0 Egypt Culture and Traditions

Egypt is a country with an immense cultural mix, In every major city in Egypt you will find traditions that remain from the time of the Pharaohs, and in other parts you will find pure tribal customs that were brought in by many invaders throughout the centuries. That contradiction and contrast between areas of Egypt, when you compare it with other Middle Eastern countries, is what makes Egypt seem advanced against some of the others. Yet here you will find that the customs and mentality tends to be full of warmth towards visitors and foreigners. I guess this could be the secret why Egypt is considered the most attractive country in the region for travellers. The pure nature of the local Egyptians pops up whenever you need help or when they invite you into their homes and when they hardly know you, or when they smile in your face! All of that makes a visit to Egypt a wonderful and unforgettable experience.
Egypt's population is around 71 million. Around 62 million of them are Sunni Muslims and about 8-9 Million are Coptic Christians (Christian Egyptians), although public statistics indicate that they are not more than 7 million. Whether Muslim or Copt, the Egyptians are moderately religious and religious principles are quite noticeable in their daily lives. Here each family member is responsible for the integrity of his or her family and for the behaviour of other members, creating an environment that would be envied by many people in the West. Here they are very close to each other, family ties are far stronger than in the west, and that is why you will find any major city in Egypt is a lot safer than any western metropolis.

Yet when travellers come to Egypt they are often apprehensive, their views of Egyptians and Arabs, fomented by unkind and untrue media stories, often bear no relation to reality. Travellers, when they meet Egyptians are often surprised by their friendly, hospitable reception and take home with them good feelings about Egypt and its population.
Egyptians form a society of a mixture of Middle Eastern family standards, taken from the different religious rules, whether in Islam or Christianity, it creates a sort of background that can colour their decision-making in a way difficult for foreigners to understand, yet it is precisely this training that makes Egyptians some of the most charming and helpful of hosts. By understanding the culture and with consideration for your hosts, you can be a welcome guest in Egypt.

In general, Egyptians are most accommodating and they will go out of their way to help you and respond to any questions you have. Most Egyptians require little personal space and will stand within inches of you to talk! You will find that whenever you start talking with an Egyptian, you will inevitably draw a crowd, and often the Egyptians will start discussing, among themselves, about the correct answer to a question.

Although most of the Muslims in Egypt do not drink alcohol they don't object to others drinking, but doing it in reasonable amounts. In Egypt people don't eat pork, and rarely, when you find a place that offers pork, is there much choice on the menu.
Egyptians like rest of the Muslims all over the world fast at holy month of Ramadan, it is the time when they all come close to each other and respect each other, it is the time Egypt stay awake at night.
During this month, donations, almsgiving and charity would be at its highest rates, it is the time for forgiveness and love. It is a wonderful month.

In Egypt there are hardly any restrictions on foreign women. Ticket lines, for example, are occasionally segregated, women line up with other women (especially as the lines are usually shorter). On the underground lines, the first car is usually reserved for women, especially elderly ones. For men, speaking to an unknown Egyptian woman is a breach of etiquette, so take care in any liaisons you form because some families still follow ancient traditions. Crime in Egypt is nearly nonexistent, and violence is usually limited to family feuds. However, in tourism areas some pickpockets and petty thieves may exist, so be careful and remember that the ever-helpful tourism police are usually nearby. Women must be cautious, especially in out-lying areas. Stay completely away from drugs and leave yours at home. 

 

 What to do when you are invited by an Egyptian???
Egyptians, if offered anything, will refuse the first invitation, which is customary, so therefore (unless you're dealing with Egyptians used to western frankness) you should do the same. If the offer is from the heart, and not just politeness,it will be repeated. If you're invited into a home, especially in small villages, and have to refuse, the householder will often press for a promise from you to visit in the future, usually for a meal. If you make such a promise, keep it, for having foreign guests is often considered a social coup. If you fail to arrive, your would-be host will be humiliated. To repay invitations, you may host a dinner in a restaurant, a common practice.

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Tipping is Way of Life in Egypt
Tipping is a way of life in Egypt, if someone does something you would consider as an extra effort, he expects to be tipped. You should only tip if you feel you want to, you are under no pressure to do so, but it would leave a good impression, and many Egyptian people survive on very little.
Tip appropriately and please, don't give small notes or coins as a tip to people who helped you all the way throughout your trip, such as drivers, tour leaders, and tour escorts, it would be an insult to them, Also, do not offer tips to professionals, businessmen, or others who would consider themselves your equals, as you may seriously offend them by your act.

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Egypt Women:  

Women in Egypt are quite beautiful! The Egyptian woman is well educated, spending a great part of her life being cherished and looked after by her parents until she gets married.
In Egypt 85% of the girls will keep themselves virgins until they get married, this is a common choice in the Middle East, as men usually believe that this is a sign of morality and good karma. 90% of Egyptian men prefer virgin women to marry, and I still can't understand why they would be ready to give up on this belief easily, if they were going to marry a non Egyptian girl !!
in Egypt will find plenty of girls wearing a scarf, it is common these days among many families. Nowadays in Egypt, many women wear a head scarf, demonstrating either modesty or Muslim piety. One reason many young professional women favour this is that it tends to discourage male advances, physical or verbal.
It is very important in Islam that the woman is less seductive to a stranger and shows modesty. You may find it difficult not to impose your western concepts of feminism on such an inherent part of life. From the 1930s onwards, Egyptian women began to enter into business and many professions, and by 1965, thanks in part to social changes affected in the course of the July Revolution, Egypt could boast a far higher proportion of women working as doctors, dentists, lawyers, professors, diplomats, ministers, or high officials than might have been found in the US or in any European country outside of Scandinavia.

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Women travelling alone into Egypt:
Foreign women travelling alone in Egypt are generally very safe, however they will be noticed much less in larger cities than in smaller towns or in the countryside. Should any problems, or difficulties arise, help should be sought from the police or any shopkeeper in the vicinity! Women shouldn't walk alone in isolated areas, which is true in any other city or place around the world. Though most male advances are innocent and harmless, women should not accept these advances from strangers. And dressing appropriately is just plain common sense!

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Places of Worship:
All famous and major mosques are open to tourists, except for when services are in progress (the main service is on Friday at noon). Keep in mind that a mosque differs from a western church in that Christian churches are considered houses of God, while mosques are more a gathering place for the faithful of Islam. All visitors to mosques, mausoleums, and Madrassas (religious schools) must remove their shoes! Most Muslims walk around in their stockings, yet sometimes in those mosques that are major tourist attractions, canvas overshoes are available; a tip of 50 PT to 1 LE is in order for the people who put them on for you. Women must cover bare arms. There is no need to wear a hat, or to cover hair. Men and women should wear a long shirt and long trousers when you visit a mosque.

calendar:
The business and secular community in Egypt operates under the Western (Gregorian) calendar (B.C/A.D). But other calendars have official status in Egypt. The Islamic calendar (A.H) is used to fix religious observances and is based on a lunar cycle of 12 months of 29or 30 days. The Muslim year is thus 11 days shorter than the year according to the Gregorian calendar and months move forward accordingly.
In the Gregorian calendar, for example, April is always in the spring, but in the Muslim calendar all months move through all seasons in a 33-year cycle.
The Coptic calendar (A.M) is based on a solar cycle and consists of 12 months of 30 days and one month of 5 days. Every four years a sixth day is added to the shorter month. Many farmers, for planting and harvesting crops, use an adaptation of the Coptic calendar. The authorities of the Coptic Orthodox Church use it.
Major Public holidays:

Day	Description
1st day of Spring (2nd Monday after the Coptic Easter day)	It is called Sham El-Nessim day (Just avoid going out on this day to national parks and the zoo)
25th April	Sinai liberation day
1st May	Workers day
23rd July	1952 revolution day
6th October	Armed forces day, victory day 1973
13th October	Suez liberation day
23rd December	Victory day
Eid El-Adha (Sacrifice feast )	Comes right after the pilgrimage season, it lasts for four days
Eid El-Fitr (Breakfast feast)	comes right after the Holy fasting month of Ramadan

0 What to Visit in Egypt

When you visit Egypt, there are so many sites that you will want to visit, the length of your trip will never seem long enough! We often meet people during our tours , that have been to Egypt more than 15 times, and they keep returning to see something new! They ask about this newly discovered site, or some new tomb that has been recently uncovered, or even places that they have heard other people talk about! Here in Egypt, you will always find new sites to visit and enjoy.
The adventure that is Egypt never ends! That is why it is a shame if you come to Egypt, especially for the first time, and miss the grandiose sites, such as the Pyramids of Giza, Abu Simbel or the west bank of Luxor, to name but a few. There are so many travellers who fly direct to Upper Egypt to see Luxor and Aswan, hoping that they will be stumble across the Pyramids as well, and then they realize that they have to travel 720Km to Cairo, where the Pyramids actually are, and end up paying $400 extra to travel and see one site, which is most probably about half of what they paid for their entire trip!

