Egypt

The standard voltage of electricity in Egypt is 230 V and the frequency is 50 Hz. The power plugs and sockets used in Egypt are of type C and F.

Tap water in Egypt is not adequate for drinking. We recommend to drink from bottled water, other options can be boiled water, purified water by adding purification tablets or filtered tap water.

While many national governments provide a regularly updated advice on safety issues involved with international travel. We recommend that you check your government’s advice for their latest travel information before departure. However, Egypt is generally a safe country to travel. Most areas are considered as relatively safe, except North Sinai Governorate being generally at a higher risk level.
The majority of Egyptian people are courteous and friendly to tourists however we recommend not accepting invitations from locals to guide you through a temple or show you the local sights.
Pickpockets and bag snatchers can be found in crowded places; we strongly recommend to leave your valuable jewellery at home – you won’t need it while travelling. A lock is recommended for securing your luggage.
Please use your own good judgment when selecting an activity in your free time. It is our recommendation to stay in small groups and to take taxis to and from restaurants, or during night time excursions.

ATMs are widely available throughout Egypt especially and their accessibility has been expanding gradually even in rural areas. There are numerous ATM kiosks in major cities that have regularly working machines and accepts majority of the international cards. Credit cards are generally accepted in tourist shops and restaurants. Smaller venues take cash only.
If you plan to rely on cash, please bring foreign currency (Euro, Pound, USD) while the easiest foreign currency to exchange for local currency is $US. However please note that mostly any US notes that are older than year 2006 may not be accepted. Money exchange bureaus or Hotels usually offer the best exchange rates, and larger bills like $50, $100 gets better exchange rate.

Tipping is a standard practice in Egypt, if you’re happy with services provided by waiters, drivers and other workers, leaving a small tip is a good way to show your appreciation.
Tipping 10% of your bill total is customary at cafes and restaurants, and loose change is acceptable for food purchases from street vendors and markets. For smaller purchases, rounding up the bill or not asking for any change is an appropriate way of leaving a tip. If you are at a restaurant or hotel, check if a 10% service charge has already been added, and think about tipping a little extra for the wait staff who will likely not receive any of this charge.
You may also consider tipping your tour leader and driver for outstanding service throughout your trip. The amount you tip is entirely a personal preference; however, the following amounts are our recommendations based on our previous travels:

• Tour guide: US$3-5 per person, per day.
• Activity guide: US$1-2 per person, per day.
• Drivers: US$2-3 per person per day.
• Hotel porters: US$1-2 for assisting you with bags to your room

Of course, you are free to tip more or less as you see fit, depending on your perception of service quality and the length of your trip. Remember, a tip is not compulsory and should only be given when you receive excellent service.

When packing, be aware that dress standards are conservative and you should dress accordingly. To respect the local culture and for your own comfort, we strongly recommend modest clothing. As a guideline, shoulders and knees at the minimum (and everything in between including midriff and cleavage) should be covered at all times. Wearing shorts and singlet tops is not appropriate and may well restrict your entry into sites of a religious nature, and will limit your local interaction opportunities in general. Loose, lightweight, long clothing (below the knees) is both respectful and cool in the predominantly warm climate.