Egypt Virtual Tour

astina

He who thinks much worries much.

cheers

原帖由 astina 于 2007-5-6 13:47 发表
He who thinks much worries much.

jasonnewman

Average Maximum Temperature Degrees Celsius

        Cairo        Luxor
Jan        19        23
Feb        20        24
Mar        22        28
Apr        27        34
May        32        39
Jun        34        40
Jul        34        41
Aug        34        40
Sep        33        39
Oct        29        34
Nov        24        28
Dec        20        23

Tours depart every 1st Saturday of the months from October to May---the best time to visit during Egypt’s winter and spring.

2007
Sat         Oct 6
Sat         Nov3
Sat         Dec1

2008
Sat        Jan5
Sat        Feb2
Sat        Mar1
Sat        Apr5
Sat        May3

[ 本帖最后由 jasonnewman 于 2007-5-26 17:29 编辑 ]

jasonnewman

Entry and Exit Requirements
Visa
Visitors to Egypt are required to have a passport valid for at least 6 months. You can get your tourist visa from The Consulate General of the Arab Republic of Egypt in Sydney. Its contact details are:

Level 3, 241 Commonwealth Street,
Surry Hills, NSW 2010
PO BOX 2582, Strawberry Hills, NSW 2012,
Tel.:  (61 2) 9281-4844
Fax:  (61 2) 9281-4344

Office Hours: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Open to public: 9:30 am - 2:00 pm
Monday – Friday
The cost of a visa depends on the type of passport that you hold. It often takes a couple of days to get a visa.

Customs
Egyptian airport and port authority customs operate in the same way as its Australian counterpart. For example, a lot of people don't realise that you're not allowed to take Egyptian antiquities out of the country unless they're replicas.

jasonnewman

Health Issues
Travel Insurance
I strongly recommend that you take out comprehensive travel insurance that will cover any overseas medical costs, before you depart. Confirm that your insurance covers you for the whole time you'll be away and check what circumstances and activities are not included in your policy.  

Immunisations
Your doctor or travel clinic is the best source of information about preventive measures, immunisations and disease outbreaks overseas.  
The standard of medical facilities in Cairo is adequate for routine conditions but outside of the capital facilities can be very basic. Treatment may be expensive and payment in advance may be required. In the event of a serious illness or accident, medical evacuation to a destination with appropriate facilities would be necessary. Medical evacuation costs would be considerable.
Water-borne, food-borne, insect-borne and other infectious diseases (including hepatitis, filariasis and rabies) are prevalent with more serious outbreaks occurring from time to time. I encourage you to consider having vaccinations before travelling, taking precautions against being bitten by insects and using insect repellent. You are advised to boil all drinking water or drink bottled water, avoid ice cubes and raw and undercooked food. Do not swim in fresh water, including the River Nile, to avoid exposure to certain water-borne diseases such as bilharzia (schistosomiasis). Seek medical advice if you have a fever or are suffering from diarrhoea.
When in Egypt, you should monitor the travel advice and bulletin for updated information and advice, and ensure that your travel documents, including passports and visas, are up to date in case you need to depart at short notice.

jasonnewman

Local Laws
When you are in Egypt, be aware that local laws and penalties, including ones that appear harsh by Australian standards, do apply to you. If you are arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you but it can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.
Information on what Australian consular officers can and cannot do to help Australians in trouble overseas is available from the Consular Services Charter.
Possession of even small quantities of illicit drugs in Egypt can lead to the death penalty, long prison sentences or deportation.
Under Muslim custom, homosexuality and sexual relations outside of marriage are considered immoral. Penalties for immorality include imprisonment.
Taking photographs of bridges and canals (including the Suez Canal), as well as military personnel, building and equipment, is illegal.
Some Australian criminal laws, such as those relating to money laundering, bribery of foreign public officials, terrorism and child sex tourism, apply to Australians overseas. Australians who commit these offences while overseas may be prosecuted in Australia.
Australian authorities are committed to combating sexual exploitation of children by Australians overseas. Australians may be prosecuted at home under Australian child sex tourism laws. These laws provide severe penalties of up to 17 years imprisonment for Australians who engage in sexual activity with children under 16 while outside of Australia.