So my advice for you, dear traveller, is to plan well for your trip before you come. Advance planning is the best way to save time, money and effort, and of course to ensure that you get to see the sites that you have been dreaming about for some time.
Try, as much as possible, to visit as many of the places that your trip will allow! There is nothing worse than going home and wishing you had visited somewhere you didn't! We both know that you don't get the opportunity to visit Egypt everyday!
Areas To be Avoided:
AREAS RARELY SEEN AND SAFETY
When travelling through Egypt, you should avoid certain areas, particularly sites located in the centre of the Nile Valley! About 20 years ago there was rising tensions at these sites, Islamic fundamentalists had targeted tourists in order to destroy the tourist industry and the economy. This was part of a larger plan to bring down the government, seize power themselves, and install the political ideas of their own vision, a vision which no more resembles the rules of the Qur’an than the Inquisition resembled the Christianity of Christ.
Some certain incidents occurred during the '80s and the ‘90s; a handful of events took place again targeting the tourist industry. Without for a moment trying to deny the reality of these events, the situation has been blown out of all proportion by the world's press, while the situation in other countries with flourishing tourist industries is far worse, their incidents rarely make headlines. But in Egypt, if anything happens, it becomes front-page news! In the mid
'90s, a widespread, and harsh, government crackdown campaign was implemented to try to stop any threats to tourism and visitors.
This can also be witnessed by the events of late January/early February 2011. Following Tunisia’s lead, the youth of Egypt started to protest, peacefully, for a radical change in the country. They were simply fed up with the corruption of the government; the permanent implementation of the emergency laws; the evil manners in which the police could arrest people (often leading to disappearances and/or deaths); and the high unemployment rate, especially amongst university graduates. These peaceful protests were invaded by paid thugs of the government, trying to suppress the protests whilst allowing the government to look good to the rest of the world, which the world’s press took great delight in covering. Once the protests achieved their aim, with President Mubarak resigning his position on 11/02/2011, life returned to “normal” in the country and the media stopped reporting ... unless an incident was to come alive when it was headline news all over again. Nothing good was ever reported to the people of the world and if too much time had passed since something newsworthy occurred, the media would simply show reruns of earlier events. Obviously this had a bad affect on Egypt’s tourism as potential visitors were scared away all the time, when in reality Egypt was safe to visit. Yet in Bahrain, where protests were dealt with a lot more severely, the talks about reinstating a Formula One Grand Prix were underway even when the country was not at peace!
A trip to Egypt still entails far less danger than a trip to anywhere else in the world. During the realm of the violence in the mid '90s, there were certain areas appointed as not good for tourists. These areas are located in the centre of the Nile Valley, particularly Minya, Asyut and Sohag. Unfortunately these places happen to have some of the most beautiful monuments in Egypt, like the beautiful tombs at Beni Hassan in Minya, the marvellous monasteries of Asyut and the Temple of Abydos in Sohag, not to forget Akhenaten’s ancient city of Akhetaten at El- Amarna, near Minya. In time, all of these sites will be fully re-opened for tourists.
If you still think that you would like to visit these places as an individual traveller, you can! However, be prepared for a police escort with you, as the local police will not let you travel alone in these areas! We suggest that the safest, cheapest and most informative way to visit these sites is through a reputable travel agent.
Listed below, you will find the names, and information, about many of the sites you really shouldn't miss. 

Cairo	Ancient Memphis Pyramids of Giza Pyramids of Sakkara Pyramids of Dahshour Pyramids of Abu sir Pyamids of Mydoum Pyramids of eleisht.html Pyramids of Hawara.html Pyamrids of Abu Rawash Pyramids of EL Lahaoun Pyramids of Hawara pyramid of Mazghuna The Egyptian Museum The Coptic Museum The Castle of Saladin The Old Market "Khan El-Khalili" The Hanging Church Santa Barbara Old Islamic Cairo: Sultan Hassan Mosque Refai Mosque
Luxor	Luxor Temple Karnak Temple The Colossi Of Memnon Valley Of The Kings Temple of queen Hatshepsut Temple Of Medinat Hapu of Ramses III Valley Of The Queens Valley Of The Nobles Temple Of Dendera temple of Esna Temple Of Abydos
Alexandria	The Castle of Qaitbay The Pompeii Pillar The Catacombs of Kom El-Shouqafa The Amphitheatre of Kom El-Dikka The Montazah Palace Gardens
Sinai	The city of Sharm El-sheik The city of Dahab The City of Nuweiba The City of Taba
Red Sea Coast	Red sea coast Monastery of St. paul Mostry of St Anthony Hurghada Safaga, Marsa Alam

