In early October 2020, I – quite spontaneously – booked a flight to Cairo, Egypt. This spur of the moment booking led me to one of the most unique trips I’ve taken in a while. Egypt – like the rest of the world – has been on my bucket list for some time, but it hadn’t crossed my radar to travel there during a global pandemic. However, when a friend mentioned she was thinking of going, it got the wheels turning and I made the decision to experience Egypt now.
Why experience Egypt now?
With the revolution in 2011 and a rash of incidents in the Middle East, Egypt really hasn’t had an easy decade. Tourism had just started to really rebound in around 2017-2018, but the outbreak of the coronavirus in early 2020 ground it to a screeching halt. So why experience Egypt now?
For one, the lack of tourism (globally) hasn’t helped the local economy. Your visit helps to kickstart things – the money you pay to have a driver and a guide, hotel staff, restaurants all goes back into the local economy. Yes, a lot of money funnels back into the hotel chain or the pockets of corporations, but the money they pay to their staff puts food on the table for a local family and that isn’t happening with no one there.
A second reason to visit Egypt now or in 2021 is a more selfish one. You’ll have almost every tomb, temple, and pyramid to yourself. It’s rare that a traveller to such a famous destination can say that. We’ve seen that in many places this year – and its a great time for locals to get out and explore their own backyard. As restrictions lift and travellers become more comfortable with masks, covid testing, and entry requirements, we’ll see it less.
Amazing Value and Luxury
In 2018, I wrote a post for Point Me, a travel points and miles blog, on the rebound of tourism in Egypt. In it, I describe the decline of the Egyptian pound (during my recent trip, an Egyptian pound was equal to .06 USD) and the incredible value of a trip. With a smattering of five star hotels in Cairo and Giza, a stunning Sofitel on the banks of the Nile in Aswan, and a plethora of luxury cruises, not to mention the unparalleled beaches on the Red Sea, a high-end holiday in Egypt is a mere fraction of the cost for the same quality in Europe or Australia.
What Was it Like to Experience Egypt?
I can honestly say I have never had another trip like this one. In Luxor, our little group of four had the Valley of the Kings to ourselves. We went into various tombs without another tourist near us, and we spent an uninterrupted twenty minutes with King Tut. There was no one else at the Ramesseum. At the grand hypostyle hall in Karnak, I roamed around the columns and could lose sight of anyone else. In Kom Ombo, we saw just two other people. At Dahshur, I was the only tourist in sight.
I prefer to travel during shoulder or off-season. Research shows that travelling in off-peak times can be 20% less in the overall cost of a trip. Places like Rome and Florence are far less crowded in December or January than they are in June and July, but they’re still busy. Because of the weather in the Middle East, November to March is the most ideal time to experience Egypt. Yet the lack of other tourists made this feel like the offest of off-seasons. It shouldn’t be.
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Was it Safe?
At no time did I feel unsafe.
Prior to travel, I took three covid tests. Egypt requires a negative test taken with 96-72 hours prior to departure (*departure specific*) and a signed health declaration on arrival.
From a travel-during-covid perspective, yes, absolutely safe. The airlines (Delta and Air France) were proactive in their messaging about what to expect. Pre-trip, I received a lot of emails with links to various destination information and standards of care. Both airlines provided masks to those who did not have them and offered small sani-packs at boarding. Air France required surgical masks and the French Department of Health required a health form on arrival into Paris. The lounges were all clean and spaced out. Food was available but it was either pre-packed or made to order. Hotels and museums required staff to wear masks at all times.
From a travel-to-the-Middle-East perspective, yes, absolutely safe. I had a police guard at all times, plus a driver AND a guide. Often a ground representative from the tourism company joined me, starting with my arrival in Cairo where he met me before immigration and handled the visa on arrival for me. To enter my hotels, I passed through a metal detector and my bags went through an x-ray machine. At almost all archaeological sites and museums, I did the same thing.
I cannot stress enough how safe I felt in Egypt.
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