No country on earth boasts a longer recorded history than does Egypt, the eternal "GIFT OF THE NILE" as described by the historian Herodotus. A statement as true as today as it has been through the fifty centuries of Egypt's extraordinary history.

Egypt occupies the North-Eastern part of Africa and encroaches on Asia in the Sinai Peninsula, covers an area of 1,001,400 square Kilometers, with a population of 60 million living mainly on the Nile river's banks. The very existence of the country depends on the slender ribbon of the Nile(the world's longest river).

Egypt named by the Pharaohs, the oldest civilization in the world. How could you miss one third of the world's treasures which Luxor has?

There is so much to do and see all over Egypt- this lovely warm land with its charming and hospitable people. Your one and only problem is likely to be time - you may never want to leave.

The Capital
Cairo

Currency
The Egyptian Pound (LE or EGL) is divided into 100 piasters.It is allowed to import and export any amount in foreign currency.

Weights & Measures
Metric system.

Time
GTM +2 hours and 3 hours for summer time (from May 1st to October 1st)

Customs
Personal effects are admitted duty free.

Cairo International Airport
14 miles from the city centre.

Business hours
Banks: from 8:00a.m to 2:00p.m, Sunday though Thursday and closed on Fridays and Saturdays.

Government Offices
from 09:00a.m to 02:00p.m, closed Fridays.

Commercial Offices
from 08:30a.m to 05:00p.m, closed on Fridays and Sundays.

Shops
Generally open from 09:00a.m to 09:00p.m and closed on Sundays.

Climate
Mild, with temperatures increasing as you travel from north to south. Cairo can be chilly from December to February, and very hot from June to September, though the traveler is often relieved by a northerly breeze with temperatures dropping during the night.

Peak temperatures in Upper Egypt from May to October are usually compensated for by extremely low humidity.

Clothing
In summer, light cotton garments and in winter woolens. In the winter, a sweater and an overcoat may be needed in the evening. In all seasons light walking shoes and a hat are essential and avoid very brief clothing as the norm is semi conservative attire.

Handy Items Include
Sun-glasses, sun oil, a pocket torch and binoculars.

Electric Current
220 volts, 50cycles. Sockets take the standard continental Europe round-prond plug. American appliances will need adapter plug and transformers.

Language
Arabic is the language spoken in Egypt. The most common foreign languages spoken by Egyptians are English with French a close second, perhaps also German and Italian.

Shopping
Egypt offers many "best buys", such as silver, leather, gold, mother-of-pearl, brass, copper and alabaster .In winter, most shops are open twice daily.

Passport & Visa
All Egyptian consulates grant entry visa. Passport authorities at all ports of entry are also empowered to grant visa on spot. Passports must be valid for least three months subsequent to the date of the passport visit. For more than seven days it is necessary to register all passports, this can be done via local police station but is easier done by giving all passports to hotel reception which will make the necessary arrangements free of charge. Group visas are granted on a group passport on condition that visit is organized via a travel agency and that members remain in the group.

Currency Regulations
Egyptian currency may not be taken in or out of the country, individual visitors must declare on entry any foreign currency they are carrying.

Photography
At Luxor and Aswan, there is a fee for video filming on an hourly basis.

There is no charge for still photography.