1 general Travel Tips for Egypt

Currency in Egypt:
Please note: Throughout this page, the currencies referred to are as follows: $US, £UK (sterling), Euros and £E (Egyptian Pound).
The Currency in Egypt is the Egyptian pound ( referred by LE - Livre Egyptienne) and it is divided into 100 piaster. In Arabic it is called Genaeh. Here you will find 25 and 50 piaster notes and various sized coins down to the 5 piaster. At present $1 dollar is equivalent to 5.5 Egyptian pounds
Currency conversion:
$1 (US) is 5.77 Egyptian pounds
£1 (UK) is 9.01 Egyptian pounds
1 Euro is 7.30 Egyptian pounds
In Egypt, most of the banks are open from Sunday to Thursday; working hours being 0830 to 1400, though banks at the airports and the major entry ports are open 24 hours daily.
Note: Most of the major credit/debit cards, such as American Express, MasterCard, Visa, all Euro cards and JCB, are widely accepted in various hotels and shops. If you want to use an ATM machine, they mostly accept Visa, MasterCard and Cirrus cards. If you can't find an ATM machine in your vicinity, you can still obtain cash if you go to any of the Misr Bank branches. Banks are unwillingly to accept $100 notes issued before 1992. If you wish to convert your currency, you can use $US, £UK or Euros, as they are accepted in many banks and other places. TIP: Don't change your $, £ or Euro until you arrive in Egypt – the conversion rate is much better here!
Please don't bring Scottish pounds, Irish punts, and New Zealand dollars etc. as they are not accepted in Egypt! You will find plenty of banks at the airport and several foreign currency exchange offices. Your duty free goods must be purchased within 48 hours after arrival.
If you at any point during your tour, run out of money, and your credit cards are not accepted, you still can get money wired to you from abroad. In Egypt, there are plenty of Western Union branches; it takes just a few minutes to get any sum of money sent to you from abroad.
Egypt Bus Services:
There are three main operators, based in Cairo, that mostly form a network that covers all of Egypt. They are as follows:
-The Upper Egypt Bus Company. It covers all points along the Nile valley, as well as the Fayoum and Inner Oasis and the Red Sea coast e.g. Hurghada, Safaga and Marsa Alam
-The East Delta Bus Company covers the Sinai Peninsula and the Canal Zone.
-The West Delta Bus Company serves Alexandria, north coast, Siwa Oasis and the Nile Delta towns.
-The El-Gouna Bus Company. Their buses cover Hurghada, Safaga and Marsa Alam
-If you want to check Egypt bus service schedule, click here
-The Super Jet Bus Companies: they cover most of egypt and their stations are located in Almaza (Heliopolis), Turguman Square (Tahrir), Giza, and Cairo Airport. if you need to call them Tel: (002)-(02)266 0212
Electricity:
The electricity current is 220 volts, 50 Hz, and uses round-pronged plugs. North American and other non 220-volt users are advised to bring a converter!
If you are coming from the UK, you will need only an adaptor for your plugs (these are available from most high street shops... etc.)
Cairo Airport:
Cairo airport is located 22Km to the south east of the centre of Cairo. The trip to, or from, the airport should take around 30 - 45 Minutes. So dear traveller, make sure to leave your hotel at least three hours before your departure time!
There are threeTerminals at Cairo airport. All Egypt-Air and domestic flights depart from Terminal one, while all other airlines depart from Terminal two.
There is no departure tax levied - at the moment! However, starting from next October, a new tax will be implemented. You will not pay it directly as it will be included in the price of the ticket.
If you fly with Egypt Air, or have connection flights, it is recommended that you confirm your flight, at least 48 hours before departure, it is very important to do that. If you are staying in a good hotel, the guest relation, or reception, should be able to do this for you if you wish.
If you are an individual traveller and wish to confirm your flight, you can call Egypt Air directly. Use one of these numbers:
Egypt-Air at Cairo International Airport: Tel: 634 1460 / 418 3690 / 265 7222 /265 7244/ 265 7257/ 256 7255 Fax: 267 4555 / 418 2818
- Terminal 2 has been closed down for renovation. Airlines now operating from T1
- Terminal 2 has been closed to undergo a complete renovation and upgrade of its capacity. During that time the airlines will be operating from T1.
-Please check with your Airline which Terminal you will depart from / arrive to.
-Free WiFi in Terminal 1
-Cairo airport provides WiFi services in its Terminal without any charge to passengers.
For flight inquiries please dial 090077777 from any Landline or 2777 from any Mobile.
Cairo Airport Exclusive Service reservation: exclusive@cairo-airport.com or call +202 2265 5647 / 3160 for Terminal 1 or +202 2269 6300 / 301 ext. 7424 for Terminal 3.
Customs at Cairo Airport:
You are allowed to bring only 250 grams of tobacco, two cartons of cigarettes, one litre of alcohol and personal stuff. If you are planning to bring your own pet, make sure you have a veterinary health certificate, which should include a valid rabies certificate.
Making a phone call:
To call any country outside Egypt, dial your country code, then city code then number.To call Egypt from abroad, the country code is 002.
If you have friends calling you from North America or Australia while you are in Egypt, tell them to dial 011 before dialling country code.
List of some of the local dialling codes:

Cairo	Luxor	Alexandria	Aswan	Sharm Elshiek	Hurghada	Ismalia
02	095	03	097	069	065	064

The best and the cheapest time to place your call is after 2000 (8:00PM). If you wish to make an international call simply buy a Mena-Tel card, (will cost you about 20 LE) and it should give you around 3 minutes of calling time to any place in the world. You may make the call from the many yellow phone boxes in the streets around your hotel.
If you wish to purchase a mobile phone Sim Card for your visit, Both Mobinil and Egypt Vodafone offer a Tourist line for only 60 LE, it will give you an Egyptian number so that you can make phone calls, your friends and family can reach you, and it will save the roaming charges.
Travelling alone advice:
Egypt as a tourist cannot be compared with other countries. Things are cheaper here. Even entry fees to the sites are cheaper than many other countries. Flying to Egypt is cheaper from many tourist destinations around the world. Nowadays you can even get an organized package trip for $500 with accommodation!
Often I will advice travellers to avoid getting taxis to tour the sites. What do you expect from a local taxi driver, who cares nothing but how much you will pay him at the end of your trip? This is the job of a travel agency, or a local licensed guide to do.
Today there are so many travel agencies in Australia and the UK that offer very cheap trip they are very well organized. You picked up the choice to do it on your own! Then you must be prepared.
You must be aware of the following points:

