Is It Safe To Travel To Egypt?

Egypt tourism has always been famous for its pyramids, the Nile River, and the vast desert regions of the country. However, in recent years, political instabilities and security challenges in Egypt, a country in North Africa have made it a cause of worry to visit this country. In the light of these observations, is it safe to travel to Egypt at the moment?

However, there are certain regions in Egypt that can be considered relatively safe, but the political climate is still somewhat unstable. Terrorism is still present especially when it comes to organized groups targeting famous tourist attractions and other popular areas of large cities including Cairo and Alexandria. The possibility of terrorist attacks aimed at foreigners is still present despite the fact that attacks were less frequent in the recent years. Thus, most governments still urge their citizens to exercise caution when in Egypt and avoid unnecessary travels to some areas of the country.

However, it is also important to note that the overwhelming majority of tourists visiting Egypt do so without any problems. In other words, all the concerns were notwithstanding the fact that over 11 million tourists visited Egypt in 2019. Other tourist friendly areas such as Sharm el-Sheikh on the Red Sea coast, Cayro and Luxor receive thousands of tourists monthly. It’s important to note that most trips run as planned. However, this usually involves booking with a reliable local travel company and being cautious of personal security.

Here are some tips for safe travel to Egypt

Choose Your Location Carefully

However, certain regions within Egypt have higher risks than others. The Sinai Peninsula (excluding the Sharm el-Sheikh resort), the border with Libya and the Western Desert are considered very dangerous because of the jihadists’ presence in these areas. However, places such as Sharm el Sheik, Hurghada, Marsa Alam and Taba on the Red Sea; Luxor, Aswan and Abu Simbel in the southern; Cairo and Giza mostly encounter incidents free holidays.

Travel with a reputable travel agency

It is advisable to book your tours and trips with a recommended and recognized Egyptian travel company to enhance your security. It is a fact that more established agencies know the terrain better, where the danger zones are and can look out for any threats. Travelling independently to less popular or insecure regions of Egypt at the moment is strictly inadvisable.

That is why it is important to remain safe and alert while in the public areas.

Terrorist acts and bombings have occurred in tourist attraction such as museums, hotels, restaurants and beaches in the Egyptian cities in the past ten years. Exercise care when in religious areas, museums and other crowded places which have poor security check. Stay away from political rallies and protests too. In case of any unattended luggage or any kind of suspicious activity, one should report to the relevant authorities.

Respect Local Laws And Ethnical Norms

In this respect, make sure to observe all Egyptian laws and regulations to the letter to avoid any problems while on your travels. Remember, what is legal and unremarkable in your home country can lead to detention, let alone a jail term in Egypt, for instance, drinking in public places or any form of dissent against official policies. It is also important to dress and behave decently while observing religious sites such as mosques and other religious structures within the Muslim dominated nation.

Monitor Government Travel Advisories

If you are planning to travel, be sure to read the travel warnings and alerts by your country’s state department on Egypt. These most of the time provide detail information on the existing security situations in the areas of your interest and can assist in advising if it is safe for you to travel to that area or not. When travelling, be ready to change your travel plans anytime due to the situation in an area that you are in or a region you planned to visit in the near future.

Consider Tourist Police Escorts

To ensure you have an added security measure, you can get a tourist police escort in some areas in Egypt. Especially for spots like Luxor’s Valley of the Kings or when visiting the pyramids outside Cairo, one can arrange for an armed guard through the travel agency and this more often than not it will be charged reasonably. These professional officers can allow the group to have private, safe access to the sites and immediate security backup in case something goes wrong.

Have Comprehensive Travel Insurance

Remember to purchase very inclusive travel insurance when visiting Egypt, as a medical tourism frontier here significantly departs from the developed nations. Also, be sure to know that your policy also includes the emergency medical evacuation in case you are involved in an accident and you have to be flown to a hospital in another country for treatment. Examine the procedures regarding claims to ensure that any accidents are reported immediately. See too what coverage there may be for trips delayed or cancelled or for that matter security related issues that may interfere with your travel plans.

The Nile river scenery with thousand year old temples and tombs give Egypt the historical aura that very few places in this world can boast of. Such attacks still in existence show that some regions of Egypt have stability issues that tourists should be careful of, however, with the increased security in recent past, it would be a shame not to visit one of humanity’s greatest wonders by avoiding travel to the country. But if proper measures are taken concerning the selection of locations, tour operators, measures of personal security, and insurance, your Egyptian trip should ideally be hitch-free to let you marvel at the Pyramids of Giza, Abu Simbel temples or other incredible prehistoric relics Capitol Tours and Travel says Are Safe For You To Visit!

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