Egypt offers much more. Certainly it is a prime location to see our great heritage from the ancient world, including Pyramids and wonderful temples, but it is also part of the Holy Land, and tours to Christian and other religious monuments are popular. Yet Egypt also offers nature and desert treks, great scuba diving and even golf, fishing and birding expeditions. One may choose to relax on the wondrous Egypt Red Sea or Sinai coasts, take in the high culture of Cairo, or even leisurely float down the Egyptian Nile on a luxurious river boat.

National name : Jumhuriyat Misr al-Arabiyah

President : Hosni Mubarak (1981)

Prime Minister : Ahmed Nazif (2004)

Languages : Arabic (official), English and French widely understood by educated classes

Ethnicity/race: Egyptian 98%, Berber, Nubian, Bedouin, and Beja 1%, Greek, Armenian, other European (primarily Italian and French) 1%

National Holiday : Revolution Day, July 23

Religions : Islam (mostly Sunni) 90%, Coptic 9%, Christian 1%, other 6%

Literacy rate : 71.4% (2005 est.)

Currency : 1 Egyptian Pound (E£)=100 piastres (pt)

Climate
Most of Egypt is subtropical area, but the southern part of Upper Egypt is tropical. Northern winds temper the climate along the Mediterranean, but the interior areas are very hot. The temperature sinks quickly after sunset because of the high radiation rate under cloudless skies. Rainfall averages about 2 inches a year, but sudden storms sometimes cause devastating flash floods. Precipitation often approaches 8 inches annually on the Mediterranean coast. Hot dry sandstorms, known as Khamsin, come off the Western desert in spring. In Cairo, average temperatures range from 7 to 29°C (45 to 85°F) in January, while July averages range from 21.6 to 35.5° C (71 to 96° F). Relative humidity varies from 68% in February to over 70% in August to 77% in December. The winter months are considered to be December, January and February.

Transport
Air : International Flights to Egypt

KLM - Flights from Europe

Domestic Flights
Flying is a good way to get around the country.

EgyptAir offers daily flights between Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel, Hurghada, Sharm el-Sheikh, Oasis. Air Sinai has flights from Cairo to Sharm el Shiekh, Taba, Luxor, Ras El Nakab and Eilat.

Rail : Egypt has a regular efficient train service travelling between every major town within the country and offering a range of services from plush air-conditioned sleepers to 3rd class. Discounts are available for holders of Student cards and children under 9 years old.

Bus : An efficient bus services is available from to and from all the major cities in the country including the Sinai.

Ferries : Ferries run between Egypt and Sudan, South Sinai and Jordan, and Sharm el-sheikh and Hurghada

Communications:

Telephones: main lines in use: 10.8 million (2006); mobile cellular: 18.001 million (2006).
Radio broadcast stations: AM 42 (plus 15 repeater stations), FM 14, shortwave 3 (1999). Television broadcast stations: 98 (Sept. 1995).
Internet hosts: 5,363 (2007). Internet users: 6 million (2006).


Travel Warning :
Travellers to Egypt should steer clear of demonstrations, which are occurring quite frequently at the moment due to rising food costs, and may turn violent without warning.

The risk of terrorist attacks in Egypt remains high. In the past such attacks have targeted areas frequented by tourists with the resort city of Dahab in Sinai the most recent target in April 2006. Travellers should keep abreast of local news updates, remain alert and expect delays and increased security checks, especially at border crossings.

Egypt's border with the Gaza Strip is closed; due to recent conflicts in the area, nearby roads and tourist sites have also been closed.