hints and tips

• If you must take a taxi, then it would be best if you asked the reception/ concierge of your hotel to get you one. They have certain assigned taxis that they know very well, and deal with on a daily basis If you want to tour a site on your own, you have to be aware of where you are going, how much you are going to pay for the ticket, and what is included with the ticket! This is the reason I built my information site:
• To help first time travellers to Egypt. If you want to dine out, then you must know where the recommend restaurants are, and where you will find the clean healthy food. Don't consider the price, even if you dine in a 5 star hotel, it is still cheaper than in your own country!Independent travel, for your 1st experience, is not advised. I have explained elsewhere about how "Lonely Planet" gives the wrong impression. I have spoken to many people who have tried it this way, and wish they had gone as part of a group (I do not mean a package holiday – groups can be arranged when you get there!).
• First and foremost, prepare yourself for a culture shock! Many seasoned travellers are amazed when they first visit Egypt, and find that it is unlike any other country that they have previously visited!
• Egypt is a Muslim country, so please respect their faith. Many things that you take as the norm, such as kissing and/or fondling your partner in public, wearing revealing clothing etc., are frowned upon here, so try and be more conservative in your attitude. Homosexuality is actually illegal in Muslim countries!
• Have a look at the ask-aladdin forum to get more hints and tips from other travelers. If you have any questions before your trip, ask on the forum, no matter how trivial you may feel the question is.
• Do not rely, solely, on travel books such as Lonely Planet and Rough Guide. Though they do give a lot of good information, they do not explain everything, or how to help if you get into problems. Too many people have come to Egypt armed with one of these books, and have left, totally disappointed with their trip, vowing never to return again!
• If you are travelling alone, or in a couple, and wish to organise everything yourself, please let the hotel know your plans before you leave. If you should get lost, the hotel will be able to act on your behalf! Also, take a note of the hotel's name and telephone number, in case you do get lost, or change your plans.
• If you wish to organise everything yourself, be prepared for the occasional "rip-off". Like many other tourist destinations, Egypt has its "wolves", those who prey on unsuspecting travellers. Often the total cost of an excursion can be a lot more than if you had arranged it through your hotel, or a travel agent, and a lot less enjoyable.
• Never drink the tap water! It is okay to wash, shower and clean your teeth with it, but not advised to drink. Bottled water is cheap and plentiful; use it instead!
• In Egypt they drive on the right, be careful when crossing roads. Take special care in Cairo, where the traffic is a lot busier than in other Egyptian cities – especially outside the Egyptian museum! UK and Japanese travelers should be extra careful, as you will be used to traffic driving on the left.
• Get your entry visa at your destination airport; it often works out cheaper than getting it at home. Also you can exchange your $, £ or Euro at the same time – the conversion rate is far better in Egypt!
• If you are going to be using the Abela Sleeper Train service, please try and make your reservation in advance. For help with this, try here.
• Internal flights by Egypt Air must be booked in advance as well.
• Get to know the other guests in your hotel, many of them will give you advise about what and whatnot to do. They should also be able to tell you where the best restaurants and bargain centers are; no one will knowingly recommend a bad place!
• Ask your hotel's reception desk for help and/or advise. They will know the best taxis, tour companies etc. and will let you know. Some hotels can also take bookings for excursions.
• Do not be scared of being part of a group for excursions. These groups have leaders (a tour guide and/or Egyptologist) who will help with problems, explain about the site you are visiting, arrange transport (if necessary!) etc., things you would find difficult if you tried it alone. You will also find that you will get less hassle if you are part of a group! Many traders will not approach a group of people, but they will approach a lone traveller or a couple.
• When you pay for a group excursion, the price includes everything except for tips (sometimes admission prices are not included). This includes transport, a driver, a tour guide, tolls etc. Some longer excursions may even include a stop for lunch (often included in the price too). Many will take you to places where Ancient crafts are still practised, giving you the chance to buy good quality merchandise at low prices.
• Buy (and drink) plenty of water. You will find it a lot cheaper to buy in the various shops, than buying at your hotel or cruise boat. You may not drink a lot of water at home, but make sure you do in Egypt. It is very easy to become dehydrated if you don't.
• Remember that Egypt is a 3rd world country, and has many poor people who think that all tourists are rich, no matter where they come from in the world! Learn the phrase "La Shukran" (No thank you!) and don't be afraid to say it to anyone who tries to sell you anything, or asks for "baksheesh". Believe it or not, it does work. Please do not say "Emshi" (as many tour books advise), this can be taken as an insult.
• If you forget the expression "La Shukran" just politely say "No thank you" and walk away. Don't get abusive to the trader; he is only trying to feed his family.
• If you feel that someone is being too pushy, let a member of the Tourist Police know. You will see them everywhere in Egypt and their job is to protect you.
• Admission to all sites is payable in LE, so make sure that you carry enough with you. Try and plan each day in advance, work out how much you will need for admissions, and keep this money separate from your spending money.
• If you want to go on a felucca trip, be careful! Again, ask for advise from your hotel first, to find out the best captain to approach. Unfortunately there have been reports of some captains demanding extra money for the return leg of a journey, or demanding to take you somewhere else first! While this is not the norm, it does occasionally happen.
• You will find that many tours (especially to the desert sites) are done either early morning or late afternoon. The reason for this is because of the heat in the middle of the day. If you do want to visit sites independently, please try and follow the example of the experienced tour organisers and avoid the midday sun!
• Be prepared for delays when entering some sites. Because of the threat of terrorism, you will have your personal belongings (camera bags, carrier bags etc.) searched before gaining admittance. Though this is annoying, it is for your safety! Also, on some sites, they may find video equipment, which they will take from you. Don't worry you will get it back! It is just that certain sites do not allow video's to be used.
• Take a small, pocket, flashlight with you when visiting the sites. Many tombs, temples etc. use the natural light for illumination (including a local with a large mirror, reflecting the light!) and a small flashlight can be very handy. A small mirror, such as the one in a ladies make-up, can also be used to highlight a relief. Please Note: Do not take one of the really bright halogen torches, you could cause damage to the monuments!
• Once developed for cleaning the parts underneath a babies nappy / diaper, "Wet Wipes" (the small, damp, tissue usually bought in a plastic tub) are becoming more and more popular with adults. They are also very useful when travelling in Egypt. When you have felt the relief's in a Temple, touched the hieroglyphs in a Tomb, caressed the stones on the Pyramids etc., you only have to take one of these wipes out to instantly clean your hands. No more looking for a washroom!
• Make up a small "medical-kit" before you go! Include things like safety pins, plasters (different sizes), antiseptic cream, diarrhoea tablets, headache tablets and sun cream (high factor advised).
• Take a box of cheap ballpoint pens. The children (and many adults) are very happy when you hand them out, handy for baksheesh.
• When shopping for bargains, keep your own currency and credit cards out of sight, and separate from your LE. It is easier to haggle over a price if you can show that you have only a few Egyptian pounds in your possession! Plus, some traders may try and insist that they meant $ or £, instead of LE, if they see that you are carrying them.
• Wear sensible footwear when visiting the various sites. High heels and open toe shoes are not advisable. The floors of most sites are either sand or rough-cut, uneven stone. Inside many tombs, wooden floorboards have been installed, but thin heels could get caught in the gaps between the floorboards.
• Many monuments have signs that say " No Flash Photography", please obey these signs (you can be ejected from the site if you ignore the sign!). The very bright flash can cause serious damage to some of the ancient paintwork!
• Some reliefs have depictions that show male genitalia – this is not pornography, so there is no reason to be offended! If you are part of a group (of any size) the leader/guide will explain the reason for the depiction.
• If you are travelling by road to Abu Simbel, ask your hotel or cruise boat if they supply a "breakfast box". Some hotels do this, as they cannot supply you with a breakfast before you depart. If they do not do this service, take some food with you, as hunger will set in before you reach Abu Simbel (a 3 ½ - 4 hour trip, each way!) Also, make sure you take plenty of water with you; it tends to be hot here and you can dehydrate very quickly.
• When visiting the West Bank sites at Luxor, again take plenty of water with you! You will be there for either ½ day or a whole day (with a break for lunch) and it can become very hot, drink a lot of water to avoid dehydration!
• Ladies, if you intend visiting the inside of one of the pyramids, please wear trousers (or jeans). You may have to ascend/descend ladders and/or crawl through narrow passages. For the same reasons, I would advise men to avoid wearing short trousers.
• Public transport (town bus services, and in Cairo, the Metro!) in Egypt is very cheap, but try and avoid it if you can. You will only put yourself into an awkward position having many locals staring and talking about you. Taxis are not expensive so use these for travelling about town. Your hotel will let you know the best companies to use.
• If you on a "multi-centre" holiday, and you will be returning to your first hotel before your departure, arrange to leave some of your luggage, and items you have bought, with the hotel. Most hotels offer this service free of charge (or for a very low cost) and it saves you having to carry too much to your next destinations.
• When you have paid your entry into the Egyptian Museum and received your ticket (s), a "guide", offering his services, will approach you. These "guides" are not employed by the museum, they are freelance. Most of the museums exhibits are not labeled, so the chances are, you will not know one from another. A guidebook is available from the museum, but it is up to you if you want to employ one of these "guides". If you decide to do so, make sure you haggle for a good, low price, so that if he is useless, you have not wasted much money. You could even try and form a group of visitors to share the cost! To avoid this problem in the first place, ask at your hotel for advise on getting a proper guide!
• At most sites, especially if you are alone, or in a couple, a "guide", offering to show you around, may approach you. To these people you should say "La Shukran" or "no thank you"! The Egyptian Government does not employ any guides at any of the sites and monuments! Again, ask at your hotel, for help, before you visit the site.
• Do not buy anything from the traders inside the Giza Plateau! The items they are trying to sell you can be bought a lot cheaper at places like the Khan El-Khalili. Also beware the many people offering you camel rides, as they are not all genuine! Head for the main stables if you want a camel ride, or better still, arrange one at your hotel.
• If you go to the Citadel, try and ignore the traders selling "papyrus" pictures, as the "papyrus" is made from banana leafs, they are not genuine papyrus! Also, if you buy some from one trader, another will approach selling you "pictures that the other man did not have"! To get mementos here, there are some stalls between the bus park and the old bank, where the traders are better to deal with, and not so pushy.
• Many people, to save money, use the express train service, Cairo - Luxor/Aswan - Cairo. This is a long journey, though it is comfortable (and the scenery is breathtaking!). Before boarding the train, make sure you take some food with you, as the supplies "on-board" run out very quickly and are not replenished. A book is often advised, to help pass the time. Make sure you get the 1st Class, air-conditioned express train (normally, tourists have no option – the lower class carriages are for locals only!). They are non-smoking, but you can smoke in the entrance/exit area!
• Do not feel that 5 star hotels are always the best! There are many 3 star hotels, that are Egyptian owned and run, that offer the same facilities as the big multi-national ones, sometimes they offer a better service and in most cases, a lot friendlier!
• We, at Ask Aladdin, advise against the idea of a felucca trip between Aswan and Luxor (Esna), unless you are really intent on sleeping under the stars, and eating food that is not of the best standard. Many of these little felucca tip over due to the strong wind and you will end up losing all your luggage in the bottom of the Nile. We recommend using big Cruise boats, they can do the same trip, with better sleeping accommodation and first class food!
• And finally: Please do not let this list put you off going to Egypt. It has been compiled from questions that people regularly ask, and complaints that travelers have experienced. This list is to help make your visit as enjoyable as possible.

0 Vacation in Egypt: It has it all!

Spending your vacation in Egypt is a great value for money and you have a chance to experience and see 7,000 years of history and civilization.

Taking a moment to realize that Egypt is more than 7,000 years old and was home to one of the best documented civilizations of the world is breathtaking on its own. Across the centuries and millennia there have been numerous cultures and peoples who have lived in Egypt and ruled it too. The result of that nowadays, are the leftover monuments and memoirs representing cultural diversity, human life and survival through it all.