jasonnewman

Cultural Awareness

There are conservative standards of dress and behaviour in Egypt, particularly for women, and you should take care not to offend.
Egypt is a conservative society and visitors should respect local customs and sensitivities and dress modestly. For women especially, the wearing of long skirts or loose fitting trousers and covering the shoulders discourages physical and verbal attention. Women should not wear revealing clothes, particularly when in religious buildings and in towns (although the Western style of dress is accepted in modern nightclubs, restaurants, hotels and bars in Cairo, Alexandria and other tourist destinations). Official or social functions and smart restaurants usually require more formal wear.
Religious customs should be respected, particularly during the month of Ramadan when eating, drinking and smoking during daylight hours should be discreet as it is forbidden by the Muslim culture.

Tipping is known as 'baksheesh' and some small change is expected for most services. 'Baksheesh' can be a useful practice in order to gain entry to seemingly inaccessible places, or for extra services- a small tip can open doors, literally. A service charge is added to most restaurant and hotel bills but a 5% tip is normally given directly to the waiter. Taxi drivers are tipped about 10%. Tourists will have to pay a fee to take photographs inside pyramids, tombs and museums.
Smoking is very common.

Do's & Don'ts

Do...
•        stock up on sun cream to avoid sunburn, especially between 11am and 2pm.
•        wear sunglasses and a hat to protect your eyes and head.
•        make sure you have a rough idea of where you're going and always have a map or guide book close at hand.
•        learn a few common phrases so that you can ask for help when needed. People will appreciate you making the effort.
•        keep a currency converter close at hand. Remember that haggling is to be expected.
•        keep your valuables and all your important documents in a safe place.
•        take your camera with you. That way you won't be disappointed.

Don't ...
•        carry all your money and credit cards around with you.
•        take anything from the natural habitats that you visit and don't feed the animals.
•        get into a taxi without negotiating the price with the driver beforehand.
•        go on holiday without telling your friends or family how to reach you.
•        leave your hotel or any other accommodation without some form of identification.

jasonnewman

Food and drink
Egypt is a meeting point between Africa, Europe and Asia and this meeting point is clearly reflected in her different dishes. The last few hundred years influenced by Turkish cuisine due to the Turkish presence in Egypt - and yes McDonalds and KFC more recently.
Still there is something Egyptian going though the diversity of the local cuisine, much with roots back to Ancient Egypt. In the villages in the Luxor area you will soon see the traditional round "sun bread", and in the nobles or royal tombs you find the same bread painted on the walls.
Beer was as basic as bread in Ancient Egypt and the good beer of today will most likely surprise many. Egyptian wine was the favourite wine throughout the Roman Empire, but although wine in today's Egypt has been of a lesser standard than its good beer - this is in the process of changing. So do try Egyptian wine, a good restaurant will help you to find the best.
Egyptian food can be "hot" - but not like many other cuisines where everything is hot. There is normally a lot to dip into, and all parts got their special taste. In general Egyptian food is a pleasant surprise for most visitors.
If you don't know where to go, it can sometimes be hard to find gourmet restaurants with real local dishes - but for international cuisine you will find nearly everything everywhere.

jasonnewman

Climate/Weather

Throughout Egypt, days are commonly warm or hot, and nights are cool. During winter, temperatures in the desert can be as low as 0° C at night and as high as 18° C during the day.
Egypt receives fewer than eighty millimeters of rain annually in most areas. Most rain falls along the coast, but even the wettest area, around Alexandria, receives only about 200 millimeters per year. Alexandria has relatively high humidity, but sea breezes help keep the moisture down to a comfortable level.
Moving southward, the amount of rain decreases suddenly. Cairo receives a little more than one centimeter each year. The areas south of Cairo receive only traces of rainfall. Some areas will go years without rain and then experience sudden downpours that result in flash floods. Sinai receives somewhat more rainfall (about twelve centimeters annually in the north) than the other desert areas, and the region is dotted by numerous wells and oases.

