! The climate of Egypt is characterized by a hot season from May to October and a cool season from October to May. Extreme temperatures during both seasons are moderated by the prevailing northern winds.

-In the coastal region average annual temperatures range from a maximum of 37° C (99° F) to a minimum of 14° C (57° F). Wide variations of temperature occur in the deserts, ranging from a maximum of 46° C (114° F), during daylight hours, to a minimum of 6° C (42° F) after sunset. During the winter season desert temperatures often drop to 0° C (32° F).

The most humid area is along the Mediterranean coast, where the average annual rainfall is about 200mm. Precipitation decreases rapidly to the south; Cairo receives on average only about 29mm of rain each year, and in many desert locations it may rain only once in several years!

There are 5 days called Khamsin between March and April, when sandstorms can occur sporadically, blowing in different places according to the wind direction.

Winter (between October and May) weather is colder than most people anticipate, and cold winds blow over the desert at sunrise and sunset. Even when it is warm outside, it can be surprisingly cold inside the massive stone Temples. In winter, showers can fall everywhere, so bring a few items of light but warm clothing, so that you can cope with the cold early mornings and the occasional, and unseasonable, cold snap.

Bring one or two dressy outfits along for evenings out, especially for parties, and special occasions or just to get out of your tour clothes! If you are staying in a hotel or on a cruise boat, please be warned that luxury hotels and all the Nile Cruises have efficient, but surprisingly pricey laundry services. If you object to paying 12LE for laundry, you can wash out your T-shirts; just bring some detergent with you, as well as a few yards of clothing line.

Also bring a swimsuit, as most good hotels and cruise ships have nice, warm, swimming pools. 

If you are heading out into the desert, you will get dry quickly, so make sure that you have a good stock of water with you. Egyptian mineral water is available everywhere at less than 3LE per bottle. Remember to cover your head  at all time

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Places of Worship

Places of Worship:

All famous and major mosques are open to tourists, except for when services are in progress (the main service is on Friday at noon). Keep in mind that a mosque differs from a western church in that Christian churches are considered houses of God, while mosques are more a gathering place for the faithful of Islam. All visitors to mosques, mausoleums, and Madrassas (religious schools) must remove their shoes! Most Muslims walk around in their stockings, yet sometimes in those mosques that are major tourist attractions, canvas overshoes are available; a tip of 50 PT to 1 LE is in order for the people who put them on for you. Women must cover bare arms. There is no need to wear a hat, or to cover hair. Men and women should wear a long shirt and long trousers when you visit a mosque.

calendar:

The business and secular community in Egypt operates under the Western (Gregorian) calendar (B.C/A.D). But other calendars have official status in Egypt. The Islamic calendar (A.H) is used to fix religious observances and is based on a lunar cycle of 12 months of 29or 30 days. The Muslim year is thus 11 days shorter than the year according to the Gregorian calendar and months move forward accordingly.

In the Gregorian calendar, for example, April is always in the spring, but in the Muslim calendar all months move through all seasons in a 33-year cycle.

The Coptic calendar (A.M) is based on a solar cycle and consists of 12 months of 30 days and one month of 5 days. Every four years a sixth day is added to the shorter month. Many farmers, for planting and harvesting crops, use an adaptation of the Coptic calendar. The authorities of the Coptic Orthodox Church use it. 

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Egyptian Women

Egypt Women:  

Women in Egypt are quite beautiful! The Egyptian woman is well educated, spending a great part of her life being cherished and looked after by her parents until she gets married.

In Egypt 85% of the girls will keep themselves virgins until they get married, this is a common choice in the Middle East, as men usually believe that this is a sign of morality and good karma. 90% of Egyptian men prefer virgin women to marry, and I still can't understand why they would be ready to give up on this belief easily, if they were going to marry a non Egyptian girl !!

in Egypt will find plenty of girls wearing a scarf, it is common these days among many families. Nowadays in Egypt, many women wear a head scarf, demonstrating either modesty or Muslim piety. One reason many young professional women favour this is that it tends to discourage male advances, physical or verbal.

It is very important in Islam that the woman is less seductive to a stranger and shows modesty. You may find it difficult not to impose your western concepts of feminism on such an inherent part of life. From the 1930s onwards, Egyptian women began to enter into business and many professions, and by 1965, thanks in part to social changes affected in the course of the July Revolution, Egypt could boast a far higher proportion of women working as doctors, dentists, lawyers, professors, diplomats, ministers, or high officials than might have been found in the US or in any European country outside of Scandinavia.

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Culture

Egypt Culture and Traditions

Egypt is a country with an immense cultural mix, In every major EGYPT you will find traditions that remain from the time of the Pharaohs, and in other parts you will find pure tribal customs that were brought in by many invaders throughout the centuries. 

Egypt's population is around 90 million. Around 80 million of them are Sunni Muslims and about 10 Million are Coptic Christians (Christian Egyptians), although public statistics indicate that they are not more than 7 million. Whether Muslim or Copt, the Egyptians are moderately religious and religious principles are quite noticeable in their daily lives. Here each family member is responsible for the integrity of his or her family and for the behaviour of other members, creating an environment that would be envied by many people in the West. Here they are very close to each other, family ties are far stronger than in the west, and that is why you will find any major city in Egypt is a lot safer than any western metropolis.