Location
Egypt’s location, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea from its northern tip and the Red Sea from its eastern side, with the river Nile splitting it down the middle, gives Egypt a striking and strategic position. You can say it is in the center of the world and is the cradle of civilization. This location ensures Egypt’s wide selection and variety of beaches, resorts and cities by the river, making your vacation in Egypt an unforgettable one.

Vacation in Cairo
Beginning by telling you about Egypt’s capital and the biggest city in Africa only makes sense. The Greater Cairo area (including Giza) is home to 17 million people and attracts professionals, families and young vibrant students from all over the world looking to learn Arabic or immerse themselves in Egyptian culture. This multicultural metropolis, spread over on either side of the Nile (with Cairo being on the Eastern side, and Giza on the Western side), is home to Pharaonic, Islamic and Coptic monuments as well as statues and streets from the turn of the century and the Ottoman Empire. The Downtown and Zamalek districts are famous for their beautiful European style architecture, giving downtown Cairo the title of “Paris along the Nile”. Cairo is a vibrant city that never sleeps full of restaurants, cafes and food stands. Walking through the crowds of people, cars and microbuses and embracing the randomness of the city is one of the most interesting experiences some come to find. Outside of Cairo, people also enjoy taking a daytrip to Fayoum to see the oasis and the beautiful lakes along with waterfalls and natural scenery.
Vacation in Alexandria and the North Coast
Traveling a bit North, we find Alexandria. Originally built by Alexander the Great, it is home to many Greek and Roman monuments as well as the world renowned, and recently renovated, Library of Alexandria. Taking a walk along the Mediterranean Coast, you cross the Stanley Bridge and gaze at the beautiful coastal line of this wonderful city. Like any Mediterranean city, Alexandria is known for its delicious cuisine which is mostly centered on fish and seafood. Besides Alexandria, there are many other cities, towns and resorts along the Northern coast of Egypt like Marsa Matruh (known for its white sand and crisp blue water beaches), Agami (known for its night life and crazy beach parties during the summer), Elalamein (where there are many World War II graves and monuments) and the North Coast resorts (also known as Sahel, where the upper middle class and the elite of Cairo spend their summers).

Vacation in Red Sea
Diving into the Red Sea is exactly what people do there-dive! Known for having some of the best diving spots in the world, along with gorgeous beaches scattered across its coasts, the Red Sea would definitely prove to be an adventure. In Hurghada and the newly established El-Gouna, people enjoy diving, wind surfing, parasailing and laying along the shores. Going south to Marsa Alam and other cities, there is everything from extravagant five star resorts, to totally raw lands and beaches to camp in and interact with nature. Visiting Ain Soukhna is a favourite for Cairo locals for its proximity to the capital, great weather all year round and vivid blue water beaches. From there, before crossing to the Sinai, you could stop for a daytrip in Suez and watch the ships go by on the Suez Canal.

Vacation in Sinai
Crossing under the Suez Canal into Sinai you come to find a whole other world. Sand dunes, golden rock mountains and endless deserts are what you see on either side of the road. Sinai is home to many small cities and towns along the coasts, as well as accommodations ranging from resorts to huts and tents by the beach. Safaris into the mountains of Sinai are not only a great adventure but a majestic experience. Sharm El Sheikh is the most famous and popular getaway in Sinai, located in the south of the peninsula. It is home to many resorts hosting thousands of people from all over the world. Sharm, as the locals call it, is full of restaurants, shops and nightclubs where the party never ends. Those who prefer a mellower kind of vacation usually go up north to backpackers’ favourite spots Dahab, Nuweiba and the camps along the coast. A popular spot in Sinai is Taba, where you can see Israel, Jordan and Saudi Arabia; a meeting point of four very different countries.

Vacation in Western Desert & Oasis
If you go to the opposite side of the country, into the Western Desert, it is a completely different kind of trip. Besides the beauty of the desert itself, and the miles and miles of open space and raw environment you feast your eyes on, there are five oases in the desert; Baharia, Farafra, Dakhla, Kharga and Siwa. Each of those oases has its own culture, traditions, feel and look. They are great to base in and then go on daily desert adventures. Some of the oases also have natural hot springs that you can go for a swim in and many find this to be a soothing and relaxing activity. Among the popular choices of spots in the Western Desert are the White Desert, the Black Desert and the Crystal Mountain. Each of these is beautiful and unique in its own way, but the elements they have in common are the silence, serenity and the deep blue sky with stars shimmering all across.

Nile Cruise in Aswan and Luxor
One of the most popular trips visitors to Egypt enjoy taking is the Nile Cruise. This is a five star cruise that takes you through the gorgeous southern Nile scenery, and gives you the opportunity to visit Luxor (Luxor was one of the Pharaonic capitals of Egypt and was previously known as Thebes), Aswan and nearby cities like Edfu and Kom Ombo. These cities have about one-third of the world’s antiquities. The cruise sails both from Luxor or Aswan, and besides enjoying the on-deck pool and the boat’s facilities, you get to immerse yourself in Upper Egyptian beauty, serenity and history.

Golf
Golfing is a popular activity in Egypt since there is great weather all year round. There are various golf courses around greater Cairo, but perhaps the most interesting one would be the Mena House Golf Course which overlooks the Great Pyramids of Giza.

Safari
To take a safari into the desert means you have a sense of adventure and long for the desert’s mystery and excitement. Some like to do it via four wheeling (aka beach buggies) all dressed up in the proper gear; sunglasses, headscarf and light linen clothing. Others like to take jeeps into the desert and avoid the excessive contact with the sand. Both are great rides through the sand dunes and some are through the mountains depending on the locations. This trip usually ends with a wonderful place to camp whether to spend the evening or a couple of days, and Bedouins prepare a delicious meal for you on the camp fire with roasted meat, fried rice and spicy vegetables with tomato sauce. There are many different popular safari spots around Egypt like the Western Desert and Sinai.

Diving
Egypt has some of the most beautiful diving spots in the world and vast amounts of dive centers with certified and excellent guides and instructors. From shipwrecks to coral reefs to wild sea-creatures to open water to the blue hole, Egypt offers the best diving sites at amazing prices. While the most popular diving spots are Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada, backpackers and students also go for Dahab and other spots in Northern Sinai. There are a little less than one hundred diverse diving sites all over the country.

Beaches
Egypt has central location serving as the bridge between Africa and Asia with a gorgeous coast on the other side, across Europe. With a coastal line stretching a length of almost 3000 kms on the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea, and great weather all year round, Egypt is the ultimate beach destination. On the North Coast you can find the still water beaches for those who like to relax in the West in places like Sidi Abdelrahman and Marsa Matruh, complete with turquoise coloured water and heavenly white sand. For those with a more adventurous side going more to the East you can find the same white fine sand and crystal blue water but that is wild with huge waves, great for surfing and having a blast. Along the Red Sea coast, you won’t find many waves, but you can find diverse locations with either seashore as far as your eyes can see or beautiful little bays with mountains all around giving you a sense of serenity and exclusiveness. Egypt offers many five star resorts on the beach, all inclusive with services and amenities. It also offers cheaper accommodation options right on the shore as well as camping sites that are mostly run by Bedouins, especially popular in Sinai.

So whether you want to relax or party, lay by the beach or embark on some extreme sports, golf or visit ancient monuments; we can safely say Egypt would be the ideal place for your vacation!

Tour Egypt offers you diversity, passion, and fun. Through customized packages that fit your needs and budget, whatever your heart craves, Tour Egypt guarantees. We can give you cheap budget deals, tips, and guide you through your vacation in Egypt. Find out more about our all inclusive packages through the website, where our specialists strive to make your visit unforgettable. Have your next vacation in Egypt and enjoy all the beauty this country has to offer.

