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Travel tips
Getting
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Passport
and Immigration
Non-Egyptian
visitors arriving in Egypt are required to be in possession
of a valid passport. The passport must be valid for at
least 6 months after the end of the stay in Egypt. It
is possible for most tourists to obtain an entry visa
at any of the Major Ports of Entry. Please check with
your nearest Egyptian Embassy for more details concerning
visa regulations applying to your citizenship.
There are two types of visa available for Egypt:.
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 The
full Egyptian visa, is a one month visa which can be obtained
either at the Embassy of your country or directly upon arrival
at one of the airports in Egypt. Visa stamps (like postage stamps)
are sold at any Egyptian bank counter in the arrival hall of the
airport and cost approximately US$ 15. Glued into your passport
and stamped by the immigration officer the visa gives you access
to anywhere in Egypt.
If
your holiday is planned to stay in the western half of the Sinai
(not going to
Ras Mohammed or
Thistlegorm)
you may obtain the Sinai visa. It is free of charge and
gives you a two weeks stay. This type of visa is only available
at the Sharm El Sheikh and Taba airport as well as at the Taba
border. There is no way in obtaining a full visa once you are
in Egypt.
There is a possibility of renewing your full Egyptian visa after
one month, in case you decide to take a longer break. The visa
is valid for 15 days after the expiration date.
Belgian,
German and Italian tourists can now visit Egypt without international
passport!
An ID, US$ 15 and a passport picture are enough.
The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism is announcing a very important
modification in favor of the Belgian, German and Italian tourists
who wish to visit Egypt.
From now on it is allowed that Belgian, German and Italian tourists
can go to Egypt with only their national valid ID. The visitor
will fill in an immigration form on which a 30 day, 1 entry visa
will be granted and an ID picture will be attached.
The cost of the visa is US$ 15 (also payable in Euro). It will
be eventually possible for the tourist to extend this tourist
visa for another 3 months (or more) at the "El Mogamaa",
Tahreer Square, Cairo.
Entry
and exit stamps will be put on this immigration form, which has
to be kept secure by the visitor.
Possession of an international passport is therefore not required
anymore.
Such a visa can be obtained upon arrival at any international
airport in Egypt.
For other purposes, people can obtain in advance a visa at the
Egyptian Consulate in Brussels.
This measure is not applicable to people who wish to settle in
Egypt, these must be in possession of a valid international passport
in which Egyptian authorities will stamp, upon presentation of
a working permission or "acte d'etat civil"(e.g marriage
paper....) a residency visa for a period from 1 to 3 years depending
the case.
You are permitted to enter the country with 250g of tobacco or
50 cigars, one litre of alcohol and personal effects.
Animals must have a veterinary certificate attesting to their
good health and a valid rabies certificate. Cigarettes are not
expensive in Egypt, so no need to bring any except if you are
smoking rare brands and you don't want to miss it. Persons travelling
with expensive electronic equipment such as cameras, video cameras,
or computers may be required to list these items in their passports
to ensure that they will be exported upon departure.
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Vaccinations
Please
check with your foreign office for official advise. However, as
far as we know, there is no special vaccination required to enter
Egypt.
It may be a good idea to be up to date with Tetanus and Hepatitis
A. |
| Customs
Egyptians
have been raised in a social environment steeped in Islam, a background
that can colour their decision-making in a way difficult for foreigners
to understand. Be open for your hosts, even you may be sceptical
towards Egyptians and Arabic nationalities in general. Often media
stories bear no relation to reality and you may be surprised by
their friendly, hospitable reception and charm. By understanding
the culture and with a little consideration for your hosts, you
will take some experience home that will be additional to your
diving adventures.
Devout Muslims do not drink alcohol, but they will not object
to you in having a few beers (reasonable amounts!). Imported alcohol
can be purchased at the Duty Free Shop after your arrival (at
present only during the first 24 hours upon arrival) and is available
at hotel bars (expensive because of the high taxes). Local beer
and wine is reasonable and is sold at shops with special alcohol
permission.
In addition to the prohibition on alcohol, the faithful do not
use drugs or eat pork, which is considered unclean. Therefore
pork meat is not on the daily menu, even at big hotel resorts.
Coptic believers (10% of the Egyptian inhabitants) do eat pork
meat.
Explicit sexual material-magazines, photos, tapes, or records-is
illegal and subject to confiscation. |
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Women
In Egypt there are hardly any restrictions
for foreign women. To travel alone is generally safe, but you
will be noticed. You are better off in not being too open and
to not be offended about private questions. It is natural curiosity
and you tell them politely that it is none of their business.
