Want to experience one of the oldest civilisations on Earth along with its historical wonders, architecture, unique culture, and cuisine? There is no place better than Egypt. This North African country, which has most of its land covered under the desert, is situated on the shores of the Red Sea. Being one of the most fascinating travel destinations, Egypt attracts lakhs of tourists every year.
This country, encompassing centuries-old history in its gigantic desert, provides a first-hand experience of monumental architecture and grand museums along with various adventures through the marvellous Red Sea and the world's largest Nile River. In the past few years with the Middle East and Asia experiencing a huge tourism boom, Egypt has become one of the leading countries attracting solo travellers.
Visa Procedure And Entry Requirements:
If you are also planning to travel to Egypt, here are the visa procedures and entry requirements to support your journey. This visa will be your ticket to paradise, for which you have to apply through an online platform offered by the Egyptian government. Indian nationals can apply for different types of visas catering to their multiple purposes of visit.
Types of visas provided by Egypt for an Indian National:
- Tourist Visa
- Transit Visa
- Work Visa
- Business Visa
Each visa requires a specific application process with different entry requirements and documents.
Tourist Visa:
A tourist visa is the document through which you can enter the land of wonders. Indian nationals can apply for e-visa through the online platform. The Egypt tourist visa is a single-entry e-visa valid for 90 days with a stay of a maximum of 30 days.
Required Documents:
Here are the documents you will require to fill out the form for your visa and at the airport as well.
- Passport with at least 2 blank pages and valid for 6 months from arrival
- Visa Application Form
- 2 Photographs
- Your travel itinerary including return tickets and hotel bookings
- Proof of funds to support your trip
- Guarantee Letter: It is an invitation letter from the tourism company or your family and any friend
You can apply for the e-visa through the official government website.
Steps To Apply For The Visa:
- Create an account on the e-visa website
- Upload your documents
- Pay the visa fee
- Wait for your visa
Points to be noted:
- You must apply at least 10 to 7 days before your trip as e-visa processing time is up to 7 days
- You must carry a printed copy of your e-visa at the airport
- Egypt e-visa cannot be extended
- You have to pay Rs. 2,350 as a single entry visa fee
- Photographs should be 3.5cm x 4.5cm in colour
- Only group applications are allowed through the government website. For individual applications, one has to contact any travel and tour guide company
Travel Logistics:
Egypt is well connected through airlines. There are two main airports for international flights - Cairo International Airport and Luxor International Airport. Multiple direct flights from the different airports of India to Egypt run by - Air Arabia, Egypt Air, Etihad Airways and Gulf Air are also available. Flight tickets can cost around Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 50,000 and will take at least 6 to 9 hours.
You can travel by road which is not so expensive, but complicated due to crossing multiple borders. If you are willing to travel by cruise, then you have to go by Nile cruise crossing all over their maritime boundaries as there is no other option available directly from India to Egypt.
Travelling within Egypt is easy as it is well connected by the roads for local transportation with easy access to car rentals, cabs, shuttle services, and taxis to reach your destination. You can also opt for railways to travel from one city to another within the country. While travelling by train, be careful as tourists can only use four trains dedicated to visitors and no other public train.
For accommodation, you will have several options including hostels, hotels and luxury villas which you can pick according to your budget. Make sure to book your all-day accommodation in advance as you have to submit your itinerary at the airport.
While exploring Egypt can take almost 15 to 20 days with an expense of more than Rs 1.5 lakhs, a shorter trip of 7 to 10 days costing around Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 1 lakh can also be planned.
The official currency of Egypt is Egyptian Pound also known as Geneh and as of 13 May 2024, 1 Egyptian pound is equal to Rs 1.77. As Egypt does not accept Indian currency, do not forget to exchange money at the airports. Egypt is one of the budget-friendly countries in the world for Indian tourists.
Best Time To Travel Egypt:
Egypt has a moderate climate and short seasonal transitions. Just like India, it receives winters from November to March, and summers from May to September.
In winters, temperatures range from 10°C to 15°C in some areas, and in summers, temperatures can rise up to 35°C to 40°C. Therefore, winters are a preferable tourism season, but if you prefer fewer crowds and have a low budget, choose the timing of August to September or March to April.
Language:
As a Muslim-majority country, most of the Egyptian population speaks Arabic- the country's official language. Apart from Arabic, people of the centre cities are also well versed in English. However, if you are travelling to any other country, it's better to learn a few basic words to enhance your overall experience. Here are a few words you can learn before or during your trip to Egypt: 'Sabah Al-Khair' (Good Morning), 'Shukran' (Thank You), 'Habibi' (My friend), 'Yalla' (Let's go), and 'Mashi' (Okay or Fine).
Also Read: Discover Bhutan: Visa Process To Tourist Destination- All You Need To Know About The Land Of The Thunder Dragon
Places To Visit And Explore In Egypt:
Although more than 95% of the total land is covered by desert in Egypt, you can find some amazing landscapes. From temples to beaches, monuments to breathtaking sunset views- there is a lot to cover. Egypt has one of the oldest plus greatest civilisations and the famous pyramids, mummies, and temples.
With a classic blend of tradition and modernity, Egypt is a land of gods and goddesses. In ancient times, more than 14,000 gods and goddesses were worshipped, leading to the construction of hundreds of captivating temples like the Abu Simbel Temple, Edfu Temple, Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, Colossi of Memnon, and many more.
The spotlight of Egypt is the Pyramids of Giza which attracts scientists, historians, and tourists from all over the world. To discover the pyramids, Hurghada will be your base which is a bus ride from Cairo. You can find the resting place of a few mummies inside these pyramids, although the real mummies are at the Egyptian Museum.
Your trip will not be complete without a visit to the Egyptian Museum which is in Cairo where you can find some of the rare artifacts of the ancient world. After hopping to these, you can head to the world's oldest markets offering handcraft pieces, beautiful jewellery and numerous souvenirs. Do not forget to use your bargaining skills here.
While Egypt has a wonderful marine life, it does not have much forest area. The beaches at the Red Sea offer thrilling underwater adventure activities like snorkelling and diving. The Sahara desert covers two-thirds of the country and gives wonderful expedition opportunities and camel rides.
Apart from being a haven for people looking for archaeological sites, history, spirituality and mythology, Egypt also offers some of the world's delicious dishes including Koshari, ta'ameya and om ali. So, plan a trip to this marvellous city to have an exciting adventure in the sands.