0 Cairo Travel Guide, Egypt

The capital of Egypt and the largest city in Africa, the name means "the victorious city". It is located on both banks of the River Nile near the head of the river's delta in northern Egypt and has been settled for more than 6000 years, serving as the capital of numerous Egyptian civilizations. Cairo is known locally as "Misr", the Arabic name for Egypt, because of its centrality in Egyptian life.
Greater Cairo is spread across three of Egypt's administrative governorates. The north eastern part is known as Kaliobia Governorate, while the west bank is part of the governorate of Giza, and the eastern parts and south eastern parts are another governorate known as Cairo, the three parts are known together as greater Cairo. The city is marked by the traditions and influences of the East and the West, the ancient and the modern. However, the city also reflects Egypt's growing poverty, and it struggles to cope with problems caused by massive population growth, urban sprawl, and a deteriorating infrastructure.

The city of Cairo covers an area of more than 453 sq km (more than 175 sq m), though it is difficult to separate the city from some of its immediate suburbs. Bracketed by the desert to the east, south, and west and bounded by the fertile Nile delta to the north, Cairo sits astride the river, though it spreads farther on the east bank than the west. Cairo also includes several river islands, which play an important role in the life of the city. As the region's principal commercial, administrative, and tourist centre, Cairo contains many cultural institutions, business establishments, governmental offices, universities, and hotels, which together create a dense pattern of constant activity.

The centre of downtown Cairo is Tahrir Square, located on the east bank. A hub of tourist activity, the vast and open square contains numerous attractions, including the Egyptian Museum, the Arab League headquarters, and the modern Umar Makram Mosque. Extending from north to south along the east bank of the Nile is the Corniche, Cairo's main thoroughfare. Located nearby is the narrow strip of land known as Garden City, one of the city's newer residential areas. In the centre of the city is the river island of Zamalek (also called Jezerah, meaning "the Island"), which contains the upscale residential and commercial neighborhood also known as Zamalek, the Cairo Opera House (founded in 1869), and the Cairo Tower (1961). Three bridges link the island with both banks of the river. The island of Al-Rodah, located to the south, is linked to the mainland by two additional bridges, while another bridge to the north carries road and rail traffic across the Nile.
Check here Cairo night life
Outside the city's central area on the east bank, spanning from the northeast to the southeast, are the neighborhoods of Islamic Cairo. These neighborhoods are known for their narrow streets, crowded markets (bazaars), and hundreds of Mosques, many dating back to the medieval period. South of the Islamic district is Old Cairo, where some of the city's oldest architectural monuments can be found. Old Cairo is the home of Cairo's Coptic Christian community, and the site of the Coptic Museum plus a number of Coptic churches.
The irrigation of Cairo's desert periphery has allowed for the development of suburbs, such as Heliopolis, located to the northeast. Other modern suburbs are interspersed with recently created migrant neighborhoods that accommodate the city's growing population. Industrial areas further crowd the city, restricting its growth. An international airport serves Cairo, situated approximately 24 km (about 15 m) northeast of the city; the Ramses railway station and the bus terminal are located near downtown Cairo.
Cairo is the chief commercial and industrial centre of Egypt. Local industries manufacture cotton textiles, food products, construction supplies, motor vehicles, aircraft, and chemical fertilizers. Iron and steel are produced at the south part just outside the city. Cairo is also a centre for government activities and service industries. Because of the city's warm climate and numerous historical and cultural attractions, tourism plays an important role in its economy. Cairo receives goods shipped on the Nile at the river port, located at the northern end of the city. From Cairo, products are sent by road, railroad, and waterway to the Mediterranean ports of Alexandria and Port Said. The city is connected by train service to other major cities. Traffic congestion is a growing problem in Cairo, but it is the only city in the Middle East and Africa that has a subway. A subway system opened in the city in 1987.for the first time carrying about 2 million passengers everyday. Lately a second line has been opened, this linked the old line with the western superb in the west bank (Giza), The third line is still under construction which will connect Cairo airport to the city centre and finish in the busy suburb of Imbaba.

Population

In 1998 Cairo was estimated to have a population of 16 million. The people of Cairo are known as Cairenes; nearly all of them are Egyptians with small number of foreigner. The city is an important centre of the Islamic faith, and Cairenes are predominantly Sunni Muslims; however, the city is also home to a sizable Coptic community, which traces its origins to the Christians who populated Cairo before the arrival of Islam. Cairo's population swells daily as workers flow into the city from the surrounding area, clogging roads and rail lines every morning and evening. Many Cairenes are recent arrivals from villages along the Nile. These rural migrants arrive with few skills or resources, and compound the existing problems of unemployment and scarce housing.

Education And Culture 
The most famous educational institution in Cairo is the Al-Azhar University, the oldest in the Islamic world. The institution has grown up around the Al-Azhar Mosque, the oldest Mosque in Cairo. The Fatimid founded both the university and Mosque in 970. Al-Azhar University is an authoritative voice throughout the Islamic world, and its positions on important issues are influential in Egypt and the Arab world. Other institutions of higher education include Cairo University (Founded in1908) and Ain Shams University (1950), which together enrols more than 100,000 students; and the American University in Cairo, founded in 1919, where the children of Egypt's elite mingle with students and faculty from abroad. Egyptian history is displayed and preserved in the city's numerous Museum collections. The Egyptian Museum (Founded in 1902) contains hundreds of thousands of artefacts, including more than 1700 pieces from the collection of Tutankhamen. The Museum of Islamic Arts (1881) contains a vast collection relating to early Islamic civilization, and the Coptic Museum (1910) traces the history of the Coptic community in Egypt. Other Cairo Museums maintain collections relating to more modern themes; these range from the El-Gawhara Palace Museum, built in 1811 in the Ottoman style, to the Mahmoud Khalil Museum, founded in 1963, which contains works by Vincent Van Gogh, Paul Gauguin, Peter Paul Rubens, and other European and Egyptian painters of renown.

source:  http://www.ask-aladdin.com/Cairo-Travel-Information/index.html

0 the Pyramids of Giza

Among the major tourist sites, there is only one considered to be “The major” and on top of any list - The Pyramids of Giza

There are three main Pyramids here, which were built in the 4^th Dynasty (circa 2550 B.C). The Pyramids of Ancient Egypt were built as tombs for Kings (and Queens), and it was the exclusive privilege to have a Pyramid tomb. However, this tradition only applied in the Old and Middle Kingdoms. Today there are more than 93 Pyramids in Egypt; the most famous ones are those at Giza.

 

Click on the winged serpent icon to download a 3D panoramic view of the Pyramids of Giza, and the Sphinx.
Click on the winged serpent. (PLEASE NOTE: YOU WILL NEED MOVIE PLAYER TO PLAY THE FILE)

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Now let's go for a little tour around the site of the Pyramids and try to explore the magnificence of the area:

The Great Pyramid of Khufu:

The Great Pyramid of Khufu is by far the most famous Pyramid in Egypt, the biggest, tallest, and most intact. After its construction it became one of the “Seven Wonders Of The World”, and today, it is the only one of them remaining. For a period of 4300 years, the Pyramid was also the tallest building on earth, until the French built the Eiffel Tower in 1889 to take that accolade.

Khufu’s Pyramid is built entirely of limestone, and is considered an architectural masterpiece. It contains around 1,300,000 blocks ranging in weight from 2.5 tons to 15 tons and is built on a square base with sides measuring about 230m (755ft), covering 13 acres!  Its four sides face the four cardinal points precisely and it has an angle of 52 degrees. The original height of the Pyramid was 146.5m (488ft), but today it is only 137m (455ft) high, the 9m (33ft) that is missing is due to the theft of the fine quality limestone covering, or casing stones, by the Ottoman Turks in the 15 Century A.D, to build houses and Mosques in Cairo.

You will find that the entrance of the Pyramid is located at the northern side, the same as almost every Pyramid in Egypt. On this side there are actually 2 entrances, one is the original, and is 17m (55ft) above ground level, and the other one is a man-made forced entrance located below it. Created in the 9^th Century A.D by Khalif El-Mamoun, who was seeking the treasures that he thought might have been kept inside the Pyramid. He sent out stonemasons to open up an entrance, and they cut it midway across the centre of the northern side. Their tunnel goes almost 35m into the Pyramid, and was crudely cut, and at the end it connects with the original inner corridors of the Pyramid. Nothing was found inside, as it was plundered in antiquity. Nowadays visitors, to the site, use Mamoun’s entrance to gain access into the Pyramid, as it is actually considered to be a shortcut.

