How To Get There

There are many tour operators offering trips to Egypt and the Nile, and many different combinations of cruises, hotels, holiday bases, and levels of luxury. In the UK, for a custom itinerary, Kuoni seems to offer the most flexibility. Thomas Cook offers a wide selection of cruises and other Egypt holidays. Thomson, who we went with, also have a large selection, and seem to have more for the budget conscious traveller. The "Song of Egypt" cruise which we went on was the cheapest we saw available - even the girl in the travel agents couldn't beleive how cheap it was. You will need to book early, though - we booked in February for October, and the cruise was nearly full!

British citizens need a visa to get into Egypt, and you have to send off for one in advance - it can take some time, though ours only took about a week. I beleive most European and North American citizens also need a visa. You will also need some injections if you haven't been to the Mediterranean area before - your doctor can advise on this. We didn't bother with malaria tablets, due to the time of year. I don't know if I'd bother anyway - the risk appears pretty low. A matter of individual choice, I'd say.

The unit of currency is the Egyptian pound. You can't take any in to Egypt with you, and you must exchange any Egyptian money before leaving Egypt. There are exchange facilities on board the ships, and in most hotels. Sterling or US Dollar Travellers Cheques are fine. The exchange rate is about 5 Egyptian to 1 British Pounds.

It can get very hot in Egypt. Check the temperatures before booking, and take a hat!

Most hotels and ships provide a European style buffet meal system, and the quality is generally very good. A lot of "Gyppy tummy" seems to happen to those taking malaria tablets!

It's a great place to go, so what are you waiting for? Go to your local travel agents and pick up some brochures!


Home Sites Info