Do's and Don'ts in Egypt

Picture of the Great Pyramid and the Great Sphinx of Giza

Egypt is known as the cradle of civilization and with good reason. Its geographical location between two continents is in part responsible for the country's rich, layered, diversity. It is the place where old meets new and harmony is created. The historical and archeological significance of this nation has made it the focus of many films.

A few years ago, my husband and I vacationed at a beach resort in Hurghada, Egypt. This region is along the Red Sea coast and is a dream come true for water sports lovers. As is our custom, after spending many days on the beach we ventured out into the city of Cairo.

This is our list of Do's and Don'ts when you are in Egypt.

Do Go to the Beaches

Beach View

The sun is warm and the waters are inviting. If you love the sound of waves, scuba diving, sailing or snorkeling then make sure to secure your spot on the beach as soon as the sun peaks out. In high season, it will be near impossible to get a spot on the crowded beaches.

Don't disrespect the culture by wearing revealing clothes

During our visit, a female tourist decided to walk around the beach topless and in a thong. The male workers at the hotel as well as some other guests were uncomfortable with and offended by her appearance. Despite several requests for her to cover herself she refused, causing many tourists to leave the beach out of sheer shame and disgust.

Nothing was wrong with the woman's body per se and in another country her actions would have been acceptable. However, Egypt is a strict Muslim nation and modesty in dress is expected. Therefore, as a show of respect, it is best to wear clothing that covers most of your body.

Don't consume alcohol in public

Also bear in mind, that if you like to sip alcohol while you are relaxing on the beach, you will need to ensure that you book a hotel that has been approved to serve alcohol. As a general rule, the sale and consumption of alcohol is prohibited in public places. You are allowed to take one liter of alcohol into the country and consume it in the privacy of your room or house. Thank God for this, we were able to enjoy our alcohol on our terrace as the sun set over the sea.

Do visit the city

After enjoying the beach in Hurghada, we drove to Cairo and we toured around the city, visiting local perfume stores and gift stores. At many of the perfume stores, we were given the choice to order our perfume based on the scents we wanted in it. The perfumer presented us with various ingredients including dried leaves, spices, flowers, fruits and a range of other natural products. We smelled each item and chose a few for him to mix together to produce our own signature scent.

Entrance to the Egyptian Museum

When our feet got tired, we took a taxi and headed towards the Egyptian Museum and the Giza pyramids. At the Egyptian museum, we saw the statutes of kings Tutankhamun and Akhenaten as well as a mummy amongst other artifacts. The Giza pyramid showcased about three pyramids of varying sizes and the Great Sphinx of Giza. These are a must-see that should be on every adventurers list.

Camel and camel owner

Don't fall for the camel trick

If you have no intentions of riding a camel, do not allow the creature's owner to coax you into sitting on its back. I noticed that the owners lower the animal to a sitting position and then try to convince tourists to sit on its back and have their pictures taken. Before the tourist can get off the animal, the owner orders the beast to stand and the tourist gets trapped atop a moving giant. No amount of screaming will get this innocent adventurer down and if their traveling companion wishes to have their company for the rest of the vacation, a handsome price has to be paid to the camel's owner before he will tell the camel to squat.

Don't get into rickety vehicles

If you decide to take a taxi while in Egypt, inspect both the interior and exterior of the vehicle before you get in. The taxi we took, looked relatively okay from the outside. However, when we got in we noticed that the driver had a unique way to start the engine. He rubbed two wires together and invoked a frightening spark of dynamism to get us started. On the way, we noticed that what we were seeing as we looked down at our feet was not the car floor. Instead, there was a gaping hole giving us an unobstructed and far too intimate view to the asphalt. The hole was big enough to provided us an escape route in the event we needed one. However if you are not planning on doing any action movie stunts, it is best to stay away from these rickety vehicles.

Don't mistreat the artifacts

It goes without saying, but I will say it anyways, when we visit any place that contains valuable artifacts, we should treat those artifacts with respect and refrain from touching, sitting or leaning against them.

Do visit the bazaars and meet the locals

We bought our souvenirs at a bazaar near to our hotel and from our frequent trips to the open markets, we made a few friends. One of the guys we met had a cross tattooed on his hand. It was not easy to see this tattoo as he wore long sleeves. However, I glimpsed it as he reached for a product. Wanting to know what the cross represents to him, I asked him. He smiled shyly and then told us that due to religious persecution in this region, Christians have to find creative ways to covertly connect and identify with each other. The small cross on this hand was a sign to other Christians that they were not alone and that they should continue in faith. It was a way to identify and give support without drawing the unwanted attention that comes with verbal expressions.

On another of our excursions, when we were out and about, touring the shops for papyrus paintings, the midday hour struck. We decided to leave the store as we knew that the owners wanted to take their noon break and have lunch. As we turned to leave one of the owners called us back. They closed the door and three other men who were sitting at the back of the store joined us with a plate of fried fish and flat bread. The middle of the store was cleared and converted into a dining area with cushions placed on a circle on the floor. The five men, my husband and I joined hand in prayer and broke bread before sharing the meal. We chatted heartily and for a long time as the men explained the history of their country to us. This experience was by far the best part of our Egypt vacation.

Do be cautious

I feel conflicted about sharing this "don't" after just sharing about the kind store owners who invited us to lunch. Yet caution is never overrated. Before I left for Egypt, I was warned that as a woman, I had to be careful where I went and I should make sure that I was accompanied at all times. I heeded this warning on the streets but I had no idea that I also needed to be accompanied while attending the female bathroom within my resort. One afternoon at the beach, I left my husband sunbathing and went to use the ladies. As I pushed against the door to let myself out, I realized that someone was standing behind my door. I shouted to the person to let me out which he did. At first, I was surprised to see a male in the female bathroom but he had on the hotel's uniform so I assumed he was on duty in the bathrooms. I smiled with him but before I could get by him he was forcing me back into the cubicle and kissing all over my face. For a few minutes, I struggled to get him off me. He finally gave up and ran away when two other tourists walked into the bathroom and saw what was happening.

My Final don't is: Don't let the don'ts stop you from experiencing the do's.

There is much to explore and enjoy in Egypt. So, the next time you get a chance, hit up the pyramids, visit the Red Sea and share a meal with a local.

Until next time

Venture Out. Keep exploring. Travel Smart and Stay Safe.

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