Please Note: If you attempt to go inside the Pyramid, you will have to bend down all the way till you reach the burial chamber!

From the main entrance of the Pyramid there is a long narrow corridor with low roof that descends for more than 100m (330ft), which takes you to a chamber, located about 24m (79ft) below ground level, which is an unfinished burial chamber with very little fresh air inside, and is inaccessible today. 

Almost 20m (66ft) from that descending corridor there is another corridor connected to it, which takes you up into the heart of the Pyramid. This ascending corridor ends up at one the great parts of the Great Pyramid, the “Grand Gallery”!  It is a large, long, rectangular hall, which is 49m (161ft) long, and 15m (49ft) high, with a long tunnel, at the bottom, that takes you the 2^nd chamber, which is famously known as the “Queens Chamber”. It actually has nothing to do with a Queen, and was given this name by the early Arabs, who went inside the Pyramids and gave it its name. It is commonly believed that it served as a magazine, or a storeroom, inside the Pyramid.

When you ascend the “Grand Gallery”, you will find, at its end, an entrance to the 3^rd chamber, which was the real burial chamber of King Khufu, and this is where you will find his stone sarcophagus, which was made out of one block of granite. You will find this chamber to be really amazing, it is rectangular in form, has a flat roof, and is built out of granite that was brought from the city of Aswan, which is located 1000Km (625 miles) away. The roof consists of 9 slabs of granite; each one estimated to be around 50 tons in weight! Above the roof of the burial chamber, the Ancient Egyptians built 5 small relieving chambers so that the huge pressure, of the weight above, would not cause the burial chamber to collapse. These 5 chambers are also made of granite, and are about 1m (3 ft) above each other. The tops of the first 4 are flat, the 5^th one having a pointed top to divert the enormous pressure of weight away from the burial chamber.

Both the northern and southern walls of the burial chamber have two small tunnels with rectangular entrances. They are small, and once were thought to go all the way through the outer sides of the Pyramid, though no exterior openings have been found, and are believed to be “star shafts” that served a certain purpose in the ancient cult connecting the King with the stars.                              

If you need to know more about these small tunnels, and their connection to the stars, it is a long story!  I guess you will need to come to one of my lectures!!! 

One last point! The Great Pyramid is the Pyramid of the great Egyptian King, Khufu. The name “Cheops” is also associated with this King and his Pyramid, the name being given to him by the Greeks. Though both names are generally accepted, Khufu was used in this description because it was his birth name! The same goes for Khafre (Chephren in Greek) and Menkaure (Mycerinus), and their Pyramids are described below. 

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The Pyramid of Khafre:
Khafre's Pyramid, or the 2nd Pyramid, is easily recognisable by the layers of its original casing stones that still remain near its summit and this, along with the fact that it actually stands on a higher part of the plateau, gives the impression that it is taller than the Great Pyramid. An optical illusion, as it is only 136m (446 ft) tall, with sides of 214.5m (704ft), a surface area of 11 acres and an angle of 53 degrees. It also has lost some of its original height through the years, once being 143.5m (471ft) tall.
The only similarity to his father's Pyramid is the entrance in the same, north facing side. There are no corridors leading into the heart of this Pyramid, the burial chamber being underground, and a long descending passageway has to be negotiated to reach it. This entrance is 50 feet (15m) above ground level, leading to the narrow passage, which descends at a 25-degree angle into the large burial chamber, which measures 14.2m by 5m by 6.9m (46.5ft by 16.5ft by 22.5ft). To take the weight of the pyramid, the roof of the chamber is set at the same angles as the pyramid face. A large, black sarcophagus is found in this room.

A lower corridor is directly under the upper corridor, and once contained a portcullis that could be lowered to prevent entry as well as an unfinished burial chamber, which was cut from the bedrock and, it is thought, unused. Like the upper corridor, this one has a 25-degree slope, it then levels out, climbs slightly, and eventually the 2 of them join together. The united passageway then leads to the burial chamber.

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The Pyramid of Menkaure:
Khafre's son, Menkaure, built the smallest of the 3 main Pyramids on the Giza Plateau. This one was only a mere 65.5m (215ft) tall, nowadays 62m (203ft), with sides of only 105m (344ft) and an angle of 51.3 degrees. It is thought that this Pyramid was altered during its construction, and made a lot bigger than originally planned. The original, smaller Pyramid had a simple descending corridor and burial chamber, but when it was enlarged, a new corridor was built with 3 portcullises and a small panelled chamber. Later still, another burial chamber, along with a storeroom were added at a lower level. This Pyramid, like its 2 neighbours, has a north facing entrance.
Apart from the size, Menkaure's Pyramid differed from the other 2 in the choice of casing stones. Whereas the Pyramids of his father and grandfather were completely cased in fine, white, Turah limestone, Menkaure's Pyramid was only partly cased in Turah limestone, from about 15m up! The first 15 metres was cased with pink granite, which had come from Aswan, the last of which was taken by Muhammad Ali Pasha (1805-1848) who used them to construct his arsenal in Alexandria.

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The Great Sphinx:

The Great Sphinx, or as the ancients knew it, “Shesib Ankh” or “the living image”, has to be one of the most recognizable constructions in history. Think of the Sphinx and you automatically think of Egypt and the Giza Plateau.
Sculpted from soft sandstone, many believe that it would have disappeared long ago had it not been buried in the sand for so many long periods in its lifetime. The body is 60m (200ft) long and 20m (65ft) tall. Its face is 4m (13ft) wide with eyes measuring 2m (6 ft) high. It faces the rising sun, and was revered so much by the ancients, that they built a temple in front of it.
 The 18th Dynasty King, Thutmose IV installed a stele between its front paws, describing how, when Thutmose was a young Prince, he had gone hunting and fell asleep in the shade of the Sphinx ‘s head. Thutmose had a dream where Ra Hor-Akhty the sun God, talking through the Sphinx, spoke to him, telling the young Prince to clear away the sand because the Sphinx was choking on it. The Sphinx said to  him that if he did this, he would become King of Egypt .

Thutmose cleared away all the sand and s after 2 years,  the god fulfilled his promise to the price and he was made king of Egypt

Today, part of the “uraeus” (the sacred cobra at the forehead ) and the nose are missing (not shot off by Napoleon’s men as many believe, but were destroyed by Sa'im Al-Dahr, a Sufi fanatic from the Khanqah of Sa'id Al-Su'ada.

In 1378, upon finding the Egyptian peasants making offerings to the Sphinx in the hope of increasing their harvest, Sa'im Al-Dahr was so outraged that he destroyed the nose!). There are small parts of a beard in the Cairo museum  and big one at  British Museum in London which reputedly belong to the Sphinx, but many Egyptologists deny this, as the style of beard found, does not relate to the “nemes” that The Sphinx wears – different Dynasties!

Because of the soft sandstone, the Sphinx has been repaired many times; sometimes the repairs causing even more damage! Also, due to the wind, humidity, and pollution from modern Cairo, its condition is still deteriorating, and the present renovations are a never-ending task.
I hope this gave you a glimpse of information about the Pyramids of Giza.

