7 Secrets No One Tells You About Egypt
7 Secrets No One Tells You About Egypt
I remember the first time I read about the Mask of Tutankhamun and the first time I watched the movie, The Mummy, but I can’t remember a time I didn’t dream of visiting Egypt. This year, I finally made that dream a reality touching down in the land of Pharaohs for the first time. Now that I’ve been, I hope I can inspire you with my 7 Secrets No One Tells You About Egypt:
secrets about egypt
Research Where You Want To Go
While I had a safe time in Egypt, there are still a few spots I didn’t dare go, like the Sinai Peninsula and the White Desert. When I first saw photos of The White Desert, specifically, I was mesmerized. That said, I was still fairly wary about the logistics and all the advisories warning against travel there.
I ultimately decided against that location in favor of a more dreamy spot, El Gouna. I couldn’t have been happier. Not only did I feel safe, but I had my first ever dip in the Red Sea! That said, if you’re up-to-date on the safety situation, avoiding high-advisory spots, and choosing a reputable tour operator, you’re probably going to have the trip of your dreams.
secrets about egypt
Learn A Bit of Egyptian Arabic
It’s always wise to learn local languages before traveling, but if you think Egyptians speak Arabic, you’d be mistaken. Well, at least in part. Egyptian Arabic, rather than the Modern Standard Arabic you’d find in most language apps, is what you’d need.
I had a particularly tough time learning before my trip. Arabic is difficult to master, in general, and there weren’t many online tools available for this specific dialect! I was embarrassed that I didn’t know more than a handful of words when I first arrived – I was going to be THAT American.
Some helpful verbal pronunciations to know before you go?
- Hello: Marhaban
- Thank you: Shukran
- Yes: Aywah
- Different from Modern Standard’s “Na’am”
- No: La-a
- Good: Kwayes
- Ok: Temem
secrets about egypt
Hire a Reputable Tour Operator
I typically travel solo – no guides, no group tours, just me and my destination. That said, hiring a tour operator in Egypt unlocked so many doors. I traveled with Memphis Tours who had a great reputation and solid online reviews. Sure enough, they didn’t let me down.
Traveling with Memphis Tours was Effortless
I had a local Tour Leader, an Egyptologist and a driver in each city. My tour leader greeted me on arrival, checked in with my daily and worked behind the scenes to make my trip as smooth as possible.
My Memphis Egyptologists were not only knowledgeable, but they went above and beyond to deliver me unique experiences throughout the trip. Exploring with them felt like I was traveling with the closest of friends.
Finally, driving in Egypt can be difficult to impossible for tourists. Memphis drivers though? They were key to getting where I needed to go without any hiccups. This is in no way sponsored, but if you have your sights set on Egypt, definitely check out Memphis Tours.
Discover Egypt with these Memphis Tours Specialists:
Luxor: Ibrahim Samir (Tour Leader), Ahmed Badawi (Egyptologist)
Aswan: Abu Bakr Muhammed (Tour Leader), Mohamed Fahmy (Egyptologist)
Cairo: Reham Shawky (Egyptologist)
secrets about egypt
Dress Conservatively, but Bring Options
As a largely Islamic country, Egypt is rather conservative. To be more respectful of the culture and minimize any negative attention, pack modest clothing options and dress appropriately for where you’re headed on any given day. For women, in particular, this can mean keeping shoulders, upper arms, chest and knees covered as much as possible – especially when visiting religious sites.
In terms of locations, Cairo is certainly the most traditional of the places I went, whereas El Gouna, a Red Sea resort town, is where I saw the most western fashion. I was also able to comfortably visit a few popular Luxor temples with bare shoulders. When in doubt, bring a sweater, scarf and safety pin with you, in case you need to adjust your outfit quickly.
Want some more advice on how to dress for Egypt? See my blog post:
secrets about egypt
Dine on an Empty Stomach
Egyptian food is legendary – as is Egyptian hospitality. No matter what you decide to order, you’ll always receive an insanely delicious amount of hummus, baba ganoush and Egyptian bread. It’s the stuff of dreams! But traveler be warned: it’s customary in Egypt to eat all your food, so always try to come to meals hungry! You certainly won’t regret it.
To give you a better idea, pictured above was part of one of my Cairo lunches. It shows only one of four pieces of Egyptian bread I ate, by myself… all before my main course *and* dessert arrived!
Secret Tip
Order Mint Lemonade for a fresh pick-me-up. It’s the perfect way to cool down in between all those temple visits.
secrets about egypt
Save Politics For A Later Date
Treat traveling to Egypt like being on a first date: just leave politics out of it. Even in 2021. I know politics are now part of normal conversation just about everywhere, but that’s simply not the case in Egypt. To keep your trip running smoothly, save the politics talk for a later time.
secrets about egypt
Always Carry Spare Change
I nearly screamed while cruising the Nile in Aswan. Something rough had collided into my arm from over the edge of the boat. The cause? Two boys on a makeshift surfboard.
I sat wide-eyed, trying to comprehend what was happening, when, after latching themselves onto our boat, they began singing, “Frere Jacques“. Mid-way through the hypnotic nursery rhyme, realization dawned.
GUIDELINES FOR TIPPING IN EGYPT
While there’s no right or wrong way to tip, here are the baselines that I felt comfortable with during my trip. Feel free to take note of these and adjust your own tip amounts as needed.
- Tour Guides: 100 EGP/full day minimum
- Drivers: 50 EGP/full day minimum
- Bellhop: 20/service
- Housekeeping: 30 EGP/day
- Waiters: 10% (in addition to restaurant service charges)
- Washroom Attendants: 3-5 EGP
I pulled out a few small bills and almost as quickly as they appeared, they began paddling back to shore, ten pounds richer than before.
From waiters to bathroom attendants to strangers taking your photo, tipping is normal and somewhat expected in Egypt. While it can be confusing at first, just trust your gut and tip based off how you value each individual service. Oh yeah, and definitely don’t forget those small bills while cruising the Nile. You’ll be a pro in no time.
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