[ 本帖最后由 jasonnewman 于 2007-5-26 17:37 编辑 ]

jasonnewman

Money/Currency
Egyptian Pounds (EGP) is the local currency in Egypt. Major Currencies can be changed nearly everywhere. Banks are in all cities as in most top end hotels. ATMs are found in most banks and top end hotels.

jasonnewman

Safety & Security

Crime

The crime rate in Egypt is low. However, while incidents of violence are rare, purse snatching, pick-pocketing and petty theft do occur. Valuables such as cash, jewellery, and electronic items should not be left unsecured in hotel rooms or unattended in public places.
When using taxis you should be aware that taxi drivers have assaulted passengers in the past, including foreigners.
Women travelling on their own, particularly when using taxis, may be physically and verbally harassed.
Money and Valuables
Before you go, organise a variety of ways of accessing your money overseas, such as credit cards, travellers' cheques and cash. Check with your bank whether your ATM card will work overseas.
Make two photocopies of valuables such as your passport, tickets, visas and travellers' cheques. Keep one copy with you in a separate place to the original and leave another copy with someone at home.
While travelling, don't carry too much cash and remember that expensive watches, jewellery and cameras may be tempting targets for thieves.
As a sensible precaution against luggage tampering, including theft, lock your luggage. Information on luggage safety is available from The Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
Your passport is a valuable document that is attractive to criminals who may try to use your identity to commit crimes. It should always be kept in a safe place. You are required by Australian law to report a lost or stolen passport. If your passport is lost or stolen overseas, report it online or contact the nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate as soon as possible.
Since 1 July 2005, Australians have been required to pay an additional fee to have their passport replaced. In some cases, the Government may also restrict the length of validity or type of replacement passports.

Local Travel

Local driving practices and poor road conditions attribute to a high rate of road accidents in Egypt.
Road travel, particularly at night and outside the major cities can be dangerous as cars, buses and trucks frequently drive without headlights and at high speed. Two major bus crashes, on 10 January 2006 and 31 January 2006, in which Australians were killed and injured highlight the risks.
The Cairo Metro (subway) system is reliable, but the maintenance and safety standards of other methods of public transport are poor.
There are landmines in some desert and coastal areas. Talk to local authorities for advice on landmine locations.

jasonnewman

Where to Get Help

Useful phone numbers
•        122 Police
•        123 Ambulance
•        180 Fire department
•        126 Tourist information
•        140, 141, 142 Phone directory assistance
•        120 International operator

Consular assistance

In Egypt, you can obtain consular assistance from the:

Australian Embassy
11th floor, World Trade Centre
1191 Corniche el Nil
Boulac, Cairo
Telephone (20 2) 575 0444
Facsimile (20 2) 578 1638.

If you are travelling to Egypt, whatever the reason and however long you'll be there, you are encouraged to register with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. You can register in person at any Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate or online. The information you provide will help us to contact you in an emergency – whether it is a natural disaster, civil disturbance or a family issue.
In a consular emergency if you are unable to contact the Embassy you can contact the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 or 1300 555 135 within Australia.

In Australia, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra may be contacted on (02) 6261 3305.

There is more…

The following websites provide a comprehensive range of information you will find helpful to plan your trip to Egypt. Some of them also feature online currency converters and up-to-date weather forecasts!  

http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/Egypt
http://www.mfa.gov.eg/Missions/A ... e/en-GB/Contact_US/
www.egypt.travel/
http://www.iexplore.com/world_tr ... ALQAABDVOP2MN5XCGWQ
http://www.egyptmyway.com/practical_information.html
http://touregypt.net/climate.htm

jasonnewman