They will not stop, but be quiet for at least 5 minutes. Even
you are not married, don't hesitate to invent a husband. However,
if problems do occur, don't hesitate to seek help from the police
or any shop or person nearby. Egyptians judge very strongly on
improper behaviour and will be at your side.
Egypt is a Muslim country and until now some women still wear
the veil demonstrating modesty or Muslim piety. It also tends
to discourage male advances, physical or verbal.
Just keep in mind the less you wear, the more looks and comments
you will get. Topless or nude bathing is forbidden, even at hotel
resorts. |
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Dress
code
In Sinai normal clothing
is shorts and T-shirts during summer or any style of loose cotton.
With the number of shops here that sell T-shirts you don't need
to bring much luggage. In winter wear layers that can be taken
off during the heat of the day and put back on for cool evenings.
A hat or cloth for the head can avoid a heat stroke. On the boat
the wind during the winter months can be really cold, so bring
a wind jacket for protection. |
Climate
It is an arid desert climate.
There is more than enough sun during the whole year; rain is very
rare and limited to a few hours on a few days during the winter
period. Don't underestimate the cold during winter nights. More
information on average and current temperatures can be found on
the
weather page. |
Travel
time
We are
open all year round (except on the first of January). Diving has
its special highlights throughout the year.
April/ May and October/ November are our high season.
The outside temperatures are just ideal. You will most probably
meet lots of dive buddies underwater.
From December until March water temperature is dropping and most
of our instructors start using the Dry Suit. You will most probably
be still comfortable in a full 5mm suit. A swimming suit will
be fine during your lunch in sheltered areas; you better bring
your jogging suit for the rest of the day.
Visibility is getting spectacular in December/January, when sharks
are mating at Ras Mohammed.
From June until September you will definitely appreciate air-conditioned
hotel rooms. It is getting really hot.
Onboard a jump into the sea will help to cool down. Diving is
a pleasure as only a 3mm wet suit is required and because of the
growing plankton the chances of seeing Whale sharks or Mantas
are bigger. Hammerhead sharks are often seen in the
Straits
of Tiran and plenty of fish are reproducing. So expect fish,
fish, fish!!! |
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Traveler's Kit
Download the check list here |
| Paperwork |
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Passport |
valid for at least 6 months after end of your stay in
Egypt.
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Money |
cash,
credit card, traveler checks, and US$ are always welcome.
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Valid diving certificate |
we
accept certificates from all international recognized
dive organizations. Please ask if you are unsure! |
| Logbook
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| Medical
certificate |
from
a specialist doctor (not required but recommended). |
| Diving
insurance |
Make
sure that you have a suitable
diving insurance
- a lot of travel insurances do not cover diving.
So check the small print as some of them only cover
you to nine meters.
Dive insurances are also available at our dive centres. |
| Protection |
| Hat
or other covering |
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| Sun
block |
sun
blocks are also sold at various shops, you may want
to bring your own favorite brand. |
| Medication |
| Prescription
medicine |
no
problem with bringing them into Egypt. |
| Imodium |
may
be handy to have it with you, instead of looking for
a pharmacy after the event. |
| Anti-seasickness
medication |
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| Aspirin,
coral cut medication and insect repellent |
may
be other items to think of. |
| Rehydrant
salts |
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| Diving
equipment |
| Serviced
diving equipment |
spare
parts are not easy to find! |
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Personal belongings |
| Don't
forget a beach towel and your swimming suit.
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you
can purchase some swimming suits in Sinai now, but they
may not be your taste or price range. |
| Dress
code |
Sharm
El Sheikh and Taba are holiday resorts, so nightlife
is colorful and
you may want to dress up a little. You don't have to,
most of the places do not have a dress code, some insist in shoes. |
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Other needs |
| Power
Adapter |
power
supply is about 220 volt/50hz and plugs are two pin
round fittings. |
| Alarm
clock |
Don't
count on wake up calls in the hotels, some may remember
them too late. |
| Camera |
for
above and/or underwater. |
| Guide
Books |
Red
Sea guides are also available at local book shops. |
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Luggage
allowance
Check
with your airline, some give additional 10-30kg for dive gear.
Normal weight limit is 20kg and 5kg extra for hand luggage.
Remember that some airlines do not allow pony bottles onboard,
while others insist that the tanks are empty or the valves removed.
Dive knives should be packed in the luggage hold. |
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