A holiday to Egypt will see you exploring a country that’s scenery is as magical as the stories of the Ancient Gods that once ruled here. Unleash your inner Indiana Jones or let loose your Lara Croft and explore dusty ruins and towering pyramids, set among the imposing desert dunes. Alternatively, if you prefer the sand to be closer to the sea, the coastline is peppered with salt-coloured beaches and cooled by the clear waters of the Red Sea. The Red Sea is an attraction in itself and the icing on the cake for any holiday! There are spectacular snorkelling and diving opportunities, bringing you up-close-and personal with magnificent marine life such as corals and the famous Red Sea turtles. The coast’s resorts have something for everyone, from family-friendly sandy beaches, to dining with Bedouins in their desert villages.
Things to do
Tenerife is the largest of the Canary Islands, home to Spain’s highest mountain, fine sandy beaches and some of the archipelago’s most vibrant nightlife. Often referred to as a ‘mini continent’, Gran Canaria is famous for its rocky beaches, sandy dunes and a cosmopolitan capital city; Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Lanzarote’s lunar landscape of dark volcanic sand contrasts with the golden beaches of the coast. Fuerteventura has the most beaches of the Canary Islands, with vast dunes stretching for miles. La Palma is the greenest; its incredible clear skies drawing stargazers from around the world. Nature lovers head to La Gomera and El Hierro for their forest trails.
18–33°C
This country is a sun-seeker’s paradise, with long, warm days throughout the year.
5 and half hours
It takes between five and five and a half hours to fly here from the UK.
Hurghada International Airport lies approximately 8km southwest of central Hurghada; Marsa Alam International Airport lies approximately 60km north of Marsa Alam.
Travel guide
Things to do
Currency
Travel guide
Travel guide
Weather & Climate
There’s never a bad time for a holiday to Egypt; it’s always shades and shorts weather in this part of the world. There are only two distinct seasons: the hot, dry summers which fall between May and October, in which temperatures can climb to as high as 38°C, with very little chance of rain. If you’d prefer less sticky highs in the mid-20s (°C), visit between November and April, which is considered to be winter in this sun-bleached country. Temperatures rarely drop below 20°C, even at the peak of the season.
Egypt are best for…
Underwater explorers: With over 250km of coastal reefs, there’s plenty of opportunity for everyone from green-gilled snorkelers to the most seasoned divers. The crystal-clear waters are home to over 1,200 species of fish, around 120 of which are to be found nowhere else in the world, making it one of the world’s top destinations for underwater exploration.
Beach lovers: Soaking up the sun on a powder-soft sand beach is a highlight of any holiday. While all of the beaches are stunning in themselves, there are a few jewels in the country’s crown: look out for the Sunken City of the Sahl Hasheesh Bay, El Nayzak in Marsa Alam, and Soma Bay, near Hurghada.
Active types: While there are plenty of water sports for you to get involved with on your holidays to Egypt, there’s even more on offer on land! Go rock-climbing in Dahab, kayak along the Nile; head over to Cairo and you can even go skiing on an indoor slope, complete with over 7,000 tons of snow!
Fast facts:
Language: The primary language spoken here is Arabic, so make sure to pack a phrasebook.
Currency: The currency used here is the Egyptian pound (E£).
Local time: Egypt is 1 hour ahead of GMT/UK time.
Fly to: Hurghada International Airport. Transfer times to resorts are around 30 minutes.
Flight time from UK: The flight time to Egypt is around 5 hours.
Tourist Information: Further tourist information can be found at www.egypt.travel.
Visa / Health:
Before you travel, visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/egypt for recommendations and advice on visas and health for your holidays to Egypt.
Events
New year: No matter where you’re staying on your holiday, there’s always a party going on at New Year; a great way to kick things off!
On the water front: Friday night is Marina Party night in El Gouna, with live music and dancing beside the bobbing yachts.
Ramadan: The fasting month of Ramadan is marked across the country, although it won’t be as disruptive in the resorts as elsewhere in the country. Immediately afterwards, the festivals of Eid al-Fitr, and later Eid al-Adha, are holidays when Egyptian families will often travel to resorts, so these are likely to be busier.