Yet when travellers come to Egypt they are often apprehensive, their views of Egyptians and Arabs, fomented by unkind and untrue media stories, often bear no relation to reality. Travellers, when they meet Egyptians are often surprised by their friendly, hospitable reception and take home with them good feelings about Egypt and its population.

Egyptians form a society of a mixture of Middle Eastern family standards, taken from the different religious rules, whether in Islam or Christianity, it creates a sort of background that can colour their decision-making in a way difficult for foreigners to understand, yet it is precisely this training that makes Egyptians some of the most charming and helpful of hosts. By understanding the culture and with consideration for your hosts, you can be a welcome guest in Egypt.

Check here Some useful  ARABIC WORDS

In general, Egyptians are most accommodating and they will go out of their way to help you and respond to any questions you have. Most Egyptians require little personal space and will stand within inches of you to talk! You will find that whenever you start talking with an Egyptian, you will inevitably draw a crowd, and often the Egyptians will start discussing, among themselves, about the correct answer to a question.

Although most of the Muslims in Egypt do not drink alcohol they don't object to others drinking, but doing it in reasonable amounts. In Egypt people don't eat pork, and rarely, when you find a place that offers pork, is there much choice on the menu.

Egyptians like rest of the Muslims all over the world fast at holy month of Ramadan  it is the time when they all come close to each other and respect each other, it is the time Egypt stay awake at night.

During this month, donations, almsgiving and charity would be at its highest rates, it is the time for forgiveness and love. It is a wonderful month.

In Egypt there are hardly any restrictions on foreign women. Ticket lines, for example, are occasionally segregated, women line up with other women (especially as the lines are usually shorter). On the underground lines, the first car is usually reserved for women, especially elderly ones. For men, speaking to an unknown Egyptian woman is a breach of etiquette, so take care in any liaisons you form because some families still follow ancient traditions. Crime in Egypt is nearly nonexistent, and violence is usually limited to family feuds. However, in tourism areas some pickpockets and petty thieves may exist, so be careful and remember that the ever-helpful tourism police are usually nearby. Women must be cautious, especially in out-lying areas. Stay completely away from drugs and leave yours at home. 

 

 What to do when you are invited by an Egyptian

Egyptians, if offered anything, will refuse the first invitation, which is customary, so therefore (unless you're dealing with Egyptians used to western frankness) you should do the same. If the offer is from the heart, and not just politeness,it will be repeated. If you're invited into a home, especially in small villages, and have to refuse, the householder will often press for a promise from you to visit in the future, usually for a meal. If you make such a promise, keep it, for having foreign guests is often considered a social coup. If you fail to arrive, your would-be host will be humiliated. To repay invitations, you may host a dinner in a restaurant, a common practice.

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learn arabic

learn Arabic with go discovery

Arabic Greeting Words
English Meaning	Arabic Translation
Hi!	Salam!
Good Morning	Sabah el kheer
!Good Evening!	Masaa el kheer
welcome! (greetings)	Marhaba
How are you?	Kaifa haloka / haloki (female)
Im Fine, Thanks!	Ana bekhair, shokran!
And You?	wa ant? / Wa anti? (female)
Good/so-so	Jayed/ aadee
Thank you very much	Shokran Jazeelan
You are welcome	Afwan
Hey friend	Ahlan Sadiki / sadiqati (female)
I missed you	Eshtaqto elaika / elaiki (female)
What’s New?	Maljadeed?
Nothing much	Lashai jadeed
Good Night	Tesbah / Tesbahi (femal) ala khair
See you later	Araka / Araki(female) kariban
Good Bye!	Maa el salama

Wishes
English Meaning	Arabic Translation
Good Luck!	Bettawfeeq
Happy Birthday!	Eid meelad saaed
Happy New Year	Sana Saeedah
Happy Eid	Eid Saeed
Happy Ramadan	Ramadan Kareem!
Congratulations!	Mabrook
Enjoy (for meals)	Belhana walshefa
Bless you (sneezing)	Yarhamakom Allah
Misunderstanding
I’m sorry	Ana Asef
No Problem!	Mafish Moshkelah
Can you say it again?	Aed men fadlak ( men fadlek) female
I don’t understand	La afham
I don’t know	La aref
I have no idea	La adri
What is it called in Arabic	Ma esmoho bel arabi?
How dyo you say …. in Arabic	Kaifa taqol kalimat …. bel arabi?
What is this?	Ma hatha?
My arabic is not good?	loghati al arabia laisat gaida

Arabic Expressions & Words
English Meaning	Arabic Translation
Good / Bad / So-so	Jayed / Sayee / aadee
Big / Small	Kabeer / Sagheer
Today / Now	Alyawm / Alaan
Tomorrow / Yesterday	Ghadan / Embareh
Yes / No	Naam / Laa
Do you like it?	Hal Ajabak / ajabaki (female)
I like it alot	Ajabani gedan
I’m Hungry / Thirsty	Ana Gaan / atshaan
Me / You	Ana / Anta (anti for female)
Him / Her	Houwa / Hiya
Look	Boss
Hurry	Besoraa
what time is it?	kam essaa?
I feel sick	ana mareed / mareeda female

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