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Before you go:
-The Giza pyramids opening times from 800 AM and closes at 1700
-Winter working hours are - ( 8:00 -- 16:30)
-Ramadan working hours are -( 8:00 --15:00)
-Entrance ticket per person - 60. LE
-Entrance to cheops boat Museum – 40 LE
-Entrance to Khafree's Pyramid – 20 LE
-Entrance to Khufu's Pyramid – 100 LE
Before you visit the site of the Giza Pyramids, you have to know the following facts:

• It is forbidden to climb the Pyramids. You are only allowed to climb up the stone steps that lead to the entrance, which is 55 feet above ground level.
• t is strongly advisable to e Wear good walking shoes.
• If you wish to take a car onto the site, you need to get a car parking ticket. 2 LE for a small car, 5 LE for minibuses, 10 LE for a coach.
• The best time to go the Pyramids, is in the morning between 0800 and 1200. - or 156:00 to 17:00
• If you wish to go inside the Great Pyramid, there is an extra ticket for this that will cost you 100 LE. You will find the ticket office for the entrance to the Great Pyramid in front of the north-eastern side of the Pyramid. Sometimes is quite difficult to get this ticket, as the amount is limited to a certain number of visitors. They sell only 300 tickets daily, and they are divided among morning and afternoon. They sell 150 at 0800, and then, at exactly 1300, the other 150. 
• If you wish to go inside Khafre's Pyramid, you will have to get an extra entrance ticket - 20 LE. In addition to that, they charge 10LE for cameras. 
• As for Menkaure's Pyramid, it is now closed for restoration. The Pyramids are opened on a rotational basis, usually it would last for a year, so that restoration work can be done.
• If you want to get a camel or horse ride, the best place for this are the stables at the foot of the Pyramids plateau, it is cheap and safe.
• In order to get rid of the vendors, simply say "No, thank you! " or "La Shukran" and they will go away Believe it or not, it works.
• As for the street vendors Don't say the word "Emshi", like many of the guide books will advise you, it is simply means get lost, and you don't want to offend anyone in there , after all they are just trying to make a living. Here are Some useful Arabic words for you
• Tip : If you don't want to pay the extra entrance ticket for any of the above mentioned pyramids Pyramids and still want to have similar experience of being inside one, then go the eastern side of the Great Pyramid and you will find there three subsidiary smaller Pyramids (one was for the Khufu's daughter, one for Khufu's wife and the third one for Khufu's mother). Two of these Pyramids (his wife's and his mother's) are opened for visitors, and there is no extra charge to get in. All you need to do is show your site ticket to the guard and you will be in!
• If you ever feel that you need to go to the toilet while you're conducting your visit, then the best place to go is at the boat Museum which is located in front of the southern side of the Great Pyramid. Just tell the people at the entrance that you only want to use the toilet and they will let you in. 

source: 

0 pyramids of egypt

When one thinks of Egypt it is hard to do so without seeing the pyramids in the mind's eye. These piles of limestone or mudbrick are the oldest known manmade structures on our planet and have actually survived longer in the period known as BCE (before the common era) than they have in CE (the common era). Since the dawn of recorded history they have been an enigma, and this continues through to the present day, with more books and papers being written about them than any of the other ancient monuments in Egypt. Library shelves, throughout the world, are full of the various theories about how they were built, why they were built, and why they are located in certain places; and the full gambit of writing is used in these theories; from the well researched and referenced volumes, to the ones which, quite frankly, deserve to be in either the science-fiction sections or the children's ones.

So, why were they built? It is generally accepted that they were tombs for the kings who built them; the fact that some of the pyramids had granite sarcophagi inside them being a major clue, as well as the lack of actual burial tombs being found for the majority of these kings (though one or two did have tombs built as well). But there are those who will point to the fact that no body, or mummy, of a king was ever discovered in any of these pyramids, which is a very good point, until other facts are brought in; namely the known fact that the pyramids were broken into in antiquity and any objects within, if any, were stolen and sold. If one goes into the main burial chamber of the Great Pyramid (the Pyramid of Khufu, or Cheops), which is known as the "King's Chamber", why would a massive granite sarcophagus be in there if it was not to hold a body (inside a coffin), and who, but the king, would be in a position to build such a grandiose edifice? Sometimes it is easier to look at things using common sense rather than looking at ways to disprove the obvious.

How were they built? There are literally thousands of books and papers on this subject, as well as a vast plethora of websites. Learned scholars have written theories about it right through to glorified science-fiction authors, with various architects; archaeologists; engineers; dedicated pyramidologists (yes, they do actually exist); laymen; and an assortment of interested parties, all thrown in for good measure. The simple answer is that there is no answer, or at least no answer that everyone agrees on! Straight ramps; spiral ramps; multi ramps; internal ramps; internal spiral ramps; levers; pulley systems; pulleys based on the Djed symbol; counterweighed shuttles; even aliens! Every known, and unknown, concoction has been theorised and we are still not any closer to the answer as Herodotus in the 5th century BCE, whose 'Histories: Book II' is the first known work that actually mentions a theory on how they were built.
Can "Ask-aladdin " help? Only if you believe that the ancient Egyptians were simple people, not Einstein's, and would have done things the simple, and easiest, way. They did not go out of their way to invent things, most of their inventions happening by chance, though they were good at adapting things for their own needs: they did not invent the chariot, but when it was introduced by the Hyksos, at the end of the Second Intermediate Period, they adapted it and became one of the most feared, if not THE most feared, chariot armies in the ancient world. Because of our modern day interpretations of hieroglyphs, as well as our better understanding of what tomb reliefs mean, we know that very little changed during the pharaonic period. Because of this many of the theories can be discounted, due to the lack of evidence for them being used for other construction work from the time of Djoser (2667BCE) until the invasion by the Persians (525BCE). Even when the rest of the world was starting to use iron, the ancient Egyptians continued using brass and so there was nothing that can be called unique in the way that they did things. So the pyramids had to be built using the simple tools that they had, as well as the simple methods of transportation, especially for heavy objects. How did the ancient Egyptians build the pyramids? By the simplest method possible!
Why were they built at those sites? Recently this has become a popular question and more books and papers are starting to fill library shelves, with just as many websites dedicated to the subject as well. Again, there is a simple answer to this question and this is that the pyramids were built where they are because they are all on solid outcrops of limestone (well, not so solid in South Dashur, as the Bent Pyramid will testify). This serves 2 major purposes:
1/ a strong base on which to build the pyramid
2/ an adjacent supply of limestone to quarry for building the pyramid
But yet again, the simple is not good enough for some people and various theories have sprung up "proving" why the pyramids were built in those locations. The one that has been most prominent over the past 20 years or so is that they were built where they were to ape the stars in the sky, or the Orion Correlation Theory, with the 3 Giza Pyramids representing the 3 major stars in Orion's belt and the other pyramids representing other stars in the constellation. Many different people have tried to push this theory forward, but just as many have managed to discredit it: the angles are wrong; the land map is reversed; the alignment would have meant the pyramids being about 10,000-15,000 years old. Every theory has its critic! Yes, on paper it looks good, but there would have to be one huge coincidence for the outcrops of rock to be in just the right place as well.
Recently a new theory has been put forward and most of what it says matches known evidence. It is called the "Cult of Re" theory and has shown that the positioning of the pyramids in the various pyramid fields create lines which, when elongated, all reach the same point in modern day Heliopolis in Cairo. Prior to the Greeks renaming the site as the "City of the Sun" it was known as Iunu and there was a huge sun temple, dedicated to the sun god Re, built here. Apart from this idiosyncrasy another interesting fact is that each of the pyramids that line up with Iunu was built by a pharaoh whose name ended with Re. The only field that does not measure up is the one at Abu Sir; the hill on which Saladin's Citadel sits obscures the line of sight, yet interestingly enough, just a few hundred metres to the northwest of the Abu Sir field lie the remnants of a couple of sun temples; and these are in the direct line of site from Iunu. Sun Temples are not near as heavy as pyramids, so could these have been used as some kind of mirror to the cult? Whether this is just another coincidence or not, at least the facts and figures measure up, so perhaps there was another reason for the pyramids being built on the exact spot they occupy in each of the fields.

Why they were built, how they were built and why were they built where they were will go on giving many peoples hours of pleasure working out. The main fact is that they were built and still stand majestically on the edge of the Western Desert for us all to look at, except for those at Zawyet el-Mayitin (near Minya), which is on the East Bank of the Nile, and the pyramid on Elephantine Island that has been accredited to Huni . How many are there? Well, estimates range from 93 to 138 and this discrepancy is mainly due to arguments over what constitutes a pyramid. Most main pyramids had "queens" and/or supplementary pyramids built close to them, but sometimes it is hard to determine whether a pile of rocks is the remains of a pyramid, or just a pile of rocks.

source: http://www.ask-aladdin.com/Pyramids-of-Egypt/index.html