Getting around
By minibus: Each resort has a good network of minibuses operating around the main towns. These usually operate on a fixed route and you can call out to the driver when you want to get off.
By taxi: It’s easy to flag down a taxi, but if they don’t use the meter, then ensure you agree a price in advance and pay only at the end of the journey.
By shuttle bus: Many hotels operate shuttle buses into town or the nearest beach.
Safety and Security:
For up to date advice on travelling to Egypt, please visit https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/egypt/safety-and-securityThings to do
Think of Egypt and images of sand-covered tombs, towering Giza pyramids, and the iconic Sphinx come to mind. From ancient sights to souks, Red Sea diving and desert safaris, Egypt offers some of the most spectacular sights and one-of-kind experiences found anywhere on the planet. Here’s just some of the best things to do in Egypt. Put as many on your To Do list as possible!
Things to do
Golfing in El Gouna
Take a break from the beach and head to the green for an activity the whole family can enjoy by having fun and friendly competition with a game of …Senzo Mall Egypt
Get your retail therapy fix at the fabulous Senzo Mall; the largest shopping complex of its kind in the Red Sea Riviera. Escape the midday heat …Boat tours and day trips from El Gouna
El Gouna is situated in a great location on the Red Sea where touring the surrounding area is easy enough to do. Have an adventure on a boat …Makadi Water World Egypt
Enjoy family fun at Egypt’s largest water park, Makadi Water World, in the heart of the Red Sea Riviera. Choose from 50 different rides, …Soho Square Egypt
Think bright lights, international restaurants, great shops and exhilarating shows and you’ll get a sense of what to expect at this …Dive In Sharm El Sheikh Egypt
Sharm El Sheikh offers everything that you could possibly need to take the plunge and see the fascinating and colourful world that exists …Day Trip To Luxor Egypt
It would be a shame to travel all the way to Hurghada and not make a day trip to the ancient city of Luxor whilst you’re there. It’s just …Make a splash at the waterparks
Sharm El Sheikh is certainly not lacking water parks that’s for sure. In fact, it is home to some of the very best in the country.Makadi Bay Dominican Republic
Makadi Bay’s location on the Red Sea makes it the perfect destination for diving. There are several superb diving spots dotted across the coastHurghada Grand Aquarium Egypt
The Egyptian resort of Hurghada has all the classic ingredients you need for some serious relaxation. Sunshine? Check. Beautiful beaches? …Horse and camel riding in Makadi Bay
Have an off-road adventure riding through the sand dunes on either horseback or on a camel. Take this unique opportunity to ride on the …Snorkelling and diving in Marsa Alam
Ever-increasing in popularity, Marsa Alam is one of the up and coming resorts along Egypt’s Red Sea coast. There are lots of things to love …Currency
Egypt travel money
The currency of Egypt is also called the pound! But it’s not the British pound, it’s the Egyptian Pound. While our currencies have similar names, there are many Egyptian Pounds to our pound (depending on the exchange rate of course). The currency in Egypt is fairly straightforward. One Egyptian Pound is made up of 100 Piastres or 1000 millimes. However, because only 25 or 50 piastre notes and coins are available, you don’t need to worry about lots of complicated tiny coins. Egypt also has more notes than coins, which are amazing to look at as the notes are filled with images of Ancient Egypt.Denominations of Egypt’s currency
Egypt’s notes come in the following denominations 25pt, 50pt, £1, £5, £10, £20, £50, £100, £200 It’s useful to have a range of notes when on holiday, especially in the smaller amounts. Many street vendors and smaller shops might struggle to change larger notes. After all, you wouldn’t take a £50 note into a newsagents back home! Egypt only has three coins, which makes life quite easy for the first-time tourist to the country. Egyptian money in coin form comes in, 25pt, 50pt, £1. The £1 looks a lot like the British one pound but on the back you’ll probably spot a pharaoh!Easy ways to get your Egyptian pounds
Egypt has plenty of ATMs in resort towns and cities. There are also currency exchanges in large towns and even big hotels. In larger tourist areas you may well be able to pay in Euros, British Pounds or US Dollars but you’ll almost certainly pay a little more than you would in the local currency.Popular holiday resorts
