TOUR EGYPT 4 LESS

The Festival: The Abu Simbel Sun Festival at Aswan is one of the most astounding festivals in the world.  Egypt is observed twice every year on 22nd Of February and on 22nd of October, the dates that mark the emperor’s birthday and his ascension to the throne. On these days, shafts of sunlight enter into the temple and illuminate the statues of the great king Ramses II and the two sun gods Re-Horakhte and Amen-Re seated beside the Theban god Ptah, the god of darkness. As the temple remains in absolute darkness through out the year and receives sunlight on these two very special days, the rare phenomenon is a scene that you just cannot afford to miss. Celebrated in a big way by the locals, undoubtedly the Sun Festival at Abu Simbel is one of the most uncommon and astounding festivals in the world. To be a part of Egypt’s Abu Simbel Sun Festival, reach the temple way before dawn, as it is packed with crowd and watch the spectacular event occur before your eyes....

Ramadan in Cairo is an experience if you want to get closer to the local culture and see how the people live their lives. Changes that happen start with opening hours of sites and attractions that are shortened. You have to take into account the major traffic jam the cripples the city almost everyday between 2 and 5 pm as people are racing to catch breakfast at their homes. Many restaurants serve food during the day, especially up-market and hotel ones. Some Fast food outlets work during the day. If you will eat out during breakfast time at sunset, try to make a reservation in advance even in places that don’t require reservations in regular times. Egyptians like to have Ramadan breakfasts out in groups, so places get crowded. You shouldn’t expect also the best of a restaurant during the breakfast hour. It is impossible for any restaurant to serve all its capacity that wants to start eating at the same moment of time with high quality and always arrive early, at least 45 minutes be...

Religion in Egypt Islam is the official religion for 90% of population and it is the most important influence on culture in Egypt. And this applies even for non-adherents like Coptic Christians (10%). Perhaps for this reason, crime is virtually nonexistent. The society is conservative, especially on issues related to women. Women are expected to be modest in dress and manner- no flimsy attire or loud talking and laughing, for example. The men are very happy with their position in this patriarchal society. The people are generally friendly, hospitable and very accommodating especially towards visitors. But visitors need to keep their religion to themselves- proselytizing is illegal here.Muslims pray 5 times daily:at dawn, noon, afternoon, sunset, and evening. The exact time is listed in the local newspaper each day. Friday is the Muslim holy day. Everything is closed. Many companies also close on Thursday, making the weekend Thursday and Friday. During the holy month of Ramadan all Mus...

1-You should evaluate a few travel agents before settling for one travel agent. Your choice should be based on quality of hotels and reviews and price. 2-Choose a travel agent who has good reputation and answer all your queries and concerns.  3-Check the internet and blog pages for good feedback. Choose a good tour operator to handle your safaris , all excursions and  air /train tickets. In certain instances the travel agent does not function as tour operator. 4-Check the payment policies,payment methods and the policy for cancellations. A good company should not ask you for more than 40-50% of tour price in advance. 5-Check the travel agents service levels, if you run into problems you should be able to contact your travel agent easily. 6-A good travel agent will always warn you of the dangers, disadvantages and the advantage before hand. 7-A good travel agent will not try to simply sell a plane ticket but a memorable holiday experience to enjoy, stress free. 8-...

The Pyramids of Giza represent one of the greatest architectural feats by man. The last surviving member of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Great Pyramid of Giza is one of the world's oldest tourist attractions and the reason most people visit Egypt today. There are in fact three main pyramids in Giza; the Great Pyramid of Khufu (or Cheops), The Pyramid of Kafhre and the smaller Pyramid of Menkaura. Each Pyramid is a tomb to a different King of Egypt. In front of the pyramids lies the Sphinx, or Abu al-Hol in Arabic, "Father of Terror". Carved out of a single block of stone, this enormous cat-like sculpture has mesmerized millions of visitors .   The Egyptian Museum in Cairo is one of the first stops on most people's itineraries when traveling to Egypt. With over 120,000 artifacts, the museum houses an incredible display depicting ancient Egypt's glorious reign. You can enjoy mummies, sarcophagi, pottery, jewelry and of course King Tutankhamen's treasu...

A grand opening is due to take place in October 2011 to celebrate the newly restored Avenue of Sphinxes. The important event will be opened by the Prime Minister of Egypt, Essam Sharaf, and is to bring together various government ministries such as the Ministry of Tourism and Ministry of Culture.   Lined with sphinxes, the 2.7km route that connects the grand temples of Luxor and Karnak will be lit by the Sound and Light Company of Egypt. Company president, Essam Abd El Hady, made it clear that the sophisticated lighting design would be appropriate to the archaeological importance and beauty of the site. The company will use a new, advanced type of lighting to focus on the avenue and additional archaeological discoveries, such as workshops and wine factories dating to the Greco-Roman period. For the last 5 years, the restoration project has focused on excavation, conservation, treatment of the water table, and the establishment of protective walls and entrances for tourist. Th...

A cruise down the Nile River is extremely a great way to discover the jewels of Egypt. Once the playground of the ancient pharaohs, the River Nile flows north from Aswan, past Luxor's many temples and through the capital Cairo until it finally reaches the Mediterranean Sea near Alexandria. As you float along the river you can laze on the deck and take in views of the small villages and ancient monuments that are dotted along the riverbank in front of a dramatic desert backdrop. A Nile Cruise  is  really an experience of a lifetime. Egypt has often been described as the gift of the Nile and a cruise along this magical waterway is for many, the experience of a lifetime. There can be no better way to discover the riches of Egypt than to take a Nile Cruise. Monuments and temples bearing witness to the glories of an ancient civilisation pass you by – the temples of Luxor and Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, the romantic temple of Isis at Philae and further south the majestic Abu...

Dahabiyas are beautifully crafted sailboats that have been used on the Nile since ancient times, and became very popular again during the British Colonisation of Egypt, which lasted from 1882 until 1952. During this period many British aristocrats, celebrities and royals travelled to Egypt and cruising the Nile by Dahabiya was the ultimate in luxury. Dahabiyas have recently seen a revival for those wishing to travel on the Nile but looking for an alternative to the larger cruise ships. The Dahabiyas of today are still extremely well crafted ships but now come with all the luxuries that modern day tourists have come to expect including air-conditioned en-suite cabins and beautifully cooked meals. Travelling on the Nile under sail conjures up images of a bygone era and is an extremely romantic and relaxing experience. The smaller size of the boats also means you have a much more personal experience on the river with your fellow passengers, crew and Egyptologist guide. Th...

There are no compulsory vaccantions when entering Cairo,   but there are reccomendations. Some people will already have some of these. They are Hep A and B, Tetanus, Typhoid Fever and some people even suggest Yellow Fever. If you will be in the El Fayoum area, Malaria is also suggested. However there is only limited risk in this area. When consuming Egyptian food, please be aware that there are many spices and ingredients which may not agree with a "foreign" stomach. Be especially careful of salads from places that are not trusted or advised. The methods of cleaning and/or cutting vegetables and produce may be questionable. Try to drink bottled water. Any type, or kind, will do. Just be sure to read the label on the bottle to see how much TDS (Total Dissolved Salt) is contained. If the level is more than 200, do not buy it. That level is too high. In Egypt there are so many types of mineral water. Some are good, but a few types may cause stomach problems, diarrhea, and...

Traffic Be aware of your surroundings if you have to cross the streets in Cairo. Traffic is not as it is in Europe or North America, as cars never stop for pedestrians. Try to be patient and wait until there are no cars before crossing. If this does not happen, do not run in front of the cars. But if you do decide to cross, try to walk at a faster pace than normal, and cars will do their best to avoid you. Don't be scared, or else try to cross where there is a traffic light. If worse comes to worse, try to stick by the locals, and cross the street alongside them. Crossing with locals can be scary, but they manage and have experience. If you go to the Pyramids and wish to ride a camel, have a guide (or a local) negotiate for you. If you run into any problems at any archaeological sites, there are tourist police, personnel or even an office where you can file complaints. They should be able to refund your money in a matter of minutes. There's Two kinds of cabs in Cairo: Th...