The Temple of
Deir el-Bahri was
the mortuary temple
of Hatshepsut, the
woman who declared
herself king while
serving as regent for
Tutmose III, 18th
Dynasty





The common
name of "bigeye"
refers to the member
species' unusually
large eyes, suited to
their carnivorous and
nocturnal lifestyles





The Sand Cat is a
small wild cat
distributed over
African and Asian
deserts It lives in
arid areas that are
very hot and dry.
They can survive
in temperatures
ranging from
25°F to 125.5°F
degrees





This mausoleum
houses the rich and
infamous leader of
the Ismailis! The Aga
Khan mausoleum is
located on Elephantine
Island, off the coast
of Aswan





The Nile crocodile
is Egypt's largest
predator. They can
reach lengths of
over 10 feet and
can weigh up to
1500 pounds





Elephantine Island is
believed to have
received it's name
due to large boulders
in the river near
the island which
resembled bathing
elephants. It is the
largest of the
Aswan area islands,
and is one of the
most ancient sites
in Egypt





Lionfish have
venomous spines that
are deadly to their
prey. They are
voracious predators.
When hunting, they
corner prey using
their large fins and
then use their quick
reflexes to swallow
the prey whole

Before You Leave


DOCUMENTS/PASSPORTS:

  • U.S. citizens require visas for both Egypt and Jordan. Classic Escapes uses the services of Zierer Visa Service to obtain the proper visas. A kit of information is included with this document. Please read over the instructions carefully. You will be responsible for sending the proper paperwork, photos and payment to Zierer directly for the Jordanian visa. Instructions for the Egyptian visa are listed below`.
  • Applications for an Egyptian visa require one passport-sized photograph, your passport and one application form. Home or machine photos are NOT acceptable. · Applications for a Jordan visa require one passport-sized photograph, your passport and one application form. Home or machine photos are NOT acceptable.
  • A passport valid for at least 6 months after your travel ends is required. · If you choose not to use Zierer Visa Service, you may elect to obtain your visa directly through the proper consulate office.
  • Egyptian visas can also be obtained upon arrival at the Cairo airport, but you may not want to chance that this option is still available at the time of your arrival. Rules change without notice.
  • Please note that your application for an Egyptian visa needs to be sent to the specific consulate responsible for that area. The breakdown is as follows:
If you live in one of these States: Your application is sent to:
Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Wisconsin Chicago Consulate
500 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 1900Chicago, IL 60611(312) 828-9162
Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas Houston Consulate
1990 Post Oak Boulevard Ste. 2180Houston, TX 77056 (713) 961-4915 or 961-4916
Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Vermont New York Consulate
1110 2nd AvenueNew York, NY 10022(212) 759-7120
Alaska, Arizona, California, Idaho, Hawaii, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming San Francisco Consulate
3001 Pacific AvenueSan Francisco, CA 94115 (415) 346-9700 or 346-9702
Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Washington DC, West Virginia Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt
3521 International Court, N.W.Washington, D.C. 20008(202) 895-5400

Foremost, allow sufficient time (up to 6 weeks) if you need a new passport to be issued. You will need two recent photos, plus proof of citizenship or your expired passport. The fee for an adult is $85 for a first-time passport and $55 for a renewal, with delivery by mail in 3-4 weeks. Call the National Passport Information Center toll free at 877-487-2778 for information or email them at npic@state.gov. You can also visit their website at http://travel.state.gov/ passport_services.html for further information. Same day service costs an extra $30; frequent travelers should request a 48 page rather than the 24 page passport when renewing.

When you travel, we recommend that you make two copies of your first passport page; keep one copy at home in the unlikely event that your passport is lost, and take one copy along to use as an ID when cashing traveler's checks should you leave your passport behind in the hotel safe deposit box.

SINCE AIR TICKETS MUST BE IN THE SAME NAME THAT APPEARS ON YOUR PASSPORT, PLEASE MAKE CERTAIN THAT YOU ARE REGISTERED ON YOUR CLASSIC ESCAPES PROGRAM IN EXACTLY THE SAME WAY.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: A valid passport, visa and an onward/return ticket are required for entry into Egypt.

CUSTOMS:
The following goods may be imported into Egypt without incurring customs duty: 200 cigarettes or 25 cigars or 200g of tobacco; 1 liter of alcoholic beverages; a reasonable amount of perfume and 1 liter of eau de cologne. Personal use items such as jewelry, laptop computers and electronic equipment are exempt from customs fees. Egyptian law allows for the imposition of duties on photographic and video equipment. However, such duties are rarely imposed, except when large quantities of photographic equipment or expensive video equipment are brought into Egypt. Persons bringing in such items should be prepared to comply with certain customs formalities. Travelers are not required to convert foreign currency into Egyptian pounds or submit exchange currency statements on arrival. The maximum amount of Egyptian currency that can be brought in or taken out of Egypt is 1,000 Egyptian pounds.

TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF

INNOCULATIONS: No inoculations are required for entry into Egypt, but you may want to take some basic precautions. A Yellow Fever shot is not mandatory. However, if your travel plans include traveling to or from a African country that is infected with yellow fever or is located in areas where yellow fever transmission has occurred (endemic areas), then the easiest and safest thing to do is to get a yellow fever vaccination and a signed yellow fever certificate, which you should carry with your passport. After immunization, an International Certificate of Vaccination is issued. It becomes valid 10 days after vaccination to meet entry and exit requirements for all countries. The Certificate is good for 10 years. You must take the Certificate with you.

Malaria is not considered a risk, even when cruising on the Nile River. However, you should protect yourself from mosquito bites. Avoid swimming and paddling in fresh water. Swimming pools which are well-chlorinated and maintained are safe. There have been some sporadic cases of cholera reported throughout the region and while vaccination is not mandatory, you may want to consider it. Vaccination against typhoid is advised. Precautions against hepatitis A and E and diphtheria should be considered as well.

Please consult your physician, local health authority or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's hotline for international travelers at 877-FYI-TRIP (877-394-8747) or via their web site at http://www.cdc.gov/travel for any additional health precautions. For outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad consult the World Health Organization's web site at http://www.who.int/en/ . Further health information for travelers is available at http://www.who.int/iht.

FOOD AND WATER: We suggest you drink bottled water only, even though most Nile Cruise vessels purify, soften and filter their water supplies. Never drink water from the tap and remember to use bottled water to brush your teeth. Tap water is heavily chlorinated. It is generally recommended that guests drink plenty of water each day to limit the effects of dehydration. This excludes tea, coffee and alcoholic beverages, which act as diuretics and actually contributes to dehydration. Avoid ice in your drinks, raw vegetables or unpeeled fruits. Although sanitary conditions in Egypt are quite good, diarrhea is a common complaint amongst travelers in Egypt. This may be caused by foods to which you are not accustomed, a change in schedule, or fruit and vegetables which are not properly prepared. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish, preferably served hot. Salad and mayonnaise may carry increased risk. We suggest that you bring a medication such as Immodium or Pepto Bismo to control it if you have problems.

IN SHAPE: To enjoy your trip to the fullest, you should be in good physical and mental health. This will be a moderately strenuous tour. There will be walking over uneven surfaces and a few long and hot days of sightseeing. Travel will be in a comfortable bus or on your cruise ship. To reach the most beautiful part of excavated tombs, you will have to bend over and walk down fairly steep inclines through narrow tunnels. Bring comfortable shoes. You will be doing a lot of walking and temple floors are far from even. In summer, wear a hat to protect yourself from the heat of the sun.

TRAVELING IN THE DESERT: There are many factors to consider when traveling in Egypt. Heat will become a true issue and it is best to prepare yourself for travel in a desert environment.

  • Allow time to acclimatize to full desert conditions. Conserve your energy at first rather than acting as if you were still in a temperate climatic regime. Most people take a week or more to adjust to heat conditions in the deep Sahara.
  • Stay out of direct sunlight whenever possible, especially once the sun is high. Whenever you can, do what the locals do, move from shade to shade. Hats with large brims are essential.
  • Wear clothes to protect your skin from the sun, particularly your head and neck. Use a high Sun Protection Factor (SPA), preferably as high as SPF15 (94%) to minimize the effects of Ultraviolet-B. Footwear is a matter of choice and you will find that strong, light and well ventilated boots are ideal for keeping sand, sun and thorns off your feet.
  • Drink good quality water regularly and fully. It is estimated that 10-15 liters per day are needed by a healthy person to avoid water deficiency in desert conditions, even if there is no actual feeling of thirst. The majority of ailments arising in the desert relate to water deficiency and so it is worth the small effort of regular drinking of water.
  • Be prepared for cold nights by having some warm clothes on hand.
  • Stay in your room, cabin or vehicle if there is a sand storm.
  • Refrain from eating dubious foods. Choose hot cooked meals in preference to cold meats and tired salads. Peel all fruit and uncooked fresh vegetables.

HEALTH ABROAD: Your program includes some of the most exciting and awe-inspiring areas of the world, yet they may not always conform to US health standards. You will receive information on optional health insurance coverage and we highly recommend you register for this coverage. There is sometimes a concern of contracting more serious illnesses while traveling, such as AIDS/HIV. As travelers come to the Middle East for the flora, the fauna, the sun and the chance to learn about the environment and culture, they very rarely use this opportunity to engage in unsafe behavior. You can remain healthy and not increase your risk factor by abstaining from unsafe sexual activity, not coming in contact with bodily fluids of others and not sharing needles or razors. You cannot contract AIDS through casual contact, handshakes, insect bites, toilets, swimming pools, food or water.

HIGHS AND LOWS: High altitude is not an issue when visiting Egypt.

Egypt
Altitude (feet)
Abu Simbel
636
Alexandria
82
Aswan
465
Cairo
75
Edfu
285
Luxor
252
Port Said
9
Sharm el Sheikh
0