Go to Egypt ?

Question

I have never been to Egypt, can not speak the local language, know very little about the Egyptian local culture.
Is it ok for me to just buy a good travel guide book, buy a ticket, get a visa, and go?
or I better go with an organized tour since this is going to be my first trip to Egypt?

Thank in advance for your answers.

by the way, i should mention that, i will probably have only 3-4days in the country. i know it is way too little, but that is all the time i have.
(so we pick the country with an ancient culture that fascinated us the most.)
i think, i can only visit some of the top tourist spot around Cairo.
too sad, but i sure i will go.

Answer 1

Don't worry if you don't know the local language. I am Egyptian living outside Egypt and i am only learning arabic now but even if you cant speak arabic the people are very friendly to you! Be careful when your in a market-place, speak as little english as you can, otherwise people will rip you off! Seriously 3-4 days is way not enough you will spend 2 days travelling in total, which only leaves you two days which is extremely little for such a country like Egypt. You should stay at the very least 1 week in Egypt, so that you can enjoy the experience. It is perfectly ok to buy a travel guide book, buy a ticket and get a visa. If you feel that you will feel uncomfortable because you don't know the local language then go with a organized tour..but if your confident then just mix with the local people! I hope you have a nice time in Egypt and that it will be an experience you will never forget!

God bless..x

Answer 2

Since u are short on time, I think an organized tour would be the best. It would maximize the places u could go to. Also the tour guide would solve the language problem b/c most of them speak good Arabic and English. For sure, u would want to go see the pyramids and the sphinx. U can also take a nile cruise. Some of them are like 2 hrs long and offer dinner and an entertainment program. You will have so much fun in Egypt, believe me. Enjoy every minute u are there. Take tons of pics :)

Answer 3

I'm an egyptian. i strongly recommend an organized your since it's your first visit..and you can choose the way you spend your few days in our beautiful country.. you can ask your tour guide about the historical sites you would like to visit. Most pharonic relics are in the south in a city called LUXOR .. this city alone contains 1/3 of the ancient relics inthe world .( the WORLD not just egypt ) and there are temples in ( ASWAN & ABU SIMBLE )..If you want christian historical tour there is a tour that follows the trail that Virgin mary took with Jesus when they were in egypt.If you are interested in Islamic Relics cairo would be Great for you.If you are interested in Jewish history you can go to sinai and visit the path of the exodus and see the maountain were Moses actually spoke to God.
You can Visit cities like Sharm Al-Sheikh and Hurghada if you just want a vacation at the beach and enjoy the beautiful weather and marine activities like Glass boat and diving and snorkling....etc.
I Hope i was helpful

Answer 4

3-4 days in the country are not enough by a longshot!!! But, I would start with Cairo. By the way, it is fine to go by yourself. But, book your hotel to be sure you have a bed to sleep in!!! You can still go on organized tours. All hotels in Cairo have tour and tour guides. So, check into your hotel - which you booked ahead - and get yourself on the tours. Cairo - pyramids/sphinx/Cairo Museum/Khan Khaleeli Bazaar/Mohm'd Ali Mosque/ to name a few. Dinner cruise is nice. You sail up the Nile for 2-4 hours and sail back. This is right off the main drag going through Cairo. There are also day tours to Luxor. Spend the day there and go back to Cairo. I was once in Egypt by myself. But, I did not bother with tours. I just took the train to Luxor. But you don't have enough time. So, I hope that helps.

Answer 5

no problem at all if u will have guide book and do all the stuff by yourself, in the moment a country with different culture and different language i always advise for the first time trip there to be with agent but if u have only 3 or 4 days available then u can do as SO many tourist do, go ahead get your book and find your way and if u need any specialized info. u can contact me back any moment.

Answer 6

Do not go alone. Go with a well known organization! I've been to Egypt several times, was married to an Egyptian doctor.

Read-up on the culture. Learn some Arabic if you can. And again, DO NOT GO ALONE!

Have fun! It's a great place!

Answer 7

I've been to Egypt 3 times. From your avatar, you like snorkeling or scuba diving.I recommend that you go to the Red Sea resorts in Hurgada (don't drink the water) or pricier Sharm El Sheikh. It has the best site in the world for scuba diving and cheap too. In 1999, it cost me $50 in Hurgada to take a boat out with a tour group, including gear.

Answer 8

I'd recommend a tour or even a cruise down the nile or something. If you just sort of arrive there, with very little knowledge or Egypt's history or culture, it might be a bit overwhelming. Good luck and I hope you enjoy yourself if you end up going!

Answer 9

first
wish for u a happy vacation & to have a really nice time to enjoy every moment of it
second
i would recommand u with an organized tour to foucse on having a good time it would save alot of deaitls & stuff u have to go through.
as for what to see or where to go u get to decide first what are u interesed in u said u choose egypt becoz of its cultur heritage what part of it r u interested in egyptology, coptic or islamic
once u decide u can know where to go
certianly no one would can visit egypt & wont see the pyramids.
as they write luxor & aswan are worth ur time
as for travel tips regarding language u can see
www.ask-aladdin.com
www.touregypt.net
as for ur organized tour u can contact any egyptian travel agency to tailor ur tour to be okay with ur time

Answer 10

No don't do a tour group for just 3-4 days. You should definitley see the pyramids, shop in the khan il kalili, and explore zamalek and heliopolis. The Windsor hotel in cairo is cool and the Flamenco hotel in zamalek. I will give you a crash course with some helpful words/phrases.

shukran=thankyou, afwhan=your welcome, bikam da= how much is that?, sabaa ilkhere=goodmorning, tisbaa ilkhere=goodnight, minfadlak=please, ana asif= I'm sorry, la=no, aiwah=yeah, fein=where, mean=who, ley=why, imta=when, izzay=how, ismak ey= what is your name?, andi=I have, andak=you have, and baksheesh is like a tip or someone asking you for money.