There is always the possibility of planning the best Egypt vacation for a first-time visitor! Is this your first time in Egypt? Visiting such an ancient nation needs some preparation, such as reading about its history, which can be obtained via our themes and our Egypt travel guide. It is also a good idea to know what to avoid and what not to avoid. Do not go to Egypt, or any other Middle Eastern country, without first researching it.
When visiting Egypt for the first time, avoid these common mistakes.
Don’t chat with strangers. They will likely try to sell you something or charge you for a tip, called a “Bakshish.” Avoid taking a camel or horse ride at the Giza pyramids, Saqqara, or the Nubian village unless your local tour guide is present. You can trust them to organize the experience.
Locals might try to talk to you while you walk alone on the street. They may ask for directions or just start a discussion. Avoid them and do not even stop. They work with local stores and try to lead tourists to shops where they will pressure you to buy things.
Do not take a taxi or Uber to tourist attractions like the Pyramids. These drivers will take you to tourist traps, like expensive camel or horse rides. They might charge you a significant amount, up to $400 USD. They will also lead you to local souvenir shops that sell poor-quality items at extremely high costs.
Avoid drinking tap water. Eat as few fresh vegetables and fruits as possible. Also, avoid any cold drinks made of water unless you are certain they are made with bottled mineral water. Your local tour guide is a great resource for this.
Avoid scheduling any low-cost tours. They often have hidden costs and clever methods you won’t enjoy. Do not cross the street as the locals do. There are no traffic signals in Egypt except in the big main squares of major cities. People cross the street at any time, which is very unsafe for tourists.
For a great first-time Egypt vacation, try these activities:
When you eat out, make sure you tip the servers. Give them 10% of the bill personally. Try the Egyptian beans, Fuol, and Ta’mia. Also, try Kushary, a typical Egyptian pasta dish. For a classic meat meal, try kebab and kofta.
The metro is one of the best ways to get around Cairo. You should get a local SIM card to make inexpensive phone calls. To really enjoy your visit, have a local by your side.
You can take pictures of locals. Egyptians are very friendly and usually do not mind you photographing them. Taking a trip to Islamic Cairo is a good idea. You will get amazing photos of local landmarks and people. It also has a beautiful, authentic atmosphere.
Egypt, with its vast history and everlasting civilization, has a lot to offer, and it is without a doubt one of the countries that, with its kind people and outstanding tourist sites, will make your visit epic and unforgettable. It is advised that you book your Egypt tour packages through a reputable tour operator such as Egypt Fun Tours if you are a first-time tourist. We also provide Nile river cruises and safaris in the desert. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to personalize your Egypt vacation with us.
Great trip organised. I had a 12-hour layover in Cairo and had a great time with Sherif, who answered every question I had on ancient Egypt. Highly recommend.
Hamada was incredible! So knowledgeable and kind. He had information about every item, street corner, and relic we looked at. Any questions we had, he had answers! He even made sure to give us tips while walking through the crowds so that we would feel more comfortable when being approached
Thank you Hamada for an incredible day! Thank you for the stories and the history, you are so knowledgeable and we didn’t feel rushed at all or like we missed out on things, will definitely be recommending this tour to everyone 🙂
Despite a late start due to car trouble, Mohamed more than made up for it with his incredible knowledge and dedication. His explanations were detailed and thoughtful, and he went above and beyond to make sure we had a great experience. A memorable and informative tour, thanks to Mohamed’s hard
I found this company (thanks Trip Advisor!) very last minute and was so happy to read the great reviews. Reaching out to this company was a no-brainer, despite the fact that I’d done so a few hours before my flight to Egypt. Even better was that Hamada responded